Indian Cricket Team Updates

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• Ranji Trophy Performance is the reason for selection: Mohit Sharma
• I was expecting a call up for the Zimbabwe tour: Parvez Rasool
• Champions Trophy 2013 final emerges highest-rated ODI of the year
• West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 - Statistical Highlights
• Rajasthan Royals Harmeet Singh Suspended by BCCI, Pending Enquiry: IPL Spot-Fixing
• Images: West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013
• West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 - Report

Ranji Trophy Performance is the reason for selection: Mohit Sharma Posted: 06 Jul 2013 07:22 AM PDT He was touted as the 'find of IPL VI' but 24-year-old Mohit Sharma believes that his two seasons of hardwork in the Ranji Trophy has paid dividends rather than his 20 wickets in the cash-rich league. "IPL has got me recognition but my 44 wickets in 11 Ranji Trophy matches is the reason that I have received the biggest news in my cricketing career. I owe it to my state Haryana which has given me everything. Had I not done well in Ranji Trophy for two consecutive seasons, I wouldn't have played IPL and not even got selected in the team," an emotional Mohit told PTI today after being selected in the Indian team. (Also Read: India Squad for Zimbabwe Tour 2013) Mohit attributed his success to the off-season training for Haryana which on his own admission has helped him a lot. (Also Reead: India tour of Zimbabwe-2013 Schedule & Fixtures) "Our secretary Aniruddh Chaudhary was instrumental in organizing off-season camps for the Haryana team prior to the start of the last two seasons. I have understood that for a pacer, off-season training is more important which helps you to sustain a long and hard season. It's the off-season where a bowler irons out his flaws," he said. "To add to it, Lahli's track is one of the best in India for pace bowling. The infrastructure that Haryana provided us has helped me come so far," he added. Ask about his strength, Mohit replies,"My strength is to bowl outswingers consistently and bowling to a channel. That has been key to my success and I will continue doing that." The experience of sharing the dressing room with Mahendra Singh Dhoni has also helped him evolve as a cricketer. "Mahi bhai always told me to keep things simple. He is someone who would tell you to keep cool which is key to controlling a particular match situation. He did that by example and that is something that I will like to follow at whichever level of cricket I play," Mohit concluded.

I was expecting a call up for the Zimbabwe tour: Parvez Rasool Posted: 06 Jul 2013 07:15 AM PDT Parvez Rasool was modest yet honest in his admission that he did expect a national call-up after his seven-wicket haul against the mighty Australians earlier this year. "I am very happy that my name has been included in the Indian team. I did a lot of hard work this season, performed well in the domestic cricket where I took 33 wickets and scored 594 runs. I also did well against Australia, so I was expecting a call up for the Zimbabwe tour," an ecstatic Rasool told reporters here. "I was expecting the selectors to give rest to (Ravichandran) Ashwin for this tour. I would like to thank almighty Allah...without his help this all was impossible for me," he added. (Also Read: India Squad for Zimbabwe Tour 2013) Rasool today created history by becoming the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to be named in the senior Indian team for the Zimbabwe tour. (Also Reead: India tour of Zimbabwe-2013 Schedule & Fixtures) The 24-year-old Rasool, who has been in contention for national selection for a while now after a string of impressive performances, got the nod in the squad after the national selectors preferred to go in with a young team for the series, to be held from July 24 to August 3 at Harare and Bulawayo. The decision to rest Ashwin paved the way for Rasool's selection in the senior team since he is also an off-spinner. The selectors also picked the India 'A' team for the tour of South Africa which also includes Rasool, a native of Bijbehara area in south Kashmir. Rasool said it's just a beginning for him and he has a long way to go. "As a player, we all want to succeed at the highest level. My job is to play cricket and give my best. Allah has bestowed his love and respect on the whole valley. After proving the faith of all the cricket fans from the state, I hope I can do the same for the entire nation," he said. Rasool, who returned impressive figures of 7/45 against the Aussies in February, thanked his supporters for showing faith in him. "Thanks to all who throughout supported me. I would like to thank the whole of Jammu and Kashmir for supporting me," said Rasool, who had become the first cricketer from the valley to bag an IPL contract when he was signed by Pune Warriors India ahead of the sixth edition of the cash-rich T20 league. Rasool said the valley has talented players but lack sporting facilities. "We have talented players in the valley, be it cricket or football. We have talented bunch of players but what puts us on back foot is lack of facilities." He has taken 46 wickets in 17 first-class matches and scored 1003 runs at an impressive average of 38.57.

Champions Trophy 2013 final emerges highest-rated ODI of the year Posted: 06 Jul 2013 07:03 AM PDT The rain curtailed final of recently-concluded ICC Champions Trophy has emerged as the highest rated ODI of the year with a stupendous 7.5 TVR on Indian television. While 5.1 TVR came from STAR Cricket and STAR Sports2, 2.4 TVR was contributed by Doordarshan. The ratings do not take into account viewers who would have consumed live cricket on STAR Cricket HD as it was not tracked. (Also Read: India vs England: ICC Champions Trophy 2013 - Report) The tournament was seen by almost 11 crore individuals on STAR Cricket and STAR Sports2 network. This is almost 40 per cent higher than last edition of ICC Champions Trophy, which was seen by 7.85 crore people. (Also Read: India vs England: ICC Champions Trophy 2013 - Statistical Highlights) Overall, the event delivered a rating of 2.1 TVR on STAR Cricket and STAR Sports2 network, almost 17 per cent higher than the last edition of ICC Champions Trophy. (Also Read: Shikhar Dhawan named player of the tournament: Champions Trophy 2013) Vijay Rajput, Chief Operating Officer, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, said, "The ICC Champions Trophy has proved to be a stupendous success for us with Team India displaying a power-packed performance right through this marquee tournament. (Also Read: I told boys that God helps only those who help themselves: MS Dhoni) "As the new Team India turned on the heat, cricket fans were glued to the TV broadcast with the final delivering the highest rating for any ODI this year - despite a rain delay and a late start which had the match ending well past midnight in India." (Also See: Images: India v England - ICC Champions Trophy 2013) "The advertiser response for the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 was very impressive ensuring that we met our commercial targets from the tourney. More than 50 clients from various categories came on board for the live match as well as pre-post programming on this short and snappy 15 day tournament - the Indian victory ensured that they got their money's worth," he added. (Also See: Team India members with Champions Trophy 2013)

West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 - Statistical Highlights Posted: 06 Jul 2013 06:44 AM PDT Statistical highlights of the ODI tri-series match between India and the West Indies on Friday:  # Umesh Yadav's excellent figures of three for 32 are his career-best in ODIs. With six wickets at 23.16 runs apiece in three games, he is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing competition.  # Kemar Roach (34 off 33 balls) has recorded his best ever score in ODIs, eclipsing the 24 not out vs India at Visakhapatnam on December 2, 2011. He had also scored 24 vs Pakistan at Gros Islet on April 25, 2011. (Also Read: West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 - Report) # Sunil Narine (21 off 33 balls) has registered his highest score in the West Indies in ODIs.  # Roach and Narine were involved in a stand of 58 -- West Indies' highest for the ninth wicket against India in ODIs apart from the highest ninth-wicket stand for the West Indies in the West Indies in ODIs.  # Darren Sammy has opened the West Indian bowling for the second time. He had opened the bowling for the first time against Pakistan at Johannesburg on September 23, 2009. (Also See: Images: West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013) # Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin were associated in a stand of 90 -- India's second highest for the seventh wicket against the West Indies in ODIs, next only to the 91 between Ashwin and Rohit Sharma at Ahmedabad on December 5, 2011.  # India's well-deserved 102-run victory is their largest in terms of runs vs. West Indies in the Caribbean, eclipsing the 56-run victory on June 2, 2002.  # India have won five and lost seven out of 12 contested vs West Indies at Port of Spain in ODIs -- success % 41.67.  # India (311/7) have posted their highest total vs West Indies at Port of Spain, outstripping the 260 on June 2, 2002.  # This total is their second highest vs West Indies in the Caribbean in ODIs, next only to the 339 for six at Kingston on June 26, 2009.  # Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/29) has equalled his best bowling performance in ODIs.  # Shikhar Dhawan (69 off 77 balls) has posted his highest score vs West Indies in the Caribbean in ODIs -- his only hundred against West Indies is 102 not out off 107 balls at The Oval on June 11, 2013.  # Dhawan has registered two centuries and three fifties in thirteen innings in ODIs. India have won all five games when Dhawan has posted an innings of fifty or more in ODIs.  # During his 69, Dhawan hit two sixes -- a feat achieved by him for the first time in an ODI.  # Rohit Sharma has surpassed Yuvraj Singh's tally of 362 at an average of 40.22 in 11 matches. His tally of 378 runs at an average of 54.00 in 11 games is the highest by an Indian batsman vs West Indies in the Caribbean in ODIs.  # Rohit's batting record against the West Indies is superb in ODIs -- his tally being 735 runs (ave.61.25) in 17 matches, including eight fifties. He remains the only batsman to average 60-plus in India-West Indies ODIs.  # Dhawan and Rohit were involved in a stand of 123 -- India's highest opening partnership in the West Indies, eclipsing the 116 (unbroken) between Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar vs West Indies on April 27, 1997.  # Dhawan and Rohit have shared three century stands -- the most by any pair in ODIs this year.  # Dhawan and Rohit have completed 500 runs in partnership-aggregate for the opening wicket, totalling 542 in eight innings, including three stands of 100-plus and two fifty-plus, at an average of 67.75. Their average is the highest amongst the Indian opening pairs with 500 runs or more in ODIs.  # Kohli (102 off 83 balls) has posted his second century against the West Indies -- his 14th in ODIs and his first as captain.  # Kohli has become the first captain to record a hundred at Port of Spain in ODIs. He has become the third Indian captain after Virender Sehwag (219 off 149 balls at Indore on December 8, 2011) and Rahul Dravid (105 off 102 balls at Kingston on May 18, 2006) to post a century against the West Indies in ODIs.  # In a winning cause, Kohli has posted 13 centuries -- 3263 runs in 64 matches at an average of 66.59.  # Kohli has got his 14th Man of the Match award in ODIs.

Rajasthan Royals Harmeet Singh Suspended by BCCI, Pending Enquiry: IPL Spot-Fixing Posted: 06 Jul 2013 01:00 AM PDT Rajasthan Royals spinner Harmeet Singh has been suspended by the BCCI, pending an enquiry into his role in the spot-fixing scandal in this year's IPL. This comes a day after he had recorded his statement in a Delhi Court in which he had spoken about the role of Ajit Chandila and other bookies in approaching players for spot-fixing. He will be questioned by Ravi Sawani, head of BCCI's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), in the BCCI headquarters today. "We have issued a show-cause notice and asked Harmeet to depose in front of Sawani on Saturday. Like Trivedi, he too was approached by bookies but he didn't inform either the ACSU officer or the board about it," a top BCCI official was reported as saying by the Indian Express. In his statement, Harmeet had said that although he was approached by Chandila and others, he was not roped in as Chandila thought he was "too young" and may not able to do what the bookies wanted him to.  The Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), the governing body of his Ranji side, has also sought an explanation from the 20-year-old spinner regarding the incident.  Harmeet was a team-member in the under-19 team which won the World Cup in Australia in 2012. He played just one match for his team in this year's IPL.

Images: West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 Posted: 06 Jul 2013 06:47 AM PDT Images: 4th Match: West Indies v India at Port of Spain, Jul 5, 2013 RELATED LINKS: West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 - Report West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 - Statistical Highlights

West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 - Report Posted: 06 Jul 2013 06:46 AM PDT With a comprehensive 102-run win over the West Indies under the Duckworth/Lewis method, India have managed to stay in contention for a place in the finals of the Celkon Mobile Cup. After India's opening pair laid a solid foundation, stand-in captain Virat Kohli ensured that his team set the West Indies a formidable target with his swashbuckling century. The Indian pace attack then exploited the conditions and struck at regular intervals to take control of the game.  (Also Read: West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 - Statistical Highlights) Earlier, invited to bat first, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were back in their element as they patiently built a strong platform for the Indian innings. After losing their way in the first two games in the Caribbean, the pair seemed to have regained their form at the Queen's Park Oval. Adding 123 runs for the first wicket, they gradually built the tempo of the innings. (Also See: Images: West Indies vs India: Celkon Mobile Cup 2013) Kemar Roach and Sunil Narine were taken for plenty of runs – especially by the left-handed opener. Meanwhile, Rohit played a supporting role. Narine was sent sailing over the ropes by Dhawan as the duo found gaps with ease. The partnership was gaining momentum when Dhawan holed out Roach to deep square-leg to depart for 69. 18 runs later Rohit, edged Tino Best to the 'keeper to return four short of his half-century. After dropping himself down the order in the previous game, Kohli, back at his regular No.3 slot anchored the innings. While wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end pushing India on the back foot, he held up one end and seized the momentum back with a confident batting display.  Suresh Raina soon followed Rohit back to the dressing room, after adding just 10 runs to the total. He pushed a Marlon Samuels delivery to the slips where Darren Sammy took a brilliant low catch to his right. And 15 balls later, Dinesh Karthik was removed for six. Murali Vijay, who replaced him, looked in good nick during his 18-ball 27, before being done in by a short delivery from Kieron Pollard. Then, Vijay hit a Dwayne Bravo delivery straight to Johnson Charles at point to bring Ravindra Jadeja out to the crease. But Jadeja soon ran himself out while attempting an unlikely single.  Ravichandran Ashwin then ably supported Kohli. After reaching his half-century, Kohli raced to his century at a quick pace. Scoring at over ten runs per over, the duo added 90 runs for the seventh wicket. The No.3 batter was impressive as he took India past the 300-run mark. However, he was out off the last delivery of the innings for 102 while attempting to clear the fence. Defending the big total, Kumar removed the dangerous Chris Gayle and followed up with the wicket of Darren Bravo early on. Charles then looked to rebuild the innings with Samuels when rain interrupted play with the home side on 56 for two. When play resumed, with the target revised to 274 from 39 overs, WI required 218 from 29 overs. But the WI middle order fell in a heap, making an uphill task even more difficult. Marlon Samuels was caught by Karthik for 10, and Kieron Pollard offered a simple catch to Ashwin in the slips to return for a duck. To compound WI's problems, Ishant Sharma broke through Charles' resistance to leave the hosts reeling on 69 for five. After briefly bowling spinners from both ends, Kohli reintroduced Umesh Yadav, who claimed three wickets in three overs. Roach and Narine then rallied on to add 58 for the ninth wicket with a late onslaught, but were unable to keep India from getting the bonus point. WI were eventually bowled out for 171 runs. Brief scores: India 311/7 for 50 overs (V Kohli 102, S Dhawan 69, R Sharma 46; T Best 2/51) beat West Indies 171 all out in 34 overs (J Charles 45; B Kumar 3/29, U Yadav 3/32, I Sharma 2/30) by 102 runs under the D/L method Man of the Match: Virat Kohli for his match-winning century

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