Search the Community

The Indian cricket team has suffered a huge blow as their explosive batsman at the opening spot, veteran Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out for the rest of the ICC World Cup 2019 with a fractured thumb. Although the southpaw struggled during Team India's warm up game against Bangladesh and the first official game against South Africa, Dhawan seemed to have found his mojo back against Aaron Finch's Australia. Having scored himself a massive 117-run innings despite getting a fractured thumb earlier in the game thanks to a Pat Cummins bouncer, the cricketer not only won the 'Man of the Match' award but also spearheaded the Men in Blue into winning one of the more challenging matches for the team during the ongoing world championship. Being ruled out of just a couple of matches in the initial days of the injury, Dhawan was seen sweating it out in the gym despite having a plastered thumb, with the aim of being 'ready to go' as soon as he is healed and make big runs for his nation. You can make these situations your nightmare or use it an opportunity to bounce back. ð Thank you for all the recovery messages from everyone. ð pic.twitter.com/mo86BMQdDA — Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) June 14, 2019 Unfortunately, due to a fracture being detected at the base of Dhawan's left thumb which will be in a cast for at least another month, the athlete is out of the World Cup . View this post on Instagram Official Announcement ð¢ð¢ @shikhardofficial ruled out of the World Cup ðð #TeamIndia #CWC19 A post shared by Team India (@indiancricketteam) on Jun 19, 2019 at 4:39am PDT Having said that, the team management of the Bleed Blue army were quick to officially announce youngblood Rishabh Pant as a replacement for the veteran in the Indian cricket squad just a couple of hours since Dhawan's oust was made public. View this post on Instagram An official request has been made to the ICC to replace Shikhar with @rishabpant #TeamIndia #CWC19 A post shared by Team India (@indiancricketteam) on Jun 19, 2019 at 5:34am PDT The team has decided to replace one lefty with another one. While KL Rahul will be opening alongside Rohit Sharma, Pant's role as a batsman is expected to take place at the highly controversial fourth spot of the Indian batting order. Controversial because of the level of talent that was competing for that spot. With masterful players like Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu whose sturdy nature when it comes to the 50-over format being overlooked, it was Pant's 'single-handedly-six-hitting' explosive batting style that seems to have attracted the selectors going further on this unbeaten World Cup 2019 journey. While Dinesh Karthik is still on the Indian roster (but not in the playing XI), Pant's call might just have brought the biggest heartbreak for Rayudu, who was initially dropped from the team to be replaced with a newcomer like Vijay Shankar. The fans of Indian cricket therefore tried their best to have an insight about Rayudu's feelings towards the latest developments. This is how they reacted on Twitter: #ShikharDhawan Reaction of ambati rayudu after the selection of rishabh pant pic.twitter.com/JY6Nx1CuLT — बहà¥à¤¤ पà¥à¤¸à¤¾ हॠà¤à¤ªà¤¨à¥ पास (@gareebnhiheapun) June 19, 2019 Ambati Rayudu just ordered 4D glasses to watch Rishabh Pant. #TeamIndia — Yash Sarvaiya (@blanketfight11) June 19, 2019 Rishabh Pant and Ambati Rayudu right now ð#CWC19 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/qBeiHfvLtQ — शà¥à¤¤à¤¾à¤¨ à¤à¤®à¤°à¥à¤à¤¾ (@dubeyavish) June 11, 2019 After #ShikharDhawan injury... Rayudu: I Can Replace Rishabh Pant: pic.twitter.com/otAHgS579r — Engineer_हà¥à¤ (@black_snake10) June 11, 2019 After #RishabhPant replacing #ShikharDhawan in #CWC19 Ambati Rayudu be like: pic.twitter.com/WT8Ef4EUW4 — Mihir (@spndthriftbniya) June 19, 2019 When Rishabh Pant Gets That Most Important 3G Call From BCCI And Not Amabati Rayudu ð#CWC19 #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/Ls3KfZ68cO — Dr. Khushboo 𤭠(@khushi_kadri2) June 12, 2019 #shikhardhawan out of #CWC19 , Rishabh Pant will take his place . Meanwhile #rayudu to bcci : pic.twitter.com/rHAw8fyN6L — SatyaNarayana Perapu (@Satya_perapu) June 19, 2019 ICC World Cup 2019: Rishabh Pant to fly out as standby for Shikhar Dhawan | Cricket News - Times of India Rayudu be like :~#NZvIND #INDvNZ #CWC19 https://t.co/v1q7LRkvKi pic.twitter.com/6kY8YW8XOz — मà¤à¤¾_kiya (@maza_kiya) June 12, 2019

As the World Cup approaches, tension for team India continues to rise. Just when we took a breather with Hardik Pandya coming back to the squad, a fresh development is now knocking on the doors of the Men in Blue, this time, aiming at prospected number 4 positioner, Ambati Rayudu. Two weeks ago, Rayudu was suspected to have an illegal bowling action in the first ODI against Australia, following which he was asked to go under a test within 14 days while being allowed to bowl. Many compared his action to that of the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan, but we all know it was more of a 'Bhatta' bowling action, rather than a legitimate one. Turns out, the 33-year-old opted against the test, following which he was suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect. In a statement, the ICC wrote: “The player elected not to submit to a test of his bowling action within the stipulated period of 14 days of being reported for a suspect action, and therefore he has been suspended with immediate effect. The suspension will remain in place until he is tested, and can demonstrate he is able to bowl with a legal action.” Although he can still bowl in domestic matches, that has to be approved by the BCCI first. However, the big question right now is whether Rayudu is the correct choice for the World Cup? And if not him, then who? © AP If removed from the squad, the Indian batting line up will certainly miss Rayudu in the middle-order, as the Andhra lad is capable of batting anywhere as per the match situation.

During ODI match one of three between India and Australia, our boys were taken aback by the bowling of the first-timer Jason Behrendorff, who had earlier joked about taking a wicket in his first ODI over and eventually realised it by sending Shikhar Dhawan packing for an LBW in his first over itself. However, Behrendorff wasn't the only bowler who took the world by surprise that day. Making a comeback to the Indian roster for the ODI series Down Under, the 33-year-old, Ambati Rayudu was given two overs to bowl during India's fielding, in which Rayudu gave up 13 runs without any extras or wickets. Sounds like any other average rotational bowler, right? But from the first ball Rayudu delivered, there was something seemingly 'off' about his bowling action which caught umpires Michael Gough's and Richard Kettleborough's attention almost instantly. Even the Aussie commentators found themselves being amazed by the right-arm bowler's action and promptly compared it to that of the Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan. However, after the match got over, the match officials' report to the Indian staffers showed concerns about the off-spinner's bowling action. BREAKING NEWS: India's Ambati Rayudu has been reported for a suspect bowling action after the first #AUSvIND ODI. He is to undergo testing within 14 days. â¡ï¸ https://t.co/oYme344WaJ pic.twitter.com/nJWMTkzTCb — ICC (@ICC) January 13, 2019 "Rayudu's bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, ODIs and T20Is,” reads an ICC statement. “He is required to undergo testing within 14 days, and, during this period, Rayudu is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.” There seems of be a non-spoken agreement amongst the cricketing fans from all over the world towards the illegality of Rayudu's bowling action: I am not surprised, he looked like thrown darts even on the small highliht package where I saw him bowl 3 ballsð Kohli needs to have Jadhav in playing 11, he is a stroong finisher and good 6th bowlerð — anuradha_dighe (@anuradha_dighe) January 13, 2019 Yeah. Had a eerie feeling that this was on the cards when he was bowling & his action was being shown in slow-mo, front-on. To the naked eye, it was clear that not all was Ok with the arm. — Moinak Das (@d_moinak) January 13, 2019 I thought it, when he was bowling, that it seems to be illegal — Mandvee Mishra (@im_mandvee) January 13, 2019 According to the 'Laws of Cricket' which was drafted in 1744, a bowler is not to extend his bowling arm during a delivery and in order to gain velocity, he or she must only use the rotation of their shoulder. Throwing the ball is not allowed and will be considered a no ball if the umpire deems it illegal.