Cricket

West Indies tour of India 2022

Former India skipper Virat Kohli’s form in recent times has been a little worrying but in the second T20I match against West Indies, Kohli played a terrific innings of 52 runs off 41 balls. His innings was comprised of 7 boundaries and 1 six. Later, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant scored 52 (not out) runs to help their side in reaching a solid total of 186 runs losing five wickets in 20 overs. Eventually, Indian team registered a victory by 8 runs.&nbsp;While talking about Virat Kohi’s superb knock, former Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar said that Kohli’s batting in the second T20I match against West Indies “showed purpose.’&nbsp;Gavaskar speaks“We have seen Virat Kohli all this while and he is the same. Yes, he played some of those delicate shots - the cut and guide shots - which we normally don't see because he prefers to play in the 'V' and shots which are along the ground most of the time. So to see him play those aerial shots was refreshing because it shows there is a different purpose now. We talk about intent, but his batting showed purpose and that was not to get the bowler get on top because of the early wicket of Ishan Kishan," Gavaskar said while talking to the host braodcaster.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Even Rohit said it that Kohli took the pressure off him. Rohit wasn't in his usual flow today in the match. So you need one man to take the pressure off the other. Also there is running between the wickets. More than anything else with Kohli is that he has got the instinct for a run where a run should be, and instinct that there should be minimum dot balls in an innings,” the 72-year-old former Indian batsman added.&nbsp;Unsuccessful run-chaseIn reply, West Indies team made the game an exciting affair as they reached a total of 178 runs losing 3 wickets but eventually the visitors had to suffer another defeat.&nbsp;Indian bowlers- Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravi Bishnoi picked up a wicket each.The third and final T20I match of the series is scheduled to be played on February 20 (Sunday), in Kolkata.&nbsp;

west-indies-tour-of-india-6-feb-2022

'To see him play those aerial shots was refreshing,' Sunil Gavaskar analyses Virat Kohli's innings against West Indies in 2nd T20I

The Rohit Sharma-led India head on in the final T20I with an intent to pile another whitewash on the hapless West Indies. The third T20 match will be played at Eden Gardens on Sunday (February 20). With series already in the bag, India will take the liberty to experiment in the last lap.&nbsp;Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, who were the heroes of India's second T20 8-run victory against Caribbeans, have been given a 10-day break, which will pave the way for Venkatesh Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the playing XI.&nbsp;In Rohit's reign, the Men in Blue clinched their third successive series. Meanwhile, with the T20 World Cup scheduled in less than eight months time in Australia, Indian skipper would look to experiment with new options, starting with finding a reserve opener.Sans KL Rahul, the young gun Ishan Kishan has failed to impress at the top of the order and his place could be given to the talented Gaikwad, who has been warming the bench until now.&nbsp;Playing the series just after he became the most expensive buy of the IPL 2022 mega auction -- Ishan was bought back by Mumbai Indians for a staggering Rs 15.25 crore -- the Jharkhand left-hander has struggled to get going.After his anxious 42-ball 35 in the first match, Ishan could manage just two runs from 10 balls in the second game.It remains to be seen if Rohit gives one more chance to his Mumbai Indians teammate or bring in Gaikwad.&nbsp;New-look middle-order With the Sri Lanka T20I series up next, it may not be a bad idea to give Ishan a longer run.In the middle-order, Shreyas will replace Kohli, who has been given a much-needed break ahead of his landmark 100th Test.The former India captain will miss the T20I series against Sri Lanka and return for the Tests against the islanders.Shreyas, who was the third biggest buy at the IPL auction but could not fit into India's T20 combination for the first two matches against the West Indies, will be the obvious choice.Recently appointed as Kolkata Knight Riders skipper, Shreyas had played a match-winning knock during the ODI in Ahmedabad, and he would look to grab the opportunity of playing at the Eden Gardens -- his new "home ground".&nbsp;Hooda, Avesh, Siraj waiting in the pipeline Deepak Hooda also impressed after making his debut in the preceding ODI series and it remains to be seen if the big-hitting all-rounder is tried out in the T20Is.In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, India have so far fielded the pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel.Both Bhuvneshwar and Patel have so far delivered the goods, especially in the second match when the former bowled a game-changing penultimate over before the rookie seamer defended 25 runs in the final over to secure a series-clinching win.It remains to be seen whether Rohit would look to alter his bowling combination by bringing in Mohammed Siraj. The uncapped Avesh Khan, too, gives him an option.Khan recently became the most expensive uncapped Indian player in the history of the IPL auction after being picked by Lucknow Supergiants for 10 crore.The pacer has been in good form in the last 12 months, bagging 14 wickets in 16 matches at an impressive economy rate of 7.37 in IPL 2021.&nbsp;In pursuit of their first win of the tour Fresh from their thrilling 3-2 victory at home over England, the Windies are yet to win a match in the ongoing tour of India, having lost the preceding ODI series 0-3.&nbsp;In their favourite format, the Kieron Pollard-led side has failed to impress in the first match but, on Friday, the duo of Rovman Powell and Nicholas Pooran threatened to chase down India's 187 with explosive half-centuries.Wicketkeeper-batter Pooran has been in imperious form, scoring a second successive half-century, and off-spinning all-rounder Roston Chase too has been impressive.&nbsp;India's squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav and Harpreet Brar.&nbsp;West Indies' squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Kyle Mayers, Hayden Walsh Jr.

IND vs WI: India eye back to back series whitewash in 3rd T20I against WI; Virat, Pant's absence makes way for Venkatesh & Ruturaj

India's former skipper Virat Kohli hit back at his critics with a fiery 52 off 41 in the second T20 match against West Indies on Friday (February 18). The 32-year-old highly touted batter, gave glimpses of his top notch batting and he was quite happy with his intent while playing shots during India's competitive total of 186 at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata.&nbsp;Kohli's exceptional knock had seven fours and a six and a welcome return to form after a dry spell of four games.&nbsp;"I had decided to stay positive but then we lost a few (Rohit Sharma, Surya Kumar Yadav) wickets. I still wanted to keep going but unfortunately I got out ," Kohli said.&nbsp;"I was happy with my intent that I wanted to play my shots. Sometimes when you play with responsibility over a period of time, you tend to ask (yourself) if you want to play the big shots early. You don't want to be reckless but at the same time you want to play your shots. That is the balance you strive for," the former India captain added.Kohli praised Rishabh Pant's quickfire half-century and his stand of 76 in just 5.5 overs with Venkatesh Iyer."Today, I was happy with that balance. The wicket was gripping in the middle so if we are smart with the ball, we have got got enough. Special mention for Rishabh and Venky's performance in the end. They have got us those 10 extra runs," Kohli said.&nbsp;&nbsp;India ended up posting 186/5 in the stipulated 20 overs, thanks to the 76-run stand between the duo of Venkatesh Iyer and Rishabh Pant for the fifth wicket. When asked if the total on the board is enough, the former captain seemed optimistic. &nbsp;Chasing their 100th T20I win, India, early on, were guided by Kohli who took charge of the proceedings after Roston Chase exposed the Indian middle order.&nbsp;Kohli hit his 30th fifty in the shortest format, his first since the 57 versus Pakistan in the T20 World Cup on October 24 last year.The former captain's sheer elegance was on full display as he cut, pulled and also took the aerial route en route to his 41-ball 52 that had seven fours and one six.&nbsp;Luck also favoured Kohli on the day as the former skipper brought up his 30th T20I fifty with a slog over long-on after Jason Holder failed to get hold of the catch as the ball went over the boundary.&nbsp;But Kohli failed to make it big and was cleaned up by Chase two balls later after the Windies off-spinner breached his gate for his third wicket.

I was happy with my intent while playing shots: Kohli after fiery 52 in 2nd T20 vs WI

Former India skipper Virat Kohli and team India’s newly-appointed skipper of white-ball cricket Rohit Sharma were heard getting involved in an interesting conversation during the first T20I match between India and West Indies, played on February 16 (Wednesday), in Kolkata.&nbsp;&nbsp;The incident took place during the 8th over of the match, when West Indies batter Roston Chase was on strike and India’s debutant bowler Ravi Bishnoi was bowling. The interesting conversation between Kohli and Rohit took place after the penultimate delivery of the over was bowled.&nbsp;&nbsp;What happenedBishnoi’s googly went down the leg side and immediately a noise was heard before it was successfully grabbed by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Indian players appealed straightaway but the on-field umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal did not give out rather he signaled a wide.&nbsp;And this decision baffled the Indian team and Kohli was heard telling Rohit, “Main bol raha hu, tu review le (I’m saying it, you go ahead for the review).”&nbsp;Indian team did have two reviews left at that point and skipper Rohit opted for a review but the umpires had also decided to ask for a review to check for a stumping chance. But the replays suggested that the ball had deflected off the pads actually. The Indian team did not lose the review eventually as the umpires had asked for referral before skipper Rohit showed the review signal.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chase survivesChase did survive the scare at that point but very soon he was dismissed by Bishnoi. In the 11th over of the match, Bishnoi’s googly confused Chase and he missed the ball totally as the ball went on to hit his pads. Umpire did not give him out initially on this occasion but a successful review taken by skipper Rohit saw the umpire overturn his original decision. Chase had to depart after scoring 4 runs off 10 balls.&nbsp;&nbsp;The hosts ultimately managed to reach a formidable total of 157 runs losing 7 wickets in 20 overs.&nbsp;India’s debutant bowler Bishnoi picked up two wickets conceding 17 runs in four overs. He was also given the Man of the Match award for his terrific bowling display.&nbsp;In reply, Indian team reached the target with seven balls remaining and losing four wickets.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli involved in an interesting conversation as stump-mic catches their chat

The 21-year-old Ravi Bishnoi made his debut on Wednesday (February 16) in the first T20 match between India and West Indies being played at the Eden Gardens stadium.Defying all the odds to materialise his dream to represent India, Bishnoi has come a long way.&nbsp;He was born in Jodhpur to government school headmaster Mangilal Bishnoi and housewife Sohni Devi, Bishnoi’s love for cricket came from his mother, who is an avid cricket fan.&nbsp;Bishnoi, who started off as a medium pacer while playing tennis ball cricket at the RTO ground in Jodhpur’s BJS Colony, was first noticed by coaches Shah Rukh Khan Pathan and Pradyot Singh, who went on to become his mentors. It was only after the advice from his mentors that Bishnoi learnt leg-spin bowling and gradually started bowling googlies. In 2015, the two mentors along with the young cricketers set-up the Spartan Cricket Academy, but that was a major challenge.Lack of funds meant that they were unable to afford labourers to build the academy, so from setting up the pitches to building the turf, the coaches and the cricketers did everything by themselves and Bishnoi was one of them.&nbsp;Bishnoi had his fair share of struggles in his early years with lack of opportunities but he finally made his debut for Rajasthan in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy in 2019 and he impressed with 14 wickets in List A (8 wickets from six matches) and T20s (6 wickets from six matches) combined. He made his senior team List A and T20s debut in the same year and was then called up for the U-19 Indian team.&nbsp;And then came the big moment, following a bidding war between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) in December 2019, Bishnoi was finally bought by the Punjab franchise for Rs 2 crore.&nbsp;Bishnoi had taken four wickets in as many games for Rajasthan in the 2018-19 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while scalping seven wickets from five games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Bishnoi also registered best figures of 3/49 during the tournament.Bishnoi carried that confidence in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020, where India finished runners-up after losing to Bangladesh.He ended as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps from just six matches, with best bowling figures of 4/5.&nbsp;In the two seasons in IPL (2020 and 2021), Bishnoi has impressed everyone. He was KXIP's second-highest wicket-taker in the 2020 edition with 12 wickets from 14 matches at 31.33 and an economy rate of 7.37. He scalped 12 wickets from 9 matches in the 2021 season and finished as the third-highest wicket-taker for Punjab Kings at an impressive average of 19.16 and economy rate of 6.38.Ahead of IPL 2022, Ravi Bishnoi was recently acquired by the new franchise Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 4 crore, with the other two signings being KL Rahul (Rs 17 crore) and Marcus Stoinis (Rs 9.2 crore).&nbsp;After the IPL 2022 auction, while giving an interview to Sports Tak, Ravi had said that that his dream was to become a cricketer since childhood. For this, he could not study much and at one time he had also prepared a cricket field by working as a laborer. He also added that there was no such special infrastructure regarding cricket in our Jodhpur due to which he had to face a lot of difficulties in practicing. They were short of money to build a cricket academy in Jodhpur, so together they all worked as a labourer for 6 months and prepared a cricket field which paved the way for Bishnoi's future.

From temporary labourer to India debut, Ravi Bishnoi is a real diamond in the rough

Rohit Sharma-led India started off with an easy win in the first T20I of the three-T20I series against West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. India finished off the run chase with seven balls to spare but skipper Rohit wants India to be more clinical in their approach and feels “should have finished that off a little early”.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Should have finished that off a little early, wanted to be clinical. Happy with the win and we can take a lot of confidence from this game. Restricting them to that score was a great effort from the bowlers. With the bat we were not clinical and it's something we can learn from,” Rohit said in a post-match presentation.&nbsp;Chasing a total of 158, Rohit was destructive at the top as he did not let West Indies bowlers get early wickets. Rohit scored a quickfire 40 off just 19 deliveries. However, India struggled in the middle overs as Ishan Kishan struggled to get going. In addition, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant could not see India through and lost their wickets. In the end, Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer finished off the run chase without breaking a sweat.&nbsp;While Venkatesh finally proved himself in the middle-order by finishing the run chase in the penultimate over, newly-appointed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper was on the sidelines. Rohit talked about leaving Shreyas out as well after the game.&nbsp;“Someone like Shreyas Iyer is sitting out, very hard on him not making it to playing eleven, but we needed someone to bowl in the middle which is why we couldn't get him in. It's always nice with that kind of competition going around and a lot of the guys are missing out as well. I'm happy to have that kind of challenges rather than not having players available and not in form. We were very clear with Shreyas and we told him we want that option going into the World Cup. Guys do understand what the team wants and all these guys are professionals and they do understand that team comes first,” the 34-year-old explained.&nbsp;On the other hand, Rohit was all praises for Ravi Bishnoi. The young leg-spinner became third Indian spinner to win ‘player of the match’ award on T20I debut with his 2/17.&nbsp;“Bishnoi is a very talented guy which is why we drafted him into the squad straightaway. We see something different in him. He's got lot of variations and skill-set with him. He can bowl at any stage and it gives us a lot of options to rotate the other bowlers. Very happy with his first game for India and he's got a bright future and it's just about us now on how we use him,” the limited-overs skipper said.

‘Should have finished that off a little early’: Rohit Sharma wants India to be more clinical in run chases

Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the three-T20I series against West Indies which is scheduled to start from February 16 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.&nbsp;According to report, a Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) official revealed that he has suffered Grade 1 hamstring injury.&nbsp;The spin all-rounder is expected to report at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bangalore on February 15 and will spend three weeks there to get back in shape.&nbsp;So far, no replacement has been named by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).&nbsp;The Chennai-born cricketer recently returned to India's limited-overs squad after recovering from injury. He proved his fitness in domestic matches. He was named in India's ODI squad for South Africa as well. However, he tested positive for Covid-19 before boarding the flight and had to stay back in India.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sundar made an impactful return to international cricket as he picked up four wickets from three games including a three-wicket haul. With the bat, he contributed with cameos of 24 and 33 in the series against the Caribbean.&nbsp;In Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction, Sundar was picked for Rs 8.75 crore by Kane Williamson-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) after an intense bidding war with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC).

Washington Sundar ruled out of West Indies T20I series, to spend 3 weeks at NCA

India blanked Caribbeans in the three-match ODI series in Ahmedabad. The caravan now moves to Kolkata from the west for the three-match T20 series and West Indies will hope that the change of direction and the change of format bring the change of fortunes for them. The Board of Control of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a power-packed T20 squad with Rohit Sharma marshalling the troops as the series will kick off from Wednesday (February 16).&nbsp;A few players who were not given games in the ODI series might be given a crack in the shortest format. Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel could come into the mix as India look to test their bench strength in the lead-up to the World Cup.Rohit would be looking to sort out issues such as the opening blues, the middle-lower order conundrum and also the bowling strategies.&nbsp;And he will have a happy headache of plenty while trying to firm up the squad.&nbsp;Opening gambit First up would be the opening combination and who would be ideal to partner the skipper in the shortest format with his regular KL Rahul out with a left hamstring strain.&nbsp;Ishan opened in the first match of their preceding three-match ODI series against the Caribbean team in Ahmedabad but the skipper also tried out Rishabh Pant and Shikhar Dhawan. While Ishan may be the preferred choice, Rohit also has options in Maharashtra run machine Ruturaj Gaikwad who has been in red hot form but has only been warming the bench.&nbsp;Then there is Venkatesh Iyer, the KKR all-rounder who shot to prominence in the UAE leg of the last IPL as a big-hitting opener with 320 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 125. He was just behind Gaikwad who had more runs (407) in this period.It will also be interesting if Virat Kohli comes out to open with Rohit to get among runs as he's been dealing with a lean patch. His last International century came at this very venue way back in November 2019 in the pink ball day/night Test against Bangladesh. Middle-order Muddle India have a packed white ball calendar in the run up to their T20I World Cup opener against Pakistan on October 23.So, it would not be a bad ploy for the think tank to give some much deserved rest to the dashing Pant as Ishan seems to be a confirmed selection in the side.This will help Rohit try out both Shreyas Iyer and Surkyakumar Yadav in the same XI. The duo was in fine form in the recently-concluded ODI series.&nbsp;Suryakumar was the top scorer in the ODI series with 104 runs at an average of 52.00, while Iyer scored a match-winning 80 in their 3-0 series sweeping win in the third ODI.India also have some exciting options lower down the order with the likes of Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Harshal Patel.Patel impressed with a fine cameo of 11-ball 18 to prop up India's total to a match-winning 184/7 from 140/6 in his only outing in the series against New Zealand just after the World Cup. Ravi Bishnoi's chance to dance Fresh from a stupendous comeback series in the ODIs, Yuzvendra Chahal will be India's regular spin option but it remains to be seen if exciting Rajasthan leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi gets a maiden call up. He was rewarded after an impressive run in the IPL and domestic circuit to be selected for the series. With Washington Sundar ruled out of the series with a hamstring injury, it remains to be seen if the youngster from Jodhpur will get his maiden International cap. Caribbeans eye rebound Unlike their flop show in the ODI series, the Kieron Pollard-led West Indies would look to give a strong fight to the hosts in their favourite T20 format. Boasting of T20 specialists, the Windies came here after beating England 3-2 at home in a thrilling five-match series. They bat deep and with some aggressive hitters, the West Indies will hope to give India a tough fight.Jason Holder has been in fine form for them and took four wickets in four balls in the final ODI against England to return with career-best figures of 5/27. With some exciting all-round options in Odean Smith and Akeal Hosein, Pollard's men would look to make it count at a venue where they won the T20 World Cup in 2016.Talking about the dew factor, with the chill in the air, dew can be a concern for both the teams at the Eden Gardens.&nbsp;India's T20 squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav and Harpreet Brar.&nbsp;West Indies T20 squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Kyle Mayers, Hayden Walsh Jr.

With bigger goal of T20 WC, Rohit & Co. ready to blitz WI in T20I series post ODI triumph

India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to&nbsp;bat first against West Indies in the third and final ODI of the series, in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan had previously missed the first two ODI matches of the series after he was tested positive for the Covid-19 virus and now the experienced southpaw is back in the squad. Apart from Dhawan, three other changes were made to the squad as well. Shreyas Iyer, Kuldeep Yadav and Deepak Chahar were included in the squad for the third ODI.&nbsp;&nbsp;Indian team under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma had already won the first two ODIs of the series and clinched the three-match ODI series comfortably.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;First ODIIn the first match of the series, West Indies had batted first and registered a total of 176 runs in 43.5 overs. Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal had picked up four wickets to decimate the opposition batting lineup. Washington Sundar, on the other hand gave Chahal a good support as he bagged three crucial wickets in the match.&nbsp;&nbsp;In reply, Indian team lost four wickets and reached the target with 132 balls remaining. Skipper Rohit Sharma gave a good start to the run chase after he scored 60 runs off 51 balls. Ishan Kishan who opened the innings in absence of the regular opening batters, also played a formidable knock of 28 runs off 36 deliveries.&nbsp;Later, Suryakumar Yadav (34 runs off 36 balls) and debutant Deeopak Hooda (26 runs off 32 balls) showed terrific batting skills to earn victory for the hosts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Two back-to-back victoriesIn the second match of the series, India had batted first and set a target of 238 runs. Suryakumar Yadav maintained his terrific form as he played a superb innings (64 runs off 83 balls) to help India in reaching a defendable total. Earlier, KL Rahul who had opened the innings missed a half century by a single run.&nbsp;&nbsp;In reply, India’s Prasidh Krishna produced an amazing bowling display and claimed four wickets conceding just 12 runs 9 overs, to restrict the visitors within a total of 193 runs in 46 overs. Along with, Krishna, all-rounder Shardul Thakur scalped two crucial wickets to earn a 44-run victory in the second ODI match of the series.&nbsp;&nbsp;India Playing XI:&nbsp;Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant(w), Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna&nbsp;West Indies Playing XI:&nbsp;Shai Hope(w), Brandon King, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Nicholas Pooran(c), Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Odean Smith, Alzarri Joseph, Hayden Walsh, Kemar Roach

IND vs WI Playing XI: Four big changes in Indian team as Shikhar Dhawan comes back

Virat Kohli has not been able to score a century in international cricket for a long while now. Despite the century drought, Kohli had been contributing well in the ODI format with a half-century in every other game. However, things changed in the ODI series against West Indies as he managed to score just 26 runs in three games. This is the second-lowest number of runs Kohli has scored in a bilateral ODI series with three or more games.&nbsp;The lowest tally of runs off Kohli's bat in a bilateral ODI series came against Pakistan in 2012/13 series. He scored just 13 runs from three innings. He had a bad patch in 2013/14 series in South Africa conditions as well, where he scored 31 runs from two innings. The last time he scored less than 50 runs in an ODI series was in Bangladesh in 2015.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 33-year-old got out for a two-ball duck in the third ODI. It was an unlucky dismissal for the former skipper against Alzarri Joseph as he edged one to the wicketkeeper Shai Hope while playing down the leg side. It was Kohli’s 15th duck in ODI cricket. In home conditions, it was his eighth duck. The Delhi-born batter joined former Indian cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina on the list with joint-most ducks on home soil.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is also his second duck in five ODIs. The last time he got out for a duck was against South Africa when he lost his wicket to Keshav Maharaj playing a loose shot. He scored two half-centuries against the Proteas too but managed scores of 8 and 18 in the first two ODIs against West Indies. This was also his first ODI series under the leadership of permanent limited-overs skipper Rohit Sharma.&nbsp;The last time Kohli played against West Indies in an ODI series, he scored 89 runs from three innings including an 85-run knock in December 2019. Before that, he scored two centuries on West Indies tour. While his last international century came against Bangladesh in the pink-ball Test in November 2019, his last ODI century was against West Indies in August 2019.

Virat Kohli equals Raina, Harbhajan's joint-record in India despite getting out for a two-ball duck

India’s ODI vice-captain KL Rahul and all-rounder Axar Patel have been ruled out of the upcoming three-T20I series against West Indies. Rahul has sustained an upper left hamstring strain during fielding in the second ODI on February 9, 2022 whereas Patel has resumed the final stage of his rehabilitation after his recovery from Covid-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;The duo will now go to National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for further assistance.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Rahul and Patel's absence, the All-India Senior Selection Committee has named opener Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Deepak Hooda as their replacements in the T20I squad.&nbsp;The three-T20I series will take place in Eden Gardens, Kolkata from February 16 to February 20.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gaikwad did not get a single game in the ODI series as he was in isolation after testing positive for the virus.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting sensation recovered from the virus just ahead of the third ODI and did not get to make his debut in the 50-over format.&nbsp;On the other hand, Hooda has had a decent debut series. The all-rounder contributed with cameos in the first two ODIs and was rested for the dead rubber. He also contributed with his off-spin by delivering a wicket in the second ODI to help India taken an unassailable lead.&nbsp;The T20I series will also mark former Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s first T20I game since India’s early exit from T20 World Cup 2021 in United Arab Emirates (UAE).&nbsp;&nbsp;India’s updated T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda

KL Rahul, Axar Patel ruled out of T20I series against West Indies, replacements from ODI team named

Rohit Sharma-led India will look to register their first series win of the year with a victory in second ODI against West Indies at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The selectors will have a good headache as they sort out the team combination for the second ODI with KL Rahul returning to the side.&nbsp;Rahul played as an opener in the South Africa ODI series in the absence of Rohit Sharma. Also, Shikhar Dhawan has recovered from Covid-19 and if he returns to the playing XI, Rahul is bound to be pushed down the order. If Rahul bats in middle-order, Rishabh Pant will not bat at no.4. Also, it will mean that Deepak Hooda who made his ODI debut in previous game will not be a part of the XI.&nbsp;This also makes Shreyas Iyer's return to the ODI side unlikely. Iyer did not impress in the middle-order against the Proteas with mediocre performances.&nbsp;If Rahul and Dhawan return to the squad, Ishan Kishan will also be warming the bench. Kishan shared an 84-run opening partnership with Rohit Sharma in the run chase.&nbsp;It will be another landmark for former Indian skipper Virat Kohli. It will be Kohli's 100th ODI on home soil. Kohli will join the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni on the list. It will also be another chance for the 33-year-old to end the drought of centuries. The no.3 batter played an unusual knock in the first ODI as he got out after scoring eight runs from four balls.&nbsp;&nbsp;The good news for India going into the second ODI is that the new skipper Rohit's return to the field was a fruitful one. Rohit scored a half-century in the run chase and did not seem troubled by the Caribbean bowlers.&nbsp;Also, the Indian spinners were able to get crucial wickets in the middle overs. Yuzvendra Chahal took lessons from his ordinary performances in South Africa and incorporated more variations in his bowling. Returning to the team after injury, Washington Sundar was mighty impressive too with his off-spin in powerplay overs and later in the innings.&nbsp;&nbsp;West Indies will have a point to prove after their batting lineup surrendered to Indian spinners. Pollard may not look to make too many changes to the batting order. However, there is a chance that all-rounder Jason Holder may get promoted up the order after a half-century in the first ODI. In the bowling department, Alzarri Joseph was impressive as he took two wickets in a single over. Kemar Roach looked out of touch but is expected to get another chance.&nbsp;India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna, Shahrukh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul &nbsp;West Indies Squad: Shai Hope(wk), Brandon King, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard(c), Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Fabian Allen, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Nkrumah Bonner, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh

IND vs WI 2nd ODI Preview: KL Rahul's batting position under spotlight in Virat Kohli's 100th ODI at home

Former India skipper Virat Kohli managed to reach a century on Wednesday (February 9) against West Indies during the second ODI of the series in Ahmedabad, after he became the fifth Indian player to make 100 ODI appearances on Indian soil. Overall, he became the 36th player to achieve this remarkable feat.&nbsp;&nbsp;In his 99 ODIs in India, Kohli registered a total of 5002 runs in 96 innings and at an average of 59.64 and he also finds himself at the top spot in the list of most runs at home after 99 ODIs. In these ODIs, he has notched 19 centuries and 25 half centuries.&nbsp;&nbsp;Surpassing othersIn this elite list, former Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar finds himself at the second spot, with 4231 runs under his belt. In 99 matches the Master Blaster scored 13 centuries.&nbsp;&nbsp;After Sachin, former Australia batter Dean Jones occupies the third spot with 3746 runs and 4 centuries.&nbsp;Apart from Sachin and Virat only one more Indian player finds his name in the list and that player is former India skipper MS Dhoni.&nbsp;The World Cup-winning former captain is at sixth spot in the list. The former wicketkeeper-batsman scored 3592 runs and bagged 6 centuries in 99 ODIs on home soil. &nbsp;&nbsp;Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting is positioned at eight spot in the list with 3497 runs and 6 centuries. &nbsp;&nbsp;Apart from these cricketers, former New Zealand player Ross Taylor, Bangladesh wicketkeeper Tamim Iqbal, former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis and West Indies all-rounder Chris Gayle are also in the list.&nbsp;&nbsp;Numbers and statsDelhi-born, Kohli has the most number of centuries among them all as he secured 19 centuries after playing 99 ODI matches.&nbsp;&nbsp;Till now, only five Indian cricketers have been able to play 100 or more ODIs on Indian soil. Apart from Kohli, Sachin and Dhoni, former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin (113) and former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh (108) are also in this prestigious list.&nbsp;The first ODI match of the series against West Indies did not go too well for Kohli as he could manage to score just 8 runs off 4 balls.&nbsp;But Indian team under the leadership had a perfect start in the series after he managed to defeat the visitors by six wickets.&nbsp;

IND vs WI: Virat Kohli plays his 100th ODI on home soil, surpasses Sachin, Ponting, Gayle

India's newly recruited full time skipper Rohit Sharma, after his his half-century knock against West Indies in the first ODI, mustered some valuable points to close in on his predecessor Virat Kohli in the latest ICC men's ODI batting rankings. The two are placed no.3 and no.2 respectively.&nbsp;The 34-year-old Rohit now has 807 rating points against Kohli's 828. He marked his return to the India team with a half-century as the hosts cruised to a six-wicket victory over Caribbeans in the first one-day international of their three-match series. Chasing 177 for the win in Ahmedabad, skipper Rohit led the way with 60 from just 51 balls which included 10 fours and one six as India romped home with 22 overs to spare. He set the early tone for India as they cantered home after the West Indies were eventually bundled out for 176, having been 76-7 at one point, with Yuzvendra Chahal claiming his 100th ODI wicket while returning figures of 4-49. Meanwhile, leaving everyone behind Pakistan captain Babar Azam continued his dominance in the ODI rankings and held the top spot with 873 rating points. His compatriot Fakhar Zaman and England batter Joe Root broke into the top 10. South Africa's Quinton de Kock is fourth with 783 points.&nbsp;Meanwhile, West Indies' Shai Hope, who scored eight runs in the first ODI against India, lost out on valuable points and slipped out of the top 10. While quite a few positions shifted in the batting rankings, there was no movement in the top 10 of the bowlers. India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah remained unchanged on seventh.&nbsp;In the all-rounders’ list, Ravindra Jadeja was placed eighth, while West Indies’ Jason Holder, following his half-century in the first ODI in Ahmedabad, went up four places to get into the top 20. With a major leap, Oman's Jatinder Singh, who made a ton in the first match of the UAE series, part of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2, took a jump of 26 places to storm into top 100 of the batting rankings. The 32-year-old from the India origin is the second-highest run-scorer in the League 2 tournament with 594 runs in a total of 23 matches that he has played.

Rohit Sharma draws near to predecessor Virat Kohli in ICC Men's ODI rankings

Prasidh Krishna repaid selectors’ faith with a four-wicket haul to help Rohit Sharma-led India take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-ODI series on Wednesday (February 9). India won the second ODI by a big margin of 44 runs as once again West Indies batting line-up failed to bat through the 50 overs. Chasing 237/9, the visitors were dismissed for 193 with four overs left in the innings.&nbsp;&nbsp;Prasidh pesters CaribbeanThe lanky fast bowler broke the opening partnership with the wicket of Brandon King who was looking dangerous, having scored 20 runs off 18 deliveries. Krishna surprised Caribbean batters with pace and bounce and induced outside edges. Darren Bravo was the second to fall as he got caught behind as well, surprised by the bounce and the ball shaping away from him.&nbsp;&nbsp;Middle-order lets visitors downYuzvendra Chahal was brought into the attack and Rohit Sharma was spot on with field positions. Opener Shai Hope tried to hit Chahal for a maximum but found Suryakumar Yadav in the deep. Rohit brought back Prasidh after his four-over spell with the new ball. Nicholas Pooran edged it to Indian skipper at the first slip as West Indies dug a deeper hole for themselves. Another bowling change surprised everyone as Shardul Thakur replaced Krishna after the latter had taken Pooran’s wicket. The tactic worked though as Thakur got the wicket of half-centurion of first ODI, Jason Holder.&nbsp;Some hope in middle oversShamarh Brooks and Akeal Hosein went into damage control as they knocked the ball around for singles and picked up an odd four or six. As Washington Sundar looked off-colour in his first spell, part-timer Deepak Hooda was asked to bowl and he delivered straight away. Brooks tried to target Hooda and got caught in the deep. He scored 44 runs from 62 deliveries including a couple of fours and as many sixes. Even after 117/6, West Indies had hope with Fabian Allen walking in. But the pressure of required run rate became too much to handle for Allen as he got out to Mohammed Siraj. Hosein followed him back to the pavilion in the next over as he became Thakur’s second victim.&nbsp;Odean’s mini-attack in vainWith West Indies down at 159/8, Odean tried to launch a counter-attack and hit two consecutive sixes off Thakur. Considering the hitting ability of Caribbean tailender, the game was still not over. But, Sundar returned and delivered with the wicket of Odean. He contributed with a 24 off 20. In the next over, Krishna came back into the attack and got rid of Kemar Roach to finish off the proceedings. The tall fast bowler for four wickets for 12 runs in nine overs, the second-best bowling figures by an Indian in ODIs against West Indies.&nbsp;Pant ploy fails as Indian top-order collapsesEarlier, Pooran elected to bowl In Kieron Pollard’s absence due to a niggle. The move worked for West Indies as Indian top order struggled against Caribbean pacers with the new ball. Skipper Rohit Sharma was surprised by extra bounce generated by Roach and was dismissed for five runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was promoted up the order to make way for KL Rahul in the middle order. Pant struggled too and lost his wicket to Odean Smith. The southpaw scored 18 runs from 34 deliveries on his opening debut in international cricket. Playing in his 100th ODI at home, Virat Kohli’s wait for 71st international century continued as he was dismissed for 18 by Odean. India were reduced to 43/3 in 12 overs.&nbsp;Rahul, Yadav save the dayBack in the middle, Rahul shared a match-saving partnership with Suryakumar. Rahul started out slow and tried to steady the ship against Caribbean bowlers who had their tails up after the fall of top order. As he settled, Rahul accelerated in the middle overs against spinners. However, Rahul’s innings came to an unfortunate end as his confusion with Yadav led to him getting run out for 49. He shared a 91-run partnership with Suryakumar. The 31-year-old batter played a sensible inning, almost opposite to his nature. He scored 64 runs off 83 deliveries including five boundaries and got India out of danger.&nbsp;Mediocre finishTowards the end, India kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and failed to get past the 250-run mark. Washington Sundar (24), Deepak Hooda (29) contributed with cameos followed by Yuzvendra Chahal’s crucial unbeaten 11-run knock that helped India post 237/9.&nbsp;

Krishna's 4/12 helps India defend 238, win 11th bilateral ODI series in a row against West Indies

India's skipper Rohit Sharma is in awe of Prasidh Krishna who was the cynosure of all eyes with his match winning performance in his side's 44-run comprehensive win over West Indies in the second ODI match on Wednesday (February 9). While eulogizing Prasidh, Rohit said he has never seen a spell like that in India for a long time now.&nbsp;Rohit's praise came after India gained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against Caribbeans. Prasidh's magnificent 4/12 guided India defend 237 in the second ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;"Obviously winning the series is a good feeling. There were some challenges. The partnership between Rahul and Surya had a lot of maturity. We got to a respectable total in the end. We knew we could fight it out. The entire unit came out and bowled superbly. It is important for these guys to bat under pressure and that is how you will judge their character," Rohit said in the post-match presentation.&nbsp;"We don't mind losing a few games trying out a few things. Because it is important to look at the long-term goals. We will see what works out well for the team combination. I was a little surprised to see no dew. I have never seen a spell like that in India for a long time now. Prasidh bowled with a lot of pace and kept it going. The others complemented him," he added.&nbsp;Rohit also complimented Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul for their instrumental contribution that bolstered India's batting unit when it needed the most. Suryakumar amassed a sedate 64 off 83 and Rahul scored an impressive 49 off 48 but the hosts kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. Subsequently West Indies managed to wrap Indian innings to 237/9 in the allotted fifty overs. For the West Indies, Alzarri Joseph and Odean Smith scalped two wickets each.&nbsp;"Surya had to take his time and understand what the team wants from him. KL also batted superbly as he is consistently up and down in the order. I have been asked to try something different. We wanted to try it one game. Shikhar should be back for the next game," said Rohit.&nbsp;"When you have five bowlers and Deepak being sixth, you always need to keep rotating the bowlers," he further added.&nbsp;India have already won the three match ODI series with one match to spare but will look to settle with no less than a white wash going forward in the third and the last ODI against West Indies which will be played on Friday (February 11).

'Never seen a spell like that': Rohit Sharma is in Prasidh Krishna's awe after ODI series win against WI

Team India are set to face the West Indies cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (February 6), in the first ODI of the three-match series as Rohit Sharma prepares for his first assignment after being named as a permanent captain of the ODI team.&nbsp;Hhere are 10 important takeaways from Rohit's press conference.&nbsp;Test Captaincy&nbsp;Rohit avoided speaking on the Test captaincy but put the ball in the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) court. He vowed to focus on the team's performance.&nbsp;Opener's slotRohit has confirmed that Ishan Kishan will be opening in absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shikhar Dhawan as both the batsmen were tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. The opportunity remains for Kishan to grab it as a backup option.&nbsp;On finisher's roleAccording to the 34-year-old, the opportunity is open for someone to grab the role of the finisher with MS Dhoni no longer serving the team and Hardik Pandya not available. Rohit further suggested that the team need more finishers in the current squad.&nbsp;Message for U-19 India teamRohit feels that the India U-19 team put in a great effort to reach the final, as they take on England in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup. Rohit thinks that the team need better planning in International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments, while a team play multiple nations in a short period of time.&nbsp;On Virat KohliRohit has suggested that Virat Kohli knows what is needed from him and he will be an important part of the team in the West Indies series. Kohli will play his first series under the captaincy of Rohit. It is important to mention that Rohit had missed the South Africa series due to injury.&nbsp;On Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra ChahalIndian team struggled to pick up wickets in the middle overs in the South Africa tour, so Rohit was determined to keep Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in the pipeline. Indian team were unable to put South African batters in trouble in the middle overs, so Chahal and Kuldeep could be two great weapons against West Indies.&nbsp;Change in ODI templateRohit suggested that the team do not need to change much, and suggested that the mindset should not be different from that of KL Rahul.&nbsp;Open to having different approachesRohit urged the Indian team to focus on the performances while also highlighting that he is open to having different approaches according to the need of the situation. He also mentioned that there is a Plan B in team's preparation but vowed to use it only when it is needed.

10 talking points from Rohit Sharma's press conference ahead of the first ODI against West Indies

India's newly recruited white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma will look forward to his first assignment in the three-match ODI series against West Indies in Ahmedabad. He has a chance to make it even bigger as he is on the threshold of scripting a new records by superseding the cricket great Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin.&nbsp;The 'Hitman' will have a chance to become India's second-highest scorer in One Day Internationals against West Indies. Rohit's current tally reads 1523 runs as he is just 51 runs behind Sachin, who stands second behind the table topper Virat Kohli &nbsp;who has garnered 2235 runs in a total of 38 innings that he has played against Caribbeans.&nbsp;The other record that Rohit is after is of former India captain Azharuddin, who is just 179 runs ahead of him. If the 34-year-old manages to go past Azharuddin, he will become India's sixth-highest run-getter in ODIs for India. So far, Rohit has mustered 9205 runs while playing 220 innings and is sitting seventh on the list which is led by the Master Blaster Sachin who amassed a record 18426 runs, Kohli (12285 runs), Sourav Ganguly (11221 runs), Dravid (10768 runs), Dhoni (10599 runs) and Azharuddin (9378 runs).&nbsp;Not just this, with his present tally at 244, Rohit needs just six more sixes to become the first Indian in ODI history to hit 250 sixes. He had previously left behind the legendary MS Dhoni, who still stands behind him with 229 sixes. Overall, Rohit will remain at the fourth position in the all-time list despite the feat, after Shahid Afridi (351), Chris Gayle (331) and Sanath Jayasuriya (270).&nbsp;Meanwhile, Rohit has scored 3 centuries against West Indies so far. If he scores 2 centuries, he will become the second-highest century-scorer against the Windies, leaving behind Sachin Tendulkar (4 centuries). In this case too, Virat Kohli is at the first position. Kohli has scored 9 centuries in ODIs against the Windies.&nbsp;India ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan.&nbsp;West Indies ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Nkrumah Bonner, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh.&nbsp;India T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel.&nbsp;West Indies T20I squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Fabian Allen, Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh.&nbsp;india vs west indies series schedule:February 06 (Sunday): India vs West Indies, 1st ODI - Narendra Modi Stadium, AhmedabadFebruary 09 (Wednesday): India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI - Narendra Modi Stadium, AhmedabadFebruary 11 (Friday): India vs West Indies, 3rd ODI - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad&nbsp;February 16: India vs West Indies, 1st T20I - Eden Gardens, Kolkata February 18: India vs West Indies, 2nd T20I - Eden Gardens, KolkataFebruary 20:India vs West Indies, 3rd T20I - Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Rohit Sharma on verge of surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record in ODI series against West Indies

After all the uncertainty hovering around India vs West Indies ODI series due to the Covid-19 scare in the Indian camp, the ODI series is finally set to kick off at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (February 6). However, the ODI series will be played behind closed doors. The first ODI of the series will also mark India 1000th One Day International match and the man who will be leading the pack will be newly recruited white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma.&nbsp;India and the West Indies will also take this ODI series as their preparations for next year’s World Cup. The hosts will, understandably, be the favourites from the off, but both teams have room for improvement, especially if they hope to dethrone England in 2023.&nbsp;India head into this series after a dispiriting tour of South Africa. After Test successes in Australia and England, they were widely tipped to get the better of the Proteas away from home for the first time, but Dean Elgar’s men battled back from losing the first match to record a memorable series win. They then backed that up by whitewashing India in a three-match ODI series, a result that the Indian team can have few complaints about. They were fairly comprehensively outplayed.&nbsp;The West Indies also recently suffered a significant white-ball reverse, losing a three-match series 2-1 on home turf to Ireland. The Irish do deserve great credit for their efforts, which were enough to catapult them into third place in the World Cup Super League, but it was a poor showing from the West Indies. They did, however, bounce back in their recent T20 series, edging out top-ranked side England 3-2 in a seesawing series that ended with Jason Holder taking four wickets in four balls to win it.&nbsp;India have been struck by a covid-outbreak in their camp with Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan and Ruturaj Gaikwad all testing positive, as well as backup seamer Navdeep Saini. KL Rahul, who captained the side in South Africa will also miss the first game to attend his sister’s wedding. That will likely see Rohit Sharma, in his first match as captain, open the batting alongside Mayank Agarwal, drafted in as a replacement. Virat Kohli will be available, slotting in at his usual spot at number three.&nbsp;Suryakumar Yadav looks likely to bat at four, with keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, in fine form in South Africa, in at five and all-rounder Deepak Hooda, now almost certain to debut, at six. Expect Washington Sundar to come in at seven, with Deepak Chahar likely to keep his place at eight after an impressive showing in India’s defeat in South Africa. Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna may well take the new ball, with Yuzvendra Chahal providing a further spin-bowling option.&nbsp;"There's not much we need to change. On certain occasions, there will be situations where we will need to change our game. Being open to doing different things at different times is a requirement and it is a&nbsp;talk we have had. It's not like I need to come in and change things drastically. I will be giving the players the clarity of what is expected out of them," said Rohit in a pre-match press conference.&nbsp;On further being pressed about the topic, Rohit said that India's win percentage in ODIs is over 70% over the last few years. The numbers, hence, suggest how good the team has been.&nbsp;“Our ODI win percentage has been over 70% if I am not wrong. We have tried to speak to individuals about things that need to be done. It's not like you need to come in and copy other teams. We have a different setup, we play a certain way. I am open to changes in approach and have spoken to the guys about it. But, we can't change too many things,” he added.&nbsp;West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard was clear that more was needed from the batting unit after their loss to Ireland. Shai Hope remains a fine player in this format and should return to the side after being dropped midway through the T20 series against England. There was no place in the squad for his most recent ODI partner Justin Greaves, with Brandon King likely in line to replace him. Keeper Nicholas Pooran will likely keep his spot at three having played his way into form against England.&nbsp;Shamarh Brooks, probably the pick of the West Indian batters against Ireland, will be the next man in. The hard-hitting captain Kieron Pollard, himself not in the best form of his career, will come in at five, with Jason Holder in at six. Fabian Allen and Romario Shepherd may well slot in at seven and eight. Both men can hit a long ball. Odean Smith may also be in line to return to the side, with Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph rounding out the XI.&nbsp;India's Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna/Mohammad Siraj.&nbsp;West Indies' Probable XI: Shai Hope (Wicketkeeper), Nkrumah Bonner/Brandon King, Shamarh Brooks, Darren Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard (Captain), Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd/Hayden Walsh Jr, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach.

Rohit-led-India lock horns with West Indies in glorious 1000th ODI

Indian team are currently playing the first ODI of the three-match series against West Indies, in Ahmedabad. It is important to mention that this is team India’s 1000th ODI match in the cricket history and also this prestigious match marks the start of Rohit Sharma’s stint as the permanent leader of the Indian ODI team. Amidst all these, Indian bowler Yuzvendra Chahal scripted another impressive record. The spinner picked up his 100th ODI wicket after dismissing Nicholas Pooran in the first ODI.&nbsp;Chahal's recordChahal became the second-fastest Indian spinner to claim 100 ODI wickets and the fifth-fastest Indian bowler to achieve this terrific achievement.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kuldeep Yadav remains as the fastest (58 matches) Indian spinner to pick up 100 wickets. Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh was at the second spot in the list as he took 76 matches to scalp his 100th ODI wicket. On Sunday (February 6), Chahal overcame Harbhajan and claimed the second spot as he needed 60 matches to claim his 100th ODI wicket.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chahal was bowling the 20th over of the innings and on the third delivery of the over, Pooran wanted to play a sweep shot but he failed to connect it properly as the ball had hit his pads. Umpire gave not out initially but after a successful review taken by the Indian team, Pooran was given out.&nbsp;Chahal exhibited his brilliant bowling skills in the game as he picked up four wickets conceding 49 runs in 9.5 overs. The Haryana-born spinner dismissed Shamarh Brooks (12 runs off 26 balls), skipper Kieron Pollard (0), Nicholas Pooran (18 runs off 25 balls) and Alzarri Joseph (13 runs off 16 deliveries).&nbsp;&nbsp;Superb bowling displayIndian pacer Washington Sundar supported Chahal nicely by picking up three wickets as Prasidh Krishna bagged two wickets and Mohammed Siraj picked up one wicket.&nbsp;West Indies had a terrible start to their batting after they lost five batsmen within 20 overs, scoring just 71 runs. Later, Jason Holder played a commendable innings and scored a half century (57 runs off 71 balls). Holder’s innings was comprised of 4 sixes and because of his knock, the visitors managed to reach a respectable total of 176 runs in 43.5 overs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Indian team under the leadership of Rohit Sharma would eagerly want to forget the painful 3-0 ODI defeat against South Africa in the last series and win the ODI series against West Indies displaying a sensational form.&nbsp;After the completion of the ODI series, India and West Indies will take on each other in a three-match T20I series, The entire T20I series will take place in Kolkata and will start on February 16.&nbsp;

Chahal surpasses Harbhajan to become 2nd fastest Indian spinner to take century of wickets in ODIs

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An ex-cricketer has backed Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson to open in the next 10 T20Is while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waits for his chance.  

He pointed to Samson’s recent half-century and Abhishek Sharma’s explosive form as reasons to stick with the combination

Sharma has impressed the fans with his form and has justified his place at the top

Ex-cricketer backs Sharma-Samson to open in next 10 T20Is, Sooryavanshi on hold: ‘Drop him and pick…’

Sanju Samson, Abhushek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Ex-cricketer backs Sharma-Samson to open in next 10 T20Is, Sooryavanshi on hold

This Indian spinner has destroyed Essex with an unreal five-wicket haul as Warwickshire goes on top of the County Championship table. 

He  returned figures of 5-75 from 24 overs in Essex’s second innings, helping restrict the hosts to 189

The 24-year-old, who recently made his Test debut for India, has now taken 26 wickets in five Championship matches this season, including two five-wicket hauls

County Cricket

Indian Spinner destroys Essex with unreal 5-wicket haul; Warwickshire tops

Asian Games 2026

India is all set to kick off its Asian Games campaign today in this sport. A look at the full schedule, key players, and more.  

India’s three-member teqball squad also includes Quimcy Dsouza, who will compete in women’s singles and partner Beg in mixed doubles later in the competition

Gonsalves and Beg are regarded as among India’s stronger medal prospects in the discipline

India kicks off Asian Games 2026 campaign TODAY;  full schedule & key players 

Tennis

Former No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam winner Ash Barty is all set for her cricket comeback after 10 years. Here is all you need to know.  

Barty’s last competitive match was in tennis when she won her home-soil major in Australia in 2022

Barty’s earlier cricket chapter came during an 18-month break from tennis after the 2014 US Open

Three-time Grand Slam winner, former No. 1 tennis star Ash Barty to make cricket comeback

Ash Barty

3-time Grand Slam winner, former No. 1 tennis star Barty to return to cricket

Hockey

Hockey India has rejected Pakistan’s neutral venue request for the Asian Champions Trophy. Here is what has been said. 

The Pakistan federation has cited the sensitive bilateral situation between the two countries and concerns over security for its players and officials

Pakistan has maintained it remains ready to compete against all teams, including India, provided matches are held on neutral ground, and stressed its commitment to keeping sport separate from politics

Hockey India rejects Pakistan’s neutral venue request for Asian Champions Trophy