Tag: rohit sharma

India vs England, 3rd T20I: Jos Buttler blitz trumps Virat Kohli knock as England reclaim series lead | Cricket News – Times of India

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AHMEDABAD: Virat Kohli‘s brilliance wasn’t good enough to paper over an otherwise inept Indian batting performance as England humbled the hosts by eight wickets in the third T20 International to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, here on Tuesday.
Eoin Morgan unleashed his fast bowlers Mark Wood (3/31) and Chris Jordan (2/35) to restrict the hosts for 156 for six, which the visitors surpassed easily in 18.2 overs, riding on Jos Buttler‘s unbeaten 83 off 52 balls.
Skipper Kohli had mistakenly said at the toss that his team led 2-1 but Morgan, in his 100th T20 International appearance, made sure that opposite happened.
Match highlights | Scorecard
Buttler showed his mastery in white ball format after Kohli single-handedly carried the team to a reasonable score with an unbeaten 77 off 46 balls.

Buttler in the Powerplay pounced on Shardul Thakur and Yuzvendra Chahal in successive overs and England were never in danger of falling behind the run-rate after that.
He played the pacers and spinners with comforting ease, playing reverse slog sweeps interspersed between the lofted straight hits into the empty stands. In all, Buttler hit five fours and four sixes.

More than the Buttler’s blade, the difference between two sides was the sheer pace generated by England pacers after Morgan won another good toss.
Mark Wood rocked the Indian top order during the Powerplay overs and even Kohli’s magnificence wasn’t good enough to save the night for the ‘Men In Blue’.
Wood’s thunderbolts at 90 plus miles per hour found the younger Indian batsmen in considerable discomfort.
He didn’t do anything extra but bowled fast and straight, mixing the well disguised short pitched stuff to get them into a tangle.
Save Kohli, other Indian youngsters found it difficult to put bat to ball as pace and bounce off the pitch worked wonders for English speed merchants.
The Indian skipper with his near perfect technique fought fire with fire, playing pull shots and the lofted hits, shuffling towards leg stump to make room for himself.
He was lucky when his mis-timed flick off a short ball from Jofra Archer fetched him a six but then the second flick off Chris Jordan was perfectly dispatched to the longest corner for a maximum.
But the shot of the night was a straight six off Wood, which made the bowler take his time to finish the over. Not to forget the shape which he was in while executing a ramp shot off Archer.
His partnership with Hardik Pandya (17 off 15 balls) fetched 70 runs off just 5.3 overs but it was all about Kohli for the better part as the Baroda all-rounder was struggling to time the ball.
But others were not so lucky with Wood making life miserable for them.
KL Rahul (0) was once again in the midst of a forgettable patch where all the good deliveries were being earmarked for him.

Wood bowled one at 91 mph, that pitched on length and nipped back enough to breach through the opener’s defence before he could bring his bat down.
Rohit Sharma (15 off 17 balls) was playing his first game of the series and while he managed to read Adil Rashid’s googlies well, Wood’s well directed bouncer got him as he was holed out in the deep.
Ishan Kishan (4), after a dream debut, got a hostile welcome from Wood, who managed to soften the Jharkhand dasher.

The result was Chris Jordan extracting extra bounce and the ill-timed pull shot bringing Kishan’s downfall as the hosts looked in complete disarray.



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Eoin Morgan becomes first England cricketer to play 100 T20Is | Cricket News – Times of India

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AHMEDABAD: Eoin Morgan on Tuesday added another feather to his illustrious cap as he became the first England cricketer and fourth overall to play 100 T20Is.
The left-handed batsman achieved the feat in the third T20I against India here at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor, Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik, and India opener Rohit Sharma are the other three players to have played more than 100 T20Is.

Interestingly, India skipper Virat Kohli, who has played 88 T20I matches, has scored the most runs in the shortest format of the game. Kohli on Sunday became the first-ever batsman to score 3,000 runs in T20Is.
New Zealand’s Martin Guptill is second on the list of leading run-getters in T20I cricket, having scored 2,839 runs in 99 matches while India opener Rohit comes third in the list with 2,773 runs in 108 matches.
England skipper Morgan is still a long way behind, having scored 2,306 T20I runs at a strike rate of 138.99. The left-handed batsman has smashed 14 half-centuries in T20Is.

Meanwhile, England won the toss and elected to field in the third T20I. The visitors made one change to their lineup as they brought in Mark Wood in place of Tom Curran.
India also made one change to their lineup as the Kohli-led side brought in Rohit in place of Suryakumar Yadav.
Speaking at the toss, Morgan said: “We’re going to bowl first. The wicket has a good covering of grass, shorter on one side and a bit humid today. Given the way the series has panned out, it’s about putting up a collective performance today and winning the game. Glad to play my 100th game, a big day for me and my family. Mark Wood comes in for Tom Curran.”
On Monday, Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) along with BCCI announced that the remaining three T20Is will be played behind closed doors looking at the number of rising Covid-19 cases in the country.



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Ishan Kishan: Rohit Sharma taught Ishan Kishan how to play fearless cricket: Coach Uttam Mazumdar | Cricket News – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: Ishan Kishan was just five when his father, Pranav Kumar Pandey, introduced him to coach Uttam Mazumdar at the Moin-ul-haq stadium in Patna.
Mazumdar, just like he used to do with other students, asked Ishan to go to the nets and face a couple of deliveries. Watching a young Ishan batting with confidence, coach Mazumdar decided to take him under his wing.
Now, after almost sixteen years, Mazumdar was heard cheering “come on Ishan” while sitting in front of his television set at his residence, watching his student playing for the country and smashing the England bowling attack with ease.
The 22-year-old Ishan made his debut in the second T20I against England on Tuesday in Ahmedabad and smashed 56 runs off 32 balls, an innings which was studded with 5 fours and 4 gigantic sixes.
With this he also became just the second Indian batsman, after Ajinkya Rahane, to score a fifty on T20I debut. His tally of four sixes, in fact, is the highest for an Indian batsman on debut in a T20 international. He also walked away with the ‘Man of the Match’ award.

(Ishan was handed his debut cap by skipper Virat Kohli – AP Photo)
“It’s been a long journey. It’s sixteen years of hard work put in by Ishan and me. He has struggled a lot and put in a lot of hard work to reach this level. It was a proud moment for me to see him debut for India and play a match-winning knock. I was in front of the television set and watching him bat. I was in tears when he dedicated that knock to my father who passed away recently. I am going through a tough time, but his words made my day. He played an unbelievable knock,” Mazumdar told Timesofindia.com.
“He was five when he came to the Moin-ul-Haq stadium with his father. I took him to the nets and bowled a couple of deliveries to him. I realised he was talented and agreed to coach him. I told his father – ‘this guy is a prodigy’ and that he will go a long way,” he said.
VIRAT BROKE THE DEBUT NEWS TO ISHAN
Ishan was handed his debut cap by India captain Virat Kohli. Apart from Ishan, Mumbai batsman and Ishan’s Mumbai Indians’ teammate Suryakumar Yadav also made his debut, but he didn’t get a chance to bat.
Ishan was emotional and called his childhood coach and expressed his emotions and excitement.
“Ishan called me ahead of the match and said Virat bhai came and said you are making your debut today. He said ‘sir, I am so happy’. He was very emotional at that moment. After handing the debut cap, Virat asked him to address the team. I wanted to keep him grounded. I just said, everyone makes a debut but there are very few who make their debuts unforgettable,” Mazumdar further told TimesofIndia.com.

(Ishan started coaching under Uttam Mazumdar at the age of five)
“I told him to stay calm and be composed and relaxed. I told him – ‘you have faced world-class bowlers in the IPL and you have smashed them all over the park. So, go with the same mindset and intent.”
Ishan was adjudged ‘Man of the Match’ for his valiant half-century. The Jharkhand batsman dedicated his maiden MoM award to his childhood coach’s father, who passed away recently. “My coach’s dad passed away a few days back and this innings was for him,” Ishan had said during the post-match presentation.
“I was waiting for his call. He called me at 1 am. He was really happy. The first thing he said was – ‘Sir, I did it’. It was a huge tribute to my father. He was very close to my father.
“Ishan always loved my father. My father always blessed him. In 2019, Ishan came to my place after a domestic match and sat with my father. My father predicted that Ishan will play for India in 2021. And his words came true. That was a huge blessing,” Mazumdar said.

(Ishan captained India at the U-19 level)
A DEBUT TO REMEMBER
When Ishan was batting on 42, he smashed England spinner Adil Rashid for back-to-back sixes to bring up his half-century.
After completing his half century though, Ishan forgot to raise his bat and acknowledge the crowd. It was Kohli, who was batting with him at that time, who told him to raise his bat.
Narrating the incident, coach Mazumdar said: “I asked about this over the phone. Ishan said ‘Sir I forgot to raise my bat after the half-century’. We were both laughing. He said ‘Virat bhaiya told me ‘bat to dikha’ (show your bat)’. Then he raised his bat and greeted the crowd.
“He also told me that when he reached 48 with a six, Virat said ‘Ishan, sambhaal ke’ (be careful, Ishan). He said ‘haan bhaiya’ (yes, brother) and showed a thumbs up to him. Off the very next ball, he again smashed a sixer to reach his half-century. Virat went up to Ishan and laughed while patting him on his head.”

(Virat and Ishan were involved in a match-winning partnership during the second T20I against England – AFP Photo)
ROHIT SHARMA’S ROLE IN ISHAN’S PROGRESS
Ishan plays under Rohit Sharma‘s captaincy in the Mumbai Indians team in the Indian Premier League. Ishan also opened the batting alongside Rohit during the last edition of the IPL.
In 14 matches Ishant played for Mumbai Indians last season, he scored 516 runs at an average of 57.33, including four half-centuries. He also narrowly missed out on a century when he was dismissed for 99 during a match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“Ishan has got a lot of confidence from Rohit. He has played a lot of cricket under Rohit’s captaincy. Ishan has learned the art of playing fearlessly from Rohit. Rohit is his mentor and captain at Mumbai Indians. In the last IPL, Rohit gave him the opportunity to open the innings in the UAE. Rohit asked him to open alongside him. Rohit taught Ishan how to play fearless cricket. Ishan is fortunate to have a captain like Rohit,” Ishan’s childhood coach Mazumdar further told TimesofIndia.com.

(Ishan called his childhood coach at 1 am after India won the second T20 international, and said “I did it, sir”. )
THE UNDER-19 DAYS AND THE COMPETITION
Ishan was the captain of the Indian team in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. He led a team that had the likes of Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, and Khaleel Ahmed – all players who made their India debuts before him.
On being asked about the competition between the players who played together in the past, Ishan’s coach Mazumdar said: “They are good friends. They all respect each other. They have played cricket at the junior level together. The best part is that Ishan has spent more time in the domestic circuit in comparison with others. So he can handle pressure more than anyone else. It’s good competition. It is healthy because they are all talented cricketers. The more the competition, the more Ishan will mature. He shouldn’t lose his focus. That’s all.”
“Cementing a place in the Indian team is very tough and challenging. I have asked him to take it one step at a time. He is very young and has a long way to go. There is a lot of competition within the team, so he needs to proceed slowly and perform consistently,” he said.
“The best part is that Ishan, Washington, and Rishabh were all groomed under Rahul Dravid sir. He has polished these cricketers and the results are in front of us. All three are doing really well,” Mazumdar signed off.

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India vs England: Pressure builds on Shikhar Dhawan to retain his spot | Cricket News – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: Ishan Kishan‘s success as opener may put pressure on Shikhar Dhawan to retain his place in the Indian team ahead of the T20 World Cup that is scheduled to be held in October-November this year in India.
Dhawan, who has been a permanent fixture in India’s white-ball squads, has of late been dabbling between two roles — whether to anchor or play aggressively, both in the Indian team and at his IPL franchise, Delhi Capitals.
The left-handed opener was benched for the second T20 International after making a 12-ball four in the first game which India lost. He was replaced by Kishan, who smashed 56 off 32 balls. It is unlikely that Dhawan will return unless Rohit Sharma, who is due to return for the third game after resting for the first two matches, extends his break. Sharma will likely replace KL Rahul while Kishan will continue opening ahead of Dhawan in the third T20I.

Dhawan’s returns in recent matches for India haven’t been disappointing — he helped India chase a 195-run target during the first T20I in Australia with a 36-ball 52. But they haven’t been very good either — there have been multiple failures to convert starts. Such is India’s bench that a few failures, especially to get on top of the bowling, can push one to the fringes.
Prior to lockdown, Dhawan missed the T20I series in New Zealand where both Rohit Sharma and Rahul excelled to become primary contenders to open in T20Is.

Post lockdown, Dhawan was given a chance to return to his position. His returns in T20Is have been 1, 52, 28 and 4 (in the last game).
His inconsistent run in the domestic matches he has played over the last few months has been even more disappointing.
Barring a 153 against Maharashtra, his stint in the recent Vijay Hazare one-dayers was largely unfruitful. His scores in the domestic one-day tournament were 0, 6, 0, 153 and 44. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament that preceded it, he got scores of 23, 5, 77 and 0.
Prior to the Australia tour, Dhawan however had a productive Indian Premier League (IPL) season making 618 runs at an average of over 44 with two centuries and four fifties.
Former India cricketer MSK Prasad, who was chairman of the previous selection committee, however, said that Dhawan cannot be written off in white-ball format.
“Unfortunately he is not getting the runs. But he will definitely be in contention for a spot in the T20 World Cup. He cannot be written off in white ball format. He has been a phenomenal and proven performer,” Prasad told IANS.
Prasad though added that the healthy headache India are facing with youngsters coming in and performing doesn’t allow anyone even if it is the experienced Dhawan to let his guard down.
“At the same time the next brigade is coming, and the bench strength is great. This is a healthy headache. Till recently, Sanju Samson was there. But now he is not. So with so many players coming and performing, you need to keep performing irrespective of the fact that you are a senior or junior,” added Prasad.
“In such an atmosphere, the only way you can keep your place in the eleven is by performing.”
What goes against Dhawan is that he isn’t as flexible as the others and is thus more vulnerable to the axe. Most of the batsmen like Rahul or Virat Kohli or even Rohit Sharma can bat in the middle-order.
Unlike them, Dhawan has always been an opener in white-ball formats and additionally, according to sources close to him, ‘tasked with going after the bowling with Rohit playing the anchor’s role’.
“All these questions arise when someone is not performing or is not matching up to expectations. If he was doing well, this question (of him being one-dimensional) wouldn’t have arisen at all. There are many players in this team who play only as batsmen – Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma,” said Prasad.
The ex-chief selector, however, agreed that the others are more flexible.
“I agree, they are all a bit flexible as compared to Dhawan and can adapt to batting positions. KL, Virat have batted in the middle-order. I would still prefer KL in the middle,” he added.
But with time running out, Dhawan may have to prove himself all over again at this year’s IPL. Considering that this is India’s last big international T20I series, an IPL as productive as the one in 2020 can keep him in contention.
“Kishan has shown he belongs to this league. The way he played last year’s IPL and the knock yesterday. It is not easy to keep your place in the face of it. You have to keep performing. The countdown towards the T20 World Cup has begun and selectors will make up their mind,” said Prasad.

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Ishan Kishan: India vs England: Ishan Kishan dedicates knock to coach’s dad, says Rohit Sharma’s words helped | Cricket News – Times of India

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AHMEDABAD: Young batsman Ishan Kishan, who had a dream start to his international career on Sunday during India’s emphatic seven-wicket win over England in the second T20I, has revealed that Rohit Sharma came up to him before the match to ask him to play freely and not take any pressure.
SCORECARD
Kishan’s 56, along with an unbeaten 73 from skipper Virat Kohli, helped India chase down the 165-run target with utmost ease here at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
“As a cricketer, many people are there who play different roles to help you succeed. Rohit Bhai told me before the match that you will open, play freely as you do in the IPL,” said Kishan replying to an ANI query during a virtual press conference after the match.

“He told me to stay clear. Obviously, I was nervous when I went out there, but at the end of the day, when you see the flag of your country and you are wearing the national jersey, all you want to do is give your best.”
Kishan dedicated his knock to his coach’s father, who died recently.
“This innings is for my coach’s dad who passed away a few days ago. I was speaking to him (coach) and he wanted me to score a century for his dad,” said Kishan after the match on Sunday.

When asked how he feels to see other young players (Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar) perform well in the national colours, Kishan said: “I get happy when I see the U-19 guys performing well, it is always a proud moment to see them perform. When I go out there in the middle, I always think about how I can improve myself. I just think about how I can get better with each passing day.
“As the level keeps on increasing in your cricket, there is no fixed spot for you. You keep on floating. I do not think about any number, I just do what the team requires.”

Answering a question on whether the team changed anything after the loss in the first T20I, the left-handed batsman replied: “I think there was nothing to be changed after the first game. We had a bad game but still, you have to stick to the process which we have decided. We have to stick to our plans. There were small things which we took care of and we did not change anything from the first T20I.”
The third T20I will be played on Tuesday.



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IPL 2021: MS Dhoni’s ‘bald’ avatar steals show as host broadcaster launches promo | Cricket News – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: Former India captain and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni has donned a new bald avatar as the latest promo was released for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In a new promo launched by host broadcaster Star Sports, Dhoni sporting a bald look can be seen giving children a lesson on how greed is good if it brings continuous success.

As Dhoni is giving the lesson, a montage appears of Rohit Sharma holding the IPL 2020 title. In another promo, the former India skipper, portraying a leader of an army cadet, can be seen talking about a “Virat Khiladi” and he gives the lesson on how anger is good if it helps in gaining success.

Mumbai Indians have won the IPL five times while CSK has won the title on three occasions.
The IPL Governing Council has already announced the schedule for IPL 2021 to be held in India across six venues from April 9.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Chennai in the tournament opener with the final slated to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 30 at Narendra Modi Stadium.



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Morning Digest: Modi, Gotabaya speak over telephone ahead of Geneva vote; Health Minister says pollution contributes to spread and virulence of SARS-CoV-2 infections, and more

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Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed “topical developments” during a telephone call on Saturday, an official press release said, just over a week before a crucial vote on Sri Lanka at the U.N. Human Rights Council, where Colombo has sought New Delhi’s support.

There is emerging evidence to suggest that exposure to ambient air pollutants, especially PM2.5 and NO2, contribute to the spread and virulence SARS-CoV-2 infections, said Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday, while inaugurating the new green campus of Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) National Institute for Research in Environmental Health (NIREH), at Bhopal.

North Korea has not responded to behind-the-scenes diplomatic outreach since mid-February by President Joe Biden’s administration, including to Pyongyang’s mission to the United Nations, a senior Biden administration official told Reuters on March 13.

Politics seems to sit very well on Kamal Haasan. A ‘newbie’ in politics, this veteran of cinema, is comfortable with the new skin he wears. He says he hit the ground running with the launch of his party, the Makkal Needhi Maiam, in 2018, and he’s been running since. Things are hectic, possibly more than ever, but his demeanour says “relaxed” and “confident”. Here, he discusses, with The Hindu his ideology, reasons for choice of candidates, caste-politics in Tamil Nadu and missing his long-time friend Rajinikanth’s company in politics.

Sri Lanka will soon ban the burqa or face veil, a Cabinet Minister said on Saturday, as he announced the Rajapaksa administration’s latest policy decision impacting the minority Muslim community.

AIADMK leader and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniwami on Saturday said the Puthiya Tamilagam (PT), which was in the forefront of the agitation to classify seven Dalit sub-sects under the common title ‘Devendrakula Velalar’ and to be delisted from the Schedule, has left the ruling alliance.

Eight months after the rebellion of former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, the discontent simmering in the ruling Congress in Rajasthan has come to the fore through three MLAs from the eastern parts of the State.

Just within six months of Srinagar being declared a militants-free zone, the J&K police on Saturday released a list of nine “wanted militants”, with seven recruits identified from the city and operating from the capital.

As Haryanvi singer Ajay Huda croons “Zindabad kisani, zindabad jawani”, his latest song on farmers’ protests, sons of farmers break into a jig at the Bhojpur panchayat called by the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) against the contentious farm laws.

The BJP on Saturday joined the Valley-based Muslim religious organisation in condemnation of Shia leader Waseem Rizvi’s move to approach the Supreme Court to seek removal of 26 verses of the Quran, a holy book central to the faith of Muslims across the world.

China is no longer compliant with Hong Kong’s joint declaration after Beijing announced sweeping changes to the region’s electoral system, Britain said on Saturday. “The U.K. now considers Beijing to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The contradictions began even before a ball was bowled. A day after India skipper Virat Kohli had stated that Rohit Sharma and K.L. Rahul would be the first-choice opening pair, the team management decided to rest Rohit for the first T20 in Ahmedabad on Friday.

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Two new IPL teams to be auctioned in May | Cricket News – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a 10-team affair from 2022 as the BCCI has decided to auction two new teams in the month of May during the final phase of upcoming edition.
The BCCI top brass including president Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah on Saturday had a meeting on execution of various policy decisions approved by the IPL Governing Council at the start of the year.
“The 10 team IPL will roll on from next year and the bidding process and finalisation of the new franchises will be completed by the month of May this year,” a senior BCCI source privy to the developments told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“Once the teams are finalised, they can start their operational work which takes considerable time,” the source added.
No Prithvi or Padikkal for ODIs
The Indian ODI team will be announced on Sunday but none of the senior players have opted for any rest for the time being.
“The team is expected to be announced tomorrow. Neither skipper Virat Kohli nor his deputy Rohit Sharma has opted for rest. There aren’t many surprises as we prepare for World T20,” the influential official informed.
He said that both Prithvi Shaw and Devdutt Padikkal will have to wait for their chance.
“They have done exceedingly well but will have to wait for their turn,” he said.
Women’s team to tour NZ, Australia next year
After a disappointing 2020 when they didn’t have a single international tour, the Indian women’s team ahead of the 50-over World Cup will be touring Australia at the end of the year followed by a short preparatory series in New Zealand before the World Cup.
“Our women’s cricket is as important as our men’s game. We are playing a Test match in England, our first in 6 years and then we have twin tours followed by the World Cup. Our girls have a packed schedule,” the source added.
Vinoo Mankad U19 starts after board exams
The Vinoo Mankad U-19 trophy, the 50-over tournament which will act as a trial tournament for next year’s U19 World Cup will be held in May-June after the class 12 CBSE and state Board exams are completed.
“There are many boys who are in their Board year and we don’t want them to miss out on their exams. The tournament starts in May-June,” the official added.

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India vs England 2nd T20I: Virat Kohli’s men look to claw back after disappointing start | Cricket News – Times of India

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AHMEDABAD: Left shaken by a bunch of world-class operators, the Indian team’s white-ball stars will be aiming to put up an improved batting effort in the second T20 International against England here on Sunday.
It was India’s first white-ball game in three months and the rustiness of some of the premier shorter format players like KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Yuzvendra Chahal’s showed in the first game in which the hosts were clinically outplayed.
One defeat is never the end of the story and no critic can rule this Indian team out of the series on the basis of a singular performance especially because of its zeal to fight.
However, as skipper Virat Kohli talks about players with X-factors doing the job, he would expect Rishabh Pant and Pandya to do a bit more with their explosive hitting, which should not be confined to one audacious reverse scoop (Pant off Jofra Archer) or a falling ramp shot (Pandya off Ben Stokes).

PTI Photo
They are more than capable and will be expected to give a far better account of themselves, trying to play more shots square of the wicket like Shreyas Iyer did during his innings of 67 off 48 balls.
Both Pandya (19 off 21 balls) and Pant (21 off 23 balls) weren’t able to gauge the pace of the track as Archer and Mark Wood bowled fast and straight denying them any width for the cut shot. The extra bounce also didn’t allow them to drive on the up.
“The wicket didn’t allow you to hit the kind of shots you wanted to. Shreyas’ innings was an example of how you could use the depth of the crease, ride the bounce because there was variable bounce at times, and hit the areas square of the wicket which others failed to do.

Shreyas Iyer. (ANI Photo)
“It was just a below-par batting performance and England made us pay for it,” Kohli had summed it up aptly at the end of the match.
The captain’s acknowledgement of Iyer’s performance could well mean that the wait for Suryakumar Yadav might get a tad longer with only one middle-order slot available currently.
However, Kohli’s propensity to change his playing XI at the drop of a hat is well documented.
While giving his team’s oldest member, Shikhar Dhawan, a couple of matches is perfectly understandable but how long does he want to persist with the left-hander, who looked completely out of sorts during his 4 off 12 balls.
Rohit Sharma, as per Kohli, is rested for a couple of matches having played 6 consecutive Test matches along with 14 days of hard quarantine at the start of his Australian sojourn.
But Rohit’s presence is very necessary at the top of the order and even though no one is really talking about it, it’s been long since the Indian skipper has had an impactful T20 performance. He is too good a player to miss out.
The bowling department didn’t have enough runs on board to put up a fight but whether one of the three spinners can make way for a tearaway quick like Navdeep Saini remains to be seen.
Perhaps Yuzvendra Chahal could make way for Rahul Tewatia, who may not be as crafty a leg break bowler but certainly a decent one with good batting prowess.

AP Photo
Eoin Morgan, one among the more likeable international captains, has been provided a team that has its bases covered with 12 players plying their trade in the IPL.
Unless something really goes wrong, this England team is a contender to win the T20 World Cup trophy in October this year with way too many powerhouse performers.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Rahul Tewatia, Ishan Kishan (reserve wicketkeeper).
England: Eoin Morgan (captain), Joss Buttler, Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Chris Jordan, Mark Wood, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Sam Billings, Jonny Bairstow, Jofra Archer.

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India vs England T20Is: Top 5 Indian batsmen to watch out for | Cricket News – Times of India

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After thrashing England 3-1 in the Test series and sealing a World Test Championship final spot, Team India has now set its eyes on the upcoming T20 series vs the English to fine tune their final squad for the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held later in the year on their home soil.
India, who have a great mix of talented players, won the last T20 series they played, 2-1 against Australia on Aussie soil last December. With a few new faces in the squad – namely Suryakymar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Rahul Tewatia – India would be looking to produce an encore against England at home.
On the other hand battered and bruised England, under the leadership of Eoin Morgan, will try to bounce back hard in the slam bang version of the game after getting battered in the longest format 3-1. The white-ball series kicks off with a five-match T20I series in Ahmedabad from March 12 to 20, followed by a three match ODI series in Pune.
As we count down to the T20I series, which begins on Friday, TimsofIndia.com looks at the top five Indian batsmen who can pose a big threat to the English T20 side, which is a completely different kettle of fish as compared to their Test team:
Virat Kohli
The Indian skipper, who is the all-time highest scorer in the shortest format of the game (2928 runs in 79 innings), is surely one of the big guns to watch out for in the upcoming series. Kohli might have been dismissed for a couple of ducks in the Tests vs England, but you can expect one of the most prolific players of this generation to go after the English bowlers from the word go in the shortest format.
Kohli, who is yet to score a ton in T20Is, is due for a big score. The hungry Kohli scored 134 runs in the three games played against Australia last year in the T20I series with 85 being his best in the final T20I, albeit in a losing cause.
Overall, the Indian run-machine has scored 2928 runs, averaging more than 50, in the 85 T20I matches he has played so far in the shortest format of the game and will definitely be the player to watch out for, especially since his ability to finish a game is perhaps second to none.

(Getty Images)
Virat T20I career stats: M 85 | R 2928 | HS 94* | Ave 50.48 | SR 138.43 | 25x50s | 81 sixes
Virat T20I stats vs England: M 12 | R 346 | HS 66 | Ave 31.45 | SR 130.56 | 1x50s | 7 sixes
Rohit Sharma
The incredibly talented Rohit Sharma, who is in really good touch, after scoring a Test century and a fifty against England on challenging tracks, is all set to get into the T20 avatar.
Rohit, in white ball cricket is perhaps the most dangerous batsman in world cricket. The Indian vice-captain, who is currently sitting in third place on the all-time highest run getters list in T20 cricket, behind Virat and Martin Guptill, is one of the cleanest hitters in international cricket.
The ‘Hitman’ has played 108 T20Is for India, scoring 2,773 runs at an average of 32.62, with 4 T20I hundreds – the most overall, and 21 half-centuries to his name. With a strike rate of 138.78, Rohit is a threat for any opposition in the world.
Rohit, who had missed the white-ball formats in Australia due to an injury and a mandatory quarantine, will surely be a key batsman for India in the upcoming series.

(Getty Images)
Rohit T20I career stats: M 108 | R 2773 | HS 118 | Ave 32.62 | SR 138.78 | 4x100s | 21x50s | 127 sixes
Rohit T20I stats vs England: M 8 | R 226 | HS 100* | Ave 45.20 | SR 143.03 | 1x100s | 1x50s | 8 sixes
Shikhar Dhawan
‘Gabbar’, as Shikhar Dhawan is popularly called, will be quite eager to make his mark after an ordinary Australia limited-overs series. It’s been a more than three month break for Dhawan in international cricket, but of late he’s been in the news in the domestic circuit.
Turning up for Delhi, Dhawan recently scored a masterful 153 against Maharashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50-over format) and played quite a few good knocks for the state in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.
The marauding left-hander has so far played 64 T20Is, scoring 1669 runs at an average of 28.28 with 92 being the highest. Dhawan would certainly look to make amends against England in home conditions after scoring just 81 runs, which included one half-century, in the three T20I matches he played against Australia last year.
Dhawan will be itching to put his best foot forward against the Englishmen as young KL Rahul’s rise as a potent white-ball specialist has spiced up the competition for the opening slot in the Indian team and with this year’s T20 World Cup being held in India, he would certainly be looking to cement his place in the Indian squad for the quadrennial event. Dhawan might not be an assured starter in the T20I series, but if he does find a place in the playing XI, he will be a player to watch out for precisely because he will have a point or two to prove about him belonging in the first XI.

(Getty Images)
Dhawan T20I career stats: M 64 | R 1669 | HS 92 | Ave 28.28 | SR 128.28 | 11x50s | 49 sixes
Dhawan T20I stats vs England: M 4 | R 52 | HS 33 | Ave 13.00 | SR 110.63 | 2 sixes
Rishabh Pant
The young and energetic Pant has made a roaring comeback into the Indian team after putting up a fantastic show against England in the longer version of the game.
Pant, who has not played a white-ball game since January 2020, was dropped from the ODI and T20I squads for the Australia tour last year. But the 23-year-old didn’t get bogged down with his omission from the limited-overs squads. He turned his adversity into opportunity by playing a match-winning unbeaten knock of 89 in the last Test against Australia in Brisbane and continued his good run with another match-winning century against England in the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad.
He has also silenced some doubting Thomases who have been consistently pointing fingers at his wicket-keeping skills, with some solid glove work behind the stumps against England.
Pant has so far represented India in 28 T20Is, scoring just 410 runs at an average of 20.50 with 65* being the highest. But he is not the kind of player who can be judged with his average or scores, as he can turn the match in his team’s favour with a blitzkrieg of a knock lower down the order.

(TOI Photo)
Pant T20I career stats: M 28 | R 410 | HS 65* | Ave 20.50 | SR 121.66 | 2x50s | 18 sixes
Pant T20I stats vs England: M 1 | R 5 | HS 5* | Ave — | SR 166.66
Suryakumar Yadav
The extremely talented and prolific Suryakumar Yadav has finally been rewarded for his consistency after he earned a maiden India call-up for the upcoming T20 series against England.
Suryakumar, who was overlooked for the limited-overs matches in Australia late last year despite scoring 480 runs in IPL 2020 for Mumbai Indians, must have surely been gutted for not being considered, but he continued to toil hard in the domestic circuit to make his presence felt.
And those performances made the selectors carve out space for him in the Indian squad. Suryakumar knocked on the doors of the Indian team with brilliant knocks for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. His scores read – 50, 29, 133, 29, and 91 in the five matches he played in the tournament.
A seasoned T20 campaigner, Suryakumar has played 170 career T20s so far – while representing India A, India B, India Blue, India C, India Red, India U-23s, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai and Mumbai Indians over the years – and scored 3567 runs at an average of 31.56, with 94* being his best score.
It won’t be an easy road for him as he will have to fight it out for a spot in the middle-order with the likes of Rahul and statemate Shreyas Iyer. The 30-year-old will be keen to make this opportunity count and try and prove that he should be a first choice pick come the T20 World Cup later this year.

(Getty Images)
Suryakumar career T20 stats: M 170 | R 3567 | HS 94* | Ave 31.56 | SR 140.10 | 19x50s | 116 sixes
Also to watch out for..
KL Rahul
India skipper Virat Kohli on the eve of the first T20I confirmed that KL Rahul will be opening the innings alongside Rohit Sharma.
Rahul, who has been in red-hot form at the top since the last edition of the IPL, has been a consistent performer for the team in the shortest format.
One of the most experienced in the T20Is, the 28-year-old has 1542 runs in 45 games at a strike rate of over 144.
With Rahul now almost a certainty for the World Cup, the swashbuckling batsman will look to hit top gear in the upcoming series.
Against England, Rahul has been phenomenal. In the 6 matches he has played against the English side, Rahul has 227 runs to his name including a top score of 101 not out. The strike rate also has been of the higher side, exceeding 155.
In the T20I series against England, Rahul will look to continue with his fine form and will be a key man for the team at the top of the order.

(Getty Images)
Rahul T20I career stats: M 45 | R 1542 | HS 110* | Ave 44.05 | SR 144.92 | 12x50s | 2x100s | 63 sixes
Rahul T20I stats vs England: M 6 | R 227 | HS 101* | Ave 45.40 | SR 155.47 | 1x50s | 1x100s | 10 sixes

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