Can Virat Kohli break Sachin Tendulkar's record of maximum ODI centuries?

Despite having witnessed a slight slump in form of late, Virat Kohli was back to his best in the fourth ODI against South Africa as he slammed his 23rd ODI ton.

In the list of batsmen who have scored maximum number of ODI centuries, Kohli lies at the fifth position behind Sachin Tendulkar (49), Ricky Ponting (30), Sanath Jayasuriya (28) and Kumar Sangakkara (25).

As Kohli continues his good run, the burning question once again is – whether he can surpass Tendulkar's record of maximum ODI centuries? As we can see, there is a huge difference between Tendulkar and Ponting, a difference of 19 ODI centuries.

Not to forget, Kohli has played just 165 ODIs compared to Tendulkar who represented India in 463 ODIs. Also, Kohli is just 26-year-old and can easily play for the next six to eight years, at least.

Hashim Amla too, has a terrific record when it comes to scoring centuries, as the South African veteran has so far scored 21 centuries from just 122 ODIs. But Amla is six years older to Kohli and it remains to be seen how long he can maitain the fitness levels required to survive in modern day cricket.

Kohli has often hailed Tendulkar as the role model who inspired him to take up cricket and it would be a challenge for him to surpass the legend's historic record.

Having said that, looking at his incredible fitness and insatiable hunger to score runs, if there is a cricketer who looks to breakTendulkar's record in the years to come, it is Virat Kohli.

Virender Sehwag Retires from International Cricket and Indian Premier League, Officially

Virender Sehwag has retired from international cricket, officially. On his 37th birthday, Sehwag, who hinted at retirement during the Masters Champions League opening in Dubai on Monday, said on Tuesday that he was stepping down from all forms of international cricket. He is currently playing first-class cricket for Haryana.

Sehwag, famous for his hand-eye co-ordination and giving the ball a solid whack, did not lose his sense of humour while announcing his retirement.

In a statement released to the media, Sehwag said: "To paraphrase Mark Twain, the report of my retirement yesterday was exaggerated! However, I have always done what I felt was right and not what conformists thought to be right. God has been kind and I have done what I wanted to do - on the field and in my life. And I had decided some time back that I will retire on my 37th birthday. So today, while I spend my day with my family, I hereby announce my retirement from all forms of International Cricket and from the Indian Premier League.

"Cricket has been my life and continues to be so. Playing for India was a memorable journey and I tried to make it more memorable for my team mates and the Indian cricket fans. I believe that I was reasonably successful in doing so. For that, I wish to thank all my team mates over the years - some of the greatest players of the game. I would like to thank all my captains who believed in me and backed me to the hilt. I also thank our greatest partner, the Indian cricket fan, for all the love, support and memories."

Sehwag's decision comes only two days after one of his contemporaries Zaheer Khan decided to call time on his career.

A day before his 37th birthday, Sehwag was on Monday unveiled at the launch ceremony of the veterans league in Dubai.

MCL is supposed to be played in February next year, which means that Sehwag will complete his Ranji Trophy commitments with Haryana before joining the veterans' league.

In a glorious international career spanning over 12 years, Sehwag played 104 Tests scoring 8586 runs at an impressive average of 49.34, hitting 23 centuries and 32 half-centuries.

He is the only triple centurion in Tests for India having scored career-best knock of 319 against Pakistan at Multan, which also is an Indian record. He is also one of those rare batsmen to have scored two triple ton with his next one (309) coming against South Africa.

In 251 ODIs, he accumulated 8273 runs at an average of 35.05 and scored 15 hundreds apart from hitting 38 fifties.

In 19 Twenty20 Internationals, he managed 394 runs with two half-centuries.

He has been a part of two World Cup winning teams under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's leadership --- 2007 World T20 in South Africa and the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

India favourites to lift ICC World T20 next year: Brian Lara

Its recent results have been mixed at best but the Indian cricket team will be among the strongest contenders when the country hosts next year’s World Twenty20 Championships, feels West Indian batting legend Brian Lara. India are currently engaged in a home series against South Africa and have lost the three-match T20 series. 

“I think the Indian team playing at home is very dangerous team. And they proved that during (by winning) the World Cup in 2011 in India under (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni. They have got very exciting players and versatile,” Lara told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.


“I expect them to be favourites in the tournament (Twenty20 World Cup). I know home pressure is always there. I think the guys have grown a lot and I believe they have got a very good chance in the World Cup,” he said. On to the West Indies and Lara was asked if he has ever given a thought to playing the mentor’s role for the current side. 

“If I was to get involved mentoring or coaching the West Indies team I don’t think there is going to be any big difference. I think our problem is very deep-rooted. Our infrastructure is pretty average and administratively we are not doing a good job. I don’t believe any one person can create any magic at the top level and see different performances,” he said. “I still believe that West Indies players are some of the most talented players in the world and especially the teenagers coming in. 

What we tend to do in West Indies is that we take very good talent and make it into mediocre talent. You need a good administrative board to work in harmony with you,” Lara added. “I would love to make a difference but I feel it has got to be from ground up. Hopefully sometimes in the near future we will be able to do that.” Reacting to a query on whether he retired too early in his career, Lara said, “I may have a couple of records but I really didn’t go there to bat for records. 

Scoring 12,000 runs was not important…I felt it was the right time to leave. I still believe that I enjoyed playing with the teams I played with.” Lara said he enjoys being in India. “Even during my cricket days, India is a place where I really loved coming to. I love the Indian people for the passion they carry through their life every single day.


Some of my very special friends Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, M S Dhoni and Virat Kohli…these are wonderful examples of Indians with great passion.”

Harbhajan Singh: Would love to come back to Eden Gardens to play cricket

Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday said he would definitely want to comeback to the Eden Gardens ground and play cricket. The third and final T20 International between India and South Africa, scheduled to be held at the iconic venue on Thursday, was called off owing to a soggy outfield after half an hour of rain in the afternoon. 


India lost the series 0-2. “It is disappointing that the tie was called off. Eden Gardens is always special to me, I have some wonderful memories here. Definitely want to comeback here and play a Test match or an ODI,” the “Turbanator” said at the launch of his cricket academy Harbhajan Singh Institute of Cricket (HSIC) at DPS Megacity school. 

The offie also did not want to blame the groundsmen at the Eden who were under fire after Thursday’s fiasco as the ground was adjudged unfit for play even eight hours after the rain stopped. “There was heavy rain yesterday. Nobody could have done anything. The ground was wet and unfit to play on. It wasn’t their [groundsmen] fault,” he said.

But the 0-2 series loss hasn’t hurt the veteran and he is hopeful India will comeback strong in the upcoming ODI and Test series against the visitors. “We are hopeful of making a strong statement in the ODIs and Tests which follow. We could have played much better cricket here but then again it did not happen. Hoping for a better result in the ODIs”, he said. 

Speaking on his marriage plans with Bollywood actress Geeta Basra which is scheduled later this month, Harbhajan said: “I am very busy with cricket. My family is making all the arrangements. Looking forward to the second innings of my life.”

Pietersen accepts Ashes win vindicates decision

A month after the Ashes urn was regained, Kevin Pietersen accepted that England's triumph over Australia shows Andrew Strauss was right not to recall him. Strauss, England's director of cricket, ended the big-hitting batsman's hopes of an international comeback in May over a "massive trust issue" which threatened team harmony. 

"He had a decision to make, he made his decision and it's turned out absolutely fine: England won the Ashes," Pietersen said. "At the time I would have said 'Ridiculous, nonsense.' I might have said something stronger to him. "But look, England have won the Ashes and I'm not a negative person. I am so positive. I am buzzing England have done what they have done."

After raging in May about being denied a return to the England team, having being dropped following the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash in Australia, the maverick player has now mellowed. With Strauss's decision appearing to be vindicated, England showed it can cope without its all-time leading run-scorer across all formats with the 3-2 series win over Australia.

"Absolutely (leaving him out) seems to be the right decision at the moment and good luck to (Strauss)," Pietersen said at a Sport Industry Group breakfast in London. "It is what it is. I can't go in there and change things. I think he has done OK. 

"Some of the stuff he has done with the England team and getting past players into the dressing room is brilliant because I think there is so much knowledge we missed out on for the last three or four years of my career where we could have had that input from outside the dressing room." 

The South African-born player recognizes his international career is probably over and he is instead focused on Twenty20. He will return home to play for the Durban-based Dolphins next month for up to five games before a stint in the inaugural Pakistan Premier League, which starts in February in the United Arab Emirates. 

When asked whether he's passionate about playing in the lucrative Twenty20 format, Pietersen responded with a smile: "I have to be. I can't be with test cricket." Pietersen, though, still sees the five-day game as the pinnacle of cricket and a format that must be both protected and enhanced. "It is an amazing part of what we do and I think it's the best part of what we do — it's the thing I miss most about the game," Pietersen said. "I think test cricketers need to be paid more."

"Test cricketers need to know they are getting looked after a lot more so that they don't think, 'I'm not really making it here in the test arena, I can flip over and play T20 cricket.'"
The shorter format is where the 35-year-old Pietersen appears set to set out his career, with the prospect on an England return highly unlikely. "As soon as I stop love my batting and practicing my batting then I will stop," he said. 

"As course I'd love to play test cricket because test cricket is where you get tested. "But if that can't happen I will keep plying my trade wherever I can over the next few years."

SA are top side but we won't take any backward step: Ravi Shastri

Indian Team Director Ravi Shastri on Friday said that South Africa are still a formidable side despite the retirement of some big players recently but his side will continue their aggressive brand of cricket in the upcoming series beginning on October 2.

"It is like asking me about Indian team without (Sachin) Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble - players will come and go, but you got to respect the fact that SA are world number one side," Shastri said at a press conference when asked about the visiting side who are coming without the likes of retired Jacques Kallis.

"South Africa are a stiff opposition. They play well in overseas conditions better than any other side in world cricket. They travelled better than any other team and records will show that. And so we what we are up against. The respect is there but we will not take any backward steps," he told reporters at the National Cricket Academy where Indian team is holding a camp.

South Africa are coming to India for a more than two-month long tour which begins with a limited overs series.

India and South Africa begin the series with a Twenty20 International at Dharamsala on October 2.

The former India all-rounder brushed aside any talk of Mahendra Singh's possible rustiness to lead the side against South Africa in the limited over matches. India last played an ODI in June in Bangladesh and Dhoni -- who has retired from Test, led the side.

"No problem at all. You are talking about a season campaigner, one of the legends, one of the all-time greats in world cricket and not only of Indian cricket, you know I am saying as a captain. He (Dhoni) takes over a job he has been doing and so it is nothing new," Shastri said.

"Everything fits into place automatically. For the team there is no difference, they played under him in the World Cup. The last time they played an ODI, they played under MS in Bangladesh. What is the difference, they are playing under a champion. What else do you want!," he said.

Asked it's high time that Dhoni bats up the order, Shastri said the captain himself will take a call on the day.

He said it's time for him to enjoy the game because he had been doing "dirty work" for years.

"Don't you think it is about time? He has done the dirty work for donkey's years. Give him a chance to enjoy himself.

You are talking of probably the greatest ODI captains and players. Don't worry about MS he will decide on the day whether to bat up the order," he said.

Shastri said that no batsman in the Indian team was in the comfort zone and they should be prepared to bat in any position.

"Nobody is in a comfort zone. As a batsman in the top order you should be prepared to bat anywhere as the team demands. Now these were unforeseen circumstances, otherwise they would not have to do it... like we had to face when Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan both were injured," said Shastri.

The unavailability of Dhawan and Vijay in the recent Test series in Sri Lanka prompted the team management to send Cheteshwar Pujara to open the innings and he lapped up the opportunity by scoring a superb hundred in Third Test.

Shastri also made it clear that the five bowler theory adopted in Test by Virat Kohli was not a permanent strategy and team combination will depend on the playing conditions and the rivals.

"No, it (five bowler theory) is not a permanent strategy.

You have to respect the conditions. In this game of cricket you cannot go in and say that I am going to go with this team.

It will backfire on you if the conditions are totally different," he said.

"So, you might need six batsmen, you might need four and a half bowlers, you might need just a bowler to do the job to give the main bowlers a rest. You have to play according to the conditions and play to the opposition. It is important to study the opposition you are up against and then decide what should be the best combination of your team," he added.

Replying to a query, Shastri said the most successful series for him during his tenure so far was the tour of Australia where, he said, players learnt hard lessons which have been put into practice by the young Indian side passionate about cricket and craving for consistency.

"For me, the most successful tour was that of Australia.

I keep saying this, the result was 2-0 down. Then we had a great World Cup, but lessons learnt in that tour was hard lessons. Those lessons have been put into practice, which I am really heartened by because it's a young team, the players are passionate, they want to learn. They don't want to rest on their laurels and they want to be consistent," he said.

Shastri said he had taken up the Team Director's assignment as a challenge and a responsibility and he wants the team to maintain consistency over the next nine months.

"Every assignment for me has been a big one, in the last year. You take it one series at a time, there is no small series in world cricket today, it's just that the teams change. 

The work ethics, what you put into place to win a game, all that has to be done in the same way as you do with any other team. So, nothing changes.

"I take it as a challenge. It is a responsibility, it is a challenge which I have never backed away from in anything I have done in life. So, this is no exception. It is a brilliant young team. You have seen the performances over the last year, I don't have to say, you can judge in all formats of the game.

And the endeavour will be to keep that consistency going over the next eight-nine months till we are in charge," Shastri said.

The Team Director also said that bench strength of the senior side was very good with the players in the India A team doing well.

"It (bench strength) is very good. I am going to have a chat with Rahul Dravid (India A coach)) sometime today to find out because he is in the best position to know who are the guys who can come through the ranks. 

The fact that the amount of cricket Rahul has played, he would know quickly know who would be the bloke who could bridge the gap and make the grade (to senior India side)," he said.

Happy Birthday Sir Donald Bradman

• The legendary Australian cricketer Sir Donald Bradman was born on 27th August 1908. 


• He was known for holding numerous milestones especially the record of the highest batting average in Test format. He averaged 99.94. We wish a very happy birthday and take a look on his contributions made by him in world of cricket.
• In 1920–21, Bradman acted as scorer for the local Bowral team, captained by his uncle George Whatman.
• In October 1920, he filled in when the team was one man short, scoring 37 not out and 29 not out on debut. 
• Bradman became a regular selection for the Bowral team; several outstanding performances earned him the attention of the Sydney daily press.
• Competing on matting-over-concrete pitches, Bowral played other rural towns in the Berrima District competition. Against Wingello, a team that included the future Test bowler Bill O'Reilly, Bradman made 234.
• In the competition final against Moss Vale, which extended over five consecutive Saturdays, Bradman scored 320 not out.
• He was subsequently chosen for the "Country Week" tournaments.
• Selected to replace the unfit Archie Jackson in the NSW team, Bradman made his first-class debut at the Adelaide Oval, aged 19. 
• Playing in only his tenth first-class match, Bradman, nicknamed "Braddles" by his teammates found his initial Test a harsh learning experience. Caught on a sticky wicket, Australia were all out for 66 in the second innings and lost by 675 runs (still a Test record).
• Recalled for the Third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Bradman scored 79 and 112 to become the youngest player to make a Test century.


• Bradman completed the season with 1,690 first-class runs, averaging 93.88.
• He scored 6996 Test runs with 29 tons.
• He also captained the Australian side.