'Virat hasn't had a great start': Tendulkar explains reason behind Kohli's lean patch

India skipper Virat Kohli hasn’t really been among runs for quite sometime now. The right-handed batsman in fact began the England series on a disappointing note after getting out for a golden duck in the first innings of the first Test in Nottingham while failing to contribute with the bat at a crucial juncture in the second innings of the second Test at Lord’s.

Former India great Sachin Tendulkar has pointed out the issues that Kohli is facing in England.

"Virat hasn't had a great start. It is the mind that leads to technical errors and if the start isn't good you start thinking about a lot of things. Because anxiety levels are high you tend to over compensate your movements," Tendulkar was quoted as saying by PTI.

"When a batsman isn't in good form you either go too far across or don't move your feet at all. That happens to everyone. Form is also your state of mind along with the body working in harmony," Tendulkar added.

Kohli has scored 0, 42 and 20 in the three innings that he has batted on this England tour so far. The right-hander is visiting England for the third time in his career.

He had a terrible run in 2014 where Kohli only managed to score 134 runs in 5 matches but made a roaring comeback in 2018 to notch up 593 runs on the tour.

India went 1-0 up in the five-match series on Monday after winning the Lord’s Test by 151 runs. The two sides will meet each other in Leeds for the third match which is scheduled to begin on August 25.

Discover more

Playing in IPL 2021 will help in getting used to conditions for World T20: Jamieson

New Zealand and RCB player Kyle Jamieson is considering the remainder of the IPL 2021 as preparation for the upcoming World T20. While the remaining fixtures of the IPL will be played in September-October in the UAE, the World T20 will begin a couple of days later on October 17 and will be co-hosted by UAE and Oman. The pacer has said that playing in the IPL would help him get used to the conditions ahead of the World T20. "It certainly gives us, [and] me a little bit of a head-start in terms of getting used to those conditions and those grounds," Jamieson said. "It's nice to have a block of T20 cricket going into the World Cup and, like I said, just a good chance to practice some T20 skillsets in the venues we're going to be playing on." Jamieson was snapped by the Bangalore-based franchise for a sum of Rs 15 Cr earlier this year. In 7 matches that he has played so far for RCB, the New Zealand player has scalped 9 wickets at an average of 24.55. IPL 2021 was earlier suspended on May 4 after there was a Covid-19 outbreak within the franchises and the cash-rich league was later moved to the UAE. This would be the second consecutive year when the IPL will be held in the UAE. The Virat Kohli-led side had won five out of the seven matches that they had played and were sitting at the third spot in the points table when the tournament was halted. The tournament will now resume on September 19 in Dubai where Mumbai Indians will face Chennai Super Kings. The final of the tournament will be played on October 15 at the same venue. The World T20 will commence on October 17 with Oman taking on PNG in the opening encounter while the Kiwis will begin their campaign against Pakistan on October 26 in Sharjah.

Dane van Niekerk comes back from injury to lead the Proteas Women squad vs West Indies Women

Dane van Niekerk, who has been in great form at The Hundred Women’s competition for Oval Invincibles will come back into the national side of South African women to lead them against West Indies Women in a three-match T20I and five-match ODI series in Antigua. It is important to note that Niekerk missed the series against Pakistan and India with a back injury. Along with her, all-rounder Chloe Tryon has also returned to the squad. She was also out of action post the T20 World Cup in Australia in March 2020. Tyron also returned action in the women's Hundred playing for London Spirit Women. Niekerk would replace Sune Luus as the skipper of South Africa, who led the side in her absence. The tour of West Indies will begin with the T20I series with the first match taking place on August 31 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. Talking about the squad which will include all top Proteas Women players, Hilton Moreen, the South Africa coach, said, "A few of our players have been making solid progress in their return from injuries and we are glad to see them giving a good account of themselves in international tournaments.” South Africa squad vs West Indies Dane Van Niekerk (c), Sune Luus, Ayabonga Khaka, Shabnim Ismail, Laura Wolvaardt, Trisha Chetty, Sinalo Jafta, Tasmin Britz, Marizanne Kapp, Nondu Shangase, Lizelle Lee, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Mignon du Preez, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Lara Goodall, Tumi Sekhukhune, Masabata Klaas

World T20 2021: Conditions in UAE will be like home to us, says Babar Azam

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the fixtures for the upcoming World T20 scheduled to take place in October-November in the UAE and Oman. Pakistan will begin their campaign against arch-rivals India on October 24. Captain Babar Azam has said that the conditions in UAE will be like “home” to the side. The right-handed batsman further added that the players have played a lot of cricket in the country and are well aware of the conditions. "The conditions in UAE will be like home to us as we have played a lot of games there. We are well aware of the conditions and we will try to use that to our advantage in the World Cup to play good cricket,” he said in a video posted by the ICC. Talking about the preparations, Babar said that the management is experimenting with the combinations. "We are getting closer to the World Cup and like other teams, we too are experimenting with our team combinations," said Azam. The tournament will begin on October 17 with Oman taking on PNG in the first clash while the semi-finals would be played on November 10 in Abu Dhabi and on November 11 in Dubai respectively. The final will be held on November 14 in Dubai. Pakistan have lifted the World T20 once back in 2009.

ECB in talks with BCCI for having crowd during second phase of IPL 2021

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are in talks for having crowds in the stands during the second phase of the IPL 2021. The remainder of this edition’s IPL is scheduled to take place in the UAE in September-October. "As hosts, ECB will work closely with the authorities to seek approval on what protocols need to be followed -- this includes fan attendance, we will then discuss it with the BCCI as well as the ICC to assess their spectator requirements. We want our ex-pat and Emirati sports-loving fans in the UAE to be able to watch the action from the stands," ECB general secretary Mubashir Usmani told Gulf News. As per some reports, the UAE government has allowed 60 percent capacity for the IPL games. The competition was earlier being held in India before it was suspended on May 4 after there were instances of positive Covid-19 cases within the franchises. The tournament will now resume in the UAE on September 19 where Mumbai Indians will lock horns with Chennai Super Kings. A total of 31 matches will be played in the second leg and Dubai will host the final on October 15, a couple of days prior to the beginning of the World T20 which will be co-hosted by UAE and Oman.