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India lose to NZ, but Yuvraj makes successful return

September 12, 2012
Yuvi_Came_back

Chennai, September 12: India faltered towards the end of their chase to lose the second and final Twenty20 International against New Zealand by a run here Tuesday. The match, however, saw a successful comeback for Yuvraj Singh.


India failed to come up with finishing touches after sitting pretty at 129 for three and needing 39 off the last 30 balls.


It seemed skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (22 not out) and comeback man Yuvraj Singh (34) would take India past New Zealand’s 167 for five but the Black Caps bowled brilliantly in the death overs to pull off a stunning victory.


The hosts ended at 166 for four as Virat Kohli’s spectacular 70-run knock went in vain. Brendon McCullum was the top-scorer for New Zealand with a whirlwind 91 off 55 balls.


Medium pacers Kyle Mills (2-17) and James Franklin (2-26) contained the flow of runs when it mattered most with the latter denying the home team a win in the final over. The hosts needed 13 off the last six balls and a four of the last one but Rohit Sharma (4 not out) could only come up with a couple, sending a stunned silence over the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.


The win also ensured a series win for the visitors after the Hyderabad wash out and something to cheer about going into T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka starting next week. India, on the other hand, are yet to beat the Kiwis in the shortest format of the game.


The silver lining for India was Kohli’s sublime form and Yuvraj’s show with bat and ball. Irfan Pathan (3-31) too impressed, swinging his way to a three-wicket haul.


But Kohli and Pathan’e efforts were expectedly overshadowed by the return of Yuvraj, who got an overwhelming reception from the boisterous Chennai crowd every time he moved on the field.


The southpaw, playing his first international game in nine months after overcoming a rare germ cell cancer, dispelled all speculations on his fitness.


He showed glimpses of his old self during his 26-ball stay at the wicket, ending in the last over of the match after being bowled by a slower one off Franklin.


He came at the crease after Suresh Raina’s dismissal made it 86 for two in the 11th over, and India needing another 82 for the win. The stadium erupted when he guided one off his hips for single to get off the mark.


The highlight of his innings was the two sixes he hit off Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram. The one against Vettori was his trademark lift over long-on while he cleared his left leg to smash Oram over deep mid-wicket.


During the New Zealand innings, McCullum took Indian bowlers to the cleaners and helped his team set an imposing total.He got good support from Kane Williamson (28) and skipper Ross Taylor (25 not out).


McCullum and Williamson were involved in a blazing 90-run stand after the Black Caps lost opener Rob Nicol and Martin Guptill inside the first two overs.


Williamson was a spectator to some powerful-hitting by McCullum for most of the 66-ball partnership.


The dangerous wicket-keeper batsman smashed 11 boundaries and three sixes before Pathan bowled him with a slower ball.


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News Network
January 10,2020

Karachi, Jan 10: Former Pakistan batsman and current U-19 head coach Ejaz Ahmed feels that his side can beat defending champions and arch-rivals India in the forthcoming ICC Youth World Cup beginning in South Africa on January 17.

"India has a very good cricket system and it is organized but I know that we have more passion than them when we play against each other and that is how we also beat them in the semi-finals of the recent Asian Emerging Nations Cup," Ejaz said.

Ejaz, who has played 60 Test and 250 ODIs, was head coach of the Pakistan Emerging side which beat India before eventually winning the title in Bangladesh last year.

"Even in the past, we beat India because of our greater passion and this time also I know the passion of our players will prevail over them although they have a very strong outfit," he added.

The 51-year-old Ejaz, however, said at the end of the day it would be all about how a team plays on that particular day.

"It is the same in the World Cup it does not matter which team is number one or defending champions what will matter is how a team plays on a given day. I personally feel our team is well balanced," he said.

Ejaz did not believe that India would get advantage of having played a four-nation tournament with South Africa, New Zealand and Zimbabwe in South Africa before the World Cup.

"Our players have also trained hard in Lahore and we have played around 11 matches. We will also reach South Africa nine days before the World Cup and we have some practice games and I think our preparations are also very good for the tournament," he said.

The former batsman also said the absence of fast bowler Naseem Shah will not impact much on the team's performance. Naseem was withdrawn from the Pakistan U-19 squad after he played for the senior team in three Test matches against Australia and Sri Lanka.

"Look there was no controversy at all. The way we now see things is that you can't expect a MBA to go and take BA exams. That is how we look at Naseem Shah, he has made the grade for Pakistan and now he should be performing for the senior team," said the head coach.

"We have a couple of exciting young talent in the ranks. I expect Rohail and Haider to play for the senior team in two to three year's time, they are that good."

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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
May 21,2020

Mumbai, May 21: Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has chosen legendary Sachin Tendulkar over current skipper Virat Kohli as a better batsman in the ODI format, considering the changed rules of the game and the Mumbaikar's longevity of career.

Tendulkar, who retired in 2013, played 463 ODIs and amassed 18, 426 runs with 49 hundreds at an average of 44.83.

Kohli, on the other hand, has played 248 ODIs and scored 11, 867 runs with 43 tons at an average of 59.33.

"Sachin Tendulkar, because probably with one white ball and four fielders inside the circle, not five fielders outside, it will be Sachin Tendulkar for me," Gambhir said on Star Sports show 'Cricket Connected'.

Nowadays, a one-day innings is played with two white balls and with three powerplays.

In the first power play (overs 1-10), two fielders are allowed beyond the 30-yard circle, while in the second powerplay (overs 10-40) four fielders are allowed. In the last powerplay (overs 40-50), five fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle.

Gambhir, who was the star performer in 2011 ODI World Cup final which India won, feels that the change in rules has helped batsmen.

"It's difficult because Virat Kohli has done phenomenally well but I think the rules have changed as well, which has helped a lot of new batters," elaborated Gambhir, who played 58 Tests and 147 ODIs.

"The new generation, with 2 new balls, no reverse swing, nothing for the finger spin, five fielders inside for the 50 overs, probably that makes batting much easier.

He said he would also go with Tendulkar, considering his longevity and flow of the ODI cricket format at that time.

"Probably I’ll go with Sachin Tendulkar if we see the longevity and flow of the one-day cricket format.

"Look at how Sachin Tendulkar has played, different rules, that time 230 to 240, was a winning total," Gambhir signed off. 

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