युवी के छक्कों के सामने नहीं चली कंगारुओं की. भारत दौरे पर ऑस्ट्रेलिया को पहले मैच में ही मिली हार. पढ़ें मैच रिपोर्ट

Ind vs Aus T-20: भारत ने ऑस्ट्रेलिया को 6 विकेट से हराया

युवराज सिंह ने इंटरनेशनल क्रिकेट में शानदार वापसी करते हुए टीम इंडिया को ऑस्ट्रेलिया के खिलाफ टी-20 मैच में 6 विकेट से जीत दिलाने में अहम भूमिका निभाई. युवी ने अपनी नाबाद विस्फोटक पारी के दौरान महज 35 गेंदों पर 77 रनों की जबर्दस्त पारी खेली. इस दौरान युवराज के बल्ले से 8 चौके और 5 छक्के निकले.

युवी और कप्तान महेंद्र सिंह धोनी ने पांचवें विकेट के लिए 51 गेंदों पर 102 रनों की अटूट साझेदारी निभाई और टीम इंडिया को जीत दिलाई. धोनी ने 21 गेंदों पर 24 रनों की पारी खेली. इन दोनों के अलावा शिखर धवन ने 32, सुरेश रैना ने 19 और विराट कोहली ने 29 रनों का योगदान दिया. 202 रनों के विशाल लक्ष्य का पीछा करते हुए टीम इंडिया ने 2 गेंद और 6 विकेट शेष रहते ही जीत दर्ज कर दी.

ऑस्ट्रेलिया की ओर से क्लाइंट मैके ने 2, नाथन काउल्टर नील और जेवियर डोहर्टी ने एक-एक विकेट लिया.

रोहित जल्दी लौटे पवेलियन
202 रनों के लक्ष्य का पीछा करते हुए टीम इंडिया की शुरुआत अच्छी नहीं रही. शिखर धवन के साथ पारी का आगाज करने आए रोहित शर्मा महज 8 रन बनाकर मैके का शिकार बन गए. इस तरह से भारत को पहला झटका दूसरे ही ओवर में लग गया. उस समय टीम इंडिया का स्कोर 12 रन था.

ज्यादा देर टिक नहीं सके रैना
रोहित शर्मा के बाद सुरेश रैना मोर्चा संभालने क्रीज पर आए. रैना ने अपनी पारी की शुरुआत तो धमाकेदार की लेकिन ज्यादा देर विकेट पर टिक नहीं सके. अपनी 13 गेंदों की पारी में 2 चौके और एक छक्के की मदद से रैना ने 19 रन बनाए. हालांकि दूसरे छोर पर शिखर धवन तेज तर्रार शॉट्स जड़ रहे थे. रैना का विकेट काउल्टर नील के खाते में गया. उस समय भारत का स्कोर 5.3 ओवर में 50 रन था.

धवन के रूप में लगा तगड़ा झटका
जब ऐसा लगने लगा था कि विराट कोहली के साथ मिलकर धवन भारत को मुश्किलों से उबार देंगे तभी डोहर्टी ने धवन का विकेट लेकर भारत को तगड़ा झटका दिया. इस मैच में भारत के लिए सबसे अच्छी बात रही कि विकेट गिरने का असर रनगति पर नहीं पड़ा. धवन जब पवेलियन लौटे उस समय भारत का स्कोर 8.3 ओवरों में 80 रन हो चुका था.

युवी ने बदला मैच का रुख
युवराज सिंह ने पहले विराट कोहली के साथ और फिर धोनी के साथ मिलकर मैच का पासा ही पलट दिया. कंगारुओं के हर गेंदबाज को युवी ने अच्छे से धोया. सिर्फ 25 गेंदों पर युवी ने पचासा जड़कर अपने इरादे साफ कर दिए थे. लंबे समय से इंटरनेशनल क्रिकेट से दूर चल रहे युवी ने चयनकर्ताओं को सही साबित करते हुए 77 रनों की नाबाद पारी खेली. हालांकि युवी की हाफसेंचुरी के बाद कोहली के रूप में भारत को पांचवां झटका लगा. कोहली 22 गेंदों पर 29 रन बनाकर मैके का दूसरा शिकार बने.

युवी-धोनी की अटूट साझेदारी
युवी और धोनी ने मिलकर टीम इंडिया को जीत तक पहुंचाया. दोनों ने 51 गेंदों पर 102 रनों की अटूट साझेदारी निभाई और भारत के लिए दौरे का आगाज जबर्दस्त जीत के साथ कराया. आखिरी ओवर में टीम इंडिया को जीत के लिए 7 रनों की दरकार थी. पहली गेंद पर युवी ने एक रन चुराया. दूसरी गेंद डॉट गई और इंडियन फैन्स थोड़े निराश हुए. तीसरे गेंद पर धोनी ने तनतनाता चौका जड़ा और भारत की जीत सुनिश्चित कर दी. इसके बाद चौथी गेंद पर 2 रन लेकर धोनी ने टीम इंडिया को कंगारुओं के खिलाफ दिला दी 6 विकेटों की शानदार जीत.

कैसी रही ऑस्ट्रेलियाई पारी...
इससे पहले टॉस हारकर पहले बल्लेबाजी करने उतरी ऑस्ट्रेलियाई टीम ने सलामी बल्लेबाज एरॉन फिंच (89) और निक मैडिसन (34) की आतिशी पारियों की बदौलत निर्धारित 20 ओवरों में सात विकेट पर 201 रनों का स्कोर खड़ा किया. भारतीय गेंदबाज एक छोर से विकेट लेते रहे, लेकिन दूसरे छोर से फिंच ने लगातार आक्रमण जारी रखा. फिंच ने मैडिंसन के साथ पहले विकेट के लिए 11.58 की औसत से 56 रनों की साझेदारी की और चौथे विकेट के लिए ग्लेन मैक्सवेल (27) के साथ 10.90 के औसत से 40 रनों की दो महत्वपूर्ण साझेदारियां निभाईं.

फिंच और मैक्सवेल ने रविचंद्रन अश्विन द्वारा किए गए मैच के 10वें ओवर में तीन छक्कों और एक चौके की मदद से 24 रन जुटाए. फिंच ने अपनी 52 गेंदों की पारी में 14 चौके और एक छक्का लगाया. भारत की तरफ से भुवनेश्वर कुमार और विनय कुमार ने तीन-तीन विकेट चटकाए और रवींद्र जडेजा को एक विकेट मिला. जडेजा सबसे किफायती गेंदबाज रहे.

Inspiring the inspirational: 5 things MS Dhoni is yet to achieve in his cricketing career

MS Dhoni: What more can this man achieve?

Having won every single multi-national trophy on offer, there’s hardly any CV in cricket better than MS Dhoni‘s in the world.
India’s most successful captain, and the most successful leader in world cricket currently, is just 32 years of age. At a time when his seniors have played on till the end of thirties, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Dhoni has a good 6-7 years of cricket left in him.
Dhoni is not a man known for planning for far ahead. His plans are in place only till the next over, the next match, and the next series. After that, it’s hard to say where Dhoni may end a couple of years down the line.
In 2011, he created a furore by hinting at his retirement from Test cricket two years down the line.  On being asked about defending the World Cup 2015, he said,

“It is series by series. If you see 2015, you know, still three, three and a half years to go. I don’t really know where I will stand. Everything needs to go off well, and then by close to 2013, I will have to take a call whether I can really 100% be available for the 2015 World Cup, because you don’t want a wicketkeeper in the side who has not played at least 100-odd games, at least close to 80-100 games, going into the World Cup.”

2013 is more than half-way done and Dhoni is looking unstoppable in his current form. With series against South Africa (possibly), New Zealand, England and Australia lined up away from home, it’s extremely unlikely that there’s any question over Dhoni’s future in Test cricket.
In Tests, Cheteshwar Pujara has started finding his place in the team and will need a couple of more seasons to really step up to the mantle which seems to have been marked for him. In limited overs, Virat Kohli has created his own legacy of sorts, but at the helm, he’s only just begun.
Dhoni definitely has the 2015 World Cup in his mind. It’s a line which would be crossed under Dhoni’s leadership, but on the other end, a new face is bound to emerge, possibly two or three if India is open to the concept of multiple captains in the future.
So, in this period of 5-6 years, what does Dhoni have in mind for the Indian team of the future? What more can he give to Indian cricket before his departure and what can inspire him enough to carry on playing post the 2015 World Cup?
A list of speculations does have its drawbacks. After all, it’s full of speculations. But these are 5 things that can keep Dhoni on his feet and provide the push to the inspirational captain:

Dhoni missed as Brian Lara bats for Uttarakhand

West Indies' legendary cricketer Brian Lara played a charity match here on Thursday, to help raise funds for victims of the Uttarakhand flood.

While India skipper MS Dhoni, was sorely missed, Lara ensured that his batting as well as words of encouragement helped raise awareness. "I urge anybody with means to support this cause as a lot of families have been destroyed. As much funds and as much hep in any way is possible is needed," he said.

The 44-year-old also left-hander promised more support and participation in the future. "I am here and I will be back for sure and next time I come back I will be back with some West Indian players," he said.

Lara's was the first attempt by any cricketer of international repute to help victims in the state. Massive floods on June 16 this year resulted in a huge loss of life and property.

The students who came out to watch Lara bat though, seemed to put the nightmare behind them as they followed every move of the cricketing icon. "It is every cricketer's dream to play with Brian Lara but it would have been good to play with some Indian cricketers as well in this charity match today," said Ishan of Abhimanyu Crickat Academy.

Ishan's friends agreed that having Dhoni in particular would have been the icing on the cake. "Our caption Dhoni, he has relations in Dehradun, his wife is from Uttarakhand," said Kanakpriya when asked which other cricketer could have further helped the cause. "If he had been here, people would have been more excited. They would have felt someone of their own has come to be with them in this tragedy which has affected them so much."

Sachin Tendulkar roots for MS Dhoni and Co. to win 2015 World Cup

With exactly 500 days to go for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar hopes that the trophy remains in the sub-continent. His heart, of course, wants India to win back-to-back titles.

Tendulkar, who along with Pakistan's Javed Miandad is the only player in the history of the game to play in six World Cups, hoped that if Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side successfully defended the title, then it will once again provide tremendous joy to the nation while making it only the third country after West Indies and Australia to win successive titles.

"Along with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are also good sides," said Tendulkar, adding: "I am partial towards India and want them to do well. That would be really exciting. It will give so much happiness to the entire nation.

"That is something I would want, along with a billion plus people who will also be expecting the same thing to happen."

The Indian legend retired from ODI cricket in December 2012 as the leading run-getter in the format with 18,426 runs. Tendulkar's 482 runs from nine matches in the 2011 edition in the sub-continent too went a long way in winning the World Cup.

Tendulkar, who is also the highest run-getter in the history of ICC Cricket World Cup with 2,278 runs from 45 matches (1,195 runs more than Miandad), hoped India players will quickly adjust to the conditions in Australia and New Zealand.

"Well I think most of our guys have been to Australia. They know what to expect, they have played there already," said Tendulkar, who was part of the squad during the disastrous tour of Australia in 2011-12.

In the lead up to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in 2014-15, India will again be in Australia for a four-Test series. This will be followed by a tri-series featuring England, apart from the hosts.

More than Australia, Tendulkar's worry was about adjusting to New Zealand conditions.

Recalling India's ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 match against New Zealand, Tendulkar said: "I remember our match in Dunedin, where it was extremely cold and windy. Whenever a batsman hit the ball with the wind, it would travel 10 yards further, but when we had to play against the wind, the ball travelled 10 yards less!

"As there is a tour to New Zealand planned in early 2014, it should give them good exposure to the conditions there."

India, which lead ODI Team Rankings table by a distance, has been drawn in Pool B and will open its campaign against Pakistan in Adelaide on 15 February. India's other matches in the first round are against South Africa (in Melbourne on 22 February), Qualifier 4 (in Perth on 28 February), West Indies (in Perth on 6 March) and Ireland (in Hamilton on 10 March) and Zimbabwe (in Auckland on 14 March).

Yuvraj Singh set for comeback in India squad for Australia series

CHENNAI: Star batsman Yuvraj Singh is all set to make a comeback into India's limited overs squad following some good performances when the selectors meet on Monday to decide on the team for the lone T20 International as well as the first three ODIs.

It is still not clear whether the selectors would choose a separate squad for the lone T20 International which will enable them to be flexible and include a few more players in both formats.

While there would be few surprises in the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led squad that has performed admirably winning the Champions Trophy and tri-series in the West Indies, the return of the stylish 31-year-old left-hander is all but certain.

Yuvraj last played for India on January 27 against England at Dharamsala and was dropped subsequently due to a poor run of form.

Having undergone a rigorous physical training in France, a fitter Yuvraj made his comeback into the competitive cricket with a bang scoring 123, 40 and 61 in three List A matches against the West Indies A followed by a quickfire 52 against the same opponent in a T20 game.

He carried on with his good form in the Challenger Series where he scored 84 against India Red and a 29 in the final.

According to reliable sources, the selection committee is impressed in the manner Yuvraj has scored.

There won't be much change in the batting line-up with Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Dhoni being automatic selections. While Yuvraj will be the sixth specialist batsman in the playing XI that is likely to have Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja as the spin-bowling all-rounders.

The choice for three pace bowlers slot will be Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.

One among the trio of Jaydev Unadkat, Mohit Sharma and R Vinay Kumar will be the reserve pacer in the line-up.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra is expected to be the reserve spinner having got 18 wickets in the series against Zimbabwe. His challenger Perveez Rasool, who recently had a match-haul of seven wickets in an unofficial 'Test' against the West Indies A, might find it tough to make it into the squad as Ashwin is all set to return after being rested during the Zimbabwe tour.

The 14th and the 15th slots are the ones which will be up for grabs. While Dinesh Karthik might be retained in the squad of 15, it will be interesting whether Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar is considered as a replacement for Irfan Pathan.

Dhoni has long wanted an all-rounder who bowls medium pace. While Irfan fitted his bill perfectly, injury to the Baroda all-rounder might open the door for old domestic workhorse Abhishek, who has scores of 102 no, 57, 91, 75 no and 12 in his last five innings. The first two were in first-class games while the last three innings were in List A matches.