Ashish Nehra | Sportzwiki

Ashish Nehra

Chakravarthy and the rest of the Indian bowlers could not take a single wicket against Pakistan on Sunday. (Reuters Photo)
Chakravarthy and the rest of the Indian bowlers could not take a single wicket against Pakistan on Sunday. (Reuters Photo)
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T20 World Cup 2021: The Way Varun Chakravarthy Started Is Praiseworthy: Ashish Nehra

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Ashish Nehra picked spinner Varun Chakravarthy when he was asked to identify one bowler who impressed playing for India against Pakistan despite them not getting any wickets.

It wasn’t the greatest day for the Indian bowlers as Pakistan romped to a 10-wicket win in the teams’ 2021 T20 World Cup Super 12 clash. After restricting India to a below-par 151/7, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan hit unbeaten half-centuries en route to a thumping victory over their rivals.

Ashish Nehra (Source: File)
Ashish Nehra (Source: File)

Ashish Nehra On Varun Chakravarthy:

Playing his first World Cup match for the Men In Blue, Varun Chakravarthy showed some spark, but the Indian bowler went wicket-less and leaked 33 runs in the low-scoring contest. Varun Chakravarthy was named in the Indian playing XI at the expense of veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Varun Chakravarthy first came into the limelight when he picked up 17 wickets, including a devastating spell of 5-20 against the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020. In IPL 2021, appearing even more unplayable, he took 18 wickets in 17 games averaging 24.88, at an economy rate of 6.58.
His magnificent spin partnership with Sunil Narine was a major reason why the Kolkata Knight Riders reached the final. He picked 2 scalps in 4 T20Is, 3 matches of which came in the Sri Lanka tour.

Ashish Nehra said: “Yes, Pakistan won by 10 wickets, but I would pick one bowler, and this is the effect of the IPL, and that is Varun Chakravarthy. Playing his first game against Pakistan, in the World Cup, it’s not easy. But the way he started is praiseworthy. “

“The few deliveries that he got hit for sixes were some great strokes by the batters. But the bowling that we saw from him in the IPL and against Sri Lanka, he is just taking that forward,” said Ashish Nehra.

Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Varun Chakravarthy started his spell brilliantly, giving away just two runs in his first over, which came in the Powerplay. However, he was taken for runs later in the match and ended up giving away 33 runs in his four overs. Ashish Nehra said that he did well to bowl with discipline and wasn’t affected by the pressure of the occasion.

“Sometimes you are playing against Pakistan, it is a World Cup match, so you can come under pressure and stray with your bowling, but that did not happen at all. The rest of the bowlers are experienced internationals. So I would say Varun Chakravarthy was a big plus for India, and going forward, when there isn’t too much dew, he can be India’s X-factor,” Ashish Nehra said.

Varun Chakravarthy was KKR’s highest wicket-taker with 18 scalps in IPL 2021. Still, against Pakistan, openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were able to pick him quickly, with both players hitting sixes in his final over.

Virender Sehwag Felt That As An X Factor Mystery Spinner Varun Chakravarthy Has To Take Wickets Even If He’s Expensive

However, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag disagreed with Ashish Nehra. Virender Sehwag felt that, as an X-factor bowler, Varun Chakravarthy needs to be taking wickets, even if he goes for more runs.

“The expectations I had from Varun Chakravarthy, he didn’t bowl at that level. Because as an X-factor, he has to take wickets. I don’t mind if he is expensive. Even if he gave 40 runs but took two wickets, that is more important. You become an X-factor bowler if you take wickets. Because even if you keep bowling economical spells, if you don’t take wickets, it will be difficult to beat the opposition,” Sehwag said.

Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag (Image Credit: Twitter)

Shaheen Shah Afridi stunned India with his three-wicket haul that saw him remove both openers in his first two overs. India never quite recovered from that double-blow, with Virat Kohli’s 57-run rescue act helping them set a target of 152 for Pakistan to chase.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam and opening partner Mohammad Rizwan then put on a batting masterclass as they chased down the target with little hassle. Mohammad Rizwan scored 79, and Babar Azam hit 68 as Pakistan won with more than two overs to spare.

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RCB leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in action during IPL 2020 | Saikat Das / Sportzpics for BCCI
RCB leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in action during IPL 2020 | Saikat Das / Sportzpics for BCCI
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Virender Sehwag Can’t Fathom Why Yuzvendra Chahal Was Omitted From India’s T20 World Cup 2021 Squad

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Virender Sehwag, the former Indian swashbuckling opener has questioned national selectors for overlooking leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal from India’s T20 World Cup squad.

Virender Sehwag opined that leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is a street-smart T20 bowler for which the selectors must provide an explanation for omitting him from the World Cup squad. Virender Sehwag added that the Haryana leg-spinner is an asset for any T20 team.

Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag (Image Credit: Twitter)

Virender Sehwag Can’t Fathom Why Yuzvendra Chahal Was Omitted From The T20 World Cup 2021 Squad

The likes of spinners Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy were preferred over Yuzvendra Chahal who wasn’t selected even among the standby players.

“Chahal was bowling well in the past also. I can’t fathom why he was omitted from the T20 World Cup squad. The selectors should provide the explanation. It’s not like Rahul Chahar bowled extraordinarily in Sri Lanka. The way Chahal is bowling, he will be an asset for any side in T20 cricket, ” said Virender Sehwag.

Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal. Image Credits: Twitter

The former cricketer Virender Sehwag pinpointed spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Glenn Maxwell’s spell during the middle overs as the turning point of the game between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Mumbai Indians which was won by the former.

“He knows how to bowl in his format, how to take wickets. The game was set up today by (Glenn) Maxwell and (Yuzvendra) Chahal. They took wickets in the middle orders which led to a turnaround,” said Virender Sehwag.

Yuzvendra Chahal was at his absolute best on Sunday evening. The right-arm wrist-spinner gave away just 11 runs in his four overs while claiming three wickets, including the prized scalps of Quinton de Kock and Ishan Kishan.

From having made his debut for RCB in 2014 to earning a national call-up in 2016 and taking 100 wickets in the IPL, Yuzvendra Chahal has had an impressive career so far. In his international career thus far, the 30-year old has bagged 97 and 63 wickets in 56 ODIs and 49 T20Is respectively apart from 130 scalps in 109 IPL games.

Ashish Nehra: Rahul Chahar Hasn’t Done Something Extraordinary Or Yuzvendra Chahal Has Done Extremely Poorly

Meanwhile, former left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra said that he would always prefer the experience of a marquee event like the T20I World Cup. Questioning Yuzvendra Chahal’s omission from the T20I World Cup squad, Ashish Nehra said that the RCB spinner hasn’t done so badly that the selectors did not find him worthy of being one of the five spinners Indian selectors have picked.

Ashish Nehra added that while Rahul Chahar has done well, he hasn’t done anything extraordinary to pip Yuzvendra Chahal for a spot in the World Cup team.

“I’ll always go back to experience for a tournament like the World Cup. It’s not like Rahul Chahar has done something extraordinary or Chahal has done extremely poorly.”

Leg-spinners Rahul Chahar (L) and Yuzvendra Chahal
Leg-spinners Rahul Chahar (L) and Yuzvendra Chahal (R)

“It’s not that Chahar hasn’t done well, but Chahal has been playing for a long time. In international cricket, a youngster gets a chance either when the incumbent is performing poorly or when the former turns out to be a rare talent. Neither is true in the current context,” continued Nehra.

The former seamer urged Yuzvendra Chahal to continue doing the hard work and await his next opportunity.

“The key for Chahal now is for him to continue performing in the remainder of the season and wait for future opportunities.”

Yuzvendra Chahal was omitted from India’s T20 squad after a prolonged period of underwhelming performances in T20Is. Since the start of 2020, he has managed 11 wickets in 13 T20Is at an average of 41.36 and an economy rate of 8.92. The spinner struggled in the first leg of the current IPL season but seems to have regained his mojo in the UAE.

Yuzvendra Chahal has picked 9 scalps so far in IPL 2021 in 10 games averaging 27.77 for RCB while Mumbai Indians’ Rahul Chahar has picked 12 scalps in 10 games averaging 24.25. Rahul Chahar-12 scalps, Varun Chakravarthy-11 scalps, Axar Patel-9 scalps have also been among the wickets while Ravichandran Ashwin bagged a couple.

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Salman Butt. Image-Twitter
Salman Butt. Image-Twitter
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John Buchanan Was Very High-Tech Coach As He Used To Have Long Meetings Where Players Fall Asleep: Salman Butt

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Salman Butt has raised an objection to the “glorifying” of World Cup-winning coach John Buchanan. Salman Butt, who played under John Buchanan during his stint with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2008, said the Australian was a ‘high-tech’ man who used to bore his players to sleep during team meetings.

John Buchanan was the head coach of the legendary Ricky Ponting-led Australian team that won three consecutive World Cups from 1999 to 2007. However, his contributions were always in question, with many believing that he simply inherited a great team. At KKR, his “multiple captaincy” strategy courted a lot of criticism, and he was ousted in 2009 after the team failed to perform as expected.

Controversial Pakistan batsman Salman Butt
Controversial Pakistan batsman Salman Butt (File Photo | AFP)

Salman Butt: John Buchanan Was Very High Tech Coach As He Used To Have Long Meetings Where Players Fall Asleep

Salman Butt said John Buchanan wasn’t successful in any other coaching assignments since the Australians would have won even without a coach.

“John Buchanan was a very high-tech coach. He used to have long meetings. I have also run teams and I am not a fan of such long meetings where players fall asleep. Players used to fall asleep in his meetings and he’s been part of a lot of coaching projects around the world but none were successful. “

John Buchanan did a commendable job as a coach Getty Images
John Buchanan did a commendable job as a coach Getty Images

“The Australian team was a massive side, it wouldn’t have mattered if they didn’t have a coach at all. Australian players have written the same in their books as well. He was a decent man but the glorifying of his coaching [is wrong]. Give any coach such players and the results will be similar,” Salman Butt remarked on his YouTube channel.

While Ricky Ponting once commended John Buchanan for his contributions to the team, players like Shane Warne were often dismissive of his convoluted coaching style. Former Australian coach John Buchanan trained the Australian side from 1999 to 2007, this was also the period when the side won three World Cups. Not just this, Australia also won the Champions Trophy and a couple of Ashes.

Salman Butt played under John Buchanan’s tutelage during his only year in the IPL. He was a part of seven matches, scoring 193 runs at an average of 27.57. KKR, despite starting the inaugural game with a bang, finished sixth in the points table that season.

Salman Butt Spoke Highly of Sourav Ganguly

“He was a good captain, there’s no doubt about that, he captained India very well. He’s very soft spoken, keeps the team with utmost care and a brilliant player too. I have a lot of respect for him. No, no, he was not at all strict. I have played with him, against him and under his captaincy as well, he was never strict,” concluded Salman Butt.

Sourav Ganguly played for KKR in the first three editions of IPL. Photo AFP
Sourav Ganguly played for KKR in the first three editions of IPL. Photo AFP

KKR finished sixth, eighth, and sixth in the first three editions of the IPL since its inception in 2008. Sourav Ganguly was an icon player for the franchise being a local lad, which resulted in fans outraging when he was left out. Gautam Gambhir replaced Sourav Ganguly, and under his leadership, the results began to improve. KKR won the tournament in 2012 and 2014, beating CSK and KXIP in the respective finals.

The left-handed batsman from Kolkata debuted for Team India in 1992. Sourav Ganguly was adjudged as the skipper for the Indian side after the match-fixing fiasco in 2000. His cricketing career spanned 16 years.

In the 2011 IPL auctions, Sourav Ganguly was released by the KKR franchise and went unsold in the auction to the surprise of many. However, Ganguly was bought by Sahara-owned Pune Warriors after Ashish Nehra injured his finger during the 2011 World Cup and was unavailable for the tournament. Also missing for them was the 2011 World Cup Man of the tournament Yuvraj Singh, who was diagnosed with cancer and went to the USA for treatment.

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IMAGE: Virender Sehwag (left) and Harbhajan Singh share a laugh during an ODI against Australia in Mohali in November 2009. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
IMAGE: Virender Sehwag (left) and Harbhajan Singh share a laugh during an ODI against Australia in Mohali in November 2009. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
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Virender Sehwag Names Harbhajan Singh As The Biggest Prankster

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Virender Sehwag, a former Indian legendary cricketer is known to be outspoken and straightforward. Often in his views or Tweets too he expresses his point of view by being precise and accurate. Be it supporting the Indian athletes during the Olympics, or appreciating team India for winning the Lord’s Test, the Nawab of Najafgarh is in the news all the time.

This time he is in the news because he has launched a clothing line ‘VS’. He spoke about this new brand and also revealed a few secrets about his teammates during his playing days.

Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag (Image Credit: Twitter)

Virender Sehwag Revealed Sachin Tendulkar Instructed Teammates To Wear Branded Clothes And Ashish Nehra Needed Fashion Advice

When he was quizzed about the most fashionable member in the Indian team, Virender Sehwag immediately replied by taking Sachin Tendulkar’s name.  He also said how the master blaster was a trendsetter for all the other players in the team to wear branded clothes.

“Sachin told us to wear branded clothes,” Sehwag said to Network18.

Sachin Tendulkar Photograph: Niklas Halle’n/AFP/Getty Images
Sachin Tendulkar Photograph: Niklas Halle’n/AFP/Getty Images

When the cricketer-turned-expert was asked to name one player with the worst fashion sense or someone who needed a bit of fashion advice, Virender Sehwag named left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra.

“During our times he used to only wear Reebok T-shirts and shorts. But his life has completely changed now. He needed that push in the beginning, and once again Sachin was the one who guided us,” he added.

Sachin Tendulkar currently holds the record for most hundreds in both Tests and ODIs. Incredibly, he retained a divine enthusiasm for the game till his last match. He also scored the first double-century in one-day cricket. In 2012, he became the first player to score 100 international centuries.

Later that year, though, he announced his retirement from ODIs. And on November 16, 2013, Sachin Tendulkar retired from Test cricket after a memorable 200th Test-the most by any player.

Virender Sehwag Names Harbhajan Singh As The Biggest Prankster

It’s a well-documented fact that the Indian team during the early 2000s had a fair bit of pranksters in the team. However, Virender Sehwag took the name of veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh‘s name as the biggest prankster.

He said, “It has to be Harbhajan Singh. If you ask anyone from that team, they would name him. In 2001, Harbhajan had got some scary masks from the US. So we put on those masks at night and decided to scare everyone. The first on the list was our computer analyst Nandan.”

Harbhajan Singh (© IANS)
Harbhajan Singh (© IANS)

The former India opener also revealed how Reetinder Singh Sodhi reacted when he was pranked with those masks.

“The second one was Reetinder Singh Sodhi, who actually took out his bat to hit us. We had to run away quickly from there. That is when we told him, it was only a prank,” Sehwag said.

Harbhajan Singh picked up 417 scalps by playing 103 Tests and 269 scalps playing 236 ODIs. He also picked up 25 scalps from 28 T20Is. His last Test and ODI came in 2015 and his last T20I came in 2016.

Since 2012, Harbhajan Singh has been mostly in and out of the side with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja firming up as the lead spinners in Tests. Harbhajan Singh was restricted to the odd comeback, notably in the 2015-16 season where he played a few Tests and a handful of ODIs apart from getting a chance in the 2016 World T20 as well.

Since 2016, he hasn’t played for India in any format and it’s unlikely that he will ever again. Although yet to officially announce retirement, his career is all but over.

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Wanindu Hasaranga
Wanindu Hasaranga
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Wanindu Hasaranga Praised By Virender Sehwag And Ashish Nehra As He May Feature In IPL 2021 As A Replacement Player

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Wanindu Hasaranga, the No.2 ranked T20I bowler in the world, bamboozled the Indian batsmen in the recently-concluded limited-overs series, picking up 10 wickets from five matches, including a match-winning 4/9 in the deciding T20I, which Sri Lanka won to clinch the series.

Former India batsman Virender Sehwag feels one of the players whom franchises will be keenly following is Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

Wanindu Hasaranga Celebrates A Wicket in 1st T20I @SLC
Wanindu Hasaranga Celebrates A Wicket in 1st T20I @SLC

Virender Sehwag: Wanindu Hasarana Bowled Brilliantly And Is Targeting A Few IPL Teams As A Replacement Player

With several players unavailable for the remainder of the IPL 2021 due to national commitments, bio bubble fatigue due to Covid-19 protocols, or T20 World Cup preparations, their replacements would be sought by their respective franchises with time.

“He bowled brilliantly. And the two wickets he took in the middle – of Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad – broke India’s back. I think there was some news that Hasaranga is targeting a few IPL teams as a replacement player,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.

“I mean he was hoping for something like that and he proved himself… it doesn’t get bigger than this. Those who would be thinking of picking him would be saying ‘we need to talk to him’ and get him as a replacement player. He delivered the right performance at the right time.”

Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag (Image Credit: Twitter)

Reports had emerged that with Adam Zampa set to miss RCB’s campaign – he had withdrawn from the IPL 2021 in the first half of the tournament itself – the two-time IPL finalists are pondering over acquiring Wanindu Hasaranga, although there is nothing concrete.

Over the years, the Indian Premier League has either produced stars or given players the opportunity to become one. And with the remaining half of the IPL set to take place in the UAE starting September 19, youngsters will be keen to hit the ground running once again.

Ashish Nehra: Not Too Many Sri Lankans Are Playing The IPL And Wanindu Hasaranga Has Shown A Lot Of Positives

Having said that, former India fast bowler Ashish Nehra believes Wanindu Hasaranga surely has presented a case for himself and must certainly have attracted the attention of franchisees who are seeking replacements for players.

“Only time will tell which franchise needs a replacement. But if there are discussions, and someone needs a spinner – he (Wanindu Hasaranga) could be the guy. If a player plays for a year and a half, he is considered a senior player in T20Is. He is the No. 2 ranked T20I bowler, although I do not believe much in rankings,” Nehra said on Cricbuzz.

Ashish Nehra © BCCI
Ashish Nehra © BCCI

“Not too many Sri Lankan are playing the IPL and if you talk about the India vs Sri Lanka series, Hasaranga has shown a lot of positives. Even Shanaka sent Hasaranga ahead of himself in batting.”

IPL 2021 is set to return from 19th September in the UAE after the bio-bubble breach saw the league to be suspended indefinitely. For the first time in the history of the Indian Premier League since its inception in 2008, no players from Sri Lanka are in the eight squads that took part in IPL 2021. About 31 Sri Lankan cricketers enrolled for the IPL 2021 auction event as 9 of them made it to the final cut.

The Sri Lankan leg spinner was awarded the Player of the Series award for his 7 wickets in the recently concluded T20I series against India. Wanindu Hasaranga also performed well with the bat in the preceding England ODI series where he amassed 100 runs in 3 games and was the highest scorer. Former Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was confident of his chances of playing IPL.

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Shoaib Malik
Shoaib Malik
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Shoaib Malik Opens Up On Ashish Nehra And Zaheer Khan Creating Problems But Handled Irfan Pathan Pretty Well

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Shoaib Malik talked about former India pacers Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan and how they created a problem for him and the rest of the Pakistan batsmen unlike former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan who had some memorable performances while playing against arch-rivals Pakistan. To date, Indian fans cherish his hat-trick in the opening over of the Karachi Test in 2006. Even with the bat, the former cricketer had contributed well.

Irfan Pathan had scalped 34 ODI wickets in 23 games against Pakistan but there is one player who always found it comfortable facing the left-arm quick. Former captain Shoaib Malik handled him pretty well, averaging 89.50 against the former Indian pacer.

Irfan Pathan claimed a hat-trick against Pakistan in Karachi in 2006(ICC/Twitter)
Irfan Pathan claimed a hat-trick against Pakistan in Karachi in 2006(ICC/Twitter)

Shoaib Malik Played Well Against Irfan Pathan Since He Didn’t Bowl Out Swingers Early In His Career

While speaking in an interview with Cricwick, Shoaib Malik spoke about having success against one of the finest Indian swing bowlers who often troubled the other Pakistan batsmen during his playing days.

“My average against Irfan Pathan is good because I play the inswing well. At that time, Irfan did not bowl out-swingers. He added it to his arsenal later, but early in his career, he majorly bowled in-swinging deliveries. So, I knew he would bowl an in-swinger, and I prepared myself accordingly,” said the Shoaib.

Shoaib Malik. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Shoaib Malik. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

The left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the first over of a Test match. That it came against arch-rivals Pakistan in their own backyard made it all the more special. It was the third Test of the series.

The first two Test matches had ended in draws and naturally, the pitch for the final Test had a greenish tinge to it, perhaps to aid the Pakistan fast bowlers more. But it was India captain Rahul Dravid who won the toss and opted to bowl first. Irfan Pathan was thrown the new ball and he did not disappoint his captain.

Irfan Pathan had 100 Test wickets averaging 32.26 and 173 ODI wickets averaging 29.72 playing 29 Tests and 120 ODIs. In 24 T20Is he picked 28 scalps averaging 22.07.

Shoaib Malik: Zaheer Khan And Ashish Nehra Always Targeted Bat’s Edge And Hence Were Successful

The 39-year-old Pakistan batsman further talked about former India pacers Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan who had created a problem for him. Shoaib Malik said the duo always targeted the ‘edges of the bat’ and hence, were more successful. Shoaib Malik, who made his international debut in 1999, featured in plenty of games against India. He scored 1782 runs against the Men in Blue in ODIs at an average of 46.89.

“Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra targeted the edges of the bat. Hence, they took many wickets against Pakistan. If a bowler targets the edge, he will be more successful. I feel my ability to play the in-swinging deliveries helped me do well against Irfan,” Shoaib said.

Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan train during the 2011 World Cup. (Getty Images)
Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan train during the 2011 World Cup. (Getty Images)

Both the seamers played a great role in India’s success in the 2000s culminating in victory in the 2011 World Cup. Zaheer Khan was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup – 21 scalps along with Shahid Afridi. In fact, left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan had dismissed the right-hander Shoaib Malik 6 times in ODIs.

Ashish Nehra played 17 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 27 T20Is picking up more than 200 international scalps. He played his last Test in 2004 and last ODI in 2011 but at 36 he revived his international career because he had reprised the ability to move the ball at 140 kph, and became one of India’s most successful bowlers in the 2016 World T20. Zaheer Khan played 92 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 17 T20Is picking up 311, 282, and 17 scalps respectively.

Shoaib Malik’s last T20I was in September 2020 and his last ODI in June 2019. He played 35 Tests, 287 ODIs, and 116 T20Is amassing over 10,000 runs in all three formats combined averaging above 30 in each. Shoaib Malik became the first Pakistani batsman to score 10,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket in October 2020. He is married to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.

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Rishabh Pant. - SANDEEP SAXENA
Rishabh Pant. - SANDEEP SAXENA
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IPL 2021: Virender Sehwag Won’t Give Rishabh Pant Even 5 Out Of 10 For Captaincy

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Virender Sehwag lashed out at Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant for not utilizing the bowlers properly and rated his captaincy 3 out of 10.

In a nail-biting contest, Delhi Capitals lost by one run, to Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore on Tuesday.

Rishabh Pant Photo: BCCI
Rishabh Pant Photo: BCCI

Virender Sehwag: Rishabh Pant Won’t Be Given Even 5 Marks Out Of 10 For Captaincy As He Failed To Manage Bowling Resources

This was Delhi’s second loss in the competition, and former India opener Virender Sehwag wasn’t impressed with the way skipper Rishabh Pant led his side. The southpaw along with Shimron Hetmyer scored half-centuries, but could not take his team over the finish line.

“I won’t give him even five marks out of 10 for his captaincy because you just can’t make such mistakes. If your main bowler isn’t bowling, your calculations go wrong – that’s what captaincy is all about. You need to take care of that. A captain must manage his bowling resources according to the situation.”

Virender Sehwag and Rishabh Pant
Virender Sehwag and Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: Twitter)

“You need to learn that. Or else you hand over the ball to whomsoever you want. The capability of a skipper is measured by how he turns the game around. He needs to make changes in the bowling or field position accordingly,” Virender Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

“So, if Rishabh Pant wants to become a good captain, he needs to keep these small things in his mind. Play smart cricket, then only you can become a smart skipper,” he added.

Rishabh Pant came up with a calculated knock (48-ball 58 not out) and even played second fiddle to Shimron Hetmyer who took the RCB attack to the cleaners at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Despite the duo scoring lot of runs in the final overs, Delhi fell short of Bangalore’s total by 1 run.

Ashish Nehra Criticizes Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals Batting Strategy In Middle And Death Overs

Meanwhile, Ashish Nehra slammed Rishabh Pant’s slow batting.

“The way Rishabh batted in the middle overs and the number of runs he missed out on during the death overs, that was nothing but a poor strategy. If Shimron Hetmyer had lost his wicket early, we could have seen DC losing by 25 runs.

“They planned their chase poorly as two of your set batsmen returned unbeaten and you lost the game by 1 run. That shouldn’t have happened in this format,” Ashish Nehra said.

Ashish Nehra © BCCI
Ashish Nehra © BCCI

DC batsman Shimron Hetmyer scored an unbeaten 53 off 25 balls (4 sixes and two fours). While Rishabh Pant smashed two fours off the final two deliveries and got to his fifty, DC fell short of a victory by 1 run, requiring 6 off the final delivery. Delhi Capitals will play against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday at the same venue.

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Kane Williamson. (BCCI/IPL Photo)
Kane Williamson. (BCCI/IPL Photo)
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IPL 2021: Kane Williamson Praised By Ajay Jadeja And Ashish Nehra Despite His Unbeaten 66-Run Knock Going In Vain

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Kane Williamson was the lone warrior in the 160 odd run chase against Delhi and fought until the last ball of the chase. He top-scored with an unbeaten 51-ball 66 but unfortunately, couldn’t help his team experience the win.

Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja heaped praise on Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson whose efforts went in vain as Sunrisers Hyderabad succumbed to yet another defeat in the Indian Premier League 2021 on Sunday night. While chasing a 160-run target, David Warner-led SRH posted 159 for 7 and tied the game. The match went to a Super Over in which Delhi Capitals came out victorious.

Kane Williamson SPORTZPICS/Instagram
Kane Williamson SPORTZPICS/Instagram

 Kane Williamson Keeps Calm And Gives 100% Irrespective Of Situation: Ajay Jadeja

In a conversation with Cricbuzz, Ajay Jadeja said that Kane Williamson is the kind of person who believes in keeping the basics right, no matter what the conditions are.

“You always get a good feeling after watching Kane Williamson. He keeps calm and no matter what the situation is, he gives his hundred percent efforts. He kept going on till the end against Delhi Capitals. Prior to the last four overs, I didn’t feel SRH could take the game till the end but Williamson didn’t lose the nerve.”

“SRH needed 5 off four balls after that six in the last over. There were a couple of dot balls and the game should have gone in SRH’s favour. But whenever you look at him [Williamson], you won’t feel that whatever was required to be done for the game, was not done. He keeps the basics right,” Ajay Jadeja told Cricbuzz.

Ajay Jadeja
Ajay Jadeja (Photo- Twitter)

“Unlike other big names in the side, Williamson is a player who isn’t bothered by the situation of the wicket or the kind of bowler he is facing. He keeps on doing the basics and maintains his consistency,” he added.

SRH played the first three matches without their talismanic batsman Kane Williamson and the David Warner-led side also failed to register a win initially in IPL 2021. SRH registered victory against Punjab Kings in their 4th game where Kane Williamson returned and scored an unbeaten 16 to see SRH winning by 9 wickets. The team lost again to Delhi Capitals albeit the Super Over to be placed 7th with only 2 points.

Kane Williamson Is Very Calculative While Taking A Risk: Ashish Nehra

Meanwhile, a former Indian and SRH pacer Ashish Nehra lauded Kane Williamson’s mindset and said that the Kiwi cricketer has the ability to find out the solution to every situation.

“I’m not saying that was impossible. But Kane Williamson didn’t do that. He stepped out for singles and didn’t go for a six. That defines how strong his mindset,” Nehra told Cricbuzz.
Ashish Nehra © BCCI
Ashish Nehra © BCCI

Kane Williamson has amassed 82 runs in 2 games without being dismissed after being left out of the XI in the first 3 matches that SRH lost due to injury concerns.

After suffering a loss against Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), SunRisers Hyderabad batsman Kane Williamson said that he is getting tired of coming second in the Super Overs.

Kane Williamson has been a part of quite a lot of Super Overs, and the most famous is the 2019 World Cup final, where his side New Zealand ended up missing out on winning the trophy after Super Over ended in a tie and England won the World Cup on the basis of the controversial and now-defunct boundary-countback rule.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore. Image Credits: Twitter
Royal Challengers Bangalore. Image Credits: Twitter
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IPL 2021: RCB Must Retain Core Group And Should Try To Finish In Top Two, Says Ashish Nehra

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Ashish Nehra, former Indian pacer heaped praise on Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) after they registered a massive 10-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match number 16 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.

A brilliant bowling performance from Mohammed Siraj (3/27) and Harshal Patel (3/47) restricted the Royals to 177 for 9. In reply, RCB chased down the target 27 balls to spare as Devdutt Padikkal slammed his maiden IPL ton (101* off 52 balls) while captain Virat Kohli returned unbeaten on 72.

RCB openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal put on a 150-run partnership against RR in Mumbai on Thursday. - BCCI/IPL
RCB openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal put on a 150+ run partnership against RR in Mumbai on Thursday. – BCCI/IPL

Ashish Nehra: RCB Should Confirm  Their Playoff Qualification And Try To Finish In The Top. 2

This was the fourth win on the trot for RCB and now they are the top-placed team on the points table with 8 points. While speaking to Cricbuzz, Ashish Nehra reckoned that RCB shouldn’t lose the momentum and must aim to finish the league stage among the top two.

“Virat Kohli, as a skipper, never take things lightly. The way they have started their campaign and won four in four, they shouldn’t limit themselves. I remember when I was in Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and when we went to South Africa in 2009.

“We experimented with a few things towards the end of the league phase as we had already won around 10 out of 12 games. So first, they should confirm their play-off qualification and try to finish in the top 2,” Ashish Nehra told Cricbuzz.

Ashish Nehra- ET Bureau
Ashish Nehra- ET Bureau

Devdutt Padikkal scored 101 runs and helped RCB chase down RR’s target in just 16.3 overs with ten wickets in hand in an IPL 2021 match. It was an impressive display from the left-hander as he smashed 6 sixes and 11 fours during his entertaining 52-ball unbeaten knock. RCB is one of the teams yet to win IPL.

Ashish Nehra: RCB Couldn’t Have Started Better And Should Keep Valuable Players In Their Core Group

Ashish Nehra opined that the RCB should keep the likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Mohammed Siraj, and Washington Sundar in their core team and try to maintain the winning streak.

“RCB couldn’t have got a better start than this. Moreover, they have found several valuable players –other than Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers – in Devdutt Padikkal, Mohammed Siraj, Chahal, and Washington Sundar. They should keep them in their core group.

“And this team has got the potential that we have seen in previous editions. The way they took off this season, let’s hope that they can end the things in a similar way,” he added.

AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli
AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli

Chasing 178, openers Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli (72 n.o.) made short work of the target. During the course of his knock, Virat Kohli became the first cricketer to cross 6,000 runs in the IPL. In IPL 2021, apart from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell have also scored above 120 runs. Glenn Maxwell in fact is the 2nd highest run-scorer with 176 runs in IPL 2021 so far.

On the other hand, Harshal Patel is the leading wicket-taker with 12 scalps while Kyle Jamieson (6) and Mohammed Siraj(5) have also been among wickets. Bengal spinner Shahbaz Ahmed has the best bowling average of 7.

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Kings XI Punjab
Kings XI Punjab. Image Credits: Twitter
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IPL 2021: Ashish Nehra Questions Punjab Kings’ Baffling Strategy

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Ashish Nehra pointed out that Punjab Kings failed in managing its bowlers which cost them the game despite putting a pile of runs.

Former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra has slammed Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul for poorly managing his bowlers against Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 match No. 11 in Mumbai on Sunday. Despite setting up a huge 196-run target, the PBKS lost the game by six wickets and 10 balls to spare.

Ashish Nehra © BCCI
Ashish Nehra © BCCI

Ashish Nehra Criticized Punjab For Not Giving Early Overs To Bowlers Who Were Expensive Buys

Shikhar Dhawan played terrific innings during the chase, scoring a 49-ball 92 to guide DC to a comprehensive victory. His innings included 13 boundaries and 2 sixes. After the match ended, Ashish Nehra pointed out that Punjab failed in utilizing its bowling resources which cost them the game despite putting up a pile of runs.

While speaking to Cricbuzz, Ashish Nehra said that the team needs to come out with a better strategy in the upcoming games.

“See, there are a few things which every player wants to do in this format. You like to bowl well, bat well, field brilliantly. You have good or bad days, it’s a common thing in this game. But there are certain things which are in your control, at least that you can do,” Nehra told Cricbuzz.

Kings XI Punjab bowler Arshdeep Singh (Photo| ANI)
Kings XI Punjab bowler Arshdeep Singh (Photo| ANI)

“You didn’t give early overs to your most expensive overseas bowlers. Meredith came after 10 overs and picked the wicket of Steve Smith in his first over. Even Shami bowled four overs in four different spells. You preferred Arshdeep to begin with. So, where will you control the game from – frontend or the backend?” added Nehra.

KL Rahul opened the innings with Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh and then after one over spell from both gave the ball to Jhye Richardson and Jalaj Saxena.

Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh were once again brought for one over each and then KL Rahul gave the ball to Deepak Hooda. Australia’s Riley Meredith, who is known for his express pace, came into the attack in the 11th over and he was able to strike in his very first over, dismissing his countryman Steve Smith.

Ashish Nehra: Punjab Needs To Come Up With A Better Strategy As They Messed Up Their Bowling Plans

The former cricketer also stated that the PBKS skipper and coach need to sit down together and come out with better plans for the upcoming games.

“If such is the strategy, then even KL shouldn’t open from next time. Either they send Jalaj Saxena, Shami or Shahrukh – whomsoever may they want. So, Rahul, as a captain, needs to think and sit down with Anil Kumble to discuss because they need to come up with a strategy that I didn’t understand today,” said Nehra.

Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul during match vs RR on Monday (PTI Image)
Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul during a match vs RR on Monday (PTI Image)

Ashish Nehra added that if this stratagem is to be followed then Jalaj Saxena and Shahrukh Khan can open the batting innings for Punjab Kings in the next match. Kings XI Punjab will be disappointed with their bowling performance as DC cruised to the target of 196 with 10 balls to spare.

Punjab Kings had won their first match against Rajasthan Royals with skipper KL Rahul scoring 91 as they amassed 221/6 in stipulated 20 overs before Rajasthan almost pulled off the impossible with their skipper Sanju Samson scoring IPL 2021’s first ton. His 119 went in vain as Punjab won by 4 runs. Punjab performed poorly against CSK after a batting failure saw them scoring only 106/8.

Furthermore, KL Rahul’s strike rate in their 3rd match against Delhi has also come under scrutiny as he scored 61 off 51 balls at a below-par strike rate of 119.51. Punjab Kings will now make a pitstop at Chennai, where they will face Sunrisers Hyderabad on 21st April.

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