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

Virat Kohli class apart from counterparts: Mohammad Hafeez

• India have produced a number of legendary cricketers over the years, one of them is Delhi-born Virat Kohli, who has grown leaps and bounds as his career has passed the test of times.
• The 30-year-old batter has flourished in all the three forms of international cricket. Moreover, the bearded beast is currently International Cricket Council’s (ICC) number one ranked batsman in Test and ODI cricket.
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Ravi Shastri’s comments were childish and immature, says Gautam Gambhir

• Gautam Gambhir has been making the headlines since announcing his retirement from the game.
• He is never afraid to mince his words and criticised MS Dhoni‘s captaincy in 2012 recently.
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Stuart Broad supports Ben Stokes on ‘business class’ controversy

• England seamer Stuart Broad posted a tweet on Thursday about being at the receiving end of kindness from two of his special teammates while travelling during overseas tours.
• The tweet was a reply to that, a controversial one, of all-rounder Ben Stokes which clarified his statement on the ‘business class’ issue involving Indian captain Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma.
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ICC Chief Executive David Richardson picks the favourites to win the World Cup

• The ICC Cricket World Cup is fast approaching with England set to host the mega event starting from May 30. A total of ten teams will fight it out in the newest format for the first time.
• While the fans are ecstatic about the home side and India’s chances to win the coveted title, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson, being the South African, has backed the players from the rainbow nation to break the jinx of a World title in 2019.
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Reports: Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keech set to enter parenthood

• Back on November 30, 2016, Yuvraj Singh entered the wedlock with Hazel Keech, a Bollywood actress known for her role in Salman Khan-starrer Bodyguard released on August 31, 2011.
• Both have given serious couple goals to the aspiring lovebirds over the times. Back on November 2015, the couple took everyone by surprise after they exchanged rings in Bali.
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Bangladesh vs Windies: BCB names power-packed squad for T20I series

• After the Test and ODI series, Bangladesh are all set to lock horns with Windies in a three-match T20I series, which is scheduled to get underway on Monday, December 17.
• Even as Sylhet will play host to the first match, Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka will host the second and third T20I.
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Australia will lose series if they keep on playing with defensive mindset: Gautam Gambhir

• India defeated Australia in a low-scoring encounter by 31 runs in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval thus taking an unprecedented 1-0 lead in the ongoing four-Test series Down Under.
• After the match, the Aussies received heavy criticism for not being able to capitalize on the good start they got on day 1 as India crumbled to 127 for 6 but went on to score 250 runs in the innings.
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Lasith Malinga named Sri Lanka skipper for the ODIs and lone T20I against New Zealand

• Sri Lanka have come yet with yet another new captain for the upcoming limited-over series against New Zealand in January and it is Lasith Malinga.
• The former world champions are going through one of their leanest phases with consecutive losses at home over the last several months, even against opponents like Zimbabwe.
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PSL 2019: PCB announces schedule for the showpiece tournament

• The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), after a serious brainstorming, has finally come up with the schedule of the upcoming edition of their T20 leagues.
• The Pakistan Super League (PSL) will commence on February 14 next year with the defending champions Islamabad United facing the new-look Lahore Qalandars.
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Bangladesh vs Windies: Evin Lewis makes comeback in T20I series

• Windies are currently in Bangladesh and haven’t had the best of times by any means.
• The Caribbean team lost their regular skipper Jason Holder prior to the tour and his exclusion has impacted them to a significant extent.
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India erred in not picking specialist spinner for Perth Test, feel former Australia cricketers

• It is only the third time that India opted for an all-pace attack in a Test match and there were reactions coming in over the move, terming it an error.
• With Ravichandran Ashwin sitting out with an abdominal injury, Umesh Yadav completed India’s pace quartet in the second Test that started at the new Perth Stadium on Friday.
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Virat will be thinking why didn’t I play a specialist spinner: Michael Vaughan

• The Perth Test began today and Australia put up 277/6 on the board at stumps on Day 1.
• There was a lot of talk about a green pitch before the game that propelled the Indian team to go in with four pacers.
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Hardik Pandya makes comeback to competitive cricket; hopes to play the Test series Down Under

• He was stretched off the ground during India’s electric clash with Pakistan in the Asia Cup in the UAE in September where he flew to participate directly after a gruelling series in England.
• Ace Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been out of competitive cricket for almost three months and made a comeback for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy clash with Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday and took three wickets after opening the bowling.
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