For Virat Kohli, loyalty is paramount in relationships and that is why he believes that his bond with childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma and his IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore is forever. "In relationships, I always look at loyalty. From 1998, I had only one coach (Rajkumar Sharma) and that's never going to change. I have played for one franchise in the IPL (RCB) and that's also never going to change," Kohli said at the launch of a new book on him 'Driven' written by veteran journalist Vijay Lokapally. Sitting alongside legends like Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag and Anil Kumble, Kohli revealed that even now when he is at the height of his popularity as an international cricketer, one person he is scared of is his coach Sharma.
The doping menace in India's Olympic sport has always left the establishment embarrassed and the BCCI in a marked departure has set up an anti-doping helpline so that its domestic cricketers (men and women) are aware of the medicines and supplements they are consuming.
Besides Kohli, who led India to a historic Test series triumph in Sri Lanka recently, the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma, Gautam Gambhir and Ashish Nehra were also named among the probables.
Gujarat Titans pride themselves on consistency and will be expected to produce a solid show against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL match in Ahmedabad on Monday after a rare "flat" performance against Mumbai Indians.
The Royals can take solace from the fact that they emerged victorious earlier in the season against GT.
The likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan and Suryakumar Yadav will look to impress the selectors when the Vijay Hazare Trophy -- the domestic one-day competition -- kicks off on Saturday.
Dhawan anchored the innings beautifully, adapted his strategy according to the situation and made sure that he saw his team through the finish line at the end.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report of 2016 has revealed that one Indian cricketer has tested positive for banned substances among the 153 BCCI accreditated cricketers.
It will be a test of wits between Pandya brothers Hardik and Krunal when defending champions Gujarat Titans clash with Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL match in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Delhi Capitals will need their under-performing Indian batters to deliver when they take on the mighty and versatile Gujarat Titans in the IPL match in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
'In modern cricket, many batsmen play innovative strokes which I think are not enough to score runs in T20 format.'
Gujarat Lions' all-rounder Dwayne Bravo said his team has lacked in adapting to different conditions which has led to the current downward spiral.
Indian cricket team vice-captain Virat Kohli said doping in sport is simply not acceptable and called for the harshest possible punishment for those who bring disrepute to the game.
Defending champions Gujarat Titans will be eyeing a hat-trick of victories, while Kolkata Knight Riders, fresh from their decimation of Royal Challengers Bangalore, will be keen to show that win was not a flash in the pan when the two sides clash in the IPL in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
The 32-year-old Test specialist featured in only one of the seven games that Delhi Capitals have played so far, finishing his four overs wicketless for 26 runs, against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Abu Dhabi.
In Agartala, the Group A match between Mumbai and Tripura ended in a draw with the reigning champions earning three points by virtue of the first-innings lead.
Playing IPL 2023's last league stage match, Royal Challengers Bangalore would know what exactly is required of them to qualify for the play-offs, when they face table-toppers Gujarat Titans in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Veteran opener Gautam Gambhir and young Mayank Agarwal helped themselves to half centuries before torrential rain played spoilsport in the Duleep Trophy match between India 'Blue' and India 'Red' in Greater Noida on Monday. Only 34.2 overs of play was possible which saw 'Blue' team skipper Gambhir (51 batting) and Agarwal (53 batting) put on 105 runs for the opening wicket. The two openers were solid without being flashy as they maintained a decent run-rate of just over 3 runs per over.
Mumbai Indians will look to address their poor death over bowling when they take on a resurgent Gujarat Titans.
Titans look to forget Rinku Singh's onslaught against Punjab Kings
Gujarat Titans, the team to beat in its debut IPL season, will aim to build on a dream start against an inconsistent Sunrisers Hyderabad, in Navi Mumbai, on Monday.
It will be a battle between Liam Livingstone and Lockie Ferguson.
Known for his six-hitting prowess, Hardik this season will have to take more responsibility with the bat and also bat higher up the order.
Veteran batsman Gautam Gambhir is all set to be released by the Indian team management as the Delhi and District Cricket Association's selection committee has named him in the 16-member Delhi squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Rajasthan.
The mountain of runs that he has plundered so far in first-class cricket has ensured that the focus will be firmly on Delhi youngster Rishabh Pant as India 'A' take on the visiting England XI, in the second and final warm-up match in Mumbai, on Thursday.
The 11th edition of the Indian Premier League will commence, on Saturday, April 7 and will end on 27th May
Uttar Pradesh comfortably beat Delhi by 46 runs to reach Hazare semi-final.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bangalore
GT (10 points from seven matches) have been a well-oiled unit and looks set for a successive play-off berth, sitting behind leaders Rajasthan Royals on net run-rate with a match in hand.
A look at the 10 cricketers who were punished for drug related offences.
History is on Hardik Pandya's side, which has won all three games against the Royals so far, and that would certainly play on the minds of the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan outfit at the Narendra Modi stadium.
We have given Ishant an additional responsibility and he is enjoying it, says Delhi head coach ahead of new season
Delhi Capitals are looking like an outfit that is bereft of a Plan B as it became apparent in their 50-run thrashing at the hands of Lucknow Super Giants.
Ishant is on course to become only the second Indian fast bowler, after the great Kapil Dev, to complete 100 Tests for the country.
GT, on the other hand, are the side to beat in this IPL. Even if they lose on Thursday, the Hardik Pandya-led side will finish at the top, which means it will get two chances to reach the final.
After their emphatic victory against LSG, Mumbai Indians would be fancying their chances against defending champions Gujarat Titans in Friday's Qualifier 2 match.
The teams which don't make long-term promises that are difficult to fulfil but focus on immediate process and know the roles of players required for slots.
BCCI's interim President Jagmohan Dalmiya has promised that there will be no cover-up in the probe into the alleged conflict of interests issue over Mahendra Singh Dhoni holding stakes in a sports management firm that manages him and several other Indian cricketers.
Former champions Mumbai Indians will have their task cut out when they host Gujarat Titans, who remain unbeaten on the road.
