BY SACNILK

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to begin from 19 Septemeber and the final will be played on November 8 in UAE. The IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed on Friday, July 24 on pending clearance from the Indian government. ## Earlier this week, BCCI had selected United Arab Emirates to host this year's IPL. However, BCCI tried hard to keep the tournament in India but failed as the COVID-19 pandemic is kept worsening in the country. ## The Emirates Cricket Board, and SLC, had approached the BCCI with the offer of playing host to the IPL 2020, stating that they had the required infrastructure for it. With the ICC postponing the Men's T20 World Cup to the next year, a window was opened for the IPL to take place. ## Further details regarding the plan of departure for teams and the full schedule of the tournament will be discussed at the IPL Governing Council meeting scheduled next week. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Indian Premier League 2020 which was scheduled to begin earlier this year in March, will now be played in the United Arab Emirates. Among the few options of holding this year's IPL, BCCI has selected UAE to host the tournament which was postponed earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, BCCI will have to wait for the government's approval. ## "We have written to the government seeking permission to host the tournament in UAE. The dates have not been finalized as yet and will be decided at the (next) IPL GC, which will be held in the next seven or ten days", IPL chairman Brijesh Patel told to Cricbuzz, on Tuesday (July 21). ## After the International Cricket Council (ICC) postponed Men's T20 World Cup 2020 which was scheduled to hold in Australia in October-November yesterday on July 20, the doors were open for the IPL to take place. ## After asserting the COVID-19 situation, BCCI looked at several alternatives in a bid to host the tournament later in the year in India. Boards from several countries - Sri Lanka, New Zealand and UAE offered to host the tournament. Last month, the Emirates Cricket Board had offered to host the tournament in UAE, stating that they had the required infrastructure for it.## In all likelihood, UAE will end up hosting the tournament. However, Brijesh Patel didn't deny the possibility of hosting the tournament in India and hinted that options are open as of now. The decision, however, will be taken in the upcoming IPL Governing Council meeting.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Shanthakumaran Sreesanth is eying on the Indian Premier League season 2021 as he will be available to play the professional career again after completing his 7-year ban in September 2020. The 37-year old Kerala speedster has already begun practicing with the Kerala U-23 and Ranji players. ## The pacer has turned to renowned NBA coach Tim Grover, who has worked with the legendary superstars like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to resorting his guidance to remain mentally fit. He stated that his day begins with Grover's online mental conditioning classes before turning up for an extended indoor nets session in Ernakulam. ## "Grover was one of the biggest names in the NBA. I attend Grover's online sessions from 5.30 am to 8.30 am thrice a week. In the afternoon, I train from 1.30 pm to 6 pm at the indoor nets in Ernakulam with a lot of Kerala U-23 players and Ranji Trophy players like Sachin Baby," Sreesanth told PTI. ## "I am bowling three hours for six days a week. First two hours with the red ball and final hour with the white ball. So, I guess around 12 overs I am bowling every day to build stamina," he added. ## Sreesanth was one of the most promising pacers of India. It was only in 2013 when he was being charged for alleged involvement in spot-fixing during the 6th of IPL which led to his life ban by BCCI only to chopped down to seven years on the advice of the Supreme Court of India. ## During the time of his ban, he has always tried to prove that he was not involved in the fixing saga. Now, the Kerala pacer believes that he can prove people wrong who accused him of spot-fixing by returning in the IPL 2021. ## When he was asked about his chances of an IPL return, he said, "I will put my name for sure (at the auctions) if I am performing well, which I think I will. There are teams that will be interested and I have always told myself that I will again play IPL. That's where I was thrown out and I will make sure I am back on that platform, win matches".## "The only place through which I can give an answer (to the corruption charges) is through IPL even if I play for India. I want to face the fear and that's the only way to live life," he said. ## "Most of my fear was about what people would say when I play my next cricket match. I am sure all those people will realize what I went through and who are behind it. Everything will come out sooner or later. I will make sure that I have that much performance to get picked".## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Team India's vice-captain in the limited-overs cricket, Rohit Sharma, and his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan share a great camaraderie with each other both on the off the field. Both the star players have been involved in many great partnerships over the years in the white-ball cricket. ## Since coming in the light as an opening pair during India's victorious 2013 Champions Trophy campaign, both Rohit and Dhawan have played memorable knocks together and become one of the finest opening pairs in the history of Indian cricket. ## Opening up about his relationship with Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma said while speaking with Mayank Agarwal and Dhawan on the series 'Open Nets with Mayank' hosted by bcci.tv.## "More than anything on the field, we share a great relationship off the field. Knowing each other so well, understanding each other's comforts and discomforts, that is very important. We shared rooms together when we went on India-A tours. So we have got a lot of history together. As a person, we both know each other quite well and that helps a lot on the field".## Shikhar Dhawan too admitted the same and hoped they continue to play for India in the years to come. "We clicked on the field from day one and especially after we started opening for India in the 2013 Champions Trophy. However, we shared a good friendship even before that, right from the U-19 days".## "So that comfort reflected during our partnerships on the field. It has been a beautiful journey with him. I have enjoyed it thoroughly and hopefully, we can carry it for another few years," Dhawan added.## Rohit Sharma revealed a funny incident with Shikhar Dhawan about the later's singing during a match against Bangladesh in 2015 where Shikhar Dhawan started singing loudly in the middle of the field which left the bowler and batsman amused. ## "We were playing in Bangladesh in 2015 as I was standing in the first slip and Shikhar was in third slip. Suddenly he started singing very loudly. The bowler was already in his run-up and the batsman, Tamim Iqbal, was left amazed. He didn't understand where the noise was coming from".## When Jatt ji and Hitman are in conversation, expect nothing less than entertainment 😅😅😅Episode 2 on Open nets with Mayank, coming up soon on https://t.co/uKFHYdKZLG pic.twitter.com/YSUuA2UmkF— BCCI (@BCCI) June 5, 2020 ## "It might not sound as funny right now but when it happened on the field we couldn't control our laughter, it was really funny," Rohit added.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has nominated Rohit Sharma for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2020 while Ishant Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Deepti Sharma have been nominated for the Arjuna Award. ## The Government of India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had sought invitations for the respective awards with the period of consideration beginning 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2019.## Team India's vice-captain in the limited-overs cricket, Rohit Sharma has been in stellar form in the white-ball cricket. He was declared ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2019. In the world cup 2019 in England and Wales, Rohit Sharma was the highest run-getter in the tournament with 648 runs in 9 matches. He also became the first player ever to score 5 hundred in a single edition of the world cup. ## Announcing the nominations, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said, "We went through a lot of data and considered various parameters before shortlisting the nominees. Rohit Sharma has set new benchmarks as a batsman and achieved scores people thought were not possible in the shorter formats of the game. We feel he is worthy of getting the prestigious Khel Ratna award for his commitment, conduct, consistency, and his leadership skills."## On the other hand, the nominees of the Arjuna Award, Ishant Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Deepti Sharma have been one of the consistent players for Team India. Shikhar Dhawan's recent form hasn't been up to his standard but he has been India's prolific run-scorer in the white-ball cricket over the years. He is the only player in the history of cricket to won two back to back Golden Bats in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, and 2017. ## Ishant Sharma is currently the most experienced player in the Indian test team. He has also been very consistent with his performances with the ball in the last couple of years. He has played 97 tests so far and has taken 297 wickets while in 80 ODIs and 14 T20Is, the 31-year old has grabbed 115 and 8 wickets respectively. ## One of the key players of the Indian women's team, Deepti Sharma has been a top-class all-rounder. The 22-year old young batter also holds the record of the highest individual score by an Indian player in the Women's ODI. ## "Ishant Sharma is the most senior member of the Test squad and his contribution has been vital in the Indian team’s long run as the No. 1 Test side. Fast bowlers are prone to injuries and Ishant has had a fair share of them but he has fought hard to be back on the park every time. Shikhar has been consistently scoring at the top and his performances in the ICC events have been significant. Deepti is a genuine all-rounder and her contribution to the team has been vital, Ganguly said.## Talking about the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, it is the highest sporting honour of India. Thus far, only 3 cricketers have been given this award, Sachin Tendulkar (1997-98), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2007), and Virat Kohli (2018). ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

A few days after Suresh Raina urged BCCI to allow Indian players to participate in the foreign T20 tournaments, Robin Uthappa too has the same willingness to play in overseas leagues and urges BCCI to let them go to partake in at least 2 overseas T20 leagues. ## Speaking to BBC, Robin Uthappa said, "Please let us go, honest to God. It does hurt when we're not allowed to go and play ... It would be so nice if we could go and play at least a couple of others because as a student of the game you want to learn and grow as much as you can."## Apart from women cricketers who are allowed to play in overseas leagues, BCCI has never allowed men players to play overseas tournaments. However, Robin Uthappa is hopeful that BCCI current president Sourav Ganguly will look into this matter and his progressive thinking will pave a way forward. ## "Ganguly is a very progressive thinking human being, someone who has always looked to take India to the next level. He actually laid the foundation for where India cricket is now," said Uthappa. "We're hoping that he will look at this at some point," Uthappa said. ## The 34-year old, Karnataka born cricketer, Uthappa was a part of India squad that won the inaugural T20I World Cup in 2007 in South Africa under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. Since then he couldn't fix his spot in the team and has been in and out. His last outing in international cricket came in 2015 when he played a T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

MSK Prasad led selection committee has shortlisted Vikram Rathour as team India's new batting coach. He will replace the current batting coach Sanjay Bangar who could be given India A or NCA (National Cricket Academy) role. Vikram Rathour was the first preference among the 14 shortlisted candidate for the post followed by Bangar and England's Mark Ramprakash who ranked second and third in the list.## Who is Vikram Rathour?## Vikram Rathour was the Right-hand Wicketkeeper-batsman from Jalandhar, Punjab. He played for India in 6 Tests and 7 ODIs during the period of 1996 and 1997. Despite his short international career, he was the prolific run-scorer in first-class cricket. Scored 11,473 runs in 239 innings of 146 matches at an average of 49.66. Rathour scored 33 centuries and 49 half-centuries with the highest score of 254 in the first-class career.## It was pitty that despite promising in domestic cricket, he couldn't find the same mojo at the international level. After making his ODI debut against Pakistan in 1996, he managed to score only 193 runs in 7 matches with two fifties. He averaged only 27.47 in ODIs while his Test average was 13.10 in 6 matches. His last international appearance was in February 1997 against Zimbabwe in an ODI.## As compared to his first-class career, his list A career was modest where he managed to score 3161 runs in 99 matches at an average of 33.98 with 7 centuries and 14 half-centuries. As a wicketkeeper, Rathour claimed 187 catches and 3 stumpings in First-Class while he grabbed 61 catches in List A. He took retirement in 2002 after playing 14 years of professional cricket.## ------------------------------------------## Coaching career -## Rathour doesn't have the vast experience of coaching but he has coached Vizag Victors. Apart from coaching, he was appointed as the national selector from the North Zone On 27 September 2012.## ------------------------------------------## Apart from Vikram Rathour, the current coaches Bharat Arun (bowling coach) and R Sridhar (fielding coach) are also shortlisted as the first preferences of the committee which was tasked with the job of interviewing and recommending members of the support staff. The new support staff will be finalized after the meeting with BCCI executives.## Follow for more...

BY SACNILK

Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has been given an A grade contract after finding himself without a contract last time while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan who were in the A+ category have been dropped to A in latest central contract released by BCCI's Committee of Administrators (CoA).## Murli Vijay found himself without a contract this time around. He was dropped from the Test series during the England tour after his poor runs. However, he was brought back into the team for Australia tour but soon was dropped again as his poor show with the bat continued and hence, he will be without any central contract for the upcoming season.## Some of the players like Axar Patel, Karun Nair, Parthiv Patel and Jayant Yadav who all had contracts in the previous cycle have been left out of the current one while Khaleel Ahmed and Hanuma Vihari who have been awarded the central contract for the first time and have earned a Grade C contract.## Wriddhiman Saha, who had a Grade A contract last time sees himself drop down two categories to Grade C after missing a large part of cricket due to injury. He is currently out from the Test. Dinesh Karthik too dropped a category to Grade C.## Grade A+ (INR 7 Cr):## Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah## Grade A (INR 5 Cr):## Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant## Grade B (INR 3 Cr):## KL Rahul, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya## Grade C (INR 1 Cr):## Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Hanuma Vihari, Khaleel Ahmed, Wriddhiman Saha## Women's contract## The highest wicket-taker in ODIs, Jhulan Goswami who has been retired from T20Is, moved to Grade B while Poonam Yadav earned Grade A contract. All-rounders Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, and D Hemalatha have been awarded a Grade C contract for the first time.## Grade A (INR 50 Lakhs):## Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Poonam yadav## Grade B (INR 30 Lakhs):## Ekta Bisht, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues## Grade C (INR 10 Lakhs):## Radha Yadav, D Hemalatha, Anuja Patil, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mansi Joshi, Punam Raut, Mona Meshram, Arundhati Reddy, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Taniya Bhatia, Pooja Vastrakar## Follow for more...

BY SACNILK

After being suspended from the team in pending inquiry, BCCI acting President CK Khanna has put his foot down in Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul's matter and has allowed them to join the team for New Zealand tour.## "I suggest that pending inquiry, we reinstate both the cricketers in the Indian squad immediately and allow them to join the team in New Zealand at the earliest," Khanna wrote in a mail to the Supreme Court-appointed committee of administrators (CoA) and the BCCI office-bearers. ## Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul made a crass comment in an Indian talk show 'Koffee with Karan' and therefore, they were suspended from the Australia and New Zealand tour in the pending inquiry. ## However, the suspended duo demand an unconditional apology and hence, BCCI President believes that their career should not be kept in a limbo.## "They made a mistake, and they have already been suspended and called back from the series against Australia. They have also submitted an unconditional apology. We must not keep their careers in limbo," Khanna added while urging for a meeting between CoA and BCCI office-bearers.## Khanna also refused to call a special general meeting of the board, as demanded by some state units. "As per the constitution of the BCCI, an ombudsman can be appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). But the matter (appointment of ombudsman) is already sub-judice," Khanna wrote, replying to BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry. ## Both the players are allowed to join the squad in New Zealand. The tour for five ODIs and three T20Is is set to begin from 23 January at McLean Park, Napier. ## The tour will start from ODIs first from 23 January and 3 February and later three T20Is will be played from 6 February to 10 February. ## Follow for more...

BY SACNILK

After the Mithali Raj and head coach Ramesh Powar's controversy, India's T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her deputy Smriti Mandhana came in support of Ramesh Powar who was ready to axed from head coach role and want him continue as coach as both the players feel that India improved a lot under the coaching of former Indian all-rounder.## Significantly, India's ODI captain Mithali Raj surprisingly was benched in the semi-final of the World T20 a few days ago against England and it cost India's exit from the tournament. However, Raj blamed coach Powar for her exclusion and wrote a letter to BCCI and made serious allegations on him saying he was out there to "humiliate and destroy" her.## After the incident, Powar didn't receive an extension of his contract with the BCCI sending out an invitation for fresh applications for the position. However, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana came out in support of him and writing to the BCCI about his positive contributions as head coach of the team and said Raj's exclusion from the playing XI was purely team management's decision (confirmed by CRICBUZZ).## "I am writing to bring it under your notice that how tremendously our team has gone under positive changes in the past few months and has set a benchmark in the world's top teams. Our defeat in the semi-finals was very disheartening and it brings us all to feel more miserable to see how the controversies have stained our image and questioned the entire cricket fraternity," wrote Harmanpreet in an email published by Hindustan Times.## "(sic) Ramesh Powar not only improved us as players but did motivate us to set targets and challenge our own limits. He has changed the faced (sic) of Indian women's cricket team both technically and strategically. He has inculcated in us the sense of winning."## "The decision was entirely based on the cricketing logic and observations from the past. Keeping in mind the need of the hour, me, Smriti, selector Sudha Shah and the coach together in the presence of our manager felt that we should go ahead with the winning combination," the letter further added before urging the BCCI to allow Powar to continue as coach.## "Cutting the conversation short, I, as the T20 captain and ODI vice-captain is appealing before you to allow Powar to further continue as our team coach. There are hardly 15 months for the next T20 World Cup and a month to go for the New Zealand tour. The way he has transformed us into a team, I feel no reason to replace him."## Mandhana added, "It is important for Indian cricket's growth that everybody is on the same page and I believe that any difference can be amicably resolved via discussion."## Ramesh Powar hit back on Raj saying she "blackmailing and pressurising coaches and puts her selfish interests ahead of the team." after she accused him of humiliating and destroy her. The support of Kaur and Mandhana came out as a boost for him as he could reapply for the post.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

The Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) has announced the schedule for series against West Indies on Tuesday, September 4. India will play 2 Tests, 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is against the former world champions.## The tour will start from 4th October to 11th November. The two-Test will be played at Rajkot and Hyderabad and Guwahati, Indore, Pune, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram will host 5 ODIs while Kolkata, Lucknow, and Chennai will host T20Is.## Before the series against West Indies, the Indian team will feature in the Asia Cup starting from September 15. India is a defending champion of this prestigious tournament and will start as a favorite.## Schedule Of India-West Indies Series :## TESTs## Match DATE VENUE 1st 4-8 OCT RAJKOT 2nd 12-16 OCT HYDERABAD ## ODIs Match DATE VENUE 1st 21 OCT GUWAHATI 2nd 24 OCT INDORE 3rd 27 OCT PUNE 4th 29 OCT MUMBAI 5th 1 NOV THIRUVANTHAPURAM ## T20Is Match DATE VENUE 1st 4 NOV KOLKATA 2nd 6 NOV LUCKNOW 3rd 11 NOV CHENNAI ## For more updates and news about Cricket, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

Former Indian coach and the highest wicket-taker for India in Test, legendary Anil Kumble believes that this time India will have a great chance to win the Test series when they take on England for the 5-match series in England.## This will also be a chance for Virat & Co to assert their supremacy as the No.1-ranked side in the world as conditions will be ideal for India, feels Kumble.## "I feel we possess a good all-around unit. We have a strong bowling group which can pick 20 wickets consistently. If you look at the batting line-up, we possess a lot of experience.## "On an average, the number of Test matches played by our batsmen stands at about 50. Also, the experience of having toured there before will definitely help as they will be aware of the conditions," said Kumble, during an event on Thursday evening.## However, Kumble feels spinners will play a key role this time around. The wickets in the month of July and August will be more suitable for the spinners and that will help in India's chances this time.## "Spinners will definitely play a major role on this tour of England. In the second half of the summer, we do know that the wickets will be more suitable for them. There will be wear and tear on the wickets, and spinners will come into play much earlier than in the first half," Kumble said.## "Conditions in the first half - in the months of May and June - are more challenging in England (for spinners) because of the rain and dampness," he added.## Apart from England tour, Anil Kumble also backs BCCI's approach towards yo-yo test after it's been criticised in recent time as Mohammad Shami and Ambati Rayudu had been dropped from the Test and ODI squad after failing in this fitness test.## "I am sure every player would have been told that this is the benchmark. This is the test and this is the number you need to get or else you are not going to be there is what would have probably been communicated to them (by the board)," he said.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.