Yearender 2021: Kohli not mincing phrases, Rahane’s composure and Ashwin’s retort

In sport, as in life, there are occasions inside occasions. Moments that form the second of glory or moments that keep within the thoughts past the runs, wickets, objectives and trophies. Moments which are extra imperishable than numbers. As a breathless 12 months of sport ends, and one other sporting 12 months stressed to unfold, The Indian Express appears again at 2021.
Ashwin’s retort to Paine’s sledging
Tim Paine and R Ashwin. (Courtesy: Twitter)
‘Can’t wait to get you to the Gabba,” Tim Paine stated to R Ashwin, who was batting with a sore and strapped again. At the opposite finish was an injured Hanuma Vihari battling a hamstring harm. The duo put collectively a valiant, unbeaten partnership of 62 runs off 256 balls to safe a draw within the Sydney Test.
Paine’s Sydney sledge backfired spectacularly at Gaba as Rishabh Pant channeled his interior Ben Stokes to scare the daylights out of the Australians along with his breakthrough strokeplay, tearing down the Gabba fortress after 33 years of Australian invincibility. India retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-1 collection triumph.

So #TimPaine took critically 🤣🫂#Farmlaws #MessageOfShriNanakDevji #InternationalMensDay #INDvsNZ #IndiraGandhi #சாதிசாக்கடை_ஸ்டாலின் #கார்த்திகைதீபம் #GuruNanakJayanti #cummins #Pant #RohitSharma #NZvsIND #SpiderManNoWayHome #Ashwin #Paine pic.twitter.com/H7IA3B47ji
— Prabath_ (@Prabath15765433) November 19, 2021
The end result had the potential to finish Tim Paine’s reign as Australia captain, having misplaced back-to-back house collection towards India. But, apparently, it did show to be Paine’s final Test match as Australia skipper as he stepped down from the captaincy simply earlier than the Ashes over the sexually express messages he despatched to a feminine colleague three years in the past.
Rahane’s zen-like composure
India have a good time their win at Gabba. (AP)
After being shot out for a file low rating of 36 of their second innings within the pink-ball Test at Adelaide, the staff underneath Ajinkya Rahane confirmed resilience to bounce again, effecting a unprecedented turnaround to win the four-match collection 2-1.
In the closing phases of the Gabba Test, when Rishabh Pant was chopping, driving, paddle-sweeping bowlers within the center, an expressionless Ajinkya Rahane was sitting close to the dressing room with zen-like composure, proof against all of the drama on the bottom. Even his deputy Rohit Sharma, sitting subsequent to him was animated, every time Pant was going for the massive pictures. The collection shall be remembered for ages for the comeback win and the resilience the staff confirmed underneath stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane.
Pant’s outrageous reverse sweep off James Anderson
Rishabh Pant in complete management whereas making an attempt the shot. (Courtesy: Twitter)
James Anderson would by no means have thought that somebody would play a reverse sweep off his bowling in Test Cricket. Anderson took the second new ball, Rishabh Pant instantly charged down the pitch and hit him over mid-off for one 4. Next ball, he slapped him by way of cowl for an additional boundary after which – finest and most breathtaking one but – hit him for a reverse flick over the slips for a 3rd. The wicket-keeper batter pulled off one thing related within the T20I collection towards England. This time he used the reverse-scoop to hit a six off the bowling of Jofra Archer.

Reverse Sweep by Pant in Anderson bowling 😭😂#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Qm4zZyQK7E
— COC (@Controversyy3) March 5, 2021
Steve Smith turning into the stand-in captain
Steve Smith led his staff within the Ashes. (Courtesy: AP)
Australia captain Pat Cummins was dominated out of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide after turning into a detailed contact of a constructive coronavirus case. The dramatic growth earlier than the pink-ball Test paved the best way for Steve Smith to steer Australia for the primary time since he resigned as captain after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. He was banned from worldwide cricket for 12 months.
Steve Smith’s return to management has obtained a blended response from the previous cricketers. Former England skipper Michael Atherton instructed SEN Test Cricket, “I think once you’ve been punished and done your time in any reasonable society, there must be a chance for people to come again.”
On the opposite hand, legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne is towards Steve Smith returning to a management place contemplating his monitor file.
“They won’t make Steve Smith captain; they can’t do that; I wouldn’t have thought they’ll do that. I think how can a captain on his watch let Sandpaper Gate happen. It doesn’t make any sense to me whatsoever,” Warne instructed foxsports.com.au.
Rizwan again on subject after being within the ICU
Mohammad Rizwan within the ICU. (File)
A few days earlier than the essential semifinal conflict towards Australia within the ICC T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s wicket-keeper opener Mohammad Rizwan was admitted within the ICU after he complained of extreme chest ache.
Going into the match, Rizwan was not 100 per cent, however managed to attain 67 in 52 balls, getting out solely within the 18th over, serving to Pakistan to succeed in 4-176. He returned to maintain the wickets and took a pointy catch of the in-form Australian opener David Warner, who gave the impression to be working away with the sport. However, Rizwan’s heroics weren’t sufficient as Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis fought again to get Australia house with an over to spare.
Matthew Hayden, who was Pakistan’s batting guide, hailed opener Mohammad Rizwan as a ‘warrior.’ Hayden stated: “Rizwan was in the hospital a night ago, suffering from a bronchitis condition, but this is a warrior… He has great courage.”
Chris Gayle struggling to make an affect in a World Cup
Chris Gayle struggled to make an affect within the T20 World Cup held in UAE. (Courtesy: AP)
During West Indies’ final match towards Australia, Gayle dragged Pat Cummins onto his stumps for 15; he smiled, saluted the gang, and shared an embrace with Dwayne Bravo, who confirmed his retirement.
Gayle, who has made T20 cricket his area of interest, was struggling all through the T20 World Cup. The hard-hitting Jamaican has scored solely 45 runs and took one wicket along with his off-spin in 5 video games.

Chris Gayle thanks Mitch Marsh for his closing T20 International wicket 😂 #t20worldcup2021 pic.twitter.com/aGPKO8m8Si
— Steve Allen (@ScubaStv) November 6, 2021
Gayle’s place within the squad had been a supply of controversy again within the Caribbean, even earlier than the World Cup. He had hit just one T20 International half-century within the final 5 years.
However, nobody comes near his tally of 14,321 runs in 453 T20 matches, together with 1045 sixes and 22 centuries. The 42-year-old additionally holds the file for the quickest T20 century (30 balls) and highest particular person rating (175 not out from 66 balls), each set whereas taking part in for Royal Challengers Bangalore towards Pune Warriors in an Indian Premier League fixture in April 2013.
Chris Gayle’s worldwide retirement is but to be confirmed. “I’d love to play one more World Cup. But I don’t think they will allow me,” he stated after the match towards Australia.
Virat Kohli’s tweet about quitting T20I captaincy
Like his mentor MS Dhoni’s retirement publish on social media, Virat Kohli additionally selected a social media platform to make the announcement, paving the best way for cut up captaincy in Indian cricket. But Kohli’s tweet finally proved to be controversial.
Three months in the past, Virat Kohli introduced on Twitter that he would step down as India’s T20I captain after the T20 World Cup.“Understanding workload is a very important thing and considering my immense workload over the last 8-9 years playing all 3 formats and captaining regularly for last 5-6 years, I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian team in Test and ODI cricket,” Kohli wrote in his publish.

🇮🇳 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ds7okjhj9J
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) September 16, 2021
He added: “I have given my everything to the Team during my time as T20 Captain and I will continue to do so for the T20 Team as a batsman moving forward.”
While relinquishing T20I captaincy, Kohli had expressed his need to steer India in Tests and ODIs, going forward. But a few weeks in the past, Rohit Sharma changed Virat Kohli as India’s ODI captain. Unlike the T20I captaincy change, the place the announcement got here from Kohli, citing his workload, this was a BCCI choice to take away him as ODI skipper.
Virat Kohli had expressed his need to steer India in Tests and ODIs. (File Photo)
Kohli not mincing phrases
Before departing to South Africa for a three-match collection, India captain Virat Kohli’s eyeball-grabbing media convention has uncovered the present mess within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The Indian Test captain stated that he was by no means requested ‘not to quit T20 captaincy,’ opposite to what BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had stated to numerous media retailers.
Test captain was in a combative temper on the BCCI press convention, and he prevented the media supervisor from not stopping it. “I can see some more questions are popping up on chat,” he stated.
He was requested why he was eliminated as ODI skipper and in regards to the long-rumoured rift between him and new white-ball captain Rohit Sharma. Kohli gave detailed solutions to each. Kohli appeared keener than ever to talk his thoughts. Even if it has meant breaking away from de facto protocol. During the T20 World Cup, he got here out in sturdy defence of Mohammed Shami, regardless of the media supervisor attempting to defend him from the query in regards to the trolling the quick bowler had confronted after the loss towards Pakistan. “No, I will answer this one,” Kohli had stated then.
MS Dhoni punching the air after CSK’s IPL victory
MS Dhoni celebrates with the IPL trophy. (Courtesy: Indian Premier League)
MS Dhoni has been recognized to be inscrutable as he plots his staff’s progress on the sector, however he betrayed his feelings after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) received the Indian Premier League (IPL) title for the fourth time. Dhoni was seen punching within the air after his so-called ‘Dad’s Army’, written off after final season, received the IPL 2021.
In the top, it was an evening to recollect for CSK followers as Dhoni lived as much as his phrase on the finish of IPL 2020, the place he stated coming again sturdy is what this staff does. From their first-ever group stage elimination, to the title in 12 months, Dhoni and Co triumphed in type.

Fantastic FOUR! 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆
The @msdhoni-led @ChennaiIPL beat #KKR by 27 runs within the #VIVOIPL #Final & clinch their 4⃣th IPL title. 👏 👏 #CSKvKKR
A spherical of applause for @KKRiders, who’re the runners-up of the season. 👍 👍
Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/JOEYUSwYSt pic.twitter.com/PQGanwi3H3
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 15, 2021
Chennai, winners in 2010, 2011 and 2018, stay one of the profitable IPL franchises after five-time champions Mumbai Indians.
Ruthless Pakistan break India jinx
Pakistan thrashed India by 10 wickets. (Courtesy: AP)
Upsetting kind ebook, Pakistan thrashed India by 10 wickets, recording their first-ever World Cup win over arch-rivals. Before this recreation, Pakistan had by no means crushed India in a World Cup. Virat Kohli performed a captain’s knock of 57 to rescue India from a top-order wobble and assist them publish a aggressive 151-7.
His counterpart Babar mixed with Mohammad Rizwan to get Pakistan off to a flying begin and so they received with 13 balls to spare. Rizwan strong-armed to an unbeaten 79 off 55 balls. Azam was class personified in his 68 not out off 52 balls.The response from the Pakistan openers after the victory steered what it meant to them to interrupt then jinx. Rizwan restricted his celebration to a fist pump. Azam provided a silent prayer earlier than the entire squad joined for a staff huddle.