New Delhi: After being beaten comprehensively in the first two Tests of the four-match series against England, India are welcoming anything that can lift the much-needed confidence of an otherwise struggling side.
And Virender Sehwag's joining the squad before the third Test has surely instilled the visitors' hopes of clawing their way back in the series. But will the arrival of the swashbuckling opener solve the woes of the side which was found wanting in its last two outings against a rampaging England?
Everyone is aware of the capabilities of the hard-hitting batsman. His attacking demeanour puts the opposition bowlers straight on the back foot, while his frantic pace of scoring runs never lets the pressure get the better of the other players. Resting on the starts given by the opener, the team's middle order takes its own time before opening its shoulders and taking the side to good totals.
Follow the complete article on cricketnext.com and other byline stories here
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
India need to fill some gaps before 2nd Test
New Delhi: Like many other occasions in the past, India started their Caribbean odyssey in a much familiar fashion – slumping to 85/6 in their first innings of the first Test – but this time around, instead of buckling down, they came out firing, showed resilience and mettle to come victorious in the end.
The visitors were in a precarious situation when more than half of their side had gone back to the pavilion on the very first morning at the Sabina Park, but then we witnessed the 'never say die' attitude of this new-look Indian side. Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh played out of their skins to script what was the defining moment of the match.
Both batsmen threw caution to the wind and took the attack to the opposition bowlers from the outset. Harbhajan, whose batting has improved by leaps and bounds in the recent past, was the more attacking of the two. He swatted ten fours and a maximum in his scintillating 70-run knock and strung a 146-run stand with Raina, who too contributed with an invaluable 82, to take India to a modest score.
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Friday, June 17, 2011
Windies expose chinks in India's armour
New Delhi: Buoyed by their World Cup triumph and ecstatic after shining during the Indian Premier League the young Indian guns landed on the shores of Caribbean with thoughts of conquering the once-feared territory. And though the targets - wining the one-off Twenty20 and clinching the ODI series - set by coach Duncan Fletcher and the team management have been achieved, the way the young side wilted under pressure also exposed that there are chinks in their armour.
Barring Virat Kohli, the player who seems to have shredded his boyhood blunders in the blink of an eye, and Rohit Sharma - the man of the tournament - none of the other Indian batsmen could get going over a period of the five matches.
Follow rest of the article on: Cricketnext.com
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Bowlers who left their mark in IPL-4
New Delhi: Although considered the batsmen's game, Twenty20 has proved to be a happy hunting ground for bowlers who use their skills and have the patience of a saint. Indian Premier League is one such arena where bowlers used the best in their armory to fox the batsmen. Here are the pick of the bowlers who either bamboozled the batsmen with their pace or outplayed them with their spin.
Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians): When he sends down yorkers at 150 kph, there is little that a batsman can do except saving their toes from getting crushed. Malinga has spearheaded Mumbai's bowling attack with his lethal pace and provided his outfit much-needed breakthroughs, both at the start and death. His wickets tally of 27 is by far the best that can neither be touched nor matched by any other bowler.
The top 10 run machines of IPL 4
New Delhi: The most entertaining cricket league has reached its climax and it's a good time to look back at the run machines that lit up the cash-rich event with their willows. Here is our list of ten players who excelled in this edition of the Indian Premier League:
Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore): The marauding RCB opener has been a revelation since he was drafted into their squad. His inclusion has turned out to be the fortune changer for the Challengers. Tottering at one stage after losing three matches on the trot, Gayle came in as a messiah for RCB, after which the team never looked back and ended the round robin phase at the top of the table. The current holder of the Orange Cap, given to the highest run-getter, Gayle has already clobbered 511 runs from his giant bat in just nine outings. As expected, his average has been phenomenal, 85.16, and makes heads turn.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Gilchrist ton revives old memories
New Delhi: When God was expected to interrupt the proceedings in the match between the Kings XI Punjab and the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the picturesque Dharamsala stadium on Tuesday, it was the demigod named Adam Gilchrist who generated lightning with his array of strokes and showered fours and sixes.
The Kings XI skipper bludgeoned 106 runs in mere 55 deliveries, which tore the RCB bowling apart with his fierce hitting. And by the time the southpaw made his way back to the pavilion, the scoreboard read one of the highest totals (231) that have been made in the IPL history so far. And their emphatic 111-run victory also ensured that their chances of qualifying for the playoffs are still alive.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Know your team: Royal Challengers Bangalore
With a combination of international stars together with exciting Indian talent, Royal Challengers Bangalore is one of the Indian teams that will take on the best of T20 clubs at this edition of the Champions League T20 in South Africa.
Having seen what it takes to play against the top clubs in the competition last year, Bangalore will like to put up a better showing than the last time. Challengers' skipper Anil Kumble is a man with unparalleled work ethic, and nothing short than bringing the trophy to India will be on his mind when he leads his team out on to the field on September 12 against Guyana. He would be aptly supported by his former Indian teammate and the 'wall' of Indian cricket Rahul Dravid.
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