West Indies wins in ODI

West Indians have been able to register their first victory in the current tour against India in the 2nd One Day at Vizag. While chasing a target of 289, they took the match to the rope. However, finally West Indies won by 2 wickets. A spectacular knock of Darren Sammy of 63 in 45 balls had left the Indians at lurch. Kieran Powell also contributed 59 runs. Virat Kohli missed his century just by one run in his innings. The Indians could not meet the expectation level at any point of time. They failed miserably both in batting and bowling. However, West Indies has got a chance to fight back and the last ODI will be seemingly...

India huff and puff to win

India finally could manage a classical victory in the clincher ODI against the spirited Australia, who never left the game before final wicket. The mammoth total of 383 seemed to become impossible when the Australian top order batsmen faltered in quick succession. The scoreboard recorded 138 for 6 wickets in the Australian innings in the 23rd over. Perhaps Maxwell and Faulkner tried to spell the the fate of the match differently. The scintillating batting headed by Rohit Sharma finally yielded. It is indeed true that Indians have been able to register a terrific victory, but the do-or-die attitude of the Australians have exhibited their professionalism, for which they had been dominating the cricketing world for...

The India – Australia ODI series clincher is on at Bangalore today

It has been a great ODI series with almost 2500+ runs having being amassed by the Indian and Australian batsmen alike without inclusion of the 295 scored by the Australians at the Ranchi match which was later abandoned due to rain. This 7 match series in which other than the Ranchi match, which at least began, the Cuttack crowd was robbed the pleasure of a marvelous game due to bad weather making a perfect foil that has been a countdown to Diwali, one of the biggest festivals in India. This festival of lights, Deepawali, is celebrated all over India with great pomp and show. The sparkling shots off the bats of illustrious batsmen of the likes of Virat Kohli, George Bailey, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson have lit up the skies under the floodlights at the various venues turning the games to become appropriate prequels to the glittering Diwali night. As the ODI 2013 series advanced the home crowd lapped up the joy, thrill and grandeur that each of its matches ushered in to the run up to the New Year in the Hindu calendar. The maddening fans of cricket in India have been busy in frantically worshipping their cricketing idols as India lost, won, lost the first three matches of the series respectively. Then there were two matches that were washed out, which each of the Indian players bore under tremendous pressure. In the sixth match of the series the Indian team played like a tiger having brought out of the cage, raring to go and pounced upon the Australian target of 350 with zeal to level the series 2-2. Perhaps, after a long time the Indian audiences have been able to relish cricket with aplomb as their cricketers never lost out to the mental game that ensues during every match in an ODI series between two famous cricketing playing nations. It will not be an understatement to say that today’s decider will be a bigger draw than the preparations for the traditional custom of worshipping of the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Laskshmi in every household. It surely has put Diwali on the back foot with every Indian cricket fan waiting breathlessly to catch each ball of this scintillating game live at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore or via media. There is the custom of sharing sweets before and during Diwali, which are specially made, bought and gifted on this very auspicious occasion. Well it is up to the Indian cricketing team to...

India is taking on Australia in the decision making ODI today

The spirited India fueled by Virat Kohli’s scintillating batting and an emphatic victory in the last ODI, is going to take on Australia today in the decision making trial. India may also be cheered by by the news that their key strike bowler Johnson has been sent back to the country. Virat Kohli has clearly exhibited that they would prefer to chase the target rather than setting up a stiff target in front of Australia, which means India will elect to field first, if they win the toss. Bangalore, being the IPL home ground of Virat Kohli, is expected to be overcrowded mainly when this Saturday will be celebrated as a holiday due to...

Scintillating batting has put India back on Tracks in ODI

Inspired by the emphatic victory in the first ODI, the competent Australian side had set up a mammoth target of 360 for India to chase, but the world famous batting line up came alive to match up to the sky high expectations propelling India to a 9-wicket victory against the Aussies. Drumming up fierce pace, the apparently junior pace battery of the Australian squad tried to show due diligence to the endeavors of their batsmen, but Indian batting seemed on a song and the effect was hilarious for the Australians. This is to be mentioned that the cricketing history had witnessed another new record when all the top 5 batsmen for Australia could register a figure of 50 plus against their names. George Bailey seemed to be most aggressive and his innings sent a thrill down the spines of the crowd at Jaipur. Bailey remained not out after scoring 92 runs just in 50 balls at a strike rate of 184. He had faced the pacers and spinners with impunity. It is often said that a solid opening partnership determines the fate of the match. Indian openers, Dhawan and Rohit Sharma could score a magnificent 176 runs in their most effective partnership, whereas their arch rival Australia had to remain satisfied with a paltry 74 to show for the cost of their the 1st wicket. Virat Kohli with the right mix of classical style and aggression could steer India to an exhilarated thrilling victory against Australia in the 2nd ODI in 43.3 overs only. He has sent most of the dreadful bowlers out of the fence almost effortlessly. Virat Kohli poured his heart out and his powerful shots started splashing all over the ground to rent the air with an electrifying touch that turned the entire crowd wild with excitement. The Kohli magic could lead him to an Indian record of scoring a century in the shortest spell of 52 balls only by eliminating the name of furious Virendra Sehwag, who had been holding the record as yet by reaching the milestone in just 60 balls. Rohit Sharma’s brilliant 141 had been duly overshadowed by the dazzle of the Virat Kohli century. However, Sharma not only paved the path for a solid opening partnership but also carried his bat through the innings. An inspiring knock of Sharma was adequate to twist the game in India’s favor. It is an immense display of grit and grime good that enabled the Indians not to lose their nerves in front of the...