Critical of the way Mahendra Singh Dhoni rotated Indian bowlers during the crushing loss to South Africa in the ODI series-decider, former skipper Sunil Gavaskar said the captain was just not flexible enough in his approach.
Ravindra Jadeja has endured constant doubts about his Test credentials but the flamboyant all-rounder is convinced he belongs in the longest format of the game after putting India on the verge of a series victory against Australia on Monday.
former cricketers paid homage to the spin legend, who died on Friday after suffering a cardiac arrest in Lahore.
The plan was to keep Virat Kohli quiet and South Africa's wrecker-in-chief Vernon Philander said his team executed it to perfection during the 72-run win over India in the opening Test in Cape Town.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel insisted that the quality of India's bowlers is "far better" than that of the England cricket team.
With six lbw dismissals cluttering up their scorecard, New Zealand clearly did not put their best foot forward in the first test against India on Saturday. India spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja frequently beat the bats and hit the pads of the New Zealand batsmen, the hosts coming close to equalling the record of seven lbw dismissals in a test innings. "They were trying to play the sweep shot and we knew if an odd ball keeps low or an odd ball spins, there were always changes of an edge or an lbw," Jadeja, whose five-wicket haul included four leg befores, told reporters.
We asked you Dear Readers for your memories, photographs and videos of your meeting with M S Dhoni.
India's seven-pronged bowling unit has five pacers with four quicks, who can regularly hit 140 clicks, and Prasanna wants captain Virat Kohli to play five bowlers in the first Test against South Africa.
'... And give him the confidence and freedom to express himself.'
'It is not just about one skill anymore, so everyone needs to contribute with whatever they can.' 'It certainly puts the opposition on the defensive when you know that all eleven can bat.'
Man of the match Virat Kohli has said that it is the challenge of playing on tough pitches like the one at Eden Gardens brings the best out of him.
With India set to host South Africa and Sri Lanka in Test series later this year, captain, Virat Kohli is sure that it is his bowling unit that will eventually make a difference.
Former captain Sunil Gavaskar on Wednesday called for harsh steps in the setup of the struggling Indian cricket team in Australia, saying some of the players have not learnt from their past mistakes despite making the trip Down Under multiple times. "We have to take harsh step after the series is done. I am not calling for a complete overhaul but there are players who have not learnt from their past mistakes. "There are players who have made 3-4 trips to Australia but they have not learnt from their mistakes. If we are looking at building a team for the 2019 World Cup, we need to blood some youngsters in," a disappointed Gavaskar told NDTV after an unexpected batting collapse pushed India 0-4 down in the five-match series. Gavaskar was more critical of the bowlers who let the team down and said dropping star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for the second game in a row made little sense.
'Rishabh is fine batsman but needs to do improve with gloves'
Seeking custody of bookie Ashwin Agarwal alias Tinku Delhi, arrested earlier by Delhi Police, Mumbai Police's crime branch told the local court that it wanted to find out whether he had links with IPL players other than Ajit Chandila.
New Zealand pace spearheads exploited a tricky Basin Reserve wicket to bowl India out for under 200 twice with Jamieson's height and delivery angle providing plenty of problems.
'The pitch should have enough for the bowlers to be interested on all days of the Test.'
"He will complete this tour as I have now accepted his apology," Rai added.
At Amish Tripathi's book launch, Varun Dhawan spoke about his love for Suppandi.
Indian team's chief coach Anil Kumble on Tuesday said the riveting series win over Australia has proved that the current side is good enough to extend its home dominance to foreign shores as well.
Five persons, including four teenagers, were arrested on Friday for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl for over a month.
Mumbai Indians captain Ricky Ponting ruled out bowling during the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying the grounds in India are too small for him to bowl in match situation.
Virender Sehwag reckons that India now only have around '30 per cent chance' of making a comeback in the three-Test series against South Africa after losing the opening encounter by 72 runs.
Rohit Sharma and Hanuma Vihari will battle for a place in the Indian team for the first Test.
'Since we cannot trust the net bowlers about their exposure to COVID, it would be ideal to go with a large contingent as we can be assured of all the players' safety as they will be in a bio-secure environment.'
Virat Kohli is proud of the fact that no external force has been able to affect his friendship with predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
'No one is going to relax at any stage, we are going to go for a result in the third Test'
England's protracted search for a long-term opening partner for captain Alastair Cook could be over after teenager Haseeb Hameed showed great skill and maturity to score his maiden test fifty on debut against India on Saturday. The 19-year-old Hameed is Cook's 10th partner at the top of the order in the game's longest format since the retirement of Andrew Strauss four years ago.
'Leaner' Mohammad Shami has reaped benefits after drastically improving his fitness levels.
Flamboyant West Indies opener Chris Gayle has attain fitness after recovering from a back injury which kept him away from the last game against Delhi Capitals, said Kings XI Punjab batsman Mayank Agarwal on Saturday.
'We understand that we do have a bowling attack that can bowl the opposition out as much as they're convinced about their attack.'
KXIP have been perennial underachievers and barring two seasons -- 2008 and 2014 -- they have failed to make the playoffs and finished last thrice (2010, 2015 and 2016).
'It's just frustrating; I'd imagine it's frustrating for everyone.'
Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday said that it is not a poor advertisement for cricket if a Test match finishes inside three days and such results are coming more often in recent years since the players nowadays lack patience to survive five days.
India registered a resounding victory in the T20 series-opener against Australia, and following their clinical performance Sunil Gavaskar feels the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side will start as favourites at the upcoming World Twenty20 at home.
'The actual three quicks of India out-bowled the three quicks of Australia. They were outstanding. It's a big, big risk that Australia are taking'
Sachin Tendulkar has backed Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion in India's five-Test series against England, saying the tricky left-arm wristspinner could prove quite a handful against Joe Root and his men.
A big-time bookie Shobhan Mehta, arrested in connection with the Indian Premier League betting scandal, was on Saturday remanded to Mumbai Police custody as investigators said they want to probe his alleged role in spot-fixing and links in Pakistan.
Underlining the significance of reverse swing, India pace spearhead Mohammed Shami has admitted that the unique art is one of his primary weapons in his bowling arsenal and insisted that he constantly strives to execute it to perfection.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances