Just days after occupying the top spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings for all-rounders, Ravichandran Ashwin is set to become a proud recipient of the Arjuna award.
Ashwin and shooter Heena Sidhu were among those named as Arjuna Award winners for this year. They will be conferred with their awards on India's Independence Day - August 15.

Ashwin will become the 47th Indian cricketer, which includes 8 women, to be given the prestigious award.

The Arjuna award, which is given by the Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is in recognition of outstanding achievement in sports.

Saleem Durani (1961) was the first cricketer to be conferred with the Arjuna award while Virat Kohli was given the award last year.

England seamer, Stuart Broad, was struck on the nose by a bouncer from Indian quick, Varun Aaron, at Old Trafford and was forced to retire hurt. It led to speculations that he may have to play with a protective mask in the final Test at The Oval.

However, reports now suggest that the wound is healing quickly and he may not have to wear the protective mask for the final Test of the series.

According to a report that came up in the Mirror, the swelling on Broad's face was going down and that he might be able to play without the mask.

"It was feared he would need extra protection, but the swelling around his battered nose is reducing after he was a hit by a bouncer from Varun Aaron."

It was also reported that the helmet manufacturer, Masuri is ready to offer him with a helmet that promises to prevent such injuries in the future. At present, the England star uses Ayrtek helmet. However, it failed to prevent the injury.

The MD of 'Masuri' helmet manufacturer, Sam Miller said: "Masuri does not sponsor specific players. We believe that when it comes to something as important as head protection, players should be free to choose the best helmet."

As Suresh Raina hit the winning run off Marlon Samuels, the Indian dug-out hugged and high-fived their successive win in the World T20.

There was celebratory joy, but there was also a hint of relief, for India had taken a simple chase to the final over. As MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli clasped hands,Yuvraj Singh walked out. He had just taken off his gear but still wore a part disenchanted, part blank look; his eyes distant, and in sharp contrast to the jubilation around him.

Yuvraj had walked in with 23 needed off 32, consumed 19 of those for his 10 runs and had fallen dabbing a turner straight to slip. One ball later Raina ended the match.

Against Pakistan, he missed a full delivery and was bowled second ball. In both matches, he put down what could have been costly misses - Chris Gayle and Mohammad Hafeez - but India created and converted more chances soon after. His solitary over in the tournament so far went for 13.

Cricket is a game that lends itself easily to analysis, and unfortunately, to over-analysis as well. India are only two games into their campaign in a format where often, any analysis can be over-analysis. It is readily possible to argue in Yuvraj's favour: Anyone can miss a full and straight one early in his innings, especially in the T20 format which requires heavy hitting.

Yuvraj might only have wanted some time in the middle, knowing that India had plenty of deliveries left to put West Indies away, and aware that such an opportunity rarely comes in T20s. Already, many other players have spilled high catches in Mirpur, and there could be a larger reason for it. The height and positioning of the floodlights is being talked about as a possible factor. And for all his deeds with the ball in the past, Yuvraj is and has always been a part-time bowler, and it was only one over anyway.

It is the sum of all these instances, though, that invites concern. This is already Yuvraj's third comeback (of sorts) since recovering from cancer. The first time he was rushed into the 2012 World T20 having played very little competitive cricket and seemed lacking in match fitness. The second comeback also started in the shortest format, with a much leaner Yuvraj carving a match-winning, unbeaten 77 off 35 against Australia in Rajkot in October last year, before struggling in the one-dayers. The third comeback is not strict in definition, for India didn't played any T20s between the Rajkot one and the World T20.

In both the previous phases, Yuvraj has lost his place in one format each. He hasn't played a Test since December 2012, and an ODI since December 2013, missing the tour of New Zealand and the Asia Cup.

 

At the moment, T20 is the only format he has to make his case and it can be misleading for watchers to take cues from. It can also be ruthless on the player, with everything happening so fast, leaving little time to gather your thoughts. Even more so, considering it is a world event.

With bat, ball, on the field, even in the nets, Yuvraj has just not looked comfortable. The confidence does not seem to be there. It shows in the way he has looked forlorn on the boundary after those drops instead of showing some anger or disappointment. He knows, and the world knows, there is so much riding for him on this World T20. Maybe it is the pressure of that knowledge, that this is all he has left for now, at the international stage at least, that is shackling him down.

As any captain would, MS Dhoni backed his senior player after the West Indies match. "Yuvraj is the best player in T20s. Right now he is not in that good a rhythm you can say. It is a bit tough, he has been dropped from ODIs and is coming back in T20s, there is a bit of pressure on the individual. You can say it is a short format and you can go in and express yourself, but when an individual comes into the team, there is some pressure on him.

"It takes one-two matches but we are only hoping if he gets a good flow, a good game, we all know the kind of match-winner he is and he can really turn the game around on his own," Dhoni said. "I am glad he got a bit of time because it will only settle his nerves. We all know how dangerous he can be once he gets going, he will give many more victories. If Yuvi comes back, if he bats really well, he is a good asset to have a No 4."

India can arguably afford to give Yuvraj one more match in the tournament. It should ideally help that their next one is against Bangladesh and not Australia. They will be relieved if Yuvraj comes good in that. If not, they will be in a quandary against Australia. They look good to make the semi-final, and would not want to go in with a short-on-confidence Yuvraj or a short-on-match-practice Ajinkya Raha

Having started a bit inauspiciously this domestic season, missing the first few games in Ranji Trophy, the right-hand attacking opener from Karnataka, Robin Uthappa had a good run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with the bat and is hopeful of making a comeback into the Indian side.
Robin Uthappa top-scored in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 536 runs at an average of 76.57, and keen to deliver in Indian colours if he is presented with an opportunity.
“I believe I have performed well. I believe I should be playing the next level, and I am confident that I will succeed at the highest level. Given a chance I will be able to add value to the team,” Uthappa was quoted as saying by Times of India.
Karnataka had a dream run this season, winning the treble of Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup and Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Uthappa was an integral part of the side.
He slammed two consecutive centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, an unbeaten 132 against Gujarat and 133 against Jharkhand, and also picked up 2 wickets in the final with his medium pace.
“It’s a special feeling to be able to win all the three domestic tournaments,” said Uthappa.
“We are a unique bunch of cricketers as each player cares for the team. And to be part of history is more than pleasing,” he reflected on the rare achievement by the Karnataka side this season.
Uthappa last appeared for India in a rain-affected Twenty20 match in South Africa in March 2012.

MS Dhoni has sued Zee media corp, IPS Sampath Kumar and News Nation for defamation. He has approached the Madras High court for compensation of Rs 100 crore.

Dhoni, in his suit, submitted that the defendants Zee Media Corporation Limited, Zee News Editor and Business Head Sudhir Chaudary, IPS officer Sampath Kumar (who initially probed the IPL betting scam) and News Nation network private limited, had been carrying highly defamatory, scandalous and libellous false reports and statements since February 11, 2014.

An interim order has been given by the court preventing the Zee group from telecasting interviews or news related to Dhoni and the fixing scandal. The order, which is effective for two weeks, was passed by Justice S Tamilvanan.

"I am of the view that there is a prima facie case and the balance of convenience is also in favour of the plaintiff. Hence interim injection granted for a period of two weeks," the judge said in his order after perusing Dhoni's affidavit.

Zee TV, meanwhile, have rebutted the allegations in the defamation civil suit filed by Dhoni. The news channel maintained that it has not telecast or shown any footage or dialogue to malign the image of Dhoni. The channel clarified that it had telecast the story that was based on Vindu Dara Singh and IPS officer Sampat Kumar's statements during the sting operation which was telecast on February 24 and 28, 2014 respectively by Zee Media Corporation.

"Zee Media Corporation Limited as a responsible news channel has ideated the story based on the said sting and also on the report filed by Justice Mudgal to the Honorable Supreme Court of India which was widely reported by various media organisations including print media," the channel said in a statement.

"The news channel has done the sting operations based on the facts which were in the public domain as series of stories were already filed/published by various media organisations from February 10 to 1, 2014.

"To further clarify the said issue, Zee Media Corporation Limited has already moved an intervention application along with the evidence in its possession before the Honorable Supreme Court of India in the pending SLP filed by Cricket Association of Bihar," it added.