World Seconds

Now, Hardik Pandya is calmer as a bowler: Shane Bond

2021-04-03T11:04:00.000+05:30

Credits - Times Of India

CHENNAI: Hardik Pandya seems to have lost nothing as a batsman after recovering from his back injury last year. But the all-rounder doesn't look the same bowler who ran through England in the Nottingham Test match in 2018.

He didn't bowl in the last IPL, rolled his arm over in a couple of T20Is in Australia and then finally bowled a bit more against England in the T20s and ODIs at home.

His pace is significantly reduced, even though Hardik seems to have worked on a few variations. His Mumbai Indians bowling coach Shane Bond, who knows a thing or two about dealing with career-threatening injuries, believes Hardik has lost nothing as an all-rounder.

"It's natural that you will lose a bit of top-end consistent pace after a back injury, but what is important is that he hasn't lost his aggressive approach. He can use the bouncer too, has the skills to swing the ball and can still work up a good pace," Bond told TOI on Friday.

The Mumbai Indians team is currently in Chennai getting ready for the IPL starting next Friday and Bond is hoping that Hardik will be at his best. "When you have a surgery, you are likely to get aches and pains in other parts of the body and that's what happened to Hardik last year during IPL. We did not want him to pick up another injury because he is too valuable as a batsman.

"Our aim was to get him back in the process of returning as an all-rounder for India and he is coming to this IPL having done so against England," Bond said.

Elaborating on that, the 45-yearold said that Hardik's superb batting has made him enjoy bowling more. "When he was picked for India, he was seen as a genuine all-rounder. He can still do both equally well, but it's his batting that has taken the pressure off his bowling. He knows he is one of the best white-ball batsmen in the world and that has made him more comfortable with his bowling."

Talking about the changes that the Kiwi pace ace has made in Pandya's bowling, Bond said: "There was a point when I felt he was diving into the crease a little bit too much. He was also mindful of that and got the alignment a little straight and it worked."

But the former New Zealand tearaway makes it clear that though Hardik brings quality to the table in the white-ball format, it is very important to manage his workload. "I understand that he is a brilliant fourth-pacer option batting at No. 7 in Tests, but I would think he is better off bowling 10 overs a day even when he is playing red-ball cricket, instead of 15-16. Ben Stokes, too, is doing the same," Bond added.

Talking about his expectations from Hardik in the forthcoming IPL, the bowling coach said that the all-rounder is part of a group and it is about going there and supporting each other. "Last year we used (Kieron) Pollard as the sixth bowler because Hardik was injured. Now we have the best 5, 6 and 7 in the tournament in the form of Pollard, Hardik and Krunal," Bond said, hoping that Hardik keeps delivering in the T20 World Cup later this year.

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Quarantine isolation and Ravi Shastri's guidance helped Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma renew friendship

2021-03-30T09:17:00.011+05:30

Credits - Times Of India

MUMBAI: Weeks of staying put inside a bio bubble during the pandemic hasn't been easy for the Indian cricket team. However, if there is anything positive to emerge from such strict quarantine rules then it is the forging of a 'renewed friendship' between two proverbial alphamales in the Team India dressing room - Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. TOI understands that Kohli and Sharma, two of Team India's senior-most members - aided by the team management and coach Ravi Shastri - found the time and space needed to sit across the table and "talk it out" during the series against England. The two batsmen, who over the last couple of years, were reportedly not getting along, decided to begin on a fresher note.

"Apart from winning two big series, that's been the biggest gain inside the Team India dressing room. A great deal of personal bonding has happened in recent weeks and they're more in sync now than ever with regards to their cricket, the team, their responsibilities and the upcoming challenges. They understand now, more than ever, that the team will only benefit if they find themselves on the same page. This has been the biggest takeaway in the last four months," top sources said.

From opening the batting to relying on each other on the field to bonding off it, Kohli and Sharma have ticked all the right boxes to understand each other's perspective better. Staying inside the bio-bubble for weeks meant a lot of extra time on hand and that helped.

"All the chatter from the outside was causing too much bitterness and all the hearsay was making things worse. It's been the story of Indian cricket for far too long - of vested interests time and again taking advantage of rivalries between players. Like all professionals, Virat and Rohit too would have their disagreements from time to time. But until recently, they never thought of sitting down and talking it out with the kind of clarity that is now visible," sources add.

Those tracking developments point out how the two leading cricketers have also made it a point to subtly let those outside of the Team India camp know that "gossip theories need to end".

"They've spent a lot of time talking to each other in public, like during the post-match presentation at the end of the T20 series. They've been appearing in photographs together a lot more than in the past. During the One-day series, Virat made it a point to keep his discussions on with Rohit constantly during the game. These things would happen earlier too, but this one time they've decided to make it more visible for outsiders to know that all this chatter now needs to stop," sources add.

Those who have the cricketers' ear insist this is not some public-relations exercise they are indulging in to show everyone that things are fine even if they're not.

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'Surprised that Shardul wasn't 'Man of the Match': Virat Kohli after India's series-clinching win

2021-03-29T09:06:00.000+05:30

Credits - Hindustan Times

India pulled out a seven-run win against England in the final ODI to clinch the series 2-1 on Sunday. The contest turned out to be a nail-biting affair as the result was delivered off the last ball. Indian pacers Shardul Thakur and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were the top wicket-takers, returning figures of 4/67 and 3/42 respectively.

Despite such strong performances, neither received any award which left India captain Virat Kohli surprised. While speaking at the post-match press conference, the India skipper admitted that he was surmised that Thakur was not adjudged Player of the Match, while Bhuvneshwar missed out on the Man-of-the-Series honours.

“I mean I'm surprised that he wasn't the Man of the Match. Four wickets and scoring 30 runs and Bhuvi another contender for Man of the Series. These guys were the difference in middle overs and powerplay. A lot of credit to them for bowling so well in adverse conditions,” Kohli said.

Sam Curran was handed the Man-of-the-Match Award for his heroic 83-ball 95 not while opener Jonny Bairstow got the Man-of-the-Series award for his tally of 218 runs in the three games, including a hundred to top the run-scorers' chart.

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India vs England 3rd ODI: With workload management in place, will India bowl Hardik Pandya or risk 3rd consecutive series loss?

2021-03-28T09:02:00.000+05:30

Credits - Times Of India

For a major part in the run up to the 2019 World Cup, India’s bowling attack was the most enviable one in world cricket. Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the new ball followed by the emergence of the two wrist-spinners in Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav meant India were always on the lookout for wickets.

The key, however, was Hardik Pandya sending down seven overs on an average at under six runs per over in every match. Such has been his impact as an all-rounder, that he has been clubbed with Bumrah as the most treasured asset when it comes to workload management.

The Indian camp has made it amply clear that the 50-over format is nothing more than an obligation at this moment. But when Virat Kohli leads his team out in Pune for the deciding ODI against England on Sunday, the embarrassing prospect of a third consecutive ODI series loss will be running through the mind. This is where they need to take a call on Hardik’s availability as a seamer and if they are willing to risk another series citing future plans.

The lack of sixth bowler has hurt India in the last three ODI series. Hardik’s position as a No. 6 batsman is unquestionable but minus his bowling disrupts the balance of the ODI team.

Since Hardik’s comeback from a major back surgery, he has bowled 22 overs spread over four months and 13 international matches. 18 of those came in five T20Is against England this month. And the Indian team management has decided has red-flagged his role as a medium pacer. Captain Virat Kohli announced the team is wary of burning out Hardik in a year that has a World Test Championship final, five Tests in England and a T20 World Cup.

Indian cricket setup boasts of a robust workload management based on the minutest of data. The depth in the resources also enables the system to carry it out without much of an inhabitation. But it also throws up a question if the concerned player is made part of the decision ahead of a crucial match.

Former India pacer Ashish Nehra, an example of having career battling injuries, told TOI: “I know there’s a competent support staff. But the concerned player too needs to understand his body. If bowling just 18 overs in five games becomes disconcerting for Hardik then I can understand this decision. If Hardik isn’t complaining of anything then he could be bowled for four-five overs.”

With teams content with seeing off Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar at the top of the innings, the pressure falls squarely on the spinners unlike the pre-World Cup days. An efficient fifth-sixth bowling option is non-negotiable here.

“If Hardik has to play just as a batsmam then he has to bat higher to accommodate a sixth bowler. Krunal Pandya can’t be your fifth bowler. Kuldeep hasn’t played much and then there’s always inexperienced pacer partnering Bhuvneshwar or Bumrah,” Nehra reckoned.

India have been hit off their set plan in the last three ODI series. The lack of wickets with the new ball has literally rendered the spinners ineffective. Maybe the inclusion of Ravindra Jadeja can help them settle down. But it’s rather clear the backup plan, in case of unavailability of first choice players, hasn’t taken shape.

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Shreyas Iyer To Miss IPL 2021 Due To Shoulder Injury

2021-03-25T11:31:00.006+05:30

Credits - NDTV SPORTS

Delhi Capitals captain Shreyas Iyer will miss the 2021 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a shoulder injury he picked up in the first ODI between India and England in Pune on Tuesday. Iyer had suffered subluxation of his left shoulder while fielding in the opening ODI against England and had been taken for scans. On Wednesday, he was ruled out of the remainder of the series and on Thursday it was confirmed that he will miss the entirety of IPL 2021 as well. Delhi Capitals chairman Parth Jindal tweeted that he was "absolutely devastated" for Iyer and wished him a speedy recovery.

"Absolutely devastated and gutted for our skipper @ShreyasIyer15 - stay strong captain - hope for a very quick recovery," Jindal wrote in his tweet. "Have full faith that you will come back even stronger from this. India needs you in the T20 World Cup."

It's a big blow for the Capitals, as they lost the captain who led them to their maiden IPL final last year.

Iyer was in fine form during the preceding T20I series between India and England, despite being pushed down the order. Iyer scored one half-century and played a quickfire knock of 37 off 18.

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'Don't know of a more skillful in the world bowler than Bhuvneshwar Kumar': Michael Vaughan

2021-03-25T11:28:00.005+05:30

Credits - Hindustan Times

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan was all praise for Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Coming back to the squad on the back of a long injury layoff--which lasted over 15 months--the Uttar Pradesh bowler has been in good form. Even though he only picked up four wickets in the five-match T20I series against England in Ahmedabad, it was the way he bowled that was more encouraging.

Bhuvi picked up two important wickets in the fifth and deciding T20I, giving away 15 runs in four overs at an economy rate of 3.80. In the same match, every other bowler across both teams went for at least 7.80 runs per over. Hence, and rightfully so, Bhuvneshwar won the Man of the Match award.

He carried his form into the first game of the ODI series at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The 31-year-old returned with figures of 2/30 in nine overs, proving to be economical and helping the hosts vastly in stemming the run-flow when it was most needed.

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'Virat Kohli must be careful in what se says and does': David Lloyd says India captain 'has been disrespecting umpires'

2021-03-24T13:26:00.005+05:30

Credits - Hindustan Times

Former England cricketer David Lloyd criticized India captain Virat Kohli for batting against the ‘umpire’s call’ rule of cricket, adding that Kohli has been ‘pressuring, disrespecting’ the on-field umpires during the ongoing England’s tour of India.

Lloyd said Kohli’s suggestion that England pressurized umpire Nitin Menon to give soft-signal in their favour in the 5th T20I is doubtful but he is sure that the India captain has been ‘remonstrating with umpires throughout this tour.’

“Kohli also suggested England were pressuring umpires to give the 'soft signal' as out when Dawid Malan took a low catch in the fourth T20. Firstly, the soft signal is there to leave as much authority as possible with the on-field umpires.

“And I don't know if England put pressure on Nitin Menon in Ahmedabad, but I do know one thing — Kohli has been pressuring, disrespecting and remonstrating with umpires throughout this tour,” Lloyd wrote in his column for Daily Mail.

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India vs England, 1st ODI: Emotional Krunal Pandya Breaks Down After Scintillating Fifty On Debut

2021-03-23T19:12:00.004+05:30

Credits - NDTV

Krunal Pandya failed to control his emotions after a scintillating knock of 58 not out on his One-day International (ODI) debut against England in Pune on Tuesday. After helping India post a fighting total of 317 for five from their allotted 50 overs, Krunal was asked to have a word with commentators about his performance with the bat. Former India cricketer Murali Kartik, now a commentator, asked him about his feelings but the Baroda all-rounder couldn't find words to express himself and broke down.

Krunal and Hardik lost their father in January this year.

Hardik was seen consoling his brother after this. In the match, Krunal came in to bat at a tough stage with India in trouble at 205 for five with less than 10 overs remaining.

Krunal and KL Rahul took charge of the proceedings and put on an unbeaten 112-run stand for the sixth wicket.

In the process, Krunal became the fastest batsman to score a half-century on his ODI debut.

He reached the milestone in just 26 balls. KL Rahul, who was struggling for runs in the T20Is against England, found his form back and remained unbeaten on 62.

For England, Ben Stokes was the pick of the bowlers as he returned with figures of three for 34 from his eight-over spell. Mark Wood also picked up a couple of wickets.

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India vs England 1st ODI, the big statistics: Virat Kohli one ton away from Sachin's record of most ODI centuries in India

2021-03-23T13:41:00.001+05:30

- Times Of India

After the Test and T20I legs, the Indian and English cricket teams are all set to lock horns in a three match ODI series, all of which will be played in Pune. The first match will be played today, beginning at 1:30 pm IST. This in fact will be the first time that these two teams will play against each other in an ODI, since India lost to England in a group stage match in the 2019 ODI World Cup, which England went on to win.

Ahead of the first ODI today, here's a quick look at some of the big statistics and approaching landmarks, including Virat Kohli being just one century away from equalling a record currently held by Sachin Tendulkar:

* This is the 10th time India have hosted a men's multi-game bilateral ODI series versus England; the tourists have only mustered one victory across those previous series in India (Drawn 2; Lost 6), England have lost each of the last five series in India

* India are set to face off against England for the first time in a men's ODI since losing an ICC Men's Cricket World Cup group game by a margin of 31 runs versus the eventual champions (30 June 2019).

* England have put together a run of three successive victories versus India in men's ODI cricket, a win here would equal their longest ever winning streak against them in the format (4 in a row between 1974 and 1981).

* India have been involved in only one completed men's ODI versus England at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, beating them by three wickets there in January 2017; India have logged two victories and two losses at the Pune venue in this format.

* Both sides have only managed to win 50% of their completed men's ODI games since the end of ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019, India recording seven victories and seven defeats. Eoin's Morgan's men meanwhile have four wins in eight outings (losing 4).

* Virat Kohli (India) is one century away from equalling the record for most men's ODI tons in India (currently held by Sachin Tendulkar, 20) as well as being one shy of posting the joint-most hundreds in men's ODIs between India and England (currently Yuvraj Singh - four)

* Virat Kohli has registered 30 ODI knocks versus England with his highest score against them in the format being registered at this very venue in Pune, posting 122 off 105 balls in January 2017; the India skipper comes into this match as the highest run-scorer across the recent five-match men's T20I series with England (231).

*Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India) managed to get England talisman Jos Buttler out on three occasions during the recent men's T20I series, the most instances of any bowler dismissing a batsman across those five fixtures (conceding just 26 runs).

* India seamers have the highest share of yorker-length deliveries than any other Test-playing nation in men's ODIs since the start of 2020 (5.5%); that is over four times the share registered by England seamers during that period (1.3%).

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'Umpire's call' creates lot of confusion: Virat Kohli

2021-03-23T11:25:00.004+05:30

- Times Of India

Taking a hard stand on the use of the 'umpire's call' and the 'soft signal' in the Decision Review System (DRS) while re-examining leg-before dismissals, India captain Virat Kohli expressed a clear view on Monday that changes should be made to these rules. "According to me, the umpire's call right now is creating a lot of confusion. When you get bowled as a batsman, you don't expect the ball to hit more than 50% into the stumps to consider yourself bowled. So, from basic cricket common sense, I don't think that there should be any debate on that," Kohli said.

Drawing his experience from the amount of cricket he's played yet, he added "I played for a long time when there was no DRS. If the umpire made a decision, whether the batsman liked it or not, it stayed like that. Vice-versa, the umpire gave it not out and it was out, it stayed like that, whether it was marginal or not."

In the case of the use of 'soft signal' too, Kohli remains unconvinced. The dismissal of Suryakumar Yadav in the fourth T20I led to a controversy when the TV umpire ruled the batsman out even when replays apparently proved inconclusive, because of a soft-signal of 'out' given by the on-field umpire. It's a different matter that replays showed the ball touching the grass.

Kohli said, "You have to question what the spirit of the game is and what those guidelines are, because if things like that happened with the Indian team overseas, then you are talking about a totally different conversation of the spirit of the game." Kohli added that in big tournaments, such grey areas would add to the pressure and situation and leave fielding sides with no clarity whatsoever.

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New Zealand vs Bangladesh 2nd ODI: Live score and updates

2021-03-23T11:05:00.000+05:30

- Hindustan Times

Hello and welcome to the second ODI between New Zealand and Bangladesh that is being played at Christchurch's Hagley Oval. With New Zealand ahead 1-0, Bangladesh need to win this one in order to stay alive in the three-match series. New Zealand are still without captain Kane Williamson and batsman Ross Taylor, who are out with injury.

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first in the second ODI against Bangladesh. This is the first time a men’s day-night ODI is being held at the Christchurch stadium.

Playing XI:

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Devon Conway, Tom Latham (captain), Will Young, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Trent Boult.

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal (captain), Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin.

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Former selectors divided over Virat Kohli's decision to open with Rohit Sharma

2021-03-22T12:12:00.007+05:30

- Times Of India

CHENNAI: When Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly started opening the batting in ODIs for India in the late 1990s, they laid the foundation of the theory that the two best batsmen in limited overs should get the maximum balls to face.

The theory has evolved over the years, but Virat Kohli's decision to promote himself to open on Saturday against England seemed an extension of that and it worked like magic. His 94-run stand with Rohit Sharma laid the foundation for a superb Indian win, Kohli himself got full 20 overs to control the innings, while India were able to play the extra bowler, which is crucial in T20 Internationals. More so with the dew setting in.

And when Kohli said at the end of the match that he is going to open in IPL as well, it meant that the Indian captain was looking at this option for the T20 World Cup in India later this year. "Yes, I'm going to open in the IPL...We do have a solid middle-order now - it's about the two best players getting maximum number of balls in T20 cricket. I would like to partner Rohit at the top and the other guys feel confident when one of us are in," Kohli said, giving a blue-print for the future.

It is to be noted that India don't have any more T20Is scheduled after this before the World Cup, even though the BCCI is trying to arrange a few games against South Africa and New Zealand before the showpiece event.

If Kohli sticks to his word and chooses to open in T20s, there are implications as well for other big players in the team. It could well mean that Shikhar Dhawan, who is still a great T20 opener, may find it difficult to find a spot in the team.

Former India selector, Devang Gandhi, though feels it is a little too early to write Dhawan off. "With the Covid protocols still in place, I will be really surprised if the T20 World Cup squad is restricted to 15. The way things are at the moment, it is about staying in the mix and Dhawan, being a proven performer, will be there in the squad...The IPL, though, is huge for him, but then, that's true for most of the others as well," Gandhi told TOI.

With the captain deciding to open, KL Rahul, too, finds himself in a bit of a spot after a string of low scores in the series. But he is a player who can also be considered in the middle-order, as his wicket-keeping abilities give him an extra buffer.

The plus points of having Kohli at the top of the order will mean that many options open up for India. Former India opener and chairman of selectors, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, believes that with Ravindra Jadeja coming into this XI as the No. 7, this will be an explosive batting line-up. "It's already a brilliant team. Kohli has the ability to control the innings as Rohit goes for his shots and once the powerplay is over, the captain's ability to play big shots and manoeuvre strike will be a huge plus." Srikkanth said.

On paper, it looks a brilliant option, more so with the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan shaping up well in the middle. The Indian team management is spoilt for choices and it seems that they can field two playing XIs, equally powerful, for the T20 World Cup.

But Gandhi is a little skeptical, more so after what he had experienced as selector in the semifinals of the 50-over World Cup in 2019 when the Indian middle-order lacked solidity after losing a couple of early wickets against New Zealand in the semifinals.

"It's all fine when you're 100-1, but cricket is such a game that you can also be 20-2 in a knock-out game. In such situations, experience in the middle-order becomes very crucial...I believe Kohli at No. 3 is a better option and he can guide the young lot who will be playing their first World Cup," Gandhi said.

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India vs England: Team India Arrive In Pune For ODI Series Against England. Watch

2021-03-22T09:40:00.002+05:30

- NDTV

The Indian Cricket Team on Sunday arrived in Pune for the upcoming three-match One-Day-International series against England. The hosts had clinched the five-match T20I series with a 36-run win over England in the decider in Ahmedabad on Saturday. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted a video on Twitter featuring snippets from the airport. "Hello Pune, we're here," the video was captioned. Members of the Indian squad posted photos on social media while travelling from Ahmedabad to Pune.

Rohit Sharma was the first among Indian cricketers who shared a photo on social media while travelling to Pune.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya also posted a photo with his "forever travel partner" -- his son Agastya.

India had named a strong 18-member squad for the upcoming ODI series, including three posible debutants in Krunal Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and Prasidh Krishna.

While Krishna and Krunal were awarded for their performances in the Indian domestic 50-over tournament-- Vijay Hazare Trophy, Suryakumar's blistering maiden half-century saw him earning his maiden ODI call-up.

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Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar wish Imran Khan a speedy recovery as Pak PM tests positive for COVID-19

2021-03-21T19:37:00.004+05:30

- Times Now News

Days after Imran Khan received the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Pakistani Prime Minister and former cricketer has been tested positive for novel coronavirus on Saturday. The legendary cricketer and World Cup-winning captain of the Green Army has reportedly contracted the deadly virus after Pakistan kickstarted its COVID-19 vaccination drive in February this year.

After it was revealed that the Pakistani Premier has tested positive for COVID-19, former cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi have wished the 1992 World Cup-winning captain a speedy recovery. Taking to Twitter on Saturday, legendary fast bowler Akhtar shared the tragic news about the COVID-19 diagnosis of the Pakistani Prime Minister and former cricketer.

"Wishing a healthy recovery to PM sahab @ImranKhanPTI. He just tested positive for Covid-19," Akhtar said in his tweet. Akhtar's former teammate and ex-Pakistan captain Afridi also wished Imran a recovery from the death-dealing disease. "Wishing @ImranKhanPTI a speedy recovery & complete shifa from #COVID19. This is a reminder to us all that the virus can hit any of our homes; practise social distancing, wear your masks & #StaySafe," Afridi said in his tweet.

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India vs England: Jofra Archer Ruled Out Of ODI Series vs India, To Miss Start Of IPL 2021

2021-03-21T19:33:00.002+05:30

- Times Of India

England announced a 14-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against India, starting on March 23. Star pacer Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the series due to a right elbow injury. The pacer will return to the United Kingdom for rehabilitation of his injury, which worsened during the T20I series. India won the T20I series, 3-2 in Ahmedabad. According to an ECB press release, the England medical team will "assess the player and, together with Jofra, develop a treatment plan and a return-to-play schedule in due course. As a consequence, Jofra will miss the start of this year's Indian Premier League."

Archer's absence from the start of this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 will be a huge loss for Rajasthan Royals (RR). The fast bowler is essential to the team's IPL 2021 ambitions.

Test captain Joe Root has also not been named in the squad, which will face India in the ODI series.

Also, three additional players will travel with the England team as covers. The players are Jake Ball, Chris Jordan and Dawid Malan.

Eoin Morgan will captain the team as usual, and will have the likes of Ben Stokes, Jason Roy and Adil Rashid to call upon. The series starts on March 23. The second and third ODI fixtures will take place on March 26 and March 28.

All three fixtures will take place at the MCA Stadium in Pune.

Here is the England Men's ODI Squad:

Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Liam Livingstone, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.

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Want India to persist with Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli opening pair: Sunil Gavaskar

2021-03-21T15:17:00.000+05:30

- Times Of India

AHMEDABAD: Former captain Sunil Gavaskar said he would like to see India persist with the opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in T20 Internationals. Captain Kohli and Rohit opened the innings for India in a T20I for the first time on Saturday and their 94-run stand helped India beat England by 36 runs and win the series.

"Your best batsman should bat the most number of overs in limited-overs cricket. So it was very important for Virat Kohli to bat at the top of the order. So maybe, KL Rahul's loss of form has been a blessing in disguise because this has given us an opening combination to look forward to," Gavaskar told India Today.

"Like when Sachin Tendulkar was batting down the order in ODIs and then he was sent up to open the batting and what a transformation it had not just on his batting but the whole team. So clearly, your best batsman has to bat as many overs as they can," he further said.

While the partnership was finally broken in the ninth over when Rohit fell to Ben Stokes, Kohli stuck around and ended the game unbeaten on 80 off 52 balls as India scored a mammoth 224/2. Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 17 balls) and Hardik Pandya (39 off 17 balls) scored quick runs around Kohli.

"I would persist with this opening formula. Look at the way they fed off each other. You could see the interaction between the two of them, whenever each of them got the big shot going," said Gavaskar.

"When that happens, when two leaders of the team show the way, it becomes easier for the guys coming down the order. With Suryakumar Yadav, in India colours and playing those cameos, it's really good," Gavaskar added.

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Unchanged England bowl first; T Natarajan replaces KL Rahul

2021-03-20T20:20:00.001+05:30

England have won the toss and chosen to bowl first in the fifth and deciding T20I against India in Ahmedabad. The visitors are unchanged while the hosts have dropped opener KL Rahul for fast bowler T Natarajan, with Virat Kohli saying he would open the batting instead.

Kohli said the change was prompted by a desire to "bring in a good balance with bat and ball". In Rahul's absence - he has made 1, 0, 0, and 14 this series - Kohli will open with Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, who impressed with a half-century in his maiden batting innings on Thursday, at No. 3. Ishan Kishan, who missed the last match with a groin problem, remains on the sidelines.

Kohli admitted he would have opted to chase also, had he won the toss. The fourth match was the only one so far this series won by the team batting first.

For both sides, a crucial element of their preparations for the T20 World Cup, to be held in India in October, all come down to this, a must-win match between the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked teams in the world and England were particularly vocal in welcoming the challenge of breaking a 2-2 series deadlock ahead of the global showcase.

Either way, a proud unbeaten series record will be broken for someone in this match, with England having won seven and drawn one of their last eight T20I series, going back to their last tour of India in 2018, while the hosts have won six and drawn one of their last seven T20I series since Australia's victory in February 2019.

The pitch will be the same one used for the second match of the series, won by India last Saturday when Kishan and Kohli made light work of the 165 target. Paul Collingwood, England's assistant coach, said on match eve that water had been added to the surface and the cracks had sealed back up. He didn't expect it to be as slow and low as it was when batting first in that match.

India:: 1 Virat Kohli (capt), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Rishabh Pant (wk), 5 Shreyas Iyer, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Washington Sundar 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Rahul Chahar, 11 T Natarajan.

England: 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Eoin Morgan (capt), 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark Wood.

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