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Showing posts with label Ravi Ashwin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ravi Ashwin. Show all posts

Saturday 8 April 2017

IPL 2017: Big Names Missing At This Years Tournament

#IPL10 #IPL
#IndianPremierLeague

The #IPL is underway and we have casualties galore across most teams on display. Teams have spent crores of rupees on players and now they have to scratch their brains for replacements and team compositions.

As the #ICC #Calendar gets busier with every passing year, #Cricketers are becoming prone to #Injuries. Injuries and/or national duties will keep several star cricketers from their respective #Franchises.

Several big names in the business are either going to miss some part of the tournament or have been ruled due to injuries or national team's fixtures.

Here are the cricketers who are injured so far:

#Virat Kohli - Biggest casualty of the IPL owing to the shulder injury he sustained in the #Ranchi #TestMatch against Australia. He will miss a few initial games atleast but will be vary that he will need to be fully fit for the upcoming #ChampionsTrophy in June.

#KLRahul - Will miss the complete tournament
#ABD  de Villiers - Will miss initial games but uncertain for the whole tournament.

#LasithMalinga - Will miss initial games for #MumbaiIndians (#MI). Presently, on national duty for #SriLanka, the slingy #Speedster will add bite to the MI attack when is joins back.

#AselaGunaratne - Initial games
#QuintondeKock (#DD) - Complete Tournament
#JPDuminy (#DD) - Complete Tournament
#RaviAshwin (#RPS) - Complete tournament
#MitchellMarsh (#RPS) - Complete Tournament
#MuraliVijay (#KXIP) - Complete season
#UmeshYadav (#KKR) - Initial matches
#RavindraJadeja (#GL) - Initial matches
#MustafizurRahman (#RCB) - Initial matches

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Monday 3 April 2017

IPL 2017: RPS Skipper Steve Smith Will Not Take Tips From MS Dhoni

#IPL #IPL 10 #IPL 2017
#IndianPremierLeague

#Australia #Skipper #SteveSmith may have just ended a draining Test series against #India, finishing on the losing side, but he won't brook any unsolicited advice as he begins his #Leadership role with #IPL side Rising Pune Supergiants (#RPS)

Steve Smith was a slightly #Controversial appointment to lead the new #Franchise in place of #MSDhoni, the former India skipper who has only played as captain in the previous nine IPL #Editions.

RPS team owner, Sanjiv Goenka, said on Thursday at a team #News #Conference that the change was 'amicable', having earlier explained that the change was made in the best interests of a #Team that had finished seventh out of eight teams on its debut last year.

Asked about the switch to IPL and playing with three other captains, Steve Smith first said he looked forward to interacting with the different leaders. "Centrally, it will make my job easier. The #IPL will be beneficial to me. There are a lot of international #Players and I will get to share the #DressingRoom with them. I will know what people from different parts of the world are thinking," Smith said.

However, when pressed about whether he would welcome constant inputs from the seniors -- #AjinkyaRahane and England all-rounder #BenStokes were also in the podium -- he was categorical.

"There are plenty of guys to talk to, but it is important not to have too many opinions. If opinions are coming from left, right and centre, it can cloud your judgement," Smith said. "I'll try to stay as clear as possible, but it can be difficult sometimes if there are too many opinions."

#MSDhoni had played in the IPL only as #Captain for nine years before he was replaced by RPS owner, Sanjiv Goenka. Smith will have plenty of captaincy challenges as India's match-winning bowler, #RavichandranAshwin, is also part of the team.

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Tuesday 27 September 2016

Ind v NZ Test Series: India Win Historic 500th Test Match In Style

#IndvNZ #TestSeries 2016
Green Park Staudium, Kanpur
1st Test Match (3 Test Series)

500th Test Match for India.

Indian Cricket Team completed a comprehensive victory over New Zealand Kiwis by 197 runs in the first #TestMatch of the series played at Kanpur. 

It was also a historic occasion for India playing their 500th Test Match. Top and lower middle order batting and some vintage #Spin #Bowling did the #Kiwis in. 

Excellent contributions with the bat from Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara at the top the innings while brilliant all round performance from Ravindra Jadeja and Ravic...handran Ashwin with the bat late down the order and brilliant spells of bowling gave New Zealand no chance of a comeback.

Kane Williamson, Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner were the star performers for the Kiwis in a losing cause. Virat Kohli didn't fire but will be happy to see his troops performing and winning without him scoring.


The second test match starts from Eden Gardens, Kolkata in a couple of days time.


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Sunday 27 March 2016

WT20 - Hunt for Fourth Semifinalist - Ind v Aus

#Ind v #Aus
#WT20, Group 2 Match
#Mohali

New Zealand, West Indies, England - 3 semi final spots booked.
Fourth spot = ??? India or Australia?

Its all come down to this last game in Group 2 to decide who would take that fourth spot in #WT20 2016. The script couldn't have been better. Expect another cracker of a game between these two fierce opponents (almost like two bulls locking horns to show who's the boss?) whose cricketing rivalry has reached unparalleled levels over the last few years in the limited over formats.

On paper, India will have the upper hand in this game.
India is currently ranked #1 in T20, Australia are at #6.
Playing at home will give India an immense advantage with the pitch, conditions, crowds. Their spinners' strength will test out the fragile-to-spin Australian batting.

But, you count out Australia at your own peril.
Their batting is exemplary in most conditions and having played #IPL most of their players are fairly adapted to these Indian conditions. (by the way ... IPL starts a week after this #WT20 so fasten your seat belts for that one too!)

Their bowlers, though inexperienced, always show true Aussie grit and aggression when bowling against any side or situation. Their fielding is world class and way ahead of their Indian counterparts.

Will it be a pure cricketing skill contest when they meet today? 
Not sure ... both teams have had a history of going at each other verbally on the field and therefore expect a #Sledgefest at Mohali. One thing is for sure, Ind v Aus games are not for the faint hearted or purists. They are more like a brawl... and that's what we can expect today.

May the best team win. I dare predict that winner of this match will eventually go and claim the #WT20 trophy as well!

India strengths: MS Dhoni's superlative brain and cool in tight situations, Virat Kohli's superlative form, Ashwin and Jadeja's spin exploits, Bumrah's death bowling.

India weaknesses: Fragile top order - none of Rohit, Dhawan or Raina have got going, Even more fragile middle order after Kohli - Yuvraj, Dhoni, Pandya and Jadeja haven't been too consistent to invoke confidence, Fifth bowler options look limited.

Australia strengths: Top order looks solid - Khawaja's form, Finch's reliability and Warner's destructive nature, Firepower down the line - Big Show Maxwell, Watson and Faulkner can provide fireworks towards end of their innings, Steady bowling attack

Australia weaknesses: Fragile against spin in this conditions, no batsman has runaway with games on his own - its been fits and starts, inexperienced spinners and seamers in a huge crunch match will need a lot nerves and mental strength.  

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Friday 25 March 2016

WT20 Indias Houdini Escape Vs Bangladesh In A 1 Run Classic

#Ind v #Ban
#WT20 - Group 2 Match
Chinnaswany Stadium, Bengaluru

What is it about Bangladesh that gives Indian cricket team nightmares?

It was on the same day, 23rd Mar 2007, that Bangladesh announced them on world stage beating the fancied Indian team in a group game at #ICC 50-Over #WorldCup in West Indies. Wreckers in chief - Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan (all brimming youngsters then)!

Fast forward to 23rd Mar 2016 (exactly 9 years on), they planned another coup on India in #TW20 World Cup and it almost came off.... almost, well .... they gave it away to India on a plate really. Such was Bangladesh's dominance that off the 240 balls bowled by both sides, they were all but winning on the first 237 of them. 3 balls later they had gifted a match to India on a golden platter (when Indian team had already started packing their bags after a dismal WT20 campaign). It just summed up the entire show.

Winning the toss and electing to field on a "tacky" wicket, Bangladesh seamers and spinners never really allowed the Indian batsmen to get away. India's top-order in woeful form didnt help matters either. Shikhar and Rohit tried to hit their way out of trouble but claimed by Shakib and Mustafizur respectively for not many. In form Virat Kohli walked to a raucous applause from his #RCB crowd and he set up to do a repair job with another out-of-form batsman in Raina. His sublime batting and ability to run ones-twos helped India to crawl back into the lead.

Just like previous matches though, a middle order collapse ensued. Kohli was bowled by Suvagata. Hardik Pandya, who was prromoted ahead of Yuvraj and Dhoni inflicted some lusty blows but Raina and him were caught in the deep off consecutive deliveries by Al-Amin left India reeling. Sowmya Sarkar's catch to dismiss Pandya should easily win him the "Catch of the Tournament" award. Yuvraj came and went. Dhoni and Ashwin tried to hit out but could only scrape through the last few overs to set up a well below par 146 on a not-so-bad wicket.

Considering evening dew and pitch improving, Bangladesh had the best chance to upstage India. In came Tamim with the same mindset as that 2007. Flashing hard, he set out punishing the Indian bowlers. India's fielding was well below par too. A dropped chance off Ashwin by Bumrah proved more than costly. In the following over, Bumrah was dispatched for 4 boundaries by Tamim (rubbing a lot of salt and pepper on the injuries).

Although India kept picking wickets, Bangladesh was always ahead. They had a plan. Every batsman coming in was looking to be aggressive and this kept the runs coming in. Dhoni;s smartness accounted for Sabbir's stumping, Mashrafe promoted himself and smashed Raina for six signalling his intentions. Ravindra Jadeja though came up with his variety of spin to dismiss both Tamim and Mashrafe to balance the scales.

Meanwhile Shakib was collecting boundaries and sixes at regular intervals to keep Bangladesh within touching distance but once he edged to slip off a beauty from Ashwin, things began to look interesting.

With Sowmya Sarkar and Mahmadullah at the crease, things were still in Bangla control. Both of them were cautious and the occasional big shot was all that was needed to cross the finish line. 

34 from 24 balls.

Dhoni's spinners had completed their quota. Bumrah had forgettable night thus far (2 overs for 21) while the fifth bowler still had one over to go. Bangladesh were probably waiting for that over to come. Smartly, Dhoni opted to get the seasoned bowlers first and gambled with Bumrah. It paid off. Just 6 runs from the 17th over. With wonderful ball control and ability to york, Bumrah ensured a low scoring over. 

28 from 18 balls.  

Ball passed on to veteran Nehra. His second ball smashed to boundary by Sowmya but ballooned a low full toss the same over (off Nehra). Advantage India. In walks Mushfiqur, the dimunitive, tenacious player tailor-made for these tense situations. The final ball of the over smashed by Mahmudullah through covers for four. Advantage Bangladesh again.

17 from 12 balls.

It had to be toss up between Bumrah and Pandya. Should Dhoni hold back Bumrah for the final over and squeeze in the yorkers or get him on now and make it as difficult as possible in the final over. He chose the latter option. Bumrah once again bowled beautifully conceding just 6 singles.

11 from 6 balls.

So, stage set for the final over showdown.
Bangladesh's best finisher in Mahmudullah and supercool experienced Mushfiqur vs rookie medium pacer Pandya (who was taken to the cleaners earlier in the innings). 

Ball 1 - Pandya bowls outside off, Mahmudullah strokes to deep cover for a single

Ball 2 - Pandya balls wider of the shuffling Mushfiqur but on length and thats good enough for him to smash it over covers for four. Jubilant Bangla fans dance in the aisles.

Ball 3 - Pandya goes a bit fuller but then again cheeky Mushfiqur scoops it over his shoulder past the outstretched hands of Dhoni for another four at fine leg. Mushiqur starts celebrating and punching the air. Bangla fans go wild. Job almost done!

9 off 3 achieved already, 2 from 3 balls needed.
Plain and simple. Two singles would do it. The field was still in-out type to cater to the boundary hit.

Ball 4 - Very very short of length ball that sat up and Mushfiqur goes for the glory shot. A pull over midwicket. Instead he mistimes it holes it straight down deep midwicket's throat. Shikhar Dhawan accepting a dolly. Mushfiq is gutted and ambles back. Batsmen have crossed over, so Mahmudullah on strike which is advantage Bangladesh. Shuvagata the new batsman at the non-striker's end.

Ball 5 - Inexplicably (or was it planned), Pandya delivers a low full toss that Mahmudullah can park anywhere in the stadium but he chooses height over distance. His looping shot is wonderfully taken by Jadeja at deep midwicket (this was smart captaincy by Dhoni to replace Dhawan with Jadeja at midwicket). Batsman cross over, Shuvagata on strike for the final ball. Mustafizur, the new man in, will be off strike, ready to run his fastest no matter what Suvagata comes up on that last ball.

2 runs from  1 ball.

Its all about this last ball now. From an easy walk in the park, Bangladesh have managed to dig themselves into a hole from nowhere. Most importantly, their experienced batsmen have done this!

After a lot of deliberation, mid pitch talks and lot of advice from all round, Pandya starts from the top of his bowling mark.

The plan looks to be set. Bounce it outside off, hope batsman misses and run the batsman out. Dhoni even removes his right glove to grip the ball better if needed. 

Pandya pitches short and wide of offstump (but well within the wide marker), Shuvagata swings and misses, Dhoni gathers and starts running towards the stumps (smartly does not throw from his place to avoid missing them or ricochets for overthrows). Mustafizur is out of his blocks from the non-striker's end too. Its all about who wins this running race now. Bolt vs Gatlin? Dhoni wins. He whips the stumps while Mustafizur slides his bat in the popping crease. Who won? Third umpire called on to make the decision.

Everyone is tense. Players, Umpires, Crowd all waiting for the flash screen to indicate the result. OUT would mean India win, NOT OUT would mean the match goes into a super over knock out. Wow!

And O - U - T appears on the screen announcing an amazing Houdini escape for the Indian team. Nowhere for the first 237 balls, winners by virtue of the last three! 

Amazing scenes at the Chinnaswany Stadium. Crowd goes wild, India players celebrate while Bangla supporters and players are gutted. Cruel, cruel game this!

INDIA WIN BY 1 RUN.

One for the memories. A classic to remember for all time. 
The day Bangladesh will never forget and so will India. The day when Bangladesh gave away their win and a chance for India to move to the semifinals.

Man of the Match: Ravi Ashwin

Brief Score:
India: 146 for 7, 20 overs
Bangladesh: 145 for 9, 20 overs



Tuesday 10 March 2015

CWC 2015 LIVE - India Outclass Ireland - Remain Unbeaten in Pool B

#India v #Ireland, #SeddonPark, #Hamilton

The Ireland batsmen scored 259 all out batting first on a beautiful afternoon after winning the toss.
A good score for an associate nation against a giant ICC member. Having said that, they would have been disappointed scoring atleast 40 runs short given the stage they were placed at the end of 40th over. 206 for 3.

Once #RaviAshwin induced a top edge from Balbirnie, it was all downhill for Ireland as they wrapped up for 259 all out in 49 overs.

If Ireland were to challenge this mighty Indian batting lineup, they had to be special with the ball and fielding. Dropping #ShikharDhawan on 5 (#JohnMooney a caught-n-bowled chance) and then again on 11 (dropped at point) didnt help their matters as he waded into their dibbly attack immediately.

The opening pair of Dhawan and #RohitSharma took full control of the proceedings and dominated the military medium bowling easily. They put on a 174 run opening stand in 23.2 overs before Rohit was clean bowled by #StuartThompson for a well made 64. These runs were crucial for his confidence moving into key stage of this #CWC15.

Dhawan continued to build his innings and completed his second century of the world cup. Just when he was about to explode, Thompson got him to sky one over cover where #Portrfield took a fine catch.

#ViratKohli (44*) and #AjinkyaRahane (33*) then finished off the remaining runs in a hurry through some lusty hitting and aggressive display. This India inning sent out a clear statement to other heavyweights in the competition. The fluency and clinical efficiency shown by team India to dispatch Ireland will send strong signals about their claims to retain the world crown.

#LIVE #SCORE
Ireland - 259 all out, 49 overs
India - 260 for 2, 36.5 overs 

Man of the Match: #ShikharDhawan
Why does it have to be a batsman? I'd certainly liked to see #RaviAshwin winning that prize!



CWC 2015 LIVE - Ashwin's Miserly Spell Checks Ireland to 259

#Ireland vs #India, #Hamilton

#RaviAshwin's miserly spell  in the middle overs ensured India pulled things back to restrict Ireland to 259 all out in their Pool B game at #SeddonPark, Hamilton.

At 89 for 0 in 15 overs, the Irish were off to a brilliant start and looking for a mighty score to scare India. #MSDhoni, the India skipper, turned to Ashwin to stem runs and pick wickets. He did both.

He picked up #PaulStirling, getting him to loft a beautifully tossed delivery to long on safely into #AjinkyaRahane's hands.

#SureshRaina and #RavindraJadeja were then introduced from the other end.
They put on the brakes too. Raina castled #EdJoyce for 2 and the brakes were really on.

Then #WilliamPorterfield and #NiallObrien steadied the innings.
#PaulBalbirnie joined OBrien and started pushing the score again.

At 206 for 3, they were poised for a final onslaught.
Dhoni once again brought Ashwin into the attack and he delivered once again
He induced a top edge off Balbirnie to fineleg.

From then on, it was downhill for Ireland as they collapsed to 259 all out.
Superb spell of spin bowling.
10 - 1 - 38 - 2

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CWC 2015 LIVE - Quick Wickets Dent Ireland Charge v India

#Ireland v #India

After a promising start and steady middle innings, Ireland hoped to pile on in the late stages of the match. 

#NiallOBrien and #PaulBalbirnie had opened up well in that #batting #powerplay and poised for a launch.

It was #RaviAshwin yet again who got India a much needed breakthrough inducing a top edge off Balbirnie down to #fineleg.

From then on, it was like a procession of wickets.
Perhaps Ireland didn't have a plan to approach the last 10 overs.
As a result, they are struggling to push it on and very low firepower left. 

#LIVE #Score
Ireland - 243 for 9 in 46 overs
Ashwin - 2 wickets
Shami - 2 wickets

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CWC 2015 LIVE - Ireland Push For A Big Score v India

#Ireland v #India, #Hamilton

Trying to emulate Bangladesh to enter the quarterfinals in #CWC15, #Ireland are making a great effort to challenge India at #SeddonPark

Ireland won the toss, elected to bat and hurtling towards a big score.
Their openers #WilliamPorterfield and #PaulStirling started in aggressive fashion scoring 89 in the first 15 overs (the best start by any team against India in this world cup so far)

Introduction of spin put brakes on their scoring.
#RavichandranAshwin spun a web around their batsmen amd scalped wickets too.

#NiallOBrien has steadied the innings with a superb fifty and looking the most dangerous of Irish batsmen to pile on a score.

India's seamers were slightly off color today but they are playing their first game in New Zealand.

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