India's Chances in Cricket World Cup 2011

Where do India go from here? They are still at the top of group B with 7 points. But, there is a small probability of them not making it to the quarterfinals. But, thats more of a theoretical calculation. But, I believe they should be through.

Why Dhoni is not giving Ashwin a chance? Can someone remind Dhoni that Ashwin is the bowler who helped him to win IPL3 and the Champions League for Chennai Super Kings? I am not discounting the performances of Bollinger or Murali, but Ashwin was the key; he was the surprise element in IPL. Why Dhoni always hesitates to use Ashwin for India in international matches?

Its time India gives Ashwin a chance in the last league game, that too at Chennai (Ashwin's home ground). I also would like to try Suresh Raina in place of Yusuf Pathan in the last match. My team for the game against West Indies would be:

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Sachin Tendulkar
3. Gautam Gambhir
4. Virat Kohli
5. Yuvraj Singh
6. Suresh Raina
7. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
8. Harbhajan Singh
9. R. Ashwin
10. Zaheer Khan
11. Munaf Patel

Let us do it boys; we have much more challenges awaiting in the knock out rounds.

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IPL 2010: Match 2 Highlights MI vs RR

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2010
Match #2 played on March 13, 2010
Played between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals

Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are the only two teams who failed to qualify to the semi-finals stage in both IPL 2008 & IPL 2009. Mumbai Indians features players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, JP Duminy Lasith Malinga, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan. So, it is hard to believe that they finished at the bottom half in both previous editions of IPL.

On the contrary, Rajasthan Royals surprised everyone by clinching the trophy at IPL 2008. They rode on the power of local youngsters and the brainpower of captain Shane Warne. But, in the second edition, things did not go as well. They could not finish in the top four.

Will these two teams get things going their way? Let us watch the highlights.

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Indian Squad for ICC World Twenty20 2009

ICC World Twenty20 2009 (WT20) is going to be held in England, in about a week's time from now. The Indians are coming to the Twenty20 tournament fresh from the just concluded Indian Premier League (IPL 2009), which also belongs to the twenty overs a side format. Will they be fresh or tired? I am not sure. The results will show. I hope the match experience in South Africa would have prepared them well.

Below is the list of Indian players selected for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament:

1. Virender Sehwag (Vice captain)
2. Gautam Gambhir
3. Suresh Raina
4. Yuvraj Singh
5. Rohit Sharma
6. Yusuf Pathan
7. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain & Wicket-keeper)
8. Irfan Pathan
9. Harbhajan Singh
10. Zaheer Khan
11. RP Singh
12. Ravindra Jadeja
13. Praveen Kumar
14. Pragyan Ojha
15. Ishant Sharma

Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be leading the team in the World Twenty20 for the second time, following his success in the first edition held in South Africa. Virender Sehwag will be his deputy.

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Chennai Super Kings Team for Today's Match

Chennai Super Kings team lost their opening match against Mumbai Indians by 19 runs. Today, they will be facing the upbeat Bangalore Royal Challengers, who are leading the points table.

Chennai Super Kings' Error in Judgement
In my opinion, Chennai Super Kings made the first major mistake by not playing spinner Mutthiah Muralidaran. Ashwin, selected as a spinner, did not get a single over to bowl. It is clearly evident that the spinners are playing vital roles in each team in IPL 2009. Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Daniel Vettori and Pragyan Ojha have all played match-winning/ match-turning performances in this tournament. Shane Warne, though in the losing team, bowled an inspiring spell against Bangalore Royal Challengers. So, Murali has to come in to the team, most probably replacing Ashwin, immediately.

Exclusion of South Africans
For reasons outside the game, it seems Albie Morkel could not be included in the first match. Another South African Makhaya Ntini was also not included. It is time to include one of them into the Chennai Super Kings team. Their experience and local knowledge should be handy.

Batting Order
I was not happy with the batting order. Andrew Flintoff was sent in at No. four. With due respects to Freddie, he is not suited to the role. He should be coming at No. 6 or No. 7. Dhoni should promote himself up the order, either at No. 3 or at No. 4. Chennai Super Kings also made the mistake of sending Joginder Sharma ahead of Thilan Thushara in the first match. Thushara is a better batsman and has good international exposure compared to Joginder Sharma. Thushara played some good knocks against the Indians in one day matches.

Openers
While Mathew Hayden is the key opening batsman, Parthiv Patel is a make-shift opener and his skill will be tested. The mode of his dismissal in the first match has to be looked at closely. Since Dhoni is not going to don the gloves, Parthiv Patel is a certainty in the team. Should he open the batting? Why not include and try a much better player like Murali Vijay?

Probable Team
I prefer to have the following team and batting order against Bangalore Royal Challengers:

1. Mathew Hayden
2. Murali Vijay
3. Suresh Raina
4. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
5. S. Badrinath
6. Andrew Flintoff
7. Albie Morkel
8. Parthiv Patel (Wicket-keeper)
9. Joginder Sharma
10. Manpreet Gony
11. Muthiah Muralidaran

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IPL Matches Featuring Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians have two veterans in one day internationals, Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya. In spite of that, they could not qualify for the semi-finals of IPL 2008. They finished one point below Delhi Daredevils, the last team to qualify for the semi-finals. Mumbai Indians lost their first four matches, came back strongly to win six consecutive matches, but finally lost their way when they lost the next three matches.

Mumbai Indians has some big names in Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan. The following is the list of IPL 2009 matches involving Mumbai Indians:

1. April 18: Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings


2. April 21: Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians


3. April 25: Deccan Chargers v Mumbai Indians


4. April 27: Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians


5. April 29: Mumbai Indians v Kings XI Punjab


6. May 01: Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders


7. May 03: Mumbai Indians v Bangalore Royal Challengers


8. May 06: Mumbai Indians v Deccan Chargers


9. May 08: Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians


10. May 10: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Mumbai Indians


11. May 12: Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians


12. May 14: Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals


13. May 16: Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians


14. May 21: Mumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils

IPL 2009 Matches Featuring Other Teams

• Bangalore Royal Challengers
• Chennai Super Kings
• Delhi Daredevils
• Deccan Chargers
• Kings XI Punjab
• Kolkata Knight Riders
• Rajasthan Royals

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Harbhajan Singh Completes 325 Wickets in Test Matches

Image via Wikipedia

Harbhajan Singh has claimed 325 wickets in test match cricket. In the ongoing test match between India and New Zealand in Wellington, Harbhajan Singh dismissed Ross Taylor and Franklin in the first innings. With those two wickets, Harbhajan Singh had become the 20th bowler in test match history to claim 325 wickets or more. He is only the third Indian to reach thus far, Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev were the other two.

Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan leads the list of bowlers with most wickets in test match cricket, followed by retired spinners Shane Warne and Anil Kumble. The top five list is as follows:

1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) - 770 wickets
2. Shane Warne (Australia) - 708 wickets
3. Anil Kumble (India) - 619 wickets
4. Glenn McGrath (Australia) - 563 wickets
5. Courtney Walsh (West Indies) - 519 wickets

We hope to see Harbhajan Singh up there in the top one day. All the best Bhajji, keep going!

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