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Yuvraj dedicates match-winning knock to Tendulkar

October 11, 2013

Yuvraj_match-winningRajkot, Oct 11: He should have been on cloud nine after smashing a match-winning unbeaten 77 against Australia in the one-off T20 International in his comeback match, but Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh said he had mixed feelings as it came on the day Sachin Tendulkar retires from Test cricket.

An emotional Yuvraj, who guided India to a six-wicket win over Australia here, dedicated his unbeaten innings to Tendulkar who yesterday announced that he would quit Test cricket after playing his 200th match against the West Indies next month.

"Well I don't know if I am happy or sad. Happy that I hit the ball and sad day that Sachin is retiring. But really happy the way I hit the ball and how I continued to play well since the India A and West Indies A series," Yuvraj said at the post-match press conference.

"Definitely, I would like to dedicate it to Sachin and hopefully, maybe tell him on the phone as well. That is the least I can do, dedicate this knock to him. I will also like to dedicate this knock to my mother who prayed a lot for my comeback. Everyday she has been praying for me," he said.

The 31-year-old batsman, who last played an international match in January, was recalled to the national team after a string of fine performances for India A against West Indies A and a solid display for India Blue in the NKP Salve Challenger Series.

"Yuvi is back my friend," he told the media.

Yuvraj said it was an emotional moment for the country when an iconic cricketer like Tendulkar retires and added that he did not want to see him leave the game.

"I don't think I am going to let him go away. I am going to catch hold of his feet and not (let him) leave the dressing room. It has been amazing to play with him for so many years. One of the greatest players to have played the game. I don't know what to say," he said, adding that the team did not discuss Tendulkar's retirement in the dressing room.

"There are so many things to say about Sachin, probably the best Indian cricketer ever played. Just the milestone as not only as a cricketer but just as a man, who is an ambassador of cricket around the world. So it is going to be an emotional time for the whole of India," Yuvraj said.

"Sachin will always be very special to me. I am sure I will have the opportunity to play with him, I don't know if I will (be selected) but if I am not playing, I will definitely come and watch (his last match)," he added.

Yuvraj, who survived a germ cell cancer, said that people should respect Tendulkar's decision.

"It is upto him when he wanted to retire. A player of his stature should decide when he wants to leave. I would want him to play for 10 more years with us. It is his decision and we need to respect that. It will be an emotional time for India when he plays his last match," he said.

Describing the qualities he likes about Tendulkar, the flamboyant left-hand batsman said that it would be tough to see the champion batsman go.

"He is a very down-to-earth person. He never showed he is the great Sachin Tendulkar.

He was always trying to reach out to youngsters although we were a bit reluctant to go out to him. Personally he has always guided me on and off the field about things in my life, specially the World Cup journey. So it has been very special playing with him. I can't really express it in words. It is tough for me to see him go."

He said it would be next to impossible for anybody to fill in the shoes of the 40-year-old retiring batsman.

"The way he hits the ball, the way he is always still. The best batsman I have seen in my career, technique-wise. How he has been smart all these years to know what bowlers are going to bowl to him.

He always been one or two steps ahead, and that is why he been consistent for so many years. To have such consistency over so many years is really tough for any batsman. He is just something amazing. He has been a God's gift to India. It is going to be difficult for anybody to replace him as the next Tendulkar," he said.

Yuvraj rated his comeback knock as special and said, "Definitely it is special. I have come back after a few months. I have worked quite hard in the off season and I have worked on the mental aspect of my game," he said.

"Just happy the way I hit the ball. I have been playing well in the domestic season. I had a tough off season, shed a few kilos, so I am happy the way I am hitting the ball," he added.

On the unbeaten 102-run stand he had with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj said, "We have had a lot of partnerships in the past. And we have always discussed which bowlers to go after. If I get out then, one person is attacking and one person is trying to rotate the strike. We have a very good understanding between us for last couple of years. So talking to him always helps."

He said he hoped to continue his form in the seven-match ODI series starting October 13 in Pune.

"I hope to continue the good form. Play according to the situation and try to make India win again. Australia is ranked number two in ODIs. They have a very good side.

It is going to be a good series so I hope to contribute with my batting, bowling and fielding. It is going to be a tough series and hopefully we can play good tough cricket, sensible cricket and win the series," he said.

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News Network
July 18,2020

Johannesburg, Jul 18: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Saturday mourned the demise of former spinner Ismail 'Baboo' Ebrahim who died in Durban at the age of 73.

"Baboo was one of the outstanding South African spin bowlers of the 1960s and 1970s who would undoubtedly have played as many Test matches for his country as the 48 first-class games to which he was limited," CSA said in a statement.

In those matches, he took 179 wickets at an average of 21.33 with an economy rate of 2.12 including 8 five-wicket hauls and 2 ten-wicket hauls.

The left-arm spinner only had one opportunity on the international stage when he played for a SA Invitation XI against the International Wanderers at Kingsmead in 1976.

"At the age of 29, he was in his prime and took a match-winning 6/66 in the second innings, his victims including international captains, Greg Chappell of Australia and Mike Denness of England. It was a clear indication of what he could have achieved on grounds around the world at the highest level had he been given the opportunity. He was a master of flight and spin and had a good arm ball to back it up," the statement read.

His ability to perform at this level had become apparent much earlier when he went to watch the Australians at practice before their Test match against South Africa in 1970.

He persuaded the Australians to let him bowl to them and made an immediate impression, bowling experienced Test batsman Ian Redpath and impressing the likes of Ian Chappell and Ashley Mallett, the latter being Australia's leading spinner of the 1970s.

He had one season for Radcliffe in the Lancashire Central League when he took 62 wickets at 14.62 apiece.

Baboo finally got his chance to represent his country in Masters events in one of which he dismissed both Sir Vivian Richards and Gordon Greenidge.

"Baboo Ebrahim was one of the countless number of outstanding cricketers who was denied the opportunity to display his talents to the world and live his cricketing dreams," said CSA Acting Chief Executive, Dr Jacques Faul.

"On behalf of the CSA Family I extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and cricketing colleagues," he added. 

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News Network
May 8,2020

New Delhi, May 8: India skipper Virat Kohli believes cricket in empty stadiums is a real possibility in post COVID-19 world and though it is unlikely to have a bearing on the intensity of players, he feels the magic would certainly go missing.

Cricket Boards across the globe are exploring the option of resuming the sport in empty stadiums. There is speculation that fans could be kept away from stadiums in a bid to salvage the T20 World Cup in Australia, which is currently under threat due to the global health crisis.

"It's quite a possible situation, it might happen, I honestly don't know how everyone is going to take that because we all are used to playing in front of so many passionate fans," Kohli said in Star Sports' show 'Cricket Connected'.

"I know it will be played at a very good intensity but that feeling of the crowd connecting with the players and the tension of the game where everyone goes through it in the stadium, those emotions are very difficult to recreate," he added.

Kohli said the many moments which are created because of the passion brought in by fans, would be missing.

"Things will still go on, but I doubt that one will feel that magic happening inside because of the atmosphere that was created.

"We will play sports how it is supposed to be played, but those magical moments will be difficult to come by," he said.

Cricketers such as Ben Stokes, Jason Roy, Jos Buttler and Pat Cummins have backed the idea of playing behind closed doors.

However, legendary Australian Allan Border has said it would defy belief to host a World Cup without spectators.

Another Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and some other cricketers have also expressed similar sentiments.

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Agencies
August 2,2020

New Delhi, Aug 2: Batting great Rahul Dravid has attributed Chennai Super Kings' consistent run in the IPL to skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's instincts, game-smarts and the incredible amount of work that goes behind the scenes.

N Srinivasan, the former BCCI president and head of India Cements, which owns the CSK franchise, agreed that Dhoni is a man of instinct who doesn't believe in attending team meetings and going over data.

Both were speaking at a webinar organised by the Great Lakes Institute of Management.

"If you look at the success CSK has had, they've got really good access to data and they've got really good access to people behind the scenes and they've run cricket teams at the junior level," Dravid said at the webinar according to ESPNcricinfo.

The former India captain added, "They understand talent and they've obviously got a good scouting process in place. But, what they also have is a captain who really understands instincts.

"So, I mean, look, I know Dhoni quite well and I hope he hasn't changed, but I know Dhoni is probably not one to look at reams of data and statistics."

The Super Kings have won the lucrative tournament three times -- one less than Mumbai Indians -- and reached the knockouts in each of the 10 seasons they have been a part of.

Srinivasan also spoke about how Dhoni's instinct and judgement contributed to his team's success at a time when a lot of emphases is placed on data.

"We're awash with data just now. To give you an example, there are bowling coaches and in a T20 game, they play videos of every batsman whom they're going to come against and they see how he got out, what's his strength, what's his weakness etc.

"So, MS Dhoni doesn't attend this, he's a pure instinct man. The bowling coach, (head coach Stephen) Fleming will be there and everybody will be there, everyone is giving opinions, (but) he'll get up and go.

"In the context of instinct, he feels that okay he can assess a batsman or player on the field, that's his judgement. On the other hand, there is so much of data that is available to help a person also analyse. It's a very difficult line to draw (between data and instinct)."

Srinivasan also recalled how Dhoni once refused to take "one outstanding player" suggested by the franchise boss as that could have broken the team's cohesion.

"There was one outstanding player that we suggested to MS, he said: 'no sir, he will spoil the team'. The cohesion within the team is important and see in America, franchise-based sport has been there for such a long time," he said.

"In India, we're just starting and we're new to it. But we at India Cements have had a lot of experience running teams at junior levels."

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