Virat Kohli - only reason for girls to watch cricket.

Cricketers are treated like gods in India where no one is allowed to use harsh words for them. The critics are blasted if they overhype their assessment on the poor performance of a star player. This game has gained popularity among the female masses with the passage of time. They are the ones who are more emotionally connected to a particular player and no matter how he plays on the field, their love remains intact for that player. Among the current set of Indian players, Virat Kohli is miles ahead of the rest when it comes to his attraction among the opposite sex. MS Dhoni, the Indian captain, is the most famous and also the highest earner in this game across the globe but he is nowhere near to Virat’s popularity.

The Indian vice captain has achieved a lot on the 22 yards but what is it which makes him more famous to the majority of the female population? Kohli, the right hand batsman, ticks all the boxes when it comes to X factor. He carries his heart on his sleeves, which connects him with beautiful faces. Apart from this, Virat Kohli has got an aggressive attitude and doesn’t mind in using it. He has the looks which fires up females even from a thousand kilometers. The future leader of India’s next generation cricketers is not averse to sledging and showing middle finger to the section of crowd. 

VK showing his middle finger in stands during Ind vs Eng test match

He has been often termed as "arrogant", "brash" and "bad boy" by the media but this is what girls are interested in these days. They don’t want a guy to be simple and reserved but instead are ready to fall for someone, who shows his nature and character in front of the whole world. The man under the scanner has got intense eyes, which speaks a lot. He has built strong biceps by working in the gym while his ever changing hair styles suits his personality.

Neither too lean and neither too heavy, Virat Kohli has the perfect physique. He looks stunning in whatever he wears and mind you, he could kill many if shirt or jersey is off from his body. He has got three tattoos inked on his body. One being on his upper right arm showing his own Zodiac Sign Scorpio, the second being a little lower on the same arm and the last one is a Japanese samurai warrior with a raised sword. The Japanese tattoo shows his confidence level both in his personal and professional life. He has often stated that the tattoo of the samurai warrior is lucky for him. If this is not enough for the females, he has keen interest in shopping as well. This is one area which is very close to girls and they like guys, who spend their money in making their wardrobe attractive. Always properly dressed, Virat has an eye for latest fashion trends and has even gone for experiments to make himself look out of the box.

The shades which he wears during the course of international games and even outside the stadiums are trendy. Not just with his dressing sense, he is so comfortable in front of the camera as well. Kohli looks confident sharing space with B-town divas in the TV commercials and certainly adds value to the brands he endorses. He has become the face of many ad campaigns and is fondly watched by his fans of the opposite sex. 

Unlike the former stars, Virat is from a league of cricketers, who likes to work hard and party even harder. Earlier, the cricketers from this Asian country were only interested in cricket and devoted their spare time with families or at hotels. However, Virat is different in this case. He loves to party and is often seen at famous pubs in his free time. The dashing Indian cricketer is one of the richest cricketers around and likes to spend it too on cool and pricey accessories. The height of his fame was witnessed by the world when one of the female English cricketers proposed him--Danielle Wyatt. She also met him when Team India was on a tour of England in the ongoing year. 

VK with Danielle Wyatt

He is currently dating Bollywood beauty Anushka Sharma. I know the chances of a common girl becoming the love interest of Virat is minimum but strange things have happened in the past. It is impossible to diminish Virat’s image in front of his female followers as he has stamped his authority on their hearts...

Hope you would have liked it...sightly off topic but its  for some one very near to me...!!!

Ind vs Eng - a thrilling draw..!!

      

"We need to accept what happened on the negative side, and learn from it in the next game."

India captain Virat Kohli is not used to saying such words while leading the side on home soil. Since taking over the reins of the Test team, he has enjoyed a dominant run in home conditions, with the Indians winning six out of seven matches, and the only exception being a rain-affected draw against South Africa.

However, England did come close at Rajkot, and Kohli's men only just escaped with a draw. From being perceived as throwaway favourites ahead of the series, given the troubles the visitors had faced in their tour of Bangladesh last month, India only escaped defeat thanks to Kohli's fightback on the final day. However, the close finish certainly sets the tone for further exciting contests between the two sides.

While England would be rejoicing at the discovery of a hidden gem in Haseeb Hameed, who could prove to be captain Alastair Cook's long-term opening partner, the Indian camp has plenty to ponder over. For instance, the batting unit imploded in the face of pressure, as was the case on the final day, when they collapsed to 71 for 4. Their bowlers, especially the spinners, then got tonked for runs at a time when their English counterparts seemed to have done a fairly commendable task.

After bowling India out 49 runs short of their first innings total of 537, Cook and Hameed deflated the Indian attack to put up 180 runs for the first wicket, a record for England in India.

Hameed, who made his debut in this Test, followed up his 31 from the first innings with 82 in the second, the highest Test score by an English teenager, beating Jack Crawford's 74 in Cape Town in 1906.

While Joe Root coudn't quite repeat his first innings heroics, where he set the foundation for the 500-plus total with a 180-ball 124, Ben Stokes' promotion to No 4 showed the visitors' intent of getting quick runs on the board while giving their bowlers enough time to enforce a result. Cook eventually brought up his 30th Test century - his fifth in India, a record in itself - before declaring the innings once he was dismissed.

If India ever harboured thoughts of chasing down the 310-run target in the stipulated 49 overs, they would have required quick partnerships up the order. Gautam Gambhir did the exact opposite, poking a short ball from Woakes to Root in the slips, thereby also endangering his career yet again. Considering the opener's spot in the Indian cricket team is circled by plenty of hawks, Gambhir ended up did his chances no good, walking back for a duck after being set up by a few short balls.

Things only got worse thereafter for the hosts. Cheteshwar Pujara was adjudged LBW for a delivery that was pitched outside leg (the idea of reviewing it somehow went for a walk that moment). Vijay, India's other first innings centurion, also suffered a lapse of concentration to be caught at short-leg after a bat-pad deflection.

Ajinkya Rahane did nothing to reduce the negativity that had been piling on him after a poor run in the recent ODIs against New Zealand, playing an atrocious short against a Moeen Ali delivery that stayed low and crashed into his stumps after hitting the pad. At 71 for 4, the visitors were sniffing a 1-0 series lead.

Kohli's unbeaten 98-ball 49 helped save the day for India, and might go down in history as one of his most underrated knocks. Statistics may not convey the tenaciousness of his stay at the crease, but his knock was vital in ensuring the visitors didn't make further breakthroughs and get at India's tail. Kohli got crucial partnerships with Ashwin (whose 53-ball 32 was brought to an end by an impatient drive straight to the extra-cover fielder) as well as Jadeja (scored as many runs as Ashwin, except that he remained unbeaten, and his strokes were cheered more loudly) to secure the draw.

There were few positives for the hosts from this game, the successful pairing of Vijay and Pujara at the fall of the first wicket, and Ashwin continuing to justify his tag as the No 1 all-rounder in the world being two of them. But that takes little away from the fact that the hosts were on the backfoot throughout this match, and they have a lot to catch up on if they are to gain the upper hand at Vizag. There are concerns across all departments of the squad, and the hosts cannot afford any leisure over the next three.

One could say that Kohli and Co indulged in complacency at Rajkot. Only time will tell if they learnt a lesson out of this experience or not.

ICC rankings after Ind vs NZ series

   

Fourth-ranked India will have to win the upcoming ODI series against NZ by at least a 4-1 margin to move up a position in the ICC team rankings. India (110 points) presently trail New Zealand (113 points) by three points but will need to win the series by 4-1 or better to claim the third position. New Zealand pacer   Trent Boult will start the five-match series as the number-one ranked bowler while India’s highest ranked bowler is R Ashwin, who has been rested for the series. In the batsmen rankings, Virat Kohli remains in number two spot behind AB de Villiers. 
  

beautiful stadium @Dharamshala

Among other teams, Australia opener David Warner has surged to a career-best third position but Australia have lost vital points in the ODI team rankings following a 5-0 whitewash at the hands of South Africa. 

Warner has gained nine positions and moved into the top 10 for the first time after accumulating 386 runs during the series in South Africa, including a fighting 173 in the final match in Cape Town which Australia lost by 31 runs. Some fine performances by the South Africa players have helped their team leapfrog New Zealand and India to within two points of world champion Australia s tally of 118 points. South Africa had started the series tied at 110 points and gained six points, while Australia plunged from 124 to 118 points.

De Kock, who scored 300 runs in the series including an innings of 178 off 113 balls in the opening ODI in Centurion for what was the second-highest individual score for South Africa, has moved up five places to fourth rank. Rossouw s 311 runs in the series saw him move up 30 slots to a career-best 32nd rank.

Pakistan s Babar Azam climbed up the table to a career-best 15th position with his three consecutive centuries that helped notch a 3-0 win over the West Indies. Babar s knocks of 120, 123 and 117 saw him make a huge jump of 57 positions as he moved into the top-20 for the first time.

Ashwin on top spot

  Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin today reclaimed the number one spot in Test rankings for bowlers following a career-best match haul of 13 for 140 in the third Test against New Zealand in Indore.

Ashwin, who was named man of the series after he finished with 27 wickets in a 3-0 sweep by India, now has 220 wickets, the most by any bowler after 39 Test.

Ashwin, who finished the 2015 year-end rankings as the number-one bowler and was also at the top briefly in July this year, has joined a select band to have touched a rating of 900 points since 2000, the others being Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn and Shaun Pollock.

  In the rankings for Test batsmen, India’s middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane has attained a career-best sixth rank with scores of 188 and 23 not out.

Rahane, whose previous best was eighth in August this year, has gained five slots after starting the match at 11th position.

Prolific scorer in the New Zealand series, Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Virat Kohli also moved up the rankings.

Pujara’s knocks of 41 and 101 not out have helped him move up one place to 14th while Kohli’s scores of 211 and 17 at Indore helped him move up four places to 16th position.

For New Zealand, opener Martin Guptill has moved up 10 places to 58th with knocks of 72 and 29 while Jimmy Neesham has moved up 12 slots to 70th position.

In the all-rounders’ list, India’s Ravindra Jadeja has reached a career-best joint-third rank.

Meanwhile, Pakistan team does not have a chance to reclaim the number-one ranking from India even with a 3-0 win against the West Indies.

Suresh Raina misses 1st ODI due to fever

The Indian team will be without the services of Suresh Raina for the first One-Day International against New Zealand in Dharamsala as the left-hander is suffering from viral fever. 

In a media release, Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed the development. "The BCCI Medical team has confirmed that Suresh Raina, who is recovering from a bout of viral fever, is ruled out of the first ODI of the Paytm ODI Trophy against New Zealand," the statement read.

The 29-year-old left-handed batsman last played an ODI in October 2015 and was subsequently left out of the team owing to poor form. He was named in the 15-man squad for the first three ODIs against New Zealand. 

Raina was part of the Uttar Pradesh team that played its Ranji Trophy against Madhya Pradesh in Hyderabad. Raina did not bat in both innings, and reportedly flew back home mid-way through the game to recuperate.

The first ODI takes place on Sunday (October 16) in Dharamsala, while the second and third will be played in Delhi and Mohali on the 20th and 23rd respectively.

India on drivers seat

Virat Kolhi scored his second Test double-hundred and Ajinkya Rahane made 188 before India declared their first innings at 557 for 5 and left New Zealand a tricky nine overs to bat at the end of day two. They managed to survive this period unscathed, as Tom Latham and an aggressive Martin Guptill took them to 28 for 0 at stumps.

Kohli and Rahane added 365, India's highest partnership for 4th wicket and subjected New Zealand to three wicketless sessions before Jeetan Patel finally broke through in the first over after tea. Going on the back foot to a quickish length ball, Kohli was lbw trying to work the ball into the leg side.

Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja - promoted ahead of R Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha - then hustled 53 in 9.5 overs before Kohli called them in. In what turned out to be the penultimate over of their innings, umpire Bruce Oxenford penalised Jadeja for running on the danger area of the pitch, awarding New Zealand five penalty runs. Jadeja had already received a caution and a warning.

Kohli, who scored 200 against WI in July, in Antigua, became the first Indian to make two double-hundreds as captain. He also became the first Indian since Sachin Tendulkar in 2010 to score two double-tons in a year. He carried on batting with the same understated authority he had displayed on day one, flowing smoothly along and giving New Zealand no glimpse of a way past him. He hit ten of his 20 fours on day two, including a couple of gorgeous drives down the ground - one, shortly after lunch, off James Neesham, bisected the tiniest of gaps between short midwicket and mid-on - and even a delicate reverse-dab off Santner that sped to the boundary to the left of backward point.

Kolhi having started with posotive attitude will bring wonders for days to come and also have shut the talks of his inconsistence in the longest format of cricket.

ODI squad selected

India have rested R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami for the first three ODIs of the upcoming series against New Zealand, which starts on October 16. All three are key bowlers in the Test team, and the selectors have chosen to give them a break with India set to play 11 more Test matches in the 2016-17 home season.

India ODI squad for first three matches

MS Dhoni (capt), Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey, Suresh Raina, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Amit Mishra, Jasprit Bumrah, Dhawal Kulkarni, Umesh Yadav, Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav

In: Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Hardik Pandya, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav

Out: Yuzvendra Chahal, Rishi Dhawan, Faiz Fazal, Karun Nair, Lokesh Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Barinder Sran, Jaydev Unadkat,

Suresh Raina, who last played an ODI in October 2015, was recalled to the squad, while Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul were unavailable due to injuries.

This was the first India squad picked by the new selection panel chosen during the BCCI's annual general meeting on 21st september.

In the absence of the three frontline bowlers and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was ruled out of the third Test in Indore with to a back strain, the team's seam options comprised Umesh Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, while Amit Mishra, Jayant Yadav and Axar Patel made up the spin options. Like Raina, Mishra too had not played an ODI since October last year. MSK Prasad, India's chairman of selectors, said Raina's part-time spin was a factor in his recall.

India's previous ODI series was against Zimbabwe in June, for which the selectors had rested most of the senior players. Apart from captain MS Dhoni, seven players from that squad - Mandeep, Bumrah, Kedar Jadhav, Kulkarni, Manish Pandey, Axar and Jayant - were retained for the New Zealand matches.

Mandeep, Jayant and Pandya were yet to make their ODI debuts. The 24-year-old Mandeep enjoyed a good stint with the India A side during its recent tour of Australia, scoring 198 runs in six matches in the Quadrangular A-team series, including two successive fifties, one of which was a match-winning innings of 95 in the final against mighty Aus A.

Jayant, the 26-year-old Haryana offspinner, played the two unofficial Tests on that tour, taking seven wickets at 22.57. Pandya, a regular member of  India's T20 side, having played all their matches at the World T20 earlier this year, has not featured in the 50-overs side yet.

Raina was left out of India's ODI squads for the tours of Australia (December-January) and Zimbabwe, and also missed the two T20Is against West Indies in the USA. In between, he had a disappointing run of form in the Asia Cup and the World T20. In the Asia Cup T20s, Raina scored 39 runs in three innings, and followed that with 41 runs in four innings at the World T20. Before his exclusion from the ODI team last December, Raina had managed only one century in the format in 26 matches.

India ODI squad: MS Dhoni (capt), Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey, Suresh Raina, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Amit Mishra, Jasprit Bumrah, Dhawal Kulkarni, Umesh Yadav, Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav

Big blow to Indian Blowing attack

   

 Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was a key bowler in Team India and played a vital role in Second Test helping India gain a massive lead, has been ruled out for the 3rd and final test. 
   
Bhuvneshwar Kumar how took a 5 wicket haul in 1st innings against the Kiwi's in the 2nd test match is suffering from back strain and has been rested for the final Test at Indore.However, Shardul Thakur, young seamer who was part of India tour of Caribbean and was mighty impressive in India A’s tour of Down Under has been named as replacement for the final Paytm test match at Indore. Selectors showed confidence on this young talent and it will be a thing to see how he grabs the oppourtunity.

 India who had just lost Shikar Dhawan due to thumb injury and now Bhuvneshwar Kumar will now be in great trouble in the 3rd test match.

No.1 Spot Regained!!

     The saying "Hardwork and Dedication bring wonders" had come true for team India as they clinched the no. 1 test spot after 614 days under the capataincy of matured Virat Kolhi at the paradise of cricket- Eden Gardens, Kolkatta this monday.

  The rankings of the longest format suffered some changes as India overtook arch rivals Pakistan and regaind the top seat in ICC Test Rankings. India beating NZ in consecatively in 2nd test match by a margin of 187 runs and are leading the 3 match series by 2-0.

    Virat Kolhi praising his fellow teammates and man of the match W.Saha said " Saha is a great keeper and knows how to bat with tailenders." Kolhi who was leading the team from back was on cloud 9 after 131st test victory of India.
    
  For this young team winning is like a habit whivh they would continue for years to come. Kolhi who had represented himself as the skipper in 16 test matches came up with flying colours in 9 of them wiyh 5 draw and jist 2 matches at loss. This stats clearly signifies that Virat is a uprising star with a bright future ahead for himself and the team and would bring glory and pride to this unofficial national sport of India.
    
India now is the BEST TEST TEAM and lets hope that the 3rd match results with the white wash of Kiwi's..
    
     

History of Cricket in India- A religion in India

Cricket, the gentleman's game, is the unofficial national game of India. Though seems to be embedded in the life of country, it did not originate in India. 

The origin of this game can be traced back to a place named Weald, near London. Initially played by the children of the farmers of the region, today it is the most popular sport after Soccer. 

There are many beliefs regarding the origin of the word. Some people believe it to be originated from a French word 'Crequet', meaning a Club while others think it to be derived from an English word 'Crycc'. The game took around 4 centuries to reach India. British brought this game to India in the 17th century. 

The records show that the first ever cricket match in India was played in 1721 AD. Initially accepted by the Parsi community, this game of foreigners began to appear in organized form with the establishment of the 'Oriental Cricket Club' in 1848. 

This cricket club of Mumbai marked the beginning of interest of Indian people in cricket. The first official cricket match was played between Parsis and Europeans in 1877 AD. Till late 19th century people of this country did not open their hearts to the game. 

Sports Centre

 This test match can be assumed to be the match of numbers as India's Ace spinner R.Ashwin had successfully completed his 200 test match wickets in mere 37 matches making him 2nd fastest blowler in the world to do so and 9th Indian to touch those magical figures!! Ashwin now world no. 1 spinner is also fastest Indian to claim 200 wickets followed by Harbhajan Singh who had to wait for 47 matches.
       Ashwin would have comfortably joined with Aus's CV Gremmett who holds the record of clinching fastest 200 test match wickets in 36 matches if the match against WI in Queenz would not have been adoundend due to rain and poor drainage.
   He is also the fastest Indian to reach the mark of 50, 100, 150 wickets. Ashwin is recognised as the best all rounder with 4 test match 100's who tactfully absorbs pressure and perform his best. He is ond of the most important pillar of Indian team.
     Ashwin has also claimed 6 man of match awards- a prestigious honour for any spin blower.

    Lets hope that Ashwin would continue ahead and bring pride for tge country and evolve as the best blower in cricketing world that coming generations would remember.