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

IPL 2021: Jofra Archer to miss the first half of the league

• The wooden-spooners of last season Rajasthan Royals (RR) have been dealt with a massive blow as it is confirmed that their pace mainstay Jofra Archer will be missing the first half of the IPL 2021.
• Jofra has been suffering from an elbow injury for quite some time now and his injury aggravated after he participated in all the five T20 Internationals against India.
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England announce squad for India ODIs; No place for Jofra Archer and Joe Root

• England, on Sunday, announced their 14-man squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against India.
• The ODI series will bring an end to England’s sojourn in India which started with the four-match Test series in February. India had come from behind to win the Test series 3-1.
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Necessary for Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to do well if India wants to win T20 WC: Aakash Chopra

• The five-match T20I series between India and England marked a sensational comeback of India’s celebrated pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is known for rattling the opposition batsmen with his swing and pace.
• Bhuvi was away from the Indian set-up for more than a year owing to his injury concern.
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Anand Mahindra poses for a selfie in Axar Patel’s shades after India defeats England in T20Is

• Team India, on Saturday (March 20), beat England by 36 runs in the fifth and final T20I to clinch the series 3-2.
• Soon after India clinched the series, Mahindra and Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra took to Twitter to fulfill his promise.
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India are favorites to win the T20 World Cup, but it won’t be a cakewalk: Michael Atherton

• Michael Atherton, the former England skipper, reckons that India are the favourites to win the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup.
•  Atherton’s comments came after the Men in Blue beat Eoin Morgan and Co by 3-2 in the five-match T20I series.
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Michael Vaughan compares Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s partnership to the Sachin Tendulkar-Virender Sehwag duo

• Michael Vaughan, the former England cricketer, found shades of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag’s legendary duo when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma batted together in the fifth T20I against the Brits on Saturday, March 20.
• At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rohit and Virat put on 94 runs for the first-wicket partnership off nine overs.
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I suggested to the BCCI that we should hold a Jinnah-Gandhi series: Ex-PCB chief Zaka Ashraf

• Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf has called for the resumption of bilateral ties between India and Pakistan.
• The political relations between the two neighbours is at an all-time low in recent years and it has affected the cricketing ties too.
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India players get option to take a 4-day break after England ODIs

• Team India players have the option to take a maximum of four days off after the conclusion of the ODI series against England before joining their respective IPL franchises for the upcoming edition of the tournament.
• The fourteenth edition of IPL is scheduled to start on April 9 while the three-match ODI series between India and England will conclude on March 28.
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IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings rope in Hardus Viljoen as net bowler

• One of the most successful franchises in the history of the competition, CSK had a disastrous outing in IPL 2020.
• CSK are doing all they can to prepare themselves for the upcoming season of the tournament.
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I would persist with Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli opening formula: Sunil Gavaskar

• Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar has urged Team India to persist with the Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli opening combination in T20Is after the duo’s impressive performance against England in the final T20I.
• India sprung a surprise during the fifth T20I by sending out Kohli to open with Rohit.
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