On Thursday (April 27), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the annual player retainership for the senior women's team for the 2022-23 season. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur -- who led her franchise Mumbai Indians (MI to the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) -- and her deputy Smriti Mandha along with all-rounder Deepti Sharma have retained their Grade A category whereas the likes of&nbsp;Renuka Singh Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad are in the Grade B category.

Meanwhile, Meghna Singh, Devika Vaidya, Sabbineni Meghana, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, and Yastika Bhatia find themselves in the&nbsp;Grade C category.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-ms-dhoni-lost-his-cool-invaded-ground-over-controversial-no-ball-call-in-rr-csk-ipl-2019-tie-586546">When MS Dhoni lost his cool, invaded ground over controversial no-ball call in RR-CSK IPL 2019 tie</a>

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🚨 NEWS 🚨: BCCI announces annual player retainership 2022-23 - Team India (Senior Women). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> 
 
More Details 🔽<a href="https://t.co/C4wPOfi2EF">https://t.co/C4wPOfi2EF</a>
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In the BCCI press release, it stated, "The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday announced the Annual Player Contracts for Team India (Senior Women) for the 2022-23 season."

<section>
Women's cricket is surely on the rise in the country. Over the years, it has made rapid strides. Last year, the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, in a historic&nbsp;announcement, revealed that the match fees will be the same for both&nbsp;women and men. "I’m pleased to announce BCCI’s first step towards tackling discrimination. We are implementing a pay equity policy for our contracted women cricketers. The match fee for both Men and Women Cricketers will be the same as we move into a new era of gender equality in Indian Cricket,” Shah said.

“The women cricketers will be paid the same match fee as their male counterparts. Test (INR 15 lakhs), ODI (INR 6 lakhs), T20I (INR 3 lakhs). Pay equity was my commitment to our women cricketers and I thank the Apex Council for their support. Jai Hind,” he added.

This year, WPL's commencement also made heads turn. The inaugural edition was a huge hit among cricket fans in the country.&nbsp;
</section>

On Thursday (April 27), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the annual player retainership for the senior women's team for the 2022-23 season.

On Thursday (April 27), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the annual player retainership for the senior women's team for the 2022-23 season. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur -- who led her franchise Mumbai Indians (MI to the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) -- and her deputy Smriti Mandha along with all-rounder Deepti Sharma have retained their Grade A category whereas the likes of Renuka Singh Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad are in the Grade B category. Meanwhile, Meghna Singh, Devika Vaidya, Sabbineni Meghana, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, and Yastika Bhatia find themselves in the Grade C category. Also Read: When MS Dhoni lost his cool, invaded ground over controversial no-ball call in RR-CSK IPL 2019 tie 🚨 NEWS 🚨: BCCI announces annual player retainership 2022-23 - Team India (Senior Women). #TeamIndia More Details 🔽https://t.co/C4wPOfi2EF — BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) April 27, 2023 × In the BCCI press release, it stated, "The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday announced the Annual Player Contracts for Team India (Senior Women) for the 2022-23 season." Women's cricket is surely on the rise in the country. Over the years, it has made rapid strides. Last year, the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, in a historic announcement, revealed that the match fees will be the same for both women and men. "I’m pleased to announce BCCI’s first step towards tackling discrimination. We are implementing a pay equity policy for our contracted women cricketers. The match fee for both Men and Women Cricketers will be the same as we move into a new era of gender equality in Indian Cricket,” Shah said. “The women cricketers will be paid the same match fee as their male counterparts. Test (INR 15 lakhs), ODI (INR 6 lakhs), T20I (INR 3 lakhs). Pay equity was my commitment to our women cricketers and I thank the Apex Council for their support. Jai Hind,” he added. This year, WPL's commencement also made heads turn. The inaugural edition was a huge hit among cricket fans in the country.

BCCI reveals Annual Player Retainership for women's team, Harmanpreet, Mandhana retain Grade A category

Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) beat five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) in match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition on Tuesday (April 25). Being asked to bat first, in Ahmedabad, the defending champions rode on Shubman Gill's 56, David Miller and Abhinav Manohar's 46 (22) and 42 (21) respectively and Rahul Tewatia's 5-ball 20* to post 207 for 6.

In reply, GT restricted the Rohit Sharma-led MI line-up for 152 for 9 to lose by 55 runs. After the game, former Indian captain-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra lauded Hardik's captaincy skills and feels he is growing and maturing with each game.

Chopra said on JioCinema, "It's hard to win a match from a defensive position, we've seen this in the TATA IPL. The point about captaincy was very salient. The game started with fast bowlers bowling quite often with discipline due to the movement of the ball. Soon after, spinners were introduced at the right time. They made an error last game (versus Rajasthan Royals)&nbsp;in judging the dew and brought Noor at the end and Hetmyer punished him."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-rohit-should-take-a-break-come-back-fresh-for-wtc-final-vs-australia-suggests-gavaskar-586273">IPL 2023: Rohit should take a break, come back fresh for WTC final vs Australia, suggests Gavaskar</a>

He added, "He learned from that and ensured Noor's overs were done earlier. Rashid and Noor, two spinners with five wickets, and Hardik's captaincy just seems to keep improving. Mohit wasn't playing well but he still sent him to bowl the final over and take crucial wickets even though he could've done that himself as a captain. He changed Mohit's day from bad to good to maintain his confidence. I think Hardik Pandya as a captain is growing and maturing."

Hardik was promoted as India's ODI vice-captain early this year and has been leading the T20I line-up ever since Rohit Sharma has been out of the scheme of things in the format following the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.&nbsp;

At present, GT occupy the second spot in the points table with five wins from seven encounters.

Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) beat five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) in match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition on Tuesday (April 25). Being asked to bat first, in Ahmedabad, the defending champions rode on Shubman Gill's 56, David Miller and Abhinav Manohar's 46 (22) and 42 (21) respectively and Rahul Tewatia's 5-ball 20* to post 207 for 6.

Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) beat five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) in match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition on Tuesday (April 25). Being asked to bat first, in Ahmedabad, the defending champions rode on Shubman Gill's 56, David Miller and Abhinav Manohar's 46 (22) and 42 (21) respectively and Rahul Tewatia's 5-ball 20* to post 207 for 6. In reply, GT restricted the Rohit Sharma-led MI line-up for 152 for 9 to lose by 55 runs. After the game, former Indian captain-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra lauded Hardik's captaincy skills and feels he is growing and maturing with each game. Chopra said on JioCinema, "It's hard to win a match from a defensive position, we've seen this in the TATA IPL. The point about captaincy was very salient. The game started with fast bowlers bowling quite often with discipline due to the movement of the ball. Soon after, spinners were introduced at the right time. They made an error last game (versus Rajasthan Royals) in judging the dew and brought Noor at the end and Hetmyer punished him." Also read: IPL 2023: Rohit should take a break, come back fresh for WTC final vs Australia, suggests Gavaskar He added, "He learned from that and ensured Noor's overs were done earlier. Rashid and Noor, two spinners with five wickets, and Hardik's captaincy just seems to keep improving. Mohit wasn't playing well but he still sent him to bowl the final over and take crucial wickets even though he could've done that himself as a captain. He changed Mohit's day from bad to good to maintain his confidence. I think Hardik Pandya as a captain is growing and maturing." Hardik was promoted as India's ODI vice-captain early this year and has been leading the T20I line-up ever since Rohit Sharma has been out of the scheme of things in the format following the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. At present, GT occupy the second spot in the points table with five wins from seven encounters.

IPL 2023: 'Hardik Pandya is growing and maturing as captain' - Former Indian opener after GT beat MI

Match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition saw the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) lose to the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (April 25). Opting to bowl first, MI conceded 207 for 6 as Gujarat posted their highest total in the tournament. In reply, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. only managed 152 for 9 to lose by a whopping 55-run margin.

Rohit has had an ordinary run in IPL 2023. He has managed scores of&nbsp;1, 21, 65, 20, 28, 44 and 2 at an average of&nbsp;25.86. After MI's loss versus GT, their second in a row and fourth of the season, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar has asked Rohit to opt for a short break and keep himself fresh for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, to be held at The Oval, London&nbsp;in early June.

"Rohit Sharma should take a break and keep himself fresh for the World Test Championship. Come back again for the last few matches, but right now take a breather himself. He is looking slightly preoccupied, maybe he is thinking about the WTC. I think he needs a little bit of a break," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-defending-champions-gt-thrash-rohit-sharmas-mi-by-55-runs-take-second-spot-in-points-table-586107">IPL 2023: Defending champions GT thrash Rohit Sharma's MI by 55 runs, take second spot in points table</a>

It is highly unlikely that Rohit will take a break with MI currently languishing at the seventh spot in the points table. He might sit out for a few games if Mumbai confirms&nbsp;a slot in the last four. Or, if they fall flat in the upcoming games and are totally out of the playoffs race, then Rohit might be benched to keep himself fit&nbsp;for the WTC finale.

On Tuesday (April 25), the BCCI announced a 15-member squad for India's WTC summit clash versus Australia.&nbsp;

INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

Match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition saw the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) lose to the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (April 25).

Match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition saw the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) lose to the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (April 25). Opting to bowl first, MI conceded 207 for 6 as Gujarat posted their highest total in the tournament. In reply, Rohit Sharma & Co. only managed 152 for 9 to lose by a whopping 55-run margin. Rohit has had an ordinary run in IPL 2023. He has managed scores of 1, 21, 65, 20, 28, 44 and 2 at an average of 25.86. After MI's loss versus GT, their second in a row and fourth of the season, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar has asked Rohit to opt for a short break and keep himself fresh for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, to be held at The Oval, London in early June. "Rohit Sharma should take a break and keep himself fresh for the World Test Championship. Come back again for the last few matches, but right now take a breather himself. He is looking slightly preoccupied, maybe he is thinking about the WTC. I think he needs a little bit of a break," Gavaskar said on Star Sports. Also read: IPL 2023: Defending champions GT thrash Rohit Sharma's MI by 55 runs, take second spot in points table It is highly unlikely that Rohit will take a break with MI currently languishing at the seventh spot in the points table. He might sit out for a few games if Mumbai confirms a slot in the last four. Or, if they fall flat in the upcoming games and are totally out of the playoffs race, then Rohit might be benched to keep himself fit for the WTC finale. On Tuesday (April 25), the BCCI announced a 15-member squad for India's WTC summit clash versus Australia. INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

IPL 2023: Rohit should take a break, come back fresh for WTC final vs Australia, suggests Gavaskar

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Team India's 15-man squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final versus Australia, which will be held next month at The Oval, London. In the 15-member squad, Ajinkya Rahane made a comeback into the national side on the back of a decent run in the Ranji Trophy 2022/23 edition and his recent success in the ongoing IPL 2023 edition for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Rahane's comeback was mainly possible after Shreyas Iyer got injured, due to his persistent back issues, and Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. will bank on him in the English conditions given his overall experience. Many former cricketers and experts have shared their take on Rahane's return. MSK Prasad, former Indian chief selector, also joined the bandwagon and gave a thumbs up to the former Indian Test vice-captain's return.&nbsp;

Speaking to IndiaToday, Prasad said, "It’s a fair team, it’s the right call. Ajinkya&nbsp;with so much of uncertainty in the middle-order, I think they (selectors) were absolutely right. I am very, very happy for him. He has always been a wonderful performer for India in the away series. And I think he fits the bill perfectly. Full credit to the selectors for bringing him back."

<iframe aria-label="Advertisement" data-google-container-id="2" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/1007232/IT_Teads_1x1_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/1007232/IT_Teads_1x1_0" role="region" scrolling="no" tabindex="0" title="3rd party ad content" width="1"></iframe>"Basically, his attitude is like a monk's. He is never disturbed when he is not selected. He is not over-excited when he is selected. He is that kind of a guy. His mood doesn't swing up and down, just like that. He is a very mature person. Unfortunately, because of a dip in his form, he had to sit out," he added.

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🚨 NEWS 🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> squad for ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final announced. 
 
Details 🔽 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC23</a> <a href="https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU">https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU</a> <a href="https://t.co/KIcH530rOL">pic.twitter.com/KIcH530rOL</a>
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Rahane was part of India's playing XI when they faced eventual winners New Zealand in the inaugural WTC final, at Southampton, in 2021. He returned with scores of 49 and 15 and will hope to contribute with a big knock this time around and lead India to a memorable win.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-unseen-ms-dhoni-loses-cool-screams-and-gives-death-stare-to-his-csk-teammate-watch-586028">IPL 2023: UNSEEN! MS Dhoni loses cool, screams and gives DEATH STARE to his CSK teammate - Watch</a>

INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Team India's 15-man squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final versus Australia, which will be held next month at The Oval, London.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Team India's 15-man squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final versus Australia, which will be held next month at The Oval, London. In the 15-member squad, Ajinkya Rahane made a comeback into the national side on the back of a decent run in the Ranji Trophy 2022/23 edition and his recent success in the ongoing IPL 2023 edition for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Rahane's comeback was mainly possible after Shreyas Iyer got injured, due to his persistent back issues, and Rohit Sharma & Co. will bank on him in the English conditions given his overall experience. Many former cricketers and experts have shared their take on Rahane's return. MSK Prasad, former Indian chief selector, also joined the bandwagon and gave a thumbs up to the former Indian Test vice-captain's return. Speaking to IndiaToday, Prasad said, "It’s a fair team, it’s the right call. Ajinkya with so much of uncertainty in the middle-order, I think they (selectors) were absolutely right. I am very, very happy for him. He has always been a wonderful performer for India in the away series. And I think he fits the bill perfectly. Full credit to the selectors for bringing him back." "Basically, his attitude is like a monk's. He is never disturbed when he is not selected. He is not over-excited when he is selected. He is that kind of a guy. His mood doesn't swing up and down, just like that. He is a very mature person. Unfortunately, because of a dip in his form, he had to sit out," he added. 🚨 NEWS 🚨#TeamIndia squad for ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final announced. Details 🔽 #WTC23 https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU pic.twitter.com/KIcH530rOL — BCCI (@BCCI) April 25, 2023 × Rahane was part of India's playing XI when they faced eventual winners New Zealand in the inaugural WTC final, at Southampton, in 2021. He returned with scores of 49 and 15 and will hope to contribute with a big knock this time around and lead India to a memorable win. Also Read: IPL 2023: UNSEEN! MS Dhoni loses cool, screams and gives DEATH STARE to his CSK teammate - Watch INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

Ajinkya Rahane has monk-like attitude, good call to pick him for WTC final: Former India chief selector

After playing half their games in the league stage of IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals (RR)&nbsp;occupy the third spot with four wins from seven outings. It isn't a bad start by any means&nbsp;for the one-time winners. Under Sanju Samson, who became their captain since IPL 2021, the Royals have become a formidable force and are eyeing to play their second final on the trot, with a hope to get past the finish line this time around.&nbsp;

In the inaugural edition, in 2008, the Royals ended as the eventual champions when no one gave them&nbsp;a chance. The franchise roped in superstar Shane Warne, serving&nbsp;as the captain-cum-coach, who inspired an inexperienced squad to win the championship. The late Aussie leg-spinner had some international stars, such as Graeme Smith, Mohammed Kaif, etc., but a plethora of unknown names&nbsp;rose to the occasion in his influence.

After Warne-led RR's initial success, there was a period of lull for the Jaipur-based franchise till IPL 2012. In the 2013 edition, the 2008 winners made it to the playoffs, finished third, and even played the final of that year's Champions League (CLT20), a now-defunct tournament. Back then, RR was led by Rahul Dravid, an equally inspiring figure like Warne.&nbsp;

Post Dravid and Warne, the team was led by able readers of the game, such as Shane Watson, Steve Smith, and Ajinkya Rahane, as they enjoyed sporadic success but never came close to winning the title. From the Dravid-era till IPL 2020, Samson remained a part of the Royals' dugout -- barring 2015 and 2016 when the franchise was serving a spot-fixing ban -- and was silently groomed by&nbsp;several eminent leaders in the camp.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-as-soon-as-he-brett-lees-advice-to-mis-arjun-tendulkar-to-bowl-at-140kmph-585864">IPL 2023: 'As soon as he...': Brett Lee's advice to MI's Arjun Tendulkar to bowl at 140kmph</a>

While Samson's batting credentials made heads turn in his debut IPL season in 2013, not much was known about his leadership skills. After a dismal IPL 2020, RR team management appointed Samson as their new captain before the 2021 edition. While his team ended seventh that year, Samson didn't look like a fish out of the water. He improved in IPL 2022 and by now, RR certainly looks like a unit controlled by Samson.

Ingredients of a fabulous leader

Recently, Ravi Shastri -- former India head coach -- said on ESPNCricinfo, "You say you stamp your personality as a leader. You see that with Hardik, he calls the shots, and takes the decisions. You see that with Dhoni. He takes the decisions, there is no two ways about it, he might be right or wrong. Sanju has improved a lot. You can see that quiet confidence in his own ability and he understands his game a lot better."

Leading superstars such as Jos Buttler, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, etc., can be intimidating. However, Samson has always looked his part and been assertive as captain. He&nbsp;remains calm behind the stumps, uses his bowlers judiciously, and does not shy away from changing plans when required. In addition, he&nbsp;does not overcommunicate; passing too many unnecessary suggestions from behind the stumps.

During RR's clash vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in Chennai, Sandeep Sharma was taken to the cleaners by MS Dhoni in the last over. With seven required off&nbsp;three balls, Samson raced from his wicketkeeping spot to just ask Sandeep about his plans.&nbsp;

"After I was hit for two sixes in the last over, Sanju and I discussed the plans on how to bowl the next 3 balls. Sanju is very calm as captain. He did not give any suggestions to me. He simply asked me about my plans for the next ball. I told him about my instincts and he backed me to bowl that. This quality is very rare in a captain in such a pressure situation," said the RR pacer.

Thus, Samson backed his experienced bowler and did not give suggestions. Rather, he just looked for ideas from his bowler and backed him to the hilt.

You will win some, you will lose some but remain unfazed

After RR's loss versus RCB, their second loss on the trot, Samson said in the dressing room, "I think it's very normal in this tournament when you have these couple of losses or you have those couple of wins, you go up and down. But the pattern and the style of our team, the style of our franchise is to stay humble when we're going high, and when we're going low, we believe in ourselves, as simple as that."

He added, "We believe in each and every one of us, believe in yourself and there is no pointing fingers, that's the rule we need to follow. In my experience, from what I've understood, the reason you end up on the losing or the winning side only is because how hungry are you there to win. How badly do you want it? Is it only because of you, is it only because you want to do it or do you want to do it for the team."

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Sanju Samson. 💗💗💗 <a href="https://t.co/fZmuYk4Wyl">pic.twitter.com/fZmuYk4Wyl</a>
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1650189706603425792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-virat-kohli-fined-24-lakhs-other-rcb-players-fined-6-lakhs-for-slow-over-rate-vs-rr-585868">IPL 2023: Virat Kohli fined 24 lakhs, other RCB players fined 6 lakhs for slow over-rate vs RR</a>

Not bogged down by responsibility

Many captains get bogged down by extra responsibility or get too cautious in their primary role. However, this has not been the case with Samson. Ever since he took over as RR skipper, he has amassed over 400 runs every season. In 2021, he made 484 runs, including a ton, at 136.72. His strike rate did dip as compared to the previous edition (where he struck at 158.89) but it was still acceptable. It shot up considerably in 2022, where he scored 458 runs at 146.79. After seven games this year, he is striking at over 150 (158.77).

One does not know what fate has in store for RR in IPL 2023. Irrespective of the outcome, the Royals should be lauded for identifying a rare talent like Samson, grooming him amid several leaders, retaining him, and making him the leader in his late 20s;&nbsp;when a cricketer has matured with enough experience and past mistakes. The right-hander has shown glimpses&nbsp;of his captaincy skills and will only grow leaps and bounds if given a longer rope, which seems likely at this point.

In his book 'Coaching Beyond - My Days with the Indian Cricket Team', R Sridhar -- former India fielding coach -- revealed it was Samson (who was on the bench) who suggested Chahal feature in India's XI as a concussion substitute for Ravindra Jadeja in a T20I versus Australia in Canberra, in late 2020. Chahal ended as the Player-of-the-Match (3 for 25) in India's win.

Thus, Samson always had a knack for reading the game and being tactical. Now, he is only growing with each passing day and is destined for a bright run as captain. Is India captaincy in the reckoning? Well, only time will tell. For now, he certainly looks like a long-serving&nbsp;captain in the IPL.

After playing half their games in the league stage of IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals (RR) occupy the third spot with four wins from seven outings. It isn't a bad start by any means for the one-time winners.

After playing half their games in the league stage of IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals (RR) occupy the third spot with four wins from seven outings. It isn't a bad start by any means for the one-time winners. Under Sanju Samson, who became their captain since IPL 2021, the Royals have become a formidable force and are eyeing to play their second final on the trot, with a hope to get past the finish line this time around. In the inaugural edition, in 2008, the Royals ended as the eventual champions when no one gave them a chance. The franchise roped in superstar Shane Warne, serving as the captain-cum-coach, who inspired an inexperienced squad to win the championship. The late Aussie leg-spinner had some international stars, such as Graeme Smith, Mohammed Kaif, etc., but a plethora of unknown names rose to the occasion in his influence. After Warne-led RR's initial success, there was a period of lull for the Jaipur-based franchise till IPL 2012. In the 2013 edition, the 2008 winners made it to the playoffs, finished third, and even played the final of that year's Champions League (CLT20), a now-defunct tournament. Back then, RR was led by Rahul Dravid, an equally inspiring figure like Warne. Post Dravid and Warne, the team was led by able readers of the game, such as Shane Watson, Steve Smith, and Ajinkya Rahane, as they enjoyed sporadic success but never came close to winning the title. From the Dravid-era till IPL 2020, Samson remained a part of the Royals' dugout -- barring 2015 and 2016 when the franchise was serving a spot-fixing ban -- and was silently groomed by several eminent leaders in the camp. Also Read: IPL 2023: 'As soon as he...': Brett Lee's advice to MI's Arjun Tendulkar to bowl at 140kmph While Samson's batting credentials made heads turn in his debut IPL season in 2013, not much was known about his leadership skills. After a dismal IPL 2020, RR team management appointed Samson as their new captain before the 2021 edition. While his team ended seventh that year, Samson didn't look like a fish out of the water. He improved in IPL 2022 and by now, RR certainly looks like a unit controlled by Samson. Ingredients of a fabulous leader Recently, Ravi Shastri -- former India head coach -- said on ESPNCricinfo, "You say you stamp your personality as a leader. You see that with Hardik, he calls the shots, and takes the decisions. You see that with Dhoni. He takes the decisions, there is no two ways about it, he might be right or wrong. Sanju has improved a lot. You can see that quiet confidence in his own ability and he understands his game a lot better." Leading superstars such as Jos Buttler, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, etc., can be intimidating. However, Samson has always looked his part and been assertive as captain. He remains calm behind the stumps, uses his bowlers judiciously, and does not shy away from changing plans when required. In addition, he does not overcommunicate; passing too many unnecessary suggestions from behind the stumps. During RR's clash vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in Chennai, Sandeep Sharma was taken to the cleaners by MS Dhoni in the last over. With seven required off three balls, Samson raced from his wicketkeeping spot to just ask Sandeep about his plans. "After I was hit for two sixes in the last over, Sanju and I discussed the plans on how to bowl the next 3 balls. Sanju is very calm as captain. He did not give any suggestions to me. He simply asked me about my plans for the next ball. I told him about my instincts and he backed me to bowl that. This quality is very rare in a captain in such a pressure situation," said the RR pacer. Thus, Samson backed his experienced bowler and did not give suggestions. Rather, he just looked for ideas from his bowler and backed him to the hilt. You will win some, you will lose some but remain unfazed After RR's loss versus RCB, their second loss on the trot, Samson said in the dressing room, "I think it's very normal in this tournament when you have these couple of losses or you have those couple of wins, you go up and down. But the pattern and the style of our team, the style of our franchise is to stay humble when we're going high, and when we're going low, we believe in ourselves, as simple as that." He added, "We believe in each and every one of us, believe in yourself and there is no pointing fingers, that's the rule we need to follow. In my experience, from what I've understood, the reason you end up on the losing or the winning side only is because how hungry are you there to win. How badly do you want it? Is it only because of you, is it only because you want to do it or do you want to do it for the team." Sanju Samson. 💗💗💗 pic.twitter.com/fZmuYk4Wyl — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 23, 2023 × Also Read: IPL 2023: Virat Kohli fined 24 lakhs, other RCB players fined 6 lakhs for slow over-rate vs RR Not bogged down by responsibility Many captains get bogged down by extra responsibility or get too cautious in their primary role. However, this has not been the case with Samson. Ever since he took over as RR skipper, he has amassed over 400 runs every season. In 2021, he made 484 runs, including a ton, at 136.72. His strike rate did dip as compared to the previous edition (where he struck at 158.89) but it was still acceptable. It shot up considerably in 2022, where he scored 458 runs at 146.79. After seven games this year, he is striking at over 150 (158.77). One does not know what fate has in store for RR in IPL 2023. Irrespective of the outcome, the Royals should be lauded for identifying a rare talent like Samson, grooming him amid several leaders, retaining him, and making him the leader in his late 20s; when a cricketer has matured with enough experience and past mistakes. The right-hander has shown glimpses of his captaincy skills and will only grow leaps and bounds if given a longer rope, which seems likely at this point. In his book 'Coaching Beyond - My Days with the Indian Cricket Team', R Sridhar -- former India fielding coach -- revealed it was Samson (who was on the bench) who suggested Chahal feature in India's XI as a concussion substitute for Ravindra Jadeja in a T20I versus Australia in Canberra, in late 2020. Chahal ended as the Player-of-the-Match (3 for 25) in India's win. Thus, Samson always had a knack for reading the game and being tactical. Now, he is only growing with each passing day and is destined for a bright run as captain. Is India captaincy in the reckoning? Well, only time will tell. For now, he certainly looks like a long-serving captain in the IPL.

Explained | IPL 2023: Why Sanju Samson is a great captain in making

Delhi Capitals (DC) finally got off the mark in IPL 2023 when they beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 28 on Thursday (April 21). In a rain-delayed encounter, DC opted to bowl first and rode on two wickets each from Ishant Sharma, Anrich Nortje, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel to dismiss KKR for 127 in 19.2 overs.

In reply, DC were tested by the KKR spinners -- with skipper Nitish Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy and Anukul Roy taking two scalps each -- but got over the line in the final over, with four wickets and equal number of balls to spare. From DC, David Warner once again top-scored with a 41-ball 57 whereas Axar Patel finished things off with a 22-ball 19.

While bowlers set it up for DC, Warner and Axar led the charge with the bat with contribution from Manish Pandey as well. Nonetheless, the likes of Prithvi Shaw and Mitchell Marsh continued to remain poor. Talking about Pandey, the discarded Indian batter has also coped up with criticism for his strike rate issues. So far, he has scored&nbsp;94 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 121.&nbsp;

Pandey has not had an extra ordinary run in the IPL for quite some time. In the last three seasons, he strike rate has been as high as only 123.72&nbsp;and remained 110. Thus, before DC versus KKR, Kris Srikkanth -- ex-India chief selector and cricketer -- shared his brutal take on him.

During the live telecast of the DC-KKR face-off, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi,&nbsp;the presenter Neroli Meadows questioned Srikkanth&nbsp;about Pandey. The 1983 World Cup-winning member&nbsp;interrupted and said 'why talk about Manish Pandey, he shouldn't even be in the team'.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-there-cannot-be-a-bigger-cricketer-than-ms-dhoni-in-india-says-harbhajan-singh-584745">IPL 2023: There cannot be a bigger cricketer than MS Dhoni in India, says Harbhajan Singh</a>

<h2>Here's how the conversation panned out:</h2>

Meadows:&nbsp;Chikka, a word about Manish Pandey. He hasn’t quite been able to… (gets interrupted)

Srikkanth:&nbsp;Why are we talking about Manish Pandey? I don’t want to talk about him. The guy shouldn’t even be in the team. Let’s talk about Axar Patel, how he has been in the form of his life and deserves to bat higher.

Meadows:&nbsp;Well, Chikka seems to be pretty clear that he doesn’t want to talk about Manish Pandey.

Srikkanth:&nbsp;No, I don’t want to talk about him. He shouldn’t be in this team. If I was the chairman of selectors, he wouldn't have played.

Delhi Capitals (DC) finally got off the mark in IPL 2023 when they beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 28 on Thursday (April 21). In a rain-delayed encounter, DC opted to bowl first and rode on two wickets each from Ishant Sharma, Anrich Nortje, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel to dismiss KKR for 127 in 19.

Delhi Capitals (DC) finally got off the mark in IPL 2023 when they beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 28 on Thursday (April 21). In a rain-delayed encounter, DC opted to bowl first and rode on two wickets each from Ishant Sharma, Anrich Nortje, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel to dismiss KKR for 127 in 19.2 overs. In reply, DC were tested by the KKR spinners -- with skipper Nitish Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy and Anukul Roy taking two scalps each -- but got over the line in the final over, with four wickets and equal number of balls to spare. From DC, David Warner once again top-scored with a 41-ball 57 whereas Axar Patel finished things off with a 22-ball 19. While bowlers set it up for DC, Warner and Axar led the charge with the bat with contribution from Manish Pandey as well. Nonetheless, the likes of Prithvi Shaw and Mitchell Marsh continued to remain poor. Talking about Pandey, the discarded Indian batter has also coped up with criticism for his strike rate issues. So far, he has scored 94 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 121. Pandey has not had an extra ordinary run in the IPL for quite some time. In the last three seasons, he strike rate has been as high as only 123.72 and remained 110. Thus, before DC versus KKR, Kris Srikkanth -- ex-India chief selector and cricketer -- shared his brutal take on him. During the live telecast of the DC-KKR face-off, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, the presenter Neroli Meadows questioned Srikkanth about Pandey. The 1983 World Cup-winning member interrupted and said 'why talk about Manish Pandey, he shouldn't even be in the team'. Also read: IPL 2023: There cannot be a bigger cricketer than MS Dhoni in India, says Harbhajan Singh Here's how the conversation panned out: Meadows: Chikka, a word about Manish Pandey. He hasn’t quite been able to… (gets interrupted) Srikkanth: Why are we talking about Manish Pandey? I don’t want to talk about him. The guy shouldn’t even be in the team. Let’s talk about Axar Patel, how he has been in the form of his life and deserves to bat higher. Meadows: Well, Chikka seems to be pretty clear that he doesn’t want to talk about Manish Pandey. Srikkanth: No, I don’t want to talk about him. He shouldn’t be in this team. If I was the chairman of selectors, he wouldn't have played.

IPL 2023: 'Why talk about him? He shouldn't...' - Kris Srikkanth slams star Indian batter during DC-KKR tie

Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh lauded MS Dhoni. Dhoni remains a huge name in world cricket. He ended his glorious run at the international level on August 15, 2020. In his international career, he ended with 17,266 runs, 108 half-centuries, 16 tons, 634 catches, 359 sixes and 195 stumpings along with leading India to the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dhoni has represented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) -- his current franchise as well -- and now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). Dhoni has led CSK to the title on four occasions and also guided them to two Champions League (CLT20) trophies. In addition, Chennai have ended as runners-up on five instances and reached the playoffs in 11 out of their 13 appearances; all under MSD.

Dhoni has over 5,000 runs in the IPL and recently became the first-ever player to captain an IPL team (CSK) in 200 matches. Thus, he enjoys a humongous fan-following in world cricket, especially in India. As IPL 2023 could be his last season, many of his loyalists have gathered in large numbers in CSK's games so far.

Recently, Harbhajan -- former India and CSK spinner -- praised Dhoni and said on Star Sports, "Mahendra Singh Dhoni is only one. There cannot be a bigger cricketer than him in India. Someone could have scored more runs than him and someone could have taken more wickets than him, but no one has a bigger fanbase than him," Harbhajan said on Star Sports.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-once-he-gets-into-his-40s-he-slows-down-manjrekar-on-virat-kohlis-batting-after-rcb-beat-pbks-584705">IPL 2023: 'Once he gets into his 40s, he slows down' - Manjrekar on Virat Kohli's batting after RCB beat PBKS</a>

"Dhoni has accepted this fandom to heart and he respects his teammates as well. He walks with so much love and emotion that anyone else would go mad, but Dhoni has carried this love and emotion in his heart for 15 years and he still hasn't changed at all."

Dhoni-led CSK occupy the third spot in the points table after their first five games. On Friday evening (April 21), they will host the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai in match 29 of this year's edition. CSK enjoy a 3-0 lead over SRH at the Chepauk.

Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh lauded MS Dhoni. Dhoni remains a huge name in world cricket. He ended his glorious run at the international level on August 15, 2020.

Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh lauded MS Dhoni. Dhoni remains a huge name in world cricket. He ended his glorious run at the international level on August 15, 2020. In his international career, he ended with 17,266 runs, 108 half-centuries, 16 tons, 634 catches, 359 sixes and 195 stumpings along with leading India to the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dhoni has represented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) -- his current franchise as well -- and now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). Dhoni has led CSK to the title on four occasions and also guided them to two Champions League (CLT20) trophies. In addition, Chennai have ended as runners-up on five instances and reached the playoffs in 11 out of their 13 appearances; all under MSD. Dhoni has over 5,000 runs in the IPL and recently became the first-ever player to captain an IPL team (CSK) in 200 matches. Thus, he enjoys a humongous fan-following in world cricket, especially in India. As IPL 2023 could be his last season, many of his loyalists have gathered in large numbers in CSK's games so far. Recently, Harbhajan -- former India and CSK spinner -- praised Dhoni and said on Star Sports, "Mahendra Singh Dhoni is only one. There cannot be a bigger cricketer than him in India. Someone could have scored more runs than him and someone could have taken more wickets than him, but no one has a bigger fanbase than him," Harbhajan said on Star Sports. Also read: IPL 2023: 'Once he gets into his 40s, he slows down' - Manjrekar on Virat Kohli's batting after RCB beat PBKS "Dhoni has accepted this fandom to heart and he respects his teammates as well. He walks with so much love and emotion that anyone else would go mad, but Dhoni has carried this love and emotion in his heart for 15 years and he still hasn't changed at all." Dhoni-led CSK occupy the third spot in the points table after their first five games. On Friday evening (April 21), they will host the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai in match 29 of this year's edition. CSK enjoy a 3-0 lead over SRH at the Chepauk.

IPL 2023: There cannot be a bigger cricketer than MS Dhoni in India, says Harbhajan Singh

MS Dhoni is currently involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. He is leading the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who picked their third win of the season -- after five games -- as they emerged on top of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 24, in Bengaluru, on Monday evening (April 17). It is believed that this is the last IPL season for Dhoni although the 41-year-old has not given any clarity on his future.&nbsp;

Dhoni remains a huge name in world cricket. He retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020, putting an end to his illustrious career with 17,266 runs, 634 catches,&nbsp; 359 sixes, 195 stumpings and having led India to all three major ICC titles. He led India to the 2007 T20 World Cup title but the Men in Blue faced an early exit in the following edition, in England, in 2009. After India's three-run loss to hosts England in their second game of the Super Eight round, at Lord's London, the then skipper Dhoni apologised to the Indian fans for their dismal show.&nbsp;

"We are more disappointed (than you) and we respect the emotions of our fans and the country. We are sorry for whatever happened. We gave our best and we say that with an open heart, we have nothing to hide. But the next Twenty20 world cup is coming again in nine months and we would have an opportunity of proving ourselves," said a dejected Dhoni after India's disappointing loss&nbsp;while addressing the press.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-virat-kohli-ms-dhoni-reunite-have-a-laugh-together-after-csk-beat-rcb-in-a-thriller-watch-583576">IPL 2023: Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni reunite, have a laugh together after CSK beat RCB in a thriller - Watch</a>

Talking about the match, India elected to bowl first and restricted England to 153 for 7, who rode on Kevin Pietersen's 46 and Ravi Bopara's 37. In reply, India promoted Ravindra Jadeja over Yuvraj Singh and paid the price for it as the then-inexperienced spin-bowling all-rounder made a scratchy 35-ball 25. From India, Gautam Gambhir, Dhoni, Yuvraj and Yusuf Pathan added runs on the board but it wasn't enough as India managed 150 for 5 in 20 overs.

On his decision to promote Jadeja over Yuvraj, Dhoni said, "Sometimes you don't know what would happen. We thought Jadeja could stabilise the innings as well as go after the bowling. He did try but somehow he always found the fielders. It was unfortunate it didn't work for us. We needed somebody to play percentage cricket at that stage."

"We failed in batting. If the opposition scores 153 and you cannot achieve that on a track like this, I don't think there can be any excuse. You just cannot explain that. We lost simply because we did not bat well. I'm rather happy with the performance of the bowlers," he added.

After the 2009 T20 WC, Dhoni led India in every edition of the marquee event till 2016, taking them to the final in 2014 and the semi-finals two years later at home. Since India's 2007 T20 WC triumph, they are yet to lift the mega title once again.

Meanwhile, Dhoni also led&nbsp;India&nbsp;to the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy during his captaincy tenure.

MS Dhoni is currently involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. He is leading the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who picked their third win of the season -- after five games -- as they emerged on top of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 24, in Bengaluru, on Monday evening (April 17).

MS Dhoni is currently involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. He is leading the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who picked their third win of the season -- after five games -- as they emerged on top of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 24, in Bengaluru, on Monday evening (April 17). It is believed that this is the last IPL season for Dhoni although the 41-year-old has not given any clarity on his future. Dhoni remains a huge name in world cricket. He retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020, putting an end to his illustrious career with 17,266 runs, 634 catches, 359 sixes, 195 stumpings and having led India to all three major ICC titles. He led India to the 2007 T20 World Cup title but the Men in Blue faced an early exit in the following edition, in England, in 2009. After India's three-run loss to hosts England in their second game of the Super Eight round, at Lord's London, the then skipper Dhoni apologised to the Indian fans for their dismal show. "We are more disappointed (than you) and we respect the emotions of our fans and the country. We are sorry for whatever happened. We gave our best and we say that with an open heart, we have nothing to hide. But the next Twenty20 world cup is coming again in nine months and we would have an opportunity of proving ourselves," said a dejected Dhoni after India's disappointing loss while addressing the press. Also Read: IPL 2023: Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni reunite, have a laugh together after CSK beat RCB in a thriller - Watch Talking about the match, India elected to bowl first and restricted England to 153 for 7, who rode on Kevin Pietersen's 46 and Ravi Bopara's 37. In reply, India promoted Ravindra Jadeja over Yuvraj Singh and paid the price for it as the then-inexperienced spin-bowling all-rounder made a scratchy 35-ball 25. From India, Gautam Gambhir, Dhoni, Yuvraj and Yusuf Pathan added runs on the board but it wasn't enough as India managed 150 for 5 in 20 overs. On his decision to promote Jadeja over Yuvraj, Dhoni said, "Sometimes you don't know what would happen. We thought Jadeja could stabilise the innings as well as go after the bowling. He did try but somehow he always found the fielders. It was unfortunate it didn't work for us. We needed somebody to play percentage cricket at that stage." "We failed in batting. If the opposition scores 153 and you cannot achieve that on a track like this, I don't think there can be any excuse. You just cannot explain that. We lost simply because we did not bat well. I'm rather happy with the performance of the bowlers," he added. After the 2009 T20 WC, Dhoni led India in every edition of the marquee event till 2016, taking them to the final in 2014 and the semi-finals two years later at home. Since India's 2007 T20 WC triumph, they are yet to lift the mega title once again. Meanwhile, Dhoni also led India to the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy during his captaincy tenure.

THROWBACK: When MS Dhoni apologised to Indian fans after Team India bowed out of 2009 T20 WC

Delhi Capitals' Rishabh Pant caught up with his teammates on the sidelines of the team's training session at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru ahead of their TATA IPL 2023 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Pant is currently undergoing rehabilitation and recovery at the National Cricket Academy.

When asked about his recovery, Pant said, "I am recovering very well and I'm getting better with each passing day. I came to visit the National Cricket Academy and the Delhi Capitals happened to be there. So I met the team." Pant further added, "I just saw how the team's practice is carrying on. I really love to be around the boys and I am missing it."

The wicketkeeper-batter also wished the team ahead of their next game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, "My heart and soul are always with the Delhi Capitals. I would like to wish them all the best for their next match." The Delhi Capitals will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Saturday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/many-predict-he-could-be-the-next-best-batsman-after-kohli-raja-lauds-gill-reserves-huge-praise-for-him-582502">'Many predict he could be the next best batsman after Kohli': Raja lauds Gill, reserves huge praise for him</a>

Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2023

Axar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, David Warner (c), Mitchell Marsh, Sarfaraz Khan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Yash Dhull, Rovman Powell, Pravin Dubey, Lungi Ngidi, Vicky Ostwal, Aman Khan, Phil Salt, Ishant Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Manish Pandey, Rilee Rossouw, Abhishek Porel

Delhi Capitals' Rishabh Pant caught up with his teammates on the sidelines of the team's training session at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru ahead of their TATA IPL 2023 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Delhi Capitals' Rishabh Pant caught up with his teammates on the sidelines of the team's training session at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru ahead of their TATA IPL 2023 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Pant is currently undergoing rehabilitation and recovery at the National Cricket Academy. When asked about his recovery, Pant said, "I am recovering very well and I'm getting better with each passing day. I came to visit the National Cricket Academy and the Delhi Capitals happened to be there. So I met the team." Pant further added, "I just saw how the team's practice is carrying on. I really love to be around the boys and I am missing it." The wicketkeeper-batter also wished the team ahead of their next game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, "My heart and soul are always with the Delhi Capitals. I would like to wish them all the best for their next match." The Delhi Capitals will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Saturday. Also Read: 'Many predict he could be the next best batsman after Kohli': Raja lauds Gill, reserves huge praise for him Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2023 Axar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, David Warner (c), Mitchell Marsh, Sarfaraz Khan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Yash Dhull, Rovman Powell, Pravin Dubey, Lungi Ngidi, Vicky Ostwal, Aman Khan, Phil Salt, Ishant Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Manish Pandey, Rilee Rossouw, Abhishek Porel

IPL 2023: 'I am recovering well,' says Rishabh Pant ahead of DC's tie vs RCB

Shubman Gill has been in the form of his life. After slamming a double ton in ODI cricket early this year, Gill scored his second Test hundred during India's home Tests versus Australia and is looking in good touch in IPL 2023 for the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT).

Gill scored a 49-ball 67 -- his second fifty of the season -- in GT's six-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mohali on Thursday (April 13). While many criticised his poor strike rate in the end overs and his inability to finish the run-chase, the right-hander is surely becoming a run-machine in all formats.&nbsp;

Recently, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja lavished huge praise on Gill as he agreed with the prediction that he could be the next best batsman after Virat Kohli in Indian cricket. On his Youtube channel, Raja said, “He has so much potential, he has so much time. He looks so naturally beautiful when he plays. When he drives, there's a curve on the shot. He has a lot of time to play his strokes. It doesn't matter if he scores on the off side, on side, hook or pull, it's just so beautiful and neat-and-clean. Many predict that he could be the next best batsman after Virat Kohli. He has touch, class, and elegance like Rohit Sharma. And his temperament is quite strong."

Also Read:&nbsp;'<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/show-temperament-like-ms-dhoni-manjrekar-schools-shubman-gill-after-gts-close-win-over-pbks-in-ipl-2023-582444">Show temperament like MS Dhoni": Manjrekar schools Shubman Gill after GT's close win over PBKS in IPL 2023</a>

Ramiz further added, "From Tests, ODIs, and T20Is as well, he has tormented the bowlers. When you see him, it seems the time has stopped. At such a young age, he already has records. Sky is the limit for him."

Gill will be eager to carry on the momentum and also maintain a healthy strike rate in the remainder of IPL 2023 and help Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat defend their title in the ongoing IPL season. The right-hander has become India's regular across formats and is set to open with captain Rohit Sharma in this year's ODI World Cup, at home, in October-November.&nbsp;

Shubman Gill has been in the form of his life. After slamming a double ton in ODI cricket early this year, Gill scored his second Test hundred during India's home Tests versus Australia and is looking in good touch in IPL 2023 for the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT).

Shubman Gill has been in the form of his life. After slamming a double ton in ODI cricket early this year, Gill scored his second Test hundred during India's home Tests versus Australia and is looking in good touch in IPL 2023 for the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT). Gill scored a 49-ball 67 -- his second fifty of the season -- in GT's six-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mohali on Thursday (April 13). While many criticised his poor strike rate in the end overs and his inability to finish the run-chase, the right-hander is surely becoming a run-machine in all formats. Recently, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja lavished huge praise on Gill as he agreed with the prediction that he could be the next best batsman after Virat Kohli in Indian cricket. On his Youtube channel, Raja said, “He has so much potential, he has so much time. He looks so naturally beautiful when he plays. When he drives, there's a curve on the shot. He has a lot of time to play his strokes. It doesn't matter if he scores on the off side, on side, hook or pull, it's just so beautiful and neat-and-clean. Many predict that he could be the next best batsman after Virat Kohli. He has touch, class, and elegance like Rohit Sharma. And his temperament is quite strong." Also Read: 'Show temperament like MS Dhoni": Manjrekar schools Shubman Gill after GT's close win over PBKS in IPL 2023 Ramiz further added, "From Tests, ODIs, and T20Is as well, he has tormented the bowlers. When you see him, it seems the time has stopped. At such a young age, he already has records. Sky is the limit for him." Gill will be eager to carry on the momentum and also maintain a healthy strike rate in the remainder of IPL 2023 and help Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat defend their title in the ongoing IPL season. The right-hander has become India's regular across formats and is set to open with captain Rohit Sharma in this year's ODI World Cup, at home, in October-November.

'Many predict he could be the next best batsman after Kohli': Raja lauds Gill, reserves huge praise for him

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is churning out nail-biting contests with each passing day. The ongoing season has already become a hit and is on course for more success before its conclusion on May 28. Soon after the end of IPL 2023, Rohit Sharma-led Team India will reassemble and leave for the United Kingdom to lock horns with Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the 2021-23 cycle.

After missing out on winning the inaugural WTC cycle, and losing to New Zealand in 2021, India will hope to make the most of this opportunity and&nbsp;end their 10-year-long ICC-title drought. While Indian players have been asked to manage their workload efficiently in IPL 2023, there have already been some injury concerns ahead of the WTC summit clash, on June 07 at The Oval, London. While Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant have already been ruled out, Shreyas Iyer is also out of contention.

With Iyer's back injury resurfacing during India-Australia home Tests, he is out of IPL 2023 and will also miss the high-voltage WTC clash. Thus, India have some tough calls to&nbsp;smartly pack their middle order for the marquee clash, keeping the English conditions in mind.

Many experts have chipped in the idea of KL Rahul to open with Rohit as the duo was a successful pair during India's four Tests in England in the 2021 English summer. However, Rahul's low returns -- in Australia Tests and IPL 2023 so far -- aren't unknown. If&nbsp;the team management still persists&nbsp;with Rahul-Rohit as their openers, this could drop in-form batter Shubman Gill at No. 5 (an alien spot for him);&nbsp;filling in for Iyer. Nonetheless, Ajinkya Rahane's two good outings for his new franchise, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing IPL season have led to many ardent Indian cricket fans and former cricketers suggesting his inclusion.

Rahane for WTC final?

It is to be noted that Rahane has made scores of 61 (27) and 31 (19), striking at over 200 (225.92) and 150 (163.15) respectively, so far in his two innings for CSK. While many can say that IPL isn't an ideal platform for any batter's&nbsp;return in Tests, that too after two-long years, Rahane has had a good domestic run as well.

Rahane scored 634 runs (with a best of 204)&nbsp;in seven matches, at an average of&nbsp;57.63, with a hundred and two fifties for Mumbai in the 2022/23 Ranji Trophy season. While he could have gone for a County stint (like Cheteshwar Pujara), rather than plying his trade in the IPL, a dearth of middle-order batters with Iyer and Pant's injury has brightened the chances for Rahane.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-it-comes-to-carrying-water-or-helping-out-someone-hes-such-a-team-man-ravi-shastri-hails-csk-batter-581710">'If it comes to carrying water or helping out someone, he's such a team man': Ravi Shastri hails CSK batter</a>

What are the numbers for Rahane?

Now, let's focus on Rahane's numbers in Tests, particularly in England. The right-hander has scored 4,931 Test runs in 82 Tests, with 12 hundreds and 25 half-centuries. In England, he has amassed 729 runs in 15 Tests, at a woeful average of 26.03, with a solitary hundred and five fifties. He has two memorable knocks in English conditions; 103 (Lord's Test, 2014) and 81 (Trent Bridge, 2018).

Meanwhile, Rahane has a total of 1,090 runs versus Australia at an average of 37.58 with two centuries and five half-centuries (only one at home). In addition, he has scored&nbsp;884 of those in Australia, which includes both his tons.

Above all, it is Rahane's experience that the Rohit-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team will bank up on if he earns a recall. A stage as big as a WTC final and an opposition as formidable as Pat Cummins-led Australia (against whom he scored his last ton -- a memorable 112)&nbsp;can perfectly motivate a senior pro like Rahane.

Given, Rahane has already tasted failure with the Virat Kohli-led Indian side in the inaugural WTC final, where he scored 49 and 15, the 34-year-old will be highly charged in possibly his last ICC final. In the twilight of his career, it goes without saying that the Mumbaikar will be desperate to make the most of any chance presented to him.

Fire to perform is still burning strong!

After his spirited 27-ball 61 in CSK debut, versus Mumbai Indians (MI), at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai,&nbsp;a determined Rahane subtly reminded the critics that it is still early to write him off. At the post-match presentation, he said, "I was just told to focus on my strengths and focus on preparation. I love playing at the Wankhede, I know the ground well. Have not played a Test here, yet." He even smiled when on-air commentators praised his usage of 'yet'.&nbsp;

Later, at the post-match presser, he stated, "Still, a long way to go [WTC final]. Today, I was not sure about my place in the eleven, (and) got to know just before the toss. For me, it is about playing one game at a time and staying in the moment. "Anything can happen. I will never give up. For me it is about playing with enjoyment and passion," Rahane added.

For now, Rahane needs to continue to tick the basics and add runs for CSK. If he continues in the same manner, the batting maestro -- and also a highly acclaimed slip fielder --&nbsp;might be in India's scheme of things&nbsp;to star in the playing XI for the WTC final. 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is churning out nail-biting contests with each passing day. The ongoing season has already become a hit and is on course for more success before its conclusion on May 28.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is churning out nail-biting contests with each passing day. The ongoing season has already become a hit and is on course for more success before its conclusion on May 28. Soon after the end of IPL 2023, Rohit Sharma-led Team India will reassemble and leave for the United Kingdom to lock horns with Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the 2021-23 cycle. After missing out on winning the inaugural WTC cycle, and losing to New Zealand in 2021, India will hope to make the most of this opportunity and end their 10-year-long ICC-title drought. While Indian players have been asked to manage their workload efficiently in IPL 2023, there have already been some injury concerns ahead of the WTC summit clash, on June 07 at The Oval, London. While Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant have already been ruled out, Shreyas Iyer is also out of contention. With Iyer's back injury resurfacing during India-Australia home Tests, he is out of IPL 2023 and will also miss the high-voltage WTC clash. Thus, India have some tough calls to smartly pack their middle order for the marquee clash, keeping the English conditions in mind. Many experts have chipped in the idea of KL Rahul to open with Rohit as the duo was a successful pair during India's four Tests in England in the 2021 English summer. However, Rahul's low returns -- in Australia Tests and IPL 2023 so far -- aren't unknown. If the team management still persists with Rahul-Rohit as their openers, this could drop in-form batter Shubman Gill at No. 5 (an alien spot for him); filling in for Iyer. Nonetheless, Ajinkya Rahane's two good outings for his new franchise, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing IPL season have led to many ardent Indian cricket fans and former cricketers suggesting his inclusion. Rahane for WTC final? It is to be noted that Rahane has made scores of 61 (27) and 31 (19), striking at over 200 (225.92) and 150 (163.15) respectively, so far in his two innings for CSK. While many can say that IPL isn't an ideal platform for any batter's return in Tests, that too after two-long years, Rahane has had a good domestic run as well. Rahane scored 634 runs (with a best of 204) in seven matches, at an average of 57.63, with a hundred and two fifties for Mumbai in the 2022/23 Ranji Trophy season. While he could have gone for a County stint (like Cheteshwar Pujara), rather than plying his trade in the IPL, a dearth of middle-order batters with Iyer and Pant's injury has brightened the chances for Rahane. Also Read: 'If it comes to carrying water or helping out someone, he's such a team man': Ravi Shastri hails CSK batter What are the numbers for Rahane? Now, let's focus on Rahane's numbers in Tests, particularly in England. The right-hander has scored 4,931 Test runs in 82 Tests, with 12 hundreds and 25 half-centuries. In England, he has amassed 729 runs in 15 Tests, at a woeful average of 26.03, with a solitary hundred and five fifties. He has two memorable knocks in English conditions; 103 (Lord's Test, 2014) and 81 (Trent Bridge, 2018). Meanwhile, Rahane has a total of 1,090 runs versus Australia at an average of 37.58 with two centuries and five half-centuries (only one at home). In addition, he has scored 884 of those in Australia, which includes both his tons. Above all, it is Rahane's experience that the Rohit-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team will bank up on if he earns a recall. A stage as big as a WTC final and an opposition as formidable as Pat Cummins-led Australia (against whom he scored his last ton -- a memorable 112) can perfectly motivate a senior pro like Rahane. Given, Rahane has already tasted failure with the Virat Kohli-led Indian side in the inaugural WTC final, where he scored 49 and 15, the 34-year-old will be highly charged in possibly his last ICC final. In the twilight of his career, it goes without saying that the Mumbaikar will be desperate to make the most of any chance presented to him. Fire to perform is still burning strong! After his spirited 27-ball 61 in CSK debut, versus Mumbai Indians (MI), at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, a determined Rahane subtly reminded the critics that it is still early to write him off. At the post-match presentation, he said, "I was just told to focus on my strengths and focus on preparation. I love playing at the Wankhede, I know the ground well. Have not played a Test here, yet." He even smiled when on-air commentators praised his usage of 'yet'. Later, at the post-match presser, he stated, "Still, a long way to go [WTC final]. Today, I was not sure about my place in the eleven, (and) got to know just before the toss. For me, it is about playing one game at a time and staying in the moment. "Anything can happen. I will never give up. For me it is about playing with enjoyment and passion," Rahane added. For now, Rahane needs to continue to tick the basics and add runs for CSK. If he continues in the same manner, the batting maestro -- and also a highly acclaimed slip fielder -- might be in India's scheme of things to star in the playing XI for the WTC final. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained: Why Team India may turn back to Ajinkya Rahane for WTC final

Match 13 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition went down to the wire, in Ahmedabad on Sunday (April 09). Hosting the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rashid Khan's Gujarat Titans (GT), in absence of regular captain Hardik Pandya, scored 204-4 after opting to bat first but couldn't defend the score as they failed to defend 29 off the last six balls.

Rinku Singh smashed a breathtaking 21-ball 48*, after KKR's Venkatesh Iyer's 43-ball 80 and skipper Nitish Rana's 45 (29), to shatter defending champions GT's hopes. From GT, there were plenty of positives with fifties from Sai Sudharsan (53), Vijay Shankar's 24-ball 63*, laced with 4 fours and 5 sixes at 262.50, and Rashid's hat-trick but it all ended in a losing cause.

Shankar, who scored 56 runs in his first two outings in IPL 2023, is in good form. He started 2019 with some good knocks for India as well, before the 2019 ODI World Cup squad was announced. In another ODI WC year, with the showpiece event to be held in India in October-November, Ravi Shastri opened up on his form.

It is to be noted that Shastri was India's head coach when Shankar was picked, surprisingly ahead of Ambati Rayudu, for the ODI WC in 2019. While speaking on Star Sports, the former cricketer-turned-commentator said, "The fact that Vijay was picked for the World Cup is because he had this kind of talent. And I am glad that he has gone back, worked hard, and not given up. You know he has had some tough times, he has had an operation as well, but he has come back strong."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-match-14-royal-challengers-bangalore-vs-lucknow-super-giants-match-preview-and-result-prediction-580896">IPL 2023, Match 14, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Lucknow Super Giants - Match preview and result prediction</a>

Shastri added, "Beautiful hitting today because he is a clean striker of the ball, he has got a wide range of shots and, because of his reach and height, he can hit the ball a long, long way. Great to see. This is the strength of the Gujarat Titans. They have got some power hitters in the back end of the innings. So if they get off to a good start then they are a very dangerous side at the back end of the innings."

Shankar-starrer GT will now face Punjab Kings (PBKS), at the IS Bindra Cricket Stadium, Mohali, on Thursday (April 13).

Match 13 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition went down to the wire, in Ahmedabad on Sunday (April 09). Hosting the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rashid Khan's Gujarat Titans (GT), in absence of regular captain Hardik Pandya, scored 204-4 after opting to bat first but couldn't defend the score as they failed to defend 29 off the last six balls.

Match 13 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition went down to the wire, in Ahmedabad on Sunday (April 09). Hosting the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rashid Khan's Gujarat Titans (GT), in absence of regular captain Hardik Pandya, scored 204-4 after opting to bat first but couldn't defend the score as they failed to defend 29 off the last six balls. Rinku Singh smashed a breathtaking 21-ball 48*, after KKR's Venkatesh Iyer's 43-ball 80 and skipper Nitish Rana's 45 (29), to shatter defending champions GT's hopes. From GT, there were plenty of positives with fifties from Sai Sudharsan (53), Vijay Shankar's 24-ball 63*, laced with 4 fours and 5 sixes at 262.50, and Rashid's hat-trick but it all ended in a losing cause. Shankar, who scored 56 runs in his first two outings in IPL 2023, is in good form. He started 2019 with some good knocks for India as well, before the 2019 ODI World Cup squad was announced. In another ODI WC year, with the showpiece event to be held in India in October-November, Ravi Shastri opened up on his form. It is to be noted that Shastri was India's head coach when Shankar was picked, surprisingly ahead of Ambati Rayudu, for the ODI WC in 2019. While speaking on Star Sports, the former cricketer-turned-commentator said, "The fact that Vijay was picked for the World Cup is because he had this kind of talent. And I am glad that he has gone back, worked hard, and not given up. You know he has had some tough times, he has had an operation as well, but he has come back strong." Also Read: IPL 2023, Match 14, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Lucknow Super Giants - Match preview and result prediction Shastri added, "Beautiful hitting today because he is a clean striker of the ball, he has got a wide range of shots and, because of his reach and height, he can hit the ball a long, long way. Great to see. This is the strength of the Gujarat Titans. They have got some power hitters in the back end of the innings. So if they get off to a good start then they are a very dangerous side at the back end of the innings." Shankar-starrer GT will now face Punjab Kings (PBKS), at the IS Bindra Cricket Stadium, Mohali, on Thursday (April 13).

'He was picked for CWC'19 for this kind of talent': Ravi Shastri lauds GT's in-form batter Vijay Shankar

Virat Kohli started his international career in 2008. To date, he is Indian cricket's poster boy due to his plethora of achievements and contributions to the game. Kohli debuted under MS Dhoni in the Team India camp and played under him for many years before taking over as the Test captain, in 2015, and went on to captain the latter till the 2019 ODI World Cup. Kohli served as Dhoni's deputy before taking over as the full-time captain and maintains a strong bond with him to date.

Apart from his heroics for Team India, Kohli is the face of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL as well -- his only franchise to date since the tournament's inception in 2008. He has scored a mammoth 6,727 runs for the franchise -- most in IPL history -- and even led them to the final in the 2016 edition. Over the years, he has forged an excellent relationship with AB de Villiers -- the former South African captain -- who also represented RCB for ten years (2011-2021). The duo stitched innumerable partnerships and formed a healthy camaraderie both on and off the field.

Thus, superstar Kohli enjoys a strong equation with both Dhoni and De Villiers. Amid his IPL 2023 commitment for RCB, the 34-year-old was asked to pick his favourite cricketer between Dhoni and ABD in a 'This or That' session with Star Sports.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-for-him-to-hit-it-that-far-was-wood-in-awe-of-ms-dhonis-six-hitting-prowess-in-csk-lsg-tie-579798">IPL 2023: 'For him to hit it that far was...' - Wood in awe of MS Dhoni's six-hitting prowess in CSK-LSG tie</a>

In the video was uploaded by the broadcaster on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, Virat was&nbsp;asked, "MSD or ABD, your favourite cricketer?" To this, he first gave a wide smile and then said, "Both".

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You're watching <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImVkohli</a> pick his faves as quickly as he'll be rattling <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kolkata?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kolkata</a>. 
 
Catch the legend in action in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLOnStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLOnStar</a>!🎉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShorOn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShorOn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GameOn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GameOn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BetterTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BetterTogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/kBQLG1DI3B">pic.twitter.com/kBQLG1DI3B</a>
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1643946627697369090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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At present, ABD is donning the commentary hat for the ongoing IPL season. While Kohli remains part of the Faf du Plessis-led RCB camp, Dhoni is leading the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in what is expected to be his final season in the cash-rich league.

Both Dhoni and ABD retired from international cricket long back but remain big names in world cricket.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli started his international career in 2008. To date, he is Indian cricket's poster boy due to his plethora of achievements and contributions to the game.

Virat Kohli started his international career in 2008. To date, he is Indian cricket's poster boy due to his plethora of achievements and contributions to the game. Kohli debuted under MS Dhoni in the Team India camp and played under him for many years before taking over as the Test captain, in 2015, and went on to captain the latter till the 2019 ODI World Cup. Kohli served as Dhoni's deputy before taking over as the full-time captain and maintains a strong bond with him to date. Apart from his heroics for Team India, Kohli is the face of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL as well -- his only franchise to date since the tournament's inception in 2008. He has scored a mammoth 6,727 runs for the franchise -- most in IPL history -- and even led them to the final in the 2016 edition. Over the years, he has forged an excellent relationship with AB de Villiers -- the former South African captain -- who also represented RCB for ten years (2011-2021). The duo stitched innumerable partnerships and formed a healthy camaraderie both on and off the field. Thus, superstar Kohli enjoys a strong equation with both Dhoni and De Villiers. Amid his IPL 2023 commitment for RCB, the 34-year-old was asked to pick his favourite cricketer between Dhoni and ABD in a 'This or That' session with Star Sports. Also Read: IPL 2023: 'For him to hit it that far was...' - Wood in awe of MS Dhoni's six-hitting prowess in CSK-LSG tie In the video was uploaded by the broadcaster on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, Virat was asked, "MSD or ABD, your favourite cricketer?" To this, he first gave a wide smile and then said, "Both". You're watching @ImVkohli pick his faves as quickly as he'll be rattling #Kolkata. Catch the legend in action in #IPLOnStar!🎉#ShorOn #GameOn #BetterTogether pic.twitter.com/kBQLG1DI3B — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 6, 2023 × At present, ABD is donning the commentary hat for the ongoing IPL season. While Kohli remains part of the Faf du Plessis-led RCB camp, Dhoni is leading the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in what is expected to be his final season in the cash-rich league. Both Dhoni and ABD retired from international cricket long back but remain big names in world cricket.

IPL 2023: Dhoni or De Villiers -- name your favourite cricketer? Kohli wins hearts with epic reply – WATCH

Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) are off to a flying start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. PBKS have started off on a winning note, emerging on top in their first two games of the new season under the new captain. Dhawan led the charge with the bat in his side's last outing, versus the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati on Wednesday (April 05), with a fine 56-ball 86* as Punjab beat Sanju Samson &amp; Co. by five runs in a high-scoring thriller.

The 16th edition of the IPL is a vital season for Dhawan. The senior Indian player has been dropped from the ODI side, having lost his T20I place back in late 2021, and needs a memorable run with the bat in IPL 2023 to have any chance of featuring in the Indian squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup at home. After his splendid knock versus RR, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh backed Dhawan and questioned 'why he is not getting a chance in the Indian team'.

'You gave Rohit, Kohli and KL&nbsp;plenty of chances but there is no place for&nbsp;Dhawan'

"Shikhar has also led the Indian side in many tours but suddenly we saw that after the role of Shikhar was over he was sidelined as if he is not needed anymore. I felt bad on seeing this because the treatment for everyone should be the same. He is a big player and has given too much to Indian cricket," Harbhajan&nbsp;shared his views on YouTube.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-dhoni-or-de-villiers-name-your-favourite-cricketer-kohli-wins-hearts-with-epic-reply-watch-580021">IPL 2023: Dhoni or De Villiers -- name your favourite cricketer? Kohli wins hearts with epic reply – WATCH</a>

"You can not treat him like this. He played a good knock of 86 in 56 balls. I will not name anyone here. For instance, let's take Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, or KL Rahul who are big names. You gave them plenty of chances but on the other hand, there is no place for Shikhar Dhawan in the team now. He has always contributed for the team. Then why he is not getting a chance in the Indian team? Talking about fitness, he is as fit as Virat Kohli," Harbhajan further added.

The senior Indian batter has been replaced by Shubman Gill who has had a remarkable run across formats. Dhawan will still hope for a good IPL season with the bat and pray for a return to the national side for the ODI WC.

Dhawan-led PBKS will now face the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Hyderabad on Sunday evening (April 09) and hope to keep their winning run going in IPL 2023.

Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) are off to a flying start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. PBKS have started off on a winning note, emerging on top in their first two games of the new season under the new captain.

Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) are off to a flying start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. PBKS have started off on a winning note, emerging on top in their first two games of the new season under the new captain. Dhawan led the charge with the bat in his side's last outing, versus the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati on Wednesday (April 05), with a fine 56-ball 86* as Punjab beat Sanju Samson & Co. by five runs in a high-scoring thriller. The 16th edition of the IPL is a vital season for Dhawan. The senior Indian player has been dropped from the ODI side, having lost his T20I place back in late 2021, and needs a memorable run with the bat in IPL 2023 to have any chance of featuring in the Indian squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup at home. After his splendid knock versus RR, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh backed Dhawan and questioned 'why he is not getting a chance in the Indian team'. 'You gave Rohit, Kohli and KL plenty of chances but there is no place for Dhawan' "Shikhar has also led the Indian side in many tours but suddenly we saw that after the role of Shikhar was over he was sidelined as if he is not needed anymore. I felt bad on seeing this because the treatment for everyone should be the same. He is a big player and has given too much to Indian cricket," Harbhajan shared his views on YouTube. Also Read: IPL 2023: Dhoni or De Villiers -- name your favourite cricketer? Kohli wins hearts with epic reply – WATCH "You can not treat him like this. He played a good knock of 86 in 56 balls. I will not name anyone here. For instance, let's take Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, or KL Rahul who are big names. You gave them plenty of chances but on the other hand, there is no place for Shikhar Dhawan in the team now. He has always contributed for the team. Then why he is not getting a chance in the Indian team? Talking about fitness, he is as fit as Virat Kohli," Harbhajan further added. The senior Indian batter has been replaced by Shubman Gill who has had a remarkable run across formats. Dhawan will still hope for a good IPL season with the bat and pray for a return to the national side for the ODI WC. Dhawan-led PBKS will now face the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Hyderabad on Sunday evening (April 09) and hope to keep their winning run going in IPL 2023.

'You gave Rohit, Virat & Rahul plenty of chances': Harbhajan Singh questions Indian star player's omission

Indian cricket legends MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami and Suresh Raina received lifetime Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) membership on Wednesday (April 05). It is to be noted that the MCC named as many as 19 new Honorary Life Members with eight Test playing nations represented in the latest cohort. The London-based club, known to make the rules of the game, awards honorary life membership to some of the legends of the sport in men's as well as women's cricket.&nbsp;

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Guy Lavender, Chief Executive &amp; Secretary of MCC, stated, "We are thrilled to be able to announce our newest cohort of Honorary Life Members of MCC, as we prepare for the new international summer. The names that have been announced today are some of the greatest international players of modern times, and we are privileged to now count them as valued Members of our Club.
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"We are also pleased to be able to announce two individuals who have been awarded this honour for their monumental contributions off the pitch."
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-virat-dhoni-raina-or-de-villiers-anil-kumble-names-this-superstar-as-undisputed-goat-of-ipl-576951">Not Virat, Dhoni, Raina or De Villiers! Anil Kumble names THIS superstar as undisputed G.O.A.T. of IPL</a>

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👏 Congratulations to these <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCCI</a> greats, who have been awarded as Honorary Life Members of MCC.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CricketTwitter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CricketTwitter</a>
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Dhoni, Yuvraj and Raina are regarded as one of the best white-ball players for the senior men's team. The trio were part of India's 2011 ODI World Cup triumph whereas Dhoni and Yuvraj also played a key role in Men in Blue's 2007 T20 World Cup win. In 2013, Dhoni and Raina-starrer India won the 2013 Champions Trophy as well. All these wins came under Dhoni's captaincy.&nbsp;

Although Yuvi and Raina were known for their white-ball heroics, Dhoni also ended with 4,876 runs in Tests at an average of nearly 38, including a double ton. The trio are also known as IPL legends.

Meanwhile, Mithali and Jhulan are the pioneers of women's cricket in the country.&nbsp;While Mithali remains one of the top batters in women's cricket history, Jhulan made the ball talk during her illustrious career for the Women in Blue. Both were part of India's 2005 and 2017 ODI World Cup campaigns where the national side ended second. To date, Mithali is the leading run-getter in women's ODIs whereas Jhulan tops the list for most wickets in the format. Both retired from the game in 2022.

Others on the honoured list: Merissa Aguilleira (West Indies, 2008-2019), Jenny Gunn (England, 2004-2019), Muhammad Hafeez (Pakistan, 2003-2021), Rachael Haynes (Australia, 2009-2022), Laura Marsh (England, 2006-2019), Eoin Morgan (England, 2006-2022), Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh, 2001-2020), Kevin Pietersen (England, 2005-2014), Amy Satterthwaite (New Zealand, 2007-2022), Anya Shrubsole (England, 2008-2022), Dale Steyn (South Africa, 2004-2020) and Ross Taylor (New Zealand, 2006-2022)
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Indian cricket legends MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami and Suresh Raina received lifetime Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) membership on Wednesday (April 05).

Indian cricket legends MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami and Suresh Raina received lifetime Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) membership on Wednesday (April 05). It is to be noted that the MCC named as many as 19 new Honorary Life Members with eight Test playing nations represented in the latest cohort. The London-based club, known to make the rules of the game, awards honorary life membership to some of the legends of the sport in men's as well as women's cricket. Guy Lavender, Chief Executive & Secretary of MCC, stated, "We are thrilled to be able to announce our newest cohort of Honorary Life Members of MCC, as we prepare for the new international summer. The names that have been announced today are some of the greatest international players of modern times, and we are privileged to now count them as valued Members of our Club. "We are also pleased to be able to announce two individuals who have been awarded this honour for their monumental contributions off the pitch." Also Read: Not Virat, Dhoni, Raina or De Villiers! Anil Kumble names THIS superstar as undisputed G.O.A.T. of IPL Representing 🇮🇳 👏 Congratulations to these @BCCI greats, who have been awarded as Honorary Life Members of MCC.#CricketTwitter — Marylebone Cricket Club (@MCCOfficial) April 5, 2023 × 👏 MCC awards Honorary Life Membership of the Club to some of the world’s finest cricketers. We can now reveal the names of the latest men and women to have been bestowed with this privilege ⤵️#CricketTwitter — Marylebone Cricket Club (@MCCOfficial) April 5, 2023 × Dhoni, Yuvraj and Raina are regarded as one of the best white-ball players for the senior men's team. The trio were part of India's 2011 ODI World Cup triumph whereas Dhoni and Yuvraj also played a key role in Men in Blue's 2007 T20 World Cup win. In 2013, Dhoni and Raina-starrer India won the 2013 Champions Trophy as well. All these wins came under Dhoni's captaincy. Although Yuvi and Raina were known for their white-ball heroics, Dhoni also ended with 4,876 runs in Tests at an average of nearly 38, including a double ton. The trio are also known as IPL legends. Meanwhile, Mithali and Jhulan are the pioneers of women's cricket in the country. While Mithali remains one of the top batters in women's cricket history, Jhulan made the ball talk during her illustrious career for the Women in Blue. Both were part of India's 2005 and 2017 ODI World Cup campaigns where the national side ended second. To date, Mithali is the leading run-getter in women's ODIs whereas Jhulan tops the list for most wickets in the format. Both retired from the game in 2022. Others on the honoured list: Merissa Aguilleira (West Indies, 2008-2019), Jenny Gunn (England, 2004-2019), Muhammad Hafeez (Pakistan, 2003-2021), Rachael Haynes (Australia, 2009-2022), Laura Marsh (England, 2006-2019), Eoin Morgan (England, 2006-2022), Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh, 2001-2020), Kevin Pietersen (England, 2005-2014), Amy Satterthwaite (New Zealand, 2007-2022), Anya Shrubsole (England, 2008-2022), Dale Steyn (South Africa, 2004-2020) and Ross Taylor (New Zealand, 2006-2022)

Indian cricket legends MS Dhoni, Yuvraj, Mithali, Jhulan Goswami, Raina bag MCC life membership

India's star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who got off to a losing start in the ongoing edition, were dealt with a huge blow when Shakib Al Hasan withdraw from the current season and now more miseries have been added with their regular captain Iyer being ruled out. In addition, Iyer will miss the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, at The Oval, London, in early June as he will undergo a back surgery.

As per ESPNcricinfo, Iyer will be travelling overseas for the surgery and, thus, will be out of cricketing action for at least three months before he resumes training. The 28-year-old has been dealing with back issues for a long time. He had missed the first Test of the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 edition before his back complaints resurfaced during the final Test, in Ahmedabad. As a result, he missed the three-match ODI series versus Australia. Before the India-Australia Tests, he&nbsp;had experienced problems due to the same injury in December after the end of India's tour of Bangladesh.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-ms-dhoni-hits-two-mammoth-sixes-during-csks-chepauk-return-as-crowd-goes-bonkers-watch-579031">&nbsp;IPL 2023: MS Dhoni hits two mammoth sixes during CSK's Chepauk return as crowd goes bonkers - Watch</a>

In Iyer's absence, Nitish Rana was made KKR's interim captain and will now lead the side in the remainder of the IPL 2023 edition. Moreover, Rohit Sharma-led India will have to find a suitable replacement for Iyer before they square off versus Australia in the WTC finale, to be held in the United Kingdom soon after the conclusion of the ongoing IPL season.

Meanwhile, Iyer is expected to remain out of action till June end but it will all depend on how his surgery goes abroad. The batter will be aiming to return to the Indian team before Asia Cup 2023, which will be followed by the ICC ODI World Cup -- to be held in India in October-November.

India's star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who got off to a losing start in the ongoing edition, were dealt with a huge blow when Shakib Al Hasan withdraw from the current season and now more miseries have been added with their regular captain Iyer being ruled out.

India's star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who got off to a losing start in the ongoing edition, were dealt with a huge blow when Shakib Al Hasan withdraw from the current season and now more miseries have been added with their regular captain Iyer being ruled out. In addition, Iyer will miss the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, at The Oval, London, in early June as he will undergo a back surgery. As per ESPNcricinfo, Iyer will be travelling overseas for the surgery and, thus, will be out of cricketing action for at least three months before he resumes training. The 28-year-old has been dealing with back issues for a long time. He had missed the first Test of the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 edition before his back complaints resurfaced during the final Test, in Ahmedabad. As a result, he missed the three-match ODI series versus Australia. Before the India-Australia Tests, he had experienced problems due to the same injury in December after the end of India's tour of Bangladesh. Also Read: IPL 2023: MS Dhoni hits two mammoth sixes during CSK's Chepauk return as crowd goes bonkers - Watch In Iyer's absence, Nitish Rana was made KKR's interim captain and will now lead the side in the remainder of the IPL 2023 edition. Moreover, Rohit Sharma-led India will have to find a suitable replacement for Iyer before they square off versus Australia in the WTC finale, to be held in the United Kingdom soon after the conclusion of the ongoing IPL season. Meanwhile, Iyer is expected to remain out of action till June end but it will all depend on how his surgery goes abroad. The batter will be aiming to return to the Indian team before Asia Cup 2023, which will be followed by the ICC ODI World Cup -- to be held in India in October-November.

Shreyas Iyer Injury update - KKR skipper ruled out of IPL 2023, to also miss WTC Final

On Sunday (April 02), India celebrated the 12th anniversary of the senior men's cricket team's historic 2011 ODI World Cup triumph. Back in 2011, MS Dhoni-led Team India won the 50-over World Cup after 28 years and became the first nation to win the tournament on home soil. It was Sachin Tendulkar's final CWC and the team gave their all to win the coveted title for the first time after 1983.&nbsp;

Recently,&nbsp;Star Sports conducted&nbsp;a special show recalling the CWC'11 which featured members of the then Indian team such as Virender Sehwag, S Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan. During the show, Sehwag -- who played a key role in India's campaign with a hundred versus Bangladesh and blistering knocks against South Africa, England and Pakistan -- revealed how Sreesanth complained of not being able to breathe during the tournament finale, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai where Men in Blue faced Kumar Sangakkara's Sri Lanka.

“You didn't even bowl half your quota. You were complaining 'I'm not being able to breathe' just after bowling 2 to 3 overs and went out," said Sehwag. To this, Sreesanth responded, "I did get a heatstroke because I went to the gym earlier that morning as I felt I won't get a chance in the playing XI. Harbhajan told me to stay ready but he was doing this since quarterfinals, so I felt he can make the cut straight into the finals. But Jai Mata Di I got a chance."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-historic-feat-ms-dhoni-becomes-seventh-player-to-enter-5k-run-club-in-mega-event-578694">IPL 2023: HISTORIC FEAT! MS Dhoni becomes seventh player to enter 5k-run club in mega event - Watch</a>

The former Indian opener then revealed the ultimatum given to Sreesanth. he said, "We got him back on the field after saying if you don't bowl now then please don't play cricket ever in the future."

The ex-speedster then recalled Sachin's words and said, "When I was inside the dressing room, Sachin came during the drinks break. He said ‘Sree chupchap andar aaja aur bowl daal. Mahi bula raha hain’. (Dhoni has asked you to return so come back and bowl without saying anything) and I went."

In the CWC'11 final, India took on Sri Lanka as the Islanders opted to bat first. Sl rode on Mahela Jayawardene's 103 to post 274-6 and India were reduced to 31 for 2 before Gautam Gambhir's 97 and Dhoni's 91 took India to 277 for 4 to win by six wickets. Taking about the guests who featuered in Star's show, Sreesanth ended with 8-0-52-0 whereas Sehwag fell for a golden duck in the summit clash. Harbhajan managed to take a wicket whereas Yusuf Pathan was replaced by Suresh Raina in the knockouts of the mega event.

On Sunday (April 02), India celebrated the 12th anniversary of the senior men's cricket team's historic 2011 ODI World Cup triumph. Back in 2011, MS Dhoni-led Team India won the 50-over World Cup after 28 years and became the first nation to win the tournament on home soil.

On Sunday (April 02), India celebrated the 12th anniversary of the senior men's cricket team's historic 2011 ODI World Cup triumph. Back in 2011, MS Dhoni-led Team India won the 50-over World Cup after 28 years and became the first nation to win the tournament on home soil. It was Sachin Tendulkar's final CWC and the team gave their all to win the coveted title for the first time after 1983. Recently, Star Sports conducted a special show recalling the CWC'11 which featured members of the then Indian team such as Virender Sehwag, S Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan. During the show, Sehwag -- who played a key role in India's campaign with a hundred versus Bangladesh and blistering knocks against South Africa, England and Pakistan -- revealed how Sreesanth complained of not being able to breathe during the tournament finale, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai where Men in Blue faced Kumar Sangakkara's Sri Lanka. “You didn't even bowl half your quota. You were complaining 'I'm not being able to breathe' just after bowling 2 to 3 overs and went out," said Sehwag. To this, Sreesanth responded, "I did get a heatstroke because I went to the gym earlier that morning as I felt I won't get a chance in the playing XI. Harbhajan told me to stay ready but he was doing this since quarterfinals, so I felt he can make the cut straight into the finals. But Jai Mata Di I got a chance." Also Read: IPL 2023: HISTORIC FEAT! MS Dhoni becomes seventh player to enter 5k-run club in mega event - Watch The former Indian opener then revealed the ultimatum given to Sreesanth. he said, "We got him back on the field after saying if you don't bowl now then please don't play cricket ever in the future." The ex-speedster then recalled Sachin's words and said, "When I was inside the dressing room, Sachin came during the drinks break. He said ‘Sree chupchap andar aaja aur bowl daal. Mahi bula raha hain’. (Dhoni has asked you to return so come back and bowl without saying anything) and I went." In the CWC'11 final, India took on Sri Lanka as the Islanders opted to bat first. Sl rode on Mahela Jayawardene's 103 to post 274-6 and India were reduced to 31 for 2 before Gautam Gambhir's 97 and Dhoni's 91 took India to 277 for 4 to win by six wickets. Taking about the guests who featuered in Star's show, Sreesanth ended with 8-0-52-0 whereas Sehwag fell for a golden duck in the summit clash. Harbhajan managed to take a wicket whereas Yusuf Pathan was replaced by Suresh Raina in the knockouts of the mega event.

Just come and bowl, MS Dhoni has asked you to return: S Sreesanth reveals untold tale from CWC'11 final

Team India players are currently involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. Nonetheless, all the focus is on this year's ODI World Cup (ODI WC), which will be held in India in October-November. India will gear up to face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, soon after IPL 16 in early June, before the 50-over showpiece event kicks off later this year.

It is to be noted that India remains one of the top teams across formats but have not won an ICC title since 2013. Under MS Dhoni, India last won an ICC event during the 2013 Champions Trophy. Since then, they have reached the final of the 2014 T20 World Cup (T20 WC), semi-finals of the 2015 and 2019 ODI WCs and semis of the 2016 and 2022 editions of the T20 WC. In addition, they played the inaugural WTC final where they lost to New Zealand.&nbsp;

Thus, all eyes are on Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. to replicate Dhoni-led India's 2011 batch's ODI WC success later this year. Ahead of the showpiece event, Indian team is preparing and gelling well -- with several positives -- but are dealing with regular injury concerns and questions have also been raised on the frequent rests given to key players. In this regard, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar issued a stern warning to the Men in Blue.

"In a World Cup year any match missed means preparation gets hampered as the balance of the team gets affected. Another failure to win a World Cup will have repercussions that could possibly end a few international careers and that should be a red flag for those talking burnout and missing games for India." Gavaskar recently wrote in his column for Mid-Day

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/one-day-they-call-you-indias-future-next-day-they-say-you-should-drive-an-auto-md-siraj-on-online-trolls-578563">One day they call you India's future, next day they say you should drive an auto: Md Siraj on online trolls</a>

'BCCI needs to look into this concept of rest,&nbsp;a line needs to be drawn'

"I honestly feel that the BCCI needs to look into this concept of rest. All the Grade A cricketers have received very good contracts. They receive payment for every match. Tell me if there is any company whose CEO, or MDs get so much time off? I feel that if Indian cricket is to become more professional, a line needs to be drawn. If you want to be rested, you need to reduce your guarantees. Then you take rest, because you don't want to play. But how can anyone say that I don't want to play for the Indian team. Which is why I do not agree to the concept," Gavaskar has previously stated.

Before&nbsp;IPL 2023, India lost a home ODI series to Australia but still have plenty of 50-over games to play before the commencement of the 50-over World Cup. Will they lift the ODI WC after 12 years? Only time will tell...

Team India players are currently involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. Nonetheless, all the focus is on this year's ODI World Cup (ODI WC), which will be held in India in October-November.

Team India players are currently involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. Nonetheless, all the focus is on this year's ODI World Cup (ODI WC), which will be held in India in October-November. India will gear up to face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, soon after IPL 16 in early June, before the 50-over showpiece event kicks off later this year. It is to be noted that India remains one of the top teams across formats but have not won an ICC title since 2013. Under MS Dhoni, India last won an ICC event during the 2013 Champions Trophy. Since then, they have reached the final of the 2014 T20 World Cup (T20 WC), semi-finals of the 2015 and 2019 ODI WCs and semis of the 2016 and 2022 editions of the T20 WC. In addition, they played the inaugural WTC final where they lost to New Zealand. Thus, all eyes are on Rohit Sharma & Co. to replicate Dhoni-led India's 2011 batch's ODI WC success later this year. Ahead of the showpiece event, Indian team is preparing and gelling well -- with several positives -- but are dealing with regular injury concerns and questions have also been raised on the frequent rests given to key players. In this regard, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar issued a stern warning to the Men in Blue. "In a World Cup year any match missed means preparation gets hampered as the balance of the team gets affected. Another failure to win a World Cup will have repercussions that could possibly end a few international careers and that should be a red flag for those talking burnout and missing games for India." Gavaskar recently wrote in his column for Mid-Day Also Read: One day they call you India's future, next day they say you should drive an auto: Md Siraj on online trolls 'BCCI needs to look into this concept of rest, a line needs to be drawn' "I honestly feel that the BCCI needs to look into this concept of rest. All the Grade A cricketers have received very good contracts. They receive payment for every match. Tell me if there is any company whose CEO, or MDs get so much time off? I feel that if Indian cricket is to become more professional, a line needs to be drawn. If you want to be rested, you need to reduce your guarantees. Then you take rest, because you don't want to play. But how can anyone say that I don't want to play for the Indian team. Which is why I do not agree to the concept," Gavaskar has previously stated. Before IPL 2023, India lost a home ODI series to Australia but still have plenty of 50-over games to play before the commencement of the 50-over World Cup. Will they lift the ODI WC after 12 years? Only time will tell...

Another failure to win a World Cup could end few international careers: Gavaskar's stern warning to Team India

Mohammed Siraj has come a long way since his international debut in 2017. His breakthrough performance came during Ajinkya Rahane-led India's famous 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory over Australia Down Under. Since then, Siraj has grown leaps and bounds and remains in India's scheme of things across formats.

Siraj is currently the No. 3 bowler in ICC ODI Rankings and is involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition where he is once again representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). RCB opened their campaign in style in the ongoing edition with an eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Sunday evening (April 02).&nbsp;

Siraj also played a key role with an impressive spell of 4-0-21-1. Recently, Siraj opened up on his experience with online trolling. In a chat with Danish Sait on RCB Podcast, the 29-year-old said that while fans at Chinnaswamy stadium have chanted his name and cheered for him, it won't take long for them to troll him with one bad performance.

'Those messages kill your motivation'

“It is easy to write abuses," Siraj said. "But you don’t know anything about his struggle. How can you abuse someone then? Those messages kill your motivation. A guy is getting abused for no reason at all. Why? What’s next? One day they call you the future of India, the next day they claim you are nothing and should drive an auto. I don’t understand this," the speedster opined.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-unbelievable-jason-holder-pulls-off-a-stunner-in-srh-vs-rr-clash-watch-video-578548">IPL 2023: UNBELIEVABLE! Jason Holder pulls off a stunner in SRH vs RR clash - Watch video</a>

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Mohammed Siraj talks about dealing with social media trolling and urges the fans not to hate on the players, on <a href="https://twitter.com/eatsurenow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eatsurenow</a> presents <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCBPodcast?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCBPodcast</a>! 🚫 
 
Listen to the audio versions of all ten episodes on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 🎙️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://t.co/nOUWndLIjv">pic.twitter.com/nOUWndLIjv</a>
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Siraj, who was retained by the RCB ahead of IPL 2021, further added, "When you perform well, people start praising you so much, You are such a good bowler, next level. When I was retained, it was called as best retention. Now they question why I was retained? There was no need for you to be retained. You aren’t good enough to play cricket."

“Thank you for all the support but don’t abuse anyone. Ups and downs are part of life. That’s all I can say. Rest is up to you. You are aware of our struggle still you behave like that with us. That doesn’t affect us much but as a human, all I can ask from you is respect everyone," the RCB pacer&nbsp;added.

Siraj-starrer RCB will next be seen in action on April 06 (Thursday) when they will face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

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Mohammed Siraj has come a long way since his international debut in 2017. His breakthrough performance came during Ajinkya Rahane-led India's famous 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory over Australia Down Under.

Mohammed Siraj has come a long way since his international debut in 2017. His breakthrough performance came during Ajinkya Rahane-led India's famous 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory over Australia Down Under. Since then, Siraj has grown leaps and bounds and remains in India's scheme of things across formats. Siraj is currently the No. 3 bowler in ICC ODI Rankings and is involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition where he is once again representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). RCB opened their campaign in style in the ongoing edition with an eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Sunday evening (April 02). Siraj also played a key role with an impressive spell of 4-0-21-1. Recently, Siraj opened up on his experience with online trolling. In a chat with Danish Sait on RCB Podcast, the 29-year-old said that while fans at Chinnaswamy stadium have chanted his name and cheered for him, it won't take long for them to troll him with one bad performance. 'Those messages kill your motivation' “It is easy to write abuses," Siraj said. "But you don’t know anything about his struggle. How can you abuse someone then? Those messages kill your motivation. A guy is getting abused for no reason at all. Why? What’s next? One day they call you the future of India, the next day they claim you are nothing and should drive an auto. I don’t understand this," the speedster opined. Also Read: IPL 2023: UNBELIEVABLE! Jason Holder pulls off a stunner in SRH vs RR clash - Watch video Mohammed Siraj talks about dealing with social media trolling and urges the fans not to hate on the players, on @eatsurenow presents #RCBPodcast! 🚫 Listen to the audio versions of all ten episodes on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 🎙️#PlayBold pic.twitter.com/nOUWndLIjv — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 3, 2023 × Siraj, who was retained by the RCB ahead of IPL 2021, further added, "When you perform well, people start praising you so much, You are such a good bowler, next level. When I was retained, it was called as best retention. Now they question why I was retained? There was no need for you to be retained. You aren’t good enough to play cricket." “Thank you for all the support but don’t abuse anyone. Ups and downs are part of life. That’s all I can say. Rest is up to you. You are aware of our struggle still you behave like that with us. That doesn’t affect us much but as a human, all I can ask from you is respect everyone," the RCB pacer added. Siraj-starrer RCB will next be seen in action on April 06 (Thursday) when they will face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

One day they call you India's future, next day they say you should drive an auto: Md Siraj on online trolls

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to commence on Friday evening (March 31) in Ahmedabad. The opening game will see the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) take on the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium. The new season is keenly awaited as it will see the superstar cricketers light up the atmosphere as the 2023 edition marks the return of home-and-away format.

Over the years, the IPL has become a huge tournament. It is the most-followed T20 league, which came into existence in 2008 shortly after India's famous 2007 T20 World Cup triumph. The announcement of the league was made before the T20 WC win and since then, it has only grown leaps and bounds.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-from-mumbai-indians-1408-to-gujarat-titans-79-most-sixes-hit-by-existing-teams-in-mega-event-577567">IPL 2023: From Mumbai Indians' 1,408 to Gujarat Titans' 79 - Most sixes hit by existing teams in mega event</a>

The tournament has plenty of things to look forward to. The teams fight it out for the mega title whereas the batters also compete for the Orange Cap (most runs in a season) whereas bowlers lock horns to bag the Purple Cap (with most wickets). In 2007, Pakistan's Sohail Tanvir (22) bagged the Purple Cap for the eventual winners Rajasthan Royals (RR). In 2009, India's RP Singh claimed the elite cap with 23&nbsp;wickets for the Adam Gilchrist-led now-defunct Deccan Chargers.

In 2009 edition, Singh claimed as many as 23 scalps as the Chargers went on to lift the title by beating the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by six runs in the final. The tournament was held in South Africa due to the general elections in India.&nbsp;

Singh was also India's leading wicket-taker in Dhoni-led Men in Blue's famous T20 WC triumph, picking 12 wickets (third overall).

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to commence on Friday evening (March 31) in Ahmedabad. The opening game will see the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) take on the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to commence on Friday evening (March 31) in Ahmedabad. The opening game will see the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) take on the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium. The new season is keenly awaited as it will see the superstar cricketers light up the atmosphere as the 2023 edition marks the return of home-and-away format. Over the years, the IPL has become a huge tournament. It is the most-followed T20 league, which came into existence in 2008 shortly after India's famous 2007 T20 World Cup triumph. The announcement of the league was made before the T20 WC win and since then, it has only grown leaps and bounds. Also Read: IPL 2023: From Mumbai Indians' 1,408 to Gujarat Titans' 79 - Most sixes hit by existing teams in mega event The tournament has plenty of things to look forward to. The teams fight it out for the mega title whereas the batters also compete for the Orange Cap (most runs in a season) whereas bowlers lock horns to bag the Purple Cap (with most wickets). In 2007, Pakistan's Sohail Tanvir (22) bagged the Purple Cap for the eventual winners Rajasthan Royals (RR). In 2009, India's RP Singh claimed the elite cap with 23 wickets for the Adam Gilchrist-led now-defunct Deccan Chargers. In 2009 edition, Singh claimed as many as 23 scalps as the Chargers went on to lift the title by beating the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by six runs in the final. The tournament was held in South Africa due to the general elections in India. Singh was also India's leading wicket-taker in Dhoni-led Men in Blue's famous T20 WC triumph, picking 12 wickets (third overall).

IPL 2023: Not Zaheer or Kumble! THIS 2007 T20 WC medallist was India's first Purple Cap winner

Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has always created a stir with his controversial statements. He had called Jasprit Bumrah a 'baby bowler' and openly claimed that Team India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is nowhere close to legendary former cricketer Kapil Dev. Recently, the ex-Pakistani player opened up on his controversial remark on Pandya.

In a conversation with Times of India, Razzaq said, "My earlier statement on Hardik Pandya was taken the wrong way. I didn't mean it. As a cricketer, I just said there is scope for improvement in him (Pandya). I didn't comment on a player who is from India, England, or Australia. I just said things as a cricketer. If Kapil Dev says that he wants to give advice to Abdul Razzaq, I will take this statement positively."

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-simon-doull-aamer-sohail-debate-over-babar-azams-t20i-strike-rate-on-live-tv-during-afg-pak-tie-576243">Watch: Simon Doull, Aamer Sohail debate over Babar Azam's T20I strike rate on live TV during Afg-Pak tie</a>

'That was just a statement as a former all-rounder'

Razzaq further opined, "He can work on a couple of things which according to him are areas of improvement - in terms of foot movement, bat movement, and how to judge a delivery before it is bowled. That was what I meant earlier. That was just a statement as a former all-rounder. People took it the wrong way and criticised me as well."

He added, "Hardik is a complete all-rounder. But no one is perfect. Everyone needs improvement in certain areas. When I was playing, I also lacked certain things. Wasim Akram was the same, Imran Khan was the same, Kapil Dev was the same. But still, we consider them all to be greats of the game."

Hardik was last seen in action during India's home ODIs versus Australia, which Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. lost 2-1. He has represented India in 74 ODIs and 87 T20Is and hasn't played a Test since mid-2018. The 29-year-old will lead the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in the forthcoming IPL 2023 edition, which kicks off on Friday (March 31) in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;

Hardik remains one of India's key players in the run-up to the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has always created a stir with his controversial statements. He had called Jasprit Bumrah a 'baby bowler' and openly claimed that Team India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is nowhere close to legendary former cricketer Kapil Dev.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has always created a stir with his controversial statements. He had called Jasprit Bumrah a 'baby bowler' and openly claimed that Team India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is nowhere close to legendary former cricketer Kapil Dev. Recently, the ex-Pakistani player opened up on his controversial remark on Pandya. In a conversation with Times of India, Razzaq said, "My earlier statement on Hardik Pandya was taken the wrong way. I didn't mean it. As a cricketer, I just said there is scope for improvement in him (Pandya). I didn't comment on a player who is from India, England, or Australia. I just said things as a cricketer. If Kapil Dev says that he wants to give advice to Abdul Razzaq, I will take this statement positively." Also Read: Watch: Simon Doull, Aamer Sohail debate over Babar Azam's T20I strike rate on live TV during Afg-Pak tie 'That was just a statement as a former all-rounder' Razzaq further opined, "He can work on a couple of things which according to him are areas of improvement - in terms of foot movement, bat movement, and how to judge a delivery before it is bowled. That was what I meant earlier. That was just a statement as a former all-rounder. People took it the wrong way and criticised me as well." He added, "Hardik is a complete all-rounder. But no one is perfect. Everyone needs improvement in certain areas. When I was playing, I also lacked certain things. Wasim Akram was the same, Imran Khan was the same, Kapil Dev was the same. But still, we consider them all to be greats of the game." Hardik was last seen in action during India's home ODIs versus Australia, which Rohit Sharma & Co. lost 2-1. He has represented India in 74 ODIs and 87 T20Is and hasn't played a Test since mid-2018. The 29-year-old will lead the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in the forthcoming IPL 2023 edition, which kicks off on Friday (March 31) in Ahmedabad. Hardik remains one of India's key players in the run-up to the 2023 ODI World Cup.

'If Kapil Dev says he wants to...': Abdul Razzaq opens up on his controversial remark on Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has been in sensational form of late. Over the past one year, the all-rounder has made rapid strides in white-ball formats and remains one of the key players for India in the shorter formats. Since his comeback post a back injury, which kept him out of action after the 2021 T20 World Cup, Hardik has been part of India's white-ball setup but is yet to play a Test for Team India since mid-2018. His last Test appearance came during Virat Kohli-led India's five-match Test series versus hosts England.&nbsp;

Ahead of the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition, which kicks off on March 31 in Ahmedabad, former Indian captain and Delhi Capitals' (DC) Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly opined on Hardik. He lavished praise on the Gujarat Titans (GT) captain but wants him to return to Test cricket.&nbsp;

'He should return to Test cricket because that's what he will be remembered for'

“There will be specialists in T20s. There's Hardik Pandya although I still feel he is an asset in Test cricket also and he should come back to Test cricket because that's what he will be remembered for. He is a specialist in ODIs and T20Is. But he is a very special cricketer,” Ganguly told&nbsp;The Times of India.

“I think money has nothing to do with how players play. It's great that money has come into the sport and that's how it should be. But I believe the majority of the players want to play all formats as long as they are good. It's terrific to see how hungry these boys are,” the former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief further added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-sachin-tendulkar-abdul-razzaq-names-master-blasters-iconic-teammate-as-most-dangerous-player-576611">Not Sachin Tendulkar! Abdul Razzaq names Master Blaster's ICONIC teammate as 'most dangerous player'</a>

Hardik has so far played only 11 Tests for Team India despite making his international debut in early 2016. The 29-year-old all-rounder recently opined on his possible Test return when a reporter asked him if he will be part of India's forthcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final in early June, where they will face Australia at The Oval, London.

To this, Hardik said, "No. I am an ethically very strong person. I haven’t done 10 per cent to reach there. I am not even a part of 1 per cent. So me coming there and taking someone’s place will ethically not go well." He added, "If I want to play Test cricket, I’ll go through the grind and earn my spot. Hence, for that reason I will not be available for the WTC final or future Test series until I don’t feel that I have earned my spot."

Hardik Pandya has been in sensational form of late. Over the past one year, the all-rounder has made rapid strides in white-ball formats and remains one of the key players for India in the shorter formats.

Hardik Pandya has been in sensational form of late. Over the past one year, the all-rounder has made rapid strides in white-ball formats and remains one of the key players for India in the shorter formats. Since his comeback post a back injury, which kept him out of action after the 2021 T20 World Cup, Hardik has been part of India's white-ball setup but is yet to play a Test for Team India since mid-2018. His last Test appearance came during Virat Kohli-led India's five-match Test series versus hosts England. Ahead of the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition, which kicks off on March 31 in Ahmedabad, former Indian captain and Delhi Capitals' (DC) Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly opined on Hardik. He lavished praise on the Gujarat Titans (GT) captain but wants him to return to Test cricket. 'He should return to Test cricket because that's what he will be remembered for' “There will be specialists in T20s. There's Hardik Pandya although I still feel he is an asset in Test cricket also and he should come back to Test cricket because that's what he will be remembered for. He is a specialist in ODIs and T20Is. But he is a very special cricketer,” Ganguly told The Times of India. “I think money has nothing to do with how players play. It's great that money has come into the sport and that's how it should be. But I believe the majority of the players want to play all formats as long as they are good. It's terrific to see how hungry these boys are,” the former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief further added. Also Read: Not Sachin Tendulkar! Abdul Razzaq names Master Blaster's ICONIC teammate as 'most dangerous player' Hardik has so far played only 11 Tests for Team India despite making his international debut in early 2016. The 29-year-old all-rounder recently opined on his possible Test return when a reporter asked him if he will be part of India's forthcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final in early June, where they will face Australia at The Oval, London. To this, Hardik said, "No. I am an ethically very strong person. I haven’t done 10 per cent to reach there. I am not even a part of 1 per cent. So me coming there and taking someone’s place will ethically not go well." He added, "If I want to play Test cricket, I’ll go through the grind and earn my spot. Hence, for that reason I will not be available for the WTC final or future Test series until I don’t feel that I have earned my spot."

'Hardik Pandya should....': Sourav Ganguly shares advice for 'a very special cricketer'

Shikhar Dhawan is in the last phase of his international career. At present, the 37-year-old cricketer isn't part of Team India across formats. However, Dhawan remains a big name in world cricket. He is known for his immaculate record in white-ball formats, especially in the ODIs, and for his positive approach and is a style icon for youngsters.

From his iconic moustache to several tattoos, Dhawan is a fan favourite. In a recent interaction, the swashbuckling left-hander opened up on a hilarious incident when he got his first tattoo and how he ended up taking an HIV test afterwards.

In an interview with Aajtak, Dhawan said, "When I was 14-15 years old, I had gone to Manali and had got a tattoo done on my back without informing my family members. I had to hide it for quite some time, about 3-4 months, and then when my father got to know, he beat me. I got a bit scared after doing the tattoo because I had no clue about the number of bodies that needle had pierced. So then I went and did my HIV Test and it's negative to date (laughs)."

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Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/decision-reversed-icc-modifies-india-australia-indore-pitch-rating-after-bccis-appeal-576171">Decision reversed! ICC modifies India-Australia Indore pitch rating after BCCI's appeal</a>

Dhawan was last seen in action for Team India during their three-match ODI series versus hosts Bangladesh in late 2022. Since then, he hasn't been part of the ODI squad whereas he was out of the T20I setup before 2021 T20 World Cup.&nbsp;

So far, he has featured in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs and 68 T20Is with&nbsp;2,315, 6,793 and 1,759 runs respectively. He has slammed 24 hundreds and scored 55 half-centuries overall.
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Shikhar Dhawan is in the last phase of his international career. At present, the 37-year-old cricketer isn't part of Team India across formats. However, Dhawan remains a big name in world cricket.

Shikhar Dhawan is in the last phase of his international career. At present, the 37-year-old cricketer isn't part of Team India across formats. However, Dhawan remains a big name in world cricket. He is known for his immaculate record in white-ball formats, especially in the ODIs, and for his positive approach and is a style icon for youngsters. From his iconic moustache to several tattoos, Dhawan is a fan favourite. In a recent interaction, the swashbuckling left-hander opened up on a hilarious incident when he got his first tattoo and how he ended up taking an HIV test afterwards. In an interview with Aajtak, Dhawan said, "When I was 14-15 years old, I had gone to Manali and had got a tattoo done on my back without informing my family members. I had to hide it for quite some time, about 3-4 months, and then when my father got to know, he beat me. I got a bit scared after doing the tattoo because I had no clue about the number of bodies that needle had pierced. So then I went and did my HIV Test and it's negative to date (laughs)." Also Read: Decision reversed! ICC modifies India-Australia Indore pitch rating after BCCI's appeal Dhawan was last seen in action for Team India during their three-match ODI series versus hosts Bangladesh in late 2022. Since then, he hasn't been part of the ODI squad whereas he was out of the T20I setup before 2021 T20 World Cup. So far, he has featured in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs and 68 T20Is with 2,315, 6,793 and 1,759 runs respectively. He has slammed 24 hundreds and scored 55 half-centuries overall.

I did my HIV Test: Team India's Shikhar Dhawan shares hilarious episode of when he got his first tattoo

Ahead of the third and final ODI between India and Australia, in Chennai on Wednesday (March 22), Team India's head coach Rahul Dravid spilled the beans on the side's preparations for the 2023 ODI World Cup at home. Dravid revealed that the team management has already shortlisted 17-18 players for the showpiece event.

In a pre-match presser, Dravid told in Chennai, "Probably not going to get too many more games in our conditions. We had the opportunity to play in these conditions which is great. Yeah, coming out of the IPL to a large extent we are pretty clear about the kind of squad and the players we want. We have narrowed it down to 17-18 players."

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'Within the squad we will like to keep the options. Overall,&nbsp;we are pretty much in good space'

Dravid further opined, "We have some guys who are recovering from injuries and will come into the frame based on their recovery. All in all, we are pretty much in good space. We are able to give those who we have zeroed in on as many playing opportunities.

"There are a couple of different combinations that we would like to try. It is a big tournament, a long tournament in India, we want to have that flexibility in our squad. some times four fast bowlers, sometimes three spinners. Within the squad we will like to keep the options. just to ensure that we have covered all our bases for all conditions," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/odi-world-cup-likely-to-kick-off-on-october-5-final-on-november-19-in-ahmedabad-report-574549">ODI World Cup likely to kick off on October 5, final on November 19 in Ahmedabad: Report</a>

Rohit Sharma-led India are preparing hard for the marquee event but have several injury concerns. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant are out of action due to injuries. With a lot of cricket to be played in the run-up to the ODI World Cup, in the form of IPL 2023, ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and Asia Cup 2023, the team management will hope for players to remain fresh and free from injuries. This will be India's biggest challenge heading into the ICC event at home.

As per reports, the ODI World Cup is set to kick off in India on October 05 and the final will be held in Ahmedabad on November 19. At present, India face Australia in the three-match ODI series finale, in Chennai, on Wednesday (March 22) with the series levelled at 1-1.
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Ahead of the third and final ODI between India and Australia, in Chennai on Wednesday (March 22), Team India's head coach Rahul Dravid spilled the beans on the side's preparations for the 2023 ODI World Cup at home.

Ahead of the third and final ODI between India and Australia, in Chennai on Wednesday (March 22), Team India's head coach Rahul Dravid spilled the beans on the side's preparations for the 2023 ODI World Cup at home. Dravid revealed that the team management has already shortlisted 17-18 players for the showpiece event. In a pre-match presser, Dravid told in Chennai, "Probably not going to get too many more games in our conditions. We had the opportunity to play in these conditions which is great. Yeah, coming out of the IPL to a large extent we are pretty clear about the kind of squad and the players we want. We have narrowed it down to 17-18 players." 'Within the squad we will like to keep the options. Overall, we are pretty much in good space' Dravid further opined, "We have some guys who are recovering from injuries and will come into the frame based on their recovery. All in all, we are pretty much in good space. We are able to give those who we have zeroed in on as many playing opportunities. "There are a couple of different combinations that we would like to try. It is a big tournament, a long tournament in India, we want to have that flexibility in our squad. some times four fast bowlers, sometimes three spinners. Within the squad we will like to keep the options. just to ensure that we have covered all our bases for all conditions," he added. Also Read: ODI World Cup likely to kick off on October 5, final on November 19 in Ahmedabad: Report Rohit Sharma-led India are preparing hard for the marquee event but have several injury concerns. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant are out of action due to injuries. With a lot of cricket to be played in the run-up to the ODI World Cup, in the form of IPL 2023, ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and Asia Cup 2023, the team management will hope for players to remain fresh and free from injuries. This will be India's biggest challenge heading into the ICC event at home. As per reports, the ODI World Cup is set to kick off in India on October 05 and the final will be held in Ahmedabad on November 19. At present, India face Australia in the three-match ODI series finale, in Chennai, on Wednesday (March 22) with the series levelled at 1-1.

'We have...': Rahul Dravid provides big update on India's 2023 World Cup preparations

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition is keenly awaited. Every team is preparing hard for the marquee event which will be held in India entirely. As per a report, the 50-over marquee tournament is set to kick off in early October and will end by mid-November.&nbsp;

As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, the 2023 ODI WC will commence on&nbsp;October 05 whereas the finale will be held on November 19 at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. The same report also suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the host of the ten-team tournament, has finalised as many as a dozen venues for the showpiece event.

Apart from Ahmedabad, the shortlisted cities are&nbsp;Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot, and Mumbai. It is to be noted that the tournament will be held in the round-robin stage, just like the 2019 edition, and will&nbsp;consist of&nbsp;48 matches including three knockouts across a 46-day period.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-team-india-shreyas-iyer-to-undergo-surgery-likely-to-skip-ipl-2023-wtc-final-and-odi-wc-574544">Big blow to Team India! Shreyas Iyer to undergo surgery, likely to skip IPL 2023, WTC final and ODI WC</a>

Why the delay from BCCI?

The BCCI has not specified venues for any games as of now, nor the two or three cities where the&nbsp;warm-up encounters will take place. It is learned that the delay in finalising the venues has been due to the threat posed by the monsoon season receding at different points across the nation.&nbsp;

The International Cricket Council (ICC) usually&nbsp;shares the World Cup schedules, at least, a year in the run-up to the event. However, much to the surprise of cricket fans worldwide, it hasn't been the case this time around. The wait has been prolonged as the Indian cricket board is&nbsp;yet to&nbsp;get the necessary clearance from the&nbsp;government.

The BCCI needs to get a tax exemption for hosting the mega&nbsp;tournament, and also acquire visa clearance for Team Pakistan. The Asian giants have not played a bilateral series in India since early 2013 and their last visit to their neighbouring country was during the 2016 T20 World Cup in India.

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition is keenly awaited. Every team is preparing hard for the marquee event which will be held in India entirely. As per a report, the 50-over marquee tournament is set to kick off in early October and will end by mid-November.

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition is keenly awaited. Every team is preparing hard for the marquee event which will be held in India entirely. As per a report, the 50-over marquee tournament is set to kick off in early October and will end by mid-November. As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, the 2023 ODI WC will commence on October 05 whereas the finale will be held on November 19 at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. The same report also suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the host of the ten-team tournament, has finalised as many as a dozen venues for the showpiece event. Apart from Ahmedabad, the shortlisted cities are Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot, and Mumbai. It is to be noted that the tournament will be held in the round-robin stage, just like the 2019 edition, and will consist of 48 matches including three knockouts across a 46-day period. Also Read: Big blow to Team India! Shreyas Iyer to undergo surgery, likely to skip IPL 2023, WTC final and ODI WC Why the delay from BCCI? The BCCI has not specified venues for any games as of now, nor the two or three cities where the warm-up encounters will take place. It is learned that the delay in finalising the venues has been due to the threat posed by the monsoon season receding at different points across the nation. The International Cricket Council (ICC) usually shares the World Cup schedules, at least, a year in the run-up to the event. However, much to the surprise of cricket fans worldwide, it hasn't been the case this time around. The wait has been prolonged as the Indian cricket board is yet to get the necessary clearance from the government. The BCCI needs to get a tax exemption for hosting the mega tournament, and also acquire visa clearance for Team Pakistan. The Asian giants have not played a bilateral series in India since early 2013 and their last visit to their neighbouring country was during the 2016 T20 World Cup in India.

ODI World Cup likely to kick off on October 5, final on November 19 in Ahmedabad: Report

Team India has dealt with several injury concerns of late. While Jasprit Bumrah remains out of action since last September, Rishabh Pant is recovering from his horrific car accident. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer complained of back issues during the fourth and final Test between India and Australia, in Ahmedabad, and is now likely to miss IPL 2023, ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, and ODI World Cup.

As per a report in India Today, sources have confirmed that Iyer has been advised of surgery in his third meeting with a Mumbai-based doctor. Thus, the middle-order batter&nbsp;is expected to remain out of action for at least five months; ruling him out of IPL 2023 edition,&nbsp;WTC finale in early June, and possibly skipping the ODI WC at home as well.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-king-virat-kohli-to-ms-dhonis-protege-rishabh-pant-most-runs-in-an-ipl-season-574365">From KING Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni's protégé, Rishabh Pant: Most runs in an IPL season</a>

The 28-year-old Iyer&nbsp;will be touch and go for the 2023 ODI WC. However, it will be highly unlikely that the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team management might consider the talented batter without playing him in the run-up to the showpiece event in the subcontinent.

Iyer was out of action due to injury concerns in the run-up to the 2021 T20 World Cup and even though he was included as a reserve, he didn't get a game. He didn't feature in a single game for Team India in the 2022 edition as well. Hence, if he is likely to miss the WTC final and the forthcoming 50-over WC, it will really be&nbsp;unfortunate for the youngster.

Moreover, the KKR franchise will also have to search for a new captain and batter as a replacement for Iyer. IPL 2023&nbsp;kicks off in less than ten days; on March 31 in Ahmedabad.

Team India has dealt with several injury concerns of late. While Jasprit Bumrah remains out of action since last September, Rishabh Pant is recovering from his horrific car accident.

Team India has dealt with several injury concerns of late. While Jasprit Bumrah remains out of action since last September, Rishabh Pant is recovering from his horrific car accident. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer complained of back issues during the fourth and final Test between India and Australia, in Ahmedabad, and is now likely to miss IPL 2023, ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, and ODI World Cup. As per a report in India Today, sources have confirmed that Iyer has been advised of surgery in his third meeting with a Mumbai-based doctor. Thus, the middle-order batter is expected to remain out of action for at least five months; ruling him out of IPL 2023 edition, WTC finale in early June, and possibly skipping the ODI WC at home as well. Also Read: From KING Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni's protégé, Rishabh Pant: Most runs in an IPL season The 28-year-old Iyer will be touch and go for the 2023 ODI WC. However, it will be highly unlikely that the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team management might consider the talented batter without playing him in the run-up to the showpiece event in the subcontinent. Iyer was out of action due to injury concerns in the run-up to the 2021 T20 World Cup and even though he was included as a reserve, he didn't get a game. He didn't feature in a single game for Team India in the 2022 edition as well. Hence, if he is likely to miss the WTC final and the forthcoming 50-over WC, it will really be unfortunate for the youngster. Moreover, the KKR franchise will also have to search for a new captain and batter as a replacement for Iyer. IPL 2023 kicks off in less than ten days; on March 31 in Ahmedabad.

Big blow to Team India! Shreyas Iyer to undergo surgery, likely to skip IPL 2023, WTC final and ODI WC

With the three-match ODI series levelled at 1-1, India and Australia have locked horns in the series finale at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Wednesday (March 22). Opting to bat first, Steve Smith-led Australia were off to a flying start courtesy of in-form openers Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh before Hardik Pandya's three quick strikes brought India back into the game.

Hardik removed Australia's top three and could have got rid of Head a bit earlier as well had Shubman Gill not dropped a catch off the all-rounder's bowling. The incident took place in the 11th over when Head pulled a short-pitched delivery towards deep square leg with Gill stationed at the position. He went for the catch and timed his dive but could not hold on to the ball (his third drop of the series) and it went to the boundary as well. Gill's efforts didn't please captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Hardik. Here's how the duo reacted:

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashwin-lauds-kl-rahul-for-doing-very-difficult-role-with-ease-compares-him-with-ms-dhoni-yuvraj-singh-574649">Ashwin lauds KL Rahul for 'doing very difficult role with ease', compares him with MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh</a>

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To Gill's relief, Head fell in the same over as Kuldeeo Yadav took a sharp catch at the deep. Hardik also removed well-set Marsh (47) and accounted for stand-in captain Smith's wicket 0 (3). Gill later redeemed himself with a catch of Marcus Stoinis, who was looking dangerous at 25 (26).

Australia will hope to post anything over 265-270 to challenge Team India at the Chepauk stadium. The series is interestingly poised at 1-1 after Australia won the second and penultimate game&nbsp;by ten wickets. The home side won the series opener, in Mumbai, by five wickets.

With the three-match ODI series levelled at 1-1, India and Australia have locked horns in the series finale at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Wednesday (March 22).

With the three-match ODI series levelled at 1-1, India and Australia have locked horns in the series finale at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Wednesday (March 22). Opting to bat first, Steve Smith-led Australia were off to a flying start courtesy of in-form openers Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh before Hardik Pandya's three quick strikes brought India back into the game. Hardik removed Australia's top three and could have got rid of Head a bit earlier as well had Shubman Gill not dropped a catch off the all-rounder's bowling. The incident took place in the 11th over when Head pulled a short-pitched delivery towards deep square leg with Gill stationed at the position. He went for the catch and timed his dive but could not hold on to the ball (his third drop of the series) and it went to the boundary as well. Gill's efforts didn't please captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Hardik. Here's how the duo reacted: Also Read: Ashwin lauds KL Rahul for 'doing very difficult role with ease', compares him with MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh pic.twitter.com/W9saXsTI8j — Guess Karo (@KuchNahiUkhada) March 22, 2023 × To Gill's relief, Head fell in the same over as Kuldeeo Yadav took a sharp catch at the deep. Hardik also removed well-set Marsh (47) and accounted for stand-in captain Smith's wicket 0 (3). Gill later redeemed himself with a catch of Marcus Stoinis, who was looking dangerous at 25 (26). Australia will hope to post anything over 265-270 to challenge Team India at the Chepauk stadium. The series is interestingly poised at 1-1 after Australia won the second and penultimate game by ten wickets. The home side won the series opener, in Mumbai, by five wickets.

WATCH: Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya unimpressed as Shubman Gill drops a catch in Ind-Aus Chennai ODI

A lot has been said and written about KL Rahul of late. While he hasn't featured for India in the shortest format after the T20 World Cup and his form in red-ball format led to a huge war of words between Venkatesh Prasad and Aakash Chopra, the right-hander is on a roll as an ODI batter. In the ongoing India-Australia ODIs, the wicketkeeper-batter struck a magnificent 75 not out in the series opener, helping the Men in Blue win by five wickets.

Ever since Rahul has been given the task to bat at No. 5 in ODIs, the 30-year-old has come to his own. He has played&nbsp;18 innings at No. 5, slamming&nbsp;742 runs with one hundred and seven fifties at an average of 53.00. Thus, India's veteran off-spinner R Ashwin shunned Rahul's critics and lauded him for performing a tough role with ease. In addition, he compared him with MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, two of India's finest middle-order batters in white-ball formats.

'Yuvraj,&nbsp;Dhoni&nbsp;batted mostly at 5 in ODIs and made a mark. Rahul is doing a tough job with ease'

"Consider everyone who is currently batting at No.5 in ODI cricket. There isn't even one cricketer at the moment who bats at No 5 and has made a mark for himself. Because it is a very tough position to bat. Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni were the only two guys who batted mostly at 5 in ODIs and made a mark for themselves. Dhoni mostly batted at 6 though. For Australia, it was Michael Bevan. It is not at all easy to bat in that number in ODIs," said Ashwin on his Youtube channel.

The 36-year-old Test specialist further asserted, "If people we like do something good and get trending on Twitter then we will start worshipping and celebrating them like anything but if they are going through a bad patch, we will not celebrate their value or the magnitude of what they are doing. KL Rahul is doing a very difficult role with ease. He has been a proper box-office in ODIs. He has got phenomenal numbers batting at No.5. GO and search if you can find anyone even close to him in terms of numbers in ODIs."

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-have-narrowed-it-down-rahul-dravids-big-claim-on-indias-2023-world-cup-preparations-574584">'We have...': Rahul Dravid provides big update on India's 2023 World Cup preparations</a>

"Immediately after his knock (in Mumbai) people were like 'KL Rahul is back'. KL Rahul didn't go anywhere in ODI cricket to be back. He didn't do anything for us to put him down one day and celebrate him the other day. We shouldn't do that. We should know how to assess a player's performance. If we don't do that, we will back all the wrong and play all the wrong people," Ashwin concluded.

Rahul-starrer India is involved in the third and final ODI versus Australia, in Chennai, on Wednesday (March 22). The series is on the line, at 1-1, and Rahul will once again hope to perform with the bat and take Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. to a series triumph versus the No. 2 ranked Australian side. He will then lead the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2023.

A lot has been said and written about KL Rahul of late. While he hasn't featured for India in the shortest format after the T20 World Cup and his form in red-ball format led to a huge war of words between Venkatesh Prasad and Aakash Chopra, the right-hander is on a roll as an ODI batter.

A lot has been said and written about KL Rahul of late. While he hasn't featured for India in the shortest format after the T20 World Cup and his form in red-ball format led to a huge war of words between Venkatesh Prasad and Aakash Chopra, the right-hander is on a roll as an ODI batter. In the ongoing India-Australia ODIs, the wicketkeeper-batter struck a magnificent 75 not out in the series opener, helping the Men in Blue win by five wickets. Ever since Rahul has been given the task to bat at No. 5 in ODIs, the 30-year-old has come to his own. He has played 18 innings at No. 5, slamming 742 runs with one hundred and seven fifties at an average of 53.00. Thus, India's veteran off-spinner R Ashwin shunned Rahul's critics and lauded him for performing a tough role with ease. In addition, he compared him with MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, two of India's finest middle-order batters in white-ball formats. 'Yuvraj, Dhoni batted mostly at 5 in ODIs and made a mark. Rahul is doing a tough job with ease' "Consider everyone who is currently batting at No.5 in ODI cricket. There isn't even one cricketer at the moment who bats at No 5 and has made a mark for himself. Because it is a very tough position to bat. Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni were the only two guys who batted mostly at 5 in ODIs and made a mark for themselves. Dhoni mostly batted at 6 though. For Australia, it was Michael Bevan. It is not at all easy to bat in that number in ODIs," said Ashwin on his Youtube channel. The 36-year-old Test specialist further asserted, "If people we like do something good and get trending on Twitter then we will start worshipping and celebrating them like anything but if they are going through a bad patch, we will not celebrate their value or the magnitude of what they are doing. KL Rahul is doing a very difficult role with ease. He has been a proper box-office in ODIs. He has got phenomenal numbers batting at No.5. GO and search if you can find anyone even close to him in terms of numbers in ODIs." Also Read: 'We have...': Rahul Dravid provides big update on India's 2023 World Cup preparations "Immediately after his knock (in Mumbai) people were like 'KL Rahul is back'. KL Rahul didn't go anywhere in ODI cricket to be back. He didn't do anything for us to put him down one day and celebrate him the other day. We shouldn't do that. We should know how to assess a player's performance. If we don't do that, we will back all the wrong and play all the wrong people," Ashwin concluded. Rahul-starrer India is involved in the third and final ODI versus Australia, in Chennai, on Wednesday (March 22). The series is on the line, at 1-1, and Rahul will once again hope to perform with the bat and take Rohit Sharma & Co. to a series triumph versus the No. 2 ranked Australian side. He will then lead the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2023.

Ashwin lauds KL Rahul for 'doing very difficult role with ease', compares him with MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh

The Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team is gearing up for the third and final ODI versus Australia, in Chennai, with the series levelled at 1-1. India will be eager to win the ODI series with the 50-over World Cup set to be held in India, which will be Dravid's last assignment as the head coach after taking over from Ravi Shastri in late 2021.

Before Dravid, Shastri coached India from mid-2017 till early November 2021. Prior to Shastri, it was Anil Kumble -- former Indian spinner and captain -- who coached India for a year. Under him, India beat New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Australia at home and reached the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy where Men in Blue lost to Pakistan.

When Kumble's initial one-year contract was about to end, there were rumours of a rift between then captain Virat Kohli and him. Thus, the search for a new coach began during Kumble's tenure end and not many know that former Indian opener Virender Sehwag had also applied for the top job.

"I wouldn’t have applied if Virat Kohli and then BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary hadn’t approached me. We had a meeting, and he (Choudhary) told me that things weren’t working out between Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble we want you to take the coaching position. He told me that Kumble’s contract will expire after the Champions Trophy in 2017 and then you can travel to West Indies with the team", Sehwag&nbsp;revealed while speaking on&nbsp;News18 India Chaupal.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virender-sehwag-names-indian-star-who-comes-close-to-his-style-of-batting-shares-an-advice-for-him-573887">Virender Sehwag names Indian star who comes close to his style of batting, shares an advice for him</a>

During the same interaction, Sehwag was asked if he has any regrets about not captaining Team India. To this, he said, "Not at all, I’m happy with what I achieved. Coming from a small family of farmers from Najafgarh I got the opportunity to play for India, got so much love and appreciation from fans and even if I would have captained Team India I would have gotten the same respect.”

Sehwag had a stellar run in international cricket, amassing&nbsp;8,586, 8,273, and 394 runs in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is respectively.

The Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team is gearing up for the third and final ODI versus Australia, in Chennai, with the series levelled at 1-1. India will be eager to win the ODI series with the 50-over World Cup set to be held in India, which will be Dravid's last assignment as the head coach after taking over from Ravi Shastri in late 2021.

The Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team is gearing up for the third and final ODI versus Australia, in Chennai, with the series levelled at 1-1. India will be eager to win the ODI series with the 50-over World Cup set to be held in India, which will be Dravid's last assignment as the head coach after taking over from Ravi Shastri in late 2021. Before Dravid, Shastri coached India from mid-2017 till early November 2021. Prior to Shastri, it was Anil Kumble -- former Indian spinner and captain -- who coached India for a year. Under him, India beat New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Australia at home and reached the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy where Men in Blue lost to Pakistan. When Kumble's initial one-year contract was about to end, there were rumours of a rift between then captain Virat Kohli and him. Thus, the search for a new coach began during Kumble's tenure end and not many know that former Indian opener Virender Sehwag had also applied for the top job. "I wouldn’t have applied if Virat Kohli and then BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary hadn’t approached me. We had a meeting, and he (Choudhary) told me that things weren’t working out between Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble we want you to take the coaching position. He told me that Kumble’s contract will expire after the Champions Trophy in 2017 and then you can travel to West Indies with the team", Sehwag revealed while speaking on News18 India Chaupal. Also read: Virender Sehwag names Indian star who comes close to his style of batting, shares an advice for him During the same interaction, Sehwag was asked if he has any regrets about not captaining Team India. To this, he said, "Not at all, I’m happy with what I achieved. Coming from a small family of farmers from Najafgarh I got the opportunity to play for India, got so much love and appreciation from fans and even if I would have captained Team India I would have gotten the same respect.” Sehwag had a stellar run in international cricket, amassing 8,586, 8,273, and 394 runs in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is respectively.

Wouldn’t have applied if Virat Kohli had not approached me: Sehwag recalls being offered India coach job

Virat Kohli is regarded as a modern-day great and will easily sign off as one of the legends of the gentlemen's game. Kohli recently slammed his first-ever Test century since late 2019 and 75th ton overall; second most after Sachin Tendulkar (100 centuries in total). While Kohli has the knack to adapt in every format, much credit for his success also goes to him being extremely fit.

Kohli has raised the fitness standards in Indian cricket. He is known to be a calculative batter, especially in white-ball formats, and one who thrives in finding the gaps and keeping the scoreboard ticking with some quick runs between the wickets. Recently, the former Indian captain revealed the fastest runner between wickets.

Kohli has had memorable partnerships with many, with MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers topping the list. The reason why he has enjoyed&nbsp;so much success batting alongside Dhoni and ABD is because they run hard between wickets. Thus, Kohli named the former South African and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar de Villiers as the fastest runner between wickets, followed by Dhoni.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-that-ive-only-venkatesh-prasad-opens-up-on-his-criticism-of-kl-rahul-on-twitter-574286">'Not that I've only....': Venkatesh Prasad opens up on his criticism of KL Rahul on Twitte</a>r

"AB de Villiers has been by far the fastest I've run with between wickets. The only other guy I had so much co- ordination and understanding with was MS Dhoni. Now I don't know about the speeds, but him and MS I did not have to even call. We hardly called for runs," Kohli said on&nbsp;the latest edition of the 360 Show,&nbsp;hosted by De Villiers on his YouTube channel. Meanwhile, ABD mentioned his former teammate Faf du Plessis as the fastest between wickets.

<section>
Kohli also opened up on ending his Test-century drought in the India-Australia Ahmedabad Test, where he slammed a majestic 186 in the drawn encounter.&nbsp;

"Playing Test cricket and scoring hundred in red ball is the most special feeling for me. The hundred in Ahmedabad has given me the calmness, got that old feeling back," the star Indian batter added.
</section>

Virat Kohli is regarded as a modern-day great and will easily sign off as one of the legends of the gentlemen's game. Kohli recently slammed his first-ever Test century since late 2019 and 75th ton overall; second most after Sachin Tendulkar (100 centuries in total).

Virat Kohli is regarded as a modern-day great and will easily sign off as one of the legends of the gentlemen's game. Kohli recently slammed his first-ever Test century since late 2019 and 75th ton overall; second most after Sachin Tendulkar (100 centuries in total). While Kohli has the knack to adapt in every format, much credit for his success also goes to him being extremely fit. Kohli has raised the fitness standards in Indian cricket. He is known to be a calculative batter, especially in white-ball formats, and one who thrives in finding the gaps and keeping the scoreboard ticking with some quick runs between the wickets. Recently, the former Indian captain revealed the fastest runner between wickets. Kohli has had memorable partnerships with many, with MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers topping the list. The reason why he has enjoyed so much success batting alongside Dhoni and ABD is because they run hard between wickets. Thus, Kohli named the former South African and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar de Villiers as the fastest runner between wickets, followed by Dhoni. Also Read: 'Not that I've only....': Venkatesh Prasad opens up on his criticism of KL Rahul on Twitter "AB de Villiers has been by far the fastest I've run with between wickets. The only other guy I had so much co- ordination and understanding with was MS Dhoni. Now I don't know about the speeds, but him and MS I did not have to even call. We hardly called for runs," Kohli said on the latest edition of the 360 Show, hosted by De Villiers on his YouTube channel. Meanwhile, ABD mentioned his former teammate Faf du Plessis as the fastest between wickets. Kohli also opened up on ending his Test-century drought in the India-Australia Ahmedabad Test, where he slammed a majestic 186 in the drawn encounter. "Playing Test cricket and scoring hundred in red ball is the most special feeling for me. The hundred in Ahmedabad has given me the calmness, got that old feeling back," the star Indian batter added.

AB de Villiers the fastest runner between wickets followed by MS Dhoni: RCB star Virat Kohli

India lost the second and penultimate ODI, of the three-match home series, versus Australia on Sunday (March 19). They will now gear up to face Steve Smith-led Aussies in the third and final ODI, in Chennai, on Wednesday (March 22) with the series on the line (levelled at 1-1).

A series win will boost India's confidence as the No. 1 ranked ODI side is preparing hard for the upcoming 50-over World Cup, to be held in India later this year. The Rohit Sharma-led Indian squad features many superstars such as Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah (currently out of action due to injury), Ravindra Jadeja, Md Shami and Siraj, etc.

Thus, India are one of the contenders for the ODI World Cup. Former Australian opener and all-rounder Shane Watson opined on India's squad for the mega event and named 29-year-old Hardik as the key player.

"For me, the person who has impressed me a lot as an all-rounder and is very special is Hardik Pandya. He has an amazing batting technique, and he bowls very nicely as well. He has done wonders for India in ODIs and T20Is. He is someone I really love watching play. He (Hardik) is someone who brings some things I wanted to do as a fast-bowling all-rounder. He has done well for India, especially on the big stage. He is a special talent that India has," the Australian told TimesofIndia.com.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/throwback-before-ipl-became-a-thing-when-ganguly-bowled-to-teammates-tendulkar-dravid-watch-574198">Throwback: Before IPL became a thing! When Ganguly bowled to teammates Tendulkar, Dravid - Watch</a>

"Hardik will be a key player for Rohit in the World Cup. With his skills with the bat, the power and technique that he has, and the bowling power he has, he will be the key player for India in the World Cup," he added.

Hardik is Rohit's deputy in white-ball formats and has featured in n11 Tests, 73 ODIs, and 87 T20Is. He was part of India's 2019 ODI World Cup campaign, where the Virat Kohli-led side bowed out in the semi-finals. He will be desperate to guide India to the mega title later this year courtesy of his all-round skills.

India lost the second and penultimate ODI, of the three-match home series, versus Australia on Sunday (March 19). They will now gear up to face Steve Smith-led Aussies in the third and final ODI, in Chennai, on Wednesday (March 22) with the series on the line (levelled at 1-1).

India lost the second and penultimate ODI, of the three-match home series, versus Australia on Sunday (March 19). They will now gear up to face Steve Smith-led Aussies in the third and final ODI, in Chennai, on Wednesday (March 22) with the series on the line (levelled at 1-1). A series win will boost India's confidence as the No. 1 ranked ODI side is preparing hard for the upcoming 50-over World Cup, to be held in India later this year. The Rohit Sharma-led Indian squad features many superstars such as Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah (currently out of action due to injury), Ravindra Jadeja, Md Shami and Siraj, etc. Thus, India are one of the contenders for the ODI World Cup. Former Australian opener and all-rounder Shane Watson opined on India's squad for the mega event and named 29-year-old Hardik as the key player. "For me, the person who has impressed me a lot as an all-rounder and is very special is Hardik Pandya. He has an amazing batting technique, and he bowls very nicely as well. He has done wonders for India in ODIs and T20Is. He is someone I really love watching play. He (Hardik) is someone who brings some things I wanted to do as a fast-bowling all-rounder. He has done well for India, especially on the big stage. He is a special talent that India has," the Australian told TimesofIndia.com. Also Read: Throwback: Before IPL became a thing! When Ganguly bowled to teammates Tendulkar, Dravid - Watch "Hardik will be a key player for Rohit in the World Cup. With his skills with the bat, the power and technique that he has, and the bowling power he has, he will be the key player for India in the World Cup," he added. Hardik is Rohit's deputy in white-ball formats and has featured in n11 Tests, 73 ODIs, and 87 T20Is. He was part of India's 2019 ODI World Cup campaign, where the Virat Kohli-led side bowed out in the semi-finals. He will be desperate to guide India to the mega title later this year courtesy of his all-round skills.

Not Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli or Jasprit Bumrah! Shane Watson names India's key player for ODI World Cup

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