THE CLASH OF TITANS....

      This may be one of  the most awaited match of World Cup 2011,I'm sure.On March 24 when Australia and India face each other , Motera stadium will definitely witness an electrifying crowd and as that much enthusiastic players.Also the Australian coach Tim Nielsen coined  the term "mini-grand final" for Thursday's match.Both the teams will meet each other  after losing each game in their league matches.But at the same time the advantage goes to the visitor's side as they have won nine of the last fifteen matches played in India in the last five years.Also the pressure will be on the host as they are playing in their home ground and their home crowd with the crowd expecting some thing supernatural and complete entertainment from the Indian Cricket Team.

NOW NOR NEVER

     Batting is the main area of concern for both the teams.While Indian top order batsmen is the best that any team can get in this world cup but at the same time the worst too.With Sehwag ,Sachin on the opening followed by Gambhir,Kohli,Yuvraj,Dhoni... any team can dream of.But the problem is that ,their batting powerplay.Indian team didn't perform well in their bating powerplay in this entire world cup. India lost their 9 wickets for just 29 runs in Chennai and 7 for fifty against West Indies.But regarding team India, this not the only area of concern.Team India's bowling is also equally  thinkable about their performances so far in the worldcup.Only there is one bowler in the team who is consistent through out the series and that is none other, Zaheer Khan.Apart from him none other  was able to prove himself to be consistent.Now I just remember what one of my friend said "Team India is playing this world cup with only two players; one is Sachin Tendulkar and the other is Zaheer Khan.

WILL HAVE TO TRY HARD TO RETAIN THE WORLD CUP

    The same batting department also worries the Australian team.Ricky Ponting and White is struggling to score runs.Their bating weaknesses was evident in their last match against Pakistan when they were all out for 176 runs and suffered a lose from the hands of Pakistan.

      

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SACHIN-HONORARY GROUP CAPTAINOF IAF....

On friday,master blaster and the cricket genuis Sachin Tendulkar was conferred with the rank of HONORARY GROUP CAPTAIN of IAF to honour his great cricketing achievements.Also Sachin is the first person in cricket to receive a honour from IAF and also with no aviation backgrounds.Sachin Tendulkar is now the brand ambassador of Indian Air-Force.
Some days before India's world cup winning captain Kapil Dev was rewarded with the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the Territorial Army.Sachin Tendulkar received the honorary rank by Armed Forces on the basis of acknowledgments of their contributions to the nation.Sachin Tendulkar will now receive a rigorous training from the IAF in the aviation technology will be able steer the India's most efficient SUKHOI-30 fighter planes.
Sachin is now one of that cricket legends who have established their presence not only on the ground but also in the hearts of many.Sachin is now holding almost all the batting records of the world class cricket with 94 hundreds in both tests and ODIs.

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Can India do it in 15 years????

In Dambulla India is looking to have an Asia Cup in their name after 15 years.India may be a superb or capable team these days ,but the unfortunate part is that they were not able to lift Asia Cup since 1995 inSharjah.And also the big Threat to the Indian team is that it is also another multi-international tournament and its final is to going to be played ion Thursday;ie;24-th June.

The worst thing is that it was the team of Srilanka that was reasonable for India's exit from the last four-tournaments,including 3 multi-international tournament final and the last from the T-20 World Cup.It was not an excuse for Dhoni that the last game they lost to Srilanka was because of the major players wre rested .India were at once 189/1 and they collapsed to 207 and especially saying they collapsed before Mehroof who had an hat- Trick last game.

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A WISE MOVE????

At last the selectors have agreed that it is high time now and they have to stop experimenting and start to concentrate on the players now.Only Yuvraj's exclusion from the team was the surprising one.But it is also a clear cut message to the players that no one can retain their position if they didn't played well,can even be a well established "star".....

Krishnamachari Srikanth and his co-selectors declared the team India for the Asia Cup in Srilanka with lots promising players.Sachin Tendulkar was opted out and Yuvraj was excluded from the team.Apart from this no other surprises.With the vision of World Cup 2011 Indian selectors are now trying to send the best team to the Asia Cup .

With only four teams in the tournament,each team will play against each other and the top teams will clash in the final.A hope TO India too from me....

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ZIMBABWE DISPATCHED INDIA....

Team India received their second mauling in a week as they have been defeated by Zimbabwe for the second time in the Tri-series.This time a more convincing win for Zimbabwe with a bonus point....
It was a shock repeat for Team India who displayed a pathetic play in the tournament.Compelled to bat Indian team could score only 194/9 in 50 overs and that too thanks to Ravindra Jadeja for his 51 runs.If he was not there conditions will be even worse. Zimbabwe's bowling attack was very tight which is evident from the Indian openers score cards.Murali Vijay has to use56 balls for his 21 runs.Both openers could score only 61 runs in the first 20 overs.
Needing only a low score to chase,Zimbabwe started slowly,but only in the first four overs.Then they changed their gear and started to score quickly.When they are sure about their victory they took their batting powerplay and reached the target with 11.4 overs remaining which gave them valuable 5 points and they are through to the finals.
Now fro India toreach the final on June 9 they have to win the match against Srilanka and for th next match between Srilanka and Zimbabwe.

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A TEST FOR YOUNGSTERS....

Young Indian Cricket Team is now having one of their great "test".I'm not saying about the test match but a real test .A test to show who all are eligible for a place in India Cricket team in future.A young Indian team lead by Suresh Raina are now in Zimbabwe in a Tri-series.Totally a young and a new Indian cricket team.Not only India but also Srilanka is also trying with a new team.
In their first match against Zimbabwe ,India had a disappointing lose even after scoring 285 runs.Rohit Sharma(110) and Jadeja(61*) helped the Indian team who struggled in the earlier part of the game.Then in reply with three bowling debutantes India bowling doesn't created trouble to the Zimbabweans in part of the game.ll the Indian bowlers were below average as Zimbabwe moved to a 7-wicket victory;their highest against India.
But in their second match against Srilanka they were all refreshed.Again winning the toss Suresh Raina elected to field first.Srilankan's find it hard to score runs on a dead slow pitch and also this time Indian pacers bowled with a target.They could score only 242 runs in 50 overs.In reply even though the Indian openers tried to reach pavilion as fast as possible then came Rohit Sharma(101*) and Kohli(82) brought India toa 7-wicket victory ;more often a much needed one....
Rohit Sharma has scored two back-to-back tons which really showed his outstanding talent.In both the matches Rohit Sharma was there to help the Indian team and scored his first ODI century in his 44-th match and again in his 45-th match....

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INDIA-LAST BREATH....

Can India hold on his last breath????Today they are having the last chance to proceed in the T-20 world cup further.For that they have to beat Srilanka for atleast 20 runs.Then a mere win by Australia against West Indies will do the job for India.I'll explain how it is....
Now India have conceded 63 more runs than that they scored.For Srilanka and West Indies it is respectively 24 and 43 runs.Now if India win today's match by atleast 20 runs,then the difference goes down to 43 runs and that of Srilankawill increase to 44 runs.If West Indies also loose their game then definitely it will be more than 43 runs.Then with the help of runrate India can get into the semis with Australia.....

But the problem is that The match is in St'Lucia rather than Barbados which is more seemingly a typical Srilankan wicket.They will have the advantage of it.It is better to place a board like this infront of St'Lucia: "WELCOME FOR THE PACE-WEARY TEAMS ;YOU CAN CAN GET MAXIM FROM HERE...."

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INDIAN TEAM WILL NEVER LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES....

Now only a very small hope remaining in me ....Can India make into the semis???Yes is the answer ;even now?Yes;but the problem is that tomorrow India have to defeat Srilanka for a huge total.enough??No,Australia also have to defeat West Indies for a huge total.Then there is a chance for India in the tournament.
Yesterday winning the toss Indian captain Dhoni elected fielding first.The same mistake he repeated .Indian bowlers could not gave a good start to India as Dhoni hoped.Even though West Indiaes started their innings slowly thjere was enough potential in the West Indian batsmen to reach a good total.Also India's sloppy fielding helped them.They dropped Gayle when he was only 46 runs.Later he build the West Indian total to169/6 with a massive 97 runs.Remember India lost the match for only 14 runs...
In batting it was very clear that these "High Class Batsmen" did not know how to play short pitch balls.If they don't know, then Why are they going behind it and throwing their wickets???Why can't they leave it??West Indies bowlers has just to do what they done in their homework and they knew well that Indian batsmen will trap in their plannings.None of the Indian batsmen played well and threw their wickets in to the West Indian hand.In result,India could score only 155/9,14 runs behind West Indies score....
Now tomorrow India have to beat Srilanka for a huge total.Not only that they also have to pray well.....Let's hope for the best....

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INDIA FLOP....

Thanks to Rohit Sharma for making India's loss in a decent manner.While I was watching India's batting I was afraid that India could make another world record of lowest score in T-20 international.Indian batting line-up were struggling at 32-5.Oh sorry,not struggling they deserve it as any "INDIAN STARS" shown their responsibility to stay in the crease.Every one was competing among themselves to reach the pavilion as fast as possible.I wonder is there any cash prize for "who reach the pavilion first and fast".
Earlier winning the toss Indian captain selected fielding first.But the Aussie batsmen showed it was absolutely wrong as David Warner(72) and Shane Watson(54) struck the Indian bowlers with no mercy.Even though rest of the batsmen couldn't do much it was enough for them-a huge total of 184/5.In reply as I said it was also all....Only Rohit Sharma(79*) and Harbhajan Singh(13) could cross the double figures.Dirk Nannes and Mitchell Jhonson flooded the Indian batting with three wickets each.

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SELECTORS PLEASE GIVE THEM TIME....

I don't know why the BCCI selectors are doing so?Why they rejected Saha and Mithun from the second test match against South Africa which will be played in Kolkata from Feb 14-th.Are these batsmen responsible for the lose in the first test match?If the Indian team has lost their first match all the players have the same responsibility and we cannot escape from it by saying that the middle order was very inexperienced and blame only the debutantes.Saha got out in the first innings by leaving the ball which hit the stump that was leaved by him thinking that it will not hit the target.If he was blamed for that then what about the other batsmen.I think Sunil Gavaskar was right in this context.All the other team members must realize their fault and should work hard well for the next test match.Because if you lost or keep that match a draw then it will be an utter waste by playing all the matches well in an earlier instant.The next match's win is important not only for but also for us.So PLEASE "TEAM INDIA"....

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"STEYN" HURRICANE....MASSIVE DESTRUCTION....

No,no never ever I have seen such an Indian team failing in their home ground in the recent years.The whole Indian team failed miserably over one bowler ,and that is Dale Steyn of South Africa,not the matter why Steyn is the no: one bowler in the world.South Africa registered their win in the first test match in Nagpur making the series 1-0.It was 8 years back When India had to follow-on against Australia.And also it was only their third innings lost as South Africa won by an innings and 6 runs.This was also the first lose of the Indian team under the captaincy of M.SDhoni.
The home side had some individual performances as Sehwag and Sachin struck tons but was in vain as the other team members didn't gave any support.Int the first innings Sehwag alone build up the Indian innings and all others were mere audience.In his second spell Steyn took 5 wickets in just 3.4 over giving only 3 runs.This test match clearly shows that Indian cricket team is a "big zero" without Dravid and Laxman.
Hashim Amla was awarded the Man Of The Match for his glorious 253* runs in the first innings.Dale Steyn was just missed out as he became the first bowler to pick 10 wickets in a test in India.

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INJURED INDIA....

Indian team is now struggling with the injury as most of the key batsmen like Rahul Dravid,Yuvraj Singh and Sreesanth who have already ruled out of the first test which will begin from tomorrow onwards against South Africa.Besides them Hydrebadi stylish batsmen V V S Laxman was also ruled out of the team who was not able to recover from his finger injury.As a cover to him the selection board had called Rohit Sharma to the team.
Rohit's captained Board President's XI who played against the Proteas ended in a draw.In that he was not shined as he scored only 20 runs.It will be interesting to note how Dhoni manages to control the South Africans with his limited strength....

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ONE MORE DAY....

India captain Dhoni took a very crucial decision to declare their second innings at 413/8.In reply Bangladesh were at 67/2 at stumps on day 4 .Now just only one day remaining ....
Gambhir's 116 runs,Mishra's 50 runs and Laxman's 69* helped India to good totalof 413/8.Earlier in the day Gambhir and Mishra speede up their scoring rate clearly prooving that the visitors was aiming a huge total in this test.After they got out nobody had a good individual score but all well contributed in the partnerships.V V S Laxman played well with his wristy shots and scored a quick 69* in 89 balls.
Now with one day remaining the hosts will be looking first to make this test a draw....

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A '1' RUN LEAD

A run lead in the first innings have saved the Indians from a big tragedy.India scored 243 runs in their first innings and in reply Bangladesh were all out for 242 runs giving India a 1 run lead.
In their second innings India have got into a good position at the end of day 3 scoring 122/1 with Gambhir(47) and the night watchman Mishra(24) helped India to a decent score.Early Sehwag departed after scoring a quick 45 runs.
With remaining 2 days ahead I'm sure this test is going to be an interesting one....

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NOW THE REAL TEST....

After a number of one-dayers India team will now switch in to Test mode tomorrow when India take on Bangladesh in their first test match.Despite of the fact that India have only four test matches in this whole year India skipper Dhoni is looking for a very good comprehensive win in these two test matches against Bangladesh as it is essential for the team to remain in the number one spot.
Including the top guns-Sachin Tendulkar,Rahul Dravid,V V S Laxman, the full strength Indian squad is aiming for the high.In the practice session the top order batsmen batted in their batting order itself.

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INDIA "AS USUAL"

Indian cricket team never dropped the habit of breaking the pot in front of the gate.but at this time I will never forget to thank Suresh Raina for very valuable century which brought India not only to good score but also to back in the game.He scored a very useful 106 runs in 115 balls.Ravindra Jadeja also gave a good support to Raina .At the time when they joined,India were struggling at 60 for 5 in just 10 overs.
Now in reply Nehra gave India an early breakthrough in the first over itself and India is now fighting hard for victory....

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GRAND FINALE....

Calm and composured Virat Kohli brought India to a comprehensive win over Bangladesh in their last league match yesterday.India's win registered in 43-rd over with 6 wickets in hand.Kohli was unbeaten in 102 runs at that time.With a boundary Kohli registered his second century and also India's win.
Early chasing a target of 248 runs India's openers gave a good starting till Karthik was out by the umpire's misjudgment.The next was Gambhir who scored 41 runs which include 5 fours.Yuvraj too went back to pavilion early with just 12 runs in his scoreboard.But dhoni gave a good support to kohli and scored 35 runs. Even though the wickets went down at regular intervals that didn't disturbed India's temperament.Later Suresh Raina with 18 runs were at the crease when India cruised ti their victory.
Now India will play against Srilanka in the final tomorrow in a day and night match.India topped the table with 13 points in their league matches....

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Gambhir....No:1 at the end of 2009

First of all I wish a warm 2010 ahead for all my reader's....
India's opening batsmen Gautam Gambhir ranked no:1 at the end of 2009 ICC world rankings.His opening partner Sehwag remained static in the table at no:4.Srilanka's top two players Sangakka and Jayawardane were in between Sehwag and Gambhir.Sachin Tendulkar was there in the list in the 13-th position.
While in the bowling department India's Harbhajan Singh was there at sixth and Zaheer dropping one place to 11-th with Dayle Steyn at the top of the table.

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KOTLA....SHAME....

As the final and the fifth ODI match between India and Srilanka was abandoned due to dangerous playing conditions and this would be the most embarrassment for the DDCA.From the start itself occasional deliveries reared up and one such delivery hit Dilshan which brought hin in severe pain and needed for an urgent first aid in the field iteslf.
The bad condition of the pitch was first reported by the Srilankans when one from Tyagi bounced to very high which was even difficult for Dhoni to hold.Soon they reported this matter to the umpires and later the decision came that the match has been abandoned.The Srilankan innings was at 83/5 as they lost early wickets and failed to move on to a good target.
Winning the toss Indian skipper Dhoni chose to field and the decicion soon hit the bull's eye as Zaheer got the wicket of last match centurion Upul Tharanga in the first ball itself.Sudeep Tyagi and Harbhajan also added to the Srilankan's worry as they bowled with correct line and length.Also the Indian fielding supported the bowling department very well.

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YUVI CELEBRATES....

It was the local boy Yuvraj Singh who was the birthday boy who came to his home ground to celebrate his 28-th birthday not only with the bat but also with the ball.With his all round performance Yuvi brought India to safe home by leveling the series 1-1.
Srilanka batting first scored a massive score of 206/7 in just 20 overs.Once again captain Sangakkara steered the Srilankan score par 200 with his fast half century and put the Indian bowlers under pressure.The rest of the batsmen also supported well and added fuel to the fire.
Chasing such a huge score of 207 India openers got off to a good start even though they were ready to take a lot of risks.Sehwag played his role well with a dashing 64 runs of just 36 balls.Then came captain Dhoni played a crucial knock of 46 runs but it was the birthday boy who came with a big treat of fours and sixes with a 60 runs of 25 balls which included 3 fours and 5 sixes.
This is the highest successful run chase ever made in the history of T-20 cricket.The previous best was 208 by West Indies against South Africa.
Both the sides will next meet for the 5 ODI series starting from the 15th of this month

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