Indian players have smoother introduction to international cricket : Amir

Sanju Samson was really growing into captain's role: Jos Buttler

Wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson was handed over the captaincy for Rajasthan Royals for the IPL 2021 after the franchise had released Steve Smith ahead of the mini auctions. The side only managed to win three out of the seven matches that they played during this edition of the IPL before it was suspended with immediate effect as there was a rise in Covid-19 cases within the teams. RR player Jos Buttler has now said that it was a great learning experience for Samson and he was surely growing into the role. "It was a great learning experience for him. And I think, as the tournament was going along, at the halfway stage, he was really growing into the role, looking to put together some better, more consistent performances towards the end of the season as a side," Buttler said in a virtual interactive session arranged by the Royals. While Sanju didn’t really have a great time as a captain, he himself was among runs during the course of the seven matches. The right-hander struck a fine century against Punjab Kings while chasing a mammoth 222. The team only fell short by 4 runs in that particular match. Samson scored over 40 runs each in the last three innings that he played for RR. The Rajasthan-based franchise was placed at number fifth spot before the IPL was called-off with six points under their belt.

Michael Hussey could potentially be stranded in India after Maldives imposes travel ban

Former Australian batsman and the batting coach of Chennai Super Kings, Michael Hussey might be left stranded in India after Maldives temporarily suspended visa for travellers coming from South Asian nations and most definitely India is a part of that list. This travel ban has meant that the Australian contingent who is now in the Maldives after the 14th edition of the IPL got suspended will have to stay there for some more time. Hussey who tested positive for Coronavirus won’t be able to travel to the island nation now and join the rest of the Australian contingent. He was airlifted to a Chennai facility where the batting coach is recovering from the deadly virus. He was supposed to fly off to Maldives and wait there with the rest of the Australian contingent till the Australian government lifted the travel bans. However, Hussey who was tested positive for the second time will be staying back in India until any further notice. It must be noted that he needs to clear three tests to be eligible to fly out of India. Hussey tested negative in the first test but returned positive in the second which has extended his isolation period further. It is now highly unlikely that he will be able to join the Australian contingent. In all likelihood, Hussey might have to stay back in India until the ban is lifted. CSK CEO, Kasi Vishwanathan made it clear that a decision can only be taken when another test is conducted on Thursday. “The test will be done tomorrow and we will know the result only day after. We will have to see how the situation is. First, the priority is to see when Hussey recovers. He is recovering well and is asymptomatic now and the parameters are also okay,” Kasi Vishwanathan was quoted as saying by Inside Sport. “If there is a travel ban for India, obviously he will not be able to join the rest of the contingent in the Maldives. But it’s too early to say anything. We have to wait and see the situation. Let him first test negative. We will assess the situation on that day and plan accordingly,” Vishwanathan added.

Indian are very good at creating these sideshows: Tim Paine

Despite being racially abused, hurt and without the services of some senior players, the Indian team defeated Australia 2-1 in a four-match Test series away from home. But the Australian captain has now put the onus of their defeat on the “distractions” created by the touring side. "Part of the challenge of playing against India is they're very good at niggling you and trying to distract you with stuff that doesn't really matter and there were times in that series where we fell for that," Paine was quoted as saying by news.com.au. The Australian Test captain further said that the Indian team is very good at creating the sideshows. "The classic example was when they said they weren't going to the Gabba so we didn't know where we were going. They're very good at creating these sideshows and we took our eye off the ball," he added. The visitors were thumped in the first Test after getting bundled out for their lowest total of 36 but made a fine comeback and won the two out of the three remaining fixtures to seal the series and defend the Border-Gavaskar trophy. They later defeated England 3-1 at home to march into the final of WTC scheduled to take place next month against New Zealand in Southampton.

Rishabh Pant receives first dose of COVID vaccine ahead of WTC Final

Swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant joined his skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday after receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Pant who recently led the Delhi Capitals in the absence of Shreyas Iyer will be an integral part of the Indian side which will travel to England for the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand. The whole contingent will stay in England the whole of July and will prepare themselves for the five-match Test series slated to be hosted by England starting from August. Taking to his Twitter handle, Pant posted a photo of him taking the first jab of the vaccination. “Got my first jab today. When you are eligible, please step up and get the vaccine. The sooner we do it, the sooner we can beat this Virus,” wrote Pant on his Twitter handle along with the picture. Pant who has been the centre of attraction ever since MS Dhoni hung his boots. Time and again he was questioned for poor shot selections. Even head coach Ravi Shastri and batting coach Vikram Rathore made it clear in press conferences that Pant will be told about his deficiencies and needs to sort out certain things in his game. The way he responded in the series against Australia will forever remain a hallmark of his career. Pant played two career-defining innings of 97 and an unbeaten 87 in the last two Tests and played an instrumental role in India’s historic series win Down Under despite playing the last Test with as many as eight first-choice players not available for selection. Meanwhile, the current situation in India looks gloomy as more than three lakh cases have reported each day. With the tour of England just around the corner, it was important that the players get their first dose of the vaccine. Skipper Virat Kohli, his deputy in Tests Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma have all taken the first dose of the vaccination in different centres across the country. Among the Indian contingent, it was head coach Ravi Shastri who got the first jab in the first week of March when it was made available for all the senior citizens.