U-19 World Cup: Tendulkar, Dhoni, Kohli proud of Unmukt Chand's Team India

August 27, 2012
tendulkarThe Indian cricket team had reason to celebrate after a resounding innings win against New Zealand in the first Test at Hyderabad, but they didn't forget the feats of the India Under-19 side that had lifted the World Cup a few hours before the senior side wrapped up victory against New Zealand.

MS Dhoni started his post-match speech with a congratulatory message for the Unmukt Chand-led side, while Virat Kohli and R Ashwin were also effusive in their praise. Chand, who hit 111 not out in India's chase, came in for particular praise by both of them.

Kohli, who was the captain of the 2008 India Under-19 side that also won the World Cup, lauded the team for winning against Australia in Australia.


"I would like to congratulate the Under-19 team on doing such a great job by winning the World Cup," said Kohli. "Coming together for so long a period of time and doing so well, especially in Australia, is not easy. Beating Australia in Australia in a World Cup final has never happened before, and hence it is such a great achievement.

"Especially the way they batted while chasing is very encouraging. Unmukt's (Chand) knock is one of the best that we have seen in recent times. All the boys did well."

Kohli revealed that the senior side had followed as much of the final as they could, helped by the rain delay that affected the start of the day's play in the Test match.

"We have been watching the game since the morning and even in the dressing room, we were glued to the television when the match here was delayed due to rain. The entire Indian team enjoyed those moments," said Kohli. "I am happy for the youngsters who have done so well. Just enjoy the moment and take it as it comes. But most importantly, don't let go of all the hard work that you have put in. This win will surely give you a lot of confidence and set you up for greater things in life."


R Ashwin, who was the man of the match for his haul of 12 for 85, said he had been up since 5 am to catch the game.

"We watched the match together, we wanted India to win," said Ashwin. "I woke up at 5 this morning to see what the game was all about. I thought we guys batted really well - Smit Patel, (Baba) Aparajith has been doing really well through the tournament and Unmukt's innings today was out of the world, it was just brilliant. This victory means much more for the Indian team because it has happened in Australia. We didn't have a great season there some time back, so I am very pleased that they have put one across Australia now."

Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut before any of the Under-19 side players were born, was also pleased with the win. "We were watching and following what was going on in the final in our dressing room," said Tendulkar. "I would like to congratulate the team and tell them that you guys made us proud by raising that beautiful trophy."

There was recognition of the team's efforts from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) too, with N Srinivasan, the president, saying each member of the team would be awarded Rs. 20 lakh, with Rs.15 lakh for each member of the support staff.

"Many congratulations to the Indian team for the winning the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup," said Srinivasan in a statement. "We won the 'senior' World Cup last year, and now our boys have triumphed in the junior version of the tournament. This is a great day for Indian cricket. The Board would like to announce a cash prize of Rs. 20 lakhs to each player, and Rs. 15 lakhs to each member of the support staff."

Sanjay Jagdale, the BCCI Secretary, said the team had worked hard and deserved the title in his message of congratulations.

"The Indian cricket team has played some extraordinary cricket in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. The members of the team have worked hard, and deserve the title. Heartiest congratulations to the boys and support staff for winning the World Cup."



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News Network
March 2,2020

Christchurch, Mar 2: India captain Virat Kohli on Monday said the under-fire Rishabh Pant has got a "lot of chances" but the team is not looking to try someone else in the youngster's place just yet as one player can't be singled out in a collective failure.

Pant has been under the scanner for the past one year because of his inconsistent run. His tally of 60 runs across four innings in the 0-2 Test series loss to New Zealand, which concluded here on Monday, has only amplified the debate whether it was prudent to leave out a keeper of Wriddhiman Saha's calibre and back Pant.

"...we have given him (Pant) a lot of chances in the home season as well starting from Australia. Then he was not playing for a bit. In turn he really worked hard on himself," Kohli came to Pant's defence after the series here.

"You need to figure out when is the right time to give someone else a chance. If you push people too early, they can lose confidence," he added.

"...collectively, we didn't perform. I don't believe in singling him out. We take the hit together as a group whether it's the batting group or as a team."

When asked if he believes Pant has taken his place in the side for granted, Kohli made it clear that the culture of this team doesn't encourage anyone to think along those lines.

"I don't see anyone taking his place for granted in this team. That's the culture we have set. People are told to take responsibilities and work hard. Whether it happens or not is a different thing. Then you can have a conversation with the players," he said.

"But no one has come here thinking I am going to play every game or I am indispensable," he added in no uncertain terms.

Kohli, just like head coach Ravi Shastri, made it clear that Pant can make a difference in overseas conditions and he won't like to deviate during future tours.

"The time that he didn't play, he really worked hard on his game. So we thought this is the right time because of his game and the way he plays because he can make a difference lower down the order.

"That was our planning behind it. We can't really fluctuate when it comes to what we planned," he added.

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News Network
April 4,2020

New Delhi, April 4: India skipper Virat Kohli has said that the 2014 Test series against England was the lowest point of his career.

He made the revelation during a candid Instagram Live session with former England batsman Kevin Pietersen.

To date, the 2014 Test series in England remains one of the worst Test series for Kohli as he averaged just 13.40 from 10 ten innings with his highest score being 39.

"I felt like as a batsman, you know you are going to get out in the morning as soon as you wake up. That was the time I felt like that there is no chance I am getting runs. And still to get out of bed and just get dressed for the game and to go out there and go through that, knowing that you will fail, was something that ate me up," Kohli told Pietersen.

However, just four years later, Kohli made a triumphant return to England as he scored a century in the opening Test of the 2018 series and finished as the highest run-getter in the series.

Kohli told Pietersen that the performance in 2014 came because he was just thinking about his own batting.

"2014 series happened, for all the younger guys listening, because I was too focused on doing well from a personal point of view. I wanted to get runs. I could never think of what does the team want me to do in this situation," Kohli said.

"I just got too engulfed with England tour - if I perform here, Test cricket, in my mind I am going to feel established and all that crap on the outside, which is not important at all," he added.
During the chat, Kohli talked about his favourite format in cricket and he also revealed the main reason for turning into a vegan.

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News Network
June 9,2020

Jun 9: Former West Indies skipper Darren Sammy has released a video, alleging racism within the SunRisers Hyderabad camp. Last week, Sammy had lost his cool after learning the meaning of the word "Kalu", which he alleged was directed at him during his Indian Premier League (IPL) stint with the SunRisers Hyderabad. The T20 World Cup-winning Windies skipper had said that he along with Sri Lanka player Thisara Perera were sometimes called that word when they played for SunRisers Hyderabad. However, Sammy did not specify as to who directed these slurs at him, but now the player has released a video, saying he will message all those who called him that word.

"I have played all over the world and I have been loved by many people, I have embraced all dressing rooms where I have played, so I was listening to Hasan Minhaj as to how some of the people in his culture describe black people," Sammy said in a video posted on his Instagram account.

"This does not apply to all people, so after I found out a meaning of a certain word, I had said I was angry on finding out the meaning and it was degrading, instantly I remembered when I played for SunRisers Hyderabad, I was being called exactly the same word which is degrading to us black people," he added.

Sammy said that at the time when he was being called with the word, he didn''t know the meaning, and his team-mates used to laugh every time after calling him by that name.

"I will be messaging those people, you guys know who you are, I must admit at that time when I was being called as that word I thought the word meant strong stallion or whatever it is, I did not know what it meant, every time I was called with that word, there was laughter at that moment, I thought teammates are laughing so it must be something funny," Sammy said.

"Now, I realise it was degrading, I will be texting you guys and I will ask you as to when you called me with that name, did you all mean it in any bad way or form? I have had great memories in all my dressing rooms, so all those who used to you call me with that word, think about it, let's have a conversation, if it was in a bad way then I would be really disappointed," he added.

The former Windies skipper has been a vocal supporter of the protests that are currently going on in the United States over the death of an African-American man named George Floyd.

Sammy had also made an appeal to the ICC and other cricket boards to support the fight against social injustice and racism.

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