The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay <keyword id="1858" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="shah" source="Orion">Shah</keyword> announced on Monday that the Board will increase the match fees for domestic cricketers. Shah, who attended the <keyword id="9589052" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bcci-apex-council-meet" source="Orion">BCCI Apex Council Meet</keyword>, also said that the cricketers who played in 2019/20 season will get additional 50 per cent fee for the curtailed 2020/21 season. "I am pleased to announce the hike in match fee for domestic cricketers. Seniors -- INR 60,000 (above 40 matches). Under 23 -- INR 25,000. Under 19 -- INR 20,000," wrote Shah on Twitter. Till now, senior men's domestic cricketers used to earn Rs 35,000 from every match day in the <keyword id="3028" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ranji-trophy" source="Orion">Ranji Trophy</keyword> or <keyword id="106537" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vijay-hazare-trophy" source="Orion">Vijay Hazare Trophy</keyword>. For the <keyword id="123094" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="syed-mushtaq-ali-trophy" source="Orion">Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy</keyword>, they were paid Rs 17,500 per match. Reserve members in the team are paid half of the fees of playing members. "Cricketers who participated in the 2019/20 domestic season will get 50% additional match fee as compensation for the 2020/21 season loss due to the Covid-19 situation," added Shah. The additional match fees will also compensate for the reduced number of Ranji Trophy matches in the 2021/22 season. Till the 2019/20 edition of the Ranji Trophy, each team was assured of featuring in at least eight First-Class matches. With the revised structure of the format, the number of league matches had come down to five. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will begin on October 20 till November 12. The Ranji Trophy, which was cancelled last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be played from November 16 to February 19 in 2022. The Vijay Hazare Trophy will take place from February 23 to March 26, 2022. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/this-neobank-for-indias-small-businesses-just-raised-31-million-led-by-sequoia-capital/articleshow/86366129.cms">This neobank for India's small businesses just raised $31 million led by Sequoia Capital</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/emmys-2021-netflix-beats-hbo-for-the-first-time-with-the-most-number-of-awards/articleshow/86365603.cms">Emmys 2021: Netflix beats HBO for the first time with the most number of awards</a>

BCCI rolls out compensation package and fee hikes for domestic cricketers

Indian cricket board will take a decision on holding remaining <keyword id="6354831" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</keyword> (<keyword id="6354312" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword>) 2021 matches at special general meeting on May 29, in which entire domestic cricket schedule for 2021-22 will be discussed. "As of now, nothing has been finalised (regarding IPL)," a top <keyword id="6354756" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="bcci">BCCI</keyword> office-bearer told <keyword id="105681" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IANS">IANS</keyword>. The franchises too haven't got any intimation though they have been told that they will get to know only after May 29. "There is nothing concrete yet. But we are aware that the Board is likely decide the matter on May 29 and may convey to us after that," a franchise official told IANS. There are 31 matches remaining in IPL 2021 which was postponed, after completion of 29 matches, due to Covid-19 cases in the bio-secure environment. Although there has been no official intimation from the <keyword id="82275" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Board-of-Control-for-Cricket">Board of Control for Cricket</keyword> in India (BCCI), UAE, where IPL 2020 edition was also held, appears to be the most likely venue to hold the remainder of IPL. The window being discussed is the month-long gap between the end of India's Test series in England on September 14 and start of the T20 World Cup in mid-October. The T20 World Cup could also be held in UAE in the wake of rise of Covid-19 cases in India. Jay Shah, secretary of BCCI, had earlier issued a note to state associations, calling them for a special general meeting. "Notice is hereby given for a Special General Meeting of the BCCI which will be held on May 29, 2021 virtually to transact the following business: Discussion on the upcoming cricket season in view of the pandemic situation prevailing in India," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a note addressed to the state cricket associations. The 2020-21 domestic season, held in India, could only witness limited overs tournaments -- Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s and <keyword id="86893" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vijay-Hazare">Vijay Hazare</keyword> one-dayers. The IPL, also a domestic event with international stars, was held in UAE. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-moves-the-delhi-high-court-against-indias-new-it-laws-says-report/articleshow/82965251.cms">WhatsApp moves the Delhi High Court against India’s new IT laws, says report</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/cyclone-yaas-will-unleash-its-fury-for-another-12-to-18-hours-after-making-landfall/articleshow/82964922.cms">Cyclone Yaas will unleash its fury for another 12 to 18 hours after making landfall</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-is-giving-away-9000-worth-google-stadia-bundle-for-free-but-its-not-available-in-india/articleshow/82965884.cms">OnePlus is giving away ₹9,000 worth Google Stadia bundle for free – but it’s not available in India</a>

BCCI to take decision on holding remaining IPL matches on May 29

Ravichandran <keyword id="20035994" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ashwin" source="keywords">Ashwin</keyword> doesn't like "latching on to people" and that's one reason why he has never warmed up to the idea of banking on <keyword id="20134692" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="coaches" source="keywords">coaches</keyword> in the traditional sense as he believes that such <keyword id="20902120" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dependence" source="keywords">dependence</keyword> makes players dogmatic. In his 14-year international <keyword id="19919646" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cricket" source="keywords">cricket</keyword> career, spanning 281 games and 744 wickets across formats, Ashwin's sense of agency and his ability to time and again rediscover himself, have helped him survive the grind. "A lot of players are heavily dependent on coaches or mentors, or one person which I think is a very dangerous trend because latching on to people and over-dependency can cause you to not be able to open to new ideas," the 37-year-old off-spinner told PTI in a telephonic interview recently. It is not that Ashwin never had a sounding board. His first state team coach WV Raman, one of the respected names in Indian cricket, and Tamil Nadu legend and former India batter S Badrinath, have been guiding forces for him. But his equation with them never turned into the kind of dependence that would take away his own ability to search for solutions. "See very often the challenge of a coach is to be able to offer you several solutions. This is because what works for one (particular player) might not work for the other," he explained. "One modern-day coaching philosophy which I totally disagree with is the fact that they try to copy-paste the same technique (solution) that's worked for another cricketer," Ashwin, who recently made his debut as an author with 'I Have The Streets: A Kutti Cricket Story', added. While he is completely aware that some players get results by surrendering to the vision of their coaches, he also feels that such dependence can lead to a closed mind. "Because as a cricketer, you constantly are thrown up with new challenges, so you must be able to find your own answers," the tweaker, who is behind only the legendary Anil Kumble in the list of India's highest Test wicket-takers, pointed out. To Ashwin, Raman has been that catalyst, who helped him focus his intuitive mind. "People can give you a helping hand. But they cannot guide you through in your career, you will have to be open to fresh ideas. "For me, WV allowed me the freedom to express, and, you know, try new things. He also taught me how and on what path I need to travel, but he never said, 'This is the path you need to travel upon'. "So in a way, in my early days, guidance from WV ensured that I was never really over-reliant on anybody." Ashwin said getting a second opinion is never a bad idea but cricket primarily is a self-taught sport. "If you don't have awareness of your own game and if you can't teach yourself, I think you are always going to be dependent on someone which I think is a very dangerous part. "I am not saying people with coaches or people who are dependent don't do well in life but there is a chance of selling yourself short," he asserted. He is gearing up for a big 10-Test season and the Bangladesh series next month will be his first under new head coach <keyword id="19914485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gautam-Gambhir" source="keywords">Gautam Gambhir</keyword>, someone with whom he has also played a lot. Ashwin also admires him as one of the "heroes" of Indian cricket. "Gautam is someone I still share a very, very good relationship with. Because of the fact that he is a very straightforward and an honest guy. "I think Gautam is also one of those guys that we should always be backing. He's a hero of Indian cricket," he said of the new coach, who took charge in the recent tour of Sri Lanka. It took me 2-3 years to perfect 'Carrom Ball' ============================= The best in the world have struggled to read his signature 'carrom ball' but Ashwin, who first saw Ajantha Mendis bowl it during an age-group camp in Chennai, said that it took him nearly three years before he was satisfied with its execution. For the uninitiated, a carrom ball is a delivery which turns the other way and is released with a flick of the middle finger. In case of a right hander, it will turn away from the bat. "I started bowling those balls in the nets 2006 or 2007 onwards, which was probably the second season for me in first-class cricket. "It took me a good two years before I implemented it in the south zone leg matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (KS Subbaiah Pillai Trophy) in 2008. By 2010, I was probably pretty confident about the pace at which I bowled. "So, it took about two to three years for me to gain confidence." Priority should always be playing for India ============================ The IPL has changed the lives of young Indian cricketers and has been "tremendous" for country's cricketing ecosystem but Ashwin believes that for an aspiring cricketer, the ultimate goal should forever be playing for the country. "I am very glad that a lot of young kids are coming now and making a good amount of money. It is changing their livelihood, changing the status of their families. It's unbelievable for India, for the Indian cricketing ecosystem," he said. "But I still feel there must be some incentive and some motivation for all these kids to want to play for India, and that's absolutely in the hands of the stakeholders and the decision makers."

Over-reliance on coaches can stop players from finding own solutions: Ashwin

M Prasidh Krishna has received a maiden call-up to the Indian squad for their upcoming three-match ODI series against England. The 18-member squad, which was announced on Friday, also includes Suryakumar Yadav, who made his international debut in the five-match T20I series and scored a match-winning half century in the fourth T20I. Krishna took 14 wickets at an average of 22.21 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to help Karnataka to the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions Mumbai. All-rounder Washington Sundar, who played his only ODI match against Sri Lanka in December 2017, has been included in the team. Fellow all-rounder Krunal Pandya also finds a place. Pandya is yet to play an ODI match and his last international game was a T20I against Bangladesh in November 2019. Fast bowler T Natarajan, who missed the T20I series due to a niggle, has been included. Natarajan played in the third ODI during the Australia tour on December 2 and took two wickets to help India to a 13-run win. Mayank Agarwal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Manish Pandey, Navdeep Saini and Sanju Samson, all of whom played in the ODI series in Australia, are missing from the squad. The series against England will be played on March 23, 26 to 28 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. India's ODI squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur.

Checkout the list of Indian players for the three-match one day international series against England

New Delhi, Wicketkeeper-batsman <keyword id="17246" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Parthiv-Patel">Parthiv Patel</keyword> on Wednesday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. In a social media post, Patel said he is "bringing the curtains down on an 18-year-long cricketing journey". Patel, who made his <keyword id="1819753" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-debut">international debut</keyword> at the age of 17 in an away Test series against England in 2002, played 25 Tests, 38 ODIs and two T20Is for India, his last international appearance coming in team's famous Test win in Johannesburg in January 2018. He was also part of the squad when India won their maiden Test series in Australia in 2018-19. "On this day, as I pause and reflect to assess how far I have come, the biggest wish I have is for my father to have been standing beside me, at the closure of my journey as a cricket player, as he has through most of my life and career," Patel said. "Today, I announce my retirement from all forms of cricket and as I bring down the curtains on this 18-year-old cricketing journey, I feel heavier with gratitude towards many," he added. Apart from playing for India, Patel led Gujarat to the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2015 as he scored a match-winning maiden List A century in the final against Delhi. He outdid that achievement the next season, when he made 143 against Mumbai to help Gujarat pull off the highest successful run-chase in a Ranji Trophy final. "The BCCI showed a generous amount of confidence and faith in a 17 year old boy to play for India. I have enormous gratitude towards them for being a guiding force and hand holding me, in the formative years of my young career," Patel said in his social media post. "I am full of gratitude to The Gujarat Cricket Association, my home, for solidly rallying around me throughout my journey, and the leadership role conferred upon me couldn't have been more joyous and fulfilling than our team winning all formats of the game," he added. The left-handed batsman scored over 11,000 runs in 194 first-class games, with 27 centuries and 67 half-centuries. In the Indian Premier League, the 35-year-old played for six franchises in total. He was part of three title-winning teams - Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and <keyword id="9715112" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-mumbai-indians">the Mumbai Indians</keyword> in 2015 and 2017. In total, he played a total of 139 IPL matches, scoring 2848 runs with the help of 13 half centuries. He was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad in 2020 but was not included in the playing XI for a single game as the team preferred to use AB de Villiers as their first-choice keeper and also used Devdutt Padikkal as opener. "I feel at peace having played the game in its truest tenets, with dignity and in the spirit of the game and more importantly with great comraderie. As I walk away as a proud man having fulfilled more dreams than I thought possible, I hope to be remembered with that thought and find your support for my future endeavours," Patel said. "With every end, comes a new beginning. How lucky I am have something that makes saying good bye so hard. Until the next time " he concluded. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/mukesh-ambani-says-jio-will-rollout-5g-services-by-june-2021-and-it-will-go-beyond-india/articleshow/79619222.cms">Mukesh Ambani says Jio will rollout 5G services by June 2021 – and it will go beyond India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-canara-bank-sun-pharma-titan-nbcc-gujarat-state-fertilizers-coffee-day-and-others/articleshow/79617464.cms">Top stocks to watch — Canara Bank, Sun Pharma, Titan, NBCC, Gujarat State Fertilizers, Coffee Day, and others</a>

Wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel retires from all forms of cricket

<ul><li>BCCI has postponed the <keyword id="7463791" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipl-2020">IPL 2020</keyword> to April 15 due to the coronavirus outbreak.</li><li>Franchise owners are expected to meet BCCI officials on Saturday.</li></ul>The Indian Premier League 2020, one of the biggest sporting events in India, is April 15, due to the coronavirus outbreak. The IPL 2020 was slated to begin on March 29 however visa restrictions by the government which will keep foreign players away, forcing them to make this decision. "The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience," the release said. The IPL 2020 is not the only major sporting event affected by the coronavirus. The UEFA Champions League, the NBA and the La Liga have also been suspended due the deadly pandemic. Overseas players may be able to join As per reports, franchise owners are against playing without their overseas players. This delay will allow overseas players to join the IPL 2020 as the visa restrictions will end on April 15. However, the government is expected to reassess the situation in the coming weeks and may relax or extend the visa restrictions based on the gravity of the situation. Franchise owners want to play games behind closed doors Even when the IPL 2020 begins on April 15, its matches may still have to be played only for TV without live audience. The Maharashtra government was the first to <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/covid-19-maharashtra-to-allow-ipl-matches-only-in-empty-stadiums/articleshow/74589767.cms">announce</a> it will allow IPL only if it is played behind closed doors, to discourage public gatherings. The Delhi government quickly followed suit. The franchise owners will reportedly make this same request to ask BCCI officials on Saturday in order to keep up with the schedule of games and cities. A franchise official in a statement to IANS said that playing games in closed doors is better than postponement as it will allow foreign players to join the teams. “If we get to the business end without our foreign recruits, then it again becomes a domestic tournament just like say Mushtaq Ali or Vijay Hazare Trophy. To keep the charisma alive, you need foreign players,” he added. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/mumbai-indians-chennai-super-kings-and-royal-challengers-will-be-worst-hit-if-ipl-is-played-behind-closed-doors/articleshow/74595197.cms">Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore will be worst hit if IPL is played behind closed doors</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/ipl-has-to-be-played-behind-closed-doors-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-says-govt/articleshow/74591684.cms">IPL has to be played behind closed doors amid coronavirus outbreak, says Govt</a>

IPL 2020 postponed to April 15 as the game will have no ‘charisma’ without foreign players

<keyword id="1807915" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mohammed-Siraj">Mohammed Siraj</keyword>, might be from a lower middle class family but his dreams are big. He landed a Rs 2.6 crore deal with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Sunrisers+Hyderabad&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> during <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=IPL&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">IPL</a> 2017 auction and now he wants to build a house for his family in Hyderabad. 
 
Meet Siraj, son of a Hyderabad-based auto driver, who made crores during the auction as he attracted eyeballs for his innings in India A and Rest of India call-ups. 
 
"Since I started from tennis ball cricket, I am self taught. I had pace but tennis ball cricket teaches you to bowl in blockholes. Then I played Hyderabad U22, Mushtaq Ali, Vijay Hazare and then <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Ranji+Trophy&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Ranji Trophy</a> followed by India A. I have taken one step at a time. Next is <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> followed by senior national team," said Siraj. 
 
While interacting with PTI, Siraj spoke about the first salary he got while playing cricket. 
 
"Today, I remember my first income playing cricket. It was a club match and my maternal uncle was the captain of the team. I got 9 wickets for 20 odd runs in that 25 over game. My uncle was so happy he gave me Rs 500 as a prize. It was a great feeling. But today when the bid was raised to Rs 2.6 crore, I just went numb," he said. 
 
Siraj said he is forever indebted to his parents. He said that his father has been a major reason behind his success who never let financial issues get in the way of his son’s dreams. 
 
"He drove auto all these years but never let financial pressure of the family affect me or my elder brother. A bowling spikes costs a lot and he would just get the best for me. I want to buy a house for them now in a good locality," Siraj said. 
 
He also shared that he is very excited about sharing the dressing room with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=VVS+Laxman&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">VVS Laxman</a> as mentor and captained by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=David+Warner&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">David Warner</a> is a big plus. 
 "As a youngster, I would like to learn everything I can. Laxman sir is there and I would get a chance to interact with a player of <keyword id="60604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="David-Warner">David Warner</keyword>'s stature," concluded Siraj excusing himself to speak to media who had made a beeline for his interviews.

Meet Mohammed Siraj, Hyderabad auto driver's son, bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 2.6 crore in IPL auction

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/50394090.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> Cricket saw some new talents emerging and some old ones doing extraordinarily good in 2015, both in men’s and women’s cricket. Two of them were <keyword id="6354486" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Virat-Kohli">Virat Kohli</keyword> and <keyword id="68864" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mithali-Raj">Mithali Raj</keyword>. The Indian Test captain Kohli was today named 'Cricketer of the Year' and Mithali was picked for the top women's award in the <keyword id="6354756" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="BCCI">BCCI</keyword> annual honours to be given away on January 5 in Mumbai. 

	The 27-year-old batsman, who took over as captain in the middle of the tour of Australia after Mahendra Singh Dhoni's sudden retirement, delivered some good results under his leadership.
 

	Under Kohli, the Indian team ended a 22-year wait for a series win on Sri Lankan soil before battering world No.1 South Africa to give them their first overseas loss in nine years. 
 

	The right-hander has done well with the bat too, scoring 640 runs in 15 Test innings that he played at an average of 42.67. In his 20 ODI outings this year, Kohli managed 623 runs at an average of 36.65.
 

	Mithali, on the other hand, became the first Indian woman and second overall to complete 5,000 runs in ODI format this year. Mithali will be presented with the M A Chidambaram Trophy for the best women's cricketer. 
 

	In other awards, former wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani will be presented the Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.
 

	Karnataka State Cricket Association has been chosen the state association of the year for achieving the treble of winning the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup and Vijay Hazare Trophy in the season.
 Karnataka all-rounder <keyword id="6405247" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Robin-Uthappa">Robin Uthappa</keyword> has been picked for the Madhavrao Scindia Award for being the highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy. Uthappa scored 912 runs in 11 matches, 50.66. The top wicket-taker's award is being shared this year by Karnataka's R <keyword id="3031" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vinay-Kumar">Vinay Kumar</keyword> and Mumbai's Shardul Thakur, both of whom scalped 48 in the previous season. 
	 
	(Image credits: Indiatimes)

BCCI names Virat Kohli 'Cricketer of the Year', Mithali Raj bagged top women's award

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/35428161.cms" />This is the sequence of scores <keyword id="6405247" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Robin-Uthappa">Robin Uthappa</keyword> has compiled ever since he was asked to open the innings for <keyword id="6354925" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kolkata">Kolkata</keyword> Knight Riders: 47, 65, 47, 46, 80, 40, 67. KKR have won five out of those seven games. Among the Indian openers on show in IPL 7, Uthappa is leading by a big margin, even holding onto the second spot in the top run-getters list, behind only <keyword id="470051" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Glenn-Maxwell">Glenn Maxwell</keyword>. India are to play three one-day internationals in Bangladesh after the IPL. You can connect the dots. With <keyword id="10138" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Mahendra-Singh-Dhoni">Mahendra Singh Dhoni</keyword> and <keyword id="6354486" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Virat-Kohli">Virat Kohli</keyword> already pulling out of the short tour before a grueling season in England, Uthappa should be an automatic choice, freeing up <keyword id="13937" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rohit-Sharma">Rohit Sharma</keyword> to play at his customary No 4 spot, a role where he has flourished for Mumbai Indians. Uthappa vanished from the Indian team almost as spectacularly as he had announced his arrival in 2006. His one-day debut came in the same series as <keyword id="14587" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Suresh-Raina">Suresh Raina</keyword>'s. In <keyword id="6354267" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Sachin-Tendulkar">Sachin Tendulkar</keyword> and Sourav Ganguly's absence, Uthappa had made himself a regular in the side so much so that he went on to secure a place in the 2007 World Cup. 

	A year later, Uthappa was dumped out of the side following a inconsistent run and amid stories of arrogance and carelessness. He last played for India in a T20 game two years ago. Karnataka, his domestic team, won the treble of the Ranji Trophy, the Irani Cup and the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season, all of which Uthappa was a part of. He has spoken at length about bringing clarity to his batting, freeing up his mind for the early overs where he can capitalise.
 

	"The ball was coming on well in the second innings and even the dew made batting easy," Uthappa said after clubbing a 39-ball 67 in the defeat of Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday night. "I just wanted to play on the merit of the ball. When you play T20 cricket, you lose shape when you hit the ball, so that's where I have worked to keep my shape while hitting the ball."
 Not losing shape was his way of emphasising that he hasn't been trying to hit the ball hard. At the Eden Gardens he caressed rather than creamed through the offside; the shots through the leg side were merely flicked and yet travelled to the boundary as though they were bludgeoned, a far cry from the Uthappa who would walk down the pitch and flat-bat <keyword id="11023" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Brett-Lee">Brett Lee</keyword> over the straight boundary. 

	That is not to say Uthappa has rid himself of all the flaws that plagued his game when he first arrived. In almost all his seven innings at the top of the order, fielders have dropped catches, offering him a second chance. Against CSK, two outside edges were dropped. Uthappa still likes to drive on the rise, and the swinging ball has troubled him. However, he has made the second chances count.
 

	A three-ODI window, though, may just be the second chance Uthappa has been waiting for.

IPL: Uthappa Maximises Second Chance

You can help me make a decision since I am caught between two emotions. Should I laugh or cry? 
 Before you ask me why, let me tell you that a couple of questions have been dominating the mind from the time the <keyword id="81008" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Board-of-Control-for-Cricket-in-India">Board of Control for Cricket in India</keyword> (<keyword id="6354756" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="BCCI">BCCI</keyword>) made changes to the <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/teams/india/4001/home">Indian team's </a>coaching staff and sparked the laugh-or-cry debate in my mind. 
 
In the first place, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/news/England-vs-India-2014-Ravi-Shastri-to-be-in-charge-of-Indian-team-for-England-ODIs/articleshow/40390445.cms">installing </a>former India allrounder <keyword id="19692" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ravi-Shastri">Ravi Shastri</keyword> as Director of the Indian team and sidelining the bowling and fielding coaches, Joe Dawes and Trevor Penny respectively, ahead of the limited-over series against England is an attempt to pull wool over our eyes rather than balm to hearts and souls wounded by dismal showing in three successive Tests. 
 
It is no secret that the Indian limited-overs team is more competitive than the Test team has been for a while now, especially in overseas series. Surely, no one needs reminding that <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ms-dhoni/4001/4057">Mahendra Singh Dhoni's</a> team has won six and lost 14 of 28 overseas Tests. Even more surely, it is the Test side that is in greater need of guidance than the squad that plays white-ball cricket. 
 Since batsmen M Vijay, <keyword id="13839" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gautam-Gambhir">Gautam Gambhir</keyword> and <keyword id="75027" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cheteshwar-Pujara">Cheteshwar Pujara</keyword>, pace bowlers <keyword id="11685" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ishant-Sharma">Ishant Sharma</keyword>, Pankaj Singh and <keyword id="6370607" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Varun-Aaron">Varun Aaron</keyword> as well as reserve wicketkeepers Wriddhiman Saha and Naman Ojha have returned home ahead of the ODIs, and a fresh crew has flown in, it will be unfair to compare the work of the coaches who have been given a break with that of the new staff. 
 
Besides this <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/news/India-vs-England-ODI-series-My-job-is-to-find-out-what-went-wrong-and-file-a-report-says-Ravi-Shastri/articleshow/40492231.cms">clumsy attempt</a> to pull wool over the eyes of fans of Test cricket, the appointment of <keyword id="945851" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Premier-League-Governing-Council">Indian Premier League Governing Council</keyword> member Shastri as Director of the Indian team and let him pick coaching staff for the ODI team in England comes across as a classic case of not looking beyond the BCCI's favourite child, <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> and an erstwhile favourite, the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Assistant coach Sanjay Bangar and fielding coach R Sridhar both earned their place in the spotlight thanks to the run of <keyword id="13883" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kings-XI-Punjab">Kings XI Punjab</keyword> in IPL 2014 while B Arun, ostensibly the bowling coach now, has been with the NCA for many years now. Of course, Sridhar has also been in the NCA and, like Arun, worked with junior India teams. 
 
If critics of the IPL have blamed the inadequate technique of the Indian batsmen against the swinging and seaming cricket ball on IPL, its proponents have cited improved fielding - not slip catching, for sure - standards as a result of the IPL. It does look like everyone, critic and defendant alike, have come to regard the IPL as the be all and end all of Indian cricket. 
 
Shastri's interview with ESPNcricinfo's Nagraj Gollapudi – "I had no reservations about the job. I insisted on the coaching staff I wanted. I went (for domestic Indian coaches) because I felt they can contribute," he said – is a confirmation that the BCCI and its contracted commentators do not pay attention to first-class cricket in the country. 
 Karnataka coach J <keyword id="26593" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arun-Kumar">Arun Kumar</keyword> would surely have done something right for the team to win not only the Ranji Trophy after 15 years but also the Irani Cup and Vijay Hazare Trophy titles in 2013-14, a rare hat-trick of titles in a season. Does his missing out on being with an IPL team have anything to do with his not landing an assignment with any Indian team? 
 
The IPL can run on its own steam and does not need any molly-coddling from the BCCI, except to ensure that it is run in a transparent manner and stays clean. These attempts to prop up the IPL as only a harbinger of good cricket because it lets domestic players rub shoulders with international stars are little more than dramatic. 
 
Perhaps the real solution lies in ensuring that the Test players do not show up in domestic cricket only sporadically. As a Ranji Trophy star pointed out, those who are making so much noise about the quality of pitches in domestic cricket have not been looking at the tracks in Ranji Trophy where seam and swing bowlers pose severe challenges to batsmen. Is there no cricket beyond the IPL? Are there no coaches beyond NCA?

BCCI Forgets That There Is More To Indian Cricket Than Just IPL

The Indian team led by <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ms-dhoni/4001/4057">MS Dhoni</a> to contest the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007 went from being rank outsiders - the oldest player of that squad was Ajit Agarkar at 29 and there were nine under the age of 25 - but ended up winning the trophy to change the landscape of world cricket. 
 
On the seventh anniversary of India's glorious five-run win, gocricket.com casts an eye on the XI that took the field on that memorable day of September 24, 2007, when they beat Pakistan in Johannesburg to lift the trophy, and how their international careers panned out since. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/gautam-gambhir/4001/4043">Gautam Gambhir</a> 
 
The left-hand top-order batsman from Delhi used the 2007 World Twenty20 to pitchfork himself back into Test plans, scoring 227 runs in the tournament with a best of 75 in the final. His first Test since December 2005 came a few months after the World Twenty20, and by mid-2008 Gambhir was chosen as opening partner to Virender Sehwag. Gambhir’s Test and ODI careers were successful until early 2013, when he was axed from all formats following a prolonged slump. He last played an ODI in January 27 and was handed a Test recall this summer in England, but 25 runs in four innings could have closed the curtains on his career. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/yusuf-pathan/4001/4096">Yusuf Pathan</a> 
 The older Pathan brother was handed a debut in the 2007 World Twenty20 final, as opener alongside Gambhir, and was a common feature in India's ODI and T20 teams until early 2012. He enjoyed much success with <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword> in the <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> and has won two titles with Kolkata Knight Riders. Yusuf, 31, played 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is for India. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/robin-uthappa/4001/4093">Robin Uthappa</a> 
 
Uthappa had an amazing run in the 2014 IPL, scoring 660 runs, which was the most runs scored by an Indian batsman in a single edition of the tournament. That earned him a recall to India's ODI squad after six years, but an average tour of Bangladesh has again sidelined him, though he did lead India A in Australia this summer. On the domestic front, Uthappa had a strong 2013-14 season, scoring 374 runs in five Ranji Trophy games for Karnataka and 538 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/yuvraj-singh/4001/4021">Yuvraj Singh</a> 
 Dropped from the ODI team after a poor tour of South Africa in December, Yuvraj last played for India in the ICC World Twenty20 in April, where he managed just one half-century in five innings and was widely criticised for his go-slow innings in the final against Sri Lanka. A decent IPL followed for <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword> (376 runs, five wickets) but it wasn't enough to earn Yuvraj a place in India's ODI squad for Bangladesh or India. Have we seen the last of the Player of the Tournament in the 2011 World Cup? 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ms-dhoni/4001/4057">MS Dhoni</a> 
 Undoubtedly the biggest gainer from 2007. Given the captaincy of the T20 side without any domestic leadership experience, Dhoni led the side to glory and the rest, as they say, is history. He has since captained India to the 50-over World Cup and No 1 in Tests, apart from enhancing his reputation as arguably the best limited-overs finishers. Dhoni's success with IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings - they have won two IPL titles as well as the <keyword id="56308" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Champions-League-Twenty20">Champions League Twenty20</keyword> - has helped him become the richest cricketer around. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/rohit-sharma/4001/4095">Rohit Sharma</a> 
 
Rohit made his T20I debut at the age of 20 during the 2007 tournament, after getting an ODI call a couple months earlier, but the talent shown at a young age has not fully been realised. He has been in and out of all three formats for India, despite becoming the third batsman to score an ODI double-century. Rohit, now 27, still has time on his side to prove that he belongs at Test level. Looks a certainty to tour Australia and New Zealand, injury aside, for next year's World Cup. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/irfan-pathan/4001/4048">Irfan Pathan</a> 
 
With Yuvraj, probably the second-most naturally talented Indian cricketer of the last decade. But like Rohit, the allrounder from Baroda has not lived up to the huge expectations. Irfan was Man of the Match in the 2007 World Twenty20 final but has since played only 16 T20Is, the last of which came in October 2012. With his pace dropping and a series of injuries taking their toll, Irfan has been relegated to domestic cricket and the IPL, but recently stated that he'll be back in India blue. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/harbhajan-singh/4001/4008">Harbhajan Singh</a> 
 
India's No 1 spinner in 2007 (he took seven wickets at the tournament), Harbhajan is today looking for way back into India's plans. The veteran offspinner, who has 413 wickets from 101 Tests, is currently out of the Indian squad. The 33-year-old last represented India in a Test match a year ago, while in ODIs his last match was in July 2011. His last T20I was in September 2012. 
 
<keyword id="111751" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Joginder-Sharma">Joginder Sharma</keyword> 
 Who can forget Joginder for his last over against Pakistan in the final? Two evenings after he was given the final over and dismissed <keyword id="6377175" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Michael-Hussey">Michael Hussey</keyword> and Brett Lee to clinch India passage into the final of the World Twenty20, Joginder was again entrusted with the last six balls with Pakistan needing 13 runs to win. A wide and a six later, Joginder created history. Cruelly, that was the last time Joginder represented India. He has since plied his trade for Haryana, successfully overcoming a life-threatening injury to make a return for his state. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/sreesanth/4001/4088">S Sreesanth</a> 
 A sad tale of a real talent gone astray. The Kerala fast bowler, who bowled some telling spells in South Africa, was handed a life ban by the <keyword id="6354756" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="BCCI">BCCI</keyword> last year for his alleged involvement in spot-fixing during the IPL, though he insists he was totally honest and non-corrupt. An international career that lasted just 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20Is seems one truly unfulfilled for arguably the most naturally skilled Indian fast bowler to emerge since Zaheer Khan. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/rp-singh/4001/4061">RP Singh</a> 
 
The left-arm seamer from Uttar Pradesh played a huge role in India's success in South Africa with 12 wickets at an economy rate of 6.33, with his spells against South Africa and Pakistan being the best he's bowled in Twenty20. A couple successful IPL seasons hinted at much more after RP struggled with injuries and form, but he has not played for India since he was shockingly recalled for a Test in England when holidaying in Miami. RP remains a central figure for UP in domestic cricket.

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