Left-arm spinner Axar Patel on Saturday wreaked havoc recording a career-best List A figures of six for 43 as Gujarat beat Tamil Nadu by 31 runs to set up a title clash with Gautam Gambhir-led Delhi in the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy One-Day tournament.
Opener KL Rahul's career-best 158 has put India in the driver's seat in the second Test against West Indies at Kingston, Jamaica. The visitors reached a comfortable 358 for on day 2 and lead by a convincing 162 runs after leading the series 1-0. Rahul, who scored his third Test century, has equaled former captain Mohammed Azharuddin's record to convert his first three fifties into hundreds.
Former Australian captain Allan Border is extremely critical of senior batsman Shane Watson's inconsistent performance and fears that time might just be running out for the 33-year-old all-rounder, rated as one of the best players of his time.
Australia made a meal of it but successfully chased down 128 for a four-wicket victory and an unassailable 2-0 series lead after dismissing India for 224 on the fourth day of the second Test.
Despite crushing South Africa comprehensively in the recent Test series, Team Director Ravi Shastri feels that the current crop of Indian batsmen need "massive improvement" when it comes to facing spinners on tracks that offer turn.
Seeking to bury any perceived differences with his spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin, India's limited over skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni hailed the off-spinner stating that he has "bailed" the team out on numerous occasions. "As I have said, Ashwin has bailed me out in a lot of situations - whether bowling in first six or in the slog phase. He is a bowler who can come in and do well at any time," Dhoni said, trying to clear the air about under-bowling the Tamil Nadu bowler, right from the start of the World T20. He was answering a question in reference to the premier offie was brought on as late as the 16th over to bowl for the first time and then taken off in the IPL's season-opening game between his new team - Rising Pune Supergiants - and defending champions Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
'Probably because he was aware that this was his 100th ODI. Or probably because, in the first of its knock-out games, his team had produced the sort of all-round display that induces smiles.'
Prem Panicker, a keen follower of the game and one of cricket's finest writers, analysed, debated and dissected the four semi-finalists on the Rediff World Cup Chat on Monday.
Prem Panicker, a keen follower of the game and one of cricket's finest writers, interacted with readers on the Rediff World Cup Chat.
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