Indian Cricket Team Updates

Virat Kohli has been appointed the new RCB captain. Kohli succeeds the highly respected and successful former RCB captain Daniel Vettori. Kohli’s appointment follows a productive IPL 6 auction in which RCB strengthened their bowling line-up significantly and added capable all-rounders to increase the amount of flexibility in the selection of the playing squad. Dr Vijay Mallya said, “We are delighted to announce Virat as our captain. His hunger to learn, lead, motivate and set an example is unquestionable.” Virat is the 11th highest run scorer in overall IPL history. 1639 runs, Av: 28.25, highest score 73* and a strike rate of 119.28. He has scored 8 fifties, hit 154 fours and 49 sixes. He is also the 3rd highest run scorer in Champions League T20 history. Virat holds the 2nd highest, IPL 2nd wicket partnership record (204*) with Chris Gayle against KXIP in 2012. The same two players also hold the 2nd highest 2nd wicket partnership (141) in the Champions League T20. ...

The nine IPL franchises have confirmed their initial squads for IPL 2013. Under the terms of their IPL contract, the Franchises had the option to extend the agreements with their players for the 2013 season on the same financial terms. A total of 179 players have had their contracts so extended. The Hyderabad franchise owned by Sun TV Network exercised its option and retained over 20 of the players who represented Deccan Chargers in IPL 2012. "The Franchises have clearly focussed on performance in the IPL in making their decisions as to which players will form part of their respective core groups for the 2013 season. Each Franchise has room under the Salary Cap to be able to sign additional players, either by trading or in the auction or, in the case of uncapped Indian players, by direct agreement with the player in question," Rajeev Shukla, Chairman, IPL, said. Each franchise has a Salary Cap of up to $12.5m to spend on their 2013 squad of upto 33 playe...