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

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.

Ramesh Powar appointed India Women’s coach

Former India international Ramesh Powar has been recommended by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) headed by Madan Lal to once again become the coach o the Indian Women’s team. Powar edged incumbent WV Raman and Hrishikesh Kanitkar in a close fight to get the nod of CAC. The BCCI in its official statement said, “The three-member Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Ms Sulakshana Naik, Mr Madan Lal and Mr Rudra Pratap Singh interviewed the applicants and unanimously agreed on Mr Powar’s candidature.” The 42-year-old Mumbai born served as India Women’s coach on a prior occasion in 2018 and also guided the team to that year’s T20 World Cup semifinal. Under him, the Indian eves won 14 T20 matches in a row, before he was removed by the board after a fallout with the T20 skipper of the team, Mithali Raj, who is currently captains the ODI and Test team. Having played two Tests and 31 ODIs for the national team, Powar carries a lot of experience with himself and his recent achievement of guiding the Mumbai team to a Vijay Hazare Trophy title added to the credentials to get him the job. Although Raman, the current coach’s contract expired last October, the BCCI asked him to continue till April. Powar would look to make a few changes before the team traves to England for a one-off Test three T20Is and three ODIs series on Junes 2, as they were beaten comprehensively at home by the South African eves just recently.