Thumbs up MS
The image of former India skipper MS Dhoni spitting blood after the England game had fans losing sleep. After all, he is an integral part of the team and an injury to the thumb at the business end of the World Cup is the last thing that Indian fans would want. However, there is good news as the wicket-keeper has no injury threats as Team India prepares for the home stretch of the tournament. "Hai toh pahadi, woh yodha hai (he hails from the mountains and is a warrior). After more than 300 ODIs, do you think these little things even bother him? He has an amazing capacity to ignore pain. But more importantly, his finger is fine and there is nothing to worry about," a source said.
Class on Wheels
Going into the World Cup, the Indian team management was keen to travel to different cities in England by train as it not only saves time, but is also less tiring on the players. While their plea didn't cut ice with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Indian players have been travelling on bus, they have turned it into a classroom for the players. Speaking to IANS, sources said that the team management felt that it was apt to use the time travelling from one city to another by discussing strategies with players. "You can call it the class on wheels actually. While there is the share of fun and jokes and chilling, the support staff sometimes also has used this time to discuss strategies with the players and also address certain areas which they feel a player is struggling with. Nothing majorly serious, this is more about pep talks and discussions to clear the mind," the source explained.
Kohli on Chahal TV
Virat Kohli was in a good mood when he made an impromptu appearance in Yuzvendra Chahal's fun-filled gig "Chahal TV" ahead of India's final group stage engagement with Sri Lanka on Saturday. Kohli was seen engaging in a light banter with Chahal who was interacting with opener KL Rahul in the video shared by the BCCI on its official Twitter handle. "SPECIAL: @yuzi_chahal & @klrahul11 recap Edgbaston win as captain @imVkohli makes a special appearance on our latest episode of Chahal TV," read the tweet. Kohli was in his element as he made funny gestures looking at the camera.
WC lacking feel
Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia said that the ICC should make ‘serious efforts' to spread the game of cricket to other countries as the World Cup is lacking its charm. "I'm finding this World Cup completely ‘South Asia Cup'... It's like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India only. Another 10 years and you will only see Asian teams with Bhutan and Nepal also qualifying,” Bhutia said. There are 10 teams taking part in the ongoing World Cup, five of them being from Asia. “If we send three more teams, they will still make the the semifinals. India should easily win the World Cup,” Bhutia said, highlighting the lack of competition. “The ‘world’ feel is missing from the World Cup... You need the flavour of the ‘world' thing.