BY SACNILK

When Day 4 play resumed of the Edgbaston Test, India were needed 84 runs to win with five wickets in hand. The conditions wasn't easy for the batsmen as it were offering a lot to the bowlers. However, Irrespective of the conditions India's camp was hopeful to win this Test as world's best batsman, Virat Kohli was still at the crease on 43* with Dinesh Karthik at the other end on 18*.## As the game resume, only on the 4th ball of the day, Karthik got out off James Anderson to wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow. He could add only two more runs to his account. Hardik Pandya came to the crease with positive intent and played a few shots with right frame of mind. On the other hand, Kohli reached past his fifty with a boundary.## The biggest turning point came in the 46th over of the innings whene Ben Stokes dismissed Virat Kohli soon after reaching the half-century. As Kohli was going back, India's hopes were also seems to be gone. Two balls later Kohli's dismissal, Mohammed Shami also got out in the same over. From now, the win was looking far away and in 54th over, India bowled out on 162 to handed England a 31-run win. If India lose this match it is because of the poor shot selection from the their top order that increased the pressure on Virat Kohli. He stood alone in both the innings and aggregated 200 runs (149 & 51) in this match for his side but his effort went in vain.## on the other hand, if India could come so close to win because of their bowlers who bowled out England in both the innings. If Ravichandran Ashwin was a star in the first innings (4 wickets), Ishant Sharma stood out in the second innings with a 5-fer. But it were the batsmen who let slipped the game from their hand.## However, Ashwin went on to defend batsmen after their poor show with bat. He was talking to media in post-match press conference. He said that despite the lose, they competed really well.## "I think this is a game where we would have liked to finish on the winning side. No doubt about it but there are a lot of things we can feel proud of at the end of this game, it's a long Test series so to feel defeated or pained so early on in the series is unfair and at the moment it is all about the feelings that I am bringing out, and I don't feel that bad about it as of now because I thought we competed really well and made two comebacks and probably didn't close out the game when the initiative was on our side. That's something that can happen when you are traveling so we are upbeat about it.## "Like Virat keeps mentioning, when you make runs and pick up wickets, you want to make sure that it is a killer blow and you want to end up on the winning side. It gives you more pleasure out of the game and when it doesn't happen you feel a little deflated about it. But as I told you before, this game was like a see-saw battle and there was enough in there for the quicks and it was doing quite a bit. So they were always in the game and you do expect batsmen to get a ball that has their name on it. So with that sort of a game hedging on the balance, I thought we competed really well through the game. There are a lot of things to be upbeat about so not completely feeling deflated and in this space I feel like we did well and there is something we can learn going ahead in this series," Ashwin said.## On his personal perspective, Ashwin himself has plenty of reasons to be proud of. He turned in a superlative performance with the ball, ending with seven wickets in the match.## "For me, it's all about this mental space I find myself in. I don't dwell much into the way I have bowled, it is in the past as of now. It is important to try and learn from this game and take it to the next game. These are not conditions that are extremely suitable or tailor made for a spinner so I would like to take confidence out of this game and try and move ahead and build on this." he added.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

Cricket has changed a lot since the start of this decade especially the one-day format. With batsmen have become a bit more innovative with their batting, bowlers found it difficult to deal with their bowling. It could be said that batsmen are dominating the bowlers at the moment.## However, there are some batsmen who are way ahead than the rest of the others as they are more consistent with their performance. This could also be said same for the bowlers.## Here we are presenting you the best ODI team XI of present.## 1. ROHIT SHARMA (IND) - Rohit Sharma is perhaps the best opener at present. He is the only player in the world who has scored 3 double hundreds in the 50-over format. His highest score of 264 came against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 2016. He has played 183 ODIs so far in which he scores 6748 runs with an average of 44.99. Sharma has scored 18 centuries and 34 half-centuries to get those runs.## 2. FAKHAR ZAMAN (PAK) - Fakhar Zaman is still new in international cricket but he has shown enough talent to become one of the best batsmen in this format. He surpassed the great Viv Richards to become the quickest to reach a thousand runs (18 innings). He scored a famous hundred in final of the champions trophy against India that helped Pakistan to win their maiden CT title. He is also the only Pakistani player to score a double hundred in ODIs. He has played 18 ODIs so far and scores 1065 runs with an average of 76.07. He has scored 3 centuries and 6 half-centuries.## 3. VIRAT KOHLI (IND) - Virat Kohli is undoubtedly the best batsman in the world at present and currently the No.1 ODI batsman in ICC Rankings. His numbers in ODIs are unbelievable. When its come to chase, there is no better player than him in the history of the cricket. In 211 ODIs he has scored 9779 runs with an outstanding average of 58.21. Kohli has scored 35 hundred and 48 fifties. He is only behind the great Sachin Tendulkar (49) in terms of centuries.## 4. JOE ROOT (ENG) - Joe Root is England's best batsman and currently the No.2 in ICC ODI Rankings. He has played 116 ODIs and scores 4800 runs with an average of 51.61. He has scored 13 centuries (Most by any England's player) and 28 half-centuries.## 5. JOS BUTTLER (ENG) - Jos Buttler is currently the best wicketkeeper-batsman in the world. In recent time, he has emerged as a match winner for England. In 117 ODIs, Buttler, has scored 3148 runs with an average of 40.36 and also scored 6 hundred and 18 fifties.## 6. MS Dhoni (IND, C & WK) - Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the best wicketkeeper in after Australia's Adam Gilchrist and one of the most successful captains in the world. Despite his poor form in recent times he is still one of the best batsmen of all time. He recently became the only 12th player to reach 10,000 runs in ODIs. He has now 10,046 runs in 321 matches with an average of 51.26. He is the only captain to win all three ICC Trophy (CT, T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup).## 7. SHAKIB AL HASAN (BNG) - Shakib Al Hasan is undoubtedly the best batsman Bangladesh has ever produced. He is currently the best all-rounder in the world and will be recognized as one of best all-rounders of all time. He has scored 5433 runs in 188 matches and grabbed 237 wickets while bowling.## 8. RASHID KHAN (AFG) - Rashid Khan emerged as the biggest superstar of Afghanistan. He is mysterious bowler as many batsmen found it difficult to pick his googly. The No.2 ODI bowler has played 43 matches an picked 100 wickets with an outstanding average of 14.4. His economy rate in ODIs is the best at present (3.96).## 9. JASPRIT BUMRAH (IND) - Jasprit Bumrah is considered as one of the finest bowlers in limited overs cricket. He is currently the No.1 bowler in ODIs. In 37 ODIs so far, he has escaped 64 wickets with 27/5 his best figures. He bowled with the excellent economy rate of 4.65 in 50-overs format.## 10. KAGISO RABADA (SA) - Kagiso Rabada is the best bowler in the world at the moment in across format. The 9th rank ODI bowler has played 50 matches so far and grabbed 80 wickets with the best figures of 16/6.## 11. HASAN ALI (PAK) - Pakistan has always produced great bowlers and Hasan Ali is the latest example of that. Despite being new in international cricket, he has shown great skill and temperament to trouble the batsmen. He has escaped 68 wickets with a brilliant average of 20.88 in 33 matches.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

In England's 1000th Test match, skipper Joe Root and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow were taking the game away from India before Ravichandran Ashwin (4 for 60) and Mohammed Shami (2 for 64) fired back on England and left them with 285-9 from 216-3 at the close of the day one of the first of the 5-match series.## Ashwin was the star with the ball. He first gets the opener Alastair Cook with a beauty before getting Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, and Stuart Broad. He mixed the variations in his bowling that helped him getting those wickets. Mohammed Shami supported Ashwin with a tight spell at the other end.## Earlier in the day, it was Joe Root who had won the toss opted to bat first on a damp pitch. Cook and Keaton Jennings opened the innings for England. Both the batsmen paid Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma well as there was not much movement from the pitch. Skipper Virat Kohli was quick to understand that the pitch is not offering much to the pacers, and he put Ashwin in the bowling in just 6th over. He proved the decision right in his just second over as he bowled out Cook on the score of 25. Cook made 13.## After the dismissal of Cook, Jennings and Root took the charge. Both the batsmen put on a 72-run stand for the second wicket before Shami got Jennings. Jennings was unlucky to get out as the ball took inside edge of his bat before hitting on to his bat and to the stumps. He played a good 42-run inning. David Malan also fall cheaply to Shami as he couldn't hold Shami's fast inswinger and got LBW out after scoring just 8 runs.## However, Root and Bairstow didn't allow India to take control of the game and safely took the game on to Tea break with 163 for 3. After the Tea break, both the batsmen attacked on the bowlers and runs started flowing. When things were looking good for England and miserable for India, a direct throw from Virat Kohli dismissed Root after scoring brilliant 80. Root's wicket was the turning point of the day one as England lose the tempo after that. Bairstow who was well set went for an expensive cut to Umesh Yadav and chopped on. He played a quick knock of 70.## England's new vice-captain, Jos Buttler came to the crease and did last long only for two balls as Ashwin got him LBW on a flighted delivery. Ben Stokes also couldn't hold for long and became Ashwin's third victim of the day. Sam Curran and Adil Rashid added 35 for the 8th wickets before Ishant Sharma collects his 1st wicket of the day by dismissing Rashid on 13. Stuart Broad was the last man of the day to be dismissed as he became a 4th victim of Ashwin. Curran and James Anderson safely negotiated rest of the remaining day as England finish on 285 for 9 at the stumps.## Earlier in the day on the toss, India surprisingly left out Cheteshwar Pujara from the final playing XI and played with three specialist openers, Murali Vijay, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

Not every time when a sub-continent team play in overseas conditions and start the series with a slight advantage. India, the No.1 Test side in the world will look to capitalize on England's recent struggles in the longest format of the game.## However, the things won't be easy for India as their past record isn't good in English conditions. Their last two series in England in 2011 and 2014 weren't something that India can proud. They lost both the series with 4-0 and 3-1 respectively.## But this time around, things could be different as conditions are very much favorable for India. In this season of summer when the pitches are usually dry, Indian team is must be feeling like home. They will be thinking that this is their best chance to win the series in England also knowing that England is not in the best of form in this format.## This is a long series where things can change quickly. India's skipper Virat Kohli while speaking in a pre-match press conference also believes that long series gives opportunities to turn the things around and said that this is something that they are looking forward to.## "The fact this is a long series is something we are looking forward to. It gives you a lot of opportunities during the course of the whole series," Kohli said. "There are two ways to think about this - either it's too long a series to play or think there are so many opportunities to come up every session, every Test match. We are definitely in a good frame of mind. It's a young team who have played a lot of matches. It's a very rare combination to find. We are comfortable with where we stand as a team and we are pretty confident of our abilities. We have to the skill sets, character and mental toughness which is required to compete and win in overseas conditions," Kohli said## Despite been confident, Kohli stressed the need to stay mentally fresh and focussed throughout the next six weeks. Point to be noted that this is the same thing Ajinkya Rahane had said a day before.## "This is a five-match series and not a two or three-match series where if things go wrong in one match, desperation sinks in. In such a long series, you can be patient enough to turn things around. From that point of view, all of us are relaxed. Bowling, batting and even in terms of fielding, everyone is in a good space now."## "You need to make sure that all the players and the management are on the same page. Especially when you have a long series and you know it's going to be challenging, you cannot afford to have individuals who are drifting away with their mindset. We keep speaking about it regularly. It's a small thing that changes the mindset. When you take an adverse situation as an opportunity than something to be feared of, it totally changes the mindset. That's constantly what we speak about. And to understand that, the challenge comes in when the situation is not going your way...that's when composure comes in," Kohli added.## Long series' are always been beneficial. It does not only provide opportunities to fight back but also gives the option to try different combinations. India will really look to take an advantage of this as they are looking to use Kuldeep Yadav. If this happens then anyone from Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja could have sit on the bench. The same can happen with Pujara and Dhawan (at least for one or two games) as they didn't look in best of their touch in the warm-up game.## "You always come up with situations when you're playing such long seasons that you have scenarios. Along with the management, you have to sit down and take a call. It all boils down to your gut feeling. If five people on the table agree that this is the right thing to do for the team, then we go ahead with that, there are no ifs and buts. There's no looking back. If we take a decision today we're not going to sit down tomorrow and say, 'Oh we could have done that.' We don't act like that.## "That's why we've been pushing forward as a team. We've not held on to decisions we've made. Once we've made them we don't look back at them, even if they come off or not. They're taken in the best interests of the team at that particular time; there are total honesty and total ownership all around the squad. That's the mindset behind it. In Test cricket what matters is the balance of the squad: that's the most crucial thing," Kohli said.## Apart from the team's success, Virat Kohli will want to improve his record in English conditions. Last time when India toured England, Kohli struggled throughout the 5-match series. In 10 innings he only managed to score 133 with an average of below 15. But since then, he has been in fine touch. He will be hoping to things turn around for him this time.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

There was a time when India always struggled in overseas conditions due to lack of variety in pace bowling. Despite one or two good fast bowlers, India hadn't the bowlers who could take 20 wickets in a Test match. But this time around, India have the pacers who can trouble any opposition on any surface with their pace and bounce.## Since 2016, the pacers have taken a total of 175 wickets in 23 Tests, at an average of 27.01. The stats becomes even more special because out of 23, 20 matches have been played in sub-continent conditions that doesn't offer much for the fast bowlers. The pacers have established why they are now a more menacing unit.## Ajinkya Rahane, the vice-captain of India also believes that India's pace bowlers are experienced enough to deal with overseas conditions. He had all praise for the pacers in pre series press conference on Monday, July 30.## "Our pace bowlers are very experienced. Shami and Umesh were here in 2014 as well. They've been doing so well for us, not only in India but outside as well.## "In South Africa, we got 60 wickets... our fast bowlers bowled really well. It is a challenge to bowl in England but I'm really confident about them -- not only Umesh and Shami but Ishant, who came here and played some county games. We have Jasprit Bumrah as well. We have an attack that can disrupt opponents. But yes, it will be a challenge for them to bowl patiently and bowl in the right areas for a long period of time," Rahane said.## India pace bowling has grown richer over the past two years. However, spinners ruled the roost but the pacers invariably impressed. In the series against South Africa in South Africa earlier this year, India's pacers combined to take 50 wickets in three Tests. Jasprit Bumrah, despite been new in Test cricket, troubled South African with his pace and bounce along with Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.## However, Rahane also advised to the pacers to be the patience depite been the England pitches are helpful for the fast bowlers.## "There is always help for bowlers in England, but that doesn't mean it is easier for the bowlers. They need to be patient in these conditions and bowl in the good areas. "They have to back their own skills and instead of trying to take wickets from both ends if they one bowlers can play the support role well then it will lead to wickets. To bowl patiently and on spot is crucial to success.## "It is a great opportunity for the bowlers to prove that we can take 20 wickets in a Test match consistently, like we had done in South Africa. Nobody expected us to take 20 wickets in all three Test matches. At the same time, they should not put extra pressure on themselves and they should just look to enjoy the moment. They need to back themselves and believe that our bowling unit is the best in the world," Rahane said.## Not only Ajinkya Rahane, England's former captain and opener Alastair Cook also has praised India's pacers in pre series press conference.## "They seem to have got a good variety of bowlers - pace bowlers, which is probably unusual, and strength in depth in their pace bowling." Cook said.## However, there could be the selection headache for skipper Virat Kohli ahead of the first Test in the absence of Bhuvenshwar Kumar (at least for the first three Tests) and Bumrah (at least for the first). Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the man of the series in 2014 and despite been good pacers, his absence could hurt India in the first three matches.## The five-match series will kick-start from August 1.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

England's James Anderson has overtaken South Africa's Kagiso Rabada to become the No.1 Test bowler in latest MRFTyres ICC Test Ranking updated on Tuesday (July 24).## However, Rabada picked 7-wickets in the first Test on spin friendly pitch but wasn't at his best in the second match where he could pick only one wicket and that cost him his number 1 spot in the recently concluded 2-match series against Sri Lanka where South Africa had lost the series 2-0.## South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj picked 16 wickets in the series, including a 12-wicket haul in the second Test, and has gained five places to now be among the the top 20 bowlers in the world. He's ranked at eighteen.## In batsmen's ranking, Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne moved up three spots to seven after successful series with bat. He was the top run-getter in 2-match series with 356 runs with an average of 118.67. He has scored 1 century and 3 half-centuries in 4 innings. No other players were even close to him as his teammate Danushka Gunathilaka was the second highest scorer with 161 runs in 4 innings.## The banned Australian Steve Smith is still No.1 batsman with 929 points and 26 points ahead of the second placed Indian Skipper Virat Kohli.## TEAMS RANKINGS :## After the series lost against Sri Lanka, South Africa lost 6 points and slipped down to 106 points but have managed to hang on to the second spot by a whisker. They are just ahead of third-ranked Australia in decimal points. On the other hand, Sri Lanka gained 6 points from the series win and just behind the 5th ranked England (97 Points) in decimal points.## India is No.1 ranked side with 125 points and will remain on No.1 if they lose 5-0 to England.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

Swashbuckling left-hander Delhi's Rishabh Pant has received his maiden Test call-up as the BCCI announced an 18-man squad for the first 3-matches of the 5-match test series against England on Wednesday, July 18. Kuldeep Yadav also included in the squad while Wriddhiman Saha continues to miss out owing to a thumb injury sustained during the IPL. Bhuvneshwar Kumar also missed out due to back injury.## Rishabh Pant currently is the part of India A side for the 4-day match against England Lions in England. He had done well against West Indies A recently where he played a match-winning knock of 67* in a chase of 321 against the Caribbean side in Taunton. The 20-year old was also among the top run-getters in the recently concluded Indian Premier League where he struck 684 runs in 14 matches.## Karun Nair also able to retain his spot from Afghanistan Test. He is leading India A against England Lions. He played the knocks of 93 and 55 in two of his four innings against West Indies A. Dinesh Karthik retained his spot as a replacement of Saha.## BCCI named a strong bowling attack for the series against England. Mohammed Shami returns to the India Test team, having been left out of the squad for the Afghanistan Test after failing the yo-yo test. Apart from Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Shardul Thakur also included in the squad.## Including the two wicketkeepers, India has ten frontline batting options along with the all-around abilities of Hardik Pandya. Kuldeep Yadav, who finished as the team's leading wicket-taker in the white-ball formats, joins R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the spin department.## India Squad For First Three Tests:## Virat Kohli (C), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Karun Nair, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Rishabh Pant, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

England showed why they are a No.1 ODI team in the world after the clinical performance in the last and final ODI against India. They beat India comprehensively by 8 wickets and won the series by 2-1 at Headingley, Leeds on Tuesday, July 17. Thanks to a brilliant 100* off 112 balls from Joe Root and 88* off 108 from skipper Eion Morgan.## In a must-win game for both sides, England had won the toss and opted India to bat first. On a pitch where the ball was holding a bit, Indian opener Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan found it difficult to score runs. in this process, Rohit Sharma after facing 18 balls dismissed to David Willey. He could score only 2 runs. In the first 10 0vers, India could manage only 32 for 1.## However, Shikhar Dhawan played some brilliant shots once he got set along with skipper Virat Kohli who gone past 3000 runs in ODIs as a captain. When both the batsmen were looking all set, a misunderstanding between the wicket resulted in Shikhar Dhawan run out after scoring good 44 off 49 balls. They added 71 runs off 72 balls for the second wicket.## India promoted Dinesh Karthik at No.4 who came in the side for KL Rahul. He looked good and open his account with a four. In this process, Virat Kohli reached to his 48th one day half century off 55 balls. both the batsmen added 41 off 40 balls before Adil Rashid clean bowled Dinesh Karthik after scoring 21 off 22 balls.## Once the ball gets old it became difficult to score runs against spinners. A beauty from Adil Rashid dismissed Virat Kohli who was marching towards his 36th hundred. later in that over, Suresh Raina also got out in the leg slip after scoring only 1 off 4 balls. india lost five-wicket on 158 after 31 overs.## Dhoni slowly but tickle the scoreboard along with Hardik Pandya. Both scored 42 and 21 respectively. In the end, a cameo from Shardul Thakur (22* off 13) and an important 21 off 35 balls from Bhuvneshwar Kumar take India to 256 after 50 overs. It wasn't the score India would have hoped but was a fighting.## england bowled really well as Adil Rashid was the pickup bowler for them. He conceded 49 runs and picked 3 wickets in his 10 overs spell. David Willey also bowled well and picked 3 for 40in 9 overs. Mark wood who troubled both Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan initially, finished his spell with 10-2-30-1.## In reply of 257, England off to a flier, scored 43 off just 28 balls before Jonny Bairstow got out to Thakur after scoring 30 off 13 balls. At the score of 74, James Vince got run out after he made run a ball 27. Fall of Vince, skipper Eion Morgan came at the crease. He and Root didn't give any chance to India to came back in the game. They played their biggest threat Kuldeep Yadav really well, in fact, they dominate India's both wrist spinners Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.## India looked clueless against Morgan and Root. Both the batsmen took Indian bowlers all around the park as they chased down the target with 33 balls to spare. indian bowling looked very ordinary throughout the innings. Shardul Thakur was the only wicket-taker for India. He conceded 51 runs in 10 overs. Chahal was economical but that wasn't enough to restrict England.## Rashid awarded Man Of The Match for his brilliant bowling while Root named Man Of The Seies for showing excellent performance in the series. Keep in mind, India had won the 3-match T20I series held before the ODI series. Now the next schedule will be 5-match Test series which will kick-start from August 1.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

Kuldeep Yadav's career-best 6 for 25 and a classical 137* off 114 balls from Rohit Sharma helped India to beat England by 8 wickets at Trent Bridge on Thursday, July 12. It was expected to be an exciting match but ended up with a one-sided affair as India take a 1-0 lead in 3-match series.## Fans were expecting another high scoring thriller on a ground where England set-up new world record for highest score (481/6 vs Australia) in an ODI match nearly a month ago. But Kuldeep Yadav's magical bowling throw cold water on their expectations.## England's trouble against spin continued in this match also as they failed to read Kuldeep Yadav completely. Before this, India had won the toss and decided to field first. England started their innings with a bang as Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow added 73 off 63 balls before Kuldeep Yadav grabbed Roy. He scored 38 off 35 balls. Kuldeep's wrist magic didn't end here as he dismissed Joe Root (3 off 6 balls) and Bairstow (38 off 35 balls) in one over. Root missed a sharp turning ball while Bairstow failed to read wrong'un. Despite a solid start, England was reduced to 83 for 3 after 12.5 overs.## Skipper Eion Morgan and Ben Stokes tried to rebuild the inning but this time Yuzvendra Chahal strikes and got Morgan. He was caught by Suresh Raina on 19 in trying to flick the ball. England lost their 4th wicket on 105 under 20 overs.## Inform Jos Buttler along with Stokes came to rescue England from a vulnerable situation. Both added 93 off 118 balls before Buttler caught behind to Kuldeep Yadav. He made 53 off 51 balls. His partner Stokes also reaches to his half-century off 102 balls but before he could accelerate his inning, Kuldeep Yadav dismissed him also. He scored 50 off 103 balls.## When Stokes got out, England was 214 for 6 after 44.1 overs. Moeen Ali (24 off 23 balls) and Adil Rashid (22 off 16 balls) helped England reach 268. However, they couldn't play 50 overs and all out in 49.5 overs.## Apart from Kuldeep Yadav, Chahal also bowled well. He finished his spell with 1 for 51 in 10 overs. Umesh Yadav also picked 2 for 70 in 9.5 overs while debutant Siddarth Kaul conceded 62 in his 10 overs without taking a wicket.## In reply of 269, India never looked in any sort of trouble. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma gave a flying start by adding 59 in just 7.5 overs. However, Dhawan got out to Ali in trying to hit over long on. He made 40 off 27 balls. But then Rohit Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli took the game away from England's reach with a partnership worth 167 off 151 balls.## Kohli who played at No.4 in T20Is back to his regular position a played a match-winning knock of 75 off 82 balls before he got stumped out by Buttler. Before this Rohit Sharma completed his 18th one-day century off just 82 balls with a six to Adil Rashid. He remained not out as India won the match with 59 balls to spare. KL Rahul scored 9* off 18 balls.## England didn't have much success with the ball. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid took a wicket each but they never looked too troubled India at any stage of the game.## Kuldeep Yadav's 6 for 25 is the best figures for a left-arm wrist spinner in an ODI Match. He was awarded Man Of The Match for his great spell of spin bowling.## The second match of 3-match series will be played on Saturday, July 14 at Lord's, London.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

The stage is set for the biggest limited overs series of the year. It will be the battle to become the best side of the one-day cricket when two top-ranked sides England and India will take on each other in the first of the 3-match series on Thursday, July 12 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.## Looking at the rankings, England is currently No.1 ranked side in a 50-overs format with 126 points while India is sitting on No.2 with 122 points. More than that the way both sides have been playing in this format since World Cup 2015, this series is definitely going to be the best in recent times.## England dismantled Australia in recently concluded ODI series by 5-0 where they set a new world record of the highest score ever made in an ODI match of 481/6. In that series, the world had seen a new England side who played fearless cricket under the captaincy of Eion Morgan. That was just an example of how good this England side has become. They have been playing this kind of cricket since the World Cup 2015.## India last played an ODI series in February this year against South Africa in Africa where they demolished them by 5-1. That was also the first ODI series win for India in South Africa. Much like England, India has also been ruthless in this format or more than that.## This is the series where both team's strength is their batting. Both teams have players who can win the game for their side single-handedly. England have Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow as two openers while in middle order they have ever-reliable Joe Root along with skipper Eion Morgan and dangerous Jos Buttler.## Ben Stokes who missed out against Australia might replace Alex Hales in playing XI even though Hales scored a century in the record-scoring match.## When it comes to strength, India has always been batting heavy side and looking more settle and dangerous than England. Rohit Sharma who scored a century in the last T20I will be opener along with Shikhar Dhawan. Skipper Virat Kohli along with KL Rahul, Suresh Raina/Dinesh Karthik, and MS Dhoni will be in middle order.## The only concern for India is going to be the fitness of Bhuvneshwar Kumar who missed the last T20I through a stiff back. In case he doesn't fit before the match, Shardul Thakur or Siddarth Kaul can replace him.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

BY SACNILK

Rohit Sharma's blitzing 100* off 56 balls and his partnership with skipper Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya helped India to beat England by 7 wickets and win the series 2-1 on July 8 at Bristol.## This game was nothing sort of Rohit Sharma special. His third Twenty20 international century guided India through home in chasing 199. The win was set up by two match-winning partnership, first 89 off 57 balls between Rohit and Virat and an unbeaten 50 off 23 balls between Rohit and Hardik Pandya.## Earlier in this match, Indian skipper Virat Kohli had won the toss and opted England to bat first. England off to a flier as Opener Jason Roy and Jos Buttler added 94 off just 47 balls before Siddarth Kaul clean bowled Buttler who scored 34 off 21 balls. Debutant Deepak Chahar removed dangerous Roy after he scores 67 off 31 balls.## When Roy got out, England was on 103 for 2 after 9.2 overs. India pulled things back in the second half of England's innings as they managed to get only 87 in last 10 overs. Alex Hales (30 off 24 balls) and Jonny Bairstow (25 off 14 balls) helped England to reach 198 after 20 overs.## Hardik Pandya was the pickup bowler for India. After expensive first over (22 runs), he came back strongly and conceded only 16 runs in 3 overs and picked 4 wickets. Siddarth Kaul also picked 2 for 35 in his 4 overs.## India was needed a solid start to chase down this target. Sharma began well with a six in first over to David Willey. However, Shikhar Dhawan again fell cheaply as he gets dismissed in the first ball of the third over after scoring 5 of 3. Inform KL Rahul and Sharma added quick fire 41 off 19 balls before Rahul was taken at the long on boundary by Chris Jordan of Jake Ball. He scored 19 off 10 balls.## India was 2 for 62 after 5.2 overs before Kohli and Rohit took the game away with 89 runs partnership for the 3rd wickets. Kohli scored 43 off 29 balls. Considering high asking rate, Hardik Pandya was promoted ahead of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina. He proved his promotion right with blitzing 33* off 14 balls. He finished the match with a six over long on with 8 balls to spare.## England's bowlers were taken all over the park by Indian batsmen. Willey, Ball and Jordan took a wicket each but proved to be expensive for their side.## Rohit Sharma awarded Man Of The Match for his match-winning hundred and also received Man Of The Series for scoring 137 runs in 3 matches.## This is also India's first T20I series win in England.## Thanks for reading.

BY SACNILK

It was a great game of cricket where both teams had their chances till last over. But it was England who held their nerve well and came as victories. They had beaten India by 5-wickets in a nail-biter encounter on Friday, July 6 at Cardiff and level the series with one more match to play.## It was a low scoring thriller in which India could score only 148 after they were pushed to bat first. At halfway stage, it looked like England will take it easily but Indian bowlers pulled things back and made difficult for them to chase. But Alex Hales kept his nerve and took his team through the line with unbeaten 58 off 41 balls. He was adjudged Man Of The Match.## Virat Kohli who was the top scorer for India with 47 off 38 balls didn't look pleased with their efforts with batting. He feels that 15 more runs could have been ideal to defend on that surface which was on a bit slower side.## "When you lose 3 wickets in the first 6 overs for 30 runs it's difficult to come back. I thought a partnership would get us to 145, and that would have been competitive. Average scores in local tournaments were around 145. England made good use of the wicket which had some extra bounce and some assistance for the seamers. They put pressure on us and made us lose wickets, and the run-out didn't help either. We were probably about 15 runs short." ## "We were pushed back initially in the first six overs. Our power play was not good enough, and the score, in the end, reflects that and we just couldn't push as much as we wanted in the end. You do take everything into account, like the pitch, etc. We did well and we knew it would be difficult for England to chase down 149 and level the series, and I think they had the partnership we didn't to close it off in the end."## "We knew it would be something they would have to work hard to win. They played Kuldeep really well. Chahal was outstanding and they switched roles in both games. They did their homework on Kuldeep and they reaped the rewards. It's a cruel format for the bowlers, Umesh was fantastic as well, and so was Bhuvi, but unfortunately he couldn't finish it off.## "That boundary in the end (19th over) from Hales pulled it back for them and these small things count in T20s which makes it such an interesting watch. We gotta brush it aside, take it in our stride and move onto the next game. I think we competed quite well but England was the better side, that's why they came through today," Kohli said.## On the other hand, England who was looking clueless against Kuldeep Yadav in the first T20I did their homework against wrist spinner by practising with 'Merlyn' machine. It looked like their homework against Kuldeep paid them off as the wrist spinner remained wicketless in this match. He conceded 34 runs in 4 overs including a 16-run over of 17th where equation came down to 23 off 18 balls.## Both teams have won one match and therefore the third and last T20I become decider which will be played on Sunday, July 8 at Bristol.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.