First Test India vs Australia Day-5: India won by 8 wickets

On the final day of first test, India defeated Australia by 8 wickets. Indian captain M.S. Dhoni was announced Man of the Match for his brilliant double hundred. Starting the day, last Australian pair could only manage to add 9 more runs to the total as they got bowled for 241. Australia set the target of 50 runs in front of India. India achieved it with 8 wickets still in hand. Australians failed to tackle Indian spinners. They need to come up with some strategy if they want to bounce back in the next match.

India 2nd Innings (Source-YouTube)

First Test India vs Australia, Day-4 India inch towards Victory

India managed to reach score of 572 thanks to Indian skipper M.S.Dhoni who played tremendous innings of  224. he got fair support from Bhuvneshwar Kumar who looked good through his small innings of 38 runs. India got a significant lead of 192 runs. Australians in their 2nd innings found themselves struggling in front of Indian spinners. Aussies failed to make partnerships. they were trapped by Indian bowlers. Ashwin bowled brilliantly in 2nd innings picking 5 wickets. At one time Australia were 175 for 9 and were under fear of innings loss. but Henriques stood strong with Lyon and both added 57 runs for last wicket partnership and ended up the day at 232 for 9. Australia got a lead of 40 runs. At the end of day 4, India seems inch towards victory with superb bowling performance.

First Test India vs Australia, Day-3

Tendulkar and Kohli Started off the day in style. but Tendulkar was unfortunate as he could not turn his tremendous innings into a hundred. He was bowled by N. Lyon on 81. Kohli was joined by Indian Skipper M.S. Dhoni after dismissal of Tendulkar. They both played well and added 128 runs for 5th wicket partnership in a quick time. Kohli completed his 4th test hundred, but soon cought by Starc off Lyon's bowling. M.S. Dhoni got good support from Bhuvneshwar kumar and completed his first double hundred in test cricket. He scored runs in every part of the field. Australian bowlers looked helpless in front of him. He became first Keeper to score double hundred in test cricket for india. India were 515 for 8 at the end of the 3rd day leading Australia by 135 runs.

Double Hundred by M.S. Dhoni ( Source - YouTube )

First Test India vs Australia, Day-2

Starting from 316 for 7, Aussies managed to reach total of 380. Captain Michael Clarke scored 130. India experienced bad start as once again openers failed to score. They were back in pavilion for total of 12. After that Tendulkar and Pujara took the charge of indian innings. Tendulkar was looking in tremendous touch. He became the second highest run scorer against Australia in test Cricket after England's Jack Hobbs. Pujara played well for his 44 but failed to convert it into a big score as he was bowled by Pattinson. Virat Kohli came to the crease after Pujara's dismissal. He along with Tendulkar played well through out the day. India were 182 for 3 at stumps.

First Test India vs Australia, Day-1

First test matches between India and Australia began today. After losing the toss, India were put to bowl first. Indian Skipper M.S. Dhoni showed his brilliant captaincy skills by putting spinners to bowl early in the innings and it worked out for him. R. Ashwin bowled extraordinarily as he picked 6 wickets for just 88 runs. At one moment Australia seemed to be helpless in front of Ashwin, but thanks to Australian Skipper Michael Clarke as he scored his 23rd Test ton and team ended the day with a respectable total of 316 for loss of 7 wickets.

Ashwin's Performance ( Source- YouTube )

THE GAME IS ON - India ready to take on Australia

Finally long wait is over as Aussies arrived in India for Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It is going to be an exciting competition as two rivals are going to confront each other. India need to  work really hard if they want to win this contest because Australian team is in good form. Both teams got strong batting line up so it is going to be Australian fast bowlers versus Indian Spinners. First test is going to start on 22nd feb at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. I am feeling very excited about this competition and i hope it's going to be a tough competition for both the teams and better one will team. The schedule for the series is as follows :

Feb-2013
Fri 22 - Tue 26 04:00 GMT, 09:30 local	1st Test - India vs Australia MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Mar-2013
Sat 02 - Wed 06 04:00 GMT, 09:30 local	2nd Test - India vs Australia Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Thu 14 - Mon 18 04:00 GMT, 09:30 local	3rd Test - India vs Australia Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Chandigarh
Fri 22 - Tue 26 04:00 GMT, 09:30 local	4th Test - India vs Australia Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi

Source - www.Cricinfo.com

Indian Premier League (IPL) - Boon for Indian Cricket

Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional tournament for Twenty20 Cricket matches started in 2008. It is controlled by Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI). In the beginning year 9 teams participated in it. In a match, teams can only play with 4 foreign players and rest of the players must be domestic players.

Though IPL had to face some criticism regarding bad conduct of players in after match parties and Cricketers are focusing more on IPL as compared to National Team as it pays them much more in short interval of time, IPL is providing domestic talent a stage to come forward and demonstrate their skills in this short format of game. Players from different countries play together and interact. More importantly, Youngsters get exposure to play at world class level with world class experienced players. Every year a lots of youngster rise from IPL and play for National team. In my opinion, IPL is promising a bright future for Indian Cricket.