Top stories: Things that made news in the cricket world today

India move to second spot in the latest ICC T20I team rankings

• Ahead of the five-match T20I series against England, India, on Wednesday, moved to the second spot in the latest ICC T20I team rankings.
• The latest rise in T20Is means India are in top two of all three formats.
• Read more about the story

‘Bowling alone can’t be a criterion for selection’ – Varun Chakravarthy’s fitness questioned ahead of India’s T20Is against England

• Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) right-arm spin bowler Varun Chakravarthy is backed with some massive bad luck as the spinner has been ruled out of the five-match T20I series against England, starting from March 12 at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium.
• This is the second time that Varun will not join the Indian contingent despite earning his maiden call-up in T20Is.
• Read more about the story

Rishabh Pant needs to be given a long run at No.4: former selector Devang Gandhi

• Due to his excellent exploits with the willow in Test cricket this year, there is a very good chance that Pant will take the field against the England side in the first T20I starting on 12^th March 2021.
• Now, former selector of the Indian side, Devang Gandhi has stated that Pant should be given a long run in the side at the No.4 slot.
• Read more about the story

IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings invite two Sri Lankan bowlers to take part in training ahead of the season

• Nothing much went CSK’s way in last year’s competition as they struggled throughout.
• CSK have also invited two Sri Lankan bowlers to prepare well for IPL 2021.
• Read more about the story

Brilliant performance in 2006 was a reward from the Almighty after my conversion to Islam: Mohammad Yousuf

• Pakistan great Mohammad Yousuf has credited his spectacular performance in 2006 to his conversion to Islam a year before.
• He started playing in international cricket as Yousuf Youhana and was the fourth Christian after Wallis Mathias, Antao D’Souza and Duncan Sharpe to play for Pakistan.
• Read more about the story

We all know the benefits of the IPL: Jos Buttler

• Jos Buttler, the England wicketkeeper, lavished praises on the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• The 30-year-old said that the T20 tournament is beneficial, not only financially, but also from the viewpoint of gaining experience.
• Read more about the story

‘I want to buy a house for my family’ – Chetan Sakariya after bagging Rs 1.2 crore IPL contract

• Since its inception in 2008, the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) has served as a platform for a number of cricketers to turn their fortunes around.
• The latest player to enter IPL’s rags-to-riches club is Chetan Sakariya.
• Read more about the story

KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma are first choice opening partners for England T20Is, Shikhar Dhawan has to wait: Devang Gandhi

• Former Team India selector Devang Gandhi reckons that Shikhar Dhawan isn’t India’s first-choice opener anymore in the T20 format.
• The veteran believes that Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul would be the opening partners in the upcoming T20I series against England, starting March 12 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
• Read more about the story

‘I turned to Rahul Dravid and asked ‘who is this kid?’ – Sam Billings on his first impression of Rishabh Pant

• Rishabh Pant was a part of the India U19 squad in 2016 that ended as the runners up in the World Cup in Bangladesh.
• Sam Billings, the England cricketer, recalled an incident in the 2016 IPL where he got the first glimpses of Pant.
• Read more about the story

‘We are all available’ – Kevin Pietersen’s message to the national selectors after England Legends beat India Legends in the RSWS

• Kevin Pietersen, on Tuesday, turned back the clock with a scintillating knock in the ongoing Road Safety World Series as England Legends beat India Legends in a thriller in Raipur.
• Taking a cheeky dig at England’s humiliating 1-3 defeat in the recently-concluded Test series against India, Pietersen told the selectors he and other members of the England Legend squad are still available for selection.
• Read more about the story