India to finish 3rd in Test rankings
Dubai: India will have to settle for the third spot behind England in the ICC Test team rankings after the latter managed to salvage a draw in the final Test against New Zealand in Auckland on Tuesday. India not only needed to win the Delhi Test but also had to hope for a New Zealand victory in the Auckland Test.
India could have earned $350,000 if New Zealand won the series 1-0, as they would have finished second in the rankings table at the cut-off date of April 1. India, for finishing third, will now have to settle for $250,000 while Australia will bag $150,000 for being fourth. India, for their 4-0 whitewash of the Australians, gained seven ranking points to finish the season on 112. While England lost four points after all their three Tests against the Kiwis ended in a draw. South Africa, with 128 points, have already sealed their position as the number-one ranked Test side at the cut-off date and have been assured of a reward of $450,000.
IPl matches on May 4, 6 to be shifted
Bangalore: The Indian Premier league matches scheduled to be held in the city on May 4 and 6, could either be shifted or rescheduled owing to Assembly elections in Karnataka. “The matches on May 4 and 6 will be either shifted or rescheduled owing to Assembly elections in Karnataka. We will arrive at a decision in a couple of days,” a KSCA official said. The Karnataka Assembly election is scheduled on May 5 and counting of votes will take place on May 8. The KSCA held a meeting after Bangalore Police Commissioner Jotiprakash Mirji expressed his inability to provide security to the IPl matches due to elections, the official said. “It will not be possible for us to provide security for the matches as our officers would be deployed for elections,” Mirji told reporters here. Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad are scheduled to play their away matches against Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 4 and 6, respectively.
‘judicious in choosing IPl matches’
New Delhi: India’s fastest bowler Umesh Yadav is fit and raring to unleash his thunderbolts again but he wants to be careful about the workload his body can take during the sixth edition of Indian Premier league. “I have been bowling in the nets for a month now and I have fully recovered from my lower-back injury. I will be available from the first match for Delhi Daredevils. But considering the number of matches and the amount of travel involved, I need to be careful about the workload and will speak to the coaches regarding that,” the Vidarbha paceman said during an interaction from Indore. Umesh, whose last competitive game was a Test match against England at Motera, will make a comeback for Vidarbha tomorrow in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 game against Odisha.
‘leading RCB a good step for kohli’
Bangalore: leading a top IPl franchise like Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier league will be a “stepping stone” for the talented Virat Kohli to get ready for a bigger role with the Indian team, feels coach Ray Jennings. “Kohli needs to make sure he gets his captaincy right. Dhoni is not going to be around for a long time. He needs to be ready for India and captaining RCB is a stepping stone for Kohli to take over from Dhoni,” Jenings said after a training session today. “Kohli has the ability to lead the Indian team and also is very fiery which is a good thing for RCB.” Asked whether he supoported Micky Arthur dropping four Australia players for not completing a feedback review, Jennings said every coach has different ways of doing things. “You need to understand what players did and what relationship they had in the buildup to that (controversy). If you ask players 10 times to do something and they don’t do it, you have a reaction. When you ask for the first time, you have a different reaction,” he said.
KKR prepare for opening ceremony
Kolkata: Even as preparations are on at the Salt lake stadium for the opening ceremony of the upcoming IPl T20 extravaganza, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders today began the countdown with the season’s first practice session at the Eden Gardens. Captain Gautam Gambhir, who is down with jaundice, did not attend the session and assistant coach Vijay Dahiya was seen playing the role of the mentor to the likes of Rajat Bhatia, Pradeep Sangwan and Manvinder Bisla. “Being the defending champions, we all are motivated to repeat our performance. We all are keen and united to do well,” Bisla told reporters after the practice. The 120,000 capacity stadium, also known as the Yubabharati Krirangan, will host the opening ceremony that will begin at 7.30 pm on April 2, the eve of the first match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Dare Devils, at the Eden Gardens. A huge podium is being erected, while the artificial turf is being covered with a rubber mat, where the artists will perform during the opening ceremony.
PNS/Agencies