kohli

Surprises in Indian Test team for WI tour in notable absentees, not selections

The Indian Test team for the West Indies tour has been announced.

In a surprise move, Indian selectors rested Sachin Tendulkar. The master batsman  will not feature on the entire West Indies tour. West Indian cricket fans are denied an opportunity to catch one last glimpse of Tendulkar before he bids farewell to the game.

The controversial shoulder injury to Gautam Gambhir and the sudden illness of Yuvraj Singh mean that this is one of the weakest batting sides to tour abroad in recent times.

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Team India for West Indies ODIs announced: Gambhir leads

A point of similarity between Gabriela Pasqualotto and Mahendra Singh Dhoni:

Until today, the two were content playing the game “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t”.

Pasquallotto, of course, was referring to whether she’d make her story public to the tabloids.

She will—if she’s paid and if she’s allowed to write it herself. Fair enough.

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Winds Of Change: Non-American golf, IPL’s Valthaty, badminton skirts and Rafa season

“The future’s in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change”

Lines from the Scorpions’ ‘Winds Of Change’ come to mind when I ruminate over the past week’s happenings in the world of sport.

The song celebrates the changes in the political clime—the end of the Cold War— and was inspired by the band’s visit to Moscow in 1989.

It was the theme song for the reunification of Germany.

Winds of change are blowing over more than one sport.

Cricket Bytes: Really Random Shots on Team India’s World Cup

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The ICC ODI World Cup is almost upon us.

Practice matches—prior to the hurly-burly of the tournament—are in full swing. Teams  are trying out combinations and players are trying out shots and deliveries—making sure that they are set for the real thing.

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Indian cricket: Of team selections and plate to cup journey for Rajasthan in Ranji

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The debate rages on.

Have the Indian selectors chosen the best possible side for the ODI World Cup?

The argument centres on whether there ought to have been a back-up keeper. MS Dhoni—as captain and stumper—shoulders a heavy responsibility.

To his credit, he has borne the burden well and there is no reason to believe that he will not do the same in February-March—should he remain fit.

As for the pessimists, they will wonder who will keep wickets if Dhoni is forced to miss a match.

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Indian cricket: A 5-0 whipping for NZ, South Africa beckons

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Another ODI series ends. India run away 5-0 victors, handing the Black Caps yet another whitewash on their sub-continent sojourn.

Vettori’s team began the tour well. Chris Martin gave India a scare in the first Test. The second Test witnessed another exhibition of their fighting qualities.

The third Test at Nagpur, however, was their Waterloo.