While his India teammates have been making regular appearances on various social media platforms with cricket coming to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, MS Dhoni has maintained his distance.
However, every now and then, a clip or a photo emerges of the former India captain that throws some light on how he’s spending his time during the lockdown.
There was a short clip that first made the headlines showing a bearded Dhoni playing with his pet dog. Recently, he was photographed driving a tractor.
His latest exploit makes him sort of a superhero.
Dhoni’s daugher Ziva has shared an adorable story on her Instagram handle on how her father helped revive an unconscious bird she found lying on their lawn in Ranchi.
“Today in the evening on my lawn I saw a bird lying unconscious,” Ziva wrote. “I shouted for papa and mumma. Papa held the bird in his hand and made her have some water. After some time it opened its eyes. All of us were very happy. We placed her in a basket on top of some leaves.”
The bird, known as Coppersmith, got better and later flew away with Ziva hoping to see her again.
“Mumma told me it is crimson-breasted Barbet and is also called Coppersmith. What a pretty, pretty little bird. Then suddenly it flew off. I wanted it to stay, but mumma told me she had gone to her mom. I am sure I will see her again!”she wrote.
Before the coronavirus upended the world, Dhoni was religiously practising for the now-suspended season of IPL where he was to lead Chennai Super Kings, a team that he has led to three titles so far.
IPL was also expected to be the platform where Dhoni, who hasn’t played competitive cricket for nearly a year now, was to launch his bid for India comeback.
Sachin Tendulkar's alternative for Saliva in cricket
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar wants the introduction of a second new ball in Tests after every ’50 or 55′ overs to aid fast bowlers on flat or unresponsive pitches as ICC on Tuesday banned the usage of saliva on an interim basis, piling more pressure on pacers.
In an interaction with former star Australian pacer Brett Lee on social media platform 100 MB, the batting maestro spoke about the challenges of using only sweat that could pose major challenges for bowler and fielding team. Tendulkar feels the usage of saliva was important to shine the ball.
“In Test cricket, suddenly if the surfaces are not good, the standard of playing I feel drops down. And above all the game slows down because, the batters knows if I don’t play a stupid shot here, no one can get me out and the bowler knows, on this surface I have to be patient,” Tendulkar said.
“But why not then to get the game moving, have a new ball after every 45-50 or 55 overs because in ODI cricket we have to play only 50 overs, and you have two new balls there, so literally 25 overs, so that’s it,” said Tendulkar.
One more rivalry added to cricket it seems!
Sweat vs Saliva!
Binga and I discuss cricket in the COVID Era and the impact it shall have on the way the game is played. @BrettLee_58
Tendulkar compared his proposal to day-night ODI cricket. He said in a cooler climate, players don’t sweat much and it could become a headache for teams when the ball gets old.
“So here in Test cricket, if you are not going to allow saliva, and sometimes you won’t sweat as much depending on the climate where you are playing, it could be a lot like day-night one-dayers,” the maestro said.
“In ODI cricket, bowling when conditions are dry in the day-night match and bowling second when there is lot of dew on the ground, so on paper the conditions and rules are exactly the same, but on field conditions are totally different, it’s chalk and cheese,” he said.
Apart from saliva ban, the ICC also approved COVID-19 substitutions and an additional DRS review while scrapping the neutral umpires rule in the wake of pandemic.
La Liga season was stuck in between on 11th March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After three months there was control over the spread of the COVID-19 virus and everything is coming back to normal day by day.
La Liga Season 19-20 Resumes
We got the news that La Liga 19-20 Season could restart on 11 June 2020 between Real Betis and Sevilla behind closed door derby.
Javier Tebas, La Liga Chief told Spanish TV that “the match can be a tribute to all the people who have died because of COVID-19”.
He also warned the footballers to be careful with their actions as four Sevilla players apologized for breaking social distancing.
He added that “Players are an example to society and should be careful with their actions. I call on all footballers to not act like this. We have to be very careful because a lot of people’s jobs are at stake.”
La Liga Football Players started training last week in groups of no more than 10. Spain has reduced the lockdown restrictions but gathering more than 10 people is not allowed strictly.
Also added that “Right now that’s our main goal, and if we can achieve that then we can start to bring forward the return of the competition. Our aim is to be able to announce the first four rounds of fixtures next week. The government’s announcement took us by surprise but it shows that professional football is very important to this country.”
Where to watch the La Liga 19-20 Live Football Match?
La Liga Live Streaming is streamed in its Official Facebook Page. The restart begins with Thursday’s derby between Sevilla and Real Betis. People can watch the live streaming as Facebook holds the rights.
Click Here to Watch Live Streaming of La Liga in their Official Facebook Page.
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has recalled his rivalry with Glenn McGrath of Australia and how he countered their strategy of ‘ frustrating’ him during the Adelaide Test in 1999.
Tendulkar said Australia tested his resolve by bowling outside off to ensure he leaves as many deliveries as possible and chase the odd one to force a mistake.
“In 1999, in our first match at Adelaide… the first innings there was hardly 40 minutes to go in the day’s play. Glenn McGrath comes and bowls five or six maiden overs to me,”Tendulkar told Star Sports. “That was their strategy… ‘let’s frustrate Sachin. 70 per cent of the ball should go to (wicket-keeper) Adam Gilchrist and 10 per cent close to his bat. If he plays or chases deliveries outside the off-stump we have succeeded”.
However, the Indian was equal to the task, obliging them. And also countered their mental game by sledging the legendary McGrath “So I kept leaving as many deliveries as possible. There were some good deliveries where I was beaten as well. But I said ‘well bowled and now go back and bowl again as I am still here’,” he recalled.
Once the Australians had their fill, Tendulkar took charge the next morning.
“I remember hitting him (McGrath) for a few boundaries the next morning because it was a fresh day and we both were at the same level. They had a strategy but I knew their strategy was to frustrate me. I thought this evening I am patient but tomorrow morning I am gonna play the way I want. You won’t control how I want to play but I would control where you are going to bowl,” the 47-year-old said.
Tendulkar retired following a record 200th Test in 2013 as the most prolific run-getter and century maker in cricket’s history.
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell believes left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav will the biggest threat for Australia when India tours Down Under in December this year.
Chappell accepted that choosing a spinner in the XI will prove to be difficult for India when they try to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, however, the former Aussie cricketer heaped praise for Kuldeep Yadav.
Ian Chappell Picks Kuldeep Yadav as Best for Aussies Tour :
“Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist-spin is the biggest wicket-taking threat on Australian pitches. The decision will call for brave selections,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPN Cricinfo.
Talking about the wrist-spinner, Kuldeep has been one of India’s main spinners in limited-overs along with leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal ever since the 2017 Champions Trophy. The duo called ‘KulCha’ has been used to make things difficult for batsmen.
Kuldeep Yadav
However, while Chahal hasn’t yet been able to break into the Test side, Kuldeep has impressed in the limited opportunities he has got so far. The chinaman has taken 24 wickets in the 6 Tests he has played so far and interestingly, Kuldeep’s last Test was in Australia in 2019 where he picked up five wickets in the first innings.
“Choosing a spinner will prove a major headache for the Indian selectors. R Ashwin has a great overall record, but not so much in Australia. Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round talents and improved bowling form make him a legitimate challenger,”Chappell said.
Chappell also said all-rounder Hardik Pandya can play a crucial role. “Assuming India have a full-strength squad – three West Indies cricketers have opted out of the upcoming series in England – the touring selectors have a crucial role to play. It will help if Hardik Pandya is available.
“He gives India an extra bowling option to maintain the pressure when the leading fast bowlers need a rest. This is Pandya’s chance to gradually build up overs in the three Tests before the SCG match, where he could act as the third seamer so that a second spinner can be included. Having Pandya at seven would necessitate Rishabh Pant keeping and batting at six,” Chappell wrote.
Talented middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer is pretty confident that his consistent performances in past one year has sealed the lingering debate about India’s number four slot in white-ball cricket.
Having tried the likes of Ambati Rayudu Vijay Shankar, Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni, India recalled the Mumbai youngster in the tour against West Indies, in the aftermath of their semifinal loss to New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
He impressed against the West Indies but the 25-year-old was a revelation in New Zealand tour earlier this year when he ended up being the top run-getter with one century and two half-centuries in India’s 0-3 series whitewash.
“If you have been playing for India at that position for a year now that means you have sealed it. There should be no more questions asked about it,” Iyer said in an Instagram chat hosted by his IPL franchise Delhi Capitals.
Iyer scored 217 runs in the series the most by an Indian No 4 in a three-match bilateral series.
“When the debate was going on about No 4, performing at No 4 and completely sealing the position was really satisfying.”
Iyer however said he’s flexible to bat at any position as per the team’s requirement. “But when you are playing for India, you need to be very much flexible at any position or whatever the team requires. I feel I can bat any position depending on the situation,” he said.
Shreyas Iyer
Having missed out of the World Cup, Iyer was recalled for the Caribbean tour as he struck back-to-back half-centuries at No 5 in Port of Spain in their 2-0 win. Indian captain Virat Kohli was reminded of his younger days and complimented Iyer saying he was ‘exactly the same’.
“It’s really a phenomenal feeling when he talks or compliments his teammates… He’s a role model for all the youngsters out there,” Iyer said.
Describing Kohli like a lion in the team, he said: “Whenever he goes out on the field it feels as if he’s playing his first game. He’s never tired, always energetic like a lion. You see a different body language when he enters the ground, something great to learn from him.”
The Delhi Capitals captain further recalled his debut season in 2015 where he ended up getting 439 runs, playing with a fractured index finger.
“It was a dramatic season. During the season after the third game, I fractured my index finger and thought I won’t be able to play anymore,” he recalled adding how head coach Gary Kirsten egged him on as he went on to clinch the Emerging Player Award.
“But Gary said ‘we really need you’. He wanted me to play and told me ‘hide somewhere while fielding and just bat for us’.
“I could have done anything for the team. To score those many runs with a fractured finger was like a dream come true. Not many know about this story.”
The self-belief was key to DC’s success in 2019 after a gap of seven years, said Iyer. “We had a sense of belief in ourselves and team. Our aim was to make the playoffs.”
“We had this one goal in our mind — to give our 100 per cent. Results didn’t really matter.
“Once we knew we did our preparation, we should not get bogged down and regret. We trained really hard and that stood out pretty well.”
DC was out in play-offs but for the first time in many years, looked like a team that could go the distance.
“We did and proved that we’re capable of winning the IPL. We hope the fans give the same energy this year. We don’t know what will happen or will it be held closed-door… Hopefully, we will win the trophy this year,” he concluded.
Former Zimbabwe cricket team captain Tatenda Taibu feels that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s mental toughness separated him from his contemporaries. Despite an odd technique and distinctive skill, Dhoni has carved a niche for himself in the international arena and is widely regarded as one of the greatest limited-overs players.
Dhoni is the only captain in the history of the game to win all three ICC trophies. Under his captaincy, India won the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.
“…The first time I saw Dhoni, if I’m to be honest…he had come with the India A side. I thought Karthik was more natural than Dhoni. And still in keeping, he is more natural…even in batting he is more natural,” Taibu said on Fan Play-Sports Ruler ‘Inside Out With Baggs’ on YouTube channel.
Taibu then went on to explain Dhoni’s technical prowess. “Now, the way he (MSD) keeps, his hands are not always together like you always have the little fingers together… when he catches his hands are always not like that…
“But he always manages to catch the ball and whip the bails in a flash with a very different technique…very different and odd technique,”Taibu added.
Taibu also said with Dhoni it was similar with his batting as the technique was different but it was about his hand-eye coordination and mental toughness too.
“Same thing about his batting…different technique. But great hand-eye co-ordination. But I don’t think it’s only his hand-eye coordination but probably his mental toughness.
“Normally if you don’t look the part, so to speak, it’s easy for coaches to just put you aside. But Dhoni backs that up with statistics,” Taibu added.
Dhoni’s keeping against Sri Lanka
About Australian great Adam Gilchrist, the Zimbabwean said he was a natural batsman but not a natural ‘keeper and used to put in more time on his wicket-keeping than batting.
“Gilchrist was a natural batsman and not a natural wicket-keeper. He always used to put more time on his keeping than his batting because his batting was very natural..hitting the ball was quite easy for him,” he added.
Taibu, who had burst into the scene at a young age and also led the country, said he had learnt a lot from the international stars like Indian greats Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid among others, especially about training.
Right handed opening batter Mithali Raj opens up on her Interest to play for India in 2021 women’s World Cup. The 1982 born female cricketer is the only female cricketer to surpass the 6,000 run mark in Women’s One Day International matches.
Raj is the only player (male or female) to have captained India in more than one ICC ODI World Cup final, doing so twice in 2005 and 2017. She is the only female cricketer to play 200 ODI matches.
In June 2018 during the 2018 Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup, she became the first player from India (either male or female) to score 2000 runs in T20Is, and also became the first woman cricketer to reach 2002 WT20I runs.
In September 2019, she announced her retirement from T20Is to focus on ODI cricket. The former captain Mithali Raj became the first woman to complete 20 years in international cricket.
Lady Tendulkar of Indian Women’s cricket Mithali Raj
Raj’s Love Towards 2021 World Cup
In an Instagram live session “Cricket Inside Out” Mithali Raj express her love towards winning an ICC Trophy for India. “I actually caught up with Mithali Raj on an Instagram Live that i did and i said to her it must hurt her that she still hasn’t got an ICC trophy. And it does, she said that’s the one thing that is certainly driving her and she’s using this time(quarantine), like you”said Elma.
Elma also states : A lot of players just focus one physical point of view and fitness. She(Mithali Raj) still has a very strict routine where she’s hitting balls down in he garage and still making sure that she’s upskilling so that she is ready to lead India, hopefully to World cup success in 2021.
Awards won by Mithali Raj :
She is the recipient of several awards, including the Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World in 2017. She was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2003, and the Padma Shri in 2015, both by the Government of India.
Mithali’s Records in cricket :
Mithali held the record for the highest individual score by an Indian Woman Cricketer in a World Cup match (91 not out off 104 deliveries which included 9 fours) against New Zealand in the Women’s World Cup 2005. Harmanpreet Kaur overtook Raj by scoring a century (107 from 109 balls) in the second match of ICC Women’s World Cup 2013 against England.
Mithali is nicknamed “Lady Tendulkar of Indian Women’s cricket“, as she is currently the all-time leading run-scorer for India in all formats, including Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
During the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup, Raj scored her seventh consecutive half-century and made a record for most consecutive fifties by a player.
Mithali is the 1st Indian and 5th woman cricketer overall to score over 1,000 World Cup runs.
She holds the record for playing the most consecutive Women’s One Day Internationals for a team (109).
Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah shared a video of his match winning knock in 2017. Amid COVID-19 lockdown Bumrah is one of the many sports personalities to perform actively in social media platform.
The domestic match has been played between Gujarat and Goa in 2017 where Bumrah manage to drag his team towards victory with his performance in batting.
He captioned his tweet saying, “On popular demand (mostly by @YUVSTRONG12), here’s presenting, Jasprit Bumrah’s knock of 2017!” Earlier in the week, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuvraj Singh were seen speaking to each other in an Instagram Live session.
Earlier Bumrah state his IPL team mate Lasith Malinga as the best yorker bowler in world. Bumrah is himself renowned for his ability with the yorker and has in the past credited Malinga for helping him with the craft.
“Malinga is the best yorker bowler in the world and has used it for such a long period of time to the best of his advantage,” he said according to a tweet by MI.
Earlier, Bumrah said that he is not too troubled by the banning of hugs and high fives while celebrating as the International Cricket Council (ICC) mulls a way to get cricket underway again amid the coronavirus pandemic.
However, he said there needs to be an alternative to the usage of saliva on the ball if it is banned.
“I was not much of a hugger anyway! And not a high-five person as well, so that doesn’t trouble me a lot. The only thing that interests me is the saliva bit,” Bumrah told Ian Bishop and Shaun Pollock on the ICC’s video series Inside Out interviews.
“I don’t know what guidelines we’ll have to follow when we come back, but I feel there should be an alternative. If the ball is not well maintained, it’s difficult for the bowlers.
“The grounds are getting shorter and shorter, the wickets are becoming flatter and flatter. So we need something, some alternative for the bowlers to maintain the ball so that it can do something — maybe reverse in the end or conventional swing,” he added.
Former Pakistan captain Aamer Sohail has compared Virat Kohli with Javed Miandad, saying much like the legendary Pakistan batsman, the greatness of the current Indian skipper also rubs off on his teammates.
“The most important point for me is that big players break out. They are individually great, but their greatness does not help the team at all. When you talk about Pakistan’s cricket history and its greatness, the first name that comes to mind is Javed Miandad,” said Sohail in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
“His greatness is still talked about to this day because he used to raise the level of play of the rest of the team. When you stitch a long partnership with him, you used to learn so much, and get inspired that you want to improve more.
“This is what Kohli has done as well. If you look around Kohli, every player has improved alongside him and this is why Kohli gets the tag of a great player,” he added.
Miandad played 124 Tests and 233 ODIs for Pakistan, scoring 8832 and 7381 runs respectively, and is one of the finest batsman the country has ever produced.
Virat Kohli
Kohli, on the other hand, has represented India in 86 Tests, 248 ODIs and 82 T20Is till now in which he has amassed 7240, 11867 and 2021 runs respectively. He has already scored 70 international hundreds and is counted among one the modern-day greats.
Kohli, on the other hand, has represented India in 86 Tests, 248 ODIs and 82 T20Is till now in which he has amassed 7240, 11867 and 2021 runs respectively. He has already scored 70 international hundreds and is counted among one the modern-day greats.
Don’t Sledge Kohli and Dhoni
Dean Jones, the former Australian cricketer, reckons that the Aussies don’t prefer to sledge batsmen of the calibre of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. The veteran feels that trying to get under their skins can backfire severely and ‘confrontation’ is something they like. Even as Dhoni prefers to stay calm, Virat is vocal and never shies away from expressing his feelings on the field of play.
West Indies pace legend Michael Holding feels the BCCI has every right to hold the Indian Premier League later this year if the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia is postponed. There is speculation that the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held between October 18 and November 15, may be postponed due to travel restrictions in place in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, giving BCCI a window to organise the IPL.
“I don’t think ICC is delaying the T20 World Cup because they are making space for the IPL. It’s the Australian government’s law where they are not allowing any visitors into the country before a specific date,” Holding said in an Instagram Live with Nikhil Naz.
“But if there is no T20 World Cup, the BCCI has all rights to go ahead and organise a domestic tournament because there’s a space. If they are encroaching on other people’s tournament, you could say okay.”
The former tearaway-pacer-turned-commentator further said the proposal to ban saliva to shine balls would not pose any “practical” problems.
Anil Kumble-led ICC Cricket Committee has recently recommended a ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball but allowed sweat as an interim measure to counter the COVID-19 threat.
“First of all, I don’t think this saliva ban is a serious problem. The problem with this ban is that the cricketers will take sometime to adjust. It’s a natural reaction when you are on the field and you want to shine the ball, you use saliva.”
The 66-year-old felt that sweat can do the role of shining the ball as effectively as saliva.
“All you need to do is to get moisture on the ball and you can get that from your sweat. You don’t have to use the usual saliva. The perspiration from your arm or your forehead will do the same job as saliva. And I’ve not heard anyone say that COVID-19 can be spread by perspiration.
“I don’t think any practical problem in banning saliva. It’s just a logistical problem of people being accustomed to do it and will have to practice not doing it,”he added.
Kumble had said that cricket should utilise pitches to ensure an even contest between the bat and ball but Holding disagreed with the view.
Michael Holding Gave Verdicts on IPL 2020
“I don’t believe in interfering with pitches. Some groundsmen might not be good enough to do exactly what is required and then the match gets spoiled. So, I will just leave the pitch and try to coach players to stop putting their fingers in their mouth,” the expert commentator added.
Asked whether the future of one-dayers is at stake in the times of T20 cricket, Holding said: “I don’t think ICC will ever get rid of 50 overs cricket because that’s one of their biggest earners as far as TV rights is concerned. The money will be slashed drastically.”
Not a big fan of the T20 version of the game, Holding said it’s high time to stop making the game shorter and shorter.
“The problem is people’s attention span getting shorter and shorter. In T20, they enjoy the razzmatazz of the excitement. Long before you had your first 10-10 game, you would see people getting bored with T20. And I still see at some point people will get to five-five.
“People with short attention span will get attracted to that. But it is my belief you should not always cater to people’s short attention. You can’t just keep on getting shorter and shorter. We can’t keep on going in that direction, then you are left with nothing,” he remarked.
Holding picked Australian Pat Cummins as the best fast bowler of the present generation.
“He (Cummins) is the man at the moment. Before him, I was a huge fan of Dale Steyn. The best we have seen in last 10 years.”
Sreesanth replies to Ben Stokes for questioning Dhoni's intent during WC 2019
Days after English allrounder Ben Stokes said former India skipper MS Dhoni ‘showed no intent’ during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup match against England, out-of-favour India cricketer Sreesanth slammed Stokes and said Dhoni will finish his career during a Live Instagram session.
Sreesanth told during the live session, “Main toh thoda yehi bolunga Ben Stokes ko ki dua karo ki Dhoni bhai aapke khilaaf dobara na khele. Dhoni bhai ke memory se kuch bhi jaata nahi…”
Sreesanth added, “Usse all the best karta hun ki agar IPL ya England-India kahi bhi mila na bete, abhi tak toh 2 ya 1 million mil raha hai na, Dhoni bhai career bhi khatam kar denge. Ben Stokes ko main open challenge deta hun ki Dhoni bhai ko out toh kar nahi sakta woh chahe kitna bhi world ka best all-rounder ho. I just want to say that Ben Stokes you have been playing for the last 4-5 years since I was not playing, I am really looking forward to bowl to you brother. Just to give an answer to what you told about Dhoni.”
“Arguably, the way MS Dhoni played when he came in with 112 runs needed from 11 overs was even stranger. He appeared more intent on singles than sixes. Even with a dozen balls remaining, India could still have won. There was little or no intent from him (Dhoni) or his partner Kedar Jadhav. To me, while victory is still possible you always go for broke,”Stokes had said.
Dhoni and Sreesanth
Sreesanth and MS Dhoni’s Maiden carrier
Dhoni started his international career in December 2004, while Sreesanth made his India debut in October, 2005. Not much difference in their debut though.
World T20 2007
Sreesanth was a part of that team which won the inaugural World T20 edition. It was he who took the final catch of the tournament after Dhoni called him to attempt that catch.
CB Series 2007/08
At that time, Sreesanth had become an important part of the Indian side and Dhoni decided to take him to another big tour. In that series, Sreesanth played 7 matches and took 9 wickets at 25.77. Not to forget that he probably took the most important wicket of Mike Hussey in the second final of the tournament, which India won by 9 runs.
