A dejected Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli on Sunday admonished his batsmen after collapsing to a 82-run defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders here, saying such performance from the famed batting line up was “unacceptable”.

Calling it the RCB’s “worst batting performance”, Kohli said that “it really hurts”.

The visitors were bundled out for 49, the lowest total in the Indian Premier League after the KKR, put in to bat first by Kohli, were all out for 131.

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“After the kind of half that we had, we thought we could capitalise and chase it down. Reckless batting. I can’t say anything at the moment. It was that bad. This is just not acceptable,” said a visibly annoyed Kohli, who himself scored a golden duck.

The India captain, however, claimed he was distracted by a spectator.

“The sightscreen is very small here, one guy got up as the bowler was loading up, that distracted me. Still it wasn’t a big deal. That was just one down,” he said.

Kohli said the team needed to move on, leaving behind the poor show.

“We need to forget it and move forward. We’re a much better team. We got 200 plus in the last game. I’m sure everyone realises what they’ve done wrong.

“You have to come out, show intent and back yourselves. I’m sure we won’t bat like that again in the tournament.

“We’re going back home for a couple of games. We’ve got back-to-back games, need to try and win those to get some momentum,” he said.

IANS

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Rohit Sharma has been sidelined due to an injury while all-rounder Hardik Pandya is the surprise new face in the India squad for the first two cricket Tests against England. 

Rohit sustained an injury to his upper thigh during the One-Day International series against New Zealand while injured openers Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan were also ruled out from the squad.

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“As you know Rohit Sharma had a bad injury, he might also have to undergo surgery,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector M.S.K. Prasad said while announcing the team.

Seasoned opener Gautam Gambhir, who scored a fifty in the second innings of his comeback Test against New Zealand, retained his place in the Virat Kohli-led side while Delhi pacer Ishant Sharma made a comeback to the squad after being sidelined due to Chikungunya during the three-match Test series against New Zealand.

Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has recovered from a hamstring injury, which he suffered during the second Test against the Kiwis in Kolkata, but was not picked for the squad.

Commenting on handing a maiden Test call-up to Baroda all-rounder Pandya, Prasad said: “Pandya’s pace has increased, he is moving the ball, his batsmanship has improved”.

“And he has mellowed down as a person. He is one all-rounder we thought is an equally competent bowler and batsman. And a good fielder too.”

“Rahul Dravid has worked hard on the mental side of his game. Now Anil Kumble is guiding him. We have three all-rounders — Stuart Binny, Hardik Pandya, Rishi Dhawan. In this particular series, he scores ahead of Binny. Much quicker and better bowler than Stuart. With form and fitness, Hardik is a better option,” he added.

The first of the five-match Test series will be played at Rajkot from November 9 to 13 followed by the second at Visakhapatnam from November 17 to 21.

The third match of the series will be played at Mohali from November 26 to 30 while the fourth and fifth Tests will be played respectively in Mumbai from December 8 to 12 and Chennai from December 16 to 20.

Squad:
Virat Kohli (Captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Mohammad Shami, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Karun Nair, Murli Vijay, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav.

IANS

India opener Shikhar Dhawan was trolled on Twitter after the southpaw got out cheaply in the second Test against New Zealand at the Eden Gardens here on Friday. Dhawan, who was making a comeback after K.L. Rahul missed the match following a hamstring injury, tried to cut a back-of-length Matt Henry delivery and dragged the ball onto his stumps.

The 30-year-old has been under the lens for quite some time now for his poor form and got the nod ahead of Gautam Gambhir, who was brought into the side as Rahul’s replacement after a two-year hiatus.

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But Dhawan failed to live up to his team management’s hopes, casting a shadow over his place in the side in the future. Minutes after his dismissal, the Delhi batsman was trending heavily on the social networking website, with the Twitterati tearing him apart.

“I wonder what will be the time duration if biopic on Shikhar Dhawan will happen. I think it will be half of short film. #KolkataTest,” read a tweet.

Another post that drew a lot of retweets read, “Q: What does Shikhar Dhawan have in common with Michael Jackson? A: They both wore gloves for no apparent reason.”

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s biopic “M.S. Dhoni – The Untold Story”, also released on Friday. Poking fun involving Dhawan and the film, a post read, “Shikhar Dhawan got out early to sell black tickets of “MS Dhoni untold story” #INDvsNZ.”

IANS

Seasoned opening bat Gautam Gambhir was on Tuesday included in the Indian squad for the remaining two matches against New Zealand as a replacement for the injured Lokesh Rahul, the Indian cricket board said.

Gambhir has returned to the Indian team after two years, having last turned out in the Oval Test in August 2014.

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With pacer Ishant Sharma, who missed the first Test at Kanpur due to chikungunya, yet to regain full fitness, Haryana off-spinner Jayant Yadav was named as his replacement for the second Test slated to begin at the Eden Gardens on September 30, Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Ajay Shirke said in a release.

“BCCI medical team has confirmed that team India opener, K.L. Rahul has an injury in his right hamstring and he is ruled out for the remainder of the Test series against New Zealand.

“The All-IndiaASenior Selection Committee has named Gautam Gambhir as Rahul’s replacement for the next two Test matches,” Shirke said.

The release said Sharma was recovering and won’t be available for the second Test.

“BCCI medical team will continue to monitor his progress. Off spinner Jayant Yadav will replace Ishant for the second Test,” the release added.

IANS