VIRAT KOHLI Indian Test Captain

 Born in Delhi, Virat kohli led the Under -19 Indian team and was the proud captain winning the world cup beating pakistan, the tournament was held at Malaysia with both his heriocs with bat and also as a captain.  Soon his performance paved the way his entry into the big arena and thus  he made his ODI debut against Srilanka, on 2008.  The rest is history.

Profile:

Born on: November 5, 1988

Place: Delhi

Height: 5 feet 9 inches

Role:  Batsman

Batting style:Right Hand Batsman

Bowling style: Right Hand Bowler

ICC Rankings:

                             Tests                  ODIs             T20

Batting:                  4                        2                    1

CAREER:

International Debut:  on 18, August, 2008 against Srilanka at the young age of 19 years

Teams:  India, India A, India U-19, Bangalore Royal challengers

Statistics of Virat Kohli

	M	INN	NO	RUNS	HS	AVG	50	100	200	BF	SR
Tests	50	86	5	3891	211	48.04	13	14	2	7161	54.34
ODIs	176	168	25	7570	183	52.94	38	26	-	8371	90.43
T20	45	41	12	1658	90	57.17	16	-	-	1223	135.57
IPL	139	131	23	4110	113	38.06	26	4	-	3151	130.43

PARTHIV PATEL MAKES A COMEBACK

PARTHIV PATEL BACK INTO THE INDIAN TEAM AFTER 8 YEARS

Wicket Keeper Parhiv Patel is all set to make a come back to the Indian Cricket test team after a long gap of 8 years.  The regular wicket keeper Saha is out of action due to injury, and hence the selectors have drafted in Parthiv Patel for the third test against England starting at Mohali on saturday.

Saha has developed a strain in his left thigh, hence as a precautionary method and not to take any risks, and as per physio's advise, the team management has rested Saha and he will not feature in the third test.

Parthiv patel has made his debut as the youngest wicket keeper in as a 17 year old , way back in 2002 against England at Old Trafford.

The 31 year old has so far played in 20 Test , with the last being 8 years back against Srilanka in 2008 at Colombo.  He has also played 38 ODIs and 2 T20 Internationals.

WITH THE FINAL DELIVERY COOK DISMISAL, INDIA ON TOP

WITH THE FINAL DELIVERY COOK DISMISAL,                                                INDIA ON TOP

Visakhapatnam: with the final delivery bowled by Ravindra Jadeja, trapped the English Captain Cook before wickets, India regained the advantage in a day where England dominated all the sessions.  

Earlier India resumed their second innings were bundled out for 204, thanks to wonderful bowling by fast bowler stuart Broad and Leg spinner Adil Raheed.  Both claimed 4 wickets each.  Kohli was the top scorer missing out another three digit mark.  He made a brilliant 87.

With the lead of 200 from the first innings, the England's target was 405 with almost 6 session remaining.  England began their run chase steadily and slowly with both the openers opting for ultra defensive tactics.  Both Cook and Hameed made 75 for the first wicket before Hameed was trapped leg before by Aswin.  Hameed made 25 from 144 balls.  Then on the final ball of the day, Cook was also trapped leg before by Jadeja, thus giving a hope for India, to register their first win in the five match series.  In the mean time Cook registered his 53rd half century from 177 balls.  Cook made 54 from 187 before he was given out.  Joe Root was at the crease with 5 not out.  England were 87/2 at stumps on day 4 and still need another 322 more runs to win, while India need 8 wickets.

INDIA AHEAD WITH 298 RUNS

Kohli completes half century, as India takes lead of 298 runs.

Visakhapatnam:  At stumps of Day 3, India are riding high with 298 runs ahead with skipper Virat Kohli 56 not out with Rahane 22 not out lending support.  

Earlier England team resuming their over night score with 103/5 were packed up for 255 in their first innings.   The notable contributions came from Ben stokes 70, johny Bairstow 53 and Adil Rashid 32 not out.    It was once again Aswin who captured 5/67, who tormented the English batsmen.  This has became an habbit for Aswin to capture 5wickets in an innings.

The Indian second started badly as both the openers were out cheaply.  KL Rahul again fell cheaply for 10 and Vijay for just 3.  Both the openers were the victims of Stuart Broad.  Soon after Anderson removed the dangerous inform  and first innings centurion Pujara for just 1.  India were struggling at 40/3 before Kohli with the help of Rahane steadied the ship with another brilliant performance.  Kohli is not out on 56.  With two days remaining, India is strongly positioned to clinch a win, with the pitch expected to support the spinners.

WITH BOTH BAT AND BALL ASWIN TURNS THE GAME IN FAVOUR OF INDIA

   WITH BOTH BAT AND BALL ASWIN TURNS THE GAME IN FAVOUR OF INDIA


Visakhapatnam:

On day 2 of the second test, India are looking for a massive lead in their first innings, as the tourists were in trouble having lost their five front line bastmens, with the team score 103/5 with Ben stokes and Johny Bairstow with 12 runs each at the crease.

Earlier India began their first innings with Virat Kohli and Aswin contributing another 34 to the team total before Virat Kohli was caught by strokes in the bowling of Moeen Ali. Virat made 167 runs.   Then the Alrounder Moeen Ali succumbed Saha and Jadeja by trapping them leg before. The team score was 363/7 when the debutant Jayant Yadav joined Aswin.  In the mean time Aswin completed his Half century.  The duo added 64 runs before Ashwin fell to stokes giving a catch to Bairstow.  He made 58 runs.  The debutant yadav made a good 35 runs before he fell to Adil Rashid, gifting his first wicket of the game.  India were bundelded out for 455.

England's innings started in a disastrous way loosing the Captain Alistair Cook cheaply for 2 runs bowled by Shami.  Then with the help of young Hameed , the vice captain Root tried to steady the innings with the duo adding another 47 runs, before Hameed was runout unfortunately.  He made 13. Then it was all Aswin show, as he removed Ben Ducket and the dangerous Root in quick succession with the team score just reading 79/4.  The debutant Jayant Yadav struck another blow when he removed the first test centurion Moeen Ali for 1 run.  It is his first test wicket.  There after with the help of Stokes and Bairstow England team crossed the 100 run mark.  Both the batsman were at the crease at the end of the day 2 with 12 runs under their names.

The england team is trailing by a huge margin of 352 runs.  With the pitch heping spinners, and India with Aswin , jadeja and jayant, the English lower order will be put in a litmus test.  

INDIA DOMINATE DAY 1 AS KOHLI AND PUJARA HITS CENTURIES

INDIA DOMINATE DAY 1 AS KOHLI AND PUJARA HITS CENTURIES

Visakhapatnam:  Indian skipper Virat Kohli smashed his 14 Test century in his 50 Test match.  This is his second century against the touring side England.  He took 156 balls to complete his century with 14 fours.  He remained on 151 at stumps on day 1.  Earlier India won the toss and elected to bat.  There was two changes in the playing elevan, with KL Rahul replacing Gautam Gambhir and Jayant Yadav making his test debut replacing the legspinner Amit Mishra.  James Anderson came into the squad after a shoulder injury in place of Chris Woakes, who suffered an injury during the first test.

Earlier electing to bat, the Indian team was in some sort of bother, while loosing both the openers with the score card showing 22/2, KL Rahul  for a Duck, and vijay made 20.  From then onwards its was all kohli and pujara's show, both scoring centuries.  Chetesewar Pujara continued his fine form slamming another century with an record partnership of 226 runs for the third wicket.  Pujara has hit centuries in his last three matches, continuing his superb form.  Pujara was out for 119 of 204 balls with 12 fours and 2 mighty sixes.


England paid the penalty of dropping kohli, at 56, when he mispulled a ball from Ben Stokes to deep fine leg which was misjudged by Adil Rasheed.

James Anderson was the stand out bowler of England with figure of 3/44 in his 16 overs, which was also a comeback match , due to a shoulder injury.

At the end of day 1, India made a mighty score of 317/4 with Ravichandran Aswin giving company to this skipper

Kohli's love affair with Dr. Raja sekhara Reddy stadium continued when he struck 3 centuries from 4 ODIS and a Test match.  Visakhapatnam has been his hunting ground.  On the way to his century, Kohli also became the sixth Indian to score a century during 50th test match.

SCORE CARD:

K.L. RAHUL                 :   C Stokes          B Broad                0
M.VIJAY                       :   C Stokes          B Anderson         20
PUJARA                        :  C Bairstow       B Anderson       119
VIRAT KOHLI              :  not out                                        151
RAHANE                      :   C Bairstow       B Anderson         23
ASHWIN                      :    not out                                            1



Total : 317/4

ENGLAND KEEN TO TAKE ON LEAD AT VISAKHAPATNAM TEST

Visakhapatnam;
England is hoping that they will continue the good run and take a lead in the five match test series, when the two teams meet at Visakhapatnam for the second test match.

The English cricket team led by Alistair Cook is keen on taking the advantage from the Rajkot test performance.  The Barmy army is well settled with the brilliant performances of their top order and as well as middle order batsmans.  The openers are in fine form with both cook registering his 30th test hundred in the first test  and Hameed is gaining confidence with his brilliant performance of 78 in the second innings.  Always dependable Joe Root is also in prime form, with another century under his belt along with the performance of allrounders  Moeen Ali and .  Cook also stated that bowler chris woakes is suffering from knee nigle, thus clearing the way for the spearhead bowler james Anderson, who is returning from shoulder injury.

Having drawn the Rajkot test and tackling the Indian spinners brilliantly, the english team's confidence is sky high.  On the other hand, India is slightly low of confidence with their performance in Rajkot test.  They have hardly managed to draw the test under the performance of skipper virat Kohli.  A fit KL Rahul might open the innings with Murali Vijay, and Gambhir might well be in the dressing room.  Though given opportunities, Gambhir was not at his best, with the score of 29   in the first test.   Rest of the batting order will be the same Pujara at No.3  followed by skipper virat , Rahane , Aswin, and the keeper Saha with the lower order to follow.

The bowling department comprises with the lethal pair of Aswin, Jadeja, Misra followed by the fast bowlers shami and umesh/Ishant.  A fit again Ishat is raring to go after a long lay off due to an injury.
This is the first time Visakhapatnam Dr.Y.S.Raja sekhara Reddy stadium is hosting a test match.