All eyes on Harbhajan Singh as cricketers gather for training camp at Eden Gardens

June 6, 2015

Kolkata, Jun 6: All eyes would be on off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who is making a comeback after two years, as the Indian Test cricketers will assemble at the Eden Gardens for a training camp ahead of their short tour to Bangladesh.

Harbhajan-Singh-001The most successful Indian offspinner, who last played a Test versus Australia in Hyderabad in 2013, has been recalled for the one-off Test in Bangladesh from June 10-14 replacing left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

The Indian Test cricketers led by Virat Kohli flew in batches today as the Test team also would assemble after the series in Australia earlier in January.

With Harbhajan back in fold and India already having the regular offie in Ravichandran Ashwin, it would be interesting to see whether Kohli go for a two off-spinner line-up for the Test at Fatullah in the outskirts of Dhaka.

No seniors were rested for the Test as Kohli, who has been made Test skipper after the retirement of MS Dhoni from the longer format, will be seen at the helm with team director Ravi Shastri who has been retained for the upcoming tour.

Middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who was playing for Yorkshire in the County Championship in England, will also return for the series and look to capitalise on the conditions in Bangladesh.

Local lad Wriddhiman Saha is also set to take over regular duties behind the stumps after Dhoni's retirement, while there was also a call-up for Karn Sharma.

The fitness camp and training was originally scheduled in the morning but because of the high heat it has been postponed to 3.30pm, said a CAB official.

"The cricketers will now have a gym and pool session at the team hotel in the morning," he added.

The team will have another camp at the Eden Gardens on Sunday followed by a pre-departure news conference before the team departure at 7.45 am on Monday.

The city is also scheduled to host the three iconic former cricketers, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, the newly inducted members of the cricket advisory committee which is slated to meet for the first time tomorrow at BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya's residence.

The committee is expected to play a role in finalising the next India coach and also set road map for the team.

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News Network
March 25,2020

New Delhi, Mar 25: Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen appealed to Indian citizens to stay home during the 21-day lockdown, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contain coronavirus.

"Namaste India! I have heard that your situation is like ours, PM Modi has announced a nation-wide lockdown for 21 days. I request you to follow this instruction. We will fight coronavirus together and come out to this situation. Please stay at your home and stay safe, " he tweeted in Hindi.
At the end of the message, Pietersen gave credit to his "Hindi teacher" Shreevats Goswami, who is an Indian domestic cricketer.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the nationwide total lockdown will be in place for three weeks to combat the coronavirus menace.

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News Network
March 27,2020

New Delhi, Mar 27: India skipper Virat Kohli on Friday made a heartfelt appeal to the citizens of the country, asking them to follow social distancing as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus pandemic.
He also went on to say that over the past few days, he has seen some people still taking to the streets, and added that if people still continue to venture out, then they are not being honest with the country.
Kohli released a small video clip on Twitter, making the public appeal and captioned the post as: "Please wake up to the reality and seriousness of the situation and take responsibility. The nation needs our support and honesty"
"Today, I am talking to you as a citizen of the country. Whatever I have seen over the past few days, I have seen people not following the lockdown, it has made me feel that some people are taking the battle against COVID-19 very lightly. I request you all to please follow social distancing, whatever the government is asking you to do, please follow it," Kohli said in the video released on Twitter.
"Think about what can happen to your family members because of your negligence. Our medical experts are fighting this battle day in and day out. If you are still going out to the streets, then I don't think you are being honest to your country," he added.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to impose a 21-day lockdown in the country as a precautionary measure against coronavirus.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases have risen to 724 in India (including 640 active cases, 66 cured or discharged people) and 17 deaths.
The World Health Organisation had termed the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on March 11. 

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Agencies
June 8,2020

New Delhi, Jun 8: Indian pacer S Sreesanth has slammed England all-rounder Ben Stokes for questioning MS Dhoni's intent during a World Cup match, saying that the former captain will end Stokes' career.

Stokes in his book titled 'On Fire' had questioned Dhoni's intent during India's 31-run defeat at the hands of England in the premier tournament last year.

"For Ben Stokes, I will only say that you should pray that Dhoni does not play against you in the future. Dhoni does not forget things easily," Sreesanth said during a Live session on Helo.

"I wish Stokes all the best for whenever he faces Dhoni again, be it IPL or an England vs India match. You must be earning in millions now, Dhoni Bhai will end your career. Dhoni will strike the ball everywhere and he (Stokes) can never dismiss Dhoni. Before he (Stokes) opens his mouth, he should make sure to wear a helmet," he added.

Former West Indies pacer Michael Holding had also come out in support of Dhoni and said that the wicket-keeper batsman wanted to win the match against England.

"Well, people will write anything in books these days, because people are a lot more free with their opinions and when they are writing books, they need to be making headlines at times," Holding had said on his official YouTube channel.

"...It was not the game that India had to win, but I don't think anyone can say that was a team tactic to lose the game. I watched that game and it appeared to me as if India weren't putting up their 100 percent, but I realised it was not the case when the expression on MS Dhoni's face told me that he desperately wanted to win, so I do not think it was a team decision to not try to win," he had added.

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