Indian Cricket Team Updates

The All-India Senior Selection Committee met at the Cricket Centre, Mumbai, earlier today, to pick the Indian team for the Test series against the West Indies, to be played in November 2013. The team is as follows: INDIA Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, R. Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma. Ravindra Jadeja has a shoulder strain. The Physiotherapist of the Indian team has advised two weeks’ rest for him, after the end of the ODI series against Australia, as a precautionary measure.   Related Links: West Indies tour of India - 2013 Schedule and Fixtures source: bcci.tv

Statistical Highlights from the 6th ODI between India and Australia: # Virat Kohli's 17th century (115 not out off 66 balls) in ODIs is his third vs Australia. # Kohli's strike rate of 174.24 is the third highest by an Indian batsman in ODIs (minimum 100) - the highest being Kohli's 192.30 during his innings of 100 not out off 52 balls vs Australia at Jaipur on October 16, 2013. (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 6th ODI 2013 - Report ) # India have won 16 ODIs when Kohli has recorded a hundred. His record in Indian wins is 3708 runs at an average of 69.96 in 73 matches, including 16 centuries and 15 fifties. # In successful chases, Kohli is averaging 86.53 - his tally being 2596 in 46 matches, including eleven centuries and twelve fifties. # Kohli is the first player to amass 1000 runs in the last three calendar years in ODIs i.e. 1381 in 2011, 1026 in 2012 and 1033 in 2013. # Kohli is averaging 60.80 vs Australia in ODIs - his tally ...

No, it wasn’t the repeat telecast of the second ODI, in Jaipur. India indeed chased down a 350-plus total for the second time in the series. And yes, it was Shikhar Dhawan (100 off 102) and Virat Kohli’s (115* off 66) centuries that got them home again. India’s sensational batting gave them a six-wicket win in Nagpur and a chance to win the series in Bengaluru. (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 6th ODI 2013 - Stats Highlights ) Dhawan, taking his love affair with Australia to a new level, strolled his way to his fourth ODI hundred. With his fifth consecutive 50-plus ODI score, the colour purple of Virat’s form became a tinge richer and deeper. During his 178-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma, Shikhar batted exactly according to the needs of the chase – he was solid yet attacking and took calculated risks. The left-hander scored most of his boundaries flicking and cutting the ball. He also played the odd sweep and paddle sweep to the spinners. Australia’s chang...

Tendulkar averages 81.8 in Mumbai wins Sachin Tendulkar's unbeaten 79 against Haryana was his 19th half-century in the Ranji Trophy and his 115th in first-class cricket. This was Tendulkar's first fifty-plus score in eight first-class innings since his 81 against Australia at Chennai earlier this year. Tendulkar has ended his Ranji Trophy-career with an average of 81.8 in Mumbai's wins; he has hit 2290 runs from 23 matches including nine centuries.  Harbhajan's first five-for in 39 first-class innings Harbhajan Singh's bowling figures of 6 for 54 against Odisha in Punjab's opening match are his best in the tournament. The last time Harbhajan took a five-wicket haul in a first-class match was against South Africa in Cape Town in 2011, when he took 7 for 120 in the second innings. Between these two innings, Harbhajan has taken 57 wickets from 38 first-class innings, at an average of 38.3 and a strike rate of 94.0. First hat-trick in Ranji for Guj...

Here is the round-up for Day 4 of the first round:   Group C  Tripura vs Maharashtra: Maharashtra beat Tripura by nine wickets in the first round of the season. Chasing a paltry 63 in the second innings, the home team sailed to victory in Pune. (Also Read:  Ranji Trophy 2013-14: Group C, Oct 29 ) Earlier, Tripura were bowled out for 218 after resuming on 28 for one. Sachin Chaudhari claimed seven wickets to help bundle the opposition out on the fourth day, while Shrikant Mundhe took three wickets. Assam vs Kerala: In the drawn game in Guwahati, Kerala claimed three points on the basis of their first-innings lead, while Assam got one for their effort. The home team was 217 for nine in the second innings when play ended on the last day. Himachal vs Goa: The match between HP and Goa was another first round match to end in a draw. Hosts Himachal, who had posted a mammoth score of 558 in the first innings, collected three points on the basis of their...

Here is the round-up for Day 4 of the first round:  Group B  Saurashtra vs Rajasthan : After their batsmen posted 475 on the board, the Saurashtra bowlers ran through the Rajasthan line-up twice to bowl the team to an innings and 31-run win. While Rajesh Bishnoi posted a century, the rest of the lower order caved in to the Saurashtra bowlers. Following on, they were bowled out for 308 in the second innings. DA Jadeja finished with a four-for in the innings, while Abhishek Bhatt took two and the rest of the bowlers, except Jaydev Shah, chipped in with a scalp each. Tamil Nadu vs SSCB : Tamil Nadu gained three points on the basis of their first-innings lead from their drawn encounter against Services. (Also Read:  Ranji Trophy 2013-14: Group B, Oct 29 ) Earlier, resuming on 245 for five, services were bowled out for 346 in the first innings on the fourth day, following which TN made 117 for five in their second innings, until the match was called off. MPCA vs ...

With a well-compiled unbeaten 79-run knock, Sachin Tendulkar helped Mumbai to an outright win against Haryana to begin the Ranji Trophy 2013-14 season on a winning note. Punjab, Gujarat were among the other teams to post thumping victories in their opening games on the last day of the opening round. Here is the round-up for Day 4 of the first round:  Group A  Haryana vs Mumbai : Requiring only 39 runs with four wickets in hand on the last day, Mumbai were guided to an outright win by Sachin Tendulkar on a testing wicket in Lahli. The master batsman took the team across the line with an unbeaten 79 and was ably supported by lower-order bat Dhawal Kulkarni (16*) during the chase to post a four-wicket victory in the opening game of the season. (Also Read:  Ranji Trophy 2013-14: Group A, Oct 29 ) Mumbai gained six points from the win. Odisha vs Punjab : Punjab posted a thumping innings and 48-run win over Odisha at the PCA Stadium in Mohali and gained ...

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced the fixture list for India’s tour to South Africa in December 2013. As previously announced, the tour includes two Tests and three One-Day Internationals. India will arrive in South Africa on December 2. India Tour Itinerary Monday, December 2: Arrive in South Africa Thursday, December 5: 1st ODI, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Sunday, December 8: 2nd ODI, Kingsmead, Durban Wednesday, December 11: 3rd ODI, SuperSport Park, Centurion Saturday, December 14-Sunday, December 15: Two-day tour match vs. SA Invitation XI, Willowmoore Park, Benoni Wednesday, December 18-Sunday, December 22: 1st Test, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Thursday, December 26-Monday, December 30: 2nd Test, Kingsmead, Durban Sanjay Patel Hony. Secretary BCCI

Fighting to stay alive in the series, India will look to win the sixth ODI on Wednesday in Nagpur. Refreshed after a six-day break, the Indian team is ready for the battle at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on October 30. While speaking to the media ahead of the match, Ravichandran Ashwin said, “As a whole the feeling that we get is everybody is refreshed and looking forward to the game.” (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 6th ODI 2013: Preview ) The bowlers toiled hard in the nets, working on their skills and focusing on accuracy. The off-spinner himself, Vinay Kumar and Shami Ahmed were among those to work with bowling coach, Joe Dawes, at the practice wicket in the ground, bowling at the target mark on a stump. When asked if there was any change in training methods since the bowlers were seen practicing separately while the batsmen had a session in the nets, he said, “It is not about any special session. It is just that we need to do something specific ...

What Sixth ODI of the seven-match series between India and Australia When Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 13:30 IST (08:00 GMT) Where Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur The Teams India Two consecutive washouts have rendered this series a five-match affair, which means the Nagpur ODI will be decisive in determining the fate of the series. For India it is a must-win tie in order to stay alive in the series. Their chance of doing so will depend significantly on how well the bowlers perform. While the inclusion of Mohammad Shami will be a boost, India must bring in Bhuvneshwar Kumar back in place of Vinay Kumar. The spinners should have a role to play on the Nagpur track. The batting is expected to remain unchanged. (Also Read:  We’re refreshed and positive: Ravichandran Ashwin ) Australia With a 2-1 lead, the visitors will look to wrap up the series in Nagpur itself. Australia have been superior to their opposition in the bowling and fielding departme...