Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt recently named the best captain between Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Joe Root. The trio is considered as part of the current fab four when it comes to the best batters in the world, and they have also been successful as leaders for their respective teams.

While Williamson leads New Zealand across formats, Kohli recently stepped down as the T20I captain of Team India and will now lead the team in only ODIs and Tests. Joe Root, on the other hand, captains England only in Tests. Butt rated all of them as brilliant captains but picked Williamson as the best across all formats.

"I think Kane Williamson is the best captain. Yes, Joe Root and Virat Kohli are brilliant as well, and they have led their sides superbly, but overall, generically, Williamson is the man when you consider all leaders across formats," Butt said responding to a query in a video on his YouTube channel.

Kohli has already become India's most successful Test captain since taking over from MS Dhoni in 2014. He has so far led India in 65 Tests and has 38 wins to his name - most by any Indian captain in Test history.

Root has 27 wins in 56 Tests for England while Williamson has so far led the Kiwis only in 37 Tests but has an impressive record with 22 wins. His win percentage of 59.45 is the best among the trio with Kohli just slightly behind at 58.46.

While both Kohli and Root are yet to win a major ICC trophy as captain, Williamson led New Zealand to a memorable triumph in the World Test Championship 2019-2021 making the Kiwis the champions of the inaugural edition. New Zealand have also made it to the finals of the last three major ICC events under Williamson's captaincy.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-indias-dietary-plan-with-halal-meat-and-no-beef-pork-only-for-kanpur-test-vs-new-zealand-report-431377">Team India's dietary plan with halal meat and no beef, pork only for Kanpur Test vs New Zealand - Report</a>

They made it to the final of the ODI World Cup in 2019 where they lost against England on the questionable ball-count rule before winning the World Test Championship this year. New Zealand then reached the final of the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021 and lost to Australia by eight wickets.

Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt recently named the best captain between Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Joe Root. The trio is considered as part of the current fab four when it comes to the best batters in the world, and they have also been successful as leaders for their respective teams.

Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt recently named the best captain between Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Joe Root. The trio is considered as part of the current fab four when it comes to the best batters in the world, and they have also been successful as leaders for their respective teams. While Williamson leads New Zealand across formats, Kohli recently stepped down as the T20I captain of Team India and will now lead the team in only ODIs and Tests. Joe Root, on the other hand, captains England only in Tests. Butt rated all of them as brilliant captains but picked Williamson as the best across all formats. "I think Kane Williamson is the best captain. Yes, Joe Root and Virat Kohli are brilliant as well, and they have led their sides superbly, but overall, generically, Williamson is the man when you consider all leaders across formats," Butt said responding to a query in a video on his YouTube channel. Kohli has already become India's most successful Test captain since taking over from MS Dhoni in 2014. He has so far led India in 65 Tests and has 38 wins to his name - most by any Indian captain in Test history. Root has 27 wins in 56 Tests for England while Williamson has so far led the Kiwis only in 37 Tests but has an impressive record with 22 wins. His win percentage of 59.45 is the best among the trio with Kohli just slightly behind at 58.46. While both Kohli and Root are yet to win a major ICC trophy as captain, Williamson led New Zealand to a memorable triumph in the World Test Championship 2019-2021 making the Kiwis the champions of the inaugural edition. New Zealand have also made it to the finals of the last three major ICC events under Williamson's captaincy. Also Read: Team India's dietary plan with halal meat and no beef, pork only for Kanpur Test vs New Zealand - Report They made it to the final of the ODI World Cup in 2019 where they lost against England on the questionable ball-count rule before winning the World Test Championship this year. New Zealand then reached the final of the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021 and lost to Australia by eight wickets.

Virat Kohli, Joe Root or Kane Williamson? Former Pakistan skipper picks best captain between the trio

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has picked our players who he feels Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) should retain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction for the 2022 season. Each team can retain a maximum of only four players with no Right To Match (RTM) option this time around during the mega auction.

RCB superstar AB de Villiers confirmed his retirement from all forms of cricket last week and the franchise is set to be without his services for the first time since the 2011 season. With De Villiers no more in the fray, it remains to be seen how RCB will plan their retentions and who will they form their core around heading into the mega auction.

With Kohli having stepped down as captain, RCB will also be on the lookout for a potential captaincy candidate in the mega auction. Chopra has named four players who he thinks RCB should retain with Kohli on top of the list along with experienced spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. The cricketer turned commentator said if he had to use the complete quota of four retentions then he will also keep Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Padikkal.

"Virat Kohli and Yuzi Chahal will be my first two choices. If I have two more in my hand, I will try for Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Paddikal. These will be my four. I will think about these four for sure. In fact, I can think about Harshal as well - Siraj/Harshal," said Chopra.

Chopra snubbed Glenn Maxwell from his list explaining that he would not want to retain him as he is not hundred per cent sure that Maxwell will continue to perform the way he did for RCB in IPL 2021. Maxwell was roped in by RCB in the player auction last year for a whopping Rs 14.25 crore (INR 140 million).

"You might be thinking about Glenn Maxwell, that why am I not wanting to retain him. It is because I don't have hundred per cent confidence. He is doing very well but I don't know if he will continue doing that. So, I don't want to take that chance," said Chopra.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-indias-dietary-plan-with-halal-meat-and-no-beef-pork-only-for-kanpur-test-vs-new-zealand-report-431377">Team India's dietary plan with halal meat and no beef, pork only for Kanpur Test vs NZ&nbsp;- Report</a>

"We can get more overseas players in the market space if we want, you don't get Indians. I look at Indians most of the times when it comes to retentions," he added.

Chopra further went on to add that it can be a toss-up between Siraj and Harshal when it comes to RCB's pace-bowling retention. While Siraj has developed into a consistent performer for RCB over the last couple of seasons, Harshal had a terrific IPL 2021 where he picked up 32 wickets to bag the Purple Cap and has also made it to the Indian T20I side.

"It might be a toss-up between Harshal Patel and Mohammed Siraj. You can look at Siraj with a slightly more long-term vision. Harshal, the way he is developing, the last 12 months have been extremely good, so maybe Harshal Patel. But then you are looking at three seasons, not just one or two," said Chopra.

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has picked our players who he feels Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) should retain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction for the 2022 season.

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has picked our players who he feels Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) should retain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction for the 2022 season. Each team can retain a maximum of only four players with no Right To Match (RTM) option this time around during the mega auction. RCB superstar AB de Villiers confirmed his retirement from all forms of cricket last week and the franchise is set to be without his services for the first time since the 2011 season. With De Villiers no more in the fray, it remains to be seen how RCB will plan their retentions and who will they form their core around heading into the mega auction. With Kohli having stepped down as captain, RCB will also be on the lookout for a potential captaincy candidate in the mega auction. Chopra has named four players who he thinks RCB should retain with Kohli on top of the list along with experienced spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. The cricketer turned commentator said if he had to use the complete quota of four retentions then he will also keep Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Padikkal. "Virat Kohli and Yuzi Chahal will be my first two choices. If I have two more in my hand, I will try for Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Paddikal. These will be my four. I will think about these four for sure. In fact, I can think about Harshal as well - Siraj/Harshal," said Chopra. Chopra snubbed Glenn Maxwell from his list explaining that he would not want to retain him as he is not hundred per cent sure that Maxwell will continue to perform the way he did for RCB in IPL 2021. Maxwell was roped in by RCB in the player auction last year for a whopping Rs 14.25 crore (INR 140 million). "You might be thinking about Glenn Maxwell, that why am I not wanting to retain him. It is because I don't have hundred per cent confidence. He is doing very well but I don't know if he will continue doing that. So, I don't want to take that chance," said Chopra. Also Read: Team India's dietary plan with halal meat and no beef, pork only for Kanpur Test vs NZ - Report "We can get more overseas players in the market space if we want, you don't get Indians. I look at Indians most of the times when it comes to retentions," he added. Chopra further went on to add that it can be a toss-up between Siraj and Harshal when it comes to RCB's pace-bowling retention. While Siraj has developed into a consistent performer for RCB over the last couple of seasons, Harshal had a terrific IPL 2021 where he picked up 32 wickets to bag the Purple Cap and has also made it to the Indian T20I side. "It might be a toss-up between Harshal Patel and Mohammed Siraj. You can look at Siraj with a slightly more long-term vision. Harshal, the way he is developing, the last 12 months have been extremely good, so maybe Harshal Patel. But then you are looking at three seasons, not just one or two," said Chopra.

No Glenn Maxwell! Aakash Chopra picks 4 players RCB should retain ahead of IPL mega auction

Team India ended their three-match T20I series versus New Zealand, at home, on Sunday evening (November 21) as Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. inflicted a 3-0 whitewash over the Black Caps. The action will now move to the two-match Test series, starting from November 25 (Thursday) at Kanpur where Ajinkya Rahane will lead the side in the series opener.

Virat Kohli, India's Test and ODI captain, is likely to return to the Test squad for the second and final encounter, at Mumbai from December 3-7. Ahead of his return, the 34-year-old has now started his practice session and was seen at the nets in the CCI, Mumbai. After his practice, the right-hander was joined by a 'cool cat' on the ground as Kohli shared few adorable pictures with the cat.

To this, his wife and Bollywood's Anushka Sharma also joined in as the duo had a hilarious conversation on social media platform Instagram. Here's how it all panned out:

"A quick hello from a cool cat at practice," Kohli captioned the post on his official Instagram handle. Anushka was quick to join and commented, "Hello billi (Hi cat)," on Kohli's picture with the 'cool cat'. To this, her hubby Virat hilariously responded by saying, "@anushkasharma launda from dilli and Mumbai ki billi (Guy from Delhi with Mumbai's cat)".&nbsp;

<img alt="Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma chat over 'cool cat'" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e332c1d0-4e04-4d73-b77d-04ddcf887906" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kohli_Anushka%20chat.jpg" />

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-often-let-ms-dhoni-handle-bharat-arun-opines-on-smooth-captaincy-transition-between-duo-431347">'Virat Kohli often let MS Dhoni handle...': Bharat Arun opines on smooth captaincy transition between duo</a>

Kohli will be raring to have a go versus New Zealand, against whom Team India lost the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final early this year, at The Rose Bowl, Southampton. Moreover, it has been two years since Kohli's last international hundred and the right-hander will be desperate to break his century-drought versus Kane Williamson &amp; Co. in the second and final Test in Mumbai.&nbsp;

India squad for the 1st Test vs New Zealand

Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Team India ended their three-match T20I series versus New Zealand, at home, on Sunday evening (November 21) as Rohit Sharma & Co. inflicted a 3-0 whitewash over the Black Caps.

Team India ended their three-match T20I series versus New Zealand, at home, on Sunday evening (November 21) as Rohit Sharma & Co. inflicted a 3-0 whitewash over the Black Caps. The action will now move to the two-match Test series, starting from November 25 (Thursday) at Kanpur where Ajinkya Rahane will lead the side in the series opener. Virat Kohli, India's Test and ODI captain, is likely to return to the Test squad for the second and final encounter, at Mumbai from December 3-7. Ahead of his return, the 34-year-old has now started his practice session and was seen at the nets in the CCI, Mumbai. After his practice, the right-hander was joined by a 'cool cat' on the ground as Kohli shared few adorable pictures with the cat. To this, his wife and Bollywood's Anushka Sharma also joined in as the duo had a hilarious conversation on social media platform Instagram. Here's how it all panned out: "A quick hello from a cool cat at practice," Kohli captioned the post on his official Instagram handle. Anushka was quick to join and commented, "Hello billi (Hi cat)," on Kohli's picture with the 'cool cat'. To this, her hubby Virat hilariously responded by saying, "@anushkasharma launda from dilli and Mumbai ki billi (Guy from Delhi with Mumbai's cat)". ALSO READ | 'Virat Kohli often let MS Dhoni handle...': Bharat Arun opines on smooth captaincy transition between duo Kohli will be raring to have a go versus New Zealand, against whom Team India lost the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final early this year, at The Rose Bowl, Southampton. Moreover, it has been two years since Kohli's last international hundred and the right-hander will be desperate to break his century-drought versus Kane Williamson & Co. in the second and final Test in Mumbai. India squad for the 1st Test vs New Zealand Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma engage in hilarious conversation after 'cool cat' joins batter's practice session

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has his say on the ex-head coach of the national men's team, Ravi Shastri, whose tenure ended after the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021.&nbsp;

Shastri has been succeeded by former India captain Rahul Dravid, who took the charge during India's three-match T20I home series against New Zealand, which India won 3-0.&nbsp;

At the time of his departure as the head coach of India, Shastri hailed the players, including the support staff as he said that the Indian team during his tenure was "one of the great teams that have played the game". The statement didn't sit well with the cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir.&nbsp;

IN PICS | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-john-the-bookmaker-to-paines-sexting-controversies-that-have-tainted-australian-cricket-since-1981-430763#tim-paines-sexting-scandal-430745">From 'John' the bookmaker to Paine's sexting: Controversies that have tainted Australian cricket since 1981</a>

"The one thing I found surprising is that when you play well, you don't usually boast about it. It's fine if others talk about it; when we won the 2011 World Cup, no one gave statements saying that this team is the best in the world, let alone country," Gambhir said on Times Now Navbharat.&nbsp;

"When you win, let others talk about it. You won in Australia, that's a big achievement no doubt. You won in England, performed well, no doubt. But let others praise you. You won't hear such statements from Rahul Dravid. Whether India play good or bad, his statements will always remain balanced. Moreover, it will reflect on other players," said the former Indian opener.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sportspersons-are-human-stop-the-judgement-shane-warne-defends-tim-paine-over-sexting-scandal-431025">'Sportspersons are human. Stop the judgement': Shane Warne defends Tim Paine over sexting scandal</a>

"Humility is very important, whether you play good or bad. Cricket won't go on forever. I think Dravid's major focus will be on players being good people first," Gambhir added.&nbsp;

In Shastri-era, Team India became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia (2018-19) and triumphed again Down Under in 2020-21. In the leadership of a prolific skipper Virat Kohli, India climbed to the top of the Test rankings and reached the final of this year's inaugural World Test Championship, where they were beaten by New Zealand.

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has his say on the ex-head coach of the national men's team, Ravi Shastri, whose tenure ended after the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021.

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has his say on the ex-head coach of the national men's team, Ravi Shastri, whose tenure ended after the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021. Shastri has been succeeded by former India captain Rahul Dravid, who took the charge during India's three-match T20I home series against New Zealand, which India won 3-0. At the time of his departure as the head coach of India, Shastri hailed the players, including the support staff as he said that the Indian team during his tenure was "one of the great teams that have played the game". The statement didn't sit well with the cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir. IN PICS | From 'John' the bookmaker to Paine's sexting: Controversies that have tainted Australian cricket since 1981 "The one thing I found surprising is that when you play well, you don't usually boast about it. It's fine if others talk about it; when we won the 2011 World Cup, no one gave statements saying that this team is the best in the world, let alone country," Gambhir said on Times Now Navbharat. "When you win, let others talk about it. You won in Australia, that's a big achievement no doubt. You won in England, performed well, no doubt. But let others praise you. You won't hear such statements from Rahul Dravid. Whether India play good or bad, his statements will always remain balanced. Moreover, it will reflect on other players," said the former Indian opener. ALSO READ | 'Sportspersons are human. Stop the judgement': Shane Warne defends Tim Paine over sexting scandal "Humility is very important, whether you play good or bad. Cricket won't go on forever. I think Dravid's major focus will be on players being good people first," Gambhir added. In Shastri-era, Team India became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia (2018-19) and triumphed again Down Under in 2020-21. In the leadership of a prolific skipper Virat Kohli, India climbed to the top of the Test rankings and reached the final of this year's inaugural World Test Championship, where they were beaten by New Zealand.

'Dravid's statements will always remain balanced': Gautam Gambhir's staunch criticism for Ravi Shastri

'Absolutely, you need a break," said Jasprit Bumrah in the&nbsp;aftermath of India's loss against New Zealand in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021, when asked if the team would have preferred a bigger break between the second leg of the&nbsp;Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 and the start of the World Cup in the UAE.

India's campaign got underway less than two weeks after the conclusion of IPL 2021 and it didn't take long for the players to realise the implications of having spent months playing continuous cricket in bio-bubbles across the world. In the past year, the 'new normal' as the bio bubble life&nbsp;has often been labelled as, has taken a massive toll on the mental health of cricketers.

It all started in August last year when the IPL got underway in the UAE after a long hiatus due to COVID-19. The challenges of living in a bubble were quite evident right from the beginning but the excitement of cricket returning after a long gap meant the ill effects were ignored.

But, as India's campaign derailed in the T20 World Cup, the mental health of the players took centre stage. As much as the form&nbsp;and priorities of each player were discussed in the aftermath of India's consecutive defeats in their first two Super 12 matches, mental health was one of the decisive factors in the team's poor start.

Mental health has never been taken as seriously in cricket as it has been in the past few months after the introduction of 'bio-bubbles' to combat the invisible virus. From Ben Stokes taking a break to Indian players and support staff talking openly of the fatigue caused by the bubble life, mental health has become one of the biggest talking points in cricket post COVID-19.

India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 was all but over after their back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in the first two games but they hung on till the end. Only to eventually bow out despite winning the remaining three matches comprehensively.&nbsp;

While they didn't bring home the second T20 World Cup trophy but the tournament did enough to awaken the senses of Indian cricket which has for long ignored mental health and the issues surrounding it. India are one of the most active teams in world cricket and excessive cricket in these tough times can easily become mentally challenging for even the toughest of characters.

Here is a look at how much rest did each of the Indian players got ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021:

Before we start looking at the amount of rest each of the 15 members of the Indian T20 World Cup 2021 squad got ahead of the tournament, we need to take into account the common break periods for the team since IPL 2020.

The IPL 2020 final was played on November 10 and the Indian team had almost no break ahead of the Australia tour which kicked off on November 27 and lasted till January 19 2021. India got a six-day break before the start of the England series at home.

The team then got a break of two weeks after the cancellation of IPL 2021 in May ahead of the England tour and a 21-day break in England in between the World Test Championship final and the start of the Test series. Each of the 15 players were part of the IPL bio bubble in April-May and then September-October.

1) Virat Kohli - The former Indian T20I captain took just one break in between IPL 2020 and the start of the T20 World Cup this year. He missed the last three Tests against Australia due to paternity leave from December 21 to January 27.

2) Rohit Sharma - Rohit Sharma was injured ahead of the start of the Australia tour and had missed the ODI and T20I series Down Under along with the first two Test matches. He was out due to injury from November 11 to December 18.

3) KL Rahul - The Indian opener was ruled out of the Australia Test series after the conclusion of the firs two games and was on an injury break from January 05 to January 28.

4) Suryakumar Yadav -&nbsp;The batter was not part of India's tour of Australia but was in a bio-bubble during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in India. He got a 45-day break post IPL 2020 ahead of the start of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then played the England series at home but was not part of the England tour and got&nbsp;40 days rest before the Sri Lanka tour in July. He had then travelled to England post the SL tour.

5) Rishabh Pant - The wicket-keeper batter has been one of the busiest cricketers for Team India and has had no break since the IPL 2020. Pant has been part of each of India's series since the conclusion of the IPL last year without taking any rest.

6) Ishan Kishan - India's backup wicket-keeper and opener in the T20 World Cup this year, Ishan also got a 45-day break after IPL 2020 ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then got a 40-day break ahead of the Sri Lanka tour in May and a three-week break after the Sri Lanka tour before the start of IPL 2021's second leg.

7) Hardik Pandya - Hardik Pandya was on a break after the T20I series in Australia. He got a rest period of 50 days before the England series at home. He then had a 40-day break ahead of the Sri Lanka tour and a three-week break post that.

8) Ravindra Jadeja - The star all-rounder was out with an injury for 60 days from January 11. His Australia tour was cut short in between. Jadeja made his comeback in the England series at home and didn't get any break till the T20 World Cup 2021.

9) R Ashwin - R Ashwin was also in a bubble continuously throughout the Australia tour before entering another bubble during the England Test series at home. He then was part of the Test squad for the England tour ahead of IPL 2021's second leg and didn't get any break before the start of the T20 World Cup 2021.

10) Shardul Thakur - The Indian pacer didn't get any break from IPL 2020 to the start of the T20 World Cup 2021 this year as he was part of the Australia tour, England series at home, IPL 2021 and the England tour.

11) Mohammed Shami - Shami had an injury break of 90 days after getting ruled out following the first Test against Australia in December. He made a comeback during the first leg of IPL 2021 and stayed in bubbles continuously post that.

12) Jasprit Bumrah - One of India's best fast bowlers at present, Bumrah got a two-week break for his wedding when he left the bio-bubble midway through the England series at home. He has also been one of India's most active cricketers in the past year.

13) Varun Chakaravarthy - The spinner was initially named in India's T20 squad for the Australia tour but ended up missing the tour due to an injury. He was out for four months due to his injury and made his comeback in IPL 2021. Chakaravarthy then got a 40-day break after IPL 2021 was cancelled in May before the Sri Lanka tour. He then got a three-week rest post the SL tour.

14) Bhuvneshwar Kumar - The senior pacer was also out injured for quite a while and had missed the Australia tour entirely. He spent 60 days on the sidelines due to his injury and made his comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then joined Team India's bubble for the England series at home and got the rest of 40 days after that before the Sri Lanka tour. He then got a three-week rest post the SL tour.

15) Rahul Chahar - The spinner got a two-month break post IPL 2020 as he was also not part of the Australia tour. Chahar then got a 40-day break after the IPL 2021 was suspended in May and a three-week break after the Sri Lanka tour.

&nbsp;

'Absolutely, you need a break," said Jasprit Bumrah in the aftermath of India's loss against New Zealand in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021, when asked if the team would have preferred a bigger break between the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 and the start of the World Cup in the UAE.

'Absolutely, you need a break," said Jasprit Bumrah in the aftermath of India's loss against New Zealand in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021, when asked if the team would have preferred a bigger break between the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 and the start of the World Cup in the UAE. India's campaign got underway less than two weeks after the conclusion of IPL 2021 and it didn't take long for the players to realise the implications of having spent months playing continuous cricket in bio-bubbles across the world. In the past year, the 'new normal' as the bio bubble life has often been labelled as, has taken a massive toll on the mental health of cricketers. It all started in August last year when the IPL got underway in the UAE after a long hiatus due to COVID-19. The challenges of living in a bubble were quite evident right from the beginning but the excitement of cricket returning after a long gap meant the ill effects were ignored. But, as India's campaign derailed in the T20 World Cup, the mental health of the players took centre stage. As much as the form and priorities of each player were discussed in the aftermath of India's consecutive defeats in their first two Super 12 matches, mental health was one of the decisive factors in the team's poor start. Mental health has never been taken as seriously in cricket as it has been in the past few months after the introduction of 'bio-bubbles' to combat the invisible virus. From Ben Stokes taking a break to Indian players and support staff talking openly of the fatigue caused by the bubble life, mental health has become one of the biggest talking points in cricket post COVID-19. India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 was all but over after their back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in the first two games but they hung on till the end. Only to eventually bow out despite winning the remaining three matches comprehensively. While they didn't bring home the second T20 World Cup trophy but the tournament did enough to awaken the senses of Indian cricket which has for long ignored mental health and the issues surrounding it. India are one of the most active teams in world cricket and excessive cricket in these tough times can easily become mentally challenging for even the toughest of characters. Here is a look at how much rest did each of the Indian players got ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021: Before we start looking at the amount of rest each of the 15 members of the Indian T20 World Cup 2021 squad got ahead of the tournament, we need to take into account the common break periods for the team since IPL 2020. The IPL 2020 final was played on November 10 and the Indian team had almost no break ahead of the Australia tour which kicked off on November 27 and lasted till January 19 2021. India got a six-day break before the start of the England series at home. The team then got a break of two weeks after the cancellation of IPL 2021 in May ahead of the England tour and a 21-day break in England in between the World Test Championship final and the start of the Test series. Each of the 15 players were part of the IPL bio bubble in April-May and then September-October. 1) Virat Kohli - The former Indian T20I captain took just one break in between IPL 2020 and the start of the T20 World Cup this year. He missed the last three Tests against Australia due to paternity leave from December 21 to January 27. 2) Rohit Sharma - Rohit Sharma was injured ahead of the start of the Australia tour and had missed the ODI and T20I series Down Under along with the first two Test matches. He was out due to injury from November 11 to December 18. 3) KL Rahul - The Indian opener was ruled out of the Australia Test series after the conclusion of the firs two games and was on an injury break from January 05 to January 28. 4) Suryakumar Yadav - The batter was not part of India's tour of Australia but was in a bio-bubble during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in India. He got a 45-day break post IPL 2020 ahead of the start of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then played the England series at home but was not part of the England tour and got 40 days rest before the Sri Lanka tour in July. He had then travelled to England post the SL tour. 5) Rishabh Pant - The wicket-keeper batter has been one of the busiest cricketers for Team India and has had no break since the IPL 2020. Pant has been part of each of India's series since the conclusion of the IPL last year without taking any rest. 6) Ishan Kishan - India's backup wicket-keeper and opener in the T20 World Cup this year, Ishan also got a 45-day break after IPL 2020 ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then got a 40-day break ahead of the Sri Lanka tour in May and a three-week break after the Sri Lanka tour before the start of IPL 2021's second leg. 7) Hardik Pandya - Hardik Pandya was on a break after the T20I series in Australia. He got a rest period of 50 days before the England series at home. He then had a 40-day break ahead of the Sri Lanka tour and a three-week break post that. 8) Ravindra Jadeja - The star all-rounder was out with an injury for 60 days from January 11. His Australia tour was cut short in between. Jadeja made his comeback in the England series at home and didn't get any break till the T20 World Cup 2021. 9) R Ashwin - R Ashwin was also in a bubble continuously throughout the Australia tour before entering another bubble during the England Test series at home. He then was part of the Test squad for the England tour ahead of IPL 2021's second leg and didn't get any break before the start of the T20 World Cup 2021. 10) Shardul Thakur - The Indian pacer didn't get any break from IPL 2020 to the start of the T20 World Cup 2021 this year as he was part of the Australia tour, England series at home, IPL 2021 and the England tour. 11) Mohammed Shami - Shami had an injury break of 90 days after getting ruled out following the first Test against Australia in December. He made a comeback during the first leg of IPL 2021 and stayed in bubbles continuously post that. 12) Jasprit Bumrah - One of India's best fast bowlers at present, Bumrah got a two-week break for his wedding when he left the bio-bubble midway through the England series at home. He has also been one of India's most active cricketers in the past year. 13) Varun Chakaravarthy - The spinner was initially named in India's T20 squad for the Australia tour but ended up missing the tour due to an injury. He was out for four months due to his injury and made his comeback in IPL 2021. Chakaravarthy then got a 40-day break after IPL 2021 was cancelled in May before the Sri Lanka tour. He then got a three-week rest post the SL tour. 14) Bhuvneshwar Kumar - The senior pacer was also out injured for quite a while and had missed the Australia tour entirely. He spent 60 days on the sidelines due to his injury and made his comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then joined Team India's bubble for the England series at home and got the rest of 40 days after that before the Sri Lanka tour. He then got a three-week rest post the SL tour. 15) Rahul Chahar - The spinner got a two-month break post IPL 2020 as he was also not part of the Australia tour. Chahar then got a 40-day break after the IPL 2021 was suspended in May and a three-week break after the Sri Lanka tour.

Too much cricket for Team India? Who got how much rest before T20 World Cup 2021

Rohit Sharma has had a fabulous start to his stint as India's full-time captain in T20Is with two back-to-back wins in the ongoing series against New Zealand at home. After clinching the opener, India defeated the Kiwis by five wickets on Friday to make it two wins in a row and seal the three-match series with an unassailable lead of 2-0.

Rohit led from the front in the run chase as he notched up a match-winning half-century to help India nail down the target of 154 runs with 16 balls to spare. Rohit seems to be enjoying the added responsibilities as captain as there seems no stopping to the Hitman when it comes to his batting. He slammed a quickfire 55 off 36 balls and got India off to a brilliant start along with KL Rahul, who scored 65 off 49 deliveries.

The duo added a 117-run stand for the first wicket to set up the stage for a comfortable win for the hosts. Rohit and Rahul took the Kiwi bowlers to the cleaners at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi in what was a clinical performance from the two openers. With the help of his brilliant 55, Rohit equalled Virat Kohli for joint-most fifty-plus scores in T20Is and also achieved a couple of other milestones during the game.

A look at records created by Rohit Sharma in 2nd T20I against New Zealand:

1) Most 100+ partnerships in T20Is

Rohit Sharma overtook Pakistan's Babar Azam and New Zealand batter Martin Guptill to go on top of the list of batters involved in most 100+ stands in T20Is. Rohit and Rahul registered their fifth 100-plus stand in the shortest format which means the Hitman has now been involved in 13 such partnerships. Both Babar and Guptill have 12 hundred+ stands to their name each.

Involved in most 100+ partnerships in T20Is:

13 Rohit Sharma* 
12 Babar Azam/Martin Guptill 
11 David Warner

2) Equalling Virat Kohli's record&nbsp;

Rohit notched up his 29th half-century in T20Is for India on Friday to go on the level with Virat Kohli for most fifty-plus scores in T20Is.&nbsp;Kohli&nbsp;has 29 fifties under his belt in the shortest format while Rohit has 25 fifties and four centuries to his name.

Most 50+ scores&nbsp;in T20Is:

29 Virat Kohli 
29 Rohit Sharma (4 x 100s) 
25 Babar Azam (1 x 100)

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shoaib-akhtars-record-broken-twitter-in-shock-as-hasan-ali-clocks-219-kph-in-1st-t20i-against-bangladesh-430574">Akhtar's record broken? Twitter in shock as Hasan Ali clocks '219 kph'&nbsp;against Bangladesh</a>

3) Most century stands in T20Is

Rohit and Rahul got India off to a flyer in their 154-run chase against New Zealand in Ranchi on Friday. The duo slammed half-centuries apiece to put on a 117-run stand for the opening wicket. Rohit and Rahul now have the joint-most hundred partnerships in T20Is, equalling the tally of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who also have five century stands to their name.

Most century partnerships in T20Is:

5 Babar - Rizwan (22 innings) 
5 Rohit - Rahul (27 innings) 
4 Guptill - Williamson (30 innings) 
4 Rohit - Dhawan (52 innings)

&nbsp;

Rohit Sharma has had a fabulous start to his stint as India's full-time captain in T20Is with two back-to-back wins in the ongoing series against New Zealand at home.

Rohit Sharma has had a fabulous start to his stint as India's full-time captain in T20Is with two back-to-back wins in the ongoing series against New Zealand at home. After clinching the opener, India defeated the Kiwis by five wickets on Friday to make it two wins in a row and seal the three-match series with an unassailable lead of 2-0. Rohit led from the front in the run chase as he notched up a match-winning half-century to help India nail down the target of 154 runs with 16 balls to spare. Rohit seems to be enjoying the added responsibilities as captain as there seems no stopping to the Hitman when it comes to his batting. He slammed a quickfire 55 off 36 balls and got India off to a brilliant start along with KL Rahul, who scored 65 off 49 deliveries. The duo added a 117-run stand for the first wicket to set up the stage for a comfortable win for the hosts. Rohit and Rahul took the Kiwi bowlers to the cleaners at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi in what was a clinical performance from the two openers. With the help of his brilliant 55, Rohit equalled Virat Kohli for joint-most fifty-plus scores in T20Is and also achieved a couple of other milestones during the game. A look at records created by Rohit Sharma in 2nd T20I against New Zealand: 1) Most 100+ partnerships in T20Is Rohit Sharma overtook Pakistan's Babar Azam and New Zealand batter Martin Guptill to go on top of the list of batters involved in most 100+ stands in T20Is. Rohit and Rahul registered their fifth 100-plus stand in the shortest format which means the Hitman has now been involved in 13 such partnerships. Both Babar and Guptill have 12 hundred+ stands to their name each. Involved in most 100+ partnerships in T20Is: 13 Rohit Sharma* 12 Babar Azam/Martin Guptill 11 David Warner 2) Equalling Virat Kohli's record Rohit notched up his 29th half-century in T20Is for India on Friday to go on the level with Virat Kohli for most fifty-plus scores in T20Is. Kohli has 29 fifties under his belt in the shortest format while Rohit has 25 fifties and four centuries to his name. Most 50+ scores in T20Is: 29 Virat Kohli 29 Rohit Sharma (4 x 100s) 25 Babar Azam (1 x 100) Also Read: Akhtar's record broken? Twitter in shock as Hasan Ali clocks '219 kph' against Bangladesh 3) Most century stands in T20Is Rohit and Rahul got India off to a flyer in their 154-run chase against New Zealand in Ranchi on Friday. The duo slammed half-centuries apiece to put on a 117-run stand for the opening wicket. Rohit and Rahul now have the joint-most hundred partnerships in T20Is, equalling the tally of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who also have five century stands to their name. Most century partnerships in T20Is: 5 Babar - Rizwan (22 innings) 5 Rohit - Rahul (27 innings) 4 Guptill - Williamson (30 innings) 4 Rohit - Dhawan (52 innings)

Rohit Sharma equals Virat Kohli: A look at records created by Indian skipper in 2nd T20I against New Zealand

Since 2013, Team India have entered the knockouts in every ICC event. They won the Champions Trophy in 2013, ended as runners-up in 2014 T20 World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy and inaugural World Test Championship. Further, they lost the semi-finals in the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cup as well as in the 2016 T20 WC.&nbsp;

Being the dominant force at home, winning bilateral series across formats while being on the road and having played the IPL 14 final leg in UAE, Virat Kohli's Team India entered the 2021 T20 WC as one of the strongest contenders. In addition, they entered the showpiece event as the second-best side in terms of ICC T20I rankings (still hold the same position) but failed to make it to the last four.&nbsp;

While such one-off blips are&nbsp;always inevitable, how did India manage to falter when they had all the boxes ticked? Or, did they really have all bases covered before entering the multi-nation tournament?&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravi-shastri-takes-a-dig-at-meme-creators-on-social-media-i-would-like-to-invite-some-of-them-for-a-drink-428926">Ravi Shastri takes a dig at meme creators on social media: 'I would like to invite some of them for a drink'</a>

Before we analyse how India managed to fall like nine pins, let's go through the pros attached to the Men in Blue camp. For starters, India had a solid top three -- Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Captain Virat Kohli. In addition, they had power-hitters in abundance in the form of Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja. Moreover, all their power-hitters were able finishers as well. In the bowling department, India comprised ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, seasoned campaigner Bhuvneshwar Kumar and were bolstered by the return of R Ashwin in the spin department. 'Mystery bowler' Varun Chakravarthy and Mumbai Indians' (MI) wicket-taker Rahul Chahar also had enough experience in UAE conditions (courtesy their recent IPL stints).

The one-time winners were surely extra motivated to give a proper send-off to the outgoing coaching staff, led by Ravi Shastri, and Captain Kohli (who had already announced that the T20 WC will be his last assignment as India's skipper in the shortest format). Above all, the national side also comprised MS Dhoni -- the most successful international captain with all three major ICC titles in his cabinet -- as mentor.

HOW DID INDIA STILL MANAGE TO FALTER?

CONTINUOUS CRICKET, TIRED LEGS, BIO-BUBBLE ISSUES

For the unversed, Team India players have been super busy&nbsp;in the post Covid-19 era. Competitive cricket returned with IPL 2020 in the UAE. The gruelling 60 matches kept the Indian players on their toes as they returned to the 22-yard cricket strip after a long gap. In addition, they were acclimatising with the bio-bubble demands. The mega event was followed by an full-fledged&nbsp;Australia tour (from November 27, 2020 to January 19, 2021).

The Australia trip was followed by England's all-format tour of India in early 2021, from February 5 to March 28. Soon, IPL 14's first leg followed suit, from April 09.

The Covid-19's second wave led to this year's IPL season's postponement on May 4. Hence, it did serve&nbsp;as some respite for the Indian players, giving them more time before the United Kingdom tour.&nbsp;The original IPL 2021 schedule was supposed to end on May 30. On the other hand, India were scheduled to play the WTC final on June 18 at Southampton. Hence, their break would've been minimal given how teams have to report early&nbsp;for mandatory quarantines and entering a bio-bubble environment.&nbsp;

Let's get back to how things actually shaped up! Indian players got a break with IPL 14's postponement but had to enter the bio-bubble in Mumbai, on May 19, for UK tour. They left for the UK on June 2 and departed for the UAE, in mid-September, after the fifth and final England Test got cancelled on September 10.

Note: Indian players were given a 20-day bio-bubble break post the WTC final, before reassembling for the England Tests.

Coming to the UAE, Indian players reported to their respective IPL franchises, as the tournament lasted till October 15. Soon, India played their Super 12 opener in the T20 WC, on October 24, before they bowed out with their last league stage match on November 8.

India's cricketing schedule in post-pandemic era

India tour of Australia: Nov 27, 2020- Jan 19, 2021

England tour of India:&nbsp;Feb 5- March 28

IPL 14 first leg: April 9-May 4

India vs New Zealand, WTC final: June 18-23

India vs England Tests in the UK: August 4-September 10&nbsp;

IPL 14 final leg: Sep 19-Oct 15

T20 WC: Oct 24-Nov 8

Barring the WTC final, India dominated and enjoyed considerable success in the post Covid-era. Somewhere down the line, the law of averages was always going to catch up with them.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/exclusive-mayank-agarwal-heaps-praise-on-coach-rahul-dravid-virat-kohli-and-rohit-sharma-opines-on-pbks-journey-428841">EXCLUSIVE! Mayank Agarwal heaps praise on coach Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, opines on PBKS journey</a>

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NOT MANAGING 'PROBLEMS OF PLENTY', QUESTIONABLE SELECTIONS, APPALLING STRATEGIES

Apart from the continuous cricket, it is important to note that India's main squad assembled for the first time in T20Is for the World Cup. They had last played together in the format&nbsp;during the England home series, which ended on March 28. Thus, there was a staggering gap of 201 days (counting till the IPL&nbsp;finale on October 15). One can argue that the Indian players were still in the T20 groove by playing in the IPL. However, that they were performing different roles donning varied jerseys in the cash-rich league.&nbsp;

While the bio-bubble strain and fatigue factor had already kicked in, which was clearly evident the Pakistan and New Zealand face-offs, some eye-catching selections and poor strategies added to an exhausted side's woes. For instance, overlooking Yuzvendra Chahal -- who has been India's spin spearhead -- despite his form in IPL 14's final leg, not even including him in the standby list, putting Deepak Chahar (who has second-best figures overall in T20Is: 6 for 7) among standby players, suddenly adding R Ashwin (overlooked in limited-overs since 2017), preferring Varun Chakravarthy in the opening two games cost Kohli &amp; Co. severely.

Note: Prior to the World Cup, the KKR spinner Chakravarthy had represented India in only three T20Is.&nbsp;

Having problems of plenty is surely a headache teams would like to afford&nbsp;While India have been blessed with plenty of T20I stars, are they managing them wisely? In order to unleash Ishan Kishan versus New Zealand, after the Pakistan mauling, India demoted Rohit Sharma at No. 3. Their best batsman was dropped down in the batting order at the expense of a young batter. Appalling! (Remember how India had auditioned several players for the No. 4 spot for the 2019 ODI World Cup before claiming that they will remain flexible with the batting slot in their campaign?)

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/might-happen-in-odis-ravi-shastri-hints-at-virat-kohli-leaving-50-over-formats-captaincy-after-t20is-428796">'Might happen in ODIs' - Ravi Shastri hints at Virat Kohli leaving 50-over format's captaincy after T20Is</a>

TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH

Lastly, the whole of Indian cricket fraternity was in jubilant mood following MS Dhoni's appointment as team mentor for the mega event. After all, Dhoni had led India to their last ICC title in 2013 and enjoys huge respect among the current crop of players. As feared and already pointed out by Sunil Gavaskar, it seems it did lead to having several strong minds within&nbsp;the Team India dressing room, causing more ruckus in a 'problems of plenty' squad.

Undoubtedly, there is no question being raised about 'rift' issues. However, the tired minds and exhausted squad also couldn't gain much from Dhoni's presence.&nbsp;

Since 2013, Team India have entered the knockouts in every ICC event. They won the Champions Trophy in 2013, ended as runners-up in 2014 T20 World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy and inaugural World Test Championship.

Since 2013, Team India have entered the knockouts in every ICC event. They won the Champions Trophy in 2013, ended as runners-up in 2014 T20 World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy and inaugural World Test Championship. Further, they lost the semi-finals in the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cup as well as in the 2016 T20 WC. Being the dominant force at home, winning bilateral series across formats while being on the road and having played the IPL 14 final leg in UAE, Virat Kohli's Team India entered the 2021 T20 WC as one of the strongest contenders. In addition, they entered the showpiece event as the second-best side in terms of ICC T20I rankings (still hold the same position) but failed to make it to the last four. While such one-off blips are always inevitable, how did India manage to falter when they had all the boxes ticked? Or, did they really have all bases covered before entering the multi-nation tournament? ALSO READ | Ravi Shastri takes a dig at meme creators on social media: 'I would like to invite some of them for a drink' Before we analyse how India managed to fall like nine pins, let's go through the pros attached to the Men in Blue camp. For starters, India had a solid top three -- Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Captain Virat Kohli. In addition, they had power-hitters in abundance in the form of Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja. Moreover, all their power-hitters were able finishers as well. In the bowling department, India comprised ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, seasoned campaigner Bhuvneshwar Kumar and were bolstered by the return of R Ashwin in the spin department. 'Mystery bowler' Varun Chakravarthy and Mumbai Indians' (MI) wicket-taker Rahul Chahar also had enough experience in UAE conditions (courtesy their recent IPL stints). The one-time winners were surely extra motivated to give a proper send-off to the outgoing coaching staff, led by Ravi Shastri, and Captain Kohli (who had already announced that the T20 WC will be his last assignment as India's skipper in the shortest format). Above all, the national side also comprised MS Dhoni -- the most successful international captain with all three major ICC titles in his cabinet -- as mentor. HOW DID INDIA STILL MANAGE TO FALTER? CONTINUOUS CRICKET, TIRED LEGS, BIO-BUBBLE ISSUES For the unversed, Team India players have been super busy in the post Covid-19 era. Competitive cricket returned with IPL 2020 in the UAE. The gruelling 60 matches kept the Indian players on their toes as they returned to the 22-yard cricket strip after a long gap. In addition, they were acclimatising with the bio-bubble demands. The mega event was followed by an full-fledged Australia tour (from November 27, 2020 to January 19, 2021). The Australia trip was followed by England's all-format tour of India in early 2021, from February 5 to March 28. Soon, IPL 14's first leg followed suit, from April 09. The Covid-19's second wave led to this year's IPL season's postponement on May 4. Hence, it did serve as some respite for the Indian players, giving them more time before the United Kingdom tour. The original IPL 2021 schedule was supposed to end on May 30. On the other hand, India were scheduled to play the WTC final on June 18 at Southampton. Hence, their break would've been minimal given how teams have to report early for mandatory quarantines and entering a bio-bubble environment. Let's get back to how things actually shaped up! Indian players got a break with IPL 14's postponement but had to enter the bio-bubble in Mumbai, on May 19, for UK tour. They left for the UK on June 2 and departed for the UAE, in mid-September, after the fifth and final England Test got cancelled on September 10. Note: Indian players were given a 20-day bio-bubble break post the WTC final, before reassembling for the England Tests. Coming to the UAE, Indian players reported to their respective IPL franchises, as the tournament lasted till October 15. Soon, India played their Super 12 opener in the T20 WC, on October 24, before they bowed out with their last league stage match on November 8. India's cricketing schedule in post-pandemic era India tour of Australia: Nov 27, 2020- Jan 19, 2021 England tour of India: Feb 5- March 28 IPL 14 first leg: April 9-May 4 India vs New Zealand, WTC final: June 18-23 India vs England Tests in the UK: August 4-September 10 IPL 14 final leg: Sep 19-Oct 15 T20 WC: Oct 24-Nov 8 Barring the WTC final, India dominated and enjoyed considerable success in the post Covid-era. Somewhere down the line, the law of averages was always going to catch up with them. ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE! Mayank Agarwal heaps praise on coach Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, opines on PBKS journey × NOT MANAGING 'PROBLEMS OF PLENTY', QUESTIONABLE SELECTIONS, APPALLING STRATEGIES Apart from the continuous cricket, it is important to note that India's main squad assembled for the first time in T20Is for the World Cup. They had last played together in the format during the England home series, which ended on March 28. Thus, there was a staggering gap of 201 days (counting till the IPL finale on October 15). One can argue that the Indian players were still in the T20 groove by playing in the IPL. However, that they were performing different roles donning varied jerseys in the cash-rich league. While the bio-bubble strain and fatigue factor had already kicked in, which was clearly evident the Pakistan and New Zealand face-offs, some eye-catching selections and poor strategies added to an exhausted side's woes. For instance, overlooking Yuzvendra Chahal -- who has been India's spin spearhead -- despite his form in IPL 14's final leg, not even including him in the standby list, putting Deepak Chahar (who has second-best figures overall in T20Is: 6 for 7) among standby players, suddenly adding R Ashwin (overlooked in limited-overs since 2017), preferring Varun Chakravarthy in the opening two games cost Kohli & Co. severely. Note: Prior to the World Cup, the KKR spinner Chakravarthy had represented India in only three T20Is. Having problems of plenty is surely a headache teams would like to afford While India have been blessed with plenty of T20I stars, are they managing them wisely? In order to unleash Ishan Kishan versus New Zealand, after the Pakistan mauling, India demoted Rohit Sharma at No. 3. Their best batsman was dropped down in the batting order at the expense of a young batter. Appalling! (Remember how India had auditioned several players for the No. 4 spot for the 2019 ODI World Cup before claiming that they will remain flexible with the batting slot in their campaign?) ALSO READ | 'Might happen in ODIs' - Ravi Shastri hints at Virat Kohli leaving 50-over format's captaincy after T20Is TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH Lastly, the whole of Indian cricket fraternity was in jubilant mood following MS Dhoni's appointment as team mentor for the mega event. After all, Dhoni had led India to their last ICC title in 2013 and enjoys huge respect among the current crop of players. As feared and already pointed out by Sunil Gavaskar, it seems it did lead to having several strong minds within the Team India dressing room, causing more ruckus in a 'problems of plenty' squad. Undoubtedly, there is no question being raised about 'rift' issues. However, the tired minds and exhausted squad also couldn't gain much from Dhoni's presence.

How India under-performed in T20 WC? A quick look at the recipe that left a bad taste in our mouth

India will be looking to continue their winning run when they take on New Zealand in the second T20I of the ongoing three-match series. The second T20I will be played in former India captain MS Dhoni's hometown Ranchi on Friday (November 19). Kiwi batter Martin Guptill will be aiming to break Virat Kohli's elusive record when the two teams lock horns in the penultimate encounter.

Kohli, who is not part of the ongoing T20I series between the two sides, might see his record of most runs in T20Is get broken by Guptill on Friday. Guptill is currently the second-highest run-getter in T20Is and is just 11 runs short of breaking Kohli's record to become the highest run-getter in the shortest format.

While Kohli had 3227 runs in 95 T20Is, Guptill is following him closely with 3217 runs in 110 matches and will be looking to go past the Indian ODI and Test skipper in Ranchi on Friday. Kohli has 29 fifties to his name in T20Is while Guptill has 19 fifties and two hundreds under his belt.

India's current T20I skipper Rohit Sharma is at the third spot on the list of top run-getters in T20Is with 3086 runs in 117 matches. Rohit also has a chance of surpassing Kohli if he can fire all cylinders in the remaining two matches for India in the ongoing series against the Kiwis.

In the opener, skipper Rohit looked in fine form as he scored 48 off 36 balls laced with five fours and two sixes to help India win the game by five wickets. Suryakumar Yadav was the star performer with the bat for the hosts as he came out to bat at no.3 and slammed a brilliant 62 off 40 deliveries with the help of three sixes and six fours.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-and-racism-england-player-apologises-to-indias-cheteshwar-pujara-for-calling-him-steve-430352">Cricket and racism: England player apologises to India's Cheteshwar Pujara for calling him 'Steve'</a>

India chased down the target of 166 runs with two balls to spare and got off to a winning start in the series. The hosts will be looking to make it two wins in a row when they go up against the Black Caps in Ranchi on Friday. A win on Friday will see India take an unassailable 2-0 lead and seal the three-match series.

India will be looking to continue their winning run when they take on New Zealand in the second T20I of the ongoing three-match series. The second T20I will be played in former India captain MS Dhoni's hometown Ranchi on Friday (November 19).

India will be looking to continue their winning run when they take on New Zealand in the second T20I of the ongoing three-match series. The second T20I will be played in former India captain MS Dhoni's hometown Ranchi on Friday (November 19). Kiwi batter Martin Guptill will be aiming to break Virat Kohli's elusive record when the two teams lock horns in the penultimate encounter. Kohli, who is not part of the ongoing T20I series between the two sides, might see his record of most runs in T20Is get broken by Guptill on Friday. Guptill is currently the second-highest run-getter in T20Is and is just 11 runs short of breaking Kohli's record to become the highest run-getter in the shortest format. While Kohli had 3227 runs in 95 T20Is, Guptill is following him closely with 3217 runs in 110 matches and will be looking to go past the Indian ODI and Test skipper in Ranchi on Friday. Kohli has 29 fifties to his name in T20Is while Guptill has 19 fifties and two hundreds under his belt. India's current T20I skipper Rohit Sharma is at the third spot on the list of top run-getters in T20Is with 3086 runs in 117 matches. Rohit also has a chance of surpassing Kohli if he can fire all cylinders in the remaining two matches for India in the ongoing series against the Kiwis. In the opener, skipper Rohit looked in fine form as he scored 48 off 36 balls laced with five fours and two sixes to help India win the game by five wickets. Suryakumar Yadav was the star performer with the bat for the hosts as he came out to bat at no.3 and slammed a brilliant 62 off 40 deliveries with the help of three sixes and six fours. Also Read: Cricket and racism: England player apologises to India's Cheteshwar Pujara for calling him 'Steve' India chased down the target of 166 runs with two balls to spare and got off to a winning start in the series. The hosts will be looking to make it two wins in a row when they go up against the Black Caps in Ranchi on Friday. A win on Friday will see India take an unassailable 2-0 lead and seal the three-match series.

Martin Guptill on cusp of breaking Virat Kohli's elusive record as India take on New Zealand in 2nd T20I

Virat Kohli and Ab De Villiers share a great bond between them and their love for each other is a secret to none. The star duo shared a great camaraderie&nbsp;on and off the pitch while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and produced several match-winning performances for the side.

De Villiers will not be turning up for RCB from the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League as he announced his decision to retire from all forms of cricket on Friday (November 19). The South African legend took to Twitter to release a heartfelt statement explaining why he has decided to part ways from the game.

Reacting to his decision, Kohli got emotional and penned a lovely note for his friend and former teammate, calling him the best player of his time. The Indian ODI and Test skipper also hailed De Villiers as the most inspirational person he has ever met.

"To the best player of our times and the most inspirational person I've met, you can be very proud of what you've done and what you've given to RCB my brother. Our bond is beyond the game and will always be," said Kohli in a tweet.

"This hurts my heart but I know you've made the best decision for yourself and your family like you've always done. I love you @ABdeVilliers17," he added.

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To the best player of our times and the most inspirational person I've met, you can be very proud of what you've done and what you've given to RCB my brother. Our bond is beyond the game and will always be.
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1461610962583101451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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This hurts my heart but I know you've made the best decision for yourself and your family like you've always done. I love you <a href="https://twitter.com/ABdeVilliers17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABdeVilliers17</a>
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The iconic duo will no more be together as part of the RCB setup from the next season in 2022 with De Villiers retiring. Their partnerships on the field will be a huge miss for the RCB fans next year. In his last season with the franchise, De Villiers notched up 313 runs in 15 matches and helped RCB qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2021.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-why-tim-paine-has-stepped-down-as-australias-test-captain-4-years-after-sexting-scandal-430424">Explained! Why Tim Paine has stepped down as Australia's Test captain 4 years after sexting scandal</a>

De Villiers had joined RCB in 2011 and spent an incredible eleven seasons with the franchise in IPL. He is the second-highest run-getter of all time for RCB with 4522 runs in 157 matches at an average of over 41. Earlier, Kohli had already confirmed he will no more be captaining RCB in the IPL and it remains to be seen how the franchise replace Kohli the captain and AB the batter in the upcoming mega auction.

Virat Kohli and Ab De Villiers share a great bond between them and their love for each other is a secret to none. The star duo shared a great camaraderie on and off the pitch while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and produced several match-winning performances for the side.

Virat Kohli and Ab De Villiers share a great bond between them and their love for each other is a secret to none. The star duo shared a great camaraderie on and off the pitch while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and produced several match-winning performances for the side. De Villiers will not be turning up for RCB from the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League as he announced his decision to retire from all forms of cricket on Friday (November 19). The South African legend took to Twitter to release a heartfelt statement explaining why he has decided to part ways from the game. Reacting to his decision, Kohli got emotional and penned a lovely note for his friend and former teammate, calling him the best player of his time. The Indian ODI and Test skipper also hailed De Villiers as the most inspirational person he has ever met. "To the best player of our times and the most inspirational person I've met, you can be very proud of what you've done and what you've given to RCB my brother. Our bond is beyond the game and will always be," said Kohli in a tweet. "This hurts my heart but I know you've made the best decision for yourself and your family like you've always done. I love you @ABdeVilliers17," he added. To the best player of our times and the most inspirational person I've met, you can be very proud of what you've done and what you've given to RCB my brother. Our bond is beyond the game and will always be. — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) November 19, 2021 × This hurts my heart but I know you've made the best decision for yourself and your family like you've always done. I love you @ABdeVilliers17 — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) November 19, 2021 × The iconic duo will no more be together as part of the RCB setup from the next season in 2022 with De Villiers retiring. Their partnerships on the field will be a huge miss for the RCB fans next year. In his last season with the franchise, De Villiers notched up 313 runs in 15 matches and helped RCB qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2021. Also Read: Explained! Why Tim Paine has stepped down as Australia's Test captain 4 years after sexting scandal De Villiers had joined RCB in 2011 and spent an incredible eleven seasons with the franchise in IPL. He is the second-highest run-getter of all time for RCB with 4522 runs in 157 matches at an average of over 41. Earlier, Kohli had already confirmed he will no more be captaining RCB in the IPL and it remains to be seen how the franchise replace Kohli the captain and AB the batter in the upcoming mega auction.

Virat Kohli pens emotional note as AB de Villiers retires: Hurts my heart but you've made the best decision

The Indian cricket team is all set to press the reset button and move forward after the ICC T20 World Cup's debacle where the Virat Kohli &amp; Co., who were pre-tournament favourites to win the title, failed to make it to the semi-final of the event.&nbsp;

In the leadership of new T20 skipper Rohit Sharma and under the guidance of newly-appointed head coach Rahul Dravid, Indian cricket is expected to go through changes in the twenty-over format and a similar thought was re-iterated by Rohit, during India's first T20I of a three-match series against New Zealand on Wednesday (November 17).&nbsp;

During the toss, Rohit said that the team is aiming for the next T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the second half of 2022. Rohit said, "We have one eye on the next World Cup, it's a lot of time ahead, we'll try our options, some results might not be immediate, but the process will be crucial."&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-rohit-sharma-and-rahul-dravid-recall-their-interaction-in-2007-i-was-over-the-moon-430021">Watch: Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid recall their interaction in 2007: 'I was over the moon'</a>

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All in readiness! 👏 👏 
 
3⃣, 2⃣, 1⃣ &amp; Let's Go! 👍 👍 
 
Follow the match ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/5lDM57TI6f">https://t.co/5lDM57TI6f</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvNZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Paytm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Paytm</a> <a href="https://t.co/QxPzDjeRaE">pic.twitter.com/QxPzDjeRaE</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1460963731806904326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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🎥 Head Coach Rahul Dravid rekindles his first meeting with a young <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRo45?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImRo45</a> &amp; lauds the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> T20I captain for his contribution towards the Indian cricket. 👏 ☺️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvNZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/croLaIElLu">pic.twitter.com/croLaIElLu</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1460628764547715079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-president-sourav-ganguly-appointed-as-the-chairman-of-iccs-cricket-committee-replaces-anil-kumble-429998">BCCI president Sourav Ganguly appointed as the chairman of ICC's Cricket Committee, replaces Anil Kumble</a>

The 34-year-old Rohit took up as India's T20 skipper after Virat Kohli stepped down from the post citing workload management. Kohli, who continues to be India's ODI and Test captain, has been rested for the home series against New Zealand.&nbsp;

Besides Kohli, pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Hardik Pandya has been dropped. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel have been brought in.&nbsp;

On the other hand, New Zealand are playing the home side on the back of a defeat in the cricket T20 World Cup final to Australia in Dubai. In the absence of Williamson, Tim Southee will be the standing skipper for the visitors as Kane Williamson opted out of the short format series.&nbsp;

The Indian cricket team is all set to press the reset button and move forward after the ICC T20 World Cup's debacle where the Virat Kohli & Co., who were pre-tournament favourites to win the title, failed to make it to the semi-final of the event.

The Indian cricket team is all set to press the reset button and move forward after the ICC T20 World Cup's debacle where the Virat Kohli & Co., who were pre-tournament favourites to win the title, failed to make it to the semi-final of the event. In the leadership of new T20 skipper Rohit Sharma and under the guidance of newly-appointed head coach Rahul Dravid, Indian cricket is expected to go through changes in the twenty-over format and a similar thought was re-iterated by Rohit, during India's first T20I of a three-match series against New Zealand on Wednesday (November 17). During the toss, Rohit said that the team is aiming for the next T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the second half of 2022. Rohit said, "We have one eye on the next World Cup, it's a lot of time ahead, we'll try our options, some results might not be immediate, but the process will be crucial." ALSO READ | Watch: Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid recall their interaction in 2007: 'I was over the moon' All in readiness! 👏 👏 3⃣, 2⃣, 1⃣ & Let's Go! 👍 👍 Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/5lDM57TI6f #TeamIndia #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/QxPzDjeRaE — BCCI (@BCCI) November 17, 2021 × 🎥 Head Coach Rahul Dravid rekindles his first meeting with a young @ImRo45 & lauds the #TeamIndia T20I captain for his contribution towards the Indian cricket. 👏 ☺️#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/croLaIElLu — BCCI (@BCCI) November 16, 2021 × ALSO READ | BCCI president Sourav Ganguly appointed as the chairman of ICC's Cricket Committee, replaces Anil Kumble The 34-year-old Rohit took up as India's T20 skipper after Virat Kohli stepped down from the post citing workload management. Kohli, who continues to be India's ODI and Test captain, has been rested for the home series against New Zealand. Besides Kohli, pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Hardik Pandya has been dropped. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel have been brought in. On the other hand, New Zealand are playing the home side on the back of a defeat in the cricket T20 World Cup final to Australia in Dubai. In the absence of Williamson, Tim Southee will be the standing skipper for the visitors as Kane Williamson opted out of the short format series.

'We have one eye on the next World Cup,' says India's T20 skipper Rohit Sharma

India's newly-appointed T20I captain Rohit Sharma has said Virat Kohli will remain a vital member of the Indian T20I squad when he makes his comeback after skipping the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. Rohit had replaced Kohli as captain of the T20Is after the former skipper stepped down from his post following the conclusion of India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021.

There have been questions raised regarding Kohli's spot in India's T20I squad amid his lean patch with the willow and the team's disappointing performance under his captaincy in the T20 World Cup 2021. However, Rohit insisted Kohli will only strengthen the team when he returns. Kohli has been rested from the three-match T20I series against the Kiwis which gets underway on November 17.

"What he has been doing for the team, his role will remain the same. He is very important. He is an impact player, he leaves an impression whenever he plays. He is a very important player from the team's point of view," Rohit said during a presser ahead of the first T20I against New Zealand.

Kohli might have left T20I captaincy but he will continue to lead the ODI and Test teams. He is undergoing a rough patch across formats at the moment but Kohli is India's best batter as far as T20s are concerned as he is the all-time leading run-getter in the format with 3227 runs at an average of over 52 in 95 T20Is.

"Everybody will have a different role, batting first and bowling first, roles will be different. Everyone is open to that. I am sure when Virat comes back, he can only strengthen our team because of the experience and the kind of batsmen he is. It's only going to add up to our squad," Rohit added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-to-host-champions-trophy-2025-india-to-stage-three-icc-tournaments-till-2031-429791">Pakistan to host Champions Trophy 2025, India to stage three ICC tournaments till 2031</a>

Team India will embark on a new era when they lock horns with New Zealand in the upcoming T20I series under Rohit's captaincy and the guidance of new head coach Rahul Dravid.

India's newly-appointed T20I captain Rohit Sharma has said Virat Kohli will remain a vital member of the Indian T20I squad when he makes his comeback after skipping the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.

India's newly-appointed T20I captain Rohit Sharma has said Virat Kohli will remain a vital member of the Indian T20I squad when he makes his comeback after skipping the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. Rohit had replaced Kohli as captain of the T20Is after the former skipper stepped down from his post following the conclusion of India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021. There have been questions raised regarding Kohli's spot in India's T20I squad amid his lean patch with the willow and the team's disappointing performance under his captaincy in the T20 World Cup 2021. However, Rohit insisted Kohli will only strengthen the team when he returns. Kohli has been rested from the three-match T20I series against the Kiwis which gets underway on November 17. "What he has been doing for the team, his role will remain the same. He is very important. He is an impact player, he leaves an impression whenever he plays. He is a very important player from the team's point of view," Rohit said during a presser ahead of the first T20I against New Zealand. Kohli might have left T20I captaincy but he will continue to lead the ODI and Test teams. He is undergoing a rough patch across formats at the moment but Kohli is India's best batter as far as T20s are concerned as he is the all-time leading run-getter in the format with 3227 runs at an average of over 52 in 95 T20Is. "Everybody will have a different role, batting first and bowling first, roles will be different. Everyone is open to that. I am sure when Virat comes back, he can only strengthen our team because of the experience and the kind of batsmen he is. It's only going to add up to our squad," Rohit added. Also Read: Pakistan to host Champions Trophy 2025, India to stage three ICC tournaments till 2031 Team India will embark on a new era when they lock horns with New Zealand in the upcoming T20I series under Rohit's captaincy and the guidance of new head coach Rahul Dravid.

Virat Kohli will only strengthen India's T20I team when he is back: Captain Rohit Sharma

Virat Kohli's woes don't seem to be ending anytime soon as the Indian cricket team's ODI and Test captain has landed in a soup after his team's disappointing campaign in the just-concluded T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli's restaurant has been accused of discriminating against the LGBTQIA community on social media.

Kohli owns a restaurant chain called One8 Commune which has branches across some of the major cities in India. The Pune branch of Kohli's restaurant chain has stirred up a fresh controversy after being bashed by an advocacy group for unfair treatment against the LGBTQIA community.

Advocacy group 'Yes, We exist' took to social media to allege that One8 Commune's Pune branch confirmed that they do not allow entry for those from the LGBTQIA community. The group further stated that the restaurant's listing on Zomato says 'stags are not allowed'.

“We DM’ed (direct messaged) them 2 weeks ago, got no response. We called the Pune branch, they confirmed that entry is allowed only for cisgender heterosexual couples or groups of cisgender woman; gay couples or a group of gay men are not allowed; trans women allowed subject to their clothing,” the group 'Yes, We exist' wrote in a post on Instagram.

The group further wrote that the Kolkata branch of Kohli's restaurant said 'stags are allowed', however, alleged that their Zomato booking page said otherwise.&nbsp;

"@virat.kohli you are probably not aware of this, but your restaurant @one8.commune in Pune discriminates against LGBTQIA+ guests. The other branches too have a similar policy. This is unexpected and unacceptable. Hope you make necessary changes asap," the group captioned the post, urging Kohli to take cognisance of the matter.

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<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 href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWRJWHTIo25/?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; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Yes, We Exist (@yesweexistindia)</a>
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Kohli recently returned home after Team India's poor campaign at the T20 World Cup 2021 and is currently on a break. India failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the showpiece event and bowed out of the tournament from the group stages.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/little-disgusting-shoaib-akhtar-on-australian-players-drinking-from-shoe-to-celebrate-t20-world-cup-win-429718">'Little disgusting':&nbsp;Akhtar on Australian players drinking from shoe to celebrate T20 World Cup win</a>

Responding to the allegations levelled against them,&nbsp;One8 Commune released a statement stating they have been ‘welcoming all people irrespective of their gender and/or preferences’.&nbsp;

“As our name denotes, we have always been inclusive in serving all communities since our inception. Similar to industry-wide practice and in conformity with government rules, we obviously have a prohibition of stag entry policy (subject to relaxation) in place so as to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for our guests," read One8's&nbsp;statement.

 
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Virat Kohli's woes don't seem to be ending anytime soon as the Indian cricket team's ODI and Test captain has landed in a soup after his team's disappointing campaign in the just-concluded T20 World Cup 2021.

Virat Kohli's woes don't seem to be ending anytime soon as the Indian cricket team's ODI and Test captain has landed in a soup after his team's disappointing campaign in the just-concluded T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli's restaurant has been accused of discriminating against the LGBTQIA community on social media. Kohli owns a restaurant chain called One8 Commune which has branches across some of the major cities in India. The Pune branch of Kohli's restaurant chain has stirred up a fresh controversy after being bashed by an advocacy group for unfair treatment against the LGBTQIA community. Advocacy group 'Yes, We exist' took to social media to allege that One8 Commune's Pune branch confirmed that they do not allow entry for those from the LGBTQIA community. The group further stated that the restaurant's listing on Zomato says 'stags are not allowed'. “We DM’ed (direct messaged) them 2 weeks ago, got no response. We called the Pune branch, they confirmed that entry is allowed only for cisgender heterosexual couples or groups of cisgender woman; gay couples or a group of gay men are not allowed; trans women allowed subject to their clothing,” the group 'Yes, We exist' wrote in a post on Instagram. The group further wrote that the Kolkata branch of Kohli's restaurant said 'stags are allowed', however, alleged that their Zomato booking page said otherwise. "@virat.kohli you are probably not aware of this, but your restaurant @one8.commune in Pune discriminates against LGBTQIA+ guests. The other branches too have a similar policy. This is unexpected and unacceptable. Hope you make necessary changes asap," the group captioned the post, urging Kohli to take cognisance of the matter. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yes, We Exist (@yesweexistindia) × Kohli recently returned home after Team India's poor campaign at the T20 World Cup 2021 and is currently on a break. India failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the showpiece event and bowed out of the tournament from the group stages. Also Read: 'Little disgusting': Akhtar on Australian players drinking from shoe to celebrate T20 World Cup win Responding to the allegations levelled against them, One8 Commune released a statement stating they have been ‘welcoming all people irrespective of their gender and/or preferences’. “As our name denotes, we have always been inclusive in serving all communities since our inception. Similar to industry-wide practice and in conformity with government rules, we obviously have a prohibition of stag entry policy (subject to relaxation) in place so as to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for our guests," read One8's statement.

Virat Kohli lands in trouble after his restaurant accused of discrimination against LGBTQIA community

In pics: Reliving T20 World Cup 2021 as cricketing carnival ends with a bang in UAE

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri recently claimed he and captain Virat Kohli had no say in the team's squad selection for the T20 World Cup 2021. In an interview, Shastri claimed he was only responsible for selecting the playing XIs for every match during the World Cup but not the 15-man squad that was selected for the tournament.

India endured a disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 as they bowed out of the competition from the group stages after losing two out of their first five matches in the Super 12. Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has been left baffled by Shastri's claims and refused to believe that he and captain Kohli had no inputs in picking India's squad for the showpiece event.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Butt wondered if it was possible for the selectors to pick the squad without keeping the coach and captain in the loop. The former Pakistan cricketer insisted a coach and captain can't help the team play the brand of cricket they want f they don't have the players of their choice.

"How is it even possible? Can't believe that there were no inputs from Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli regarding India's team selection, who have been at the helm of the side for close to five years? The coach and captain decide the brand of cricket the team will play. If they do not have players of their choice, then they will not be able to do that," said Butt.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-named-captain-of-iccs-t20-world-cup-2021-team-of-tournament-no-indian-makes-the-cut-429512">Babar&nbsp;named captain of ICC's T20 World Cup 2021 Team of Tournament; No Indian makes the cut</a>

India had headed into the T20 World Cup 2021 as one of the favourites for the title but suffered back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in their first two matches to be pushed to the brink of elimination. The Men in Blue did win their next three matches on the trot but six points were not enough to see them qualify for the semifinals.

Pakistan, who topped Group 2 qualified for the semis along with New Zealand. While Pakistan bowed out after losing in the semi-final, New Zealand lost to Australia in the final of the tournament. 
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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri recently claimed he and captain Virat Kohli had no say in the team's squad selection for the T20 World Cup 2021. In an interview, Shastri claimed he was only responsible for selecting the playing XIs for every match during the World Cup but not the 15-man squad that was selected for the tournament.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri recently claimed he and captain Virat Kohli had no say in the team's squad selection for the T20 World Cup 2021. In an interview, Shastri claimed he was only responsible for selecting the playing XIs for every match during the World Cup but not the 15-man squad that was selected for the tournament. India endured a disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 as they bowed out of the competition from the group stages after losing two out of their first five matches in the Super 12. Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has been left baffled by Shastri's claims and refused to believe that he and captain Kohli had no inputs in picking India's squad for the showpiece event. Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Butt wondered if it was possible for the selectors to pick the squad without keeping the coach and captain in the loop. The former Pakistan cricketer insisted a coach and captain can't help the team play the brand of cricket they want f they don't have the players of their choice. "How is it even possible? Can't believe that there were no inputs from Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli regarding India's team selection, who have been at the helm of the side for close to five years? The coach and captain decide the brand of cricket the team will play. If they do not have players of their choice, then they will not be able to do that," said Butt. Also Read: Babar named captain of ICC's T20 World Cup 2021 Team of Tournament; No Indian makes the cut India had headed into the T20 World Cup 2021 as one of the favourites for the title but suffered back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in their first two matches to be pushed to the brink of elimination. The Men in Blue did win their next three matches on the trot but six points were not enough to see them qualify for the semifinals. Pakistan, who topped Group 2 qualified for the semis along with New Zealand. While Pakistan bowed out after losing in the semi-final, New Zealand lost to Australia in the final of the tournament.

Can't believe there were no inputs from Shastri, Kohli in India's T20 WC squad selection: Ex-Pakistan skipper

Team India were strong contenders going into the T20 World Cup 2021 edition. Having played in the final leg of IPL 14, in the UAE, and comprising several star performers in the 15-man squad, the one-time winners were expected to go the distance in the marquee event.

However, Virat Kohli &amp; Co. fell like nine pins in the seventh edition of the T20 WC, won by Aaron Finch-led Australia on November 14 (Sunday). Kohli-led Indian team saw their unbeaten streak end versus Pakistan in World Cup history, lost to New Zealand and missed out on qualifying for the semi-finals despite bowing out with three wins in a row. Reflecting on their dismal campaign and the road ahead, with the next T20 WC scheduled in late 2022, former Australian coach John Buchanan spoke at length on how India can recover and expressed full faith in the Rahul Dravid-era.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-will-australia-regain-dominance-in-world-cricket-after-t20-wc-triumph-john-buchanan-opines-429442">EXCLUSIVE: Will Australia regain dominance in world cricket after T20 WC triumph? John Buchanan opines</a>

Buchanan told WION in an exclusive chat, "I think one of the big changes is Virat Kohli stepping down as T20I captain. I think one of the biggest changes will be Rahul Dravid coming in as a head coach. He will bring a real new dynamic to the side. He is well-respected, well-planned and clinical. I'm sure he will make changes both within the team and in the support staff. I am very confident that India will bounce back pretty quickly post the T20 WC debacle."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-india-under-performed-in-t20-wc-a-quick-look-at-the-recipe-that-left-a-bad-taste-in-our-mouth-428950">How India under-performed in T20 WC? A quick look at the recipe that left a bad taste in our mouth</a>

Post the T20 WC, Kohli stepped down as the Indian captain in the shortest format as the captaincy baton has been passed onto Rohit Sharma. On the other hand, Dravid has been roped in as the head coach after Ravi Shastri's tenure ended post the World Cup.&nbsp;

India will soon commence the Dravid-era by hosting New Zealand in three T20Is and two Tests, from November 17. It will be interesting to see how the national side rectifies their mistakes as a T20I unit and strengthen their side ahead of the 2022 WC.

Team India were strong contenders going into the T20 World Cup 2021 edition. Having played in the final leg of IPL 14, in the UAE, and comprising several star performers in the 15-man squad, the one-time winners were expected to go the distance in the marquee event.

Team India were strong contenders going into the T20 World Cup 2021 edition. Having played in the final leg of IPL 14, in the UAE, and comprising several star performers in the 15-man squad, the one-time winners were expected to go the distance in the marquee event. However, Virat Kohli & Co. fell like nine pins in the seventh edition of the T20 WC, won by Aaron Finch-led Australia on November 14 (Sunday). Kohli-led Indian team saw their unbeaten streak end versus Pakistan in World Cup history, lost to New Zealand and missed out on qualifying for the semi-finals despite bowing out with three wins in a row. Reflecting on their dismal campaign and the road ahead, with the next T20 WC scheduled in late 2022, former Australian coach John Buchanan spoke at length on how India can recover and expressed full faith in the Rahul Dravid-era. ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE: Will Australia regain dominance in world cricket after T20 WC triumph? John Buchanan opines Buchanan told WION in an exclusive chat, "I think one of the big changes is Virat Kohli stepping down as T20I captain. I think one of the biggest changes will be Rahul Dravid coming in as a head coach. He will bring a real new dynamic to the side. He is well-respected, well-planned and clinical. I'm sure he will make changes both within the team and in the support staff. I am very confident that India will bounce back pretty quickly post the T20 WC debacle." ALSO READ | How India under-performed in T20 WC? A quick look at the recipe that left a bad taste in our mouth Post the T20 WC, Kohli stepped down as the Indian captain in the shortest format as the captaincy baton has been passed onto Rohit Sharma. On the other hand, Dravid has been roped in as the head coach after Ravi Shastri's tenure ended post the World Cup. India will soon commence the Dravid-era by hosting New Zealand in three T20Is and two Tests, from November 17. It will be interesting to see how the national side rectifies their mistakes as a T20I unit and strengthen their side ahead of the 2022 WC.

Exclusive! John Buchanan confident of India's comeback post T20 WC debacle, shows faith in Dravid-era

From India vs Pakistan clash to BLM row: Standout moments of T20 World Cup 2021

India's Test and One-Day International skipper Virat Kohli, who was conferred with Khel Ratna award in 2018, has congratulated all the winners of the National Sports Awards 2021. The versatile cricketer said that their excellence will inspire others to pursue their sporting passion.&nbsp;

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Sports and Adventure Awards 2021, which included Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards-2021, Dronacharya Awards-2021, Arjuna Awards-2021, Dhyan Chand Awards-2021, Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar-2021, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy-2021 and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards-2020 on Saturday (November 13).&nbsp;

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-neeraj-chopra-to-mithali-raj-list-of-athletes-who-won-major-dhyan-chand-khel-ratna-award-in-2021-429094">From Neeraj Chopra to Mithali Raj: List of athletes who won Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021</a>

When we talk about cricketers, Mithali Raj received Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, on the other hand, opening batter Shikhar Dhawan was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award.&nbsp;

Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, wrestler Ravi Kumar, para shooter Avani Lekhara, footballer Sunil Chhetri and Mithali were among the 12 athletes who received Khel Ratna. Meanwhile, Dhawan, Tokyo 2020 Paralympics silver medallist Bhavina Patel were among the 35 athletes who received the prestigious Arjuna Award.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/women-in-sport-are-powerful-catalysts-of-change-says-mithali-raj-after-winning-khel-ratna-award-429148">'Women in sport are powerful catalysts of change,' says Mithali Raj after winning Khel Ratna Award</a>

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A great moment of pride and congratulations to all the Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya and Adventure award winners. Your excellence will inspire so many people to pursue their sporting passion. <a href="https://t.co/VybwDZy0vf">pic.twitter.com/VybwDZy0vf</a>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1459786453068615682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Kohli, who recently led his team in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021, had stepped down as the captain of India's Twenty20 team. Although, he will continue to lead the team in One-Day Internationals and Test formats.&nbsp;

India's T20 World Cup was unsuccessful as India bowed out of the tournament from the group stage. In the Super 12 stage, India lost to Pakistan (by 10 wickets) and New Zealand (eight wickets), then registered big wins against Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia but it was not enough to book a semi-final berth.&nbsp;

India's Test and One-Day International skipper Virat Kohli, who was conferred with Khel Ratna award in 2018, has congratulated all the winners of the National Sports Awards 2021.

India's Test and One-Day International skipper Virat Kohli, who was conferred with Khel Ratna award in 2018, has congratulated all the winners of the National Sports Awards 2021. The versatile cricketer said that their excellence will inspire others to pursue their sporting passion. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Sports and Adventure Awards 2021, which included Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards-2021, Dronacharya Awards-2021, Arjuna Awards-2021, Dhyan Chand Awards-2021, Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar-2021, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy-2021 and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards-2020 on Saturday (November 13). IN PICS | From Neeraj Chopra to Mithali Raj: List of athletes who won Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021 When we talk about cricketers, Mithali Raj received Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, on the other hand, opening batter Shikhar Dhawan was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award. Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, wrestler Ravi Kumar, para shooter Avani Lekhara, footballer Sunil Chhetri and Mithali were among the 12 athletes who received Khel Ratna. Meanwhile, Dhawan, Tokyo 2020 Paralympics silver medallist Bhavina Patel were among the 35 athletes who received the prestigious Arjuna Award. ALSO READ | 'Women in sport are powerful catalysts of change,' says Mithali Raj after winning Khel Ratna Award A great moment of pride and congratulations to all the Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya and Adventure award winners. Your excellence will inspire so many people to pursue their sporting passion. pic.twitter.com/VybwDZy0vf — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) November 14, 2021 × Kohli, who recently led his team in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021, had stepped down as the captain of India's Twenty20 team. Although, he will continue to lead the team in One-Day Internationals and Test formats. India's T20 World Cup was unsuccessful as India bowed out of the tournament from the group stage. In the Super 12 stage, India lost to Pakistan (by 10 wickets) and New Zealand (eight wickets), then registered big wins against Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia but it was not enough to book a semi-final berth.

'Your excellence will inspire so many people': Virat Kohli to National Sports Awards 2021 winners

Virat Kohli's leadership credentials were questioned by many after Team India's disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021. The Indian team failed to make it to the semi-finals as the Men in Blue bowed out of the group stages after two defeats and three wins in their five games. While Kohli has already stepped down as the captain in T20Is, there have been reports stating that he might be asked to step down as the ODI captain as well.

Kohli had announced that he will be quitting the T20I captaincy ahead of the start of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE. Rohit Sharma has been appointed as his successor in the shortest format and is reportedly in line to take over in ODIs as well. Former Australia head coach John Buchanan, who guided the Aussies to back-to-back ODI World Cup titles in 1999 and 2003, believes Kohli will be a leader in the side whether captaining or not.

In an exclusive interaction with WION, Buchanan, who oversaw the golden era of Australian cricket, helping them dominate world cricket for several years, said Kohli is an influential leader and has the right to decide if he wants to continue leading the Indian team in ODIs and Tests or not.

"I think he is still in his province to make that call. He is a person who can play a significant leadership role whether he is captain or not. If he chooses to be the captain, I think he is a very influential captain and I do think that he is the only person that understands his career at the moment and the things that are going on in his life. And in what direction does he see the things going," Buchanan told WION in an exclusive interaction.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-should-leave-team-indias-captaincy-in-all-formats-shahid-afridi-makes-bold-statement-428984">Virat Kohli should leave Team India's captaincy in all formats: Shahid Afridi makes bold statement</a>

Kohli has been one of India's consistent run-getter across formats and is the only batter in the world at present to average over 50 across all three formats of the game. While he is yet to win a major ICC trophy as captain, he has already surpassed MS Dhoni to become India's most successful skipper in Tests.

Buchanan believes Kohli would want to be leading the Indian team in both Tests and ODIs unless he has decided to step aside as a player from both formats.

"I think from his point of view, I don't think he is ready not to play ODIs and Tests and if he is to play both, he would like to be leading in both formats for the time being and make an assessment how he is handling all of it," said the two-time World Cup-winning coach. 
&nbsp;

Virat Kohli's leadership credentials were questioned by many after Team India's disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021. The Indian team failed to make it to the semi-finals as the Men in Blue bowed out of the group stages after two defeats and three wins in their five games.

Virat Kohli's leadership credentials were questioned by many after Team India's disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021. The Indian team failed to make it to the semi-finals as the Men in Blue bowed out of the group stages after two defeats and three wins in their five games. While Kohli has already stepped down as the captain in T20Is, there have been reports stating that he might be asked to step down as the ODI captain as well. Kohli had announced that he will be quitting the T20I captaincy ahead of the start of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE. Rohit Sharma has been appointed as his successor in the shortest format and is reportedly in line to take over in ODIs as well. Former Australia head coach John Buchanan, who guided the Aussies to back-to-back ODI World Cup titles in 1999 and 2003, believes Kohli will be a leader in the side whether captaining or not. In an exclusive interaction with WION, Buchanan, who oversaw the golden era of Australian cricket, helping them dominate world cricket for several years, said Kohli is an influential leader and has the right to decide if he wants to continue leading the Indian team in ODIs and Tests or not. "I think he is still in his province to make that call. He is a person who can play a significant leadership role whether he is captain or not. If he chooses to be the captain, I think he is a very influential captain and I do think that he is the only person that understands his career at the moment and the things that are going on in his life. And in what direction does he see the things going," Buchanan told WION in an exclusive interaction. Also Read: Virat Kohli should leave Team India's captaincy in all formats: Shahid Afridi makes bold statement Kohli has been one of India's consistent run-getter across formats and is the only batter in the world at present to average over 50 across all three formats of the game. While he is yet to win a major ICC trophy as captain, he has already surpassed MS Dhoni to become India's most successful skipper in Tests. Buchanan believes Kohli would want to be leading the Indian team in both Tests and ODIs unless he has decided to step aside as a player from both formats. "I think from his point of view, I don't think he is ready not to play ODIs and Tests and if he is to play both, he would like to be leading in both formats for the time being and make an assessment how he is handling all of it," said the two-time World Cup-winning coach.

Should Virat Kohli step down as India's ODI skipper after quitting T20I captaincy? John Buchanan opines

Virat Kohli had announced, in mid-September, that the T20 World Cup 2021 edition will be his last assignment as India's captain in the shortest format. He cited workload issues for stepping aside as the T20I skipper. Now, Ravi Shastri -- whose tenure as the national side's head coach just ended following the T20 WC campaign -- has hinted that Kohli might also step aside as the ODI captain.

Under Shastri-Kohli, Team India were a force to reckon with across formats as they became a daunting line-up while being on the road whereas also managed to dominate oppositions at home. Nonetheless, with Kohli not being at his usual best with the bat and being deprived of the&nbsp;three-figure mark in international cricket since late 2019, the 33-year-old stepped aside as the T20I captain. Now, he can also follow the same route in ODIs.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-wants-virat-kohli-to-focus-on-batting-likely-to-replace-him-with-rohit-sharma-as-odi-captain-report-428702">BCCI wants Virat Kohli to focus on batting, likely to replace him with Rohit Sharma as ODI captain - Report</a>

In an interview with India Today,&nbsp;Shastri said, "In red-ball cricket, India has been the No1 team in the world for the last 5 years under Virat Kohli. So unless he wants to give up or if he is mentally fatigued and says he wants to focus on his batting - which can happen in the near future, don't think it will happen immediately - it can happen.”&nbsp;

He added, "The same might happen with the ODI. He might say he wants to focus just on Test captaincy. It is his mind and body that will make that decision."

EXCLUSIVE |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/exclusive-mayank-agarwal-heaps-praise-on-coach-rahul-dravid-virat-kohli-and-rohit-sharma-opines-on-pbks-journey-428841">Mayank Agarwal heaps praise on coach Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, opines on PBKS journey</a>

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virender-sehwag-shares-what-team-india-need-to-learn-from-england-new-zealand-post-t20-wc-debacle-428783">Virender Sehwag shares what Team India need to learn from England, New Zealand post T20 WC debacle</a>

It will be interesting to see if Kohli gives up ODI captaincy as well but holds onto the post in Tests. Recently, reports suggested that the BCCI is willing to free Kohli from more responsibilities by asking him to step aside as the&nbsp;ODI captain.&nbsp;

As per a report in&nbsp;NDTV, the BCCI top brass is planning to have a conversation with the right-hander regarding his future as the ODI captain. "The board wants to relieve Kohli of the captaincy burden in limited-overs cricket so that he can focus on his batting and return to his dominant form,"&nbsp;NDTV&nbsp;quoted sources as saying.

Thus, Rohit Sharma might soon become India's limited-overs captain whereas Kohli is likely to continue as the Test skipper.

Virat Kohli had announced, in mid-September, that the T20 World Cup 2021 edition will be his last assignment as India's captain in the shortest format. He cited workload issues for stepping aside as the T20I skipper.

Virat Kohli had announced, in mid-September, that the T20 World Cup 2021 edition will be his last assignment as India's captain in the shortest format. He cited workload issues for stepping aside as the T20I skipper. Now, Ravi Shastri -- whose tenure as the national side's head coach just ended following the T20 WC campaign -- has hinted that Kohli might also step aside as the ODI captain. Under Shastri-Kohli, Team India were a force to reckon with across formats as they became a daunting line-up while being on the road whereas also managed to dominate oppositions at home. Nonetheless, with Kohli not being at his usual best with the bat and being deprived of the three-figure mark in international cricket since late 2019, the 33-year-old stepped aside as the T20I captain. Now, he can also follow the same route in ODIs. ALSO READ | BCCI wants Virat Kohli to focus on batting, likely to replace him with Rohit Sharma as ODI captain - Report In an interview with India Today, Shastri said, "In red-ball cricket, India has been the No1 team in the world for the last 5 years under Virat Kohli. So unless he wants to give up or if he is mentally fatigued and says he wants to focus on his batting - which can happen in the near future, don't think it will happen immediately - it can happen.” He added, "The same might happen with the ODI. He might say he wants to focus just on Test captaincy. It is his mind and body that will make that decision." EXCLUSIVE | Mayank Agarwal heaps praise on coach Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, opines on PBKS journey × ALSO READ | Virender Sehwag shares what Team India need to learn from England, New Zealand post T20 WC debacle It will be interesting to see if Kohli gives up ODI captaincy as well but holds onto the post in Tests. Recently, reports suggested that the BCCI is willing to free Kohli from more responsibilities by asking him to step aside as the ODI captain. As per a report in NDTV, the BCCI top brass is planning to have a conversation with the right-hander regarding his future as the ODI captain. "The board wants to relieve Kohli of the captaincy burden in limited-overs cricket so that he can focus on his batting and return to his dominant form," NDTV quoted sources as saying. Thus, Rohit Sharma might soon become India's limited-overs captain whereas Kohli is likely to continue as the Test skipper.

'Might happen in ODIs' - Ravi Shastri hints at Virat Kohli leaving 50-over format's captaincy after T20Is

India endured a disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 as they bowed out of the tournament from the group stages after managing just three wins in five matches in the Super 12. India lost their first two big matches against Pakistan and New Zealand in a row to be pushed on the brink of elimination from the tournament before staging a fightback.

The Virat Kohli-led side went on to win their next three matches on the trot but six points were not enough as they failed to qualify for top four. India's batting woes were left exposed in the first two games as only skipper Virat Kohli and wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant managed to impress in the opener against Pakistan.

Meanwhile, against New Zealand, India produced a woeful performance as they could only manage 110 runs on the board in 20 overs and were crushed by eight wickets. While some of the middle-order batters did do well in some games, they failed to produce impactful performances which could inspire India into the semis.

Former India batter Yuvraj Singh took to Instagram on Saturday (November 13) to share a hilarious meme featuring Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma. The 'thinking about other girls' meme also involved Yuvraj and highlighted India's middle-order woes in the T20 World Cup 2021.&nbsp;

Kohli was shown to&nbsp;be thinking if Yuvraj was still playing for India, the team's middle-order would have been strong.

Check out Yuvraj Singh's viral post:

<img alt="Yuvraj Singh shared a meme featuring him and Kohli" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ce944ae4-a2c0-4565-9e4b-22518458d1c0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Yuvraj%20meme.png" />

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-should-leave-team-indias-captaincy-in-all-formats-shahid-afridi-makes-bold-statement-428984">Kohli should leave Team India's captaincy in all formats: Shahid Afridi makes bold statement</a>

Kohli has already stepped down as the T20I captain of the Indian team and will now be leading the side only in ODIs and Tests. He has been replaced by Rohit Sharma as the skipper in the shortest format. The Hitman's fist major assignment as India's T20I captain will be the upcoming New Zealand series at home which gets underway on November 17.

&nbsp;

India endured a disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 as they bowed out of the tournament from the group stages after managing just three wins in five matches in the Super 12.

India endured a disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 as they bowed out of the tournament from the group stages after managing just three wins in five matches in the Super 12. India lost their first two big matches against Pakistan and New Zealand in a row to be pushed on the brink of elimination from the tournament before staging a fightback. The Virat Kohli-led side went on to win their next three matches on the trot but six points were not enough as they failed to qualify for top four. India's batting woes were left exposed in the first two games as only skipper Virat Kohli and wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant managed to impress in the opener against Pakistan. Meanwhile, against New Zealand, India produced a woeful performance as they could only manage 110 runs on the board in 20 overs and were crushed by eight wickets. While some of the middle-order batters did do well in some games, they failed to produce impactful performances which could inspire India into the semis. Former India batter Yuvraj Singh took to Instagram on Saturday (November 13) to share a hilarious meme featuring Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma. The 'thinking about other girls' meme also involved Yuvraj and highlighted India's middle-order woes in the T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli was shown to be thinking if Yuvraj was still playing for India, the team's middle-order would have been strong. Check out Yuvraj Singh's viral post: Also Read: Kohli should leave Team India's captaincy in all formats: Shahid Afridi makes bold statement Kohli has already stepped down as the T20I captain of the Indian team and will now be leading the side only in ODIs and Tests. He has been replaced by Rohit Sharma as the skipper in the shortest format. The Hitman's fist major assignment as India's T20I captain will be the upcoming New Zealand series at home which gets underway on November 17.

Yuvraj Singh shares hilarious meme featuring Virat, Anushka highlighting Team India's middle-order woes

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi believes Virat Kohli should step down from captaincy across formats and enjoy his batting for Team India going forward. Kohli has already stepped down as the T20I captain of the Indian team post the conclusion of their campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli had announced that he will be leaving captaincy in the shortest format even before the start of the T20 World Cup in UAE this year.

Rohit Sharma has been appointed as Kohli's successor in T20Is and will be leading Team India in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand at home. While he has already left the T20I captaincy, questions have been raised on Kohli continuing as captain in ODIs. Recent reports have also stated that BCCI is planning to ask Kohli to step down as ODI captain as well with Rohit being the frontrunner for the top post.

Former Pakistan skipper Sahid Afridi has come up with a piece of bold advice for Kohli and has urged him to relinquish captaincy from ODIs and Tests as well. Afridi believes Kohli is one of the best batters in the world and should enjoy his game without the burden of captaining the side.

"I think he has been a wonderful force for Indian cricket but I think it would be best if he decided to retire as captain in all formats now," Afridi said on Samaa TV.

Afridi, who had shared the dressing room with Rohit during his stint with the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League (IPL), believes Rohit has the ability to stay calm under pressure and can also be aggressive as per the situation. He backed Rohit to succeed as captain of the Indian team and said the change was bound to happen.

"As far as Rohit is concerned, this was on the cards. I have played with him for a year (at Deccan Chargers). He is an outstanding player with terrific shot selection. He stays relaxed where required and shows anger when needed to as well. We will see both sides. Like I said, this captaincy move was bound to happen. He should definitely be given a chance," said Afridi.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-wants-virat-kohli-to-focus-on-batting-likely-to-replace-him-with-rohit-sharma-as-odi-captain-report-428702">BCCI wants Kohli to focus on batting, likely to replace him with Rohit&nbsp;as ODI captain - Report</a>

"I think Virat should step down as captain and just enjoy his remaining cricket which I think is aplenty. He is a top batsman and he can play freely without any other pressures on his mind. He will enjoy his cricket," Afridi further elaborated on Kohli's future as India's captain.

As per reports, BCCI might ask Kohli to step down as ODI captain ahead of the team's tour of South Africa next year. However, it remains to be seen if India will continue with split captaincy in limited-overs cricket or will Rohit take charge in both ODIs and T20Is.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi believes Virat Kohli should step down from captaincy across formats and enjoy his batting for Team India going forward. Kohli has already stepped down as the T20I captain of the Indian team post the conclusion of their campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi believes Virat Kohli should step down from captaincy across formats and enjoy his batting for Team India going forward. Kohli has already stepped down as the T20I captain of the Indian team post the conclusion of their campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli had announced that he will be leaving captaincy in the shortest format even before the start of the T20 World Cup in UAE this year. Rohit Sharma has been appointed as Kohli's successor in T20Is and will be leading Team India in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand at home. While he has already left the T20I captaincy, questions have been raised on Kohli continuing as captain in ODIs. Recent reports have also stated that BCCI is planning to ask Kohli to step down as ODI captain as well with Rohit being the frontrunner for the top post. Former Pakistan skipper Sahid Afridi has come up with a piece of bold advice for Kohli and has urged him to relinquish captaincy from ODIs and Tests as well. Afridi believes Kohli is one of the best batters in the world and should enjoy his game without the burden of captaining the side. "I think he has been a wonderful force for Indian cricket but I think it would be best if he decided to retire as captain in all formats now," Afridi said on Samaa TV. Afridi, who had shared the dressing room with Rohit during his stint with the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League (IPL), believes Rohit has the ability to stay calm under pressure and can also be aggressive as per the situation. He backed Rohit to succeed as captain of the Indian team and said the change was bound to happen. "As far as Rohit is concerned, this was on the cards. I have played with him for a year (at Deccan Chargers). He is an outstanding player with terrific shot selection. He stays relaxed where required and shows anger when needed to as well. We will see both sides. Like I said, this captaincy move was bound to happen. He should definitely be given a chance," said Afridi. Also Read: BCCI wants Kohli to focus on batting, likely to replace him with Rohit as ODI captain - Report "I think Virat should step down as captain and just enjoy his remaining cricket which I think is aplenty. He is a top batsman and he can play freely without any other pressures on his mind. He will enjoy his cricket," Afridi further elaborated on Kohli's future as India's captain. As per reports, BCCI might ask Kohli to step down as ODI captain ahead of the team's tour of South Africa next year. However, it remains to be seen if India will continue with split captaincy in limited-overs cricket or will Rohit take charge in both ODIs and T20Is.

Virat Kohli should leave Team India's captaincy in all formats: Shahid Afridi makes bold statement

Virat Kohli had announced his decision to step down as T20I captain of the Indian team even before the Men in Blue began their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli had confirmed he will relinquish captaincy in the shortest format post the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021. While he has stepped down as the T20I captain of the side, there remain doubts over his future as ODI captain of Team India.

Kohli has stepped down from the T20I captaincy but will continue to lead the team in ODIs and Tests for now. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wants to relieve Kohli of the burden of captaincy in white-ball cricket and replace him with Rohit Sharma as captain in ODIs as well. Rohit was recently confirmed as Kohli's successor in T20Is.

As per a report in NDTV, the BCCI top brass is planning to have a conversation with Kohli regarding his future as ODI captain of the Indian team. "The board wants to relieve Kohli of the captaincy burden in limited-overs cricket so that he can focus on his batting and return to his dominant form," NDTV quoted sources as saying.

As per the report, Kohli can be asked to step down as the ODI captain of the Indian team as soon as the South Africa series which gets underway in January next year. KL Rahul is likely to be appointed as Rohit's deputy in the fifty-over format.

Rohit was named the captain of India's T20I squad for the upcoming New Zealand series at home after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021. Finalists New Zealand will travel to India for three T20Is starting from November 17. Rohit will lead the team while Kohli has been rested from the T20Is.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/where-is-shane-warne-now-gautam-gambhir-reacts-to-warners-unsportsmanlike-act-in-t20-wc-semi-final-428656">Where is Shane Warne now?&nbsp;Gambhir reacts to Warner's 'unsportsmanlike' act in T20 WC semi-final</a>

Kohli will also miss the first Test of the two-match series against Kane Williamson &amp; Co. but will return to lead the team in the second Test. BCCI announced India's Test squad for the New Zealand series on Friday, providing rest to the likes of Rohit, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Kohli (for 1 Test).

Kohli's captaincy in limited-overs formats came under the scanner after India's disappointing run in the T20 World Cup 2021 as the team failed to qualify for the semi-finals with two straight losses against Pakistan and New Zealand in the beginning of their campaign.

It remains to be seen BCCI will continue with split captaincy in limited-overs or Rohit will be handed over the charge in ODIs as well.

EXCLUSIVE! Mayank Agarwal heaps praise on coach Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, opines on PBKS journey

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Virat Kohli had announced his decision to step down as T20I captain of the Indian team even before the Men in Blue began their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Virat Kohli had announced his decision to step down as T20I captain of the Indian team even before the Men in Blue began their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli had confirmed he will relinquish captaincy in the shortest format post the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021. While he has stepped down as the T20I captain of the side, there remain doubts over his future as ODI captain of Team India. Kohli has stepped down from the T20I captaincy but will continue to lead the team in ODIs and Tests for now. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wants to relieve Kohli of the burden of captaincy in white-ball cricket and replace him with Rohit Sharma as captain in ODIs as well. Rohit was recently confirmed as Kohli's successor in T20Is. As per a report in NDTV, the BCCI top brass is planning to have a conversation with Kohli regarding his future as ODI captain of the Indian team. "The board wants to relieve Kohli of the captaincy burden in limited-overs cricket so that he can focus on his batting and return to his dominant form," NDTV quoted sources as saying. As per the report, Kohli can be asked to step down as the ODI captain of the Indian team as soon as the South Africa series which gets underway in January next year. KL Rahul is likely to be appointed as Rohit's deputy in the fifty-over format. Rohit was named the captain of India's T20I squad for the upcoming New Zealand series at home after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021. Finalists New Zealand will travel to India for three T20Is starting from November 17. Rohit will lead the team while Kohli has been rested from the T20Is. Also Read: Where is Shane Warne now? Gambhir reacts to Warner's 'unsportsmanlike' act in T20 WC semi-final Kohli will also miss the first Test of the two-match series against Kane Williamson & Co. but will return to lead the team in the second Test. BCCI announced India's Test squad for the New Zealand series on Friday, providing rest to the likes of Rohit, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Kohli (for 1 Test). Kohli's captaincy in limited-overs formats came under the scanner after India's disappointing run in the T20 World Cup 2021 as the team failed to qualify for the semi-finals with two straight losses against Pakistan and New Zealand in the beginning of their campaign. It remains to be seen BCCI will continue with split captaincy in limited-overs or Rohit will be handed over the charge in ODIs as well. EXCLUSIVE! Mayank Agarwal heaps praise on coach Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, opines on PBKS journey ×

BCCI wants Virat Kohli to focus on batting, likely to replace him with Rohit Sharma as ODI captain - Report

Team India bowed out of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition in the Super 12 round and will now be lead by Rohit Sharma in the shortest format. For the unversed, Virat Kohli had already announced that the T20 WC will be his last assignment as the captain of the national side in the shortest format.

With Rohit taking over, many are looking forward to how he will respond to the challenge of leading the national side in T20I format. Given that he is the most successful captain in IPL history, with five titles for the Mumbai Indians, expectations are high from the Hitman. Ahead of his tenure, former Pakistan all-rounder and captain Shahid Afridi has opened up on Rohit's new role and also had a word of advice for Virat, the outgoing T20I skipper.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-or-ajinkya-rahane-selectors-divided-over-vice-captaincy-post-in-indian-test-side-report-428519">Rohit Sharma or Ajinkya Rahane? Selectors divided over vice-captaincy post in Indian Test side: Report</a>

"As far as Rohit is concerned, this was on the cards. I have played with him for a year (at Deccan Chargers). He is an outstanding player with terrific shot selection. He stays relaxed where required and shows anger when needed to as well. We will see both sides. Like I said, this captaincy move was bound to happen. He should definitely be given a chance," Afridi said on Samaa TV.

"I think Virat should take the decision to continue as only a player. There will be relatively less pressure, he has played plenty of cricket too. He will enjoy his cricket and batting because captaining a team is not easy, especially in countries like India and Pakistan. As long as you are captaining well, things go smooth," added Afridi.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-pak-spinner-feels-t20i-retirement-on-cards-for-virat-kohli-says-two-groups-exist-in-team-india-428457">Former Pak spinner feels T20I retirement on cards for Virat Kohli, says 'two groups exist in Team India'</a>

It will be interesting to see if Kohli steps aside as the national side's captain across formats and continues only as a player. The 33-year-old currently holds the captaincy post in the ODI and Test setup.

Recently, former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed predicted that Kohli will retire from the shortest format very soon, in order to stretch his international career. Only time will tell what is in store for King Kohli.&nbsp;

Team India bowed out of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition in the Super 12 round and will now be lead by Rohit Sharma in the shortest format. For the unversed, Virat Kohli had already announced that the T20 WC will be his last assignment as the captain of the national side in the shortest format.

Team India bowed out of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition in the Super 12 round and will now be lead by Rohit Sharma in the shortest format. For the unversed, Virat Kohli had already announced that the T20 WC will be his last assignment as the captain of the national side in the shortest format. With Rohit taking over, many are looking forward to how he will respond to the challenge of leading the national side in T20I format. Given that he is the most successful captain in IPL history, with five titles for the Mumbai Indians, expectations are high from the Hitman. Ahead of his tenure, former Pakistan all-rounder and captain Shahid Afridi has opened up on Rohit's new role and also had a word of advice for Virat, the outgoing T20I skipper. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma or Ajinkya Rahane? Selectors divided over vice-captaincy post in Indian Test side: Report "As far as Rohit is concerned, this was on the cards. I have played with him for a year (at Deccan Chargers). He is an outstanding player with terrific shot selection. He stays relaxed where required and shows anger when needed to as well. We will see both sides. Like I said, this captaincy move was bound to happen. He should definitely be given a chance," Afridi said on Samaa TV. "I think Virat should take the decision to continue as only a player. There will be relatively less pressure, he has played plenty of cricket too. He will enjoy his cricket and batting because captaining a team is not easy, especially in countries like India and Pakistan. As long as you are captaining well, things go smooth," added Afridi. ALSO READ | Former Pak spinner feels T20I retirement on cards for Virat Kohli, says 'two groups exist in Team India' It will be interesting to see if Kohli steps aside as the national side's captain across formats and continues only as a player. The 33-year-old currently holds the captaincy post in the ODI and Test setup. Recently, former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed predicted that Kohli will retire from the shortest format very soon, in order to stretch his international career. Only time will tell what is in store for King Kohli.

Shahid Afridi feels Rohit will have two sides as India's T20I captain, shares word of advice for Virat Kohli

Team India is now entering a new era under Rohit Sharma post their dismal campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, being held in the UAE. As Virat Kohli had already announced that he will step aside as the T20I captain post the showpiece event, Rohit has officially taken over in the shortest format and will look to take the Men in Blue to greater heights.

In addition, Rahul Dravid has taken over as India's head coach after the Ravi Shastri-era came to an end with the T20 WC campaign. Thus, there is a lot happening in Indian cricket as all eyes are now on the future.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/brilliant-captain-to-excellent-mentor-selfless-rahul-dravid-continues-to-serve-indian-cricket-426721#rahul-dravid---jack-of-all-trades-426688">Brilliant captain to excellent mentor: Selfless Rahul Dravid continues to serve Indian cricket</a>

As per a report in the&nbsp;Times of India, the national selectors are divided over the vice-captaincy position in the Test line-up. After Rohit was given the responsibility to lead in T20Is, and he is already the vice-captain in ODIs, some of the selectors want him to become Kohli's deputy altogether; i.e. even in Tests. On the other hand, some remain in favour of Ajinkya Rahane, who led India to a historic 2-1 series win versus Australia in their own backyard in the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

While Rahane has been a regular in whites, Rohit's stocks have also risen in the purest format of the game. The thing which is in favour of Rohit is that Rahane's form continues to remain a matter of concern. His Melbourne Test hundred, in late 2020, has been his only face-saving knock in recent times. Thus, it has now reached a point where his vice-captaincy post is being discussed among selectors and head coach Dravid.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-addresses-indias-fatigue-issue-with-cac-to-work-on-rotation-policy-with-jay-shah-report-428239">Rahul Dravid addresses India's fatigue issue with CAC, to work on rotation policy with Jay Shah: Report</a>

It remains to be seen if a change will be made with respect to Kohli's deputy in Tests or whether Rahane will continue to hold the post. India's next Test series is versus New Zealand, i.e. a two-match Test series starting from late November.

Team India is now entering a new era under Rohit Sharma post their dismal campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, being held in the UAE. As Virat Kohli had already announced that he will step aside as the T20I captain post the showpiece event, Rohit has officially taken over in the shortest format and will look to take the Men in Blue to greater heights.

Team India is now entering a new era under Rohit Sharma post their dismal campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, being held in the UAE. As Virat Kohli had already announced that he will step aside as the T20I captain post the showpiece event, Rohit has officially taken over in the shortest format and will look to take the Men in Blue to greater heights. In addition, Rahul Dravid has taken over as India's head coach after the Ravi Shastri-era came to an end with the T20 WC campaign. Thus, there is a lot happening in Indian cricket as all eyes are now on the future. ALSO READ | Brilliant captain to excellent mentor: Selfless Rahul Dravid continues to serve Indian cricket As per a report in the Times of India, the national selectors are divided over the vice-captaincy position in the Test line-up. After Rohit was given the responsibility to lead in T20Is, and he is already the vice-captain in ODIs, some of the selectors want him to become Kohli's deputy altogether; i.e. even in Tests. On the other hand, some remain in favour of Ajinkya Rahane, who led India to a historic 2-1 series win versus Australia in their own backyard in the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While Rahane has been a regular in whites, Rohit's stocks have also risen in the purest format of the game. The thing which is in favour of Rohit is that Rahane's form continues to remain a matter of concern. His Melbourne Test hundred, in late 2020, has been his only face-saving knock in recent times. Thus, it has now reached a point where his vice-captaincy post is being discussed among selectors and head coach Dravid. ALSO READ | Rahul Dravid addresses India's fatigue issue with CAC, to work on rotation policy with Jay Shah: Report It remains to be seen if a change will be made with respect to Kohli's deputy in Tests or whether Rahane will continue to hold the post. India's next Test series is versus New Zealand, i.e. a two-match Test series starting from late November.

Rohit Sharma or Ajinkya Rahane? Selectors divided over vice-captaincy post in Indian Test side: Report

Virat Kohli-led India bowed out of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, being held in the UAE, after not impressing as a unit in the Super 12 round. The one-time winners lost their opening two fixtures, versus Pakistan and New Zealand respectively, by big margins and were on the brink of an early elimination. While the Men in Blue did bounce back and won their remaining three games with ease, they were out of the semi-finals race prior to their last league stage encounter, versus Namibia.

Being touted as one of the strongest contenders for the coveted title, Kohli &amp; Co.'s early exit left the cricketing fraternity in shock whereas the cricket-crazy nation were left disappointed. As India will now begin a new era under Rohit Sharma, with Kohli stepping aside as captain in the shortest format, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has highlighted some fundamental flaws in Team India selection for T20I cricket.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-pak-spinner-feels-t20i-retirement-on-cards-for-virat-kohli-says-two-groups-exist-in-team-india-428457">Former Pak spinner feels T20I retirement on cards for Virat Kohli, says 'two groups exist in Team India'</a>

"It's a fundamental flaw in our system. I'm going to highlight this, because now, you're thinking about the future. The players you select in T20Is, you should pick them for the slot which are available, and where the selected players have scored runs,” Chopra said on his official Twitter account.

"You give preference to IPL performances which is good, but if you pick a player who has made runs as an opener for, say, number 5 spot in the international team, that won't work. He has scored all runs as an opener, how can you expect him to perform similarly lower down the order?” Chopra said.&nbsp;

"We have 5 openers in the Indian team for the squad against New Zealand. We have only 3 matches; how many opportunities can you give? Rohit and Rahul are obviously going to play -- they are the captain and vice-captain respectively,” he added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-shaheen-afridi-enacts-dismissals-of-indias-top-3-virat-kohli-rohit-and-rahul-on-public-demand-428447">Watch: Shaheen Afridi enacts dismissals of India's top 3 Virat Kohli, Rohit and Rahul on public demand</a>

After the failed T20 WC campaign, India will now move their focus towards the home series versus New Zealand, which will begin from November 17. The home series will comprise three T20Is and two Tests versus the Black Caps.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid will now also take over as India's head coach, from Ravi Shastri, and hope to take the national side to greater heights -- especially in T20I cricket post the dismal campaign in the ongoing World Cup.

Virat Kohli-led India bowed out of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, being held in the UAE, after not impressing as a unit in the Super 12 round. The one-time winners lost their opening two fixtures, versus Pakistan and New Zealand respectively, by big margins and were on the brink of an early elimination.

Virat Kohli-led India bowed out of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, being held in the UAE, after not impressing as a unit in the Super 12 round. The one-time winners lost their opening two fixtures, versus Pakistan and New Zealand respectively, by big margins and were on the brink of an early elimination. While the Men in Blue did bounce back and won their remaining three games with ease, they were out of the semi-finals race prior to their last league stage encounter, versus Namibia. Being touted as one of the strongest contenders for the coveted title, Kohli & Co.'s early exit left the cricketing fraternity in shock whereas the cricket-crazy nation were left disappointed. As India will now begin a new era under Rohit Sharma, with Kohli stepping aside as captain in the shortest format, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has highlighted some fundamental flaws in Team India selection for T20I cricket. ALSO READ | Former Pak spinner feels T20I retirement on cards for Virat Kohli, says 'two groups exist in Team India' "It's a fundamental flaw in our system. I'm going to highlight this, because now, you're thinking about the future. The players you select in T20Is, you should pick them for the slot which are available, and where the selected players have scored runs,” Chopra said on his official Twitter account. "You give preference to IPL performances which is good, but if you pick a player who has made runs as an opener for, say, number 5 spot in the international team, that won't work. He has scored all runs as an opener, how can you expect him to perform similarly lower down the order?” Chopra said. "We have 5 openers in the Indian team for the squad against New Zealand. We have only 3 matches; how many opportunities can you give? Rohit and Rahul are obviously going to play -- they are the captain and vice-captain respectively,” he added. ALSO READ | Watch: Shaheen Afridi enacts dismissals of India's top 3 Virat Kohli, Rohit and Rahul on public demand After the failed T20 WC campaign, India will now move their focus towards the home series versus New Zealand, which will begin from November 17. The home series will comprise three T20Is and two Tests versus the Black Caps. Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid will now also take over as India's head coach, from Ravi Shastri, and hope to take the national side to greater heights -- especially in T20I cricket post the dismal campaign in the ongoing World Cup.

Aakash Chopra points out 'fundamental flaw' in Team India selection post dismal T20 WC campaign

Team India bowed out of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, being held in the UAE, in the Super 12 round after failing to win their first two encounters. Despite a late surge, with three back-to-back wins, Virat Kohli-led India gave fans something to cheer for but they were shown the exit door prior to their last league stage encounter, versus Namibia.

After India's end of the road in the T20 WC, Kohli has officially stepped down as the national side's captain in the shortest format. For the unversed, the 33-year-old had already announced, in mid-September, that he won't lead the side in the T20Is post the World Cup. With Rohit Sharma set to take over, along with new head coach Rahul Dravid who will succeed Ravi Shastri, the Men in Blue will like to enter into a new era and move past their missed opportunities in the T20 WC.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-shaheen-afridi-enacts-dismissals-of-indias-top-3-virat-kohli-rohit-and-rahul-on-public-demand-428447">Watch: Shaheen Afridi enacts dismissals of India's top 3 Virat Kohli, Rohit and Rahul on public demand</a>

However, former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed feels there is more to what meets the eyes with regard Kohli stepping aside as T20I captain. He feels an early retirement is also on cards for Kohli from the shortest format. Nonetheless, he made heads turn by claiming that there are two groups within Team India at the moment.

"When a successful captain says he wants to leave the captaincy, it means all is not well in the dressing room. I see two groups existing in the Indian dressing room right now… the Mumbai and Delhi groups," Mushtaq, who is presently working at the PCB's high-performance centre, said on the Geo News channel.

"I think Kohli will soon retire from playing T20 internationals for his country although he will continue in the Indian Premier League. I think he has had his fill of this format," Mushtaq further asserted.

On India's dismal campaign in the T20 WC, he opined, "I think India flopped in the World Cup because of the IPL. I think their players after remaining for so long in a bio-secure bubble before the World Cup were jaded and tired."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-as-captain-a-tale-of-sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice-428252">Virat Kohli as captain: A tale of sugar and spice and everything nice</a>

Post the T20 WC, India will now host New Zealand in three T20Is and two Tests at home, starting from November 17. While Rohit will officially take over as India's T20I captain from Kohli, Dravid will also look to guide the team to ICC titles as the national side moves ahead from the Shastri-era.

Team India bowed out of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, being held in the UAE, in the Super 12 round after failing to win their first two encounters. Despite a late surge, with three back-to-back wins, Virat Kohli-led India gave fans something to cheer for but they were shown the exit door prior to their last league stage encounter, versus Namibia.

Team India bowed out of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, being held in the UAE, in the Super 12 round after failing to win their first two encounters. Despite a late surge, with three back-to-back wins, Virat Kohli-led India gave fans something to cheer for but they were shown the exit door prior to their last league stage encounter, versus Namibia. After India's end of the road in the T20 WC, Kohli has officially stepped down as the national side's captain in the shortest format. For the unversed, the 33-year-old had already announced, in mid-September, that he won't lead the side in the T20Is post the World Cup. With Rohit Sharma set to take over, along with new head coach Rahul Dravid who will succeed Ravi Shastri, the Men in Blue will like to enter into a new era and move past their missed opportunities in the T20 WC. ALSO READ | Watch: Shaheen Afridi enacts dismissals of India's top 3 Virat Kohli, Rohit and Rahul on public demand However, former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed feels there is more to what meets the eyes with regard Kohli stepping aside as T20I captain. He feels an early retirement is also on cards for Kohli from the shortest format. Nonetheless, he made heads turn by claiming that there are two groups within Team India at the moment. "When a successful captain says he wants to leave the captaincy, it means all is not well in the dressing room. I see two groups existing in the Indian dressing room right now… the Mumbai and Delhi groups," Mushtaq, who is presently working at the PCB's high-performance centre, said on the Geo News channel. "I think Kohli will soon retire from playing T20 internationals for his country although he will continue in the Indian Premier League. I think he has had his fill of this format," Mushtaq further asserted. On India's dismal campaign in the T20 WC, he opined, "I think India flopped in the World Cup because of the IPL. I think their players after remaining for so long in a bio-secure bubble before the World Cup were jaded and tired." ALSO READ | Virat Kohli as captain: A tale of sugar and spice and everything nice Post the T20 WC, India will now host New Zealand in three T20Is and two Tests at home, starting from November 17. While Rohit will officially take over as India's T20I captain from Kohli, Dravid will also look to guide the team to ICC titles as the national side moves ahead from the Shastri-era.

Former Pak spinner feels T20I retirement on cards for Virat Kohli, says 'two groups exist in Team India'

During Pakistan's last league stage encounter in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, versus Scotland, Shaheen Afridi made heads turn when he was fielding in the boundary line. Shaheen has been one of the star performers for Babar Azam-led Pakistan in the T20 WC and, hence, the crowd kept him involved when he was stationed at the deep.&nbsp;

With Shaheen&nbsp;placed near the boundary rope, the crowd wanted the pacer to recreate the dismissals of India's famed trio -- Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul -- by enacting all three wickets for them. To this, the young speedster agreed and performed all three dismissals, sending fans into a frenzy. Here's the video where Shaheen enacted the departures of Kohli, Rohit and Rahul from the India-Pakistan T20 WC game, played on October 24 -&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-aus-vs-pak-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-australia-vs-pakistan-second-semi-final-428419">T20 WC, AUS vs PAK live streaming: When and where to watch Australia vs Pakistan second semi-final?</a>

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aus-vs-pak-t20-wc-2021-sf-2-prediction-who-will-win-todays-match-between-australia-and-pakistan-428416">AUS vs PAK, T20 WC 2021, SF 2 prediction: Who will win today's match between Australia and Pakistan?</a>

For the unversed, Shaheen was the top-performer for Pakistan when they defeated India by ten wickets in both sides' Super 12 round opening fixture, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. The left-arm pacer bamboozled India's top-order by sending Rohit and Rahul back to the pavillion in a flash and later dismissed Kohli (57) to restrict India to 151-7. In reply, Pakistan chased down the total with ten wickets and 13 balls to spare.

Talking about Babar &amp; Co.'s run in the T20 WC so far, they defeated Scotland with ease in their final group stage encounter and have entered the semi-finals being the only unbeaten side in the competition. They will face Australia in the second semi-final, on Thursday evening (November 11), in order to book a place in the summit clash, versus New Zealand.

During Pakistan's last league stage encounter in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, versus Scotland, Shaheen Afridi made heads turn when he was fielding in the boundary line.

During Pakistan's last league stage encounter in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, versus Scotland, Shaheen Afridi made heads turn when he was fielding in the boundary line. Shaheen has been one of the star performers for Babar Azam-led Pakistan in the T20 WC and, hence, the crowd kept him involved when he was stationed at the deep. With Shaheen placed near the boundary rope, the crowd wanted the pacer to recreate the dismissals of India's famed trio -- Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul -- by enacting all three wickets for them. To this, the young speedster agreed and performed all three dismissals, sending fans into a frenzy. Here's the video where Shaheen enacted the departures of Kohli, Rohit and Rahul from the India-Pakistan T20 WC game, played on October 24 - ALSO READ | T20 WC, AUS vs PAK live streaming: When and where to watch Australia vs Pakistan second semi-final? pic.twitter.com/LQJm73F8JC — Scorpion_Virat (check pinned) (@crickohli18_) November 8, 2021 × ALSO READ | AUS vs PAK, T20 WC 2021, SF 2 prediction: Who will win today's match between Australia and Pakistan? For the unversed, Shaheen was the top-performer for Pakistan when they defeated India by ten wickets in both sides' Super 12 round opening fixture, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. The left-arm pacer bamboozled India's top-order by sending Rohit and Rahul back to the pavillion in a flash and later dismissed Kohli (57) to restrict India to 151-7. In reply, Pakistan chased down the total with ten wickets and 13 balls to spare. Talking about Babar & Co.'s run in the T20 WC so far, they defeated Scotland with ease in their final group stage encounter and have entered the semi-finals being the only unbeaten side in the competition. They will face Australia in the second semi-final, on Thursday evening (November 11), in order to book a place in the summit clash, versus New Zealand.

Watch: Shaheen Afridi enacts dismissals of India's top 3 Virat Kohli, Rohit and Rahul on public demand

After opening batter Rohit Sharma was named as India's Twenty20 captain to succeed Virat Kohli, the former cricketer Virender Sehwag weighed in on the new leadership&nbsp;roles. KL Rahul has been named Rohit's deputy.&nbsp;

Kohli announced before the T20 World Cup began that he will step down as T20 captain to manage his workload. Now, Rohit will take up his new role when they will face New Zealand in a three-match Twenty20 series at home this month.&nbsp;

Although Virat has said that his intensity on the field will remain the same. "That's never going to change. If I can't do that I will not play anymore. Even when I wasn't captain before I was always keen to see where the game is going. I'm not going to stand around and do nothing," said Kohli.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-overly-flamboyant-babar-azams-personality-opposite-to-animated-virat-kohli-says-matthew-hayden-428276">'Not overly flamboyant': Babar Azam's personality opposite to 'animated' Virat Kohli, says Matthew Hayden</a>

Similar thoughts were reiterated by Sehwag as&nbsp;he told Cricbuzz: "India have got a new captain and a vice-captain and since Kohli will be around, he will certainly offer his suggestions – which he feels is right."

Sehwag then gave example that how India's legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar played under various captains. Sehwag said, "See, even Tendulkar played for so long and did the same under so many captains. All the time, he would share his thoughts with the captain and then it was up to the skipper to implement it."

"Which is why Kohli said something great when he said that he and Rohit are the leaders and as long as they are around, they will help the youngsters and the captain," Sehwag added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/leading-a-national-team-is-completely-different-sunil-gavaskar-reacts-to-rohit-sharmas-success-in-ipl-428264">'Leading a national team is completely different': Sunil Gavaskar reacts to Rohit Sharma's success in IPL</a>

"When MS Dhoni became the captain and I was made the vice-captain, I told the selectors and board that irrespective of me being the vice-captain, I would perform my responsibilities so it is better that you groom a youngster so when Dhoni leaves, he becomes the captain and not me. However, my suggestion was not heard but now with Kohli saying such things, it's a good sign," added Sehwag.

During the T20 World Cup, India failed to make the semi-finals following two early losses to Pakistan and New Zealand.&nbsp;

And in the upcoming New Zealand series, Kohli has been rested against the Kiwis along with pacemen Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.&nbsp;

After opening batter Rohit Sharma was named as India's Twenty20 captain to succeed Virat Kohli, the former cricketer Virender Sehwag weighed in on the new leadership roles.

After opening batter Rohit Sharma was named as India's Twenty20 captain to succeed Virat Kohli, the former cricketer Virender Sehwag weighed in on the new leadership roles. KL Rahul has been named Rohit's deputy. Kohli announced before the T20 World Cup began that he will step down as T20 captain to manage his workload. Now, Rohit will take up his new role when they will face New Zealand in a three-match Twenty20 series at home this month. Although Virat has said that his intensity on the field will remain the same. "That's never going to change. If I can't do that I will not play anymore. Even when I wasn't captain before I was always keen to see where the game is going. I'm not going to stand around and do nothing," said Kohli. ALSO READ | 'Not overly flamboyant': Babar Azam's personality opposite to 'animated' Virat Kohli, says Matthew Hayden Similar thoughts were reiterated by Sehwag as he told Cricbuzz: "India have got a new captain and a vice-captain and since Kohli will be around, he will certainly offer his suggestions – which he feels is right." Sehwag then gave example that how India's legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar played under various captains. Sehwag said, "See, even Tendulkar played for so long and did the same under so many captains. All the time, he would share his thoughts with the captain and then it was up to the skipper to implement it." "Which is why Kohli said something great when he said that he and Rohit are the leaders and as long as they are around, they will help the youngsters and the captain," Sehwag added. ALSO READ | 'Leading a national team is completely different': Sunil Gavaskar reacts to Rohit Sharma's success in IPL "When MS Dhoni became the captain and I was made the vice-captain, I told the selectors and board that irrespective of me being the vice-captain, I would perform my responsibilities so it is better that you groom a youngster so when Dhoni leaves, he becomes the captain and not me. However, my suggestion was not heard but now with Kohli saying such things, it's a good sign," added Sehwag. During the T20 World Cup, India failed to make the semi-finals following two early losses to Pakistan and New Zealand. And in the upcoming New Zealand series, Kohli has been rested against the Kiwis along with pacemen Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.

'Kohli will be around, he will offer his suggestions': Sehwag on Rohit Sharma becoming India's T20 captain

A man has been arrested by the Indian police for allegedly threatening to rape the nine-month-old daughter of cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood star Anushka Sharma. The alleged threats were made after India's 10-wicket loss against the arch-rival Pakistan in the T20 World Cup.&nbsp;

From Kohli to bowler Mohammed Shami, the Indian cricketers faced a barrage of hate, abuses and were subjected to trolls on social media forums after India's first-ever World Cup defeat to Pakistan in the opening Super 12 stage match on October 24. The team eventually crashed out of the Twenty20 international tournament.&nbsp;

Police said investigators from the Mumbai Police Cyber Cell arrested Akubathini Ramnagesh after his tweet targeting the cricketer's daughter went viral. The 23-year-old suspect is facing charges of sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, defamation and publishing obscene material. "He has been detained and is being brought to Mumbai," a police officer told AFP.&nbsp;

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wionews.com/photos/bilateral-success-in-sena-countries-to-run-machine-as-captain-reliving-virat-kohlis-t20i-captaincy-stint-427777">Bilateral success in SENA countries to run-machine as captain: Reliving Virat Kohli's T20I captaincy stint</a>

Ramnagesh is alleged to have issued the threats from his Twitter account and as per the local media reports, he changed his handle and pretended to be a Pakistani user to hide his identity. Reports have also mentioned that the techie is currently unemployed and has reportedly worked for a food delivery app previously.&nbsp;

The online hate was denounced by fans and spectators especially the vicious comments made against Virat's baby daughter. Kohli is married to Bollywood actress Anushka and the couple welcomed their first child in January and named her Vamika.&nbsp;

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/5-points-what-went-wrong-for-india-at-t20-world-cup-2021-427652">5 points: What went wrong for India at T20 World Cup 2021</a>

During the tournament, Virat had reacted strongly against the troll and online abuses against Shami over his religion, as he said, "There is a good reason why we are playing on the field and not some bunch of spineless people on social media that have no courage to actually speak to any individual in person."

During the press conference on October 30, he also said, "This is the lowest level of human form, attacking someone over religion is the most pathetic thing human being can do."

"Never thought of discriminating on basis of religion. That is a very sacred thing. Our brotherhood and friendship can't be shaken... And these things can't infiltrate. I give credit to people who understand us," he added," Kohli added.&nbsp;

A man has been arrested by the Indian police for allegedly threatening to rape the nine-month-old daughter of cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood star Anushka Sharma.

A man has been arrested by the Indian police for allegedly threatening to rape the nine-month-old daughter of cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood star Anushka Sharma. The alleged threats were made after India's 10-wicket loss against the arch-rival Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. From Kohli to bowler Mohammed Shami, the Indian cricketers faced a barrage of hate, abuses and were subjected to trolls on social media forums after India's first-ever World Cup defeat to Pakistan in the opening Super 12 stage match on October 24. The team eventually crashed out of the Twenty20 international tournament. Police said investigators from the Mumbai Police Cyber Cell arrested Akubathini Ramnagesh after his tweet targeting the cricketer's daughter went viral. The 23-year-old suspect is facing charges of sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, defamation and publishing obscene material. "He has been detained and is being brought to Mumbai," a police officer told AFP. IN PICS | Bilateral success in SENA countries to run-machine as captain: Reliving Virat Kohli's T20I captaincy stint Ramnagesh is alleged to have issued the threats from his Twitter account and as per the local media reports, he changed his handle and pretended to be a Pakistani user to hide his identity. Reports have also mentioned that the techie is currently unemployed and has reportedly worked for a food delivery app previously. The online hate was denounced by fans and spectators especially the vicious comments made against Virat's baby daughter. Kohli is married to Bollywood actress Anushka and the couple welcomed their first child in January and named her Vamika. IN PICS | 5 points: What went wrong for India at T20 World Cup 2021 During the tournament, Virat had reacted strongly against the troll and online abuses against Shami over his religion, as he said, "There is a good reason why we are playing on the field and not some bunch of spineless people on social media that have no courage to actually speak to any individual in person." During the press conference on October 30, he also said, "This is the lowest level of human form, attacking someone over religion is the most pathetic thing human being can do." "Never thought of discriminating on basis of religion. That is a very sacred thing. Our brotherhood and friendship can't be shaken... And these things can't infiltrate. I give credit to people who understand us," he added," Kohli added.

Man, 23, arrested over allegedly threatening to rape Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's daughter

Virat Kohli has signed off as India's Twenty20 captain after an unsuccessful ICC T20 World Cup 2021 campaign as India exited the tournament after failing to make it to the semi-finals. Kohli had said that it is time to manage the workload.&nbsp;

"It's been an honour, but things have to be kept in the right perspective. This was the right time for me to manage my workload. It's been six-seven years of intense cricket every time we take the field and it takes a lot out of you," Kohli said.&nbsp;

Even before the Covid-delayed tournament started in Dubai and Oman, Kohli had announced that he will step down as 20-overs captain. The news came as a shock to some, but some welcomed the decision as it is an opportunity for a new style of leadership - a breath of fresh air.&nbsp;

Despite being the hot favourites, India didn't get the start they needed as the Men In Blue lost their first two crucial matches against Pakistan and New Zealand. However, they won the last three games of the Super 12 stage against Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia but it wasn't enough for a semi-final berth from Group 2.&nbsp;

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Virat has led the team to great heights in Test and white-ball cricket but critics have always pointed at his failure to land a World Cup triumph in either T20 or ODI cricket. But skipper or not, Kohli will always be the team's batting mainstay till the time he is playing for India.

Also, he stepped down from T20 format only as Kohli, who took over the T20 captaincy from MS Dhoni in 2017 will continue to captain India in Test and ODI cricket. Be it any format, his stint as a captain is&nbsp;an example, which is defined by his attitude as a leader.&nbsp;

There's no denying the fact that Virat is an outstanding batter, his growth as a cricketer has been&nbsp;a motivation to millions. Physically, he wasn't that&nbsp;fit as he is right now but hard work and a disciplined regime have made him a top-class athlete over the course of time.&nbsp;

When we see him on TV screens playing mesmerising cover-shots effortlessly, that's just the abstract...there's a mechanism behind it. His passion for the game is not hidden. He has been striving forward to learn and grow to become one of the greatest players in his time.&nbsp;

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Leading the team by example is something that makes him a dynamic leader. He motivates the teammates and never shies away to express himself on the field. He intimidates the opponent, he can't be bullied by bowlers, dare to sledge him on the field. Virat will give it back and be the first person to come in defence of his mates in case of an on-field scuffle.&nbsp;

Virat's belligerent on-field attitude has been a catalyst in making India one of the most feared in recent times. The players know that the captain will have their backs. Remember how he got himself involved in the on-field banter between Indian pacer&nbsp;Mohammed Siraj and England's James Anderson during recent India vs England Test series in the UK.&nbsp;

Then again, he also came forward to support former Australian skipper Steve Smith during India vs Australia match in World Cup 2019. He had asked a group of fans to applaud Smith instead of mocking him over the infamous ball-tampering scandal.&nbsp;

From dancing to banters to laughing and funny gestures, Virat's antics make him different. Although, these things do not matter as players are different and behave differently. But the talent and&nbsp;spirit of cricket in Virat is just next level.&nbsp;

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Mentioning again, that Virat will continue to lead the Indian team in ODI and Test, however, there are reports that he might leave white-ball captaincy altogether. But he, himself said that his intensity on the field will remain the same. "That's never going to change. If I can't do that I will not play anymore. Even when I wasn't captain before I was always keen to see where the game is going. I'm not going to stand around and do nothing," Kohli said.&nbsp;

He is a prolific batter, outstanding teammate and a passionate ambassador of cricket. How to sum up his captaincy? Well, he is a combination of sugar and spice and everything nice.&nbsp;

If you are a 90s kid and have followed 'The Powerpuff Girls' then you must remember that 'sugar, spice and everything nice' were the ingredients chosen to create the perfect little girls but Professor Utonium accidentally added an extra ingredient to the concoction - Chemical X.&nbsp;

And in Virat's case, the 'Chemical X' is his passion for cricket and his hard work, which have been added by himself.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli has signed off as India's Twenty20 captain after an unsuccessful ICC T20 World Cup 2021 campaign as India exited the tournament after failing to make it to the semi-finals.

Virat Kohli has signed off as India's Twenty20 captain after an unsuccessful ICC T20 World Cup 2021 campaign as India exited the tournament after failing to make it to the semi-finals. Kohli had said that it is time to manage the workload. "It's been an honour, but things have to be kept in the right perspective. This was the right time for me to manage my workload. It's been six-seven years of intense cricket every time we take the field and it takes a lot out of you," Kohli said. Even before the Covid-delayed tournament started in Dubai and Oman, Kohli had announced that he will step down as 20-overs captain. The news came as a shock to some, but some welcomed the decision as it is an opportunity for a new style of leadership - a breath of fresh air. Despite being the hot favourites, India didn't get the start they needed as the Men In Blue lost their first two crucial matches against Pakistan and New Zealand. However, they won the last three games of the Super 12 stage against Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia but it wasn't enough for a semi-final berth from Group 2. IN PICS | Bilateral success in SENA countries to run-machine as captain: Reliving Virat Kohli's T20I captaincy stint Virat has led the team to great heights in Test and white-ball cricket but critics have always pointed at his failure to land a World Cup triumph in either T20 or ODI cricket. But skipper or not, Kohli will always be the team's batting mainstay till the time he is playing for India. Also, he stepped down from T20 format only as Kohli, who took over the T20 captaincy from MS Dhoni in 2017 will continue to captain India in Test and ODI cricket. Be it any format, his stint as a captain is an example, which is defined by his attitude as a leader. There's no denying the fact that Virat is an outstanding batter, his growth as a cricketer has been a motivation to millions. Physically, he wasn't that fit as he is right now but hard work and a disciplined regime have made him a top-class athlete over the course of time. When we see him on TV screens playing mesmerising cover-shots effortlessly, that's just the abstract...there's a mechanism behind it. His passion for the game is not hidden. He has been striving forward to learn and grow to become one of the greatest players in his time. IN PICS | 5 points: What went wrong for India at T20 World Cup 2021 Leading the team by example is something that makes him a dynamic leader. He motivates the teammates and never shies away to express himself on the field. He intimidates the opponent, he can't be bullied by bowlers, dare to sledge him on the field. Virat will give it back and be the first person to come in defence of his mates in case of an on-field scuffle. Virat's belligerent on-field attitude has been a catalyst in making India one of the most feared in recent times. The players know that the captain will have their backs. Remember how he got himself involved in the on-field banter between Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj and England's James Anderson during recent India vs England Test series in the UK. Then again, he also came forward to support former Australian skipper Steve Smith during India vs Australia match in World Cup 2019. He had asked a group of fans to applaud Smith instead of mocking him over the infamous ball-tampering scandal. From dancing to banters to laughing and funny gestures, Virat's antics make him different. Although, these things do not matter as players are different and behave differently. But the talent and spirit of cricket in Virat is just next level. ALSO READ | A captain, a mentor and a coach: Too many cooks messed up the meal? Mentioning again, that Virat will continue to lead the Indian team in ODI and Test, however, there are reports that he might leave white-ball captaincy altogether. But he, himself said that his intensity on the field will remain the same. "That's never going to change. If I can't do that I will not play anymore. Even when I wasn't captain before I was always keen to see where the game is going. I'm not going to stand around and do nothing," Kohli said. He is a prolific batter, outstanding teammate and a passionate ambassador of cricket. How to sum up his captaincy? Well, he is a combination of sugar and spice and everything nice. If you are a 90s kid and have followed 'The Powerpuff Girls' then you must remember that 'sugar, spice and everything nice' were the ingredients chosen to create the perfect little girls but Professor Utonium accidentally added an extra ingredient to the concoction - Chemical X. And in Virat's case, the 'Chemical X' is his passion for cricket and his hard work, which have been added by himself.

Virat Kohli as captain: A tale of sugar and spice and everything nice

India captain Virat Kohli dropped four places to eighth while his team-mate KL Rahul jumped three slots to fifth in the latest ICC men's T20I Player Rankings for batters, released on Wednesday. 
 
Apart from first two matches the T20 World Cup, Kohli didn't get too many opportunities to bat and it affected his T20I batting rankings. On the other hand, Rahul with his three fifties in India's last three matches, moved to No 5. 
 
After returning low scores against Pakistan and New Zealand, KL was brilliant against Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia but the knocks came in too late for India as they exited the tournament in the Super 12 stage. 
 
Meanwhile, Aiden Markram has made significant gains in his T20I rankings on the back of the sensational performances for South Africa in the ongoing World Cup. Markram`s unbeaten knock of 52 in just 25 balls in South Africa`s victory over Group 1 table-toppers England sees him climb to the No 3 spot in the T20I rankings for batters.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-or-new-zealand-shoaib-akhtar-reveals-which-side-he-is-backing-in-t20-wcs-first-semi-final-428281">England or New Zealand? Shoaib Akhtar reveals which side he is backing in T20 WC's first semi-final</a>

His heroics with the bat has also helped him break into the top 10 all-rounders, rising seven places to No 7. 
 
South African teammate Rassie van der Dussen too broke into the top 10 rankings for batters, climbing six spots to occupy the 10th spot in the latest update. Van der Dussen scored a Player of the Match-winning knock of 94* against England, helping the Proteas post a daunting total of 189. 
 
Unfortunately for South Africa, their win against England was not enough as they crashed out of the Men`s T20 World Cup on net run rate, despite winning four games out of five. 
 
In the rankings for bowlers, the Australian duo of Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood climbed the charts. Both bowlers have been in great form of late and were instrumental in Australia qualifying for the semi-finals of the World Cup. 
 
Zampa's five-for against Bangladesh takes him to the No.5 spot ,while Hazlewood went up 11 places to No.8, thanks to his four-wicket haul against West Indies.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/leading-a-national-team-is-completely-different-sunil-gavaskar-reacts-to-rohit-sharmas-success-in-ipl-428264">'Leading a national team is completely different': Sunil Gavaskar reacts to Rohit Sharma's success in IPL</a> 
 
The other major movement in the top 10 saw Tim Southee, who has picked up five wickets since the last update, move three places up to No 9 in the bowling rankings. 
 
The Australian domination in the latest update continued with Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh moving up in the all-rounders` rankings. Maxwell went up three places to become the new No 4 ranked all-rounder while Marsh ascended five spots to No 9. 
 
Sri Lankan sensation Wanindu Hasaranga achieved a career-high rating (173) for all-rounders, thus going up one spot to No 3.

India captain Virat Kohli dropped four places to eighth while his team-mate KL Rahul jumped three slots to fifth in the latest ICC men's T20I Player Rankings for batters, released on Wednesday.

India captain Virat Kohli dropped four places to eighth while his team-mate KL Rahul jumped three slots to fifth in the latest ICC men's T20I Player Rankings for batters, released on Wednesday. Apart from first two matches the T20 World Cup, Kohli didn't get too many opportunities to bat and it affected his T20I batting rankings. On the other hand, Rahul with his three fifties in India's last three matches, moved to No 5. After returning low scores against Pakistan and New Zealand, KL was brilliant against Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia but the knocks came in too late for India as they exited the tournament in the Super 12 stage. Meanwhile, Aiden Markram has made significant gains in his T20I rankings on the back of the sensational performances for South Africa in the ongoing World Cup. Markram`s unbeaten knock of 52 in just 25 balls in South Africa`s victory over Group 1 table-toppers England sees him climb to the No 3 spot in the T20I rankings for batters. ALSO READ: England or New Zealand? Shoaib Akhtar reveals which side he is backing in T20 WC's first semi-final His heroics with the bat has also helped him break into the top 10 all-rounders, rising seven places to No 7. South African teammate Rassie van der Dussen too broke into the top 10 rankings for batters, climbing six spots to occupy the 10th spot in the latest update. Van der Dussen scored a Player of the Match-winning knock of 94* against England, helping the Proteas post a daunting total of 189. Unfortunately for South Africa, their win against England was not enough as they crashed out of the Men`s T20 World Cup on net run rate, despite winning four games out of five. In the rankings for bowlers, the Australian duo of Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood climbed the charts. Both bowlers have been in great form of late and were instrumental in Australia qualifying for the semi-finals of the World Cup. Zampa's five-for against Bangladesh takes him to the No.5 spot ,while Hazlewood went up 11 places to No.8, thanks to his four-wicket haul against West Indies. ALSO READ | 'Leading a national team is completely different': Sunil Gavaskar reacts to Rohit Sharma's success in IPL The other major movement in the top 10 saw Tim Southee, who has picked up five wickets since the last update, move three places up to No 9 in the bowling rankings. The Australian domination in the latest update continued with Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh moving up in the all-rounders` rankings. Maxwell went up three places to become the new No 4 ranked all-rounder while Marsh ascended five spots to No 9. Sri Lankan sensation Wanindu Hasaranga achieved a career-high rating (173) for all-rounders, thus going up one spot to No 3.

ICC T20I Rankings: Virat Kohli drops four spots to 8th, KL Rahul jumps to 5th among batters

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