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

Sachin Tendulkar takes a jibe at Rihanna and ‘external forces’; Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma echo his sentiments

• Tendulkar joined in the ‘India against propaganda’ after many social media sites were sharing all sorts of unverified information regarding the matter.
• Indian captain Virat Kohli also gave his opinion along with his Test deputy, Ajinkya Rahane, and limited-overs vice-captain, Rohit Sharma.
• The international attention towards the matter has made several celebrities from the country jump in and gave their opinion.
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‘I was watching Shardul-Sundar partnership on the phone when the doctor called me in’ – Virat Kohli on how he stayed connected with Team India

• Indian skipper Virat Kohli revealed that he was always watching his team play during the Test series.
• He added that the connection with his team didn’t go as he has been leading the team for the past six years.
• He further expressed his desire to take the Indian team to the heights of success and staying motivated to take Test cricket on the top.
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I also had the displeasure of facing Jofra Archer in the nets: Joe Root

• “I also had the displeasure of facing Jofra in the nets and he bowled at the speed of light. He looked in great rhythm”.
• If he can harness that into this series he’s going to have great success,” Root stated.
• The English skipper warned the home team saying that they shouldn’t take Archer lightly he seems to be in a good rhythm.
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‘Let the kid play’ – Babar Azam recalls Shoaib Malik’s gesture that helped him battle nervousness in his initial days

• Babar Azam shared the story of how the veteran Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik calmed him down while he was nervous in his early days.
• Pakistan’s skipper, Azam, stated that he was extremely nervous during Pakistan’s limited-overs tour to India in December 2012, when he was asked to bat during a practice game.
• That was when Shoaib Malik intervened and asked everyone to just allow the young Babar to play his game freely.
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India vs England: Virat Kohli confirms openers for the Chepauk Test

• India is all set to face England for the four-match Test series commencing on 5th February in Chennai.
• While the team is brimming with confidence after high profile series win in Australia, it will be a thing to watch, who all would find a place in India’s playing XI for the 1st Test against the visitors.
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India vs England: Zak Crawley ruled out of first two Tests after suffering a freak

• Just a day before the first Test against India, England have suffered an injury blow as their top-order batsman Zak Crawley has been sidelined with a wrist injury.
• The right-handed batsman would miss the first two games of the four-match Test series, starting on Friday (February 5) in Chennai.
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