Category: Sports

World Cup-winning wicket keeper-batsman MS Dhoni seems to be enjoying his time away from the game. Having not played for India since World Cup 2019, Dhoni is spending the bulk of his time with friends and family.

MS Dhoni was spotted getting a nice shoulder massage from daughter Ziva in an adorable video uploaded on her social media page. Ziva, who has become a social media sensation, can be seen sitting on sofa along with her father and hugging him from behind. Dhoni seemed to be enjoying all the attention he was getting from his little daughter.

The adorable video comes days after MS Dhoni was spotted cleaning his new ride – Nissan Jonga — with a little bit of help from Ziva.

Dhoni took to social media to post the video. “A little help always goes a long way especially when u realise it’s a big vehicle,” Dhoni captioned it.

Dhoni’s Nissan Jonga has been spotted quite a few times in the recent past in Ranchi ever since the former India captain got the massive vehicle.
He rode his new car to the stadium in Ranchi on Monday to meet up with his India teammates after the third Test against South Africa got over. The video of him leaving the stadium in his green jeep went viral on social media soon after.

Dhoni kept himself busy after the World Cup by joining the Territorial Army — 106 TA Battalion (Para) in Jammu and Kashmir on July 30, training with the Battalion for 2 weeks.

Young wicket-keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was pictured with former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni ahead of India’s T20I series against Bangladesh. India are scheduled to play three T20Is and two Tests against ‘Bangla Tigers’ starting November 3. Pant, who was included in India’s T20I and Test squads for the upcoming series, uploaded a picture on social with Dhoni, who isn’t part of the Bangladesh T20Is. Pant’s post read: “Good Vibes Only @mahi7781”. 

Selection committee chairman MSK Prasad on Thursday said they are “moving on”, clearly indicating that veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni is not in their scheme of things anymore. His committee will instead focus on Rishabh Pant, Dhoni’s natural heir, Prasad said.

“This is our clear thought process that post World Cup we are focusing on Rishabh Pant only,” he said. When the question on Dhoni’s future in international cricket was repeated, the chief selector added, “I made it very clear post the World Cup that we are moving on. We are giving opportunities to youngsters and see that they establish themselves in the side.

“With Rishabh Pant doing so well and even Sanju Samson coming into the side, I am sure you must be understanding our thought process.”

Samson was picked in the side for the upcoming three-match T20 series following his remarkable performance in the domestic circuit in recent times.’

he former head of the BCCI’s Committee of Administrators (CoA) Vinod Rai has revealed that he was in favour of continuing with Anil Kumble as India coach after the widely-publicized fallout in 2017 between the legendary spinner and Indian captain Virat Kohli. During his one-year term Kumble turned out to be one of the most successful coaches with India excelling in all formats of the game, especially in Test cricket. But due to differences arising between him and Kohli, Kumble was ultimately forced to resign from his post as the BCCI started looking for his replacements.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Rai said that he would have extended Kumble’s contract if it had an extension clause.

“Anil Kumble was the best coach available. If his contract had an extension clause, I would have extended it. I have too much respect and regard for Kumble. But since there was no extension clause and since I wasn’t equipped to decide, we fell back on CAC. We inherited the CAC, not created it,” said Rai after the tenure of the CoA came to an end on Wednesday.

Rai also went into the details of what went on between him, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) and the coach-captain duo as the tumultuous events unfolded during the Champions Trophy 2017.

“I had a long chat with Sachin then and Sourav now. I met Sachin in Birmingham during the Champions Trophythey were meeting Kumble and Viratand I told Sachin I had a long chat with Virat (when he was in Mumbai and I was in Hyderabad) on the telephone. I barely knew Virat then. I told Sachin, I felt he was not willing to accept that Kumble continues. So you people have a word with him. Coming from people of your stature, you may be able to persuade him’. I know Sachin and Sourav spoke to him. Sourav told me recently that they had a long chat with him. If they couldn’t persuade him how could I?

Tamil Nadu will take on Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2019 final at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. The battle between the Southern heavyweights was decided after they won their semi-final outings on Wednesday.

Karnataka, who finished on top of Elite Group A and B table with 7 wins in 9 matches, thrashed Chhattisgarh by 9 wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu clinched a thriller against Gujarat in a rain-affected low-scoring game at the Just Cricket Academy Ground in Bengaluru.

Chasing 224 against Chhattisgarh, Karnataka got off to a solid start with India star KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal taking the attack to the new-ball bowlers. While Padikkal made 92 from 98 balls, India opener Rahul continued his fine run with an unbeaten 111-ball 88.

Mayank Agarwal, who was part of the Indian Test team that wrapped up a 3-0 series win over South Africa on Tuesday, had flown from Ranchi to Bengaluru to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-final. The India Test opener made sure he made the most of the opportunity by slamming a 33-ball 47 during which he smashed 3 boundaries and 4 sixes.

Earlier in the day, V Koushik dented the Chhattisgarh batting unit with 4 wickets. The likes of Abhimanyu Mithun, Krishnappa Gowtham and Praveen Dubey chipped in with 2 wickets each. Chhattisgarh’s Amandeep Khare shone with a 102-ball 78 but his efforts went in vain.

Parthiv Patel’s Gujarat were knocked in the semi-final after an ordinary show with the bat against Tamil Nadu.

In the rain-reduced 40-overs-a-side contest, Gujarat managed only 177 in 40 overs with the likes of captain Patel, Axar Patel and Priyank Panchal failed to impress. For Tamil Nadu, M Mohammad shone with 3 wickets as they came up with a combined bowling effort.

India successfully dominated South Africa in all departments of the game in the just concluded Test series and Virat Kohli’s boys will next be up against Bangladesh.

Former India cricketer VVS. Laxman however, reckons the series against the Bangla Tigers will be a ‘competitive’ one and that Shakib Al Hasan and boys will give India a tough fight.

Laxman, who is a Star Sports expert, spoke on the upcoming series on Nerolac Cricket Live and said: “I feel India versus Bangladesh series is going to be a competitive one. The Bangladesh squad is more experienced than the current South Africa team and most of the Bangladesh players are also in good form. The Bangladesh team has grown over the years and cannot be taken lightly considering they always give a tough fight to the Indian team in T20Is.”

India will take on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series followed by a two-match Test series. The series gets underway in the Capital on November 3.

While the Bangladesh players are currently on strike, President-elect Sourav Ganguly is confident that the Bangladesh Cricket Board will solve the issue with the players and the series won’t be hampered.

Ganguly confirmed on Monday that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accepted the invitation sent to her to come and witness the second Test between India and Bangladesh at the historic Eden Gardens from November 22 to 26.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir hoped that Sourav Ganguly gets more than just 10 months as president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Gambhir joined the list of former India cricketers who congratulated Ganguly who is set to be elected as the new president of BCCI on October 23.

“I don’t know how it happened and I am not keen on knowing it either. I am just glad that Indian cricket will be headed by someone who understands the eco-system. But I just hope that Dada gets more than 10 months to perform otherwise it will be a wasted exercise,” Gambhir wrote in his column for Times of India.

Gambhir also pointed out that Ganguly’s five-year stint as the president of Cricket Association will come in handy when he takes guard as the chief of Indian cricket.

“The changes he has brought about at Cricket Association of Bengal is a clear indication that Dada is not merely a former cricketer who’d bring on-field changes. His administrative skills will be tested but if I know Dada well, his ability of inclusive growth will hold him in good stead,” Gambhir wrote.

Ever since the news of Ganguly being chosen as the next BCCI broke, lot of former India cricketers including Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. Gambhir believed, all those cricketers and also the ones in the BCCI office should come forward and help Ganguly in his endeavour.

“I’d also hope that he gets support from those who are taking turns to congratulate Dada. As a cricketer, he could achieve results because he had support from within the dressing room and also from BCCI board room. Things would have been challenging for Dada without the support of the late Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya. While he and then coach John Wright groomed guys like Sehwag, Nehra, Yuvraj, Harbhajan and Zaheer, Dada was also lucky to have all-out support from Dravid, Kumble, Tendulkar and Laxman. He’d need similar support now again from the BCCI bigwigs who know where the landmines are. Trust me, the world will be watching Indian cricket with even more interest from now on,’ Gambhir added.

Former India skipper MS Dhoni might have been on a sabbatical post the ICC World Cup 2019, but Ranchi’s favourite son is likely to be in attendance when Virat Kohli’s boys square off against Faf du Plessis’ men at the JSCA Stadium for the third Test of the three-match series, starting on Saturday.

Sources in the know of developments said that Dhoni along with his childhood friend and former Jharkhand captain Mihir Diwakar will fly into the city early on Saturday morning from Mumbai and is expected to visit the ground on the opening day of the match to watch the two teams in action.

Team India has already taken a 2-0 lead in the three-match rubber against the Proteas and will face-off for one final time in Ranchi. In the past few days, the former skipper has been busy with his commercial commitments.

Earlier, BCCI President-elect Sourav Ganguly said that he would discuss the stumper’s future with the national selectors as there have been too many rumours on whether Dhoni will hang his boots or keep playing till the 2020 World T20.

“I need to find out from the selectors when I meet them next. We should find out what the selectors think,” Ganguly told reporters in Kolkata. “It’s not my opinion. I was nowhere in the picture all these days. My first selection committee meeting will be on the 24th.

“What he (Dhoni) wants to do, what he doesn’t (want) to do…What matters is what Dhoni wants. Maybe there is clarity between Dhoni and the selectors, but I do not know of it as yet. Neither side has discussed anything with me. They’ll decide on the way forward.”

Post the World Cup, Ganguly had said that skipper Kohli’s role will be crucial in the matter.

“Virat is very important as to what he is communicating to Dhoni. What he (Kohli) expects of him (Dhoni) is very hard to say. But I don’t think anybody should jump the gun and pass a statement. If Virat and the team management expect Dhoni to come back and play, he will play. If they feel like moving forward, they would move forward. Of course, the selectors will also play an important role,” he had said.

You can criticise me as much as you can but at least give respect to Maa Bharati,” said Modi.

Gohana falls in Sonipat district, which is considered as a stronghold of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

However, both Hooda and his son Deepender Singh Hooda lost the Lok Sabha polls from Sonipat and Rohtak parliamentary constituencies, respectively and Modi took a veiled dig at this.

“You broke arrogance of big leaders in Lok Sabha polls,” he said.

The prime minister also referred to Sonipat as land of “kisan, jawans and pehalwans”.

Mumbai opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed his way into record books on Wednesday. At 17 years and 292 days, Yashasvi Jaiswal became the youngest in the world to score a double hundred in 50-overs cricket including List A and ODIs. He broke the record by almost 3 years in the Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Jharkhand. The youngest before Yashasvi was Alan Barrow, who scored a double ton at age of 20 years, 273 days in South Africa’s domestic cricket way back in 1975.

This was Yashasvi’s third hundred in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. Jaiswal, who made his List A debut in this tournament, already has 585 runs in only 5 matches and is also the leading run scorer of Vijay Hazare Trophy, taking over from Tamil Nadu’s Baba Aparajith.

Yashasvi’s double hundred came a few days after Kerala’s Sanju Samson became the fastest India to score a double century. Yashasvi became the 7th Indian to score a double century in List A cricket after Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma (thrice), Shikhar Dhawan, KV Kaushal and Sanju Samson. Tendulkar, Sehwag and Rohit are however, the only Indians to hit double tons in ODIs. Shikhar Dhawan’s 248 came in a practice match against South Africa A in 2013.

This was only the third double century in the history of Vijay Hazare Trophy with all three of them coming in the last two seasons. The first to score a double hundred in Vijay Hazare Trophy was Uttarakhand’s KV Kaushal in 2018.

Yashasvi Jaiswal has been in fine form in the lead up to the tournament. He scored four half centuries for India U-19 in the tri-nation series against England and Bangladesh in England. He scored 294 runs in seven innings at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 74.05, finishing fourth on the run-scorers’ list.

Jaiswal, who was disturbed of not being able to convert his starts into hundreds had also revealed how suggestion from India opener Wasim Jaffer helped him turn it around.

“The problem of not converting my fifties into hundreds was affecting me. I was scoring 70s and 80s, and taking wickets too, but not scoring centuries and finishing off the match. Then I saw Wasim sir score a hundred there. I learnt a lot by just watching him bat. He batted till the end, taking singles and waiting for loose balls to hit the boundaries. After that match, he advised me about what shots I could play, and which were the areas where I could take a chance against the bowlers. I kept that chat with him in my mind,” Jaiswal was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Batting greats Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara are among former cricketers who will return to the field for the Road Safety World Series in India next year. The World Series will be an annual Twenty20 tournament played between retired cricketers from five countries – Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and India. Tendulkar and Lara will be joined by former players including India’s Virender Sehwag, Australian Brett Lee, Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan and South Africa’s Jonty Rhodes for the tournament from Feb. 2-16 across India.

Tendulkar, 46, is the world’s leading scorer in tests and one-day internationals, amassing more than 34,000 runs and 100 centuries in a 24-year career that ended in 2013.

In 2008, Tendulkar surpassed Lara’s record for most test runs with the West Indies left-hander having made 11,953 in the longest format of the game before retiring from international cricket in 2007.

Lara holds the record for the highest individual test score, his 400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004.

Wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson continued his great run with the bat in domestic cricket as he slammed a double ton against Goa in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2019. Samson’s name has often been discussed in the Indian cricketing fraternity, with many calling him a better option for No. 4 and as a wicket-keeper than Rishabh Pant. Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has urged the BCCI to produce an opportunity for the talented batsman.

Playing for Kerala, the 24-year-old, converted his maiden List A hundred into a double ton and stormed the cricketing spectrum in India on Saturday. Samson came in at the No. 3 spot, immediately looked in good touch and continued to play his shots comfortably. 

WIth Sachin Baby, Sanju toiled with the Goa bowlers and reached a score of 150 in just 99 deliveries. Sachin also brought his hundred as the pair helped Kerala cross the 300-run mark with ease. Samson then reached his double ton in style, by hitting a six.

“Well done @IamSanjuSamson on a double hundred in a domestic one-day game!!! This man is bursting at seams with talent and talent must meet opportunity very soon @BCCI,” tweeted Gambhir.