QPlay: India Depart for Aus Tour, 15-Year-Old Scores 1009* & More
All the latest sports news in The Quint’s morning wrap.
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Lifetime Achievement Award for Kirmani; Kohli Wins Too
Former stumper Syed Kirmani was bestowed with the prestigious Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian cricket, while Test captain Virat Kohli bagged the Polly Umrigar Trophy for Cricketer of the Year at the BCCI awards night on Tuesday.
Here’s the complete list of the BCCI annual award winners
Col. C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Syed Kirmani
Polly Umrigar Award (for Cricketer of the Year): Virat Kohli
Highest run-getter: Robin Uthappa, Karnataka (912 runs from 11 games)
Highest wicket-takers: R Vinaykumar, Karnataka (48 wickets from 10 games and Shardul Thakur, Mumbai (48 wickets from 10 games)
Best senior woman cricketer: Mithali Raj, Railways
Happy Ashwin is Back in Great Form: Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is happy that the team’s premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has pulled himself out of a slump in form and has become “an asset” for the Indian cricket team.
“Ashwin is a thinking cricketer. His performance went down a bit and he was criticised for doing too many things, but I am glad he has come back well and he is an asset. I have used him in all slots – from first to ten overs or in death. Good for me he makes my job slightly easier when my fast bowlers did not do well. I have relied upon him. He’s been great,” Dhoni was all praise for Ashwin ahead of team’s departure for the limited overs tour of Australia.
59 Sixes, 129 Fours: Mumbai Teenager Scores 1009 in 323!
Mumbai teenager Pranav Dhanawade scripted history by becoming the first batsman ever to notch up a four-figure score by smashing an unbeaten knock of 1009 in an inter-school tournament.
The 15-year-old, playing for KC Gandhi Higher Secondary School, reached the gigantic score in just 323 deliveries with a jaw-dropping strike rate of 312.38 in the game against Arya Gurukul in the Bhandari Cup inter-school tournament organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).
In the course of his awe-inspiring innings, which lasted 395 minutes, Dhanawade smashed a whopping 129 fours and 59 sixes.
Chris Gayle Apologises to TV Presenter, Fined by Team
The Melbourne Renegades fined star opener Chris Gayle $7,000 after an attempt to flirt with a female presenter on live TV, which cricket authorities condemned as “completely out of line”.
Ten Network reporter Mel McLaughlin found herself being asked out for a drink during an interview with the burly West Indian after he blasted 41 runs off 15 balls in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) late Monday.
Live on air, Gayle – who later insisted he was just joking – said he was happy to be interviewed by McLaughlin “just to see your eyes for the first time”. “Nice, so hopefully we can win this game and we can have a drink after,” he said. “Don’t blush baby,” the Jamaican added, prompting the unimpressed McLaughlin to shake her head and reply, “I’m not blushing.”
“On BCCI to Hold or Call Off Indo-Pak Match”
With Dharamsala chosen as the venue for the high-profile World T20 match between India and Pakistan in March, Himachal Pradesh’s Transport Minister G S Bali today asked the BCCI to give it another thought following the death of a local in the terrorist attack at Pathankot Airbase.
Sanjeev Rana, hailing from Shahpur which is just 20 kms from Dharamsala, lost his life in the terrorist attack. Keeping in mind the anger towards Pakistan among the local people, Bali urged the BCCI to give it a second thought.
“I am leaving it all to Anurag Thakur, who is BCCI secretary and HPCA president, to take a decision on whether to hold the match or call it off,” Bali said.