BY SACNILK

Indian skipper Virat Kohli adds one more feather to his hat as he will be awarded the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award at the BCCI awards on June 12 in Bangalore. The board announced on Thursday, June 7.## Virat Kohli has been in exceptional form since last two seasons. He had scored 1111 runs in ODIs with an impressive average of 101 and 896 runs in Test with an average of 89.6 during the 2017-18 international season. ## In this period, he also got his highest Test score of 243 against Sri Lanka in Delhi.## Apart from Kohli, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana are named best international cricketers in women's category for the two seasons respectively, with the awards "recognising and honouring the top domestic and international cricketers across all age groups."## "I congratulate all the winners of the BCCI Annual Awards. The last two years have been fabulous for Indian Cricket with both the men and women's teams doing very well. ## We are proud of their achievements and this is our small way of acknowledging their on-field efforts," Vinod Rai, the chairman of the CoA, said.## Apart from players, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) also being adjudged the best State Association for their "consistent performances in the BCCI domestic tournaments for the 2016-17 season" while the Delhi District Cricket Association will be awarded for the last season.## "Every year we have champion players delivering champion performances. Awards help boost a player's confidence and we only hope that we get more noteworthy performances in the season to follow," said Rahul Johri, BCCI's CEO.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.##

BY SACNILK

If someone asks Ajinkya Rahane which was your favourite Test knock, he will probably choose 48 runs that he had scored against South Africa in 3rd Test at the tough wicket of Wanders, Johannesburg. India had lost that series but won the 3rd test.## Ajinkya Rahane who will lead India in one-off Test against Afghanistan in the absence of the regular captain Virat Kohli talked about fitness, Johannesburg innings, Afghanistan Test and upcoming overseas challenge with TOI on Saturday, June 2.## Here are some excerpts from his interview given to TOI:## The last time you led India, it was an impressive outing. There's another opportunity coming up against Afghanistan## I'm looking forward to it. After the IPL, it's almost like a start of a season, so there is so much to look forward to. There are processes to be put in place on the personal front, responsibilities to be carried out (as captain in the one-off game)## That 48 you scored in Johannesburg (3rd Test), worth its weight in gold?## Two matches down in a three-match series and you get a wicket like that, you're up against the wall and the only way out is a fightback, it's how you react to the situation. Absolute positive intent alone begins to matter and that's exactly what helped us pull off that win. On a personal front, it was immensely satisfying.## That was quite a wicket## We knew the wicket wasn't an easy one but it was equal for both teams. If the wicket was going to make life difficult for us, then it going to do the same to South Africa. It was an equal opportunity contest and I thought we were phenomenal.## Tell us about that innings## It's great that I got an opportunity on a wicket like that one. I knew I was batting really well in the nets. I could feel it. Normally you do have an idea about your game but on a wicket like that, it's your guts that count. When the ball goes from right next to your helmet or even if you're sitting in the dressing room and watching your teammates bat in similar conditions, it's very easy for someone to start thinking a bit negatively. But in that Test, on that wicket, every batsman in the team was like 'ok, right now I want to go out there on that wicket in this kind of a situation'. That's exactly how even my mind was thinking too. Even a century in a different scenario would probably not give me the kind of joy that 48 did.## So, now it's all about carrying the Johannesburg mindset to England## Oh yes, it's the same intent, aggression and attitude that we'll be carrying to England. When you play overseas, it's that attitude which matters, more than your skills. Skill-wise, most cricketers are more or less similar. What probably adds notches to a team's overall performance is the intent with which you approach a game.## And a five-Test series gives more time in the overall contest## It gives you an opportunity to come back into the contest. South Africa is a classic example. The contest would've been completely a different one moving forward from the Wanderers Test. But a five-Test series has other challenges too. For example, it is important to remain fresh throughout the series. The start is always important but carrying that momentum till the very end is equally crucial. The mind should not get tired. That's the key.## Essentially, it's fitness that it all boils down to## That's paramount. As a professional athlete, you have to push yourself. Sometimes, your body says you're tired but your mind tells you something different. Then it's all about following your mind, talking to yourself, letting your mind tell your body to keep going. For the amount of cricket we play throughout the year, training sessions are vital. It's part of your life - you eat, drink, sleep, play, train. You can skip a practice session on an odd day but a training session is what you just can't miss.## And it has to be fun## The trick is to understand your body and in turn, it's about enjoying and having fun. Just the other day I did my yoyo and I was pretty happy with myself. But the challenge is in maintaining that and raising the bar.## Keep in mind, Ajinkya Rahane had captained India against Australia in Mohali Last year. And now he got another opportunity to lead his side as Virat Kohli ruled out from this match after got his neck injured.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading

BY SACNILK

Dinesh Karthik is all set to make his comeback in Test cricket after almost eight years. The regular wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha has been ruled out for the Afghanistan Test after he got injured in recently concluded IPL. ## BCCI confirmed on Saturday, June 2.## Keep in mind, Saha got injured against Kolkata Knight Riders in the second qualifier at Eden Gardens on 25th May. Since then he was closely monitoring by BCCI's medical team. ## But now he is advised to take rest ahead of crucial England tour where India have to play five test match series.## On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik rewarded his recently concluded IPL form where he had scored 498 runs in 16 matches for KKR. He last played a test match in 2010 against Bangladesh. ## He made his Test debut in 2004 against Australia at Wankhede Stadium. Since then he has played 23 Test and scored 1000 runs with one hundred and 7 half centuries.## Parthiv Patel was also in the race of Saha's replacement. He replaced Saha for the last two Test against South Africa earlier this year. But he could manage only 56 runs in those matches. His IPL form wasn't also up to the mark and resulted in, he failed to gain selectors trust.## Wriddhiman Saha becomes the second regular batsman after Virat Kohli who will miss Afghanistan Test. However, Kohli had already opted out himself from this match before he got his neck injury in IPL. ## He was keen to play in county cricket for Surrey that period but his injury forced him to miss county cricket as well as Afghanistan Test.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

Wriddhiman Saha, who got injured while playing in the second qualifier, doesn't seem to be an optimist about his selection in a one-off Test match against Afghanistan. ## However, the BCCI hasn't named his replacement yet that means they wanted to give him enough time to recover before the match. The BCCI is keeping a close watch on Wriddhiman Saha's injury.## "The BCCI is keeping a track of my injury on a day-to-day basis. The decision lies with them," Saha said. To be honest, I might not be fit for that game. It's not in my hands," Saha said.## However, Saha is not clear about the situation whether he will be playing or not. "I don't know the exact situation, so I cannot comment on whether I would be taking part in the Afghanistan Test," he said on Thursday. "The BCCI doctor will have the final say," he added. ## The concerned doctor will examine afresh X-ray plate of the injured thumb before deciding whether Saha needs to undergo a surgery. "The doctor will take a call next week," he stated.## Keep in mind, Wriddhiman Saha got his thumb injured while batting in the second qualifier against Kolkata Knight Riders. However, he kept playing further but didn't look comfortable in his whole innings. He also seemed to be in trouble while keeping.## Saha had a forgettable season of Indian Premier League. In the injury mered season, the right-hand wicketkeeper-batsman could score only 122 runs in 11 matches. But he believes that his T20 form will not affect his Test match form.## "I couldn't bat the way I wanted to in the IPL. But Test and T20 are different ball games. I hope to do well in the longer version," he remarked. ## "Every match is difficult. When you play at home, there is actually more pressure. Nobody expects us to lose a Test match at home," he said.## For more and latest news about Cricket, Stay tuned to us. ## Thanks for Reading!

BY SACNILK

BCCI has announced the 16-man ODI squad for three-match series in England. KL Rahul, who is in a sublime form in ongoing IPL, has been included in the squad while Ambati Rayudu, who is the highest run-getter in this IPL, has also been picked. On the other hand, Ajinkya Rahane, who was named the captain of the Test side for Afghanistan, couldn't find his place in ODI squad.## Rahane was the part of the Indian squad for South Africa ODIs earlier in this year. He was kept in the team to overcome from team's no.4 woes. However, he started the ODI series with 86-ball 79. But he couldn't continue this form into next matches and could only score 11,8,8,34 in the rest of the series. Manish Pandey also missed out to make it into the 16-man squad.## Selectors have included 27-year-old speedster Siddarth Kaul in both ODI and T20I squad. He is also being in fine form in this IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad. While BCCI brought back Ambati Rayudu, who has not been played an international match since June 2016. He gets his reward for being in great form in this IPL. Umesh Yadav, who was dropped after ODI series against Australia also been recalled for the both ODI and T20I squad.## In the spin department, its look like there is no place for Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the shorter format. Axer Patel also left out as Washington Sunder made it to the squad. Dinesh Karthik and Shreyas Iyer also retained their spot.## India will start their England tour from July 3, before that India will play two T20 with Ireland on 27 and 29 June.## ODI Squad:- Virat (Capt), Shikhar, Rohit, KL Rahul, Shreyas, Rayudu, MS Dhoni(wk), Dinesh Karthik, Chahal, Kuldeep, Sundar, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Hardik, Kaul, Umesh## T20I Squad:- Virat (Capt), Shikhar, Rohit, KL Rahul, Raina, Manish, MS Dhoni(wk), Dinesh Karthik, Chahal, Kuldeep, Sundar, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Hardik, Kaul, Umesh.## For more and latest news about Cricket, Stay tuned to us. ## Thanks for reading!

BY SACNILK

The BCCI has announced 15-member squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan on Tuesday (May 8). Ajinkya Rahane named the captain in the absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli, who has opted to play county cricket for Surrey to prepare for the upcoming tour of England.## Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who were part of the Indian team in the Test series in South Africa, have rested. Kuldeep Yadav and Karun Nair, who missed out SA tour, have been included in the 15-man squad.##Rohit Sharma also has rested ahead of India's tour of England and Ireland. While Hardik Pandya, who had a tough tour of South Africa able to make it in the squad. Rest of the team is same as it was for South Africa.## Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Murli Vijay, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Wriddhiman Saha, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Umesh Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for reading.