India Beats South Africa to Win First Test at Mohali

Indian cricket team led by young captain Virat Kohli made impressive start to 4 match series against South Africa at Mohali. India beats South Africa by 108 runs to take 1-0 lead in the series. India made 201 and 200 while South Africa replied with 184 and 109 runs in their respective innings.

Murali Vijay (75 and 47) batted well in both innings while Pujara made gusty 77 in second innings to help India to post winning total. From South African side, Captain AB de Villiers made 63 runs in 1^st innings as all his teammates faltered against Indian spinners.

Ashwin took 5-24 and 3-39 while left arm spinner Jadeja bowled to get 3-55 and 5-21. Ravindra Jadeja was also adjudged as Man of the Match for his all-round performance in his comeback match.

Indian team would be happy to start very important test series on winning note as South Africa got better off them in ODI and T20 series recently. Second test match of the series would be played at Bengaluru between 14^th to 18^th November.  

You may like to read about Why Virender Sehwag is the greatest test cricket opening batsman of all time?

Why Cheteshwar Pujara should play One Day cricket for India?

The selection of India’s One Day International team for home series against Pakistan creates more questions than giving any fruitful answers. In spite of performing extremely well against mighty English side during the test series, India’s latest batting sensation Cheteshwar Pujara could not find the place in One Day team.

Cheteshwar Pujara has played 9 test matches scoring 761 runs at an impressive average of 58.53 with 3 centuries. He has also played 30 T20 matches and batted with a strike rate of 108.44 showing that he certainly knows how to score runs quickly.

We must remember that India would be playing next World Cup in Australia where team would need few batsmen with sound technique and ability to play pace bowling effectively. On both these parameters, Pujara fits the bill.

With form and fitness of “Sehwag”, Puajara might prove handy as opener so that rest of lineup could attack while Puajara holds one side firm. Puajra had certainly showed that he possess the ability to play for long time without losing wicket.

If Indian team management are serious about their preparation for next World Cup and want to follow certain road map then you can’t cross many miles without taking player like Puajara on board!

“God of Cricket” – “Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar” retires from One Day cricket

Greatest cricketer of all time and biggest entertainer the game of cricket ever witnessed, Sachin Tendulkar, retired from One Day Internationals. He started his ODI career on 18th December 1989 against Pakistan at Gujranwala while his last ODI match was against arch rivals Pakistan at Dhaka on 18^th Match 2012.

During his magnificent career spanning across 23 years, Sahcin did not only broke all the records but forced statisticians to write new record book. He played 463 ODIs making 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83 with a strike rate of 86.23. The man of centuries scored 49 ODI hundreds and 96 fifties. Sachin created history by becoming first ever batsman to score double century in ODIs by making 200* against South Africa in February 2010.

Especially in One Day matches, Sachin contributed significantly as bowler taking 154 wickets with best of 5/32 against Australia. As one of fittest fielder on the ground, Sachin took 140 catches in his career. He has hit massive 2,016 boundaries while his devastating batting resulted in hitting 195 sixes.

We all salute to the God of Cricket for providing amazing entertainment for more than two decades and creating sense of pride among billion of Indian cricket fans. Thank you very much Sachin!