1. Virat Kohli surpasses Brian Lara for Most Double Centuries as Captain.
skipper Virat Kohli put in a performance which many would consider as brilliant, but by his standards it is probably safe to say a double century is above average.
Kohli notched up his sixth double hundred against Sri Lanka in New Delhi in the morning session on Day 2 of the third and final Test match of the series. In the process he made yet another record his – the most double hundreds in Test cricket by a captain after he overtook Brian Lara’s tally of 5.
Kohli who had not even scored a half century at the Ferozeshah Kotla in Test cricket, decided he was going to change that. Batting with a lot of grace in front of people of his hometown, Kohli dispatched the Lankan bowlers to all parts of the ground without a second thought.
Kohli’s innings on his own backyard has seen his team benefit as they are all set to post a massive first innings score. India will surely want to avoid batting a second time in the Test match as they look to put the seal on a record equalling 9th series win in style.
As a captain, Kohli has led from the front with the bat with six double hundreds, putting him on top of the pile. There is no doubt that in the future that number is going to go up.
Kohli has just surpassed the legendary Brian Lara and one can rest assure the gap between him and the former West Indian captain is bound to increase in due course of time.
2. Prithvi Shaw Named India`s Captain for 2018 U-19 World Cup.
Young Mumbai sensation Prithvi Shaw has been named captain of the 15-member Indian squad for the 2018 Under-19 World Cup to be held in New Zealand from January 13. Punjab batsman Shubman Gill has been named as Shaw`s deputy. It is to be noted that both Shaw and Gill were not a part of the U-19 squad that played in the Asia Cup recently.
The selectors have added Aryan Juyal as the backup wicketkeeper in the squad with Harvik Desai expected to the first-choice gloveman. Additionally, five players - Om Bhosle, Rahul Chahar, Ninad Rathva, Urvil Patel and Aditya Thakare will be placed on standby.
Before departing to New Zealand, the squad will have a preparatory camp in Bengaluru from December 8-22. Skipper Shaw and Bengal pacer Ishan Porel will join the camp only on December 12 since they will be representing their respective state sides in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals.
India finished runners-up in the previous edition two years back in Bangladesh where Windies pipped them in a marginal fashion. India have won the tournament in 2000, 2008 and most recently in 2012. They are the joint-most successful team in the history of the competition alongside Australia, against whom they will open their campaign this time around on January 14 in Mount Maunganui.