<p>There has been a lot of debates surrounding who is a better batsman between Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. While many former cricketers and experts have hailed Kohli as a better player across formats, others have chosen Smith as the close winner in the race. Now, former South African skipper AB de Villiers has given his take on the rivalry between Kohli and Smith as he compared the duo with tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal respectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While de Villiers didn’t clearly pick his favourite, Mr. 360 did state that Kohli is a more natural striker of the ball.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an Instagram chat with former Zimbabwe seamer Pommie Mbangwa, de Villiers spoke about the two batsmen.</p>

<p>“It’s a difficult one, but Virat is definitely the more natural ball-striker, there’s no doubt about that,” de Villiers said during his interaction.</p>

<p>“In tennis terms, I’d say he’s more like a (Roger) Federer whereas Smith is like a (Rafael) Nadal. Smith is mentally very strong and figures out a way of scoring runs - he doesn’t look natural, but he ends up writing records and doing amazing things at the crease. “I think mentally; Smith is one of the best I have ever seen. Virat has also scored runs all over the world and won games under pressure,” de Villiers, himself a modern-day great, said.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-staring-at-loss-of-half-a-billion-dollars-if-ipl-2020-is-cancelled-298168" hreflang="en">BCCI staring at loss of half a billion dollars if IPL 2020 is cancelled</a></strong></p>

<p>However, de Villiers was pushed to backfoot when a fan asked him to choose his favourite between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. The swashbuckling batsman picked Tendulkar in a jiffy as he said for both him and Kohli, Tendulkar is like a role model and the Master Blaster had set standards for other batsmen to follow. However, de Villiers stated Kohli is the best ever when it comes to chasing a total.</p>

<p>"Sachin for both (him and Kohli) of us is like a role model. The way he stood out back in the day in his era and the things he achieved and with the grace he did all of that, it's a great example for everyone. I think Virat will also say that he's (Tendulkar) the main guy, he's the dude. He set the standards for guys like us to follow. Personally for me, especially in a chase, I'd say Virat is the best I've ever seen in my life. There's no-one that beats him when it comes to... the opposition scores 330 and you've got to go chase it down," he said.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/international-nurses-day-virat-kohli-sachin-tendulkar-pay-heartfelt-tribute-to-silent-guardians-298153" hreflang="en">International Nurses Day: Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar pay heartfelt tribute to 'silent guardians'</a></strong></p>

<p>"Sachin was amazing in all formats, all sorts of situations but Virat tops him there when it comes to chasing under pressure. For me, that's where I rate sportsman, when it comes to tennis, golf... the Tiger Woods of the world. When the heat is really on you feel like your whole body is numb, but he (Kohli) stands up and he does amazing things. That's what Virat does under pressure," de Villiers added.</p>


There has been a lot of debates surrounding who is a better batsman between Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. While many former cricketers and experts have hailed Kohli as a better player across formats, others have chosen Smith as the close winner in the race.

There has been a lot of debates surrounding who is a better batsman between Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. While many former cricketers and experts have hailed Kohli as a better player across formats, others have chosen Smith as the close winner in the race. Now, former South African skipper AB de Villiers has given his take on the rivalry between Kohli and Smith as he compared the duo with tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal respectively. While de Villiers didn’t clearly pick his favourite, Mr. 360 did state that Kohli is a more natural striker of the ball. In an Instagram chat with former Zimbabwe seamer Pommie Mbangwa, de Villiers spoke about the two batsmen. “It’s a difficult one, but Virat is definitely the more natural ball-striker, there’s no doubt about that,” de Villiers said during his interaction. “In tennis terms, I’d say he’s more like a (Roger) Federer whereas Smith is like a (Rafael) Nadal. Smith is mentally very strong and figures out a way of scoring runs - he doesn’t look natural, but he ends up writing records and doing amazing things at the crease. “I think mentally; Smith is one of the best I have ever seen. Virat has also scored runs all over the world and won games under pressure,” de Villiers, himself a modern-day great, said. ALSO READ: BCCI staring at loss of half a billion dollars if IPL 2020 is cancelled However, de Villiers was pushed to backfoot when a fan asked him to choose his favourite between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. The swashbuckling batsman picked Tendulkar in a jiffy as he said for both him and Kohli, Tendulkar is like a role model and the Master Blaster had set standards for other batsmen to follow. However, de Villiers stated Kohli is the best ever when it comes to chasing a total. "Sachin for both (him and Kohli) of us is like a role model. The way he stood out back in the day in his era and the things he achieved and with the grace he did all of that, it's a great example for everyone. I think Virat will also say that he's (Tendulkar) the main guy, he's the dude. He set the standards for guys like us to follow. Personally for me, especially in a chase, I'd say Virat is the best I've ever seen in my life. There's no-one that beats him when it comes to... the opposition scores 330 and you've got to go chase it down," he said. ALSO READ: International Nurses Day: Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar pay heartfelt tribute to 'silent guardians' "Sachin was amazing in all formats, all sorts of situations but Virat tops him there when it comes to chasing under pressure. For me, that's where I rate sportsman, when it comes to tennis, golf... the Tiger Woods of the world. When the heat is really on you feel like your whole body is numb, but he (Kohli) stands up and he does amazing things. That's what Virat does under pressure," de Villiers added.

Virat Kohli and Steve Smith are Federer-Nadal of cricket: AB de Villiers

<p>There has been plenty of talks surrounding the fate of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, which was postponed indefinitely amid the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures. Even if IPL 2020 takes place later in the year, the matches will be played behind closed doors in all likelihood. Indian cricket team’s skipper Virat Kohli has given his take on the prospect of playing matches in empty stadiums as the swashbuckling right-handed batsman said that players are habituated of playing in front of so many and he doesn’t know how they will react to stands being completely empty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kohli further said that while matches will be played with good intensity, the emotions and passion that fans bring to the stadium will be hard to recreate. The Indian skipper added that the feeling of crowd connecting with players during tensed matches will be missed by everyone. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-india-ready-for-two-week-quarantine-phase-before-australia-test-series-bcci-official-297391" hreflang="en">Team India ready for two-week quarantine phase before Australia Test series: BCCI official</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>"Emotions are very difficult to recreate"</strong></h2>

<p>"It’s quite a possible situation, it might happen, I honestly don’t know how everyone is going to take that because we all are used to playing in front of so many passionate fans, I know it will be played at a very good intensity but that feeling of the crowd connecting with the players and the tension of the game where everyone goes through it in the stadium, those emotions are very difficult to recreate,” Kohli said on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-jofra-archer-to-james-maddison-epremier-league-2-kicks-off-with-enthralling-action-on-fifa-20-297400" hreflang="en">From Jofra Archer to James Maddison: ePremier League 2 kicks off with enthralling action on FIFA 20</a></strong></p>

<p>“Things will still go on, but I doubt that one will feel that magic happening inside because of the atmosphere that was created. We will play sports how it is supposed to be played, but those magical moments will be difficult to come by,” he said.</p>

<p>While nothing has been confirmed on the fate of IPL 2020, the speculations are rife that the BCCI is looking at an alternate window to conduct the cash-rich tournament later in the year.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


There has been plenty of talks surrounding the fate of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, which was postponed indefinitely amid the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures.

There has been plenty of talks surrounding the fate of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, which was postponed indefinitely amid the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures. Even if IPL 2020 takes place later in the year, the matches will be played behind closed doors in all likelihood. Indian cricket team’s skipper Virat Kohli has given his take on the prospect of playing matches in empty stadiums as the swashbuckling right-handed batsman said that players are habituated of playing in front of so many and he doesn’t know how they will react to stands being completely empty. Kohli further said that while matches will be played with good intensity, the emotions and passion that fans bring to the stadium will be hard to recreate. The Indian skipper added that the feeling of crowd connecting with players during tensed matches will be missed by everyone. ALSO READ: Team India ready for two-week quarantine phase before Australia Test series: BCCI official "Emotions are very difficult to recreate" "It’s quite a possible situation, it might happen, I honestly don’t know how everyone is going to take that because we all are used to playing in front of so many passionate fans, I know it will be played at a very good intensity but that feeling of the crowd connecting with the players and the tension of the game where everyone goes through it in the stadium, those emotions are very difficult to recreate,” Kohli said on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected. ALSO READ: From Jofra Archer to James Maddison: ePremier League 2 kicks off with enthralling action on FIFA 20 “Things will still go on, but I doubt that one will feel that magic happening inside because of the atmosphere that was created. We will play sports how it is supposed to be played, but those magical moments will be difficult to come by,” he said. While nothing has been confirmed on the fate of IPL 2020, the speculations are rife that the BCCI is looking at an alternate window to conduct the cash-rich tournament later in the year.

'Magical moments will be difficult to come by': Virat Kohli gives his take on playing IPL behind closed doors

<p>Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir is known for being straightforward and this time he has hailed his former captain Anil Kumble and his short yet prolific captaincy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gambhir said in an interview: "Sehwag and I were having dinner when Kumble walked in and said that you guys will open throughout the series no matter what. Even if you get 8 ducks it doesn't matter. I have never heard such words from anyone in my career. So, if I have to give my life to someone, it would be Anil Kumble. Those words are still in my heart."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kumble has been the captain for the Indian cricket team in Tests, he won three and lost five tests. He is also the highest wicket-taker for the Indian team by scalping 619 wickets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gambhir was in the best of his performance in Test cricket under Kumble, he scored his career-best 206 versus Australia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also added that Kumble could have earned many records to his name is he had captained the team for a longer duration. He said: "Had he captained India for a longer duration like Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli, he would have made many records."</p>


Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir is known for being straightforward and this time he has hailed his former captain Anil Kumble and his short yet prolific captaincy.

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir is known for being straightforward and this time he has hailed his former captain Anil Kumble and his short yet prolific captaincy. Gambhir said in an interview: "Sehwag and I were having dinner when Kumble walked in and said that you guys will open throughout the series no matter what. Even if you get 8 ducks it doesn't matter. I have never heard such words from anyone in my career. So, if I have to give my life to someone, it would be Anil Kumble. Those words are still in my heart." Kumble has been the captain for the Indian cricket team in Tests, he won three and lost five tests. He is also the highest wicket-taker for the Indian team by scalping 619 wickets. Gambhir was in the best of his performance in Test cricket under Kumble, he scored his career-best 206 versus Australia. He also added that Kumble could have earned many records to his name is he had captained the team for a longer duration. He said: "Had he captained India for a longer duration like Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli, he would have made many records."

'If I have to give my life to someone, it would be Anil Kumble': Gautam Gambhir

<p>As almost the entire world continues to fight against the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons have come forward and donated their bit to help their respective government fight the virus. Stepping forward once again, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) duo Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have decided to auction memorabilia from their record-shattering match against Gujarat Lions in the 2016 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).</p>

<p>Both Kohli and de Villiers took to social media platform Instagram to announce that Kohli’s bat and gloves and de Villiers’ shit and bat from the match will be auctioned to raise funds to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In the match, both Kohli and de Villiers had scored a century each in a blistering partnership of 229 runs off 96 deliveries to help RCB post a mammoth total of 248/4.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-is-not-war-should-be-played-between-india-and-pakistan-saqlain-mushtaq-throws-his-weight-behind-indo-pak-bilateral-series-295028" hreflang="en">Cricket is not war; should be played between India and Pakistan - Saqlain Mushtaq throws his weight behind Indo-Pak bilateral series</a></strong></p>

<p>Kohli, taking to Instagram, wrote while sharing de Villiers’ post: &nbsp;"I'm glad to be doing this with my very dear friend @abdevilliers17 . All details are mentioned below and more will be communicated in time."</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_eirM2lkAc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I'm glad to be doing this with my very dear friend @abdevilliers17 . All details are mentioned below and more will be communicated in time. #Repost @abdevilliers17 ・・・ Cricket has given me many incredible memories - and, among the most precious, stands the partnership with @virat.kohli , playing for RCB and against Gujarat Lions in 2016. Everything clicked on what was a truly unforgettable night at the IPL. The capacity crowd at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium were going crazy, and we both scored centuries in a partnership of 229 runs from 96 balls. More importantly, RCB won the match by 144 runs. Now we find ourselves in a global crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and Virat and I would like to help people in need, people struggling to put food on the table. So we are donating some of the key items from that special day in 2016 - Virat’s bat and gloves, my shirt and bat - and creating one unique auction item, on the Bid or Buy online platform(link in my bio-type key words in the search button to find the piece). All money raised will be donated to charities supporting people most severely affected by the crisis, split 50/50 between charities working in SA and India. Immediately after the auction closes on 10 May, 2020, I will personally contact the winner and make arrangements for the package to be delivered to your home. Take care and stay safe.</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/virat.kohli/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Virat Kohli</a> (@virat.kohli) on <time datetime="2020-04-27T08:14:17+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 27, 2020 at 1:14am PDT</time></p>
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<p>The funds raised from the auction will go to the charities working in India and South Africa on 50-50 split.</p>

<p>“Cricket has given me many incredible memories - and, among the most precious, stands the partnership with @virat.kohli , playing for RCB and against Gujarat Lions in 2016. Everything clicked on what was a truly unforgettable night at the IPL. The capacity crowd at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium were going crazy, and we both scored centuries in a partnership of 229 runs from 96 balls. More importantly, RCB won the match by 144 runs,” de Villiers wrote on Instagram.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/people-said-i-wont-play-for-long-jasprit-bumrah-reveals-how-he-persisted-with-his-action-to-make-team-india-dream-a-reality-295005" hreflang="en">‘People said I won't play for long’: Jasprit Bumrah reveals how he persisted with his action to make Team India dream a reality</a></strong></p>

<p>“Now we find ourselves in a global crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and Virat and I would like to help people in need, people struggling to put food on the table.</p>

<p>“So we are donating some of the key items from that special day in 2016 - Virat’s bat and gloves, my shirt and bat - and creating one unique auction item, on the Bid or Buy online platform(link in my bio-type key words in the search button to find the piece). All money raised will be donated to charities supporting people most severely affected by the crisis, split 50/50 between charities working in SA and India.</p>

<p>“Immediately after the auction closes on 10 May, 2020, I will personally contact the winner and make arrangements for the package to be delivered to your home. Take care and stay safe.”</p>

<p>In normal circumstances, Kohli and de Villiers would have been playing in IPL 2020 for RCB but the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cash-rich tournament getting postponed indefinitely. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


As almost the entire world continues to fight against the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons have come forward and donated their bit to help their respective government fight the virus.

As almost the entire world continues to fight against the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons have come forward and donated their bit to help their respective government fight the virus. Stepping forward once again, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) duo Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have decided to auction memorabilia from their record-shattering match against Gujarat Lions in the 2016 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL). Both Kohli and de Villiers took to social media platform Instagram to announce that Kohli’s bat and gloves and de Villiers’ shit and bat from the match will be auctioned to raise funds to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In the match, both Kohli and de Villiers had scored a century each in a blistering partnership of 229 runs off 96 deliveries to help RCB post a mammoth total of 248/4. ALSO READ: Cricket is not war; should be played between India and Pakistan - Saqlain Mushtaq throws his weight behind Indo-Pak bilateral series Kohli, taking to Instagram, wrote while sharing de Villiers’ post: "I'm glad to be doing this with my very dear friend @abdevilliers17 . All details are mentioned below and more will be communicated in time." View this post on Instagram I'm glad to be doing this with my very dear friend @abdevilliers17 . All details are mentioned below and more will be communicated in time. #Repost @abdevilliers17 ・・・ Cricket has given me many incredible memories - and, among the most precious, stands the partnership with @virat.kohli , playing for RCB and against Gujarat Lions in 2016. Everything clicked on what was a truly unforgettable night at the IPL. The capacity crowd at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium were going crazy, and we both scored centuries in a partnership of 229 runs from 96 balls. More importantly, RCB won the match by 144 runs. Now we find ourselves in a global crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and Virat and I would like to help people in need, people struggling to put food on the table. So we are donating some of the key items from that special day in 2016 - Virat’s bat and gloves, my shirt and bat - and creating one unique auction item, on the Bid or Buy online platform(link in my bio-type key words in the search button to find the piece). All money raised will be donated to charities supporting people most severely affected by the crisis, split 50/50 between charities working in SA and India. Immediately after the auction closes on 10 May, 2020, I will personally contact the winner and make arrangements for the package to be delivered to your home. Take care and stay safe. A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) on Apr 27, 2020 at 1:14am PDT × The funds raised from the auction will go to the charities working in India and South Africa on 50-50 split. “Cricket has given me many incredible memories - and, among the most precious, stands the partnership with @virat.kohli , playing for RCB and against Gujarat Lions in 2016. Everything clicked on what was a truly unforgettable night at the IPL. The capacity crowd at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium were going crazy, and we both scored centuries in a partnership of 229 runs from 96 balls. More importantly, RCB won the match by 144 runs,” de Villiers wrote on Instagram. ALSO READ: ‘People said I won't play for long’: Jasprit Bumrah reveals how he persisted with his action to make Team India dream a reality “Now we find ourselves in a global crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and Virat and I would like to help people in need, people struggling to put food on the table. “So we are donating some of the key items from that special day in 2016 - Virat’s bat and gloves, my shirt and bat - and creating one unique auction item, on the Bid or Buy online platform(link in my bio-type key words in the search button to find the piece). All money raised will be donated to charities supporting people most severely affected by the crisis, split 50/50 between charities working in SA and India. “Immediately after the auction closes on 10 May, 2020, I will personally contact the winner and make arrangements for the package to be delivered to your home. Take care and stay safe.” In normal circumstances, Kohli and de Villiers would have been playing in IPL 2020 for RCB but the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cash-rich tournament getting postponed indefinitely.

RCB's Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers put memorabilia from IPL 2016 on auction to raise funds in battle against COVID-19

<p>Virat Kohli led Indian celebrity bandwagon is now taking on an important message as India self isolates due to COVID-19 scare.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taking on domestic violence that has risen during this time, Virat shared an important message that features several high profile names including wife Anushka Sharma, Farhan Akhtar, Karan Johar, Madhuri Dixit, cricketers Rohit Sharma, Mithali Raj and others.</p>

<p>Virat captioned the video: &nbsp;"If you have been a victim, witness or a survivor of the domestic violence, please report.” The video was also shared by Anushka Sharma.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_KdDFGlrpz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">If you have been a victim, witness or a survivor of the domestic violence, please report. 🙏🏼 #LockdownOnDomesticViolence #Dial100 @cmomaharashtra_ #DGPMaharashtra @adityathackeray @aksharacentreindia</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/virat.kohli/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Virat Kohli</a> (@virat.kohli) on <time datetime="2020-04-19T13:02:29+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 19, 2020 at 6:02am PDT</time></p>
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<p>The celebs can be seen saying, "During the lockdown, there has been a sharp increase in the number of domestic violence cases. Let's put a lockdown on domestic violence".</p>

<p>According to data shared by the National Commission for Women (NCW), they received 239 complaints related to domestic violence between March 22 and April 16. They had received 123 complaints from February 27 and March 22.</p>

<p>NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma earlier said that the high number can be attributed to the lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak which has locked the abuser and the victim together.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-the-need-of-the-hour-is-to-virat-kohli-anushka-sharma-urge-people-to-act-together-against-covid-19-287514">Watch: 'The need of the hour is to..' - Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma urge people to act together against COVID-19</a></p>


Virat Kohli led Indian celebrity bandwagon is now taking on an important message as India self isolates due to COVID-19 scare. Taking on domestic violence that has risen during this time, Virat shared an important message that features several high profile names including wife Anushka Sharma, Farhan Akhtar, Karan Johar, Madhuri Dixit, cricketers Rohit Sharma, Mithali Raj and others.

Virat Kohli led Indian celebrity bandwagon is now taking on an important message as India self isolates due to COVID-19 scare. Taking on domestic violence that has risen during this time, Virat shared an important message that features several high profile names including wife Anushka Sharma, Farhan Akhtar, Karan Johar, Madhuri Dixit, cricketers Rohit Sharma, Mithali Raj and others. Virat captioned the video: "If you have been a victim, witness or a survivor of the domestic violence, please report.” The video was also shared by Anushka Sharma. View this post on Instagram If you have been a victim, witness or a survivor of the domestic violence, please report. 🙏🏼 #LockdownOnDomesticViolence #Dial100 @cmomaharashtra_ #DGPMaharashtra @adityathackeray @aksharacentreindia A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) on Apr 19, 2020 at 6:02am PDT × The celebs can be seen saying, "During the lockdown, there has been a sharp increase in the number of domestic violence cases. Let's put a lockdown on domestic violence". According to data shared by the National Commission for Women (NCW), they received 239 complaints related to domestic violence between March 22 and April 16. They had received 123 complaints from February 27 and March 22. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma earlier said that the high number can be attributed to the lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak which has locked the abuser and the victim together. Watch: 'The need of the hour is to..' - Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma urge people to act together against COVID-19

Virat Kohli & other celebs raise their voice against rise of domestic violence amid lockdown

<p>Virat Kohli is regarded as one of the finest batsmen of all-time due to his sheer consistency and piles of records and runs. The Indian skipper has been termed as the greatest ever, across formats, by many experts. Kohli is known for his dominating nature of batting and has uncountable times dominated bowlers to win matches for India or in the Indian Premier League (IPL).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar came up with a plan to dismiss Kohli as he said if he was bowling, he would go wider of the crease while pitching the ball up to take it away from the Indian skipper in a bid to make him drive.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Akhtar continued, jokingly, that if his plan A doesn’t work then he will bowl to Kohli at 150 kmph to get swashbuckling Indian batsman out. Earlier, Akhtar had termed Kohli as ‘modern-day Bradman’.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wasnt-in-condition-to-play-2015-wc-semis-but-dhoni-said-cant-go-to-any-other-bowler-mohammed-shami-292860" hreflang="en">Wasn't in condition to play 2015 WC semis but Dhoni said can't go to any other bowler: Mohammed Shami</a></strong></p>

<p>“If I was bowling, I would go wider of the crease and pitch the ball up [to Kohli] and shape it away from him in order to make him drive.”</p>

<p>“If that does not work, I will bowl him at 150 [kph] and he will get out,” Akhtar was quoted as saying in a video on Instagram Live.</p>

<p>Akhtar also recalled his highly-popular duel with Sachin Tendulkar as he called the Master Blaster one of the greatest batsmen of all-time while adding that he had a good time bowling to Tendulkar. Akhtar said he dismissed Tendulkar 12-13 times in his career but Indian fans only remember that memorable upper-cut six in the 2003 World Cup.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-australia-to-stand-down-all-but-skeleton-staff-from-april-27-until-end-of-the-financial-year-amid-covid-19-pandemic-292852" hreflang="en">Cricket Australia to stand down all but skeleton staff from April 27 until end of the financial year amid COVID-19 pandemic</a></strong></p>

<p>Akhtar also spoke about his duel with Sachin Tendulkar and said: “I had a good time bowling to Sachin Tendulkar. He is one of the greatest batsmen of all-time but I dismissed him 12-13 times as well.”</p>

<p>“Although, Indians only remember that one six which he hit me in Centurion [during the 2003 ICC World Cup] as it makes them really happy,” he added.</p>

<p>“If I had known that one six makes 1.3 billion people happy, then I would have let him hit me for a six every day,” he added, talking about his camaraderie with Sachin.”&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Virat Kohli is regarded as one of the finest batsmen of all-time due to his sheer consistency and piles of records and runs. The Indian skipper has been termed as the greatest ever, across formats, by many experts.

Virat Kohli is regarded as one of the finest batsmen of all-time due to his sheer consistency and piles of records and runs. The Indian skipper has been termed as the greatest ever, across formats, by many experts. Kohli is known for his dominating nature of batting and has uncountable times dominated bowlers to win matches for India or in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar came up with a plan to dismiss Kohli as he said if he was bowling, he would go wider of the crease while pitching the ball up to take it away from the Indian skipper in a bid to make him drive. Akhtar continued, jokingly, that if his plan A doesn’t work then he will bowl to Kohli at 150 kmph to get swashbuckling Indian batsman out. Earlier, Akhtar had termed Kohli as ‘modern-day Bradman’. ALSO READ: Wasn't in condition to play 2015 WC semis but Dhoni said can't go to any other bowler: Mohammed Shami “If I was bowling, I would go wider of the crease and pitch the ball up [to Kohli] and shape it away from him in order to make him drive.” “If that does not work, I will bowl him at 150 [kph] and he will get out,” Akhtar was quoted as saying in a video on Instagram Live. Akhtar also recalled his highly-popular duel with Sachin Tendulkar as he called the Master Blaster one of the greatest batsmen of all-time while adding that he had a good time bowling to Tendulkar. Akhtar said he dismissed Tendulkar 12-13 times in his career but Indian fans only remember that memorable upper-cut six in the 2003 World Cup. ALSO READ: Cricket Australia to stand down all but skeleton staff from April 27 until end of the financial year amid COVID-19 pandemic Akhtar also spoke about his duel with Sachin Tendulkar and said: “I had a good time bowling to Sachin Tendulkar. He is one of the greatest batsmen of all-time but I dismissed him 12-13 times as well.” “Although, Indians only remember that one six which he hit me in Centurion [during the 2003 ICC World Cup] as it makes them really happy,” he added. “If I had known that one six makes 1.3 billion people happy, then I would have let him hit me for a six every day,” he added, talking about his camaraderie with Sachin.”

'I would go wider of the crease and...' - Shoaib Akhtar reveals master-plan to dismiss Virat Kohli

<p>Lockdown and in isolation, Anushka Sharma has been sharing videos, photos of the time she is spending at home with her husband, cricketer Virat Kohli and her family.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday, Anushka shared a photo of her family sitting and playing a game of monopoly. The photo had Anushka, Virat and Anushka's parents sitting across each other playing the popular board game.<br />
<br />
Along with the photo, that she shared on Instagram, Anushka wrote a heartwarming post highlight the importance of making most of the moments at home with family.<br />
<br />
"It`s from our primary caregivers - the family that we learn how to tread the journey of life, how to walk, how to eat, how to socialize &amp; then face the world. This forms the initial conditioning that has a lasting impact on us."<br />
<br />
The actor also threw light on the current situation of the world which is filled with `uncertainty.`<br />
<br />
"In the world we inhabit today, there is a lot of uncertainty and I`m sure a lot of you have found that solace &amp; sense of familiarity with your families," she wrote in the post.<br />
<br />
Anushka also urged her followers to stay indoors to "take care of everyone precious" in our lives. Seeing silver-lining in the current lockdown period, she further wrote: "also make the most of these moments ... smile, laugh, share, show affection, clear misunderstandings, develop stronger/healthier bonds, discuss life and dreams and pray for a better tomorrow."<br />
<br />
"We all have been moved deeply, we all have been affected deeply and hopefully we will carry forward these lessons in the days to come. And hopefully, we have all conditioned ourselves to relook at the world we inhabited before all of this happened," the `PK` actor further wrote.<br />
<br />
Concluding the post on a lighter note, she wrote: "P.S.: It was a super close game of Monopoly and the competitive side of everyone was out there. Any guesses who won??"</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-qwBzdJnBG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">It’s from our primary care givers - family that we learn how to tread the journey of life, how to walk, how to eat, how to socialize &amp; then face the world. This forms our initial conditioning that has a lasting impact on us. In the world we inhabit today, there is a lot of uncertainty and I'm sure a lot of you have found that solace &amp; sense of familiarity with your families. Stay at home to take care of everyone precious in your lives. And also make the most of these moments ... smile, laugh, share, show affection, clear mis-understandings, develop stronger/healthier bonds, discuss life and dreams and pray for a better tomorrow. We all have been moved deeply, we all have been affected deeply and hopefully we will carry forward these lessons in the days to come. And hopefully, we have all conditioned ourselves to relook at the world we inhabited before all of this happened... P.S. : It was a super close game of Monopoly and the competitive side of everyone was out there. Any guesses who won??</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anushkasharma/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> AnushkaSharma1588</a> (@anushkasharma) on <time datetime="2020-04-07T05:30:28+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 6, 2020 at 10:30pm PDT</time></p>
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<p>Sharma along with her cricketer husband earlier pledged to donate to the PM-CARES Fund to help the government combat COVID-19. She has been actively putting up posts on social media spreading awareness about the pandemic and the importance of staying home.</p>


Lockdown and in isolation, Anushka Sharma has been sharing videos, photos of the time she is spending at home with her husband, cricketer Virat Kohli and her family.

Lockdown and in isolation, Anushka Sharma has been sharing videos, photos of the time she is spending at home with her husband, cricketer Virat Kohli and her family. On Tuesday, Anushka shared a photo of her family sitting and playing a game of monopoly. The photo had Anushka, Virat and Anushka's parents sitting across each other playing the popular board game. Along with the photo, that she shared on Instagram, Anushka wrote a heartwarming post highlight the importance of making most of the moments at home with family. "It`s from our primary caregivers - the family that we learn how to tread the journey of life, how to walk, how to eat, how to socialize & then face the world. This forms the initial conditioning that has a lasting impact on us." The actor also threw light on the current situation of the world which is filled with `uncertainty.` "In the world we inhabit today, there is a lot of uncertainty and I`m sure a lot of you have found that solace & sense of familiarity with your families," she wrote in the post. Anushka also urged her followers to stay indoors to "take care of everyone precious" in our lives. Seeing silver-lining in the current lockdown period, she further wrote: "also make the most of these moments ... smile, laugh, share, show affection, clear misunderstandings, develop stronger/healthier bonds, discuss life and dreams and pray for a better tomorrow." "We all have been moved deeply, we all have been affected deeply and hopefully we will carry forward these lessons in the days to come. And hopefully, we have all conditioned ourselves to relook at the world we inhabited before all of this happened," the `PK` actor further wrote. Concluding the post on a lighter note, she wrote: "P.S.: It was a super close game of Monopoly and the competitive side of everyone was out there. Any guesses who won??" View this post on Instagram It’s from our primary care givers - family that we learn how to tread the journey of life, how to walk, how to eat, how to socialize & then face the world. This forms our initial conditioning that has a lasting impact on us. In the world we inhabit today, there is a lot of uncertainty and I'm sure a lot of you have found that solace & sense of familiarity with your families. Stay at home to take care of everyone precious in your lives. And also make the most of these moments ... smile, laugh, share, show affection, clear mis-understandings, develop stronger/healthier bonds, discuss life and dreams and pray for a better tomorrow. We all have been moved deeply, we all have been affected deeply and hopefully we will carry forward these lessons in the days to come. And hopefully, we have all conditioned ourselves to relook at the world we inhabited before all of this happened... P.S. : It was a super close game of Monopoly and the competitive side of everyone was out there. Any guesses who won?? A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma) on Apr 6, 2020 at 10:30pm PDT × Sharma along with her cricketer husband earlier pledged to donate to the PM-CARES Fund to help the government combat COVID-19. She has been actively putting up posts on social media spreading awareness about the pandemic and the importance of staying home.

Anushka Sharma plays a game of monopoly with parents and husband Virat Kohli, says 'make the most of these moments'

<p class="MsoNormal">The entire Indian sports fraternity on Sunday came forward while joining millions of fellow countrymen in a bid to show solidarity in the battle against COVID-19 and thank the healthcare professionals and others who are in the front line of the defence in the battle against the dreaded virus. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">From cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, to name a few, to six-time Boxing World Champions MC Mary Kam and PV Sindhu – everyone came out in their respective balconies and gardens and lit diyas and candles at 9 pm for 9 minutes on Sunday to show unity against the battle against COVID-19 as appealed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break" />
<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Some of them took to social media platforms to share their photos and videos while lighting up diyas and candles on Sunday evening. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">"My family &amp; I thank the selfless #SanitationWarriors cleaning our surroundings &amp; hospitals, disinfecting affected areas &amp; thus keeping the virus at bay. Let's also reignite our pledge to take care of our elders, the most vulnerable - by ensuring their physical &amp; mental wellness," Tendulkar wrote while sharing a family picture with lights.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vijender-singh-hopes-for-pro-career-to-resume-in-second-half-of-2020-290808" hreflang="en">Vijender Singh hopes for pro career to resume in second half of 2020</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My family &amp; I thank the selfless <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SanitationWarriors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SanitationWarriors</a> cleaning our surroundings &amp; hospitals, disinfecting affected areas &amp; thus keeping the virus at bay. Let’s also reignite our pledge to take care of our elders, the most vulnerable - by ensuring their physical &amp; mental wellness. <a href="https://t.co/tTheS9oO4I">pic.twitter.com/tTheS9oO4I</a></p>
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1246831577364983809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%879%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%9F?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9बजे9मिनट</a>, let’s stand is solidarity &amp; beat this terrible time the whole world is going through. We can do it India! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID2019</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9baje9mintues?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9baje9mintues</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PMOIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> <a href="https://t.co/gyVOGWG2cw">pic.twitter.com/gyVOGWG2cw</a></p>
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRaina/status/1246825186508386305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In solidarity with each and every single person who is playing their part. We are all in this together and shall overcome this soon.<br />
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%879%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%9F?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9बजे9मिनट</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q32a1cZRpa">pic.twitter.com/Q32a1cZRpa</a></p>
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) <a href="https://twitter.com/virendersehwag/status/1246825634560540673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A prayer in unity does make a difference. Pray for every being and stand together <a href="https://t.co/EcmiX7EcoA">https://t.co/EcmiX7EcoA</a></p>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1246837211972030467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">#letstogetherfightcovid19#9pm9min <a href="https://t.co/oCvFSWLN83">pic.twitter.com/oCvFSWLN83</a></p>
— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pvsindhu1/status/1246840895439134720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In solidarity toward <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaFightsCoronavirus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaFightsCoronavirus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9MinutesForIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9MinutesForIndia</a>. <a href="https://t.co/y2OIFiGWTH">pic.twitter.com/y2OIFiGWTH</a></p>
— Mary Kom (@MangteC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MangteC/status/1246830051976331265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">All for one and one for all <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9pm9mins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9pm9mins</a> <a href="https://t.co/MaXlkUVb5d">pic.twitter.com/MaXlkUVb5d</a></p>
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/mayankcricket/status/1246835737976131586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="und"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9pm9minutes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9pm9minutes</a> <a href="https://t.co/PrgZP3zCWD">pic.twitter.com/PrgZP3zCWD</a></p>
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) <a href="https://twitter.com/NSaina/status/1246822084149305351?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-club-doctor-commits-suicide-after-coronavirus-diagnosis-290805" hreflang="en">French club doctor 'commits suicide' after coronavirus diagnosis</a></strong></p>

<p>As many as 40 sportspersons on Friday had held a video-conference meeting with PM Modi to discuss the situation surrounding COVID-19 virus. Many of them gave their suggestions to the Indian prime minister and mutually agreed that they need to spread more awareness regarding the dreaded virus on their respective social media handles. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases in India saw a sharp spike death toll, thus far, crossed the 100-mark, whereas the total number of positive cases crossed 4000.<o:p></o:p></p>

The entire Indian sports fraternity on Sunday came forward while joining millions of fellow countrymen in a bid to show solidarity in the battle against COVID-19 and thank the healthcare professionals and others who are in the front line of the defence in the battle against the dreaded virus.

The entire Indian sports fraternity on Sunday came forward while joining millions of fellow countrymen in a bid to show solidarity in the battle against COVID-19 and thank the healthcare professionals and others who are in the front line of the defence in the battle against the dreaded virus. From cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, to name a few, to six-time Boxing World Champions MC Mary Kam and PV Sindhu – everyone came out in their respective balconies and gardens and lit diyas and candles at 9 pm for 9 minutes on Sunday to show unity against the battle against COVID-19 as appealed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some of them took to social media platforms to share their photos and videos while lighting up diyas and candles on Sunday evening. "My family & I thank the selfless #SanitationWarriors cleaning our surroundings & hospitals, disinfecting affected areas & thus keeping the virus at bay. Let's also reignite our pledge to take care of our elders, the most vulnerable - by ensuring their physical & mental wellness," Tendulkar wrote while sharing a family picture with lights. ALSO READ: Vijender Singh hopes for pro career to resume in second half of 2020 My family & I thank the selfless #SanitationWarriors cleaning our surroundings & hospitals, disinfecting affected areas & thus keeping the virus at bay. Let’s also reignite our pledge to take care of our elders, the most vulnerable - by ensuring their physical & mental wellness. pic.twitter.com/tTheS9oO4I — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 5, 2020 × #9बजे9मिनट, let’s stand is solidarity & beat this terrible time the whole world is going through. We can do it India! #COVID2019 #9baje9mintues @PMOIndia @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/gyVOGWG2cw — Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) April 5, 2020 × In solidarity with each and every single person who is playing their part. We are all in this together and shall overcome this soon. Om Shantih Shantih Shantih#9बजे9मिनट pic.twitter.com/Q32a1cZRpa — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 5, 2020 × A prayer in unity does make a difference. Pray for every being and stand together https://t.co/EcmiX7EcoA — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) April 5, 2020 × #letstogetherfightcovid19#9pm9min pic.twitter.com/oCvFSWLN83 — Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) April 5, 2020 × In solidarity toward #IndiaFightsCoronavirus #9MinutesForIndia. pic.twitter.com/y2OIFiGWTH — Mary Kom (@MangteC) April 5, 2020 × All for one and one for all #9pm9mins pic.twitter.com/MaXlkUVb5d — Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) April 5, 2020 × #9pm9minutes pic.twitter.com/PrgZP3zCWD — Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) April 5, 2020 × ALSO READ: French club doctor 'commits suicide' after coronavirus diagnosis As many as 40 sportspersons on Friday had held a video-conference meeting with PM Modi to discuss the situation surrounding COVID-19 virus. Many of them gave their suggestions to the Indian prime minister and mutually agreed that they need to spread more awareness regarding the dreaded virus on their respective social media handles. Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases in India saw a sharp spike death toll, thus far, crossed the 100-mark, whereas the total number of positive cases crossed 4000.

From Virat Kohli, PV Sindhu to MC Mary Kom: Sports fraternity lights diyas, candles to show solidarity in fight against COVID-19

<p class="MsoNormal">Former England captain Kevin Pietersen conducted an Instagram Live session with Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday as the duo discussed a lot of things ranging from lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic, cricket and life. Pietersen, during the candid interaction, asked Kohli about his two favourite batsmen with whom he likes to bat. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Replying to Pietersen’s query, Kohli said he likes to bat with those who can run far while naming veteran Indian wicket-keeper MS Dhoni and Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">“I enjoy batting with those who can run fast with me. So it has to be MS when we play for India and AB when we play in the IPL for RCB. We don’t even talk while we are batting,” Kohli said during an Instagram live hosted by Pietersen.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><strong>TRENDING!&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></o:p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-when-boss-anushka-sharma-hijacked-instagram-live-session-between-kevin-pietersen-and-virat-kohli-290344" hreflang="en">WATCH: When 'Boss' Anushka Sharma hijacked Instagram Live session between Kevin Pietersen and Virat Kohli</a></strong></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Kohli and Dhoni have won many matches for India after the current Indian skipper made his debut under Dhoni in 2008 in Sri Lanka. Kohli also holds the record of scoring as many as 19 centuries under Dhoni, which is most by any Indian player under a skipper. The swashbuckling right-handed batsman went on to say that he never thought of sledging de Villiers as it may sour their personal bonding. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Pietersen and Kohli then discussed the worldwide situation surrounding COVID-19 pandemic and their off-the-field bonding since they played together for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">“Right from 2009-10, we had amazing fun at RCB. We hit off well from Day 1. You came in as the big KP a star. We had a gun team with Kallis, Boucher, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid,” Kohli said.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-for-5-weeks-as-warm-up-for-t20-world-cup-michael-vaughan-comes-up-with-interesting-suggestion-290326" hreflang="en">IPL 2020 for 5 weeks as warm-up for T20 World Cup? Michael Vaughan comes up with interesting suggestion</a></strong></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">“We have reached three finals but haven’t won. We deserve to win a title. At RCB, we get talked about so much as we had stars. The more you think (about winning the IPL), the more it keeps running away from you. There have been added pressure lately but we need to just enjoy and not take pressure.” <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Pietersen had earlier hosted Rohit Sharma, Ahmed Shehzad and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. <o:p></o:p></p>


Former England captain Kevin Pietersen conducted an Instagram Live session with Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday as the duo discussed a lot of things ranging from lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic, cricket and life.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen conducted an Instagram Live session with Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday as the duo discussed a lot of things ranging from lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic, cricket and life. Pietersen, during the candid interaction, asked Kohli about his two favourite batsmen with whom he likes to bat. Replying to Pietersen’s query, Kohli said he likes to bat with those who can run far while naming veteran Indian wicket-keeper MS Dhoni and Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers. “I enjoy batting with those who can run fast with me. So it has to be MS when we play for India and AB when we play in the IPL for RCB. We don’t even talk while we are batting,” Kohli said during an Instagram live hosted by Pietersen. TRENDING! WATCH: When 'Boss' Anushka Sharma hijacked Instagram Live session between Kevin Pietersen and Virat Kohli Kohli and Dhoni have won many matches for India after the current Indian skipper made his debut under Dhoni in 2008 in Sri Lanka. Kohli also holds the record of scoring as many as 19 centuries under Dhoni, which is most by any Indian player under a skipper. The swashbuckling right-handed batsman went on to say that he never thought of sledging de Villiers as it may sour their personal bonding. Pietersen and Kohli then discussed the worldwide situation surrounding COVID-19 pandemic and their off-the-field bonding since they played together for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL. “Right from 2009-10, we had amazing fun at RCB. We hit off well from Day 1. You came in as the big KP a star. We had a gun team with Kallis, Boucher, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid,” Kohli said. ALSO READ: IPL 2020 for 5 weeks as warm-up for T20 World Cup? Michael Vaughan comes up with interesting suggestion “We have reached three finals but haven’t won. We deserve to win a title. At RCB, we get talked about so much as we had stars. The more you think (about winning the IPL), the more it keeps running away from you. There have been added pressure lately but we need to just enjoy and not take pressure.” Pietersen had earlier hosted Rohit Sharma, Ahmed Shehzad and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

'I enjoy batting with those who can...' - Virat Kohli names 2 batsmen he loves batting with during Instagram Live with Kevin Pietersen

<p>Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen on Thursday continued his series of Instagram Live sessions as he was joined in by Indian captain Virat Kohli and the duo discussed all things related to cricket, their friendship, life and situation surrounding COVID-19 pandemic. However, the live session witnessed a hilarious moment when Kohli’s wife and Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma hijacked the conversation and asked Kohli to come for dinner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kohli and Pietersen share a great rapport since playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore for two seasons – 2009 and 2010 – in Indian Premier League before the Englishman moved to the Delhi-based franchise in 2012. The duo discussed RCB’s performance in IPL over the years while the Indian skipper also revealed why he transformed into a vegetarian.</p>

<p>Kohli, during the live session, said that he has never spent so much time with Anushka since their marriage in 2017.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-for-5-weeks-as-warm-up-for-t20-world-cup-michael-vaughan-comes-up-with-interesting-suggestion-290326" hreflang="en">IPL 2020 for 5 weeks as warm-up for T20 World Cup? Michael Vaughan comes up with interesting suggestion</a></strong></p>

<p>“It is the longest we have spent together in one place since we have been married. We have never been in one place for so long at the same time. It’s bizarre. It’s not a good thing to single out this as an opportunity to spend time. But it is what it is. We have to be positive and we are being cautious. These are strange times,” the Indian skipper said.</p>

<p>However, as Kohli and Pietersen continued with their discussion, Anushka suddenly commented on it and asked Kohli to join her for dinner. "Chalo chalo dinner time," wrote Anushka, asking Kohli and Pietersen to end their chat.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">So funniest and valuable Instagram live between Kevin pietersen and virat Kohli <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KP24</a><a href="https://twitter.com/AnushkaSharma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnushkaSharma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/VikasVe40501958?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VikasVe40501958</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID2019</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID%E3%83%BC19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVIDー19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Corona?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Corona</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronaupdatesindia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#coronaupdatesindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayHomeSaveLives?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayHomeSaveLives</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NarendraModi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NarendraModi</a> <a href="https://t.co/TH7mMgeNyU">pic.twitter.com/TH7mMgeNyU</a></p>
— Vikas Verma (@VikasVe40501958) <a href="https://twitter.com/VikasVe40501958/status/1245980060282056706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Pietersen later shared a screenshot of Anushka’s comment on Instagram as he wrote: "When the BOSS said time was up, time was up! @anushkasharma @virat.kohli Hope you all enjoyed that? Just two dudes hanging out."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pm-modi-holds-meeting-with-40-sportspersons-including-virat-kohli-sachin-tendulkar-pv-sindhu-to-discuss-covid-19-situation-in-india-290310" hreflang="en">PM Modi holds meeting with 40 sportspersons including Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, PV Sindhu to discuss COVID-19 situation in India</a></strong></p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-e9cpyFw2S/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">When the BOSS said time was up, time was up! @anushkasharma @virat.kohli Hope you all enjoyed that? Just two dudes hanging out....</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kp24/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Kevin Pietersen</a> (@kp24) on <time datetime="2020-04-02T15:36:50+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 2, 2020 at 8:36am PDT</time></p>
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<p>Pietersen has already held live sessions with Rohit Sharma, Ahmed Shehzad, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Kohli was the latest to join the Englishman on his series of Instagram live session. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen on Thursday continued his series of Instagram Live sessions as he was joined in by Indian captain Virat Kohli and the duo discussed all things related to cricket, their friendship, life and situation surrounding COVID-19 pandemic.

Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen on Thursday continued his series of Instagram Live sessions as he was joined in by Indian captain Virat Kohli and the duo discussed all things related to cricket, their friendship, life and situation surrounding COVID-19 pandemic. However, the live session witnessed a hilarious moment when Kohli’s wife and Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma hijacked the conversation and asked Kohli to come for dinner. Kohli and Pietersen share a great rapport since playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore for two seasons – 2009 and 2010 – in Indian Premier League before the Englishman moved to the Delhi-based franchise in 2012. The duo discussed RCB’s performance in IPL over the years while the Indian skipper also revealed why he transformed into a vegetarian. Kohli, during the live session, said that he has never spent so much time with Anushka since their marriage in 2017. ALSO READ: IPL 2020 for 5 weeks as warm-up for T20 World Cup? Michael Vaughan comes up with interesting suggestion “It is the longest we have spent together in one place since we have been married. We have never been in one place for so long at the same time. It’s bizarre. It’s not a good thing to single out this as an opportunity to spend time. But it is what it is. We have to be positive and we are being cautious. These are strange times,” the Indian skipper said. However, as Kohli and Pietersen continued with their discussion, Anushka suddenly commented on it and asked Kohli to join her for dinner. "Chalo chalo dinner time," wrote Anushka, asking Kohli and Pietersen to end their chat. So funniest and valuable Instagram live between Kevin pietersen and virat Kohli @imVkohli @KP24@AnushkaSharma @VikasVe40501958 #COVID2019 #COVIDー19 #Corona #coronaupdatesindia #StayHomeSaveLives #NarendraModi pic.twitter.com/TH7mMgeNyU — Vikas Verma (@VikasVe40501958) April 3, 2020 × Pietersen later shared a screenshot of Anushka’s comment on Instagram as he wrote: "When the BOSS said time was up, time was up! @anushkasharma @virat.kohli Hope you all enjoyed that? Just two dudes hanging out." ALSO READ: PM Modi holds meeting with 40 sportspersons including Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, PV Sindhu to discuss COVID-19 situation in India View this post on Instagram When the BOSS said time was up, time was up! @anushkasharma @virat.kohli Hope you all enjoyed that? Just two dudes hanging out.... A post shared by Kevin Pietersen (@kp24) on Apr 2, 2020 at 8:36am PDT × Pietersen has already held live sessions with Rohit Sharma, Ahmed Shehzad, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Kohli was the latest to join the Englishman on his series of Instagram live session.

WATCH: When 'Boss' Anushka Sharma hijacked Instagram Live session between Kevin Pietersen and Virat Kohli

From Virat Kohli to Jasprit Bumrah: How star cricketers are spending their time during lockdown

<p>With the sporting calendar shredded into pieces amid COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons have taken to social media platforms in a bid to keep their fans and followers engaged while spreading awareness about the dreaded virus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen was the first cricketer to start live sessions with cricketers as he invited the likes of Rohit Sharma and Ahmed Shehzad for healthy discussions on cricket and life. Pietersen even held a live session with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. Next cricketer to join KP’s Instagram live will be none other than Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who will be seen discussing things related to cricket and life on Thursday (April 2) at 7 PM IST.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-eOt31FO2T/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I’m interviewing the guy in the middle today! NOT the global superstar on the right! Raw &amp; REAL! 7pm IST! @virat.kohli </a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kp24/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Kevin Pietersen</a> (@kp24) on <time datetime="2020-04-02T08:48:30+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 2, 2020 at 1:48am PDT</time></p>
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<p>Kohli took to social media platform Twitter to announce that he will come live with KP on Instagram as the duo will be seen chatting about what’s happening in the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic and also about their friendship off the field.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/relive-the-timeline-how-team-india-broke-28-year-wait-to-lift-the-icc-world-cup-2011-290074" hreflang="en">Relive the timeline: How Team India broke 28-year wait to lift the ICC World Cup 2011</a></strong></p>

<p>“Tomorrow at 7 PM IST my good friend @KP24 and I are going live on Instagram. Tune in to catch us chatting about what's happening world over at the moment and also about all the years we've known each other,” Kohli tweeted on Wednesday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tomorrow at 7 PM IST my good friend <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KP24</a> and I are going live on Instagram. Tune in to catch us chatting about what's happening world over at the moment and also about all the years we've known each other. <a href="https://t.co/19ghv6Bp1B">pic.twitter.com/19ghv6Bp1B</a></p>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1245342880912179206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eoin-morgan-ready-to-play-behind-closed-doors-says-sport-can-play-a-huge-role-in-uplifting-the-world-290052" hreflang="en">Eoin Morgan ready to play behind closed doors, says 'sport can play a huge role in uplifting the world'</a></strong></p>

<p>With all the sporting action coming to a screeching halt, Instagram live sessions have come as a relief for fans and cricket lovers with the likes of Rohit Sharma seen chatting with Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah on the photo-blogging platform.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, there has been no official announcement on Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 with the cash-rich tournament being suspended till April 15, as of now. IPL 2020 was scheduled to start on March 29 but the novel coronavirus outbreak forced the authorities to suspend the tournament for the time being.&nbsp;<br />
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With the sporting calendar shredded into pieces amid COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons have taken to social media platforms in a bid to keep their fans and followers engaged while spreading awareness about the dreaded virus.

With the sporting calendar shredded into pieces amid COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons have taken to social media platforms in a bid to keep their fans and followers engaged while spreading awareness about the dreaded virus. Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen was the first cricketer to start live sessions with cricketers as he invited the likes of Rohit Sharma and Ahmed Shehzad for healthy discussions on cricket and life. Pietersen even held a live session with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. Next cricketer to join KP’s Instagram live will be none other than Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who will be seen discussing things related to cricket and life on Thursday (April 2) at 7 PM IST. View this post on Instagram I’m interviewing the guy in the middle today! NOT the global superstar on the right! Raw & REAL! 7pm IST! @virat.kohli A post shared by Kevin Pietersen (@kp24) on Apr 2, 2020 at 1:48am PDT × Kohli took to social media platform Twitter to announce that he will come live with KP on Instagram as the duo will be seen chatting about what’s happening in the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic and also about their friendship off the field. ALSO READ: Relive the timeline: How Team India broke 28-year wait to lift the ICC World Cup 2011 “Tomorrow at 7 PM IST my good friend @KP24 and I are going live on Instagram. Tune in to catch us chatting about what's happening world over at the moment and also about all the years we've known each other,” Kohli tweeted on Wednesday. Tomorrow at 7 PM IST my good friend @KP24 and I are going live on Instagram. Tune in to catch us chatting about what's happening world over at the moment and also about all the years we've known each other. pic.twitter.com/19ghv6Bp1B — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) April 1, 2020 × ALSO READ: Eoin Morgan ready to play behind closed doors, says 'sport can play a huge role in uplifting the world' With all the sporting action coming to a screeching halt, Instagram live sessions have come as a relief for fans and cricket lovers with the likes of Rohit Sharma seen chatting with Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah on the photo-blogging platform. Meanwhile, there has been no official announcement on Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 with the cash-rich tournament being suspended till April 15, as of now. IPL 2020 was scheduled to start on March 29 but the novel coronavirus outbreak forced the authorities to suspend the tournament for the time being.

Virat Kohli to join Kevin Pietersen on Instagram live session

<p>India's former prolific all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has revealed that he got more support under Sourav Ganguly than under MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yuvraj has been vocal about his life and opinions ever since his retirement. Yuvraj began his illustrious career under the then captain Sourav Ganguly against Australia in the Champions Trophy in the year 2000. Ever since then he has played a match-winning role in 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ICC World Cup campaigns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Under Ganguly's captaincy, Yuvraj got to play with Rahul Dravid, Virendra Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and then he went under MS Dhoni's captaincy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a recent interview, Yuvraj said: "I have played under Sourav (Ganguly) and had a lot of support from him. Then Mahi (MS Dhoni) took over. It’s a difficult choice to make between Sourav and Mahi. I have more memories of time under Sourav because of the support he gave me. I didn’t have that kind of support from Mahi and Virat (Kohli)."</p>

<p>Yuvraj has played a total of 304 ODI matches, out of them he played 110 under Sourav Ganguly and interestingly 104 under MS Dhoni.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yuvraj's record under MS Dhoni is better than his tenure under Ganguly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Under Ganguly, Singh had an average of 30 (with 2640 runs in 110 ODIs) whereas under MS Dhoni he scored 3077 runs with an average of 37.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When asked about the current coronavirus situation he said: "I think this has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s heartbreaking to see so many people dying all over the world. It is spreading so fast. People, rather than panicking, should visit the official health sites to understand what the disease is. In my case of cancer, I was also very scared in the beginning but then I got the right information, went to the right doctor and hospital. Please understand that these government and official health sites will guide you accurately because there is rampant misinformation about the virus on social media. First of all, people need to stop reading social media and look for correct information."</p>


India's former prolific all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has revealed that he got more support under Sourav Ganguly than under MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Yuvraj has been vocal about his life and opinions ever since his retirement.

India's former prolific all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has revealed that he got more support under Sourav Ganguly than under MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Yuvraj has been vocal about his life and opinions ever since his retirement. Yuvraj began his illustrious career under the then captain Sourav Ganguly against Australia in the Champions Trophy in the year 2000. Ever since then he has played a match-winning role in 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ICC World Cup campaigns. Under Ganguly's captaincy, Yuvraj got to play with Rahul Dravid, Virendra Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and then he went under MS Dhoni's captaincy. In a recent interview, Yuvraj said: "I have played under Sourav (Ganguly) and had a lot of support from him. Then Mahi (MS Dhoni) took over. It’s a difficult choice to make between Sourav and Mahi. I have more memories of time under Sourav because of the support he gave me. I didn’t have that kind of support from Mahi and Virat (Kohli)." Yuvraj has played a total of 304 ODI matches, out of them he played 110 under Sourav Ganguly and interestingly 104 under MS Dhoni. Yuvraj's record under MS Dhoni is better than his tenure under Ganguly. Under Ganguly, Singh had an average of 30 (with 2640 runs in 110 ODIs) whereas under MS Dhoni he scored 3077 runs with an average of 37. When asked about the current coronavirus situation he said: "I think this has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s heartbreaking to see so many people dying all over the world. It is spreading so fast. People, rather than panicking, should visit the official health sites to understand what the disease is. In my case of cancer, I was also very scared in the beginning but then I got the right information, went to the right doctor and hospital. Please understand that these government and official health sites will guide you accurately because there is rampant misinformation about the virus on social media. First of all, people need to stop reading social media and look for correct information."

'Didn’t have that kind of support from Mahi and Virat': Yuvraj Singh praises Ganguly

From Virat Kohli to Mary Kom - Sportspersons and state authorities who have donated to help India fight COVID-19 pandemic

<p>Known for her work with UNICEF, Priyanka Chopra pledged support to the organisation to tackle hunger and poverty in times of coronavirus. The actress and her husband Nick Jonas on Tuesday announced that they have donated to several organisations including PM CARES Fund to help fight the outbreak of coronavirus.<br />
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Other organisations to which the couple donated include Feeding America, Goonj, Doctors Without Borders, No Kid Hungry and Give India.<br />
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The actress also urged fans to contribute even if it is a small amount.<br />
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"The world needs our help more than ever. These organizations are doing amazing work by helping those impacted by #Covid19. They are feeding the hungry (including children out of school), supporting doctors and first responders, helping low income and homeless communities, and supporting our colleagues in the entertainment industry," read Priyanka`s post on Twitter.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">These organizations are doing amazing work by helping those impacted by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid19</a>. They are feeding the hungry, supporting doctors and first responders, helping low income and homeless communities, and supporting our colleagues in the entertainment industry. <a href="https://t.co/Za12mrjboG">pic.twitter.com/Za12mrjboG</a></p>
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) <a href="https://twitter.com/priyankachopra/status/1244839175574056960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Nick and I have already donated to these charities: @unicef, @feedingamerica, @goonj, @doctorswithoutborders, @nokidhungry, @give_india, and @sagaftra, #IAHV, @friends_of_aseema, and #PMCares Fund. Thank you for everything you are doing. "They need your support too, and we would implore you to donate as well. I have linked to each org with a swipe up in my stories...no donation is too small. Together we can help the world beat this.@nickjonas."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you for everything you are doing. They need your support too, and we would implore you to donate as well. I have linked to each org with a swipe up in my stories...no donation is too small. Together we can help the world beat this. ❤️</p>
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) <a href="https://twitter.com/priyankachopra/status/1244839180129075200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>A similar post was also shared by Nick on his social media profiles. According to the World Health Organisation, COVID-19 has affected over seven lakh people globally.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-akshay-kumar-to-hrithik-roshan-indian-celebs-come-forward-to-help-daily-wage-earners-amid-lockdown-289290"><span>From Akshay Kumar to Hrithik Roshan, Indian celebs come forward to help daily wage earners amid lockdown</span></a><br />
<br />
Priyanka and Nick join a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/initiatives-taken-by-global-icons-to-combat-coronavirus-pandemic-287487">long list of celebrities</a> who have donated to various charitable organisation amid the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.</p>


Known for her work with UNICEF, Priyanka Chopra pledged support to the organisation to tackle hunger and poverty in times of coronavirus. The actress and her husband Nick Jonas on Tuesday announced that they have donated to several organisations including PM CARES Fund to help fight the outbreak of coronavirus.

Known for her work with UNICEF, Priyanka Chopra pledged support to the organisation to tackle hunger and poverty in times of coronavirus. The actress and her husband Nick Jonas on Tuesday announced that they have donated to several organisations including PM CARES Fund to help fight the outbreak of coronavirus. Other organisations to which the couple donated include Feeding America, Goonj, Doctors Without Borders, No Kid Hungry and Give India. The actress also urged fans to contribute even if it is a small amount. "The world needs our help more than ever. These organizations are doing amazing work by helping those impacted by #Covid19. They are feeding the hungry (including children out of school), supporting doctors and first responders, helping low income and homeless communities, and supporting our colleagues in the entertainment industry," read Priyanka`s post on Twitter. These organizations are doing amazing work by helping those impacted by #Covid19. They are feeding the hungry, supporting doctors and first responders, helping low income and homeless communities, and supporting our colleagues in the entertainment industry. pic.twitter.com/Za12mrjboG — PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) March 31, 2020 × "Nick and I have already donated to these charities: @unicef, @feedingamerica, @goonj, @doctorswithoutborders, @nokidhungry, @give_india, and @sagaftra, #IAHV, @friends_of_aseema, and #PMCares Fund. Thank you for everything you are doing. "They need your support too, and we would implore you to donate as well. I have linked to each org with a swipe up in my stories...no donation is too small. Together we can help the world beat this.@nickjonas." Thank you for everything you are doing. They need your support too, and we would implore you to donate as well. I have linked to each org with a swipe up in my stories...no donation is too small. Together we can help the world beat this. ❤️ — PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) March 31, 2020 × A similar post was also shared by Nick on his social media profiles. According to the World Health Organisation, COVID-19 has affected over seven lakh people globally. From Akshay Kumar to Hrithik Roshan, Indian celebs come forward to help daily wage earners amid lockdown Priyanka and Nick join a long list of celebrities who have donated to various charitable organisation amid the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas contribute to PM CARES Fund, UNICEF; urge fans to donate

<p>Indian skipper Virat Kohli has time and again spread awareness surrounding the COVID-19 through his social media handles. On Friday, Kohli once again took to micro-blogging platform Twitter to warn the citizens of India about the seriousness of novel coronavirus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kohli posted a video on Twitter in which he said that it is not at all good to see people moving in groups and not abiding by the lockdown guidelines. Kohli added that some people are taking this fight against the novel coronavirus very lightly while alarming them that it is not as easy as it looks or feels.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/remember-these-titans-indian-athletes-on-cop-duty-amid-covid-19-lockdown-288959">Remember these Titans: Indian athletes on cop duty amid COVID-19 lockdown</a></strong></p>

<p>Kohli captioned his video: Please wake up to the reality and seriousness of the situation and take responsibility. The nation needs our support and honesty.”</p>

<p>"Hello, I am Virat Kohli. Today I am speaking to you not as an India player, but as a citizen of the country. What I have seen in the last few days -- people moving in groups, not abiding by curfew rules, not following lockdown guidelines -- it shows that we are taking the fight very lightly. But this fight is not as easy as it looks or feels," Kohli said in the video.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Please wake up to the reality and seriousness of the situation and take responsibility. The nation needs our support and honesty. <a href="https://t.co/ZvOb0qgwIV">pic.twitter.com/ZvOb0qgwIV</a></p>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1243501019213918208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-difficulty-is-arsenal-manager-mikel-arteta-shares-first-hand-insights-on-symptoms-288983">'The difficulty is...' - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta shares first-hand insights on symptoms</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, with the sporting calendar coming to a grinding halt, sportspersons have been motivating their fans and followers in social media as India continues to be in lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Many athletes have come forward and donated their bit in a bid to fight against the deadly virus while others posted videos to urge everyone to remain indoors.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Indian skipper Virat Kohli has time and again spread awareness surrounding the COVID-19 through his social media handles. On Friday, Kohli once again took to micro-blogging platform Twitter to warn the citizens of India about the seriousness of novel coronavirus.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has time and again spread awareness surrounding the COVID-19 through his social media handles. On Friday, Kohli once again took to micro-blogging platform Twitter to warn the citizens of India about the seriousness of novel coronavirus. Kohli posted a video on Twitter in which he said that it is not at all good to see people moving in groups and not abiding by the lockdown guidelines. Kohli added that some people are taking this fight against the novel coronavirus very lightly while alarming them that it is not as easy as it looks or feels. ALSO READ: Remember these Titans: Indian athletes on cop duty amid COVID-19 lockdown Kohli captioned his video: Please wake up to the reality and seriousness of the situation and take responsibility. The nation needs our support and honesty.” "Hello, I am Virat Kohli. Today I am speaking to you not as an India player, but as a citizen of the country. What I have seen in the last few days -- people moving in groups, not abiding by curfew rules, not following lockdown guidelines -- it shows that we are taking the fight very lightly. But this fight is not as easy as it looks or feels," Kohli said in the video. Please wake up to the reality and seriousness of the situation and take responsibility. The nation needs our support and honesty. pic.twitter.com/ZvOb0qgwIV — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 27, 2020 × ALSO READ: 'The difficulty is...' - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta shares first-hand insights on symptoms Meanwhile, with the sporting calendar coming to a grinding halt, sportspersons have been motivating their fans and followers in social media as India continues to be in lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic. Many athletes have come forward and donated their bit in a bid to fight against the deadly virus while others posted videos to urge everyone to remain indoors.

WATCH: 'Wake up & take responsibility' - Virat Kohli appeals Indian citizens to stay at home amid COVID-19 lockdown

<p>The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire world to a stand-still. With reports of positive COVID-19 cases increasing with each passing day, many nations are in a state of lockdown. The deadly COVID-19 has even left the entire sporting calendar shredded into pieces and many tournaments and leagues have been either cancelled or postponed.</p>

<p>While every sportsperson has taken health advisory into account by keeping themselves under self-isolation in a bid to curb the novel coronavirus, former South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs has picked one player who he would want to be quarantined with.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-doing-our-bit-for-the-society-irfan-and-yusuf-pathan-donate-face-masks-amid-covid-19-pandemic-288103">'Doing our bit for the society' - Irfan and Yusuf Pathan donate face masks amid COVID-19 pandemic</a></strong></p>

<p>Gibbs named Indian captain Virat Kohli when the official Twitter handle of International Cricket Council (ICC) posted an infographic asking people to pick their quarantine partner as per their birth month. Gibbs named Kohli while adding he would be going toe to toe in the gym with the Indian skipper.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In quarantine , me and <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> going toe to toe in the gym <a href="https://t.co/FZ0mvB3OMp">https://t.co/FZ0mvB3OMp</a></p>
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) <a href="https://twitter.com/hershybru/status/1241602729618935808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Kohli has made a name for himself in the world of cricket not only for his sheer talent but his will to work hard off the field as well. The Indian skipper has been one of the biggest motivators in the world of sports when it comes to keeping fit.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-postponement-likely-to-get-extended-amid-covid-19-pandemic-report-288071">IPL 2020 postponement likely to get extended amid COVID-19 pandemic: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>Kohli has shared videos of him sweating it out in the gym uncountable times and his hunger to reach the pinnacle has only been rubbed off to other players, who in return have also upped the ante in terms of remaining fit.</p>

<p>While the sporting action has come to an unusual halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, Indian cricketers have continued to work hard in their respective homes in a bid to remain fit. Social distancing is something every athlete is maintaining to curb the spread of COVID-19 and as per the health ministry, everyone should avoid public gathering in this dire situation.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire world to a stand-still. With reports of positive COVID-19 cases increasing with each passing day, many nations are in a state of lockdown.

The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire world to a stand-still. With reports of positive COVID-19 cases increasing with each passing day, many nations are in a state of lockdown. The deadly COVID-19 has even left the entire sporting calendar shredded into pieces and many tournaments and leagues have been either cancelled or postponed. While every sportsperson has taken health advisory into account by keeping themselves under self-isolation in a bid to curb the novel coronavirus, former South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs has picked one player who he would want to be quarantined with. ALSO READ: 'Doing our bit for the society' - Irfan and Yusuf Pathan donate face masks amid COVID-19 pandemic Gibbs named Indian captain Virat Kohli when the official Twitter handle of International Cricket Council (ICC) posted an infographic asking people to pick their quarantine partner as per their birth month. Gibbs named Kohli while adding he would be going toe to toe in the gym with the Indian skipper. In quarantine , me and @imVkohli going toe to toe in the gym https://t.co/FZ0mvB3OMp — Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) March 22, 2020 × Kohli has made a name for himself in the world of cricket not only for his sheer talent but his will to work hard off the field as well. The Indian skipper has been one of the biggest motivators in the world of sports when it comes to keeping fit. ALSO READ: IPL 2020 postponement likely to get extended amid COVID-19 pandemic: Report Kohli has shared videos of him sweating it out in the gym uncountable times and his hunger to reach the pinnacle has only been rubbed off to other players, who in return have also upped the ante in terms of remaining fit. While the sporting action has come to an unusual halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, Indian cricketers have continued to work hard in their respective homes in a bid to remain fit. Social distancing is something every athlete is maintaining to curb the spread of COVID-19 and as per the health ministry, everyone should avoid public gathering in this dire situation.

'Going toe to toe in the gym' - Herschelle Gibbs picks Virat Kohli as his quarantine partner

<p>The novel coronavirus has continued to disrupt daily life worldwide with at least 195 positive COVID-19 cases already reported in India. While the entire world continues to fight back against the deadly virus, the sporting calendar has been left hanging by a thin thread. All the major tournaments and sporting events have been either postponed or cancelled with athletes continuing to maintain social distancing as per health advisories.</p>

<p>The skipper of the Indian cricket team, Virat Kohli along with his wife and Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma took to social media platform Twitter to post an awareness video surrounding the novel coronavirus. In the video, both Kohli and Anushka urged everyone to stay safe by practicing self-isolation during this dire situation. Anushka went on to add that the only way we can curb the deadly virus is by ‘acting together’.</p>

<p>"We all know we are going through a very difficult time," Kohli said. "And the only way to stop the spread of Coronavirus is by acting together," urged Anushka.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-indias-leading-sporting-voices-prefer-olympic-postponement-287443">EXCLUSIVE: India's leading sporting voices prefer Olympic postponement</a></strong></p>

<p>Kohli further said, "We are staying at home for our safety and for everyone else's one." Whereas Anushka followed by saying, "...you should do it too to prevent the further spread of the virus."</p>

<p>"Let's make it safe for us and everyone else by self-isolation," said Kohli while Anushka concluded the video with," stay at home and stay healthy."</p>

<p>Anushka’s caption read: Stay Home. “Stay Safe. Stay Healthy.” Whereas Kohli tweeted: The need of the hour is to absolutely respect and follow the government's directive. Stay home. Stay safe. Stay healthy.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The need of the hour is to absolutely respect and follow the government's directive. Stay home. Stay safe. Stay healthy. <a href="https://t.co/p1NDo0E9YL">https://t.co/p1NDo0E9YL</a></p>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1240864175645020160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Stay Home. Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. <a href="https://t.co/UNMi2xQbbz">pic.twitter.com/UNMi2xQbbz</a></p>
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnushkaSharma/status/1240858203413303301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The entire sporting fraternity has been urging citizens to follow the Health Ministry’s advisory. The likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Mayank Agarwal to name a few, have already taken to Twitter at least a couple of times to aware the citizen of the country to maintain social-distancing and self-isolation to fight back against the novel coronavirus.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/amid-coronavirus-pandemic-shane-warne-turns-gin-business-into-hand-sanitiser-factory-287436">Amid coronavirus pandemic, Shane Warne turns gin business into hand sanitiser factory</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Be alert, attentive and aware to combat the threat posed by the Covid 19. We, as responsible citizens, need to adhere to the norms put in place for our safety as announced by our Honourable Prime Minister Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NarendraModi</a> ji. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaFightsCorona?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaFightsCorona</a></p>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1240661693903953920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the Indian Premier League (IPL) was suspended until April 15 with another meeting between the BCCI and franchise owners expected to take place in the first week of April to discuss the proposition of how to proceed with the cash-rich tournament.</p>


The novel coronavirus has continued to disrupt daily life worldwide with at least 195 positive COVID-19 cases already reported in India. While the entire world continues to fight back against the deadly virus, the sporting calendar has been left hanging by a thin thread.

The novel coronavirus has continued to disrupt daily life worldwide with at least 195 positive COVID-19 cases already reported in India. While the entire world continues to fight back against the deadly virus, the sporting calendar has been left hanging by a thin thread. All the major tournaments and sporting events have been either postponed or cancelled with athletes continuing to maintain social distancing as per health advisories. The skipper of the Indian cricket team, Virat Kohli along with his wife and Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma took to social media platform Twitter to post an awareness video surrounding the novel coronavirus. In the video, both Kohli and Anushka urged everyone to stay safe by practicing self-isolation during this dire situation. Anushka went on to add that the only way we can curb the deadly virus is by ‘acting together’. "We all know we are going through a very difficult time," Kohli said. "And the only way to stop the spread of Coronavirus is by acting together," urged Anushka. ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: India's leading sporting voices prefer Olympic postponement Kohli further said, "We are staying at home for our safety and for everyone else's one." Whereas Anushka followed by saying, "...you should do it too to prevent the further spread of the virus." "Let's make it safe for us and everyone else by self-isolation," said Kohli while Anushka concluded the video with," stay at home and stay healthy." Anushka’s caption read: Stay Home. “Stay Safe. Stay Healthy.” Whereas Kohli tweeted: The need of the hour is to absolutely respect and follow the government's directive. Stay home. Stay safe. Stay healthy. The need of the hour is to absolutely respect and follow the government's directive. Stay home. Stay safe. Stay healthy. https://t.co/p1NDo0E9YL — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 20, 2020 × Stay Home. Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. pic.twitter.com/UNMi2xQbbz — Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) March 20, 2020 × The entire sporting fraternity has been urging citizens to follow the Health Ministry’s advisory. The likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Mayank Agarwal to name a few, have already taken to Twitter at least a couple of times to aware the citizen of the country to maintain social-distancing and self-isolation to fight back against the novel coronavirus. ALSO READ: Amid coronavirus pandemic, Shane Warne turns gin business into hand sanitiser factory Be alert, attentive and aware to combat the threat posed by the Covid 19. We, as responsible citizens, need to adhere to the norms put in place for our safety as announced by our Honourable Prime Minister Shri @NarendraModi ji. #IndiaFightsCorona — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 19, 2020 × Meanwhile, the Indian Premier League (IPL) was suspended until April 15 with another meeting between the BCCI and franchise owners expected to take place in the first week of April to discuss the proposition of how to proceed with the cash-rich tournament.

Watch: 'The need of the hour is to..' - Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma urge people to act together against COVID-19

<p>The novel coronavirus has brought the entire world to a stand-still. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has already issued advisories to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19, Indian Health Ministry is also continuously monitoring the situation in India while providing a fresh set of guidelines as per the situation.</p>

<p>Athletes have been asked to not oblige to request of selfies and autographs by the fans and maintain social distancing as much as possible. Keeping the advisory in mind, the Indian cricket team’s skipper Virat Kohli was seen refusing an autograph request by one of the fans at the airport.</p>

<p>While the location of the incident has not been revealed, a video of Kohli at the airport went viral on social media platform Twitter, where the Indian skipper is seen walking away from the young fan who waited for a selfie with the superstar.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-the-need-of-the-hour-is-to-virat-kohli-anushka-sharma-urge-people-to-act-together-against-covid-19-287514">'The need of the hour is to..' - Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma urge people to act together against COVID-19</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://t.co/KdgdNfcuGg">pic.twitter.com/KdgdNfcuGg</a></p>
— Anpadh educated (@PRINCE3758458) <a href="https://twitter.com/PRINCE3758458/status/1240618300154843136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier on Friday, Kohli posted a video along with his wife and Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma as the power-couple pleaded everyone to stay safe and healthy while maintaining social distancing as much as possible.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kevin-pietersen-reaches-out-to-india-on-coronavirus-awareness-in-hindi-287538">Kevin Pietersen reaches out to India on coronavirus awareness in Hindi</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, all the sporting events have been either cancelled or postponed keeping the spread of the novel coronavirus in mind. In the cricket world, the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa was aborted mid-way whereas the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to suspend the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 until April 15.&nbsp;</p>

<p>All other sporting events such as Premier League, Bundesliga, French Open, Euro 2020, to name a few, have been postponed until further notice amid the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;</p>


The novel coronavirus has brought the entire world to a stand-still. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has already issued advisories to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19, Indian Health Ministry is also continuously monitoring the situation in India while providing a fresh set of guidelines as per the situation.

The novel coronavirus has brought the entire world to a stand-still. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has already issued advisories to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19, Indian Health Ministry is also continuously monitoring the situation in India while providing a fresh set of guidelines as per the situation. Athletes have been asked to not oblige to request of selfies and autographs by the fans and maintain social distancing as much as possible. Keeping the advisory in mind, the Indian cricket team’s skipper Virat Kohli was seen refusing an autograph request by one of the fans at the airport. While the location of the incident has not been revealed, a video of Kohli at the airport went viral on social media platform Twitter, where the Indian skipper is seen walking away from the young fan who waited for a selfie with the superstar. ALSO READ: 'The need of the hour is to..' - Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma urge people to act together against COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/KdgdNfcuGg — Anpadh educated (@PRINCE3758458) March 19, 2020 × Earlier on Friday, Kohli posted a video along with his wife and Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma as the power-couple pleaded everyone to stay safe and healthy while maintaining social distancing as much as possible. ALSO READ: Kevin Pietersen reaches out to India on coronavirus awareness in Hindi Meanwhile, all the sporting events have been either cancelled or postponed keeping the spread of the novel coronavirus in mind. In the cricket world, the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa was aborted mid-way whereas the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to suspend the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 until April 15. All other sporting events such as Premier League, Bundesliga, French Open, Euro 2020, to name a few, have been postponed until further notice amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

WATCH: 'Masked' Virat Kohli refuses selfie request at airport over COVID-19 concern

<p>There has been a lot of talks surrounding Indian skipper Virat Kohli's aggressive behaviour on the field. While many fans and experts have backed Kohli to continue with his pumped up style of play, there are others who think the Indian skipper should mellow down his behaviour when he takes the field for Team India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Former Indian cricketer and currently a member of Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) – Madan Lal – has lashed out on Kohli's critics by saying that earlier people used to say Indians are not aggressive and now when the players have started to be aggressive on the field, they just can't ask it to be stopped.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lal further said that he enjoys Kohli's aggression while adding Team India needs a captain like him to lead from the front.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“First, everyone wanted a very aggressive captain and now you want Kohli to stop his aggressive streak. I love the way he is on the field. Earlier, people used to say that Indians are not aggressive; now that we’ve become aggressive people question that and ask why we are so aggressive. I enjoy Kohli’s aggression; we need a captain like him,” Lal was quoted as saying by a leading daily.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The former Indian speedster, on Kohli's poor show in New Zealand, said that it was just a loss of form and confidence while adding he is still the world's best player and sometimes technical flaws come in.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“He was out of form. You can say it was a loss of confidence. That (series against New Zealand) doesn’t take anything away from him. He is still the world’s best player. At times, technical flaws come in and you then try harder and harder but still you don’t come out of it. It happens to the best of players,” he stated.</p>

<p><br />
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There has been a lot of talks surrounding Indian skipper Virat Kohli's aggressive behaviour on the field. While many fans and experts have backed Kohli to continue with his pumped up style of play, there are others who think the Indian skipper should mellow down his behaviour when he takes the field for Team India.

There has been a lot of talks surrounding Indian skipper Virat Kohli's aggressive behaviour on the field. While many fans and experts have backed Kohli to continue with his pumped up style of play, there are others who think the Indian skipper should mellow down his behaviour when he takes the field for Team India. Former Indian cricketer and currently a member of Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) – Madan Lal – has lashed out on Kohli's critics by saying that earlier people used to say Indians are not aggressive and now when the players have started to be aggressive on the field, they just can't ask it to be stopped. Lal further said that he enjoys Kohli's aggression while adding Team India needs a captain like him to lead from the front. “First, everyone wanted a very aggressive captain and now you want Kohli to stop his aggressive streak. I love the way he is on the field. Earlier, people used to say that Indians are not aggressive; now that we’ve become aggressive people question that and ask why we are so aggressive. I enjoy Kohli’s aggression; we need a captain like him,” Lal was quoted as saying by a leading daily. The former Indian speedster, on Kohli's poor show in New Zealand, said that it was just a loss of form and confidence while adding he is still the world's best player and sometimes technical flaws come in. “He was out of form. You can say it was a loss of confidence. That (series against New Zealand) doesn’t take anything away from him. He is still the world’s best player. At times, technical flaws come in and you then try harder and harder but still you don’t come out of it. It happens to the best of players,” he stated.

CAC member Madan Lal lashes out at Virat Kohli's critics over his on-field aggressive behaviour and poor form

<p>Dharamsala is set to host the curtain raiser of South Africa and India's three-match ODI series amid coronavirus fears.</p>

<p>India will be hoping to get back to winning ways after facing consecutive whitewash defeats against the Kiwis in a recent New Zealand tour.</p>

<p>Proteas, on the other hand, will face India with boosted spirits after thrashing Australia 3-0 in an ODI series in South Africa.</p>

<p>Virat Kohli was ruled out of form after a below-average performance against New Zealand, he has been a vital element in the Indian batting line-up. This series could help the Indian skipper bounce back in form.</p>

<p>South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen has been in a wonderful form after he played a crucial role against the Aussies, he scored 123 (not out), 51, 68 (not out) in the three-match ODI series respectively. He was declared the 'Player of the Series'.</p>

<p>Shikhar Dhawan, Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been a major addition in the 'Men in Blue' squad. These three players can play a major role to help Indian team get back to winning ways.</p>

<p>India's prolific all-rounder Hardik Pandya is back in the squad, he will be making his comeback after he proved his mettle after an explosive spell of 46, 105, 38 and 158* in his tenure in the DY Patil T20 tournament. He missed out on action after the 26-year-old underwent lower back surgery last October.</p>

<p>Rohit Sharma is ruled out of the Indian squad due to the calf-injury during the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year. His absence is a massive set back for the team.</p>

<p>Dharamsala's weather could play a spoilsport as today's forecast predicts heavy shower.</p>

<p><strong>India's predicted XI:</strong> Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Lokesh Rahul(w), Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah.</p>

<p><strong>South Africa's predicted XI:</strong> Quinton de Kock(w/c), Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis, JJ Smuts, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Janneman Malan.</p>

<p><strong>Squads:</strong><br />
<strong>India Squad:</strong> Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Lokesh Rahul(w), Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Navdeep Saini, Shubman Gill, Kuldeep Yadav</p>

<p><strong>South Africa Squad:</strong> Quinton de Kock(w/c), Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis, JJ Smuts, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Janneman Malan, Kyle Verreynne, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, George Linde, Rassie van der Dussen, Beuran Hendricks</p>


Dharamsala is set to host the curtain raiser of South Africa and India's three-match ODI series amid coronavirus fears. India will be hoping to get back to winning ways after facing consecutive whitewash defeats against the Kiwis in a recent New Zealand tour.

Dharamsala is set to host the curtain raiser of South Africa and India's three-match ODI series amid coronavirus fears. India will be hoping to get back to winning ways after facing consecutive whitewash defeats against the Kiwis in a recent New Zealand tour. Proteas, on the other hand, will face India with boosted spirits after thrashing Australia 3-0 in an ODI series in South Africa. Virat Kohli was ruled out of form after a below-average performance against New Zealand, he has been a vital element in the Indian batting line-up. This series could help the Indian skipper bounce back in form. South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen has been in a wonderful form after he played a crucial role against the Aussies, he scored 123 (not out), 51, 68 (not out) in the three-match ODI series respectively. He was declared the 'Player of the Series'. Shikhar Dhawan, Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been a major addition in the 'Men in Blue' squad. These three players can play a major role to help Indian team get back to winning ways. India's prolific all-rounder Hardik Pandya is back in the squad, he will be making his comeback after he proved his mettle after an explosive spell of 46, 105, 38 and 158* in his tenure in the DY Patil T20 tournament. He missed out on action after the 26-year-old underwent lower back surgery last October. Rohit Sharma is ruled out of the Indian squad due to the calf-injury during the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year. His absence is a massive set back for the team. Dharamsala's weather could play a spoilsport as today's forecast predicts heavy shower. India's predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Lokesh Rahul(w), Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah. South Africa's predicted XI: Quinton de Kock(w/c), Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis, JJ Smuts, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Janneman Malan. Squads: India Squad: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Lokesh Rahul(w), Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Navdeep Saini, Shubman Gill, Kuldeep Yadav South Africa Squad: Quinton de Kock(w/c), Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis, JJ Smuts, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Janneman Malan, Kyle Verreynne, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, George Linde, Rassie van der Dussen, Beuran Hendricks

India vs South Africa, first ODI, Dharamshala: Preview

<p>The entire world has been left shaken by the novel coronavirus with the number of worldwide cases surpassing 120,000-mark on Wednesday.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/all-italian-sporting-events-including-serie-a-suspended-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak-285360">Also Read: All Italian sporting events including Serie A suspended due to coronavirus outbreak</a></p>

<p>While the sporting world has taken a massive hit after the coronavirus outbreak with numerous tournaments being called off, there are also dark clouds hovering over the future of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.</p>

<p>Even though there is still time for IPL 2020, which is set to commence from March 29, all eyes will be on the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa starting from Thursday in Dharamsala.</p>

<p>Ahead of the three-match ODI series opener against South Africa, Bhuvneshwar Kumar on Wednesday said that the Indian players are thinking about not using saliva to shine the ball.</p>

<p>The senior Indian seamer further said that a final call will be taken during the team meeting on Wednesday evening while adding the players will follow whatever the team doctor advises them to do.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-olympic-chiefs-axe-media-summit-over-virus-fears-285362">Also Read: US Olympic chiefs axe media summit over virus fears</a></p>

<p>"We have thought about this thing (not using saliva)," the Indian medium-pacer said.</p>

<p>“We have thought about this thing (not using saliva) but I can’t say right now we will not use saliva because if we don’t use saliva then how will we shine the ball. Then we will get hit and you people will say you are not bowling well,” the 31-year-old pacer, who is returning to the team after recovering from sports hernia surgery, said during the pre-match press conference ahead of the first ODI in Dharamsala.</p>

<p>“But it’s a valid point and let’s see we will have a team meeting today and whatever instruction we get or whatever is the best option we will do. It all depends on the team doctor and what advise he gives us,” he added.</p>

<p>Football leagues like Serie A (in Italy) have been suspended until at least April 3 whereas some matches of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) and UEFA Europa League (UEL) will be played behind closed doors.</p>

<p>In India, the ISSF Shooting World Cup, which was to hosted by Delhi, has been already postponed and fingers are being pointed towards the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on whether they will take any step to safeguard the health of the players.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With coronavirus cases rising to at least 60 in India, there is a sense of panic among the citizens. While BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has maintained that the IPL will go as per the schedule, Bhuvneshwar is of the view that nothing can be said at this point when it comes to the fate of IPL 2020.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“You cannot say anything right now because it’s taking a dangerous situation in India. But we are taking every precaution we can take. We have a team doctor with us and he is giving us instructions about dos and don’ts. So we hope it won’t go (spread) much further,” Bhuvneshwar said.</p>

<p>"We cannot avoid fans because they love us," he added.</p>

<p>Just like the South African team, Indian players have been advised to stay away from fans and not indulge in fan-activities like taking selfies, giving autographs, to name a few. Bhuvneshwar confirmed that that team doctor has asked them to maintain personal hygiene and to not get closer to the fans.</p>

<p>However, Bhuvneshwar further said that the players can't stay away from fans as they support them.</p>

<p>“Few dos and don’ts which the team doctor wants us to do. Simple things like maintaining hygiene, keep washing your hands regularly and not going closer to fans and all those things. But we cannot avoid fans because they love us, they support us. In the meantime, we can try and not get too much closer to them. We can avoid as much as we can,” the 30-year-old added.</p>

<p>India and South Africa are set to take the field at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala for the first ODI on Thursday (March 11).</p>

<p>The second ODI of the three-match series is scheduled to be hosted by Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on March 15 followed by the final match of the series at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 18.</p>


The entire world has been left shaken by the novel coronavirus with the number of worldwide cases surpassing 120,000-mark on Wednesday. Also Read: All Italian sporting events including Serie A suspended due to coronavirus outbreak While the sporting world has taken a massive hit after the coronavirus outbreak with numerous tournaments being called off, there are also dark clouds hovering over the future of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

The entire world has been left shaken by the novel coronavirus with the number of worldwide cases surpassing 120,000-mark on Wednesday. Also Read: All Italian sporting events including Serie A suspended due to coronavirus outbreak While the sporting world has taken a massive hit after the coronavirus outbreak with numerous tournaments being called off, there are also dark clouds hovering over the future of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. Even though there is still time for IPL 2020, which is set to commence from March 29, all eyes will be on the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa starting from Thursday in Dharamsala. Ahead of the three-match ODI series opener against South Africa, Bhuvneshwar Kumar on Wednesday said that the Indian players are thinking about not using saliva to shine the ball. The senior Indian seamer further said that a final call will be taken during the team meeting on Wednesday evening while adding the players will follow whatever the team doctor advises them to do. Also Read: US Olympic chiefs axe media summit over virus fears "We have thought about this thing (not using saliva)," the Indian medium-pacer said. “We have thought about this thing (not using saliva) but I can’t say right now we will not use saliva because if we don’t use saliva then how will we shine the ball. Then we will get hit and you people will say you are not bowling well,” the 31-year-old pacer, who is returning to the team after recovering from sports hernia surgery, said during the pre-match press conference ahead of the first ODI in Dharamsala. “But it’s a valid point and let’s see we will have a team meeting today and whatever instruction we get or whatever is the best option we will do. It all depends on the team doctor and what advise he gives us,” he added. Football leagues like Serie A (in Italy) have been suspended until at least April 3 whereas some matches of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) and UEFA Europa League (UEL) will be played behind closed doors. In India, the ISSF Shooting World Cup, which was to hosted by Delhi, has been already postponed and fingers are being pointed towards the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on whether they will take any step to safeguard the health of the players. With coronavirus cases rising to at least 60 in India, there is a sense of panic among the citizens. While BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has maintained that the IPL will go as per the schedule, Bhuvneshwar is of the view that nothing can be said at this point when it comes to the fate of IPL 2020. “You cannot say anything right now because it’s taking a dangerous situation in India. But we are taking every precaution we can take. We have a team doctor with us and he is giving us instructions about dos and don’ts. So we hope it won’t go (spread) much further,” Bhuvneshwar said. "We cannot avoid fans because they love us," he added. Just like the South African team, Indian players have been advised to stay away from fans and not indulge in fan-activities like taking selfies, giving autographs, to name a few. Bhuvneshwar confirmed that that team doctor has asked them to maintain personal hygiene and to not get closer to the fans. However, Bhuvneshwar further said that the players can't stay away from fans as they support them. “Few dos and don’ts which the team doctor wants us to do. Simple things like maintaining hygiene, keep washing your hands regularly and not going closer to fans and all those things. But we cannot avoid fans because they love us, they support us. In the meantime, we can try and not get too much closer to them. We can avoid as much as we can,” the 30-year-old added. India and South Africa are set to take the field at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala for the first ODI on Thursday (March 11). The second ODI of the three-match series is scheduled to be hosted by Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on March 15 followed by the final match of the series at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 18.

Coronavirus effect on India-South Africa ODIs: The saliva conundrum for Bhuvneshwar Kumar

<p>After a disappointing&nbsp;New Zealand tour, Team India would be looking to rectify their mistakes and get back to winning ways&nbsp;in the day/night encounter&nbsp;when they kick-start the three-match ODI series against South Africa on Thursday (March 12) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-zealand-beat-india-by-7-wickets-tour-ends-with-consecutive-whitewash-283620">Also Read: New Zealand beat India by 7 wickets, tour ends with consecutive whitewash</a></p>

<p>India are coming into the ODI series after a shambolic tour of New Zealand, where the Men in Blue were whitewashed&nbsp;in the ODI and Test series by the hosts. Even though India did sweep&nbsp;the T20I series against the Black Caps, the defeats in ODI and Test series overshadowed their feat in the shortest format of the game.</p>

<p>India would be welcoming some of their experienced guns in the ODIs against the Quinton de Kock-led outfit. The likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya would be returning to the senior team after proving their fitness in the recently concluded DY Patil T20 Cup whereas the likes of Mohammed Shami and Mayank Agarwal have been rested from the three-match rubber.</p>

<p>The Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue would be absolutely desperate to taste victory&nbsp;in the ODI series but have to be wary of South Africa's recent form in the limited-overs circuit.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-zealand-hand-10-wickets-defeat-to-india-registers-100th-test-victory-282244">Also Read: New Zealand hand 10-wickets defeat to India, registers 100th Test victory</a><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Proteas are coming into the series after defeating Australia 3-0 in the recently-concluded ODI series. Even though the Proteas suffered defeats in the T20I series against Australia and England, they were absolutely brilliant on the field in each and every department of the game in both the series.</p>

<p>This will be India's final international assignment prior to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 and the fans would hope to witness the best from Team India in the series. In the last 10 ODIs between India and South Africa, the Men in Blue have been victorious seven times whereas the Proteas have won just three matches in the shorter format of the game.</p>

<p><strong>Stat Attack:</strong></p>

<p>Overall, India and South Africa have played as many as 84 ODI matches in which India has won 35 matches whereas Proteas lead the head-to-head battle with 46 wins under their belt while three matches have ended in a no-result.</p>

<p>However, India holds a slight edge whenever they have hosted South Africa in ODIs. Out of 28 ODIs hosted by India, the Men in Blue have won 15 matches whereas South Africa has come victorious 13 times. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Kohli's torrid run:</strong></p>

<p>Indian skipper Virat Kohli would be hoping to end his poor run of form when he takes to the field in Dharamsala on Thursday. While Kohli had a torrid run in the recently concluded tour of New Zealand, the swashbuckling right-handed batsman hasn't scored a century in his last 22 innings across formats with his last ton coming against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in 2019 in what was India's first-ever pink-ball Test match.</p>

<p><strong>The return of Faf:</strong></p>

<p>For South Africa, Faf du Plessis will mark his return to the ODI squad since the conclusion of ICC World Cup 2019. Even though the Proteas have seen de Kock taking over the leadership duties, du Plessis' experience could come in handy if the visitors want to stun India at their own den.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Team India Squad: </strong>Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli (C), KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill.</p>

<p><strong>South Africa Squad:</strong> Quinton de Kock (c &amp; wk), Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Kyle Verreynne, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla, Beuran Hendricks, Anrich Nortje, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan.</p>


After a disappointing New Zealand tour, Team India would be looking to rectify their mistakes and get back to winning ways in the day/night encounter when they kick-start the three-match ODI series against South Africa on Thursday (March 12) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

After a disappointing New Zealand tour, Team India would be looking to rectify their mistakes and get back to winning ways in the day/night encounter when they kick-start the three-match ODI series against South Africa on Thursday (March 12) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Also Read: New Zealand beat India by 7 wickets, tour ends with consecutive whitewash India are coming into the ODI series after a shambolic tour of New Zealand, where the Men in Blue were whitewashed in the ODI and Test series by the hosts. Even though India did sweep the T20I series against the Black Caps, the defeats in ODI and Test series overshadowed their feat in the shortest format of the game. India would be welcoming some of their experienced guns in the ODIs against the Quinton de Kock-led outfit. The likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya would be returning to the senior team after proving their fitness in the recently concluded DY Patil T20 Cup whereas the likes of Mohammed Shami and Mayank Agarwal have been rested from the three-match rubber. The Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue would be absolutely desperate to taste victory in the ODI series but have to be wary of South Africa's recent form in the limited-overs circuit. Also Read: New Zealand hand 10-wickets defeat to India, registers 100th Test victory The Proteas are coming into the series after defeating Australia 3-0 in the recently-concluded ODI series. Even though the Proteas suffered defeats in the T20I series against Australia and England, they were absolutely brilliant on the field in each and every department of the game in both the series. This will be India's final international assignment prior to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 and the fans would hope to witness the best from Team India in the series. In the last 10 ODIs between India and South Africa, the Men in Blue have been victorious seven times whereas the Proteas have won just three matches in the shorter format of the game. Stat Attack: Overall, India and South Africa have played as many as 84 ODI matches in which India has won 35 matches whereas Proteas lead the head-to-head battle with 46 wins under their belt while three matches have ended in a no-result. However, India holds a slight edge whenever they have hosted South Africa in ODIs. Out of 28 ODIs hosted by India, the Men in Blue have won 15 matches whereas South Africa has come victorious 13 times. Kohli's torrid run: Indian skipper Virat Kohli would be hoping to end his poor run of form when he takes to the field in Dharamsala on Thursday. While Kohli had a torrid run in the recently concluded tour of New Zealand, the swashbuckling right-handed batsman hasn't scored a century in his last 22 innings across formats with his last ton coming against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in 2019 in what was India's first-ever pink-ball Test match. The return of Faf: For South Africa, Faf du Plessis will mark his return to the ODI squad since the conclusion of ICC World Cup 2019. Even though the Proteas have seen de Kock taking over the leadership duties, du Plessis' experience could come in handy if the visitors want to stun India at their own den. Team India Squad: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli (C), KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill. South Africa Squad: Quinton de Kock (c & wk), Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Kyle Verreynne, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla, Beuran Hendricks, Anrich Nortje, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan.

India vs South Africa, 1st ODI in Dharamsala: Virat Kohli & Co. eye fresh start against revamped Proteas

<p>India might have faced a bitter defeat by the hands of the Kiwis but there was a moment during the match when the Indian team and Spectators burst out in laughter. This happened when Virat Kohli chose to bowl an over.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-zealand-beat-india-by-7-wickets-tour-ends-with-consecutive-whitewash-283620">New Zealand beat India by 7 wickets, tour ends with consecutive whitewash</a></p>

<p>This happened when New Zealand was just seven runs away from victory (125-3). In a most bizarre decision of all, Kohli decided to ball an over to Henry Nicholls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Surprisingly Henry Nicholls looked nervous while playing the over. Kohli's second delivery almost got the wicket of Nicholls after a loose pull-shot saw a fielder at mid-on, but the ball did not carry. Netizens went crazy after this display, they took to twitter to express their views on Kolhi's bowling:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nothing would make me happier than Virat Kohli keeping his sunglasses on while bowling. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZvIND</a></p>
— Michael Wagener (@Mykuhl) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mykuhl/status/1234306990819528705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Virat Kohli bowling in a Test match &amp; that sums up the series!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsNZ</a></p>
— Ethir Katchi (@sudhanks) <a href="https://twitter.com/sudhanks/status/1234307325579681793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I'm a fan of Kohli's bowling</p>
— Gummadians (@14_saiteja) <a href="https://twitter.com/14_saiteja/status/1234307702714773505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rishabh Pant on stump mic making it appear as if Virat Kohli’s is better than Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling!!!</p>
— Anil P Joseph (@Anil4Joseph) <a href="https://twitter.com/Anil4Joseph/status/1234307901604253696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://t.co/DUXRQUwv7O">https://t.co/DUXRQUwv7O</a></p>
— faceplatter49 (@faceplatter49) <a href="https://twitter.com/faceplatter49/status/1234316702889828359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Kiwi seal 7 wickets win over India on the third day of the five-day Test match at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>New Zealand's were consistent with their bat and bowl. India was bowled out on 242 runs in the first innings after half-centuries by Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari. New Zealand's new pacer spearhead Kyle Jamieson took his first 5-wicket haul in his Test career for the Blackcaps (5/45).&nbsp;</p>

<p>In reply, New Zealand was bowled out on 235 runs handing 7 runs lead to India. Tom Latham scored 52 runs for the Kiwis and Kyle Jamieson shined with the bat too, after scoring 49 runs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India failed to capitalise on the lead in the second innings and lost wickets in quick succession. They were bowled out on 124 runs. Pacer duo Boult and Southee scalped 7 wickets to shatter Indian hopes of a series equaliser setting the target of 132 runs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kiwi opener Tom Latham and Tom Blundell set 103-runs stand, almost winning the game for New Zealand. Latham scored 52 runs whereas Blundell scored 55 runs. Henry Nicholls hit the winning runs in the second session of the fourth day. New Zealand scored 132/3 in 36 overs.&nbsp;</p>


India might have faced a bitter defeat by the hands of the Kiwis but there was a moment during the match when the Indian team and Spectators burst out in laughter.

India might have faced a bitter defeat by the hands of the Kiwis but there was a moment during the match when the Indian team and Spectators burst out in laughter. This happened when Virat Kohli chose to bowl an over. Also read: New Zealand beat India by 7 wickets, tour ends with consecutive whitewash This happened when New Zealand was just seven runs away from victory (125-3). In a most bizarre decision of all, Kohli decided to ball an over to Henry Nicholls. Surprisingly Henry Nicholls looked nervous while playing the over. Kohli's second delivery almost got the wicket of Nicholls after a loose pull-shot saw a fielder at mid-on, but the ball did not carry. Netizens went crazy after this display, they took to twitter to express their views on Kolhi's bowling: Nothing would make me happier than Virat Kohli keeping his sunglasses on while bowling. #NZvIND — Michael Wagener (@Mykuhl) March 2, 2020 × Virat Kohli bowling in a Test match & that sums up the series!! #INDvsNZ — Ethir Katchi (@sudhanks) March 2, 2020 × I'm a fan of Kohli's bowling — Gummadians (@14_saiteja) March 2, 2020 × Rishabh Pant on stump mic making it appear as if Virat Kohli’s is better than Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling!!! — Anil P Joseph (@Anil4Joseph) March 2, 2020 × https://t.co/DUXRQUwv7O — faceplatter49 (@faceplatter49) March 2, 2020 × Kiwi seal 7 wickets win over India on the third day of the five-day Test match at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. New Zealand's were consistent with their bat and bowl. India was bowled out on 242 runs in the first innings after half-centuries by Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari. New Zealand's new pacer spearhead Kyle Jamieson took his first 5-wicket haul in his Test career for the Blackcaps (5/45). In reply, New Zealand was bowled out on 235 runs handing 7 runs lead to India. Tom Latham scored 52 runs for the Kiwis and Kyle Jamieson shined with the bat too, after scoring 49 runs. India failed to capitalise on the lead in the second innings and lost wickets in quick succession. They were bowled out on 124 runs. Pacer duo Boult and Southee scalped 7 wickets to shatter Indian hopes of a series equaliser setting the target of 132 runs. Kiwi opener Tom Latham and Tom Blundell set 103-runs stand, almost winning the game for New Zealand. Latham scored 52 runs whereas Blundell scored 55 runs. Henry Nicholls hit the winning runs in the second session of the fourth day. New Zealand scored 132/3 in 36 overs.

Netizens go gaga over Virat Kohli's bowling action in second Test against Kiwis

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