The selection panel chaired by Sandeep Patil decided to rest MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav for the Zimbabwe Tour. Further, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was dropped and rightly so after a string of poor performances since the commencement of the Cricket World Cup. No regular wicketkeeper has been named in the side, which means one among Robin Uthappa, Kedar Jadhav or Ambati Rayudu will keep wickets. Manoj Tiwary, Sandeep Sharma, Manish Pandey and Karn Sharma make it to the squad as replacements for the rested and dropped players. Harbhajan, who recently made an impressive Test comeback (against Bangladesh in Fatullah), finds a place in the ODI squad after four years. The turbanator had last played a one-day international in June, 2011 against West Indies. Bhajji has 259 wickets to his name in this format and is the most experienced player in the side by a long way. Chief selector Sandeep Patil said that the squad was chosen keeping the ICC World T20 2016 in mind. “Just like you, we were also not happy with India’s performance in Bangladesh. We have to move forward.” Patil added that there was no discussion on Dhoni’s offer to resign. “Dhoni has only been rested. So don’t read much into Rahane becoming captain,” he said. The India A squad, to be led by Cheteshwar Pujara, was also selected. The India A team will participate in a Tri-Series against Australia A and South Africa A to be held in India (Chennai and Wayanad) from 19 July 2015. This will be the first assignment for Rahul Dravid as coach for the India A side. India’s squad for Zimbabwe Tour: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Murali Vijay, Ambati Rayudu (wicketkeeper), Manoj Tiwary, Kedar Jadhav (wicketkeeper), Robin Uthappa (wicketkeeper), Manish Pandey, Harbhajan Singh, Axar Patel, Karn Sharma, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma. Rested: MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Umesh Yadav, R Ashwin Dropped: Ravindra Jadeja India A squad: KL Rahul, Abhinav Mukund, Cheteshwar Pujara (capt), Karun Nair, Shreyas Iyer, Naman Ojha, Vijay Shankar, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Shardul Thakur, Varun Aaron, Abhimanyu Mithun, Umesh Yadav, Shreyas Gopal, B Aparjit. 

Indian Cricket Team for Zimbabwe tour announced; Harbhajan and few others back

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Profile

Ajinkya heads into IPL 2019 as the skipper of Rajasthan Royals. He spent three of his years with the Mumbai Indians before moving to the Rajasthan Royals. Following their ban, he moved to Rising Pune Supergiant and returned to the Royals when the ban was lifted.

Ajinkya Rahane is 30-years old as he enters the IPL 2019 season. He also has adequate opportunities to excel in IPL 2019 as the one of the team's top opening batsmen this year.

Since 2011, during which he made his debut for India in ODIs, T20Is and Test Matches, his career has been on the rise. Rahane even boasts of few note-worthy performances at the international and domestic level.

Rahane’s 2019 IPL contract and salary stands at an estimated Rs 40 million. It was a steep drop from and astounding Rs 95 million in 2017. However, that was when he signed with Pune, and given that he is not getting any younger, his backers may have felt that he is losing his touch.

<img class="size-full wp-image-151690 aligncenter" src="http://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/D2CJ1xJX0AAWwAu-e1553014836540.jpg" alt="Ajinkya Rahane" width="594" height="446" />

IPL Career

Ajinkya Rahane made his Indian Premier League debut in during the series' inception in 2008 for the Mumbai Indians. In 2018, Rahane was brought back to the Royals from the now defunct RPS for Rs 4 crore.

Since then, he has remained with the Rajasthan side and was handed the Rajasthani mantle in 2018. Initially, Steve Smith was the skipper, but in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal, Smith stepped down. Rahane led the side to fourth in the IPL table, but the team lost their playoffs match.

He is primarily not known for being a T20 player, but has proven himself. With Mumbai, he got a limited number of chances, but in his first stint with Rajasthan, he truly shone.

In terms of personal records, Rahane is the leading run-scorer for the team with 2705 runs.

&nbsp;

Expectations for IPL 2019

Rahane is expected to lead by example as Rajasthan are set to campaign for their second title. The Rajasthan Royals have always been considered underdogs and it showed when they clinch the 2008 title.

Rahane also has some impressive stats to his name. He has accumulated one century and 26 half centuries to his name. The 30-year old also has 65 sixes, the most (13) coming from the 2015 season.

Ajinkya Rahane

Profile Ajinkya heads into IPL 2019 as the skipper of Rajasthan Royals. He spent three of his years with the Mumbai Indians before moving to the Rajasthan Royals. Following their ban, he moved to Rising Pune Supergiant and returned to the Royals when the ban was lifted. Ajinkya Rahane is 30-years old as he enters the IPL 2019 season. He also has adequate opportunities to excel in IPL 2019 as the one of the team&#8217;s top opening batsmen this year. Since 2011, during which he made his debut for India in ODIs, T20Is and Test Matches, his career has been on the rise. Rahane even boasts of few note-worthy performances at the international and domestic level. Rahane’s 2019 IPL contract and salary stands at an estimated Rs 40 million. It was a steep drop from and astounding Rs 95 million in 2017. However, that was when he signed with Pune, and given that he is not getting any younger, his backers may have felt that he is losing his touch. IPL Career Ajinkya Rahane made his Indian Premier League debut in during the series&#8217; inception in 2008 for the Mumbai Indians. In 2018, Rahane was brought back to the Royals from the now defunct RPS for Rs 4 crore. Since then, he has remained with the Rajasthan side and was handed the Rajasthani mantle in 2018. Initially, Steve Smith was the skipper, but in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal, Smith stepped down. Rahane led the side to fourth in the IPL table, but the team lost their playoffs match. He is primarily not known for being a T20 player, but has proven himself. With Mumbai, he got a limited number of chances, but in his first stint with Rajasthan, he truly shone. In terms of personal records, Rahane is the leading run-scorer for the team with 2705 runs. &nbsp; Expectations for IPL 2019 Rahane is expected to lead by example as Rajasthan are set to campaign for their second title. The Rajasthan Royals have always been considered underdogs and it showed when they clinch the 2008 title. Rahane also has some impressive stats to his name. He has accumulated one century and 26 half centuries to his name. The 30-year old also has 65 sixes, the most (13) coming from the 2015 season.

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Cheteshwar Pujara

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Profile

Mahendra Singh Dhoni represents the old guard in Indian cricket. He made his debut in the national side back in 2004 for the ODI team. A year later, MS Dhoni made his maiden Test appearance and finally, in 2006, he kicked off his T20 career.

The 37-year old has been a stalwart in the Indian team and he has brought a lot of success to the team. Back in 2014, he announced his retirement from Test cricket, but has continued to play in limited overs.

IPL Career

MS Dhoni is one of the few players who has stuck around the IPL since its inception. He joined the Chennai Super Kings for a fee of $1.5 million, making him the most expensive player at the time.

Since then, he has remained with the side until IPL 2015. In 2016 and 2017, he joined Rising Pune Supergiant after CSK were banned. But now, he is back in the yellow jersey and once again performing well.

During his tenure with CSK, MS Dhoni has lead the team to three IPL championships, including back-to-back wins. In essence, they are the first team to ever defend their title.

Even with Rising Pune Supergiant, Dhoni's troops were not to be trifled with and they were a force to be reckoned with. In fact, in 2017, Pune even reached the final, losing to eventual champions, Mumbai.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-151864" src="http://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/c648cea2-33e4-11e8-9916-7e63ef9446cf.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni" width="960" height="538" />

Expectations for IPL 2019

With regard to IPL 2019, the Chennai Super Kings are on the hunt for their second back-to-back title win. If they do win, it will be their 4th ever and they will break the deadlock with the Mumbai Indians.

However, the competition will be tougher than ever. All the teams will be eager to put a stop to the CSK juggernaut. MS Dhoni is a capable leader and is no stranger to the winning mentality.

One thing that CSK is known for is, valuing experience over youth and they have opted for that same strategy in IPL 2019.

MS Dhoni

Profile Mahendra Singh Dhoni represents the old guard in Indian cricket. He made his debut in the national side back in 2004 for the ODI team. A year later, MS Dhoni made his maiden Test appearance and finally, in 2006, he kicked off his T20 career. The 37-year old has been a stalwart in the Indian team and he has brought a lot of success to the team. Back in 2014, he announced his retirement from Test cricket, but has continued to play in limited overs. IPL Career MS Dhoni is one of the few players who has stuck around the IPL since its inception. He joined the Chennai Super Kings for a fee of $1.5 million, making him the most expensive player at the time. Since then, he has remained with the side until IPL 2015. In 2016 and 2017, he joined Rising Pune Supergiant after CSK were banned. But now, he is back in the yellow jersey and once again performing well. During his tenure with CSK, MS Dhoni has lead the team to three IPL championships, including back-to-back wins. In essence, they are the first team to ever defend their title. Even with Rising Pune Supergiant, Dhoni&#8217;s troops were not to be trifled with and they were a force to be reckoned with. In fact, in 2017, Pune even reached the final, losing to eventual champions, Mumbai. Expectations for IPL 2019 With regard to IPL 2019, the Chennai Super Kings are on the hunt for their second back-to-back title win. If they do win, it will be their 4th ever and they will break the deadlock with the Mumbai Indians. However, the competition will be tougher than ever. All the teams will be eager to put a stop to the CSK juggernaut. MS Dhoni is a capable leader and is no stranger to the winning mentality. One thing that CSK is known for is, valuing experience over youth and they have opted for that same strategy in IPL 2019.

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Rahul Dravid

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Ravindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja or Ravindra Jadeja first came into limelight in 2008 during the U19 World Cup, which India won under an enthusiastic Virat Kohli. A year later, Jadeja earned the senior callup after some good performances in domestic cricket, and played his first ODI against Sri Lanka, where he scored a half century.  It would take him four more years to make it to the test team, but before that he would be brought for $2 crore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) by Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

<img class="size-large wp-image-151380" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Ravindra-Jadeja-third-Indian-to-score-2000-runs-and-claim-150-wkts-in-ODIs-after-Kapil-Dev-and-Sachin-Tendulkar.-1024x683.jpg" alt="Ravindra Jadeja" width="696" height="464" />

After his early break into international cricket, he was dropped for a while, but he forced the selectors to pick him with a barrage of triple centuries in domestic cricket, playing for Saurashtra. In 2012, he scored two triple centuries in a space of two months, after scoring a triple ton in the year before. Jadeja is only the eighth player in the history of the game to have hit three first class triple hundreds.

By the turn of 2017, Jadeja became the first Indian left-arm spinner to take 150 wickets in ODIs, a year in which, he would also reach to the top of the bowler rankings.

<img class="size-full wp-image-119358" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ravindra-jadeja-vs-aus-bcci_806x605_71489935280.jpg" alt="Ravindra Jadeja" width="806" height="605" />

Jadeja’s IPL career needs a special mention, when he first played under the revered eye of Australian great Shane Warne at Rajasthan Royals. He played a season for Kochi Tuskers Kerala, after which he began playing under MS Dhoni in the Chennai Super Kings outfit and also in the Indian outfit.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="298">Age</td>
<td width="298">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="298">Marital Status</td>
<td width="298">Married</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="298">Wife</td>
<td width="298">Riva Solanki</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="298">Nationality</td>
<td width="298">Indian</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="298">Major Teams represented</td>
<td width="298">Indian national team, Saurashtra, India U19 team, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja or Ravindra Jadeja first came into limelight in 2008 during the U19 World Cup, which India won under an enthusiastic Virat Kohli. A year later, Jadeja earned the senior callup after some good performances in domestic cricket, and played his first ODI against Sri Lanka, where he scored a half century.  It would take him four more years to make it to the test team, but before that he would be brought for $2 crore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) by Chennai Super Kings (CSK). After his early break into international cricket, he was dropped for a while, but he forced the selectors to pick him with a barrage of triple centuries in domestic cricket, playing for Saurashtra. In 2012, he scored two triple centuries in a space of two months, after scoring a triple ton in the year before. Jadeja is only the eighth player in the history of the game to have hit three first class triple hundreds. By the turn of 2017, Jadeja became the first Indian left-arm spinner to take 150 wickets in ODIs, a year in which, he would also reach to the top of the bowler rankings. Jadeja’s IPL career needs a special mention, when he first played under the revered eye of Australian great Shane Warne at Rajasthan Royals. He played a season for Kochi Tuskers Kerala, after which he began playing under MS Dhoni in the Chennai Super Kings outfit and also in the Indian outfit.  Age 30  Marital Status Married  Wife Riva Solanki  Nationality Indian  Major Teams represented Indian national team, Saurashtra, India U19 team, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals  &nbsp;

Ravindra Jadeja Archives

Ravindra Jadeja Archives - EssentiallySports

Rohit Sharma Biography

Rohit Sharma is currently the vice captain of the Indian cricket team. He plays for the Indian team and prior to joining the senior team, he was in India A, India Green,India Under-19s, Mumbai, Mumbai Cricket Association President's XI and the Mumbai Under-19s.

A prolific run-getter, the Hitman, as he is popularly known, is one of the most naturally gifted batsmen in the world.

IPL Career

In terms of IPL experience, he kicked off his career with the Deccan Chargers. From there, he moved to the Mumbai Indians and has remained there ever since. Rohit Sharma gradually worked his way up the ranks. As of now, he is captaining the Mumbai Indians franchise.

The Mumbai Indians have had three IPL triumphs and Sharma has led the side to all three of these triumphs.

Expectations for IPL 2019

Rohit Sharma boasts of a strike rate of 131.01 and a highest score of 109* in 2012. So far, he has amassed 4600 runs in the IPL and is well on his way to 5000.

All eyes will be on him as he leads Mumbai Indians to a potential 4th title. Sharma is said to play the most important role in MI’s road to glory.

In the shorter format, his striking abilities are unparalleled. During his Deccan Chargers stint, Rohit Sharma was one of the most consistent batsmen in the first three IPL seasons. He also played a role in guided the now defunct to to their one and only win in 2009.

From 2011 onwards, he has been instrumental for the Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma took over the team’s captaincy a couple of games into the 2013 season and led MI to their maiden IPL title.

The Mumbai Indians had an up and down season in 2018, but will be looking forward to a storming start in their quest to seal a spot in the playoffs. When they do, Rohit Sharma will be right there to see them through.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma Biography Rohit Sharma is currently the vice captain of the Indian cricket team. He plays for the Indian team and prior to joining the senior team, he was in India A, India Green,India Under-19s, Mumbai, Mumbai Cricket Association President&#8217;s XI and the Mumbai Under-19s. A prolific run-getter, the Hitman, as he is popularly known, is one of the most naturally gifted batsmen in the world. IPL Career In terms of IPL experience, he kicked off his career with the Deccan Chargers. From there, he moved to the Mumbai Indians and has remained there ever since. Rohit Sharma gradually worked his way up the ranks. As of now, he is captaining the Mumbai Indians franchise. The Mumbai Indians have had three IPL triumphs and Sharma has led the side to all three of these triumphs. Expectations for IPL 2019 Rohit Sharma boasts of a strike rate of 131.01 and a highest score of 109* in 2012. So far, he has amassed 4600 runs in the IPL and is well on his way to 5000. All eyes will be on him as he leads Mumbai Indians to a potential 4th title. Sharma is said to play the most important role in MI’s road to glory. In the shorter format, his striking abilities are unparalleled. During his Deccan Chargers stint, Rohit Sharma was one of the most consistent batsmen in the first three IPL seasons. He also played a role in guided the now defunct to to their one and only win in 2009. From 2011 onwards, he has been instrumental for the Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma took over the team’s captaincy a couple of games into the 2013 season and led MI to their maiden IPL title. The Mumbai Indians had an up and down season in 2018, but will be looking forward to a storming start in their quest to seal a spot in the playoffs. When they do, Rohit Sharma will be right there to see them through.

Rohit Sharma Archives

Rohit Sharma Archives - EssentiallySports

Sandeep Patil

Sandeep Patil Archives

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Shikhar Dhawan Biography

33-year old Shikhar Dhawan is currently seen as the star player for Delhi Capitals. The Delhi-born man was one of the key players for the national team. Shikhar Dhawan's records include, the fastest ever debut century.

He first made his mark on the Indian team in 2010 with the ODI squad. A year later, he was drafted into the Two team, and finally, the Test team in 2013.

Shikhar Dhawan's ranking is 50th in Tests, 12 in ODIs and 17 in T20 cricket.

IPL Career

He was quite an expensive man during the IPL 2019 auction. In fact, Shikhar Dhawan's auction price in 2018 was Rs 5.2 crore. Kings XI Punjab won the bid, but the Sunrisers used their Right to Match card and reclaimed him.

Shikhar Dhawan's IPL career actually kicked off with the then Delhi Daredevils. Then, in seasons 2 and 3, he became a Mumbai paltan before moving to the Deccan Chargers for IPL 4.

After the Deccan Chargers folded, he was drafted into the newly-formed Sunrisers Hyderabad. As an added bonus, he even captained the side, although it only lasted a year.

He would remain with the Sunrisers right up till 2018, before a return to Delhi in a trade deal.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-151963" src="http://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Shikhar-Dhawan-1.jpg" alt="Shikhar Dhawan" width="628" height="355" />

Expectations for IPL 2019

Shikhar Dhawan's batting prowess in well-known and he can be deadly, especially when playing as an opener.

The Delhi team are undoubtedly lucky to acquire his services and he will be a valuable asset to them.

He does have one triumph under his belt, in helping skipper David Warner guide the Sunrisers to glory. The team actually managed to win the IPL crown in 2016, owing to Dhawan's performance with the willow playing a prominent role.

In last year's IPL, they were agonisingly close as they lost to Chennai Super Kings in the final.

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan Biography 33-year old Shikhar Dhawan is currently seen as the star player for Delhi Capitals. The Delhi-born man was one of the key players for the national team. Shikhar Dhawan&#8217;s records include, the fastest ever debut century. He first made his mark on the Indian team in 2010 with the ODI squad. A year later, he was drafted into the Two team, and finally, the Test team in 2013. Shikhar Dhawan&#8217;s ranking is 50th in Tests, 12 in ODIs and 17 in T20 cricket. IPL Career He was quite an expensive man during the IPL 2019 auction. In fact, Shikhar Dhawan&#8217;s auction price in 2018 was Rs 5.2 crore. Kings XI Punjab won the bid, but the Sunrisers used their Right to Match card and reclaimed him. Shikhar Dhawan&#8217;s IPL career actually kicked off with the then Delhi Daredevils. Then, in seasons 2 and 3, he became a Mumbai paltan before moving to the Deccan Chargers for IPL 4. After the Deccan Chargers folded, he was drafted into the newly-formed Sunrisers Hyderabad. As an added bonus, he even captained the side, although it only lasted a year. He would remain with the Sunrisers right up till 2018, before a return to Delhi in a trade deal. Expectations for IPL 2019 Shikhar Dhawan&#8217;s batting prowess in well-known and he can be deadly, especially when playing as an opener. The Delhi team are undoubtedly lucky to acquire his services and he will be a valuable asset to them. He does have one triumph under his belt, in helping skipper David Warner guide the Sunrisers to glory. The team actually managed to win the IPL crown in 2016, owing to Dhawan&#8217;s performance with the willow playing a prominent role. In last year&#8217;s IPL, they were agonisingly close as they lost to Chennai Super Kings in the final.

Shikhar Dhawan Archives

Shikhar Dhawan Archives - EssentiallySports

Suresh Raina Biography

Suresh Raina is regarded as one of India's finest T20 batsmen. He stormed into the international scene during the Greg Chappell era. However, after a blistering start, his form dipped over the next year. Then, injury struck so his career was paused in the latter part of the 2007 season.

But it was the IPL that helped revive his career from the ashes. Suresh Raina cemented his spot as a capable finisher for the side, often chipping in with priceless cameos apart from getting the sizable knocks.

A big example of Raina's big match temperament was the way he chipped in during the 2011 quarterfinal against Australia and then the semifinal against Pakistan. Both were cameos statistically but were worth its weight in gold.

Raina was the first Indian player to hold a century in all three formats of the game and although red-ball cricket wasn't his cup of tea, his contributions in the other formats were valuable to Indian cricket. There has always been immense criticism about his short ball Achilles heel in limited-overs cricket, but it does not qualify as a flaw.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-127633" src="http://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Suresh-Raina-plays-a-shot.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina" width="628" height="355" />

Time away from the Indian team wasn't good for Raina as he wasn't quite able to make the runs in domestic cricket. He still played T20Is although he found himself strangely dropped from there as well, ironically after a Man of the Match performance against England in early 2017.

After a really lean patch, Raina shone in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India's domestic T20 tournament, in early 2018 and earned himself a recall to the Indian side for the T20 series in South Africa. He did decently well in South Africa, which pressed the selectors persisted with him for the Nidahas Trophy and the England tour. However, he was not picked for the national side after that due to not-so-great fitness levels and others grabbing opportunities. This meant he was out of the reckoning for the 2019 World Cup as well.

IPL Career

Raina was the backbone of Chennai Super Kings' success. His dashing left-hand style of play at No. 3 gave CSK the luxury to attack at will with a lot of firepower left down the order. The fact that he is currently the highest run-getter in the history of IPL. It explains the importance of Raina's contribution to the side.

The lofted straight drive (or hitting in the V) is a shot fans savour to watch as he audaciously plays without fear in a tournament like IPL. He recorded his highest-score in IPL - 100 not out against Kings XI Punjab in 2013 in Chennai, but his blitzkrieg (87 runs off just 25 balls) against KXIP in Qualifier 2 in 2015 standouts amongst all of his IPL performances.

Raina also bowls very useful right-arm off spin and was often used by Dhoni when he had to look for breakthroughs or try something different. However, he has not been bowling of late with many other options being available for the captain. When CSK faced a two-year exile after the 2015 season, Raina captained the temporary franchise Gujarat Lions as well. When CSK returned from the hiatus, he was one of the three players retained by the franchise . He has been one of the greats in IPL history, referred fondly as 'Mr.IPL' due to his dominance in the tournament, where he has scored in excess of 400 runs every year, barring two seasons.

Expectations for IPL 2019

Suresh Raina is an excellent player and will be a key weapon for CSK's 4th IPL title.

Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina Biography Suresh Raina is regarded as one of India&#8217;s finest T20 batsmen. He stormed into the international scene during the Greg Chappell era. However, after a blistering start, his form dipped over the next year. Then, injury struck so his career was paused in the latter part of the 2007 season. But it was the IPL that helped revive his career from the ashes. Suresh Raina cemented his spot as a capable finisher for the side, often chipping in with priceless cameos apart from getting the sizable knocks. A big example of Raina&#8217;s big match temperament was the way he chipped in during the 2011 quarterfinal against Australia and then the semifinal against Pakistan. Both were cameos statistically but were worth its weight in gold. Raina was the first Indian player to hold a century in all three formats of the game and although red-ball cricket wasn&#8217;t his cup of tea, his contributions in the other formats were valuable to Indian cricket. There has always been immense criticism about his short ball Achilles heel in limited-overs cricket, but it does not qualify as a flaw. Time away from the Indian team wasn&#8217;t good for Raina as he wasn&#8217;t quite able to make the runs in domestic cricket. He still played T20Is although he found himself strangely dropped from there as well, ironically after a Man of the Match performance against England in early 2017. After a really lean patch, Raina shone in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India&#8217;s domestic T20 tournament, in early 2018 and earned himself a recall to the Indian side for the T20 series in South Africa. He did decently well in South Africa, which pressed the selectors persisted with him for the Nidahas Trophy and the England tour. However, he was not picked for the national side after that due to not-so-great fitness levels and others grabbing opportunities. This meant he was out of the reckoning for the 2019 World Cup as well. IPL Career Raina was the backbone of Chennai Super Kings&#8217; success. His dashing left-hand style of play at No. 3 gave CSK the luxury to attack at will with a lot of firepower left down the order. The fact that he is currently the highest run-getter in the history of IPL. It explains the importance of Raina&#8217;s contribution to the side. The lofted straight drive (or hitting in the V) is a shot fans savour to watch as he audaciously plays without fear in a tournament like IPL. He recorded his highest-score in IPL &#8211; 100 not out against Kings XI Punjab in 2013 in Chennai, but his blitzkrieg (87 runs off just 25 balls) against KXIP in Qualifier 2 in 2015 standouts amongst all of his IPL performances. Raina also bowls very useful right-arm off spin and was often used by Dhoni when he had to look for breakthroughs or try something different. However, he has not been bowling of late with many other options being available for the captain. When CSK faced a two-year exile after the 2015 season, Raina captained the temporary franchise Gujarat Lions as well. When CSK returned from the hiatus, he was one of the three players retained by the franchise . He has been one of the greats in IPL history, referred fondly as &#8216;Mr.IPL&#8217; due to his dominance in the tournament, where he has scored in excess of 400 runs every year, barring two seasons. Expectations for IPL 2019 Suresh Raina is an excellent player and will be a key weapon for CSK&#8217;s 4th IPL title.

Suresh Raina Archives

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Umesh Yadav Biography

Umesh Yadav is the definition of started from the bottom and now we're here. He is the son of a coal-miner and initially wanted to be a police officer. Then, in his teenage years Umesh Yadav took up cricket.

Yadav entered the Ranji trophy with the unheralded Vidarbha team. Yadav honed his skill as a pacer and soon earned a 2008 Ranji debut against Madhya Pradesh. He snatched 20 wickets in his debut season and his pace peaked in the 140. It wasn't long before the selectors turned in his direction.

He was picked for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia in 2014/15. However, it was only out of desperation as fast bowling options were very limited. However, Yadav gave the national selectors a reason to not doubt their decision with 11 wickets.

However, the only thing that worked against him was consistency. But he really couldn't be blamed as it was India's slip catching let him down.

Redemption came in the form of the 2015 World Cup in Australia. Umesh Yadav snagged 18 wickets and was India's highest wicket-taker.

IPL Career

Umesh Yadav made his IPL debut back in 2010 for the Delhi Daredevils. However, like nearly every debutant, he suffered from the limited game time syndrome. To make matters worse, his figures were not making a very good case for him. 2011 was also a mediocre year, again with limited chances. But in 2012, things changed dramatically. 19 wickets and the fourth highest wicket taker, is nothing to sniff at.

He moved to the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014 and helped them to the title. Umesh Yadav's contribution to the triumphant side was 11 wickets. He soon worked his way into becoming one of the important members of the KKR team.

During his KKR stint, Umesh Yadav amassed a total of 48 wickets,  the fourth highest in the franchise's history. However, he was let go ahead of IPL 2018 and the Royal Challengers Bangalore pounced. Umesh Yadav was brought in for an astounding 4.2 crore.

He made it worth their while with 20 wickets in his first season. His impressive performance ensured that he was retained for IPL 2019.

IPL 2019 Expectations

Umesh Yadav has registered best figures of 4 wickets for 24 runs back in the 2013 season. Skipper Virat Kohli will be dependent on him to bowl at his lethal best and keep the wickets tumbling

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav Biography Umesh Yadav is the definition of started from the bottom and now we&#8217;re here. He is the son of a coal-miner and initially wanted to be a police officer. Then, in his teenage years Umesh Yadav took up cricket. Yadav entered the Ranji trophy with the unheralded Vidarbha team. Yadav honed his skill as a pacer and soon earned a 2008 Ranji debut against Madhya Pradesh. He snatched 20 wickets in his debut season and his pace peaked in the 140. It wasn&#8217;t long before the selectors turned in his direction. He was picked for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia in 2014/15. However, it was only out of desperation as fast bowling options were very limited. However, Yadav gave the national selectors a reason to not doubt their decision with 11 wickets. However, the only thing that worked against him was consistency. But he really couldn&#8217;t be blamed as it was India&#8217;s slip catching let him down. Redemption came in the form of the 2015 World Cup in Australia. Umesh Yadav snagged 18 wickets and was India&#8217;s highest wicket-taker. IPL Career Umesh Yadav made his IPL debut back in 2010 for the Delhi Daredevils. However, like nearly every debutant, he suffered from the limited game time syndrome. To make matters worse, his figures were not making a very good case for him. 2011 was also a mediocre year, again with limited chances. But in 2012, things changed dramatically. 19 wickets and the fourth highest wicket taker, is nothing to sniff at. He moved to the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014 and helped them to the title. Umesh Yadav&#8217;s contribution to the triumphant side was 11 wickets. He soon worked his way into becoming one of the important members of the KKR team. During his KKR stint, Umesh Yadav amassed a total of 48 wickets,  the fourth highest in the franchise&#8217;s history. However, he was let go ahead of IPL 2018 and the Royal Challengers Bangalore pounced. Umesh Yadav was brought in for an astounding 4.2 crore. He made it worth their while with 20 wickets in his first season. His impressive performance ensured that he was retained for IPL 2019. IPL 2019 Expectations Umesh Yadav has registered best figures of 4 wickets for 24 runs back in the 2013 season. Skipper Virat Kohli will be dependent on him to bowl at his lethal best and keep the wickets tumbling

Umesh Yadav Archives

Umesh Yadav Archives - EssentiallySports

Profile

Virat Kohli has had an impressive career since making his debut in the Indian team in 2008. He first broke into the national side in ODIs, soon followed by a 2010 debut in T20s and a Test debut in 2011.

Since then, his rise has been meteoric and he eventually took the mantle of India captain from MS Dhoni. ODI captaincy was up first in 2013, followed by Test captaincy when MS Dhoni announced his retirement in 2014. Finally, Virat Kohli was appointed T20 skipper in 2017.

IPL Career

Virat Kohli made his IPL debut back in 2008 itself for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Since then, he has remained in the team all these years.

After an average debut season, his form picked up in subsequent years. For two straight seasons, he was in the top 3 of highest run-scorers in IPL.

In 2011, he was promoted to vice captain and even took over as skipper when regular, Daniel Vettori was injured. When the latter retired in 2013, Kohli took the mantle of RCB captain, and has led the side ever since.

Now, for IPL 2019, Virat Kohli heads into the new season as the captain once again.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-151142" src="http://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/kohli-ap-m1.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli" width="759" height="422" />

Expectations for IPL 2019

With regard to expectations, there is a lot of pressure on the team. For years, they have always been so close and yet so far. On paper, RCB have had the strongest batting line-up of all other teams, yet, they have failed to deliver time and again.

Between 2011 and 2017, RCB boasted of the deadliest batting line-up. To be precise, joining Virat Kohli was South Africa's AB de Villiers and West Indian giant, Chris Gayle.

Inspite of this, and Gayle smashing a few centuries here and there, RCB almost always bottled the job.

So, will the 2019 season be any different? Can captain Virat Kohli inspire his men to rally forth into victory? Or will Virat Kohli and the RCB squad succumb to defeat yet again, as was the case all these years?

Virat Kohli

Profile Virat Kohli has had an impressive career since making his debut in the Indian team in 2008. He first broke into the national side in ODIs, soon followed by a 2010 debut in T20s and a Test debut in 2011. Since then, his rise has been meteoric and he eventually took the mantle of India captain from MS Dhoni. ODI captaincy was up first in 2013, followed by Test captaincy when MS Dhoni announced his retirement in 2014. Finally, Virat Kohli was appointed T20 skipper in 2017. IPL Career Virat Kohli made his IPL debut back in 2008 itself for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Since then, he has remained in the team all these years. After an average debut season, his form picked up in subsequent years. For two straight seasons, he was in the top 3 of highest run-scorers in IPL. In 2011, he was promoted to vice captain and even took over as skipper when regular, Daniel Vettori was injured. When the latter retired in 2013, Kohli took the mantle of RCB captain, and has led the side ever since. Now, for IPL 2019, Virat Kohli heads into the new season as the captain once again. Expectations for IPL 2019 With regard to expectations, there is a lot of pressure on the team. For years, they have always been so close and yet so far. On paper, RCB have had the strongest batting line-up of all other teams, yet, they have failed to deliver time and again. Between 2011 and 2017, RCB boasted of the deadliest batting line-up. To be precise, joining Virat Kohli was South Africa&#8217;s AB de Villiers and West Indian giant, Chris Gayle. Inspite of this, and Gayle smashing a few centuries here and there, RCB almost always bottled the job. So, will the 2019 season be any different? Can captain Virat Kohli inspire his men to rally forth into victory? Or will Virat Kohli and the RCB squad succumb to defeat yet again, as was the case all these years?