Several cricket experts and buffs have expressed their opinions regarding this issue. Former explosive Indian batsman Virender Sehwag has posted a cryptic tweet in which he has praised the Indian hospitality over the Western Countries.
“Gone are the days when one used to think that the Western countries offer so good hospitality. India are way ahead of most western countries when it comes to providing hospitality of the highest standards,” tweeted Sehwag who is known for his witty remarks.
Gone are the days when one used to think that the Western countries offer so good hospitality. India are way ahead of most western countries when it comes to providing hospitality of the highest standards.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 26, 2022
The tweet has gone viral. Subsequently, everyone started speculating whether the former swashbuckling opener was hinting at the ‘Cold Sandwich’ incident.
Meanwhile, the team management rested all the fast bowlers while all-rounder Hardik Pandya, batter Suryakumar Yadav and spinner Axar Patel also did not take part in the optional training session ahead of the match against Netherlands.
The swashbuckling opener will be available for the next match at Barabati Stadium.
It will be an opportunity for fans to watch Gayle and Virender Sehwag, two destructive batters who used to dominate the bowlers, destroying the opposition bowling attack once again.
One of the greatest T20 batsmen in the world, Gayle has the record of most T20 sixes to his name. The swashbuckling West Indian has struck 1056 sixes in 463 matches.
The SKY247.net Legends League Cricket, hosted in India for the first time ever, continues to astonish the fans with awe-inspiring cricketing action in the presence of legendary cricketers from across the globe.
Sehwag-led Gujarat Giants are currently placed second on the points table with five points from four matches. However, they will have a chance to regain the No.1 spot if they beat Pathan-led LNJ Bhilwara Kings.
Rohit has not been able to feature in all of India's matches since taking over as captain due to injuries and workload management.
If the Indian team management has someone else in mind as captain in the T20 format, then I think, Rohit (Sharma) could be relieved and the following can be taken into consideration going forward, Sehwag told PTI in an interview.
One, that would allow Rohit to manage his workload and mental fatigue, given his age.
"Two, once someone new is appointed as captain in T20s, it would also allow Rohit to take breaks and rejuvenate himself to lead India in both Tests and ODIs, he said in an interaction arranged by Sony Sports, the official broadcaster of the India-England series.
However, Sehwag maintained that if the team management sticks with its current policy of having one captain to lead India across the three formats, then Sharma is still an ideal choice.
If the Indian think-tank still wants to pursue the same policy, which is, to let one man leading India in all the three formats, then I still believe, Rohit Sharma is the best man for it.
While a lot of permutation and combination has been at play currently ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year, the former Indian swashbuckling opener asserted his top three choices among the batters for the tournament would be Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and KL Rahul.
Star batter Virat Kohli is India's designated number three batter at the moment.
India has options aplenty when it comes to hard hitters in the T20s. However, I would personally vouch for Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and KL Rahul as the top three batters for the World Cup in Australia, Sehwag said.
The right-hand and left-hand combination of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, or for that matter, Ishan and KL Rahul could be quite interesting for the World T20, he added.
Sehwag, who was known to take many fearsome pacers to the cleaners in his heyday, was all praise for young pacer Umran Malik, and believes, that the 22-year-old should feature in the World Cup alongside the likes of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah as one of India's bowling mainstays.
If there is one pacer who has thoroughly impressed me, of late, it is none other than Umran Malik. He should definitely be part of India's plans as one of the key bowlers alongside the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, Sehwag stated.
This IPL has given us many promising young bowlers, but Umran's skills and talent will definitely earn him a place in the Indian across all three formats in the long run, he remarked.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) rode on an incredible innings by Pat Cummins (56 no, 15b, 4x4, 6x6) to register a five-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in an exciting match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday night following which Sehwag reacted quickly in his usual hilarious manner.
Moonh se nivala cheen liya ,, sorry vada pav cheen liya.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 6, 2022
Pat Cummins, one of the most insane display of clean hitting , 15 ball 56 …
Jeera Batti #MIvKKR pic.twitter.com/Npi2TybgP9
“Moonh se nivala cheen liya , sorry vada pav cheen liya. Pat Cummins, one of the most insane display of clean hitting, 15 ball 56 … Jeera Batti #MIvKKR,” the former aggressive opener tweeted.
Afterwards, the tweet went viral in no time. However, Sehwag faced the wrath of MI captain Rohit Sharma's fans after the 'vada pav' reference.
Being disturbed after facing the heat, Sehwag clarified that the reference was only for Mumbai as the city thrives on that famous snack. He also added that he is a bigger fan of Indian skipper Rohit than most of the people who are trolling him.
“The Vada Pav reference is for Mumbai, a city which thrives on Vada Pav. Rohit fans thanda lo, I am a bigger fan of his batting much more than most of you guys," Sehwag tweeted again to pacify the wrath of Rohit's fans.
Sehwag said the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Shardul Thakur, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, and most importantly Ishan Kishan could be among the most expensive players in the mega auction and many franchises will line up to acquire their services.
Posting a video on Instagram, Sehwag said, "I have also made some points for the IPL auction, which I thought to share with you. I have selected 5 such Indian players who will be the most important during the auction, and can probably get the most expensive tags.
"There is Shikhar Dhawan at number 1, then Shardul Thakur, and Shreyas Iyer. It is followed by Yuzvendra Chahal at number 4 and then Ishan Kishan at number 5. I think these are the 5 Indian players who will highlight the auction."
Apart from the most expensive Indian players, a veteran of 104 Tests has also named the foreign players who can be in the highest demand during the auction.
"I think David Warner, Trent Boult, Jason Holder, Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins are the players who can be in highest demand. According to me, these are the 5 players, all franchises would love to get them," he said.
The former explosive batter has suggested the captain's names to the franchises, saying Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan, R Ashwin, or Dinesh Karthik are the Indian players who can become the captains in different franchises. However, he said that David Warner, Jason Holder, Pat Cummins, Faf du Plessis and Aaron Finch will also be in the fray for captaincy roles in the teams.
On February 12 and 13, the 10 franchises will fight among themselves to fill the remaining slots. Each team can have a maximum number of 25 players and at least 18 in their squad. Amongst 590 players (370 Indian, 220 Overseas), who have registered for the auction, 228 are capped players, 355 are uncapped and seven belong to Associate Nations.
The highest reserve price is Rs 2 crore and as many as 48 players have chosen to place themselves in this bracket. There are 20 players on the auction list with a reserve price of Rs 1.5 crore while 34 players are on the list of cricketers with a reserve price of Rs one crore.
During an interaction, when asked about creating various strategies on field and matching it up to strategies to win the maximum amount from the show, Ganguly shared: "We've planned a lot of strategies but we were nervous. Because for years, I was on the other side and now I'm on this side. And now that I am on this side, I know how difficult it is."
He continued to say: "When we won the Natwest Trophy in 2002, Sehwag and I used to open and went to bat and had to make 325 runs so I told Sehwag that now it is going to be 15 overs when the fielders are going to be inside so don't hit it so much and he agreed. The first strike they put, he (Sehwag) hit a mid-off four. I told him 'See, Veeru in the first ball we got 4 runs, now you continue to play singles, we'll have an 8 in the over so we'll be steady with the run rate. And he agreed."
Sourav shared further: "The next ball came and he again took a mid-off shot. The third ball, he again hit a four and then I didn't go to him. In 6 balls, he hit 5 fours. Fourth was a sweep and fifth he hit through the third man and he would've hit the sixth also but he must've felt pity for me."
Adding to this, Virender Sehwag said: "He was the captain, whatever he said, we just blindly followed it." Responding to this, Sourav Ganguly added: "I just gave you an example of that. There are many stories which I will share."
The winning amount will be used for social causes.
'Kaun Banega Crorepati 13's 'Shaandaar Shukravaar' will air on September 3 on Sony Entertainment Television.
In a tweet, Sehwag paid tributes to Baji Rout, the youngest Martyr of India’s freedom struggle.
"On this Children’s Day it’s time we know about Shaheed Baji Rout, from Nilakanthpur in Orissa, the youngest Martyr of India’s freedom struggle. At the age of 12, this young boy was on guard of a country boat and was ordered by the British troop to ferry them across river Brahamani,” Sehwag tweeted.
Born on October 5, 1926 in Nilakanthpur in Dhenkanal, Baji Rout was a member of Banar Sena (Children Wing) of the Prajamandal Andolan.
He was killed by the British for defying their orders by not ferrying them across Brahmani River on October 11, 1938.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the other hand thanked Virender Sehwag for remembering Baji Rout on the occasion of Children's Day.
“Thank you @virendersehwag for remembering Saheed Baji Rout. His saga of bravery will inspire patriotism in children across generations’ #ChildrensDay,” said Patnaik in a tweet message.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also expressed his gratitude to Virender Sehwag for remembering Baji Rout's sacrifice.
"On behalf of the whole Odia Community, express my gratitude to @virendersehwag for remembering Baji Rout, the youngest Martyr of Indian Freedom Movement & sharing his story in detail. Baji Rout is the symbol of true Odia Pride & Veeru gave his bravery a global canvas today," Pradhan wrote in a tweet.
https://youtu.be/aylF517tGzY
The cricketing great said that India was one of the title contenders in the 2003, 2007 editions of the World Cups and went on to lift the trophy in 2011.
Speaking at the launch of his autobiography- 'A Century is Not Enough' at a city hotel, Ganguly said,"I don't believe in the word 'best' as different teams play well under different situations but we have a side which is very strong.
"We went to 2003 and 2007 World Cups as favourites, in 2011 we won and even now. It's all because of the culture of Indian cricket and the quality which comes out every time which makes Indian cricket special," the former skipper added.
While in the 2003 World Cup, India finished runner-up to Australia, in the next edition, they suffered an annihilating group stage exit in the Caribbean.
Ganguly's former teammates, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh, who were also present at the occasion, said the men in blue will come out victorious in the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Asked to make a comparison between Sachin Tendulkar and current India skipper Virat Kohli, Ganguly opined, "We don't compare generations. Indian cricket is fortunate to see both of them."
"Every generation has produced champions. When Gavaskar (Sunil) finished, people thought who would take his place and then Sachin came. Later Dravid (Rahul) followed Sachin and look we now have Kohli," said the 45-year-old.
Commenting on his book, Ganguly said: "I thought there is nothing about me which the country doesn't know. So, I felt to write something which would one day come as a help for young cricketers."
"The title of my book 'A Century is Not Enough' means that just by scoring runs one cannot be a champion at top level as a cricketer has to go through various ups and downs in his life," said Ganguly.
Inaugurating the Virender Sehwag Gate at the Ferozshah Kotla here, the right-hander said it was a huge honour to have a gate named after him at the ground where he started his journey to become a great cricketer.
The Gate No.3 of the stadium was dedicated to the star batsman.
"It's an honour to have a gate named after me at Ferozshah Kotla Stadium. I remember when I started off I used to daily cross this gate and now it has my name," Sehwag told reporters here.
Thanking the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), the cricketer-turned-commentator said: "There will be many more cricketers from this state who will have stands, gates, pavilions named after them but I am glad that I am the first one. I feel very fortunate and would like to thank the DDCA for this honour."
Madan Lal, head of the DDCA cricket affairs committee, hailed Sehwag's contribution to Indian cricket.
"Sehwag changed the way the game was played in India. Earlier we used to score 240-250 runs in a day, but after he came 350-360 became possible. He was a major reason why India won so many matches," he said.
Nehra's inclusion in the 15-member squad surprised many, mostly because he is on the wrong end of his 30s and the next World T20 is a good three years away.
However, Sehwag was sure that the 38-year-old Delhi pacer still has it in him to represent the Men in Blue at the highest level.
"I was not at all surprised with Nehra's selection in the T20I team against Australia. I am very happy that he is a part of the team and I want him to play more matches in future," Sehwag told India TV on Wednesday.
Sehwag also revealed the secret behind Nehra's fitness and said that his Delhi mate has scored almost at par with captain Virat Kohli in the "yo-yo" endurance test.
The Indian team regularly undergoes a series of fitness tests with 'Yo-Yo' endurance test being the most important of them. It is an advanced version of the 'beep' test that was used by teams of earlier generations. The current Indian team is considered to be the fittest by a fair distance.
"The secret behind Nehra's fitness is when is not playing international cricket, he spends almost 8 hours in the gym (two sessions of 4 hours each). And if today he is a part of the T20 team, it is because he has passed the 'yo-yo' test. He scored almost 17-18 in the yo-yo test, touching Virat Kohli's score," he said.
"Nehra is a fast bowler and never faces any issues while running. So, he doesn't endure much problems in clearing the "yo-yo" test. Nehra likes to stay fit and spend time in the gym.
"It is not that he is doing it forcefully. He likes to run, swim and I think he would have easily covered the distance of 20 meters in the yo-yo test. He has also an advantage of his height. He is over six feet tall and has a long stride," Sehwag added.
On being quizzed about Nehra's chances to represent India at the next T20 world cup in 2020, Sehwag said: "I don't think age should be the criteria to play in the world cup. If Nehra is fit, picking up wickets and giving away less runs, then why not? Sanath Jayasuriya played till 42, Sachin Tendulkar played till the age of 40 then why not Ashish Nehra?"
Speaking on the prolonged ouster of Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina from the team, Sehwag said both the limited-overs stalwarts should focus on clearing the "yo-yo" test.
"We have seen in reports that many players, including Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina, have not cleared the yo-yo test. And probably this is the reason why they are not part of the team. I think Yuvraj and Raina should focus on clearing the yo-yo test because if they pass the test, they will be a part of the team," Sehwag said.
"Fitness is the mantra for every cricketer. If you remain fit, you will be a hit. I don't think there's any unfit player in the current Indian team."
"We never thought that there would be another (Sachin) Tendulkar. But (Virat) Kohli has changed this mindset. I think Virat can surpass Tendulkar's records," Sehwag was quoted as saying by India TV news channel.
"Virat is just 28 years old and he will play at least for 10 more years and I think he will create some mega records and can surpass Tendulkar," he added.
Kohli recently hammered his 30th One-day International (ODI) hundred during the tour of Sri Lanka to equal former Australia captain Ricky Ponting's record. Kohli now ranks below Tendulkar, who had scored 49 ODI hundreds during his two-decade-long career.
Recently, Kohli had said that it will take "one hell of an effort" to reach anywhere near Tendulkar's world record.
"The great man (Sachin Tendulkar) is quite a bit away. That's going to take a hell of an effort. Again, I am not thinking about that. It's only about the team where even if I score a 90 not out and the team goes across the line, it's good enough for me," Kohli said during the recent Sri Lanka tour.
The 38-year-old Sehwag also revealed that he would like to change his name to "God" Sachin Tendulkar.
"I would want to change my name to Sachin Tendulkar if I could do it. He has tonnes of records, I am not even close to him. He is called as the "God" and who would not want to be a God in this mortal world," he said.
Sehwag, who was Tendulkar's opening partner for a long time, said he envies the master blaster's records.
Tendulkar, who played for India from 1989 to 2013, is arguably the most complete batsman and highest international run-scorer in the history of the game.
Even after his retirement, the little master remains a revered figure in India and also around the world and is fondly called as the "God of Cricket" by his millions of fans.
On the occasion of the sixth anniversary of India's famous World Cup triumph under Mahendra Singh Dhoni on April 2, 2011, Gambhir who scored 97 off 122 deliveries, told Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) official website that sometimes a good start can help you to get settled in the middle.
"The first ball that Lasith Malinga bowled, I hit it for a boundary. At such times your nerves get settled as well. Whatever nerve was there, it was due to the fact that it was an international game, not because it was a World Cup final," Gambhir said.
"It was not just about one or two individuals, but it was about everyone in the dressing room who believed that we could win the World Cup. There couldn't have been a bigger stage set when you are chasing in the World Cup final that also at home. You never know whether you will get that opportunity ever again. You got to cherish the moment," he added.
Gambhir, the KKR skipper, said he was not even ready when Sehwag got out for a duck of only the second ball of India's innings.
"We were chasing 275 and I was not even ready when Viru (Virender Sehwag) got out (leg before wicket) LBW in the second delivery. I was still padding up. Because the decision was a referral, I got the time to get ready," the Delhi batsman said.
"The good thing that happened was there was nothing in my mind. If I had to wait for my opportunity, then there would have been a lot of things that would have gone on in my mind since it was a World Cup final and we were chasing 275," recalled Gambhir, who stitched a match-winning 109-run stand for the fourth wicket with Dhoni.
Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, member of India's World Cup winning squad, said he did not take off his India shirt that night and slept with the winners' medal on.
"When the presentation ceremony was on, the champagne bottles were opened on the stage itself. I was drenched in champagne. Although I don't drink, I was still feeling like I was drunk. I didn't take off my India jersey that night," Chawla said.
"I got everyone's signature on that and I went to sleep with the T-shirt and the medal on," mentioned Piyush Chawla, when he recounted celebrations from that "incredible night".
India won by six wickets to be crowned World champions for the second time after 1983.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and pacer Zaheer Khan, who were a part of the 2011 World Cup winning team along with Sehwag, Yuvraj and Gambhir, were also left out of the list, putting a question mark on their future given that none of the five have featured in an ODI for the last one year.
Apart from the famed five, pacers Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel, spinner Piyush Chawla and all-rounder Yusuf Pathan were also among the players axed from the list announced by BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel after a meeting of the selection committee.
Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder Parveez Rasool, Uttar Pradesh spinner Kuldeep Yadav, batting duo of Manish Pandey and Kedar Jadhav along with spinner Axar Patel benefitted from the overhaul, riding on their consistent performance in the domestic circuit.
With the selectors opting to ignore the out-of-favour seniors, there were no major surprises on offer in the list of probables.
The selectors included all-rounder Stuart Binny and in-form batsman Manoj Tiwary and young wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson in the list which would be further pruned to 15 in early January ahead of the World Cup starting February 14.
Eleven players from the 2011 World Cup-winning squad will not be seen in action when the team goes Down Under to defend the trophy. While most of them have been ignored for poor form, Sachin Tendulkar has retired and pacer S Sreesanth has been banned for spot-fixing.
Virender Sehwag, member of the 2011 World Cup winning Indian squad, was also present during the event.
While viewing the prestigious trophy, people marked their signatures on a 30-feet bat. Fans also wrote their messages and conveyed their wishes to the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Indian team.
The trophy was unveiled in Kolkata Jan 2. The trophy will be taken to four more cities - Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Noida. It will be handed over to the champion team March 29 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Having failed to rise to the challenges of the cash-rich league in the last few seasons, Delhi have finally turned the tables this season and are sitting pretty with 16 points from 12 games. The remaining two matches will be all about maintaining supremacy and finishing the group stages on a high. After all, a top-two finish will mean that DC get two bites at the cherry in the playoffs.
Even as people have spoken about the balanced approach in this Delhi outfit and the leadership group which has been bolstered by the addition of former India skipper Sourav Ganguly as the advisor, it is the job of the senior boys to go out and show the way to the young turks on the field of play. And the man who has done that with panache this season for DC is Shikhar Dhawan.
While everyone has been talking about Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Andre Russell and Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya's power hitting this season, Dhawan has quietly moved to number three in the run-getters' list with 451 runs from 12 games. A slightly lower strike-rate of 137.08 is justified by the fact that DC batsmen have had to cope with the low and slow tracks at the Feroz Shah Kotla. But what stands out is the conviction he has shown in adapting to every situation thrown at him.
But for Gabbar, as he is fondly called, it is all about the team. Asked to reveal the secret behind Delhi's resurrection this season, the India opener points at the two men at the helm of affairs - head coach Ricky Ponting and advisor Ganguly.
"The coaches play an important role and in Ponting and dada (Ganguly) we have two former skippers who led their teams successfully and know how to go about the job of planning and strategising. They know how to prepare players and give them confidence," he told IANS.
Coming to the players in the team, Dhawan feels that firing in all departments is the reason why the team has managed to rise through the ranks and sit at the top of the points table.
"The team is balanced and both the batting and bowling department has the required arsenal. The Indian players in the top-order like Rishabh (Pant), Prithvi (Shaw), skipper Shreyas (Iyer) or me as well as the overseas players have built a nice blend of youth and experience. Ishant (Sharma) has also bowled well and it has been a complete team effort," he explained.
While Dhawan has spoken about every aspect of the team except for his own form, he does reveal that coming home has been a motivation of sorts. The opener last played for Delhi in the opening season when they were called Delhi Daredevils.
"The confidence is high and I am enjoying the momentum I have gained (at the top of the order). I have been enjoying myself with Delhi. I am back with the team after 11 years so that is a reason to rejoice. The team has been doing well and that adds to the joy," he smiled.
(Story By: KAUSHIK KUMAR)
Aarti Sehwag, a partner in SMGK Agro, alleged that her partners in the firm took a loan of Rs 4.5 crore from M/s Lakhanpal Promoters and Builders Pvt. Ltd, by forging signatures and later defaulted on payments.
In her complaint, Aarti has alleged that the two partners influenced the other company by using her husband's name.
"It was alleged in the complaint that the accused did everything without any consent and knowledge of the complainant. The accused also forged the complainant's signatures and later defaulted on payment," said a senior police officer.
Both the accused had also issued two postdated cheques to the firm from which they took the loan.
The firm then took the case to court following which the complainant came to know about the loan and later found out that her signatures have been forged, police said.
"Following Aarti's complaint, a case under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered and investigation is underway," the police officer said.
In the group-stage match played on March 1, 2003 at Centurion in South Africa, the Pakistan team failed to defend a target of 274. India rode on Sachin Tendulkar's brilliant 98 to chase down the target with more than four overs to spare.
In a video posted on his Youtube channel, Akhtar has revealed how his fitness and poor captaincy from then skipper Waqar Younis came in Pakistan's way of registering their first-ever win over India at the World Cup.
"The most disappointing match for me in my entire career was the 2003 World Cup match against India at Centurion. We had failed to defend a target of 274 despite having a very good bowling line-up," said Akhtar.
The 'Rawalpindi Express' revealed that the night before the match, he had to take 4-5 injections on his left knee because of which it became numb. "Because of the injections water had filled up in my left knee and there was no sensation in it."
"After the end of our innings, I told my teammates that we have probably scored 30-40 runs less. However, all the players in the team shouted at me saying if '273 is not enough then what is'. They said we will be able to get India all out. However, I knew that the pitch was a good one for batting and it will remain so in the second innings as well."
"When we started the bowling, I noticed that my left knee had gone numb. Because of which, I wasn't able to run properly through my bowling run-up. As a result I was not able to bowl properly. Indian openers, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, went for the charge from the word go. In fact, Sachin played me very well and even hit me for a six over point.
"I had no clue how to bowl and get the breakthrough. Unfortunately, the captain (Waqar Younis) got me out of the attack. He brought me later in the innings where I just bowled fast and short. I got out Sachin at 98 on a short-pitched delivery. I told the captain that I should have persisted with such bowling from the very beginning. In the end we lost the match," he added.
The 43-year-old went for 72 runs in that match and picked up the sole wicket of Sachin, but by then the match was already in India's pocket.
"It was a bitter experience for me because we could have defeated India, both in 1999 and 2003, but we couldn't. Not to take the credit away from India who have played us exceeding well at the World Cups," Akhtar, a veteran of 46 Tests and 163 ODIs, said.
"I still regret that loss. If we could have scored some more runs and bowled better, we could have won that match. But unfortunately, my fitness came in the way and also, it was poor captaincy that made us lose that match," he added.
India and Pakistan have faced each other seven times in World Cups, and the Men in Blue have won each time.
"When Anil Kumble became the captain, he came to my room and said 'go and play how you play as in the next two series you won't be dropped'. That kind of confidence he gave... I think he is the right person (to become a national selector)," Sehwag told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of The Selector app.
Kumble was the coach of the Indian team between 2016 and 2017 before stepping down from the role just a day after India lost to Pakistan in the final of the Champions Trophy after an alleged rift with captain Virat Kohli.
The spin great is now the Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee.
Presently, M.S.K. Prasad is the Chairman of India's senior selection committee but questions have been raised about the panel's efficiency with former greats like Sunil Gavaskar terming the Prasad-led selection committee as "lame ducks".
Sehwag also commented on the BCCI finally agreeing to come under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
"Indian players have an issue with the whereabouts clause. We have been tested several times both in and out of competition. No current player has commented on it yet... So we have to wait and see," said Sehwag.
On the stringent conflict of interest rules under the new BCCI constitution, Sehwag said he didn't quite understand the issue.
"I don't understand this conflict of interest. But for a player to be banned from everything... I don't know what else we can do," he said.
India will take on the West Indies in the first match of the two-Test series in Antigua from Thursday and the opinions are divided over who among Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane should play.
Sehwag said that Rohit can fit in only if Kohli plays four bowlers.
"Rohit can play the Test against the West Indies only if India play four bowlers. Else I would play only Rahane despite of his lack of form," the former opener said.
Sehwag also made light of the mandatory use of neck pads in the aftermath of Steve Smith being hit badly by a ferocious Jofra Archer bouncer in the second Ashes Test at Lord's.
"I never used chest pad in my life... So I don't think I need to use neck pads. Batsmen have the bat in hand, helmet on head, what more do you need. ICC has allowed only two bouncers," he said.
Sehwag also felt that Mahendra Singh Dhoni should have batted at No. 5 in the World Cup semifinal which India lost to New Zealand.
"M.S. Dhoni should have batted at no. 5 in the World Cup semifinal and not lower down. (Hardik) Pandya should have batted down the order," he said.
Sehwag also expressed his happiness over out of favour India pacer and his former teammate Sreesanth's ban being reduced to seven years.
"Good to see Sreesanth's ban is reduced. Happy for him. Hope to see him play for some club or state," Sehwag concluded.
Describing Rohit and Shami's performances, former opener Virender Sehwag tweeted, saying: "Aisa lagta hai apunich Bhagwan hai! (seems that we are gods) So fit for #RohitSharma the way he has made impossible tasks possible. But defending 2 runs of 4 balls was an unbelievable effort from Shami. Yaadgaar hai yeh jeet #NZvIND. (This win is memorable)."
Aisa lagta hai apunich Bhagwan hai !
So fit for #RohitSharma the way he has made impossible tasks possible.
But defending 2 runs of 4 balls was an unbelievable effort from Shami.
Yaadgaar hai yeh jeet #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/7HD4qXN4Me— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 29, 2020
Hitman Rohit hit a brilliant unbeaten 15 (including two sixes) in the Super Over as India chased down New Zealand's score of 17 to win the third T20I at Seddon Park and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series on Wednesday.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson followed up his excellent 95 with an unbeaten 11 in the Super Over, but it just wasn't enough as Rohit and K.L. Rahul (5*) took Tim Southee to the cleaners.
This after the game was tied as India pacer Mohammed Shami came up with a classic last over just when it looked like Williamson would take the Kiwis home with a batting master-class.
Here's what the Indian sports legends did to extend their support at this time of crisis.
Yuvraj Singh
Former India star batsman Yuvraj Singh on Sunday pledged to donate Rs 50 lakh to the PM CARES Fund to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We are stronger when we stand united. I will be lighting a candle tonight at 9pm for 9 minutes. Are you with me?" he asked referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to light candles, torches or phone flashes at 9 p.m. for 9 mins.
"On this great day of solidarity, I pledge Rs. 50 Lakhs to the PMCaresFunds. Please do your bit too!," Yuvraj wrote on his Twitter handle.
Harbhajan Singh
Veteran India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and wife Geeta Basra on Sunday pledged to distribute ration to 5,000 families.
"Geeta_Basra and I pledge to distribute ration to 5000 families from today May waheguru bless us all," Harbhajan said in a tweet.
https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1246770067171192833
Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan had paired up with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi to help those in need during the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed thousands of lives across the world.
Harbhajan had also praised Afridi for the valuable social work he was doing in these trying circumstances.
The pair were criticized for their effort by a section on social media. Harbhajan reacted by uploading a video on his Twitter handle showing Sikhs preparing and distributing food to needy in England. "No religion, no caste, only humanity...that's what it is...stay safe, stay home...spread love not hate or virus...let's pray for every single one...May Waheguru bless us all," he wrote.
Vishwanathan Anand
Former world chess champion Vishwanathan Anand along with six other Indian chess players, will play online chess with fans on April 11 to raise funds to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Anand, who is stranded in Germany due to the global travel restrictions, told Gulf News: "On April 11, Indian chess players will try to do their bit in fund-raising while giving chess fans an opportunity to play and engage with us."
Read More: COVID-19 Battle: PM Modi Seeks Support Of India’s Sports Heroes
Along with Anand, India's men and women champions such Koneru Humpy, P. Harikrishna, B. Adhiban, Vidit Gujrathi and Dronavalli Harika will play against global chess fans and players (at UAE time 5 pm) on Saturday through the portal chess.com and generate money for Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund set up to combat coronavirus pandemic in India.
The registration of $25 will provide a person to play any two of the six top Indian players while in order to play a game against Anand, one would require a minimum donation of $150.
"These are very trying times. Staying positive while staying home is most important. Chess is a game that helps a family bond and is something that can be played both online or on the board," Anand said.
Last week, Anand, along with 48 other sports personalities, had talked to Narendra Modi over video conferencing as the prime minister urged them to keep spreading awareness among people about COVID-19.
Gautam Gambhir
Former India cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir has pledged to donate Rs 50 lakh more to the Delhi Government for procurement of medical equipment and treatment of COVID-19 patients in the national capital.
In a letter, Gambhir said: "It is stated by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia that funds are needed to meet the growing demand for medical equipment in several Delhi Government hospitals."
"In addition to Rs 50 lakh which I pledged two weeks ago, I would further like to pledge Rs 50 lakh from my MP LAD to your kind office with the hope that the said amount would be useful in the procurement of equipment for medical staff and treatment of COVID-19 patients.
"Kindly direct the officers-in-charge to share requirements with my office. During this time of pandemic, the welfare of the citizens of Delhi is of utmost importance," it added.
The East Delhi MP has already pledged to donate his two years' salary towards Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) set up for fight against coronavirus pandemic.
He has already released Rs one crore out of his MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) Fund towards the relief efforts amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Before that, the BJP MP had said that his foundation, Gautam Gambhir Foundation, was distributing food packets to poor people in his constituency in New Delhi. East Delhi has a large number of daily wage labourers and many were not able to make arrangements for their food due to the 21-day lockdown.
Virender Sehwag
Dashing former India opener Virender Sehwag on Monday urged people to follow coronavirus dos and don'ts strictly by sharing a video of a child who is spelling out the directives perfectly.
"This is still the most important thing for all of us. A child is explaining this beautifully. Please do listen to him and follow his advice," Sehwag said in a tweet with a video of the child asking people to watch hands regularly, stay at home, keep sanitisers and wear masks while going to the market.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ocAVoAIZR/
Over 4,000 confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported so far in India while more than 100 people have lost their lives.
(With Agency Inputs)
Also Read: 9 PM 9 Minute: Indian Sports Icons Urge To Support PM Modi’s Appeal To Back COVID-19 Warriors
"Apne waale same hi hain. Will miss Chacha ki Comedy," Sehwag said in a tweet along with a picture of Trump.
Apne waale same hi hain.
Will miss Chacha ki Comedy. #USElection2020 pic.twitter.com/yHiOKjMzuR
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 7, 2020
Biden, the former two-term vice president and a Senate veteran, on Saturday won the US Presidential elections to become the 46th President of the country. Kamala Harris will be the next vice president, the first woman and the first person of colour to hold the office.
Meanwhile, other sportspersons around the world also reacted to the result:
"President Elect Joe Biden and Madam Vice President Kamala Harris congrats!!! #46 LFG," tweeted American footballer Megan Rapinoe.
NBA superstar LeBron James tweeted a video of himself smoking a victory cigar alongside a link to More Than A Vote, a campaign he had headlined to harness the power of black voters.
James also posted a photo of one of the most famous moments of his glittering career, when he pulled off a spectacular block of Andre Iguodala during the 2016 NBA finals. However, in Saturday's tweet he had superimposed Biden's head on his body with Trump as Iguodala.
"Joe Biden is projected as the next US President. However VAR are reviewing it," tweeted English footballer Gary Lineker.
(IANS)
The trio gathered together with their family members and had a blast with bonfire and old songs as a company. Virender Sehwag's love for Kishore Kumar songs is quite well known. The Indian opening batsman Dhawan shared a video clip of the three enjoying the warmth of a bonfire along with a few family members.
Dhawan captioned his post, "Bonfire and Old Songs! Wonderful Cold December evening with @virendersehwag paji and @sureshraina3 bhai and friends."
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It was pure delight for the cricketing fans to watch their two favorite opening batsmen Sehwag and Dhawan in one frame along with Suresh Raina. It has been a long time since they have been snapped together and hence it was a treat to their fans. However, the sweet banter between these guys made the clip all the more interesting.
The group is trying to lit a bonfire as they are sitting on the balcony of Raina's apartment with the famous Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosale song 'Tu Tu Hai Wahi Dil Ne Jise" playing in the background. While Dhawan and Sehwag try to adjust the logs in the fire a friend who is making this video asks Viru Paji to make some comments.
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Instead of Sehwag, another friend says, "Virubhai comment nahi dega, comment dega ye Shikhi baba. Raja toh yeh hai." On this comment, Shikhar Dhawan replies, "Hum toh woh raje hai ki jo lakdi bhi English willow ki jalate hai." This makes everyone laugh. Someone even takes a jibe "SG nahi bol sakta?"
Incidentally, SG is a famous brand that produces cricket products. It seems the trio of Sehwag, Dhawan, and Raina were using pieces of the broken bat as logs to lit the fire.
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