BY SACNILK

The Indian team management has lodged a complaint after two players - Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj being subjected to racial abuse by spectators during the third Test against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). ## A bunch of crowds passed racial remarks on Bumrah and Siraj during the 3rd and 4th days of play. The play was halted for a few minutes on the fourth day of the third Test after pacer Mohammed Siraj complained of abuse from a section of the crowd, leading to the expulsion of some spectators and an unreserved apology from the host board. ## Taking this matter seriously, the ICC on Sunday sought an action taken report from the host country's cricket board, "The International Cricket Council (ICC) has strongly condemned reported incidents of racism during the ongoing third Test match between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground and have offered Cricket Australia all necessary support in investigating the incidents", the apex body said in a statement. ## Team India captain Virat Kohli has called the incident "unacceptable" and said that this "incident needs to be looked at with absolute urgency and seriousness and strict action against the offenders should set things straight for once". ## The incident needs to be looked at with absolute urgency and seriousness and strict action against the offenders should set things straight for once.— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 10, 2021 ## Reacting to the same, Cricket Australia said in a statement that it has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards discriminatory behavior in all forms following the alleged racial abuse of members of the Indian cricket squad by a section of the crowd at the SCG yesterday. ## Cricket Australia has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards discriminatory behaviour in all forms following the alleged racial abuse of members of the Indian cricket squad by a section of the crowd at the SCG yesterday. Full statement 👇 pic.twitter.com/34RYcfKj8q— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 10, 2021 ## See the reaction by others on the incident -## I personally have heard many things on the field while playing in Australia about Me My religion My colour and much more..This isn’t the first time the crowd is doing this nonsense..How do u stop them ?? #AUSvIND— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 10, 2021 ## I hope the spectators evicted from the SCG today aren't allowed in to a ground at anytime. They tarnish our sport and they tarnish the reputation of their society.— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 10, 2021 ## Unacceptable behaviour there is no place for racism, I hope this is dealt in the most severe way. #AUSvIND— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) January 10, 2021 ## Very unfortunate to see what’s happening at SCG. There is no place for this rubbish. Never understood the need to yell abuse at players on a sporting field.. If you’re not here to watch the game and can’t be respectful, then pls don’t come and spoil the atmosphere. #AUSvIND— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 10, 2021 ## Breaking: I am appalled to say Siraj was called a brown dog today in Sydney. This is what was said today morning to go with all the other abuse. Just throwing the spectators out isn’t enough. We need some real action if we have to stop this. Watch @SportsTodayofc 5@5 for more.— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 10, 2021 ## Disappointing to see that my teammates were subjected to racial abuse repeatedly in Sydney. There is no place for racism in today’s world and it is not acceptable. I hope that strict action is taken against those who misbehaved. #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/pKZA9Y0gfv— Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) January 10, 2021 ## It's not about Australia or India anymore. Cricket as a sport has to come up with a stronger plan to send out the message loud and clear that WE DO NOT tolerate racial abuse, just like the NBA did in 2020.#INDvAUS #Ausvsindia— Ridhima Pathak (@PathakRidhima) January 10, 2021 ## Tum karo toh Sarcasm , aur koi Kare toh Racism .Very unfortunate with what some of the Australian crowd has been doing at the SCG and spoiling the vibes of a good test series. pic.twitter.com/mrDTbX4t7i— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 10, 2021 ## Mohammed Siraj’s father died from a lung condition in November. Siraj missed the funeral to stay on this tour and broke through for a Test debut on Boxing Day. A monumental sacrifice, and it would be so disappointing to have that achievement soured by racism at the SCG. #AUSvIND— Sam Landsberger 🗯 (@SamLandsberger) January 10, 2021 ## Disappointing to see the purest form of the game getting disturbed by racial abuse. It's not at all acceptable. The accused should be banned for life across all stadiums. #AUSvIND— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) January 10, 2021 ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

The International cricket council (ICC), on Monday (December 28), announced the ICC Awards of The Decade in different categories. Team India captain, Virat Kohli won the top honors and begged Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Male Cricketer of The Decade and also won ICC Male ODI Cricketer of The Decade. Virat Kohli has won 9 ICC Awards so far which is the highest for any player in the history of cricket. ## After recieving the honours, the Indian skipper shared a heartwarming note on Twitter to thank ICC for acknowledging his efforts and the people who stood by his side in every thik and thin. He also shared his old tweet which he posted almost a decade ago in which he hoped for a lot of runs going forward. ## "I would like to thank the BCCI for giving me the opportunity to represent my country which has been a great honour for me to do so over all these years", wrote Kohli thanking ICC for the recognition and the people who voted for him for these awards. ## "Sharing this tweet which I put out 10 years ago, which was a hopeful one. I have realised through this journey that if you believe in yourself and sport for the right resons, no dream is too big to achieve. Regardless of the challenges and abstackles, you will keep moving forward with this belief and see your dreams turn into reality. Thank you once again", Virat concluded who scored over 20,000 runs in this decade. ## https://t.co/auzv5pMiqf pic.twitter.com/MWNXEdupZ6— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) December 28, 2020 ## Apart from these two accolades, Virat Kohli also featured in the ICC teams of the decade in all three formats. He also named captain of the Test team of the decade. Beside Kohli, former captain, MS Dhoni won ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for his gesture of calling back England batsman Ian Bell after a bizarre run out in the Nottingham Test in 2011. ## Australia's former captain and current number one Test batsman, Steven Smith won ICC Test Player of The Decade while Afghanistan's mystery spinner, Rashid Khan named ICC T20I Player of The Decade. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Team India captain Virat Kohli won the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Men's Cricketer of the Decade. Virat also bagged the ICC men's ODI Player of the Decade award for his prolific record in the 50-over format.## Virat Kohli was the highest run-getter during the awards period with 20,396 runs across formats. He also scored the highest numbers of centuries (66) and fifties (94) in the decade in all three formats. In ODIs, Virat remains the only player to score over 10,000 runs with 39 hundred and 48 fifties at an average of 61.83. ## "My only intention was to make winning contributions for the team and I just strive to do that in every game. Stats just become the byproduct of what you want to do on the field", Virat Kohli reacts to winning the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Decade award. ## The incredible Virat Kohli wins the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade 🙌🏏 Most runs in the #ICCAwards period: 20,396💯 Most hundreds: 66🙌 Most fifties: 94🅰️ Highest average among players with 70+ innings: 56.97🏆 2011 @cricketworldcup champion pic.twitter.com/lw0wTNlzGi— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020 ## 🇮🇳 VIRAT KOHLI is the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade 👏👏🔝 Only player with 10,000-plus ODI runs in the #ICCAwards period💯 39 centuries, 48 fifties🅰️ 61.83 average✊ 112 catchesA run machine 💥🙌 pic.twitter.com/0l0cDy4TYz— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020 ## Virat Kohli was nominated for the player of the decade award across all three formats, but he could only win one of those. Australia's Steve Smith won the ICC men's Test Player of the Decade award who scored 7040 runs at an average of 65.79 which is the highest among the top 50 batsmen. During this period, Smith also scored 26 centuries and 28 fifties and currently is the number one ranked. ## 🇦🇺 STEVE SMITH is the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Decade 👏👏🏏 7040 Test runs in the #ICCAwards period🅰️ 65.79 average ➜ Highest in top 50💯 26 hundreds, 28 fiftiesUnique, relentless and unbelievably consistent 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UlXvHaFbDz— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020 ## Afghanistan's Rashid Khan returned with the ICC men's T20I Player of the Decade award. He was the highest wicket-taker with 89 wickets during the award period at the phenomenal average of 12.62. ## "I am speechless after this award and happy for the fans. For someone from Afghanistan to get this award, it's a special moment for me", Rashid Khan reacts. ## 🇦🇫 RASHID KHAN is the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade 👏👏☝️ Highest wicket-taker in the #ICCAwards period ➜ 89🅰️ 12.62 average 🤯 💥 Three four-wicket hauls, two five-fors What a story ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Y59Y6nCs98— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020 ## Former India skipper MS Dhoni won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade for his gesture towards England's Ian Bell during the Nottingham Test in 2011. Dhoni called back Ian Bell on the crease after he was given out by the umpire in unusual circumstances.## 🇮🇳 MS DHONI wins the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade 👏👏The former India captain was chosen by fans unanimously for his gesture of calling back England batsman Ian Bell after a bizarre run out in the Nottingham Test in 2011.#ICCAwards | #SpiritOfCricket pic.twitter.com/3eCpyyBXwu— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020 ## Australian all-rounder, Ellyse Perry swept all three ICC Women's Awards of the decade. She won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for ICC Female Cricketer of the decade along with ODI and T20I Cricketer of the decade. During the award period, Perry scored 4349 runs across formats and also took 213 wickets. ## The phenomenal Ellyse Perry wins the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for ICC Female Cricketer of the Decade 🙌🏏 4349 international runs during the #ICCAwards period☝️ 213 wickets🤯 Four-time @T20WorldCup champion🏆 @CricketWorldCup 2013 championA clean sweep for Perry ⭐ pic.twitter.com/yc9GjGBlFS— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020 ## Meanwhile, ICC had announced the men's Test, ODI, and T20I team of the decade and women's ODI and T20I teams, yesterday (December 27). MS Dhoni named the captain of the men's ODI and T20I teams while Virat Kohli named Test captain. Virat Kohli is the only player who featured in all three ICC teams of the decade. ## Know more - ICC Announced The Test, ODI, And T20I Teams Of The Decade## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Sunday, announced the men's and women's team of the decade across all three formats. While the Men's teams dominated by the Indian and England players, Women's team in both ODI and T20I show the most presence of the Australian players. ## Among the Indian woman players, Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami featured in the ODI team. The ODI skipper of team India, Mithali Raj is the leading run-getter in the format with 6888 runs in 209 matches she played at an average of 50.64 with 7 hundred and 53 half-centuries. On the other hand, Jhulan Goswami holds the record of the most wickets in women's ODIs with 225 wickets in 182 matches. ## Australian skipper Meg Lenning has been named the captain of both the ICC Women's ODI and T20I Team of Decade as well. ## ICC Women's ODI Team of The Decade - Alyssa Healy, Suzie Bates, Mithali Raj, Meg Lanning (C), Stafanie Taylor, Sarah Taylor (WK), Ellyse Perry, Dane Van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, Jhulan Goswami, and Anisa Mohammed. ## The ICC Women's ODI Team of the Decade 👊 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🌴 🌴 🇳🇿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/NxiF9dbnt9— ICC (@ICC) December 27, 2020 ## The Women's T20I Team of The Decade features Harmanpreet Kaur and Poonam Yadav as the two Indian players. Harmanpreet is the current skipper of the Indian T20I team. ## ICC T20I Team of The Decade - Alyssa Healy (WK), Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Meg Lanning (C), Harmanpreet Kaur, Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Ellyse Perry, Anya Shrubsole, Megan Schutt, and Poonam Yadav. ## The ICC Women's T20I Team of the Decade 🔥 Plenty of runs and wickets in that side! 👏 #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/mRkVN1SHSf— ICC (@ICC) December 27, 2020 ## Meanwhile, ICC will also announce other award winners in different categories such as Women's Player of the Decade, and Women's ODI Player of the Decade along with Men's players of the decade.## Know More - The Nominees of ICC Awards of The Decade## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Sunday, announced the Test, ODI, and T20 International team of the decade. The Indian players dominate the ICC teams of the decade in T20I and ODI wherein, England players largely dominate the Test team with 4 players featuring in the side. ## Amongst the Indian contingent, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni were included in T20I and ODI team, with Jasprit Bumrah finding a place in the shortest format team. Also, in the Test team, Kohli is joined by off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin. Most importantly, former India skipper MS Dhoni was named as captain in the limited formats while Virat Kohli was named as captain of the Test team.## ICC ODI Team of The Decade - Rohit Sharma, David Warner, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Shakib Al Hasan, MS Dhoni (C, WK), Ben Stokes, Mitchell Stark, Trent Boult, Imran Tahir, and Lasith Malinga. ## The ICC Men's ODI Team of the Decade: 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇧🇩 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇳🇿 🇱🇰 #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/MueFAfS7sK— ICC (@ICC) December 27, 2020 ## ICC T20I Team of The Decade - Rohit Sharma, Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, MS Dhoni (C, WK), Keiron Pollard, Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, and Lasith Malinga.## The ICC Men's T20I Team of the Decade. And what a team it is! ⭐ A whole lot of 6️⃣-hitters in that XI! pic.twitter.com/AyNDlHtV71— ICC (@ICC) December 27, 2020 .## The Test team features 4 England players, along with, two Indian players, two Australian players, one each from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. ## ICC Test Team of The Decade - Alastair Cook, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli (C), Steve Smith, Kumar Sangakkara, Ben Stokes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Dale Steyn, Stuart Broad, and James Anderson. ## Your ICC Men's Test Team of the Decade 🏏 A line-up that could probably bat for a week! 💥 #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/Kds4fMUAEG— ICC (@ICC) December 27, 2020 ## Virat Kohli made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe, in 2010, is the leading run-getter in this format with 2,928 runs in 84 matches he played at a strike-rate of 138.44. The current India skipper made his ODI debut in 2008 and has featured in 251 ODI matches, scoring 12,040 runs, at an impressive average of 59.31. Kohli made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies. Since then, he has gone on to score 7,318 runs from 87 matches.## On the other hand, Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020. He made his T20I debut in 2006, against South Africa. The former India captain scored 1,617 runs, in 98 matches, at a strike rate of 126.13. In the ODI format, Dhoni made his debut in 2004 against Bangladesh. Since then he played in 350 fixtures, scoring 10,773 runs, at a strike rate of 87.56.## Meanwhile, ICC will also announce other award winners in different categories such as Men's player of the decade, Men's ODI Player of the Decade, Men's Test Player of the Decade, Men's T20I Player of the Decade, and more. Virat Kohli is the only player who has been nominated in all the men's categories. ## Know More - The Nominees of ICC Awards of The Decade## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved the 10-teams format from the Indian Premier League 2022. The decision of inclusion of two new teams was taken during the board's 89th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Ahmedabad on Thursday (December 24). ## The decision, agreed in principle, will see the tournament expand into a 10-team event starting from the 2022 season. The IPL Governing Council has been asked to work out the details for the process of inclusion of the two new teams and the structure thereafter.## "Two new teams will be introduced in the 2022 IPL", a Board source told PTI.## In another major development, the Board, in principle, decided to back the ICC's bid for the inclusion of cricket, in the T20 format, in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics "after getting some clarifications from the International Olympic Committee".## Also, it was decided that all first-class players, both men and women, will be suitably compensated even if there are any loss of matches due to the covid-19 pandemic. However, final details on the compensation, which was proposed in the meeting, have to be worked out.## The BCCI plans to get the domestic season underway, after several months' delay, in January with the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 championship.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Former captain and opener Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the Indian team management for having "different rules for different players" citing the example of newcomer T Natarajan and skipper Virat Kohli.## This comes after skipper Virat Kohli returns to India after the first test as he was granted paternity leave by BCCI. However, rules became different for T Natarajan who went to Australia straight from the IPL 2020 in the UAE as a replacement for the injured Varun Chakravarthy.## Natarajan missed the birth of his first child last month as he was playing his part for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the tournament, held in the UAE, and was then asked to board the flight to Australia for the T20Is. He was asked to remain in Australia as a net bowler for the Test team which means he will get to return home and see his daughter for the first time only after the four-match series ends on January 19.## Now, Gavaskar raised this point in his latest column for Sportstar.## "T Natarajan had become a father for the first time even as the IPL playoffs were going on. He was asked to stay on for the (Australia) Test series but not as a part of the team but as a net bowler. Imagine that. A match-winner, albeit in another format, being asked to be a net bowler. He will thus return home only after the series ends in the third week of January and get to see his daughter for the first time then. And there is the captain (Virat Kohli) going back after the first Test for the birth of his first child", Gavaskar wrote.## Also Read - 10 Teams IPL Gets Green Signal From BCCI In Annual General Meeting ## Gavaskar also wrote about ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin that the off-spinner has suffered within the Indian team because of his forthrightness and biased treatment by the team management.## "For far too long Ashwin has suffered not for his bowling ability of which only the churlish will have doubts but for his forthrightness and speaking his mind at meetings where most others just nod even if they don't agree", Gavaskar wrote. ## "Any other country would welcome a bowler who has more than 350 Test wickets and not to forget four-Test match centuries, too. However, if Ashwin doesn't take heaps of wickets in one game he is invariably sidelined for the next one. That does not happen to established batsmen though. Even if they fail in one game they get another chance and another and another but for Ashwin, the rules seem to be different," he added.## India suffered a massive defeat after the team unprecedentedly collapsed on just 36 runs in the second innings of the first test before Australia chased down the target with 8 wickets in hand. Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will lead India in the remaining three Tests in Kohli's absence. The second Test is scheduled in Melbourne from December 26 followed by matches in Sydney and Brisbane. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Team India captain Virat Kohli has described his aggressive nature on the field as a "representation of new India" who forever ready to take up challenges with optimism, as he responded to Greg Chappell's view that he is "the most Australian non-Australian cricketer of all time". ## On the evening of the Pink ball test against Australia, Virat Kohli was asked about his aggressive brand of cricket coupled with a fighting attitude. ## "I would like to say that I have always been myself", Kohli said in a virtual press conference. "The way my personality and character is, I am the representation of new India. For me, that's how I look at it", he asserted. ## "In my mind, it's not (about) being compared to the Australian mindset as such. It's how we have started to stand up as the Indian cricket team and my personality has been like this from day one", Kohli added. ## The new India, according to one of the best batsmen of the modern era, is the one that's not afraid to take up challenges.## "The new India takes up challenges and is filled and is filled with optimism and positivity. We make sure that we are ready for any challenges that come our way".## From the team's point of view, Virat Kohli will only play the first test. He will be returning to India after the Adelaide test as he is expecting his first child with Anushka Sharma. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma has reached Australia for the last two tests after clearing the fitness test at NCA. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Tuesday (December 15), announced the revised schedule for the 2022 Women's ODI World Cup which was earlier scheduled to be played in 2021 but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.## The 8-team 50-over tournament will now begin on March 4 in New Zealand with the opening match to be played between the hosts and Qualifier while the final set to be played on April 3 under lights at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.## Apart from the host New Zealand, Australia, England, South Africa, and India have already qualified for the tournament while the three remaining teams will be decided from the ICC qualifying tournament which is set to take place June 26-10 July 2021 in Sri Lanka. ## The 8-teams will play 31 matches including the final in 6 cities, such as Auckland (Eden Park), Hamilton (Seddon Park), Tauranga (Bay Oval), Wellington (Basin Reserve), Christchurch (Hagley Oval), Dunedin (University Oval). The semifinals will be played at the Hagley Oval and Basin Reserve.## "The ICC has made a long-term commitment to elevating women's cricket as part of our strategy to grow and develop the global game. We are extremely proud of the significant progress we have made in increasing prize money for ICC events over the last few years, with the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand having $NZD 5.5 million dollars available in prize money, an increase of almost 60% on 2017 and more than 1000% compared to 2013", Manu Sawneh, the ICC CEO, said in a statement.## The defending champions, England, will begin their campaign against arch-rivals Australia on March 5 at Seddon Park while the last tournament's finalists, India will kick-off their tournament on Sunday, March 6 against one of the Qualifiers. ## Tournament fixtures by venue: (*denotes day/night)## Bay Oval, Tauranga ## Fri 04 Mar 2022 New Zealand v Qualifier* ## Sun 06 Mar 2022 Qualifier v India* ## Tue 08 Mar 2022 Australia v Qualifier * ## Fri 11 Mar 2022 Qualifier v South Africa* ## Mon 14 Mar 2022 South Africa v England* ## Wed 16 Mar 2022 England v India* ## Fri 18 Mar 2022 Qualifier v Qualifier## University Oval, Dunedin## Sat 05 Mar 2022 Qualifier v South Africa ## Mon 07 Mar 2022 New Zealand v Qualifier ## Wed 09 Mar 2022 Qualifier v England## Seddon Park, Hamilton## Sat 05 Mar 2022 Australia v England* ## Thu 10 Mar 2022 New Zealand v India* ## Sat 12 Mar 2022 Qualifier v India* ## Mon 14 Mar 2022 Qualifier v Qualifier ## Thu 17 Mar 2022 New Zealand v South Africa* ## Mon 21 Mar 2022 Qualifier v Qualifier* ## Tue 22 Mar 2022 India v Qualifier*## Basin Reserve, Wellington## Sun 13 Mar 2022 New Zealand v Australia ## Tue 15 Mar 2022 Australia v Qualifier ## Tue 22 Mar 2022 South Africa v Australia ## Thu 24 Mar 2022 South Africa v Qualifier ## Fri 25 Mar 2022 Qualifier v Australia ## Sun 27 Mar 2022 England v Qualifier ## Wed 30 Mar 2022 Semi-Final 1 ## Eden Park, Auckland## Sat 19 Mar 2022 India v Australia* ## Sun 20 Mar 2022 New Zealand v England ## Hagley Oval, Christchurch## Thu 24 Mar 2022 England v Qualifier* ## Sat 26 Mar 2022 New Zealand v Qualifier ## Sun 27 Mar 2022 India v South Africa* ## Thu 31 Mar 2022 Semi-Final 2*## Sun 03 Apr 2022 FINAL*## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Chennai and Ahmedabad will be the two host venues for the four-Test series of England's tour of India early next year as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) along with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Thursday announced the fixtures for Team India's home series against England. ## The much-awaited Test series for Anthony de Mello Trophy will kick-start from the 5th of February in Chennai's Chepauk stadium. Chennai will also host the second Test while the newly built Sardar Patel Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the remaining two Test matches including the 3rd Test as D/N. ## Motera, the largest cricket stadium in the world, boasts of state of the art facilities and a seating capacity of 110,000. It will host India's second Day-Night Test match at home after the huge success of India's first-ever pink-ball Test that was played in Kolkata last year against Bangladesh. ## Apart from the last two Tests, the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad will also be hosting all the five T20Is before the 3-match ODI series take place in Pune from the 23rd of March. ## "The BCCI prioritizes the health and safety of both teams and will leave no stone unturned to make sure that the tour is held adhering to all safety protocols agreed by the BCCI and ECB medical teams. Both Boards have worked closely to put together an exciting series that promises to provide high octane action between two powerhouses of world cricket. This will be India's first bilateral series at home since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and the home season will bring back joy to cricket fans", BCCI secretary Jay Shah said.## ECB CEO Tom Harrison added, "We have been delighted with the planning that has been undertaken by the BCCI to ensure the three venues in Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Pune will be ready to host international cricket in a bio-secure environment and look forward to working closely with them over the coming weeks to finalize those plans".## "The prospect of becoming the first international side to play at the magnificent Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad adds an extra dimension to the tour and I know will be something that is a highlight for both the players and management".## Here is the complete schedule - ## Tests -## 1st Test - February 5 - 9, Chennai## 2nd Test - February 13 - 17, Chennai## 3rd Test - February 24 - 28, Ahmedabad (D/N)## 4th Test - March 4 - 8, Ahmedabad## T20Is: All games at Motera, Ahmedabad -## 1st T20I - March 12## 2nd T20I - March 14## 3rd T20I - March 16## 4th T20I - March 18## 5th T20I - March 20## ODIs: All games at Pune - ## 1st ODI - March 23## 2nd ODI - March 26## 3rd ODI - March 28## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Former India wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel, who became Test cricket's youngest wicket-keeper batsman when debuted for India in 2002, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Wednesday, December 9. The 35-year-old brought down the curtains on his 18 years of career after representing India in 25 Tests, 38 ODIs, and 2 T20Is. ## Having last played for India in 2018, Patel put out a statement on Twitter announcing his retirement from all forms of the game. "Today, I announce my retirement from all forms of cricket, and as I bring down the curtains on this 18 year old cricketing journey, I feel heavier with gratitude towards many. The BCCI showed a generous amount of confidence and faith in a 17 old boy to play for India. I have enormous gratitude towards them for being a guiding force and hand holding me, in the formative years of my young career". ## "I feel at peace having played the game in its truest tenets, with dignity and in the spirit of the game and more importantly with great camaraderie. As I walk away a proud man, having fulfilled more dreams than I thought possible, I hope to be remembered with that thought and find your support for my future endeavors", Parthiv wrote in the statement.## pic.twitter.com/QbqdHX00dR— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) December 9, 2020 ## Apart from international cricket, the left-hander also had a flourishing domestic career scoring over 11,000 First-Class runs in 194 games. He also had the honour of leading Gujarat to the maiden Ranji Trophy win in the 2016-17 season as well as their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy win.## In franchise cricket, Patel was also a part of six different teams in the Indian Premier League where he managed to score 2848 runs with 13 fifties in 139 games.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Team India captain Virat Kohli is impressed with a new bowling sensation T Natarajan and heaped praise on the left-arm pacer after performing brilliantly in the T20I series against Australia. Natarajan, picked in the national side for the first time, took six wickets in the three T20Is at an economy of just under 7 and was one of the key players in India clinching the series 2-1. ## "In the absence of (Mohammed) Shami and (Jasprit) Bumrah, he's (Natarajan) been the guy who has stood up and really delivered under pressure, which is outstanding for the fact that he's playing his first few games at the international level and he looks very composed", Kohli said after India's 12-run loss in the dead rubber. ## "He's very sure of what he wants to do, he's a very hardworking guy, very humble guy. And you feel happy for guys who are committed and working hard for the team when they get the results and make the team win", he added. ## "I wish him all the best and I hope he continues to work hard on his game and keeps getting better. Because a left-arm bowler is always an asset for any team and if he can bowl that well and consistently, I think he'll be a great thing for us heading into the World Cup next year", Kohli hopes. ## Though India lost the final T20I Kohli played a gem of a knock and took his team close to the victory. Kohli revealed that he was happy with his outing (61-ball 85) on Tuesday (December 8) and is hopeful of carrying forward the momentum into the opening Test. "I think I'm in the right headspace," Kohli said. "It was a bit scratchy in the first ODI, to begin with, but then I addressed a few things and worked on a few aspects of my game that I wanted to purely to get into the best headspace that I possibly can because I've never been a fan of thinking too much technique.## "I think when I get into a good headspace is when I feel like I can play and switch between all formats and adjust according to conditions as well. It's just about continuing to be in that headspace and making sure that I contribute enough towards the team's success and hopefully start off on the right note in the Test series". ## Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is the only second overseas captain who led his side in ODI, T20I, and Test series win in Australia. Earlier, South African captain Faf du Plessis had done this difficult task down under. ## Stay tuned...