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India vs Australia

Sourav Ganguly (Source: File Photo)
Sourav Ganguly (Source: File Photo)
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Brad Hogg Credits Sourav Ganguly For Transforming India Australia Cricket Rivalry

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Brad Hogg spoke at length on former India captain and BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly, crediting him for the entire transformation of the India-Australia cricketing rivalry.

It wasn’t that India didn’t win anything before the famous Sourav Ganguly-era. Kapil Dev-led India won the 1983 World Cup, followed by the Benson Hedges World Championship of Cricket in 1985, under Sunil Gavaskar. Even under Mohammad Azharuddin, India came close to winning the 1996 World Cup, reaching the semi-finals.

Sourav Ganguly- Twitter
Sourav Ganguly- Twitter

Brad Hogg: Sourav Ganguly Really Tested Australia And Before Him, India Was Intimated By Australia

However, Sourav Ganguly-era saw India embark upon a new journey, where they were much more competitive, expressive, and much more in-your-face with the opposition, who didn’t back out from a fight on the field. India not only started winning their home games regularly but also became competitive abroad; with some sparkling performances in England, Australia, and Pakistan.

Under Sourav Ganguly, India had a pool of youngsters, who mixed up really well with the talented senior cricketers and made India move past the shambolic match-fixing scandal of 2000. Thus, Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy era remains a talking point to date. Recently, former Aussie spinner Brad Hogg spoke highly of the former Indian captain and credited him for transforming the India-Australia rivalry.

“The one thing that Ganguly did was really test Australia. If you remember that Test match where he made Steve Waugh wait – I think he did not come with his blazer for the toss – he just knew what would rub Australia up the wrong way in that sense,” Hogg told former England, bowler, Steve Harmison on his YouTube Show ‘The Test of Time’.

Brad Hogg was a part of two World Cup-winning Australian teams; 2003 and 2007 © Getty Images
Brad Hogg was a part of two World Cup-winning Australian teams; 2003 and 2007 © Getty Images

He further opined, “I think during that particular time, when we went over there, before that, India were intimidated by us, and it wasn’t until Ganguly came in and started to stand up and fight back and give us the verbal, sort of upset us and get under our skin that things really turned around.”

Besides the 2001 Test series win, India registered a few more emphatic performances against Australia, such as eliminating them from the 2000 Champions Trophy and drawing the 2003/04 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. Sourav Ganguly would not let any opportunity slip to get under Australia’s skin – the famous incident of him making Steve Waugh wait at the toss is a testament to it.

Brad Hogg: Sourav Ganguly Turned India-Australia Matches Around

Brad Hogg, who had the wood over Sourav Ganguly in India’s 2007 tour of Australia where he dismissed the former batsman four times in the Test series, pointed out how Sourav Ganguly’s arrival as captain added more excitement and competitiveness to India-Australia matches.

“The contests between India and Australia started to be like England and Australia. There was a lot of noise, passion, and Ganguly was the one who turned it around and created that atmosphere and created that strength and different brand of cricket that India are playing now,” the former spinner explained.

Virat Kohli, Image Source : AP IMAGE
Virat Kohli, Image Source: AP IMAGE

Many experts and former cricketers also compare Sourav Ganguly and current Indian captain Virat Kohli as leaders, who are both expressive and in-the-opposition’s-face at all times.

Virat Kohli will be eager to break India’s 8-year-long ICC drought in the next edition of the T20 World Cup, to be held in the UAE from mid-October.  Despite some major success, Sourav Ganguly-led India couldn’t win an ODI or T20I World Cup. Hence, Virat Kohli will wish to not repeat the same with his current Indian team.

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Sachin, Hogg
Sachin, Hogg
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Brad Hogg Dismissed Sachin Tendulkar Only Once After He Signed He Would Never Be Dismissed By The Spinner Again

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Brad Hogg, the Australian spinner only dismissed legendary Indian former batsman Sachin Tendulkar once in international cricket but there was no lack of excitement every time the two came face to face with each other. Brad Hogg dismissed Sachin Tendulkar during an ODI between India and Australia in Hyderabad in 2007.

After the match, Brad Hogg revealed how he went up to Sachin Tendulkar asking him to sign the ball, and the former batsman wrote ‘Never again, mate’ on the ball.

Brad Hogg was a part of two World Cup-winning Australian teams; 2003 and 2007 © Getty Images
Brad Hogg was a part of two World Cup-winning Australian teams; 2003 and 2007 © Getty Images

Brad Hogg Reveals Adam Gilchrist And Ricky Ponting Asked Him To Bowl Wrong Ones To Leg Stump To Dismiss Sachin Tendulkar

As it turned out later, Brad Hogg never could dismiss Sachin Tendulkar again and perhaps the dismissal triggered Sachin Tendulkar to go after the former chinaman bowler every time he faced him thereon. One such battle took place in the Melbourne Test match – the Boxing Day Test in the same year. With India batting in the first innings, a well-set Sachin Tendulkar took the attack to Brad Hogg hitting him for two fours and a six in the 39th over to go with a four a couple of overs ago.

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

Talking about the experience of bowling to Sachin Tendulkar, Brad Hogg explained how he was a bit under the pump and how captain Ricky Ponting and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist tried to devise a plan to get Sachin Tendulkar out.

“I think it was a tactic from India as well because I knew there was no Shane Warne or Stuart MacGill. If you’re going to look at a weak link from that particular team, especially in the bowling department, it was going to be me. And that put a little bit of pressure on me,” Hogg told Harmison on the latter’s show ‘Test of Time’ on YouTube.

“There was a moment when Gilchrist and Ponting actually came up and asked me to bowl wrong ones to him. They said what if we keep bowling the wrong ones to leg stump and try to use the minimal footmark outside and try and bamboozle to tie him up. I said ‘look… I’m not comfortable with that. I want to keep bowling my leggies. To bowl wrong ones all the time ball after the ball is quite difficult'”.

Brad Hogg opened up about India’s tour of Australia in 2007 and how he felt a bit under the pump during the Test series in the absence of Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill. Brad Hogg is a former Australia international who played 7 Tests and 123 One-Day Internationals.

A chinaman bowler, he made a mark in ODIs as he was a part of Australia’s World Cup-winning sides in 2003 and 2007. Having announced his international retirement in 2008, he made a stunning comeback in 2012 at the age of 40 and played the ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka.

Brad Hogg Reveals After Sachin Tendulkar Signed He Would Never Again Be Dismissed By The Spinner, It Turned Into Harsh Reality

Brad Hogg added that while the idea was tempting, he was more comfortable bowling the traditional leg breaks, and lauded the greatness of Sachin Tendulkar.

“So I pulled out of that and I just tried to bowl a little bit quicker and tighter and hoped that I could tie the run rate down but he was a test… Sachin Tendulkar. I only got him out once in my career. I got him to sign it. ‘Never happening again’… and it never did. He made sure in that Test series that it was never going to happen again and he just wanted to show his authority,” Hogg added.

Brad Hogg (left) is ecstatic at getting the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar (centre) in the third One-Day International between India and Australia at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on October 5, 2007 in Hyderabad. © Getty Images
Brad Hogg (left) is ecstatic at getting the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar (centre) in the third One-Day International between India and Australia at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on October 5, 2007, in Hyderabad. © Getty Images

“I think that’s what separates the great batsmen from the not-so-great at Test level. They know when there’s the opportunity when to pounce on the weakness of the opposition and I tried to take that risk and that was something I had to stand up to. I did not get his wicket but I felt that I pulled the contest back in our favour.”

Despite their numerous on-field encounters, Brad Hogg has dismissed Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar just once in his career.

In his stellar career that spanned over two decades, Sachin Tendulkar scored 100 centuries across Tests and ODIs — a record that still stands. In 463 ODIs, Tendulkar scored 18,426 runs, including 49 tons, and in Tests, he tallied 15,921, including 51 centuries. On the other hand, Brad Hogg played 7 Tests, 123 ODIs, and 15 T20Is, in which he scalped 17, 157, and 7 wickets respectively, between 1996 and 2014.

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Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Robin Uthappa Reckons MS Dhoni’s Wit Is Sharper Than His Glovework

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Robin Uthappa, the veteran Indian batsman, reckoned that MS Dhoni’s wit is sharper than his wicketkeeping skills. The 35-year-old went down the memory lane when MS Dhoni, in a funny way, tried to get under former England skipper Kevin Pietersen’s skin. MS Dhoni’s antics were regarding a Test match between the two sides back in 2011.

During the game, Kevin Pietersen was given out caught behind with MS Dhoni rolling his arms over. On an immediate basis, the England batsman took the DRS and replays showed that he didn’t edge the ball. Hence, the on-field decision had to be reversed.

Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen (Image Credit: Twitter)

Robin Uthappa Recalls MS Dhoni Spoke Out From Commentary Box To Kevin Pietersen That He Got His Scalp Once

Eventually, Kevin Pietersen scored a first-innings double-hundred as the hosts won it by a massive margin of 196 runs. Robin Uthappa remembered MS Dhoni telling Kevin Pietersen to shut his mouth as the former Indian skipper told him to shut his mouth since he dismissed him.

“I’ll give you an example. MS said to Kevin Pietersen when he sledged him from the commentary box. MS told him ‘listen I’ve gotten your wicket so please keep quiet. So, I think that is proof enough for what he endorses and what he doesn’t. He’s very quick-witted.

“His wit, if not the same speed of his glove-work, it could be faster. MS’ wit is quick,” Uthappa was quoted as saying during an interaction with stand-up comedian Sorabh Pant on his YouTube channel ‘Wake Up with Sorabh’.

MS Dhoni Appeals Bowling at the Lord’s in the first Test between India and England in 2011.
MS Dhoni Appeals Bowling at the Lord’s in the first Test between India and England in 2011. (File image: AP)

MS Dhoni and Kevin Pietersen’s banter on whether the England player was his first Test wicket goes back to 2011. This in reference to a Test match between India and England at Lord’s (21 July 2011). Zaheer Khan was injured and MS Dhoni chipped in with a spell. Nine balls into his spell MS Dhoni almost got a nick from Kevin Pietersen’s bat as umpire Billy Bowden gave him out. However, Kevin Pietersen reviewed it and the decision was overruled.

This incident was once again brought up in April 2017 during an IPL match between Rising Pune Supergiants vs Mumbai Indians. This time Kevin Pietersen was inside the commentary box talking to Manoj Tiwary, who was fielding at slips. He told Manoj Tiwary to go and tell MS Dhoni that he (Kevin Pietersen) is a better golfer than him. When Manoj Tiwary did this after the next ball, MS Dhoni responded saying, “He’s still my 1st test wicket.”

Robin Uthappa Was Made To Stand At The Silly Point To Sledge Ricky Ponting During A T20I Match In 2007

Robin Uthappa also narrated an incident when India and Australia took part in a one-off T20I match in Mumbai back in 2007.

“In 2007 when we played a one-off T20 game against Australia, we were at it. MS would put me in charge of sledging some of the senior members of that Australia team like Ricky Ponting. So, in a one-day game, they would make me stand at the silly point just to chew Ricky Ponting and all. It was great fun,” he stated.

Robin Uthappa with MS Dhoni Image-Twitter.
Robin Uthappa with MS Dhoni Image-Twitter.

Going further with the interview, Robin Uthappa said that he was made to stand at the silly point for the sole purpose of sledging the Australian players, particularly the Delhi Capitals head coach, Ricky Ponting who was in his prime at that point of time. He also said that it was great fun to implement such tactics by ‘Captain Cool’ MS Dhoni. During the only T20I between India and Australia, Ricky Ponting was the highest run-scorer after getting 76 runs from 53 balls.

2007 turned out to be a memorable year for Team India. In MS Dhoni’s maiden stint as Team India’s skipper, the Men in Blue lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup. Later, at the start of 2008, India also won a tri-nation series in Australia. As far as Robin Uthappa is concerned, his career hardly took off. In 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is, the right-hander only managed 1183 runs with seven fifties. In the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), he was a part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), but he didn’t get to play a game.

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Top 5 Indians With Most Ducks Against Australia In Test Cricket 

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The Test series between Australia and India is one of the most exciting contests in the present Test cricket. Though generally, the hosts dominate in these contests, the visitors have also shown their courage to challenge the hosts.

Here we are talking about the top five Indians with most ducks against Australia in Test cricket. Duck (dismissed for 0) is one of the worst experiences for the batsmen, especially in Test cricket.

Top five Indians with most ducks against Australia in Test cricket

Harbhajan Singh – 6 ducks

Top 5 Indians With Most Ducks Against Australia In Test Cricket  1The off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has a great bowling record against the Australian national cricket team. Apart from his off-spin bowling, Harbhajan is also known for his effective batting in the lower-order. The big-hitter has recorded 2 centuries and 9 half-centuries out of his 145 Test innings (103 Test matches).

The right-handed batsman Harbhajan scored 341 runs in 23 Test innings (17 Test matches) against Australia, including four half-centuries. However, he also scored 6 Test ducks against this team, including one golden duck. In his overall Test career, Harbhajan recorded a total of 19 ducks.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

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Australia vs India 2020-21: Team India Demands Ground Staff To Not Touch Pitch Before Start Of Day Two Of Adelaide Test
Team India. Image Credit: Getty Images.
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Australia vs India 2020-21: Michael Vaughan Predicts If India Lose The Pink Ball Test, Australia Will Clean Sweep Them

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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has predicted that India might lose the four-match Test series if they face defeat in the first-ever pink ball game against Australia. The most-awaited day-night Test match will be played in Adelaide from December 17 to 21.

Cricketer-turned-commentator has reasoned that Australia is a much more stronger team than India considering their trio pacer Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins will be up against them. He also stated that Australia has been undefeatable in Adelaide with the pink ball, so they are favourite to win the opening match. Moreover, with Virat Kohli missing the last three Tests, he reckons India could end up losing the series with 4-0.

“India will have to see off that trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins, they have to nullify that the Kookaburra new ball. If not, Australia will prove to be too strong and powerful. The pink ball Test is the key to the series. If Australia, as they generally do in the Adelaide day-night Test, they have never been beaten with the pink ball. If Australia win that Test match and then India lose Virat Kohli for the next three, this could be 4-0 for Australia,” Cricbuzz quoted Vaughan as saying.

Last year India was too good for Australia: Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan. Image Credit: Twitter.

Michael Vaughan noted that India were stronger when they toured last time in Australia, but this year, the host has the firepower in the batting line up as Steve Smith, David Warner and Marnus Labuschange are in the squad.

“India two years ago were too strong for Australia in Australian conditions. They were terrific. The bowling attack of (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, Ishant (Sharma) and (Ravichandran) Ashwin, the Wall (Cheteshwar) Pujara, he was the rock in the Indian batting lineup. They were just too good for the Aussies,” he said

“The main reason I believe they were too good was that there was no Smith, no Warner, no Labuschagne. The Australians are now a better Test match team. They held on to the Ashes in England. Tim Paine is improving as a Test-match captain,” Michael Vaughan said.

VVS Laxman
Team India: Getty images

Virat Kohli will feature only in the opening Test match of the series. He will return home to attend the birth of his first child. In his absence, India’s batting will surely be weak although Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Mayank Agarwal have shown promising performance in the warm-up game.

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A Big Sigh Of Relief For Fans As Sourav Ganguly Discharged From Hospital
Former cricketer Sourav Ganguly (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP) (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images)
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India Are Capable Of Winning In Australia: Sourav Ganguly

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Sourav Ganguly, the current BCCI president believes that the series will be an even contest this time around but believes India led by Virat Kohli are capable of winning in Australia who are back to full strength with the inclusion of David Warner and Steven Smith.

Sourav Ganguly who himself led India to a Test tour in 2003 when they tied the Test series 1-1 against strong Steve Waugh’s Australia after leading India to a famous series win at home in 2001.

Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli.
Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli. Image Credit: Getty Images.

Sourav Ganguly: 50-50 Chance For Both But Which Team Bats Well Will Win

Virat Kohli, India’s most successful Test captain with 33 Test wins, won the last time India toured Australia with Cheteshwar Pujara scoring bulk amount of the runs in 2018-2019. Australia were without Steven Smith and David Warner who were banned for ball tempering offence for a year.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly expects the Test leg consisting of four matches to be a stern challenge for Virat Kohli’s India but reckons they can overcome the challenge.

“Australia in Australia is always tough. They will be a lot stronger with (Steve) Smith and (David) Warner back. Players like (Marnus) Labuschagne have become better,” Ganguly said in an interview.

David Warner and Steven Smith.
David Warner and Steven Smith. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

“It will be a good test for India, but they are capable of winning. It will be a good series.”

As a player, Sourav Ganguly had toured Australia thrice, even leading the country in 2003 when they tied the Test series 1-1 which was best result for Australian tour until Virat Kohli broke the record by leading India to a historic maiden Test series win (2-1) in 2018-19.

“It’s a 50-50 chance for both teams. Runs on the board will be important. Whoever bats well will win the series,” the former captain added.

India has a pace attack consisting of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Navdeep Saini who may be in XI if fit.

“India has the pace attack to match Australia. There is (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, (Navdeep) Saini. The attack is as good as Australia’s.”

Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav are the backup pace options.

Sourav Ganguly: Selectors Will Rethink If Ishant Sharma And Rohit Sharma Are Fit

There could be key additions to India’s 18-member Test squad if the duo of pacer Ishant Sharma and batsman Rohit Sharma recover in time for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which commences later in December after completion of T20I and ODI series.

“We are monitoring Ishant and Rohit. Ishant is not completely out. He will become a part of the Test series,” he said.

“With Rohit, we want him fit for Australia. At some stage if he is fit, I am sure the selectors will rethink his position.”

With Rohit Sharma currently in the UAE with IPL table-toppers Mumbai Indians and Ishant Sharma undergoing rehabilitation in India, Sourav Ganguly said there was the option of flying the duo later than the rest of the squad to Australia despite stringent rules.

“They can be sent later. There are flights to Australia.”

Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma
Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma

Rohit Sharma is recovering from a hamstring injury to his left leg, but his franchise remains hopeful of his participation later in IPL.

Ganguly responded by saying: “We haven’t seen him playing.” when asked if the star batsman should be advised to drop out of IPL to prevent risk of aggravating his injury

The first Test of the Australia series will be played under lights in Adelaide.

“Pink-ball is the way forward in Test cricket.” he said.

Sourav Ganguly had initiated India’s first day-night Test in Kolkata last year against Bangladesh, allaying Indian players’ apprehensions with the pink ball.

“They played with it in India.” said Ganguly. “Players got used to the white ball and ultimately they will be fine with the pink ball too. ”

Sourav Ganguly said India should look at their track record and take confidence for the opening test.

“India won in Adelaide in the last series, which was also the first Test. We won there in 2003 too.”

He also confirmed that the issue of accommodating families with the touring party for the tour has been resolved with support from Australian cricket board.

India will have a domestic season that will begin next year as confirmed by Sourav Ganguly who also expressed hope that the next IPL edition in April-May will be played in India.

“Hopefully the vaccine will be out by that time and we can host it,” he added, while UAE remains a fall-back option for the Indian board.

Teams like Chennai Super Kings are waiting for clarity on auctions, but Sourav Ganguly said it hasn’t been decided yet as BCCI waits for the current IPL to conclude.

Sourav Ganguly named the likes of Sanju Samson, Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal as the youngsters to watch out for after having successful IPL and had a specific message for Mumbai’s Suryakumar Yadav.

“He is a very good player,” said Ganguly. “His time will come.”

The batsman has impressed with his range of strokes and big runs in difficult situations for Mumbai Indians this season, yet failed to find a place in India’s short-format squads to Australia.

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Rohit Sharma’s Progress Monitored By BCCI: Ravi Shastri

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BCCI is monitoring Rohit Sharma’s progress, and there is a possibility that he may play for Mumbai Indians (MI) later in the ongoing edition of the IPL 2020.

Rohit Sharma scored 260 runs in nine matches before hamstring injury saw him warming the bench in Mumbai Indian’s last 4 matches after injuring himself in the match against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) where the match went into double Super Overs.

Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma (Image Credit: IPL)

Rohit Sharma Could Be In Danger Of Injuring Himself Again – Ravi Shastri Reveals Medical Report

Rohit Sharma’s medical report stated that he could be in danger of injuring himself again and head coach Ravi Shastri advised him not to rush his comeback soon.

The star Team India batter Rohit Sharma is recovering currently from a hamstring injury after which he was left out of the India squad in all formats for the Australian tour. On the same day, he hit the nets for Mumbai Indians which prompted guesses on his fitness status.

Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri. Photo Credit: BCCI.

Ravi Shastri said the selectors took the call not to include Hitman Rohit Sharma in the squad in Tests and limited-overs 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.

“I have no say, neither I am a part of the selection. All I know is the medical report which says he could be in danger of injuring himself again,” Shastri said.

The tour of Australia comprises three T20 Internationals, 3 ODIs and four Tests. The series is scheduled to start on November 27 with limited overs.

Rohit Sharma And Ishant Sharma Will Be Missed In Australia – Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri advised Rohit Sharma not to make the same mistake he made during his playing days by playing without being 100% fit.

“There is nothing more frustrating for a player than he gets injured. Sometimes you know, you want to get out of that room of yours and try and see how quickly you can come back,” said Shastri.

“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% of there is a chance of it going again.”

The BCCI is currently monitoring Rohit Sharma’s progress, and Ravi Shastri hopes his case is not that serious and there is a possibility that he may play for Mumbai Indians later in the IPL if he recovers from injury.

“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 3-4 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 same with Ishant (Sharma),” said Ravi Shastri

Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma
Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma. Photo Credit: Twitter.

Ishant Sharma, who plays for Delhi Capitals, also got injured during the IPL along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar of SunRisers Hyderabad. Ravi Shastri said the Indian team selected for the tour is bound to miss players of Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma’s calibre.

“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,” said the head coach.

In Rohit Sharma’s absence, KL Rahul has been named as vice-captain in the limited-overs format.

“It is not surprising at all. He captained the side in New Zealand (during the T20 series) when Virat and Rohit were not on the field,” added Shastri.

Ravi Shastri was not surprised with the selectors’ decision as he expected so since KL Rahul captained the side when both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli was not present on the field.

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Image Credits: BCCI
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Indian Cricketers Can Be Accompanied By Families For Australia Tour: BCCI

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Families can accompany Indian cricketers on the two-and-half month tour of Australia which includes three ODIs, as many T20Is and four Tests after BCCI confirmed the same. BCCI were earlier reluctant and unwilling to allow families of cricketers due to stringent quarantine restrictions in Australia but reconsidered their decision after requests from a few senior players.

Many cricketers would have been without their family for six months by the end of the series after the conclusion of four Tests in Australia had BCCI not managed to convince the Australian cricket board to allow a jumbo touring group of 60 members for the bilateral series.

Cricket Australia And BCCI
Cricket Australia And BCCI

Indian Cricketers Requested BCCI To Allow Family Which Some Of Them Didn’t Bring To UAE

Some Indian cricketers requested BCCI to allow family since some of them didn’t bring families to UAE where IPL 2020 is being held.

“A few Indian players had requested us to allow family because some of them didn’t bring their wives to UAE,” a BCCI official said.

BCCI
BCCI

“We have informally informed players that they can take their families. Their families passport details have been taken,” a BCCI official told The Indian Express.

Sporting events are taking place in Australia most of the time with 50 per cent crowds in most of the stadiums, and Cricket Australia was in talks with local health authorities who were strict on the logistics of staying in a bubble and the limited number of people in the touring party.

The Indian team is scheduled to depart to Australia via a chartered flight from Dubai after the conclusion of IPL 2020. The players will be undergoing a 14 days quarantine in Sydney; however, like UAE, they will be allowed to train and use practice facilities after seven days.

Indian Cricketers Have Been Arranged Chartered Flight For Flying Back To India After ODI Series For Those Who Aren’t In Test Squad

The players have also been given a choice if they want their families to return to India after the ODI series or come back with them after the Test series is over. Virat Kohli will lead Indian cricketers in all three formats.

“The board has arranged a chartered flight for those players who will not be part of the Test squad. They will fly back to India after a one-day series. It’s up to players whether they want to send their families after one-dayers or after a Test series gets over,” official added.

Indian cricketers
Indian cricketers. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Though players will be allowed to use practice and gym areas in Australia, Indian players want similar kind of arrangement to be made for their families as it was in the UAE for the IPL 2020. Many IPL franchises allowed players to bring wives and girlfriends to the UAE.

Since a designated area was in place to meet and greet, players and families didn’t have much problem to adjust.

India will play three T20, three ODI’s and four Test matches against Australia starting from November 27. It will be the first full-fledged bilateral series after the pandemic for the Indian team.

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Australia team celebrate their win. Credits: Getty.
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Cricket Australia Signs Remarkable Deal With Vodafone As India-Australia Series Gets New Sponsor

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Cricket Australia’s interim Chief Executive, Nick Hockley has announced multinational telecommunications company — Vodafone as the partners for Australia’s Test team and the Women’s Big Bash League for the next three years. Vodafone is back in the cricket sponsorship after a long span of eight years.

Team Australia will have their new partners in the upcoming test series against India, later this year. The team had a partnership with a real estate firm which they decided to terminate after the end of two years.

Vodafone
Image Credits: logos and brands.directory

They’re with us through thick and thin: Nick Hockley on Vodafone

Hockley has praised Vodafone for their rich history with cricket and their great knowledge of the sport. He also mentioned the suffering of businesses in the pandemic hit the world and thanked Cricket Australia’s sponsors to have stood with them through tough times.

“Vodafone has a long history with cricket and it’s great to reconnect with them. They are very knowledgeable and know their sport. Hockley told cricket.come.au

“Businesses have been doing it tough, but what’s been incredible and overwhelming is the strength of support and loyalty that our partners have shown us. They’re with us through thick and thin.” he added.

Cricket Australia tweeted a video of Tim Paine welcoming Vodafone with a number of other Australian men and women cricket players showing off their skills in the video.

https://twitter.com/CricketAus/status/1300934300615897088

BCCI fail to find sponsors for Team India’s jersey

The BCCI in its new bid had kept a base price of Rs 65 lakh per match compared to the Rs 88 lakh during the last cycle. The pandemic hit the market has forced BCCI to cut the per match fees substantially, but the last sponsor Nike rejected the deal. Puma and Adidas were reportedly interested in a deal but none of them offered up a bid despite the BCCI lowering their base price.

India
Team India Jersey. BCCI

A report by The Mirror said that the brands willing to bid wanted a guarantee of some kind of promotion for their brands, which the BCCI did not guarantee.

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Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav. Photo Credit: Getty Images.
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I Asked Mahi Bhai What To Bowl: Kuldeep Yadav Recalls MS Dhoni’s Suggestion For His First International Hat-Trick

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Indian left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav has recalled the time when he asked MS Dhoni for suggestions for which bowling variation to use on his hat-trick ball. He also recalled his first international hat-trick and how Virat Kohli played a part in it. In 2017, Kuldeep bagged his first international hat-trick playing against Australia at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

India had put up an easy score of 253 runs on the board but Yadav made life hard for the Aussies to chase the easy target and the match was won by India. Half-centuries from Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis were not enough for Australia to reach the mark as they slumped for 202.

Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav (Image Credit: Twitter)

I spoke to Virat Bhai and asked him if I could bowl from the other end: Kuldeep Yadav

The 25-year-old spinner recalled in the ODI match against Australia feeling uncomfortable while donning t-shirt and going to the dressing room to change. He asked Virat Kohli to bowl from the other end which helped him regain his rhythm and bowl perfectly which followed with a hat-trick.

“I remember I bowled the first few overs and I wasn’t comfortable bowling in half t-shirts. So, I went back to the dressing room and changed into my full-sleeve jersey,” he maintained.

Kuldeep Yadav, RCB, Virat Kohli
Kuldeep Yadav and Virat Kohli. Photo Credit: BCCI/IPL.

“I spoke to Virat bhai and asked him if I could bowl from the other end. He said once Chahal’s spell was over, I could bowl from that end. I struck a very good rhythm and started bowling in the spot,” Kuldeep told Kolkata Knight Riders’ website.

Kuldeep Yadav recalls how MS Dhoni’s suggestion worked perfectly for his hat-trick ball

Yadav was on a spree with two consecutive wickets of Matthew Wade and Ashton Agar, after which he went to MS Dhoni for advice owing to the variation to use on his hat-trick ball. MSD told him to do what he felt right but just to keep the ball on the stumps. Pat Cummins was the batsman and Kuldeep got his edge as he bowled a perfect ball.

“I got my first wicket of Matthew Wade and then in the next ball, I plucked Ashton Agar. For the third ball, I asked Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) what to bowl. When you have so many variations, you get confused. He just let me do whatever I felt was right but suggested that I kept it to the stumps,” he stated.

5 Players MS Dhoni Never Used Despite Being In The Squad
Kuldeep Yadav and MS Dhoni (Image Credit: Getty Images)

“I kept a slip and gully in place. Luckily I bowled a good ball and got the edge. Getting a hat-trick at Eden Garden, that too in the first year of international cricket, is a big thing and this was one of the biggest moments of my life,” Kuldeep Yadav recalled.

Kuldeep Yadav will be seen in action for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL this season.

Kuldeep has picked up 39 wickets in 40 IPL matches for KKR and had a poor season last year only managing to scalp four wickets from nine matches. The 25-year-old will look to shine for the Kolkata based side this term.

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