Who will win the first test between India and South Africa??

       As the first match progresses, it seems like the match will get a result which is favor to anyone of the sides.
       At the current stage of day two, India is in the driver seat. With the help of Kholi's magnificent century team India managed to put 280 runs on the board.
       On their own soil the South African team have been batting since earlier this morning. They started their innings on a confident note. But they lost the wicket of Alviro Pieterson early. But the partnership between Skipper Smith and Hasim Amla helped South Africa to cross 100 runs mark.
       Earlier Ashwin dropped a catch when Smith was on 19. Smith used this opportunity well as he reached half century.
       On 130 runs, South Africa lost three quick wickets of Amla, Kallis, Smith. After that South Africa lost two more wickets.
       If they manage to have one good partnership, they may put 250-300 runs in the board in the first innings.
     

      With this score India will start to play. As the match has progressed two days already the pitch may assist batsmen later. So India may try to get 400-500 runs in the second innings.
      With a target of around 450 runs South Africa may begin to play their second innings in the last session of day four. If they manage to have some good partnerships in earlies of their second innings they will try to chase the target. Or if they lose some wickets earlier India will try to wrap up the South African batsmen in the second innings.
      In the current stage both the teams have the balanced chances. So we have to wait until the day five.

After some disappointment in Oneday series India has began the first test on a good note..!!

       Becoming the first man to occupy the No. 4 spot graced by Sachin Tendulkar for years, Kohli fought fire with nerves of steel before unleashing his own brand of daredevilry as India finally turned up on this tour. And by the time the umpires called time on Day One, India were on a healthy 255/5.
 The one big mistake he committed on the day was the muddled calling that led to the run-out of Cheteshwar Pujara, snapping an 89-run stand that had revived India after the openers departed early. India were 24 for 2 then and memories of previous overseas collapses came rushing back.

Kohli's first runs on a track where the bounce was more of a worry than the lateral movement was an authoritative pull for four off Jacques Kallis. He was troubled early on by South Africa's best bowler of the day, Morne Morkel, who had Kohli top-edging and then inside-edging off successive deliveries. After that, though, Kohli was completely in control.

In the first hour after lunch, South Africa employed a strategy that involved keeping the ball in the channel outside off and mixing it up with the odd short delivery. Neither the attempts to play on the batsmen's patience nor the attempts to unsettle them with the rising delivery worked as Kohli and Pujara kept their calm and wore down the pacers.

While the weaker links in the South African attack came in for the most stick, Kohli also went after Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander when they strayed from their usual discipline. A majority of his runs came square of the wicket, with several eye-catching pulls and drives past point and cover.

The pressure was building after tea as South Africa strung together a bunch of maidens with Kohli in the 90s. Perhaps influenced by the flagging over-rate, Graeme Smith turned to JP Duminy who, like Imran Tahir, struggled to land the ball and Kohli picked off the nine runs he needed to reach a landmark century.

Pujara was the other batsman whose technique and temperament promised big runs, and after surviving a couple of close calls early, he settled in. For two hours, with Kohli for company, he kept South Africa at bay. South Africa had turned to the erratic Tahir for a breakthrough, and India finally thought they had some relief, only for the mix-up with Kohli resulting in Pujara's run-out.

The other batsmen didn't adjust their game to the conditions as well. M Vijay and Rohit Sharma both went for over-ambitious drives away from their body, only to nick behind to undo the good work they had done in getting their eye in.

The other wicket was a fast bowler's dream. Steyn normally relies on his late and natural out swing, but sensing the surface wasn't providing him enough, he unleashed a string of bouncers against Shikhar Dhawan in the ninth over. Dhawan, never shy of the aggressive stroke, kept going for his shots as Steyn banged it in short four times in a row; the first went for an unconvincing boundary towards backward square leg, the next flew off the handle towards gully, the third was left down the leg side before an attempted hook landed safely in the hands of fine leg. Steyn's chainsaw celebration showed how thrilled he was at the perfectly executed plan.

It wasn't perfect planning but a loose stroke that ended Kohli's innings midway through the final session, as he chipped Kallis to cover on 119. Had he still been in the middle at stumps, it would have definitely been India's day.

There were heartening signs for India even after his exit though, as Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni played out the final hour in fading light without too many alarms. After a difficult debut in Delhi against Australia early this year, Rahane had a long wait to get another look-in, and he didn't look out of place as he kept out everything South Africa threw at him in an extended final session.

More of the same tomorrow morning and India will end on a score that will challenge South Africa's mighty batting line-up.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's elder brother is Samajwadi Party candidate from Ranchi

Narendra Singh Dhoni, the elder brother of Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will contest from the Ranchi Lok Sabha seat on a Samajwadi Party ticket in the 2014 general elections.

"The SP's Central Committee has announced Narendra Singh Dhoni's candidature from the Ranchi LS seat," the party's Jharkhand affairs in-charge and ex-MLC in the Uttar Pradesh bicameral, Kashinath Yadav, said on Wednesday.

Narendra Singh Dhoni, who recently joined the SP in Lucknow and was present at the press conference, said he had taken his family's consent before joining the party.

"Soon after joining the BJP in 2009, I left because the party did not know how to respect its workers. The SP respects both its leaders and workers," claimed the elder Dhoni.

Have you ever watched first ball of Mahendra singh dhoni?? Watch out here..!!

Why is India struggling in South Africa??

           In 2013, before the India's tour of South Africa, India had been under the tons of  accolades. Many legends from different countries told that my country needs this kind of captain, my country needs this kind of opening pair, my country needs this kind of middle order which Indian team have. 

          But now the situation is different. Indian team is under a huge criticism. Many people are saying that Indians are good at their own country only. They are also saying that India is not suitable for the first rank in ODI. Even the South African players are criticizing Indian players.

          The people who are criticizing India have to understand that India's been unbeatable in 2013. Only one series can't determine the strength of the India. Indian team is full of youngsters.They don't have much experience in playing in overseas conditions .So they need some time to settle in.

          And also India won the Champions trophy in bouncy track only. So we can't underestimate the team India. India can bounce back soon.

         

          One thing which is most concerned about Indian team is that the bowling attack of Indian team is very weak. Indian team have the bowlers who can swing the ball. But they don't have much pace in their bowling.That's the problem when it comes to the bouncy track.

          But batting line up is quite good.Top 3 batsmen of Indian batting line up are the leading run scorers of 2013. In first ODI  Rohit took 16 deliveries to make bat on the ball. But what Rohit did was right . Because

when facing the number one bowler in the world who is persisting with good line and length, it's not easy to play shots. Shikar should have stayed at the crease for some more time. Virat was trying to dominate against the bowlers.But he couldn't continue to do so as he got out early. Yuvi was completely mad. He dint do anything against this kind of bowling attack. Raina is continuously struggling this year. So he can be replaced with Pujara.

          

         Everyone expected that India would play well in 2nd ODI . But in 2nd ODI also the same has happened as in 1st ODI. India lost the match by a huge margin and so the series. So this series could be practice series for the Indian team for the upcoming test series. So we could expect some positive results from Indian batting line up in test series.

                                                                                              -Venkat

Has India got the stable opening pair??

             After the exclusion of Viru and Gauti due to successive failures India had been struggling to find a firm partnership. Selectors had tried many partnerships. But none of them had satisfied their expectations.

             

              Eventually they tried something new. The man who is known for his potential and continuous failures Rohit sharma is made to open with Shikar unexpectedly.Despite his consecutive failures in the warm up matches MSD didn't give up his confidence on Rohit.

         

            

                Generally all the teams will be struggling to manage the conditions in England except the host.But this time Indians are playing with ease.Generally the total runs of a team depends on the opening partnership. If the openers manage to get 100 runs then we can expect a decent score from the team.

     

              Now the new opening partnership that is the pair of Dhawan and Rohit has got the controlled aggression. They adapt themselves to the situation.They have some understanding between them.We still havn't seen any frustration between them.And also they are good in running between wickets.

              Rohit sharma is a good player of pull shots and he has ability to play the lofted shots.On the other hand Shikar is handy player of spin.So they look full of confidence on the field.

           

              And the main reason for their success as the openers is the lest right combination.This duo has the excessive ability to rotate the strike.Because its not easy for the bowler to bowl in the right areas when the left-right combination is in the field.

               This duo has started off well.People are expecting something a lot from this duo.Hope this partnership will last for some years and up to world cup as well. :) :)     

                                                                                                                  -venkat

What would be the best playing XI for India in Champions trophy??

             Amidst the controversies regarding IPL6 we are ready to feel the heat of the Champions trophy. As the topper of the ODI rankings India is in the position to prove what it is capable of. Many teams are getting into the tournament with the young bloods with the perspective of upcoming World cup.Nevertheless India has the talented youngsters who can modify themselves according to the situations.

             

             The problem which is being more concerned now is the selection of playing XI.Because Dinesh karthik is in sublime form and Rohit sharma was in massive form in IPL.But that delightful knock of Dinesh in first warm up match confirmed his present in playing XI.But Dhoni will not be ready to drop the talented batsman Rohit sharma.So the only possible choice is to drop Murali vijay and make Dinesh to open the innings along with Dhawan.Because we all know Dinesh karthik is a good opening batsman.

So this would not be really a bad choice.

                                             

            

           Here is my playing XI

                                     1.Dinesh Karthik

                                     2.Shikar Dhawan          

                                     3.Virat Kohli

                                     4.Rohit sharma

                                     5.Suresh Raina

                                     6.MS Dhoni(C & Wk)

                                     7.Sir Jadeja

                                     8.R Ashwin

                                     9.Buvaneshwar kumar

                                    10.Vinay Kumar

                                    11.Ishant sharma

            However the bowling department seems very week.But the impact of batting department will compensate that.So we could hope that India will bag the trophy..!! Al izz welllll.. :) :)