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India, Pakistan share honours in U-19 Asia Cup

July 2, 2012
IndvsPK

Consistently scoring big in big matches isn't an easy habit to inculcate. But India under-19 captain Unmukt Chand is fast proving be the one the team looks up to at big moments. Soon after cracking a century in the semifinal against Sri Lanka, the Delhi boy's calculated 121 in the under-19 Asia Cup final against Pakistan almost pulled off the match. The job, though, was only half-finished as the game ended in a thrilling tie on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.

Chasing Pakistan's 282/9, Unmukt shared a 175-run stand with Baba Aparajith (90) for the second wicket to keep India in the hunt. After Aparajith, who dominated the partnership, was dismissed, Unmukt took over and took India closer to the target before falling off the fourth ball of the final over with three wickets and five runs remaining. While it seemed the pair's hard work would be undone, left-arm medium-pacer Rush Kalaria, who had earlier claimed 5/37, slammed a boundary off the next ball to equal scores. But he could only chip the last ball to mid-off to be caught as both teams left with something to celebrate.

Unmukt, thus, maintained his record of not losing in any event he has captained the team in. India had earlier won two quadrangular events in India and Australia under his captaincy.

Unmukt had hit a 94 and a century in the semifinal and the final respectively in the last event the colts played, the quadrangular in Australia in April this year, which shows how he responds to big challenges. A regular opener for his state team Delhi, he came down at three in Australia and then curbed his natural attacking instincts in Kuala Lumpur to bat through the innings because the middle-order was looking shaky. For those who have followed him, a strike rate in the late 70s and early 80s throughout a limited-overs tournament is hard to believe.

Often critcised for his flashy play during the last first class season — in which he failed to convert any of his starts into hundreds — Unmukt has reveled as captain of the junior national team. "I need to play a different role in this team. Being the seniormost player, I had to bat responsibly and let the middle-order play around me. That's why I modified my game," Unmukt told TOI from Kuala Lumpur after the final while adding that the team had taken the tied final in its strides. "It happens. We'd have loved to win because we lost to Pakistan by just one run in the league stage. But it's okay."

With the Under-19 World Cup a little more than a month away, the preparations have lived up to the expectations. "We have matured as a team by being together. We have learnt to adapt to different conditions. All of us have contributed in the wins. All eyes are on the World Cup now. Even in this tournament, Vijay Zol scored a superb century, allrounder Baba (Aparajith) has consistently done well and the bowlers have been great. Kalaria was superb today and the left-arm spin of Vikas Mishra has been amazing," said Unmukt who is now enjoying the leadership role.

"I am loving every bit of it. The team is really supportive. They have been pretty obedient," he said tongue-in-cheek.

Brief scores: Pakistan U-19 282/9 (Sami Aslam 134, R Kalaria 5/37) vs India U-19 282/8 (U Chand 121, B Aparajith 90; Md Nawaz 3/45)



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Agencies
July 28,2020

New Delhi, Jul 28: 'Your character stood out for me than the number of runs you scored," said India skipper Virat Kohli while explaining his decision to give opening Mayank Agarwal a Test debut in the 2018-19 Australia series.

Mayank Agarwal had made his Test debut against Australia in the third Test of the four-match series.

Playing the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Agarwal managed to register a half-century in his very first innings in the longest format.

"I had seen you play for RCB, even then you played international bowlers with conviction and you would take them on. You were performing in first-class matches in a dominating way. That is something always stood out with you, I would say your character stood out for me than the number of runs. I knew you would be fearless without having any baggage," Kohli told Mayank Agarwal in a video posted on the official website of BCCI.

In the longest format of the game, Agarwal has managed to score 974 runs from 11 matches at an average of 57.29 with three centuries as an opening batsman.

The Indian skipper also explained as to what makes him notice in a player and added that it is important that guys in the team look to face new challenges and emerge triumphantly.

"For me, the biggest marker is how a person approaches the game, so for example when you opened and we made Vihari open with you. The first opportunity we presented Vihari to open the batting, he said yes to it and that matters me to the most," Kohli said.

"I opened in my first series for India, I said yes to this opportunity and things worked out fine for me. So, a guy who wants to get into tough situations will come out either holding his head high or learning from his mistakes," he added.

Kohli and Mayank would soon be seen in action for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab respectively in the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting from September 19 in the UAE.

The comparisons between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar keep on growing and many have picked the current Indian skipper to break the records set by Tendulkar.

Tendulkar called time on his career after registering 100 international centuries, while Kohli currently has 70 centuries across all formats.

At present, Kohli is ranked at the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings while he is in the second place in Tests rankings. Kohli has so far played 86 Tests, scoring 7,240 runs with 27 centuries at an average of 53.62.

His knock of 254 against South Africa at Pune in 2019 remains his highest Test score to date. When it comes to ODIs, the current Indian skipper has played 248 matches and has 43 centuries.

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News Network
January 22,2020

New Delhi, Jan 22: The pitches in New Zealand have become a lot more batting-friendly over the years, says iconic former batsman Sachin Tendulkar, insisting that India have the “ammunition” to trouble the sprightly hosts during the upcoming series.

Tendulkar, who has been on a record five New Zealand tours since 1990, feels that from seaming tracks during his early trips years, the tracks became high-scoring hard ones during his last tour back in 2009.

“Of late, the Tests in New Zealand have been high scoring and surfaces have changed,” Tendulkar told PTI during an exclusive interview.

India will play five T20 Internationals, three ODIs and two Tests during the tour starting with the shortest format on January 24.

From 2002, when India played ODIs and Tests on green tops, to 2009, when India won only their second Test series in 32 years, Tendulkar has seen it all in New Zealand.

“I remember when we played in 2009, the Hamilton pitch was different compared to other pitches. Other pitches got harder (Wellington and Napier) but not Hamilton. It remained soft.

“But Napier became hard with passage of time (where Gautam Gambhir scored an epic match-saving 12-hour hundred in 2009). So, from my first tour (in 1990 till 2009), I realised pitches got harder with passage of time,” Tendulkar said.

Tendulkar is confident that the Indian bowling attack, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, has the ammunition to put New Zealand in trouble.

“We have a good bowling attack with quality fast bowlers as well as spinners. I believe we have the ammunition to compete in New Zealand.”

However, in Wellington, Tendulkar wants the team to be well-prepared to counter the breeze factor.

“Wellington, I have played and it makes a huge difference if you are bowling with the wind or against the wind. The batsman needs to be judicious in the choice of which end he wants to attack, it is very important,” he said.

Tendulkar said he would prefer spinners to bowl against the breeze.

“...the seamers bowling against the strong breeze need to be smart. So I would prefer that if there is strong breeze, let the spinner bowl from that end and from the opposite end, the fast bowler bowls with the breeze behind him,” he said.

The maestro is confident that Rohit Sharma's white ball experience will hold him in good stead in the Tests as well, an assignment that has been kept for the last leg of the trip, which begins with five T20 Internationals from January 24.

“The challenge would be to go out and open in different conditions. I think Rohit had opened in New Zealand in ODIs and has been there quite a few times, he knows the conditions well. Eventually, Test cricket is Test cricket,” he said.

“But all depends on surfaces that they provide. If they provide green tops, then it's a challenge.”

There is no Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Deepak Chahar in limited-overs series but Tendulkar is not ready to press the panic button.

“Injuries are part and parcel of the game when you play and push your body to the limits.

“When you play for your country you need to give your best and while you give your best, you can get injured. That's okay,” he concluded.

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Agencies
August 5,2020

New Delhi, Aug 5: Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Harmanpreet Kaur were on Wednesday appointed as the global brand ambassadors of the WTF Sports.

Raina is also joining the brand as a Strategic Partner. WTF Sports, a fantasy sports gaming platform, was today formally launched in India and globally.

The announcement was made through a web conference with prominent cricket host, Vikram Sathaye moderating and hosting the webinar and Vinit Bhatia, Manit Parikh and Yash Kadakia Co-Founders - India and Global, WTF Sports introducing the cricketers as the Global Brand Ambassadors.

Kaur said it was a perfect fit for her and she can use her strategy and experience while playing.
"WTF Sports was the perfect fit with me, I can use strategy and my experience while playing, I've actually learnt to strategize better as I've played along. Additionally, when we were under lockdown and I couldn't really practice, it was fun to come on the platform and feel like I'm still playing," Kaur said in a statement.

On the other hand, Raina said, "It is exciting to be a part of a fantasy sports platform like WTF Sports not just as an ambassador but also as the strategic partner, it is everything that I embody and what I believe in, it's fierce, fun and competitive."

The app currently hosts three major sports, multiple playing modes, and exciting contests, ensuring that sports fans can get more skillful by letting them strategize and use their sports knowledge into rewarding behaviour.

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