Tag: Indian Cricketer

  • Shoaib Akhtar reacts to viral picture of Pakistani holding Virat Kohli’s poster in PSL matches

    Shoaib Akhtar reacts to viral picture of Pakistani holding Virat Kohli’s poster in PSL matches

    Former Pakistan cricket team fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has reacted to a viral picture of a Pakistani fan of former Indian all-format captain Virat Kohli, who was holding Kohli’s posters in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

    Akhtar took to Twitter and shared the picture of the Pakistani fan, saying: “Someone spreading love at the #GaddafiStadium.”

    The fan’s picture has gone viral on social media when he was noticed holding the picture of Kohli with the phrases, “I want to see your [Kohli] century in Pakistan #Peace.”

    Meanwhile, Kohli has been rested from the T20I series with Sri Lanka which will start from February 24. While he is part of the currently on-going three-match T20I series against West Indies, in which he even scored a half-century on Sunday.

  • Shoaib Akhtar thinks Babar can’t break Tendulkar’s record but Kohli can

    Shoaib Akhtar thinks Babar can’t break Tendulkar’s record but Kohli can

    Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has said that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam cannot break Sachin Tendulkar’s record, but India’s Virat Kohli can surpass Tendulkar’s record.

    Talking to Geo News in ‘Jashn-e-Cricket’, Akhtar said: “I don’t think Babar can break Tendulkar’s record. Only Kohli can break Tendulkar’s record.”

    “Babar will have to work hard to get ahead of Virat Kohli,” Shoaib added.

    The legendary right-arm quick predicted that Kohli would score more than 100 centuries before retirement.

    In One-Day Internationals, Kohli has completed 43 centuries and 64 half-centuries in 259 matches, while Babar has scored 14 centuries and 17 half-centuries in 83 matches.

    Read More – Shoaib Akhtar believes Shahid Afridi will ‘100 per cent step into politics’

    Earlier, Akhtar had also said that Kohli should not have married “too soon”.

  • ‘Caught off-guard’: Anushka-Virat don’t want daughter Vamika’s pictures to be shared

    ‘Caught off-guard’: Anushka-Virat don’t want daughter Vamika’s pictures to be shared

    After Anushka Sharma and her daughter were captured on live camera at an India vs South Africa match, the actor and her husband Virat Kohli explained that Anushka had been caught off-guard and did not realise the camera was on her and baby Vamika.

    Vamika, who turned one recently, was spotted with her mother in the VIP stand watching Virat Kohli and Team India play South Africa in the ongoing series. Vamika’s face was revealed in the shot and screenshots have since gone viral on social media. In one of the pictures, Virat can be seen dedicating his 50 to his daughter.

    He scored the 50 in the third and final One Day International of the three-match ODI series between India National Cricket Team and South Africa National Cricket Team at the Newlands, Cape Town on Sunda, which they ultimately lost.

    In an Instagram story, Anushka clarified that she didn’t mean to allow Vamika to be filmed, repeating her request that photos of her daughter not be taken or shared. She wrote: “We realise that our daughter’s images were captured at the stadium yesterday and widely shared thereafter. We want to inform everyone that we were caught off-guard and didn’t know that the camera was on us. Our stance and request on the matter stays the same. We would really appreciate if Vamika’s images are not clicked/published for reasons we have explained earlier.”

    See Anushka and Virat’s Instagram stories here:

    Anushka and Virat have previously requested media and fans not to circulate photos of Vamika. Last month, the actor posted a note thanking the media for not publishing pictures that had been taken of the couple with their daughter.

    Read More – Anushka’s love message for Virat after Test captaincy resignation, Bollywood stars react

    Vamika turned one earlier this month. Anushka and Virat tied the knot in 2017 and welcomed their bundle of joy in January 2021.

  • Anushka Sharma praises Virat Kohli

    Anushka Sharma praises Virat Kohli

    Bollywood Actor Anushka Sharma has penned an emotional note on Twitter for her star-crickter husband Virat Kohli after his impressive stint in the PakVsIndia T20 worldcup.

    An explosive half-century by Virat and a century stand with Hardik Pandya helped India defeat Pakistan by four wickets in their Group 2, Super 12 match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

    Earlier this year, she wrote another message for Kohli, when he resigned from the Test captaincy after a series defeat in South Africa.

    Taking to Instagram, Anushka shared two beautiful pictures of Virat and herself. “I remember the day in 2014 when you told me that you have been made the captain as MS had decided to retire from test cricket. I remember MS, you & I having a chat later that day & him joking about how quickly your beard will start turning grey. We all had a good laugh about it. Since that day, I’ve seen more than just your beard turning grey. I’ve seen growth. Immense growth. Around you & within you. And yes, I am very proud of your growth as the captain of the Indian National Cricket team & what achievements the team had under your leadership. But I’m more proud of the growth you achieved within you,” she wrote about Virat’s growth after becoming the captain of Indian cricket team.

    Sharma’s note turned heartwarming as she hinted that all wasn’t right in Kohli’s decision to step down after India’s recent Test series loss against South Africa.

    “In 2014 we were so young & naive. Thinking that just good intentions, positive drive & motives can take you ahead in life. They definitely do but, not without challenges. A lot of these challenges that you faced were not always on the field. But then, this is life right? It tests you in places where you least expect it to but where you need it the most,” Sharma wrote.

    The “Pari” actor added that she was proud of Kohli for not allowing this to come in the way of his “good intentions”, stating that he led by example and gave it his all, for the love for the game “to the extent that after some losses I’ve sat next to you with tears in your eyes, while you wondered if there’s still something more you could have done.”

    Sharma continued that this was an ethic that Kohli expected from everyone involved as well. “You’ve been unconventional & straightforward. Pretence is your foe & this is what makes you great in my eyes & the eyes of your admirers. Because underneath all this were your pure, unadulterated intentions always. And not everyone will be able to truly understand that,” she wrote.

    Admitting that Kohli wasn’t without flaws himself, one of which has been a quick tempered demeanor that has been often written about in the media, she added: “What you did was to always stand up for doing the right thing, the harder thing, always! You held on to nothing with greed, not even this position & I know that. Because when one holds on to something so tightly they limit themselves & you, my love, are limitless. Our daughter will see the learning of these 7 years in the father that you are to her.”

    Sharma’s emotional statement comes at a time when many are questioning whether all was well between Kohli and the administration that led to his sudden decision to step down.

    Several cricketing greats, from Ravi Shastri to Sachin Tendulkar, have lauded Kohli as one of India’s best skippers, with a track record to prove, and many Bollywood stars have also come out in support for the former captain.

    While many celebs showered their love on Anushka’s post.

    Actor Vivek Anand Oberoi also lauded Kohli for his leadership. “It’s been a phenomenal journey to being the world’s #1 test team & making winning series overseas a wonderful habit, but as they say, all good things come to an end. Here’s to you Captain King Kohli, take a bow & now unleash your bat without the extra weight & flyy,” posted Oberoi.

    Arjun Rampal also chimed in to write: “Why yaar [friend]? @imVkohli you are an amazing captain and have served our nation so well. You have many many more years of cricket in you and a captains mind. I do hope this decision is short lived. Yet, one respects your decision. Thank you for all the incredible memories. #ViratKohli.”

    Earlier, Kohli posted a statement on social media announcing that he was stepping down as Test captain.

  • ‘Ethnic cleansing’: Naseeruddin Shah asks Modi govt to stop genocide of Muslims

    ‘Ethnic cleansing’: Naseeruddin Shah asks Modi govt to stop genocide of Muslims

    Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah has asked the Modi government to stop genocide of Muslims and warned that oppression could lead to civil war.

    In an interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Shah said if attempts are made for Muslim genocide and ethnic cleansing, India’s 200 million Muslims are going to fight back.

    He said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not care but ethnic cleansing of Muslims will trigger a civil war in India.

    While talking about the Mughals in India, he said that they “contributed” in the country and “came here to make this their homeland”.

    “The so-called atrocities of the Mughals are being highlighted all the time. We forget that the Mughals are people who have contributed to the country. They are people who have left lasting monuments in the country…who have left the tradition of dancing, music, painting, literature. Mughals came here to make this their homeland. You can call them refugees if you like,” he said.

    Shah, after this statement, earned a lot of backlash from the Indian social media, especially Indian Twitter. In a clip circulating on social media, the actor is seen talking during Thapar’s show on his YouTube channel. However, the clip omitted a few lines he said about the real marauders.

    These lines from the original video were omitted in the clip: “No one talks about Taimur, no one talks about Mahmud of Ghazni, no one talks about Nadir Shah. I don’t think these people are conversant with that history. Those were the marauders who came, looted and left.”

    https://twitter.com/MeghBulletin/status/1476082232586477572?s=20

    The clip is being circulated widely in India and has made ‘Mughals’ trend on Indian Twitter.

  • Spinning maestro Harbhajan Singh retires from cricket

    Spinning maestro Harbhajan Singh retires from cricket

    Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has retired from all formats of cricket. The cricketer announced the news on Twitter.

    Taking to Twitter, Harbhajan wrote: “All good things come to an end and today as I bid adieu to the game that has given me everything in life, I would like to thank everyone who made this 23-year-long journey beautiful and memorable.”

    The cricketer also thanked everyone saying that he is “grateful”.

    In a video message, the 41-year-old said that “in many ways, I had already retired”, but because of his commitments with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, he was forced to delay the announcement.

    “There comes a time in your life when you must take some tough decisions and move ahead. I have been meaning to make this announcement for the last few years, but I was waiting for the right moment to share it with all of you: today, I am retiring from all formats of cricket,” he said. “In many ways, I had already retired as a cricketer, but hadn’t been able to make a formal announcement.”

    “I haven’t been an active cricketer for a while. But I had a commitment to Kolkata Knight Riders, and wanted to spend the (2021) IPL season with them. But during the season itself, I had made up my mind to retire.”

    Harbhajan last played for India in March 2016, in a T20I against the UAE in Dhaka in that year’s Asia Cup.

    The former cricketer concluded by saying: “Now I begin a new chapter in my life, which starts with its own challenges. Believe me, your Turbanator is ready for the examination! Just keep showering your love on me.”

  • Aakash Chopra schools Indian netizen who called Rizwan ‘loser’

    Aakash Chopra schools Indian netizen who called Rizwan ‘loser’

    Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra schooled a netizen after the latter called Pakistan wicket keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan a ‘loser’.

    Read More – ‘Sirf Allah se hota hai’: Mohammad Rizwan after scoring 2,000 record T20 runs in a year

    Chopra had recently published a video, praising Rizwan’s performance in the T20 format. However, a netizen posted a screenshot of that video and claimed that India’s star batter Virat Kohli had already achieved the feats before Rizwan, which was factually incorrect.

    https://twitter.com/ItzAbhizz/status/1472818226123849728?s=20

    Responding to the Twitter user, Aakash shared the stats for the most T20 runs scored in a calender year, which clearly showed that Rizwan was ahead of Kohli.

    He further wrote: “People see what they want to see. It wasn’t a comparison with anyone. It’s a fact. Number of innings/matches irrelevant. It’s incredible that we can’t even appreciate an effort without caveats.”

    It must be noted that the prolific batter also has the most runs — 1326 — in T20I cricket, this year, at a stunning average of 73.66 and strike-rate of 134.89. His runs tally includes 12 fifties, most by any player this year, and a hundred. He also stands at the top of the table in terms of sixes hit this year, with 42 against his name.

    Read More – ‘Was breathless’: Mohammad Rizwan talks about health, pillow he carries

    Rizwan’s 158-run opening stand for the first wicket with Babar Azam, in the third T20I against West Indies recently, also helped the duo break the record for most hundred partnerships as a pair, six, in T20I cricket. The record was previously held by India’s Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, with five century partnerships.

  • Sourav Ganguly says he likes Virat Kohli’s attitude but ‘he fights a lot’

    Sourav Ganguly says he likes Virat Kohli’s attitude but ‘he fights a lot’

    Former Indian cricketer and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly has said that he is a huge admirer of Virat Kohli’s attitude, however, he expressed unhappiness with the crickter’s tendency to pick up fights with everyone.

    Read More – Rohit Sharma replaces Virat Kohli as India’s ODI captain, to take over from South Africa series

    Ganguly made the comments in an event in Gurgaon while answering which player has the best attitude according to him. “I like Virat Kohli’s attitude but he fights a lot,” said the BCCI president.

    Both the Indian cricketing giants left the fans confused after Kohli contradicted Ganguly’s statements regarding captaincy shuffle.

    Kohli, while addressing a press conference ahead of India’s tour to South Africa, claimed that he wasn’t asked to continue to lead the side in the shorter format. However, days before the presser, the BCCI president said in an interview that he personally approached Kohli to remain at the helm in T20Is.

    In the same presser, India’s Test captain also put an end to the speculations of a rift between him and senior batter Rohit Sharma, stating he has been doing the same for the past two years and urged people to look beyond it.

    Ganguly was also asked about how to manage stress, to which the former India captain had a very sarcastic answer. “There is no stress in life. Only wife and girlfriend give stress,” he said.

    Meanwhile, after Kohli’s explosive presser, the BCCI president refused to comment much about it and asserted that the BCCI will deal with it.

    Kohli and his unit are currently in South Africa where they will play a three-match Test series starting from December 26.

  • Virushka celebrate fourth anniversary sharing goofy pictures

    Virushka celebrate fourth anniversary sharing goofy pictures

    Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma and Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli are celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary.

    Taking to Instagram, Anushka shared a bunch of their photos, enjoying each others company.

    Anushka also shared a warm note dedicated to Virat. “There is no easy way out, there is no shortcut home. Your favourite song and words you’ve lived by always. These words hold true for everything including relationships. Takes tremendous courage to be the person you are in a world filled with perceptions ands optics. Thank you for inspiring me when I needed it and for keeping your mind open when you needed to listen. Marriage of equals is only possible when both are secure. And you are the most secure man I know! Like I’ve said earlier, fortunate are those who really know the real you, the soul behind all the achievements, the man behind all the projections cast upon you.. May love, honesty, transparency and respect guide us always. P.S. : May we never stop goofin’ around. I love that about us,” she wrote.

    In the photos, Anushka and Virat are seen making goofy faces for the camera, posing for pictures while washing dishes, him pushing their daughter Vamika in a stroller, clicking pictures with Santa Claus on Christmas and more.

    Anushka and Virat tied the knot in Italy’s Lake Como in December 2017. Their secret wedding set precedent for other celebrity weddings as well. The couple welcomed their bundle of joy Vamika in January this year.

  • Hardik Pandya opens up about ‘Rs5 crore watch’ seized by airport customs

    Hardik Pandya opens up about ‘Rs5 crore watch’ seized by airport customs

    Indian power hitter Hardik Pandya on Tuesday refuted reports that claimed two wrist watches worth Rs5 crore were seized from him at the Mumbai airport on his return from Dubai. He said that only one watch was worth Rs1.5 crore and had been taken for “proper valuation”.

    A report by news agency ANI on Tuesday said that two watches were seized by the Customs Department on Sunday night because Pandya allegedly did not have a bill for them.

    Denying the charges, Pandya posted a statement on Twitter saying, “I voluntarily went to Mumbai airport customs counter to declare the items brought by me and pay the requisite customs duty. Wrong perceptions have been floating around on social media regarding my declaration to customs at Mumbai airport, and I would like to clarify about what transpired.”

    “I had voluntarily declared all the items that I’d lawfully purchased from Dubai and was ready to pay whatever duties that needed to be paid. As a matter of fact, the customs department had asked for all purchase documents which were submitted; however customs is doing proper valuation for duty which I’ve already confirmed to pay,” he said.

    “The cost of the watch is approximately Rs1.5 crore and not Rs5 crore as per the rumours floating around on social media. I’m a law-abiding citizen of the country and I respect all government agencies. I’ve received all the cooperation from the Mumbai customs department and I’ve assured my full cooperation to them and will provide them with whatever legitimate documents they need to get this matter cleared. All allegations against me of crossing any legal boundaries are totally unfounded,” he added.

    The cricketer also said that he is a “law abiding citizen”, who respects all government agencies.

    Hardik was returning from Dubai after India wrapped up its stint at the T20 World Cup.

    According to ANI, Hardik Pandya’s brother, cricketer Krunal Pandya was also intercepted at the Mumbai International Airport over suspicion of being in possession of undisclosed gold and other valuables last year.

    Indian all-rounder Pandya is very much in the limelight for his hairstyle and body tattoo.