Virat Kohli has been on the radar for a while; as a player, character and captain, writes Harsha Bhogle in his column in The Indian Express. “The middle quality, like a middle name, should have been the least conspicuous, certainly that is the way we have always looked at young players in India. If they strut, put their collar up, wear cool shades, sport spiked, gelled hair the eyebrows rise, it influences opinion, defines them. So it was with this brash young kid who could play. Yes, he was brash but everyone who saw him said he could play. You just needed to look at him long enough without letting everything else colour your opinion to know that he could,” writes Harsha, adding that now he must battle expectations for in India we know zero and one, white and black.
“He will be told he is the next superstar, he will be rated by his endorsements, somewhere the voices around him will seek to overpower the voice within him. He will be wrapped in superlatives and at times condemned with them. Like some before him have he must find a calm amidst the storm that our cricket can be. It won't be easy. Having overcome himself, it is in overcoming his environment that the next ten years will lie. Maybe fifteen,” writes the commentator.
Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh has lashed out at the cricket board saying that BCCI should look at grounds before deciding venues, says a report in The Times Of India. Harbhajan is now leading a young Punjab side in the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day tournament and his team takes on Maharashtra in the pre-quarters on Monday. However, the condition of the Palam ground which hosts the game left Harbhajan unhappy, reads the report. Punjab have played most of their matches in the Hazare Trophy this season on this ground. “The condition of the outfield is shocking. We can’t even dream about sliding and diving while fielding as there is risk of serious injury here,” he said.
An irate Bhajji didn’t stop there, saying, “The Board should seriously take a look at the venues for these one-day matches. They’ll be picking the next crop of players judging on their performances in these tournaments. I don’t see very good fielders emerging if they have to deal with conditions like this.”
Coming to the CB Series, explosive opener David Warner is doubtful for the second final against Sri Lanka on Tuesday after injuring his groin during his carer-best 163-run knock in the first final on Sunday, say newspapers reports. "I turned back for one in the 44th or 45th over and when I came off I did my ice bath and went to walk back out and moving sideways it was very, very sore," Warner said after Australia's 15-run win.
Warner's devastating innings lifted Australia to 321 for six after electing to bat. Warner was limping after his post-match press conference, and said he was optimistic he would be fit for the second final but the dejected tone of his voice suggested otherwise.
