SPORTS

The BCCI is set to incorporate two new franchises into the Indian Premier League (IPL) fold, increasing the total number of teams to 10. A formal approval in this regard is expected at the cricket board’s 89th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 24.    
According to a BCCI official, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Lucknow and Guwahati are on the BCCI’s radar. Pune too is an option. Two would be picked. It is learnt that Ahmedabad leads the race.

The renovated Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad is said to be the world’s largest cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 110,000. Built at a cost of Rs 700 crore, the stadium was scheduled to host its first cricket match in March this year. The pandemic upset the plan, but according to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, the new stadium is set to host a day-night Test during England’s tour of India in February-March next year.

The BCCI has signalled the likely addition of two new teams to the IPL for the 2021 edition. That, along with the "discussion" on including cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, are two key items the BCCI has listed on the agenda for its forthcoming annual general meeting, scheduled in Mumbai on December 24.

Ever since the conclusion of the 2020 IPL, which was held in the UAE due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been constant murmurs about the BCCI considering adding at least one, if not two, IPL teams to the lucrative T20 tournament, which was originally started as an eight-team event in 2008.

It is understood that the top brass of the board comprising BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah had informal discussions on addition of new teams with board members during the IPL final. A formal proposal was meant to be discussed at the IPL Governing Council meeting, which has not yet taken place.

India captain Virat Kohli will be on the verge of achieving a huge milestone when he steps out to bat in the 3rd ODI against Australia on Wednesday in Canberra. The Indian team has already lost the series with the Aaron Finch-led Australia taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Kohli played a scintillating 89-run innings in the 2nd ODI during India’s 390-run chase. But a great catch from Moises Henriques ended his stay as India lost the match by 51 runs.

But the visitors will have a chance to pick up a consolation win and avoid the clean sweep in the 3rd ODI in Canberra. In the match, Kohli will have a chance to surpass India legend Sachin Tendulkar to become the fastest player to reach 12,000 run-mark in the ODIs.

Kohli is just 23 runs away from reaching the 12,000 ODI-run mark. If he manages to do so, he would reach the mark in his 251st ODI, and 242nd innings. In comparison, it took Tendulkar 309 matches and 300 innings to reach the mark.

After two near-identical Australia wins in Sydney, the ODI series shifts to Canberra, but the change in scene may not necessarily bring about a change in template. If the SCG was all about bat first, bat big and win, the Manuka Oval's ODI history is pretty much just that, on steroids.

The last seven games here have all been won by the side batting first, six of them while defending 320-plus totals. The last four first-innings totals here, in chronological order, are 372 for 2, 411 for 4, 348 for 8, and 378 for 5.

For all the talk about India's team balance and the lack of penetration in their bowling, their failure to win the toss so far has also contributed to their results. But even if the coin continues to work against them in Canberra, there is a chance for a little more parity between the sides with David Warner and Pat Cummins missing.

Former India Aakash Chopra has pointed at the real reason behind the Indian team struggling in Australia ODIs. Many believe that India lacked the balance in the playing XI that Australia had and that was because the visitors lacked all-rounders in the side. The lack was highlighted particularly in the 1st ODI as Hardik Pandya wasn't match-ready to get back to bowling.

"If we look at the Indian bowling, it's clear that we are unable to pick wickets with the new ball. How much time has gone? In the last three consecutive ODI matches, India has conceded a 100-run partnership at the top between the two openers. If you don't take wickets with the new ball, a wicket does not fall in the first 20-odd overs, then whomever you bowl doesn't make a difference," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.