The batting icon has been busy practising for the last 10 days to get in shape for his brainchild the All Stars Cricket League, to be played in the US next month.
'When you looked at him even at that age, you could make out he was special.'
There was a leadership crisis in the Board of Control for Cricket in India following the passing away of former chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, forcing the wise men in control of the all-powerful sports body to get into a huddle and recall Shashank Manohar to helm the Board yet again, four years after he had finished off his first term.
Commonwealth and Asian Games champion shooter Jitu Rai talks to Harish Kotian about his journey from a farmer in a remote village in Nepal to the Indian army to emerging one of world's best shooters.
'The batsmen need to spend a lot of time at the wicket and wait for the right opportunity to score.' 'The bowlers have to be patient and build the pressure to force the batsmen into making mistakes.'
Former New Zealand captain and Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming offers his take on India's Test debacle in England and suggests remedial measures. Harish Kotian reports.
'He has been in Bollywood movies, he has been in the Olympics three times, he has been all around the world fighting.' 'This is just another fight for Vijender and if you know the guy, he will fight like a champion.'
Former selector Raja Venkat, who was part of the committee which picked the victorious Indian team for the 2011 World Cup, says the current selectors are not doing things the right way.
'I will put in my hundred percent in the Olympics,' promises Apurvi Chandela who took to shooting after watching Abhinav Bindra win gold in the Beijing Olympics.
Harish Kotian/Rediff.com picks five performances that took spectators' breaths away in week 9: Five wonderful knocks and one magical spell of bowling.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag offers a straight bat on the best batsmen in contemporary cricket, IPL team Kings XI Punjab, of which he is mentor, and why he is comfortable doing cricket commentary. Harish Kotian/Rediff.com listens in.
Harish Kotian/Rediff.com comes up with a pretty strong playing eleven from the long list of big names warming the benches this IPL season.
'When I was playing, the BCCI used to appoint the coach.' 'That was not the captain's prerogative, but now things have changed.'
West Indies captain Darren Sammy believes that starting as underdogs against favourites India in the Thursday's ICC World T20 semi-final, in Mumbai, could prove to be beneficial for his team, as the hosts will be under a lot of pressure to win at all costs in front of home fans.
How India's players fared in Australia.
Former Sri Lanka spin sensation Muttiah Muralitharan discusses the BCCI's clampdown on suspect bowling actions and his role as bowling coach and mentor of Sunrisers Hyderabad with Harish Kotian/Rediff.com
'He didn't want to be a stagnant cricketer, he always wanted to work hard.'
Opener Faiz Fazal led Rest of India's dominating display with the bat as the visitors chased down a record target of 480 against Mumbai to win the Irani Trophy. Half-centuries from Karun Nair (92), Sudeep Chatterjee (54), Stuart Binny (54) and Sheldon Jackson (59) powered Rest of India to an unlikely-five wicket victory against Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai, on Day 5, at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. Fazal top-scored for the visitors as he scored 127 but Nair fell for 92, the second time he was dismissed in the 90s in the match. Bengal's Chatterjee played a steady innings of 54 before Binny provided the late boost as he smashed 54 from 51 balls. Saurashtra's Jackson carried his team home as he finished unbeaten on 59. For Mumbai, left-arm Iqbal Abdulla claimed five wickets for 154 in 42.4 overs but was still unable to prevent the visitors from chasing down the highest total in the history of the Irani Trophy.
'IPL is huge; I like the money in it.'
Australia's batting sensation Steven Smith tells Harish Kotian switching over from the Test and One-day mode to T20 will not be a problem for him in the upcoming eighth edition of the IPL.
'The West Indies' pace battery was lethal.' 'Watching Gavaskar, Gaekwad, Amarnath and Vengsarkar play against those bowlers I learnt so much.' 'Everybody was getting hit.' 'Someone got hit on the fingers, someone on the chest, someone on the face, but they all showed guts.'
'India has the best bowling attack they have ever had at any World Cup.' 'They have the best fast bowler in the world in Jasprit Bumrah and then they have got Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who looks good, (Mohammed) Shami looks good.'
'When you saw him, you immediately knew that he was something special.'
Triple Olympic gold medal winner and five-time World record holder Stephanie Rice reveals how she plans to get an Olympic medal for India in swimming in 2028.
It is not only Dhoni's batting, but also his regular inputs during a game to bowlers and fielders that should work in the veteran's favour when it comes to the 2019 World Cup.
He has been in and out of the team for some time now but Manoj Tiwary is hopeful that his consistent performances in domestic cricket will help him get a longer rope with the Indian team.
'When you meet Rahul Gandhi, you will know he is definitely the right guy to lead this country.'
As Virender Sehwag called time on his international career, Harbhajan Singh recalls the memories of playing alongside the swashbuckling right-hander, whom he met a long time ago during the Under-16 days and has been good friends since then.
Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar relives Virender Sehwag's magnificent century on his Test debut in 2001 and what made him such a difficult batsman to bowl at.
Harbhajan Singh, who bowled India to memorable victories against the Aussies, looks at the India-Australia series.
'I am confident of my skills more than ever.'
Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha explained what forced the Supreme Court to sack both BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke and the way forward for Indian cricket.
Arsenal legends Ray Parlour and Sol Campbell says while it might be difficult for the Gunners to recreate the unbeaten season of 2003-04 they could certainly challenge for the title in the coming season provided the club signs up a couple of good players this season.
the BJP have offered support to Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, who is contesting for the post of president on behalf of the Pawar-Bal Mahaddalkar group, while the Shiv Sena is firmly behind the 'Cricket First' group, headed by Vijay Patil, son of Congressman D Y Patil.
'Winning even one Ranji Trophy title is a great achievement and to win 10 out of 10 is absolutely amazing.'
'People tell me to forget, but it is something to learn from.' 'A couple of seconds can change your life completely.'
'He is like a pillar and the whole team bats around him.' 'In today's world, everyone likes to play their strokes while Pujara is someone who will tire out the bowlers.' 'If you have one batsman who can play out the new ball or play out a spell from a good bowler, then it helps the whole team, it helps the other batsmen.'
Shreyas Iyer, whose swagger is taking batting to the next level, tells Rediff.com that when he gets the opportunity to don India colours he will make it count.
India skipper Virat Kohli lauds his third spinner, who made most of the little opportunity he got in the third Test against South Africa. Harish Kotian/Rediff.com listens.
'He is the biggest match-winner India has ever produced, not only in India, but in world cricket.' 'He has been a great mentor for many players, including me.'
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