BY SACNILK

Team India captain, Virat Kohli who is expecting his first child with Anushka Sharma in January is all set to miss the last three Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Test series starting from December 17 against Australia. ## At the selection committee meeting held on October 26th, 2020, Virat Kohli had informed the BCCI about his plans to return to India after the first Test in Adelaide. The BCCI has granted paternity leave to the Indian captain. He will return after the first Test against Australia in Adelaide. ## On the other hand, Rohit Sharma who was left out from all three squads in the initial team selection has been included in the Test squad after BCCI received a medical update of his fitness. However, BCCI has decided to rest him for the ODIs and T20Is in Australia to regain full fitness. ## The Selection Committee also has added Sanju Samson as an additional wicket-keeper to India’s ODI squad while Varun Chakravarthy who was included in the T20 squad has been ruled out of the series owing to a shoulder injury. ## Ishant Sharma who has been undergoing his rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru will be added to India's Test squad once he fully recovers and gains sufficient match fitness. Thangarasu Natarajan gets his maiden India call-up after an impressive IPL 2020 season. He has been included in the T20I squad.## The revised squads are as below:## Team India T20I squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul (vice-captain and wicket-keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, T Natarajan.## Team India ODI squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (vice-captain & wicket-keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper).## Team India Test squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Mohd. Siraj.##

BY SACNILK

Former India opener, Gautam Gambhir has slammed Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper, Virat Kohli after RCB lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 6-wickets in Eliminator on Friday (November 6) and knocked out from the tournament. Gambhir feels that Virat Kohli should be held accountable for RCB's failure and should step down from captaincy. ## "100%, because the problem is about accountability. Eight years into the tournament [without a trophy], eight years is a long time. Tell me any other captain, forget about the captain, tell me any other player who would have got eight years, and wouldn't have won the title and would have still continued with it. So it has to be accountability. A captain needs to take accountability", Gambhir said in a live interaction on ESPNCricinfo.## "It's not only about one year, but it's also not only about this. I have nothing against Virat Kohli but somewhere down the line, he needs to put his hand up and say, 'yes, I am responsible. I am accountable", he continued. ## Virat Kohli has captained RCB in 125 matches in which, the team has won 55 matches and lost 63 games. Under Kohli's captaincy, RCB has reached the final only once where they lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016. ## Speaking about the same, Gambhir said, "Eight years is a long, long time. Look at what happened to Ashwin. After two years of captaincy [for the Kings XI Punjab], he couldn't deliver and he was removed. We talk about MS Dhoni, we talk about Rohit Sharma, we talk about Virat Kohli, not at all. Dhoni has won three titles, Rohit Sharma has won four titles, and that's the reason they've captained for such a long time because they've delivered. I'm sure if Rohit Sharma wouldn't have delivered for eight years, he would have been removed as well. There should not be different yardsticks for different people".## "The problem and the accountability starts from the top, not from the management nor the support staff, but from the leader. You're the leader, you're the captain. When you get the credit, you should take the criticism as well", Gambhir said. ## .@GautamGambhir says it is time for Bangalore to look beyond Virat Kohli as captain 🏏https://t.co/hbe8aQOUsg #T20Timeout pic.twitter.com/9ntEpG1uDY— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 7, 2020 ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai Indians' bowling coach, Shane Bond has lauded pacer Jasprit Bumrah, terming him "the best fast bowler in T20 cricket in the world". Jasprit Bumarh, the purple cap holder, helped 4-times champions, Mumbai Indians to storm into their 6th Indian Premier League final after blowing Delhi Capitals away by 57 runs in the Qualifier 1 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday (November 5). ## Bumrah returned with the impressive figures of 4 wickets for just 13 runs in his 4 overs and also won man of the match. He also snatched the purple cap from Capitals' Kagiso Rabada and currently stands with 27 wickets in 14 games. ## "Jasprit, it's a privilege to watch your bowling. The best t20 fast bowler in the world goes about his work", Bond said in a video posted by Mumbai Indians on Twitter on Friday. ## Bumrah, who now holds the record for the most wickets taken by an Indian bowler in an IPL season, said that he mainly focuses on executing his plans during the match and also ready to bowl whenever the situation demands. ## "I am okay with not getting wickets and winning the tournament, I have been given a role so I just want to execute that role", Bumrah said in the post-match presentation ceremony. "Opening yorker was really important. I decided I will do that early in the game and when it comes off it's always nice. I am always ready when the captain wants me to bowl".## Most wickets in an IPL season by an Indian bowler -27 #JaspritBumrah (2020) *26 #BhuvneshwarKumar (2017)24 #HarbhajanSingh (2013)24 #JaidevUnadkat (2017)#IPL2020 | #MIvDC | #MIvsDC— Sacnilk Sports (@SacnilkSports) November 5, 2020 ## Today, in IPL 2020, Royal Challengers Bangalore will be up against Surisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator and the winner will face Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 2 on November 8. The winner of Qualifier 2 will face MI in the final on November 10 in Dubai for the title. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Team India captain, Virat Kohli has turned 32 today. He celebrated his birthday with his wife Anushka Sharma and Royal Challengers Bangalore teammates in the United Arab Emirates where the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League is being played. ## The sports fraternity took to social media to wish the Indian skipper on entering the new year of his life.## Happy Birthday @imVkohli! All the best for the coming season. Continue inspiring. Have a blessed and healthy year ahead. pic.twitter.com/i0FYyuzSlH— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 5, 2020 ## Happy Birthday @imVkohli. A modern day legend for sure. Enjoy the day & all the very best for the future mate. #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/DX5h42Ku0e— Sir Vivian Richards (@ivivianrichards) November 5, 2020 ## Happy Birthday Captain KohliHappy faces and positive vibes. The RCB family put together a special video to celebrate King Kohli’s birthday at 12 midnight. 🤴🏽❤️#PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengers #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/ViaI9eItDV— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) November 5, 2020 ## Wishing a very Happy Birthday to @imVkohli! #TBT to when #ViratKohli met The @g8khali! pic.twitter.com/Vb1OGWbuFd— WWE India (@WWEIndia) November 5, 2020 ## It’s a very special day for all us RCB fans. Wishing @imVkohli a Happy Birthday 🎈 @RCBTweets #PlayBold #Kohli #ViratKohli— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) November 5, 2020 ## From one VK to another VK, wishing you a very happy birthday @imVkohliIndia ke liye aise hi Virat run banate jao! 🏏#HappyBirthdayViratKohli pic.twitter.com/lF8tFjC6Ki— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349) November 5, 2020 ## May the hunger for runs continue and may you achieve new heights and find fulfillment in whatever you do @imVkohli . #HappyBirthdayViratKohli pic.twitter.com/MlMdaKF9Zs— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 5, 2020 ## Wishing Indian 🇮🇳 Cricket Team (@BCCI) skipper & ardent #IndianFootball ⚽ supporter @imVkohli a very Happy Birthday 🎊🥳🎂#HappyBirthdayVirat #HappyBirthdayViratKohli #BackTheBlue 💙 pic.twitter.com/yZzT98WICJ— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 5, 2020 ## A very happy birthday to the Indian run-machine @imVkohliMay you continue to make India proud and wish you the best in everything!#HappyBirthdayViratKohli pic.twitter.com/r5Lto5HUYu— Kidambi Srikanth (@srikidambi) November 5, 2020 ## Happy birthday @imVkohli You are an inspiration to so many of us across the nation. May you continue to score tons of runs for India. 🥳🎉🎂— Veda Krishnamurthy (@vedakmurthy08) November 5, 2020 ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

KL Rahul who has had a brilliant season of the Indian Premier League 2020 with the bat in which he finished the tournament with 670 runs in 14 matches, has added yet another feather to his cap. The swashbuckling opener from Karnataka has been decided to honor with 2020's Ekalavya Award by the State Government. ## Rahul took to Twitter to share the news and thanked the Karnataka government for this honor. "Thank You Government of Karnataka for bestowing me with the Ekalavya Award. It would not be possible without the support of my coaches, teammates, friends, and families. I will continue to work hard to make our state and India proud", Rahul wrote. ## Thank You Government of Karnataka for bestowing me with the Ekalavya Award. It would not be possible without the support of my coaches, teammates, friends and families. I will continue to work hard to make our state and India proud #grateful— K L Rahul (@klrahul11) November 2, 2020 ## Eklavya Award is given by the Government of Karnataka to sports personalities of the nation to promote, encourage, and recognition for Odisa Sports personalities in the State. It is an honorary sports award initiated in 1993, conferred by the "The Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT)" of IMFA Group.## Meanwhile, Kings XI Punjab are knocked out of IPL 2020, failing to qualify for the playoffs. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) struck the blow on October 1, winning by nine wickets. KXIP finished the season at sixth place, grabbing 12 points from 14 matches. They won six matches and lost eight.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

One of the biggest stars of Indian cinema, Shah Rukh Khan is celebrating his 55th birthday today (November 2). While his fans and well-wishers all over the world are sending their birthday wishes for King Khan, Kolkata Knight Riders' team members on Monday extended wishes to their franchise owner. ## In a video uploaded shared by Kolkata Knight Riders on social media handles, KKR players shared memories of their first meeting with Shah Rukh Khan, favorite dance moves of SRK, and also their wishes for the iconic actor.## "I remember once going to Bali and there were just two things which the auto driver told us - So, you are from India, Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Veer-Zaara. That's how famous he is", said wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik.## "Everybody described him as the Tom Cruise of India. He is actually more exciting than Tom Cruise", said KKR captain Eoin Morgan.## Special wishes from the boys for our main Knight without whom the KKR family is incomplete! 💜🤗Happy birthday, @iamsrk 🥳#KKRHaiTaiyaar #Dream11IPL #HappyBirthdaySRK pic.twitter.com/7sv7iLzqSV— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) November 2, 2020 ## "It was a special moment. He (SRK) was so humble and cool. He was standing beside me and gave me a hug. I am a tough guy but I was blushing", said Andre Russell while recalling his first meeting with the Bollywood superstar. "Keep being yourself. Keep being this amazing human being," he further said while doing the famous "Chammak Challo" dance step.## Shah Rukh has been keenly watching the performance of his team during the ongoing Indian Premier League being played in the United Arab Emirates. His team are currently placed at the fourth spot in the table, with 14 points from 14 matches, and are still in contention for the playoffs. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Team India head coach Ravi Shastri revealed that Rohit Sharma's injury is more serious than it looks and he "could be in danger of injuring himself again if he is not careful". Giving the example of himself, Shastri advised team India's vice-captain to take proper rest and not to rush his comeback. ## Rohit Sharma, who suffered a hamstring injury during a match in the ongoing IPL in the UAE, has also been left out of the team India squad from the Australia tour after BCCI's medical team found his injury serious. However, on the day of team selection, Rohit was seen practicing in the nets for the Mumbai Indians, which has led to speculation over his fitness status.## Shastri said the call not to include Rohit in the squad was taken by the selectors after going through his medical report. "It's being handled by the people in charge of the medical part of it. We don't get involved in that. They have submitted a report to the selectors and they have gone about their business", Shastri told Times Now. ## "I have no say, neither am I a part of the selection. All I know is the medical report which says he could be in danger of injuring himself again if he is not careful," he added. ## Also Read - MCG To Allow Maximum 25K Spectators For Boxing Day Test Between Australia And India## Shastri further advised Rohit not to make the same mistake he made when he went back to Australia in 1991 despite not been fully fit and that mistake cost him the rest of his career.## "There is nothing more frustrating for a player than getting injured. Sometimes you know, you want to get out of that room of yours and try and see how quickly you can come back. And therein lies the grey area. Therein lies the problem where you want to go and play, you want to test yourself. But only you will know at the back of your mind whether you are 100%, whether there is a chance going at it again", he said. ## "What I fear, I have been through that as a cricketer myself. I finished my career in 1991 when I went back to Australia when I shouldn't have. If I had taken a break for three or four months, I could've played five years longer for India".## "So, I speak from experience. It is a similar case. I wanted to go. Doctors told me don't go. It was greed. I was in tremendous form so there was this eagerness to go back. I hope Rohit's case is not that serious and the same with Ishant (Sharma)", he further told. ## The Team India tour of Australia, which comprises three T20Is, three ODIs, and four Tests is scheduled to start from November 27, to begin with, T20Is. Shastri said that team will miss both Rohit and Ishant who played crucial roles on the previous tour. ## "Both Ishant and Rohit will be missed in Australia. Both were missed in New Zealand too. Ishant played a huge role in our win last time (in Australia) and Rohit played a huge role in the home series against South Africa (last year). Both these players have had a huge role to play for us to be at the top of the WTC standings".## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Chennai Super Kings' opener Faf du Plessis said that "Ruturaj Gaikwad looks like a young Virat Kohli" after later becomes the first player from CSK to score three consecutive fifties in the IPL history. CSK, riding on the successive fifties from Gaikwad, finished off their IPL 2020 campaign with a thumping 9-wickets win over Kings XI Punjab which also proved to be a final nail in the coffin for KXIP who knocked out of the tournament. ## Faf du Plessis, who played a vital role with 48 off 34 balls in CSK's easy win was really impressed with the way young Gaikwad handled the pressure situations in this tournament. ## "He (Gaikwad) looks like a young Virat Kohli doesn't he. What stands out for me the most is is his composure. Pressure situations don't really get to him. That is always pleasing to see in a young guy and looks like he has a bright future", du Plessis said in the post-match presentation ceremony. ## Also Read - 'Definitely Not', MS Dhoni Refutes Rumors Of Playing His Last Game For CSK## Gaikwad with an unbeaten 62 off 49 balls, scored his third consecutive fifty and all three came in the successful run chases which also earned him his third consecutive man of the match. He said that it was difficult for him to miss out on the first few games but backed his ability when the opportunity arrived. ## "I was scoring well in the domestic circuit in every format, so I was feeling confident. Even for my club and state team, I had to be the anchor, make sure the team wins and I stay till the end. At times, I also need to be aggressive. One of my favourite - inside-out (shot)", Gaikwad said after the match. ## "Not to be part of the squad which was practicing initially, to miss the first few games, it was difficult for me. But the management and every teammate made sure that I was positive. An important part of the squad and it did help a lot. Being in the change room and being on the field - I was used to it", he added.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

In a crucial or a do or die match, Kings XI Punjab will be up against Chennai Super Kings who have already been out of the Indian Premier League 2020's playoffs' race. While KXIP will need an outright win to keep their hopes alive to qualify for the playoffs, CSK will also look to finish the tournament on high. ## However, one thing that was going on in everyone's mind was that Dhoni is playing his last match for Chennai? Since he has already announced his retirement from international cricket and CSK has also not done enough which resulted in that three-times champions have failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in their 11 years of IPL history, people were curious to know his future plans for CSK. ## At the toss, when asked if it was his last game ever for CSK, the captain cool refutes saying, "definitely not" and put a full stop to his retirement rumors from IPL, at least till the next season of the Indian Premier League which is not too far away. ## Danny Morrison : Could this be your last game in yellow ? #MSDhoni : Definitely Not!#CSK have won the toss and they will bowl first against #KXIP in Match 53 of #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/KhaDJFcApe— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) November 1, 2020 ## Earlier, Chennai Super Kings' CEO Kasi Viswanathan had also said that they want Dhoni to continue leading the franchise in the IPL 2021 as well and hoped that Dhoni will do the same.## "Yes, definitely. I am very confident that Dhoni will lead CSK in 2021. He has won three titles for us in the IPL. This is the first year we have not qualified for the playoffs. No other team has done that. One bad year does not mean we will have to change everything", Viswanathan had told The Times of India. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

The ongoing Indian Premier League has witnessed a big jump in viewership. As compared to the last season, the dream 11 IPL 2020 recorded a jump of 28% according to data released by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India. ## Data provided by BARC shows IPL 13 registered 7 billion viewing minutes for the first 41 matches aired across 21 channels, which is 28 percent higher as compared to IPL 12 at the same stage. IPL 12 had got 5.5 billion viewing minutes for 44 matches aired across 24 channels. ## "The IPL was a blessing to all those who wanted something from the 'old normal'. The viewership of the IPL has increased from last season, as the data shows," BARCIndia have informed in s tweet.## The IPL was a blessing to all those who wanted something from the 'old normal'. The viewership of the IPL has increased from last season, as the data shows.#BARCIndia #WhatIndiaWatches #AudienceMeasurement #Viewership #IPL #IndianPremierLeague #IPL2019 #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/E008AEtlAu— BARCIndia (@BARCIndia) October 30, 2020 ## The data also showed that performance per match of IPL 13 is higher than the last season. The cume reach of IPL 13 for 41 matches was 108 million, 11 percent higher than IPL 12. Earlier, it had registered 98 million cume reach.## While IPL 2020 is garnering more viewership than its previous season, the data released by BARC aren't surprising at all. Since the IPL 2020 is being played without a crowd due to the covid-19 pandemic, it was expected that more people will watch the tournament on television and broadcasters were also assuming the highest rating of IPL this season.## Earlier, the opening match of IPL 2020 between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, also set the viewership record. The opening day recorded an unprecedented 200 million viewership and became the most-watched match on an opening day for any sporting league in the world. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has expressed gratitude to the fans at homes for their support during the ongoing Indian Premier League edition in the UAE in which the three-time champions failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in their IPL history. ## The MS Dhoni-led, CSK that is already out of contention of making a top-four finish, came out with improved performance compared to their earlier games as they defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in a thrilling manner on Thursday. CSK chased down the 173-run target on the last ball of the match, with Jadeja smashing back-to-back sixes as they defeated KKR by 6 wickets and dented their chances of making it to the playoffs. ## "This one was for the fans. Thank you for the fantastic support", tweeted Jadeja after playing an incredible knock of unbeaten 31 from just 11 deliveries. Apart from him, the young Ruturaj Gaikwad came out with yet another match-winning performance as he scored 73 runs to anchor the chase.## This one was for the fans. Thank you for the fantastic support. 💛💪#whistlepodu @chennaiipl pic.twitter.com/mMJTgrwnfs— Ravindrasinh jadeja (@imjadeja) October 29, 2020 ## "I was hitting the ball well in the nets and kept thinking about that and I managed to do that in the match. We (me and Curran) were talking about going after the bowlers, and in the last 12 balls, you don't think much. Just see the ball and hit the ball", Jadeja had said in the post-match presentation ceremony. ## "I was looking to not lose my shape, and I knew if they bowled in my arc, I could hit a six. Winning every game always means a lot to us", he added. ## CSK's win over KKR made sure that the table topper, Mumbai Indians qualify for the playoffs and becomes the first team to do so. CSK, having 10 points from 13 games, will play their final match of the tournament against Kings XI Punjab on Sunday.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

A day after BCCI selectors didn't select Suryakumar Yadav for the Australia tour, the Mumbai Indians' number 3 batsman sent out a strong message to the selectors by playing a match-winning knock of unbeaten 79 off just 43 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday (October 28). ## Kieron Pollard, the MI's stand-in skipper, has lauded Surya for his brilliant knock and also encouraged him to stay consistent.## "Imagine someone batting at that strike rate after two early wickets. Deep down inside he must be very very disappointed to not have donned the blue for India. He just keeps getting better. Again as an individual if you keep staying consistent, you will be rewarded. Nothing happens before its time", said Pollard in the post-match presentation ceremony.## Pollard triggered RCB`s collapse 131/3 to 139/6 between the 16th and 18th overs with the wicket of AB de Villiers, who looked set for a trademark swashbuckling inning.## "I am big on match-ups in a way. I also watch a lot of cricket. I took a punt and bowled at AB. I could have waited for the last over but if someone has to go for runs I thought I`d take it".## After a 5-wicket win over RCB, MI has 16 points from 12 matches and is ranked number 1 in the points table. While RCB stands at number 2 with 14 points in 12 matches. ## Stay tuned...