Dhoni Launches official website

Almost all the bollywood celebrities have their official websites so how come our cricketers be left behind. Indian captain Mahinder singh dhoni has launched his official website dhoniworld.com at a function in New Delhi. Virender sehwag, Harbhajan singh and Ishant sharma too launched there respective websites

Dhoniworld.com is a flash based website and it’s still not complete as most of it’s features are not working currently. The site has personal information regarding Indian captain like his favourite movie, stars etc. Interestingly he mentions Amitabh, John, Katrina and Chitragandha singh as his favourite stars, no Deepika there, ouch. A star’s website can’t be complete without some pictures and this one has got too, but since it’s flash you can’t download them. Advertisement

Dhoni says Sehwag is licensed to thrill

With Gautam Gambhir evolving into a complete batsman, there is just no need to straitjacket Virender Sehwag's characteristic daredevilry, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said in Kanpur on Monday.

Sehwag has been in his devil-may-care self in the Test series against Sri Lanka, getting off to rollicking starts but not staying long enough to convert them into big knocks.

But asked Dhoni if the Delhi dasher needs to tone down his cavalier attitude in the second Test starting tomorrow, he replied in the negative.

"You don't really want to tell a player like him what to do. That is how he plays the game and is known for. He is more of an aggressor and is not the kind of guy who would stick to the wicket for one-and-half days. He is always looking to get on with game," Dhoni explained.

Conveying the think-tank's unconditional support for Sehwag's brand of batsmanship, Dhoni said, "We want him to play his natural game. He is a very experienced player and we don't need him to tell anything."

India probably can afford to let Sehwag play his natural game since the other opener, Gambhir, has evolved into a complete batsman, who can shelve his natural aggression and graft for hours, something he displayed in the drawn first Test in Ahmedabad.

Effusive in his praise for the left-hander, Dhoni said, "He is a great character. Thrust him into whatever condition and he would play accordingly. He can shift gears easily and uses his feet well against the spinners.

"He has been consistently in good form over the past one-and-half years and whenever the team needed, he delivered. Once he sets himself well, he goes for big innings," added the captain.

Dhoni was his usual coy self when asked about team combination.

"It has always been an issue in the media but you have to wait till tomorrow," he said.

Asked how he rated S Sreesanth in the nets, Dhoni said the Kerala speedster was impressive but also sprang in defence of Ishant Sharma that revealed little about his preference if it comes to chose one between them.

"Sreesanth has bowled well in the nets. He bowled with great pace and swung it a lot but we will have to wait till tomorrow," Dhoni said.

"Ishant, meanwhile, is back in rhythm, as we saw in Ahmedabad. He is putting in a lot of efforts and the improvement is there to see," he said.

After the runfeast in Ahmedabad, Dhoni reckoned the pitch at the Green Park Stadium here would have more for the bowlers.

"Compared to Motera, the pitch here looks different. It has got some grass and the base is dry. But you cannot really predict how the wicket would play the next five days.

"Here the weather is cooler and as we know, initially there would be some help for the seamers. The outfield is nor lush, so there would be some reverse swing for the fast bowlers. It will break as well. Overall, I feel it would be a better wicket for the bowlers," he explained.

India's famed line-up looked vulnerable in the morning sessions in Ahmedabad and Dhoni said a little bit of caution would negate the issue.

"I think it depends on individual approach. With some assistance for the pacers, you at times get out to good deliveries. You have to keep that good delivery out and bat," he said.

One thing that has left Dhoni dithering is whether to bat first or not of he wins the toss.

"First sessions will be important. Everyday there would be a bit of help for the pacers. Even in ODIs, we see the first 30-45 minutes are important. Now here you have to decide whether to bat first and go hard at the first one hour. Once you see through the hour, it becomes easy to keep batting. Or you bat in the fourth innings and at the receiving end of a pitch where the ball would be turning," he said.

Dhoni assured there was no worry about Harbhajan Singh, who skipped today's practice, and said Dinesh Karthik -- drafted in as his cover -- would return to play Ranji Trophy.

"Harbhajan is fine. It being an optional practice, we leave it to the players to decide how they want to prepare. Yes, Dinesh was called in because I was having some problems. But now he, along with a few others, would go back to play Ranji," the India skipper said. Advertisement

Dhoni & co celebrate with wine&women after Hyderabad defeat!

Dhoni and pals take a beating after television channel News X show them partying after Thursday's loss in Hyderabad

Photographs from a Hyderabad hotel aired by the television channel NewsX, has shown captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and some of his famous teammates enjoying the company of male and female admirers at a party which the channel claimed was held after India lost to Australia by three runs in Hyderabad on Thursday.

The loss put India 2-3 behind in the series before Dhoni's Indians succumbed meekly in Guwahati on Sunday to lose the home series. The seventh and final match is scheduled to be played in Navi Mumbai today.

The channel reported yesterday that the party was held within hours of the thrilling match which witnessed an epic innings of 175 from Sachin Tendulkar, whose effort went in vain due to to some careless bowling, fielding and batting by his teammates.

On a special show aired last night, channel guest Bishan Singh Bedi, the former India captain said that it was not unusual for players to let their hair down in a party. "Nothing wrong with it. After all, they are all adults," he said. But when the show host asked whether it was the right thing to do in the midst of an important series, Bedi remarked, "Now that is a big question mark."

Bedi wondered whether this was the reason why players were against the World Anti Doping Agency's whereabouts clause in the International Cricket Council's anti-doping procedure. He also seemed amazed as to how the Board was behind its players who refused to give out their whereabouts after play.

Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra and rookie Ravindra Jadeja feature in the photographs.

Journalist Gulu Ezekiel, the second guest on the show, refused to slam the players for their decision to party, but was amazed how fresh they could get after an energy-sapping match. The channel identified fast bowler Pravin Kumar as a smoker at the party.

A few former players whom MiD DAY contacted said they had not seen the shots, so were in no position to comment. However, former captain Chandu Borde, who managed Indian teams in the past, the latest instance being the 2007 tour of England, felt that it was time the Board appoints a permanent manager who would ensure discipline.

At the moment, the manager's post for every tour is distributed as rewards for votes in BCCI elections. No manager is appointed for a home series.

Cricket fans in Mumbai were not impressed too. Sandip Mehta, a businessman said: "Play hard, party hard but do that only after a victory. If you lose, go out for a quiet meal or better still, stay in your room and indulge in some introspection."

Ramji Dharod, a former Mumbai club cricketer, said that the most shocking aspect of the photographs shown on television was the sight of Dhoni. "If what we saw on television is true (that the cricketers attended a party after the Hyderabad defeat) then it is very sad. As captain, these public appearances don't do his image good. It doesn't send out the right kind of signals especially to your juniors," he said. Advertisement

Dhoni and Harbhajan send Police into Tizzy

Indian cricket captain M S Dhoni and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh today sent the police here into a tizzy as they left the team hotel without informing the police while Yuvraj Singh also went out declining an offer to have security personnel with him.

The police said they were not amused at the "irresponsible action" of the players and have prepared a report about the "security violations" made by them.

Man-of-the-match in India-Australia third one-dayer in Delhi Yuvraj Singh was the first to leave the Taj, the team hotel, and drove out in a car.

Yuvraj, who belongs to Chandigarh, drove out in a Audi bearing a temporary registration number of Haryana late this evening from the hotel in Sector 17 and returned a couple of hours later, police said.

Later, Dhoni and Harbhajan also followed suit and left the hotel for a brief period without informing the security, which a senior official said was mandatory.

"First Yuvraj left and when we told him to take a security official with him, he outrightly refused. Then captain M S Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh also left their hotel without informing," Chandigarh's Superintendent of Police (Security) H S Doon told PTI here.

He said Deputy Superintendent of Police Roshan Lal, who is the camp commandant deputed at the hotel where the teams are staying, had prepared a report about the "security violations made by the players".

"I have got the report and now we will be taking up the matter with the PCA, which is hosting tomorrow's match at Mohali," Doon said.

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Dhoni all praise for impressive Ishant Sharma

India pacer Ishant Sharma, who has struggled for form since his fine show in Australia last year, has come in for praise from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni after his impressive performance in the first one-dayer in Vodadara.

Dhoni felt the Delhi youngster’s performance against Australia in the opening ODI yesterday was an indication that he was on his way back to form.

“I thought Ishant bowled really well and hit right areas. If he is bowling well his speed automatically goes up. That’s when you know he’s bowling in right rhythm and is in the right frame of mind,” Dhoni remarked after the match.

Ishant returned with figures of 3 for 50 in 10 overs and seemed to hit the deck hard and looked in good rhythm after a couple of overs in his first spell. He was spanked for a few fours in his second spell before settling down again. He accounted for Tim Paine in his first spell and returned in slog overs to dismiss Mike Hussey and Brett Lee.

Dhoni said the gangling fast bowler was a bit low on confidence since it was difficult for the youngster to face failure after tasting success at such a young age.

But, Dhoni also pointed out that Ishant needed support from everyone and that’s what his teammates in the Indian squad were doing to help him come out of the rut.

“He’s a bit low on confidence and that happens when you are 21 and have always seen success. So it’s difficult to deal with failure. When somebody is not doing well, we as friends and teammates want to back him,” he said. Advertisement

Dhoni hurts knee during batting Practice

Two-days before the start of the one-day series against Australia, India skipper Mahendra Singh on Friday hurt his left knee while batting in a practice session but is hoping the injury is not serious.

Dhoni was hit on the backside of the left knee while batting at the nets against paceman Munaf Patel during an extended practice session at the Reliance Stadium here and had to leave the session mid-way to take rest.

"I got hit when batting against Munaf. I should be alright tomorrow, but have to wait and see how it feels in the morning," Dhoni, wearing a protective gear on the affected portion, told PTI.

Dhoni is the lone regular stumper in the Indian side named for the first two matches of the seven-match rubber, starting on Sunday in Vadodara.

The Indian team, which had assembled in Mumbai on October 20 and practiced there for three days, had a three-hour session here this afternoon after arriving in the morning. Advertisement

Docked: sports car fine on Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be fined Rs 100 for delay in the registration of his Hummer H2 sports utility vehicle (SUV).

The Team India skipper is also on a sticky wicket with his Harley-Davidson: he is yet to submit a “road worthiness certificate” by the makers of the bike. That is necessary to have it registered.

“He will be fined Rs 100 for the delay in applying for registration for the SUV. The norm is to apply for registration within seven days of purchase. Dhoni failed to do so. It’s a normal process being followed by one and all,” said A.K. Banka, the district transport officer of Ranchi.

However, according to another official of the transport department, Dhoni had applied for the registration of the Hummer within the stipulated time, but the form submitted was incomplete.

Transport office sources said Dhoni had opted for a number of his choice, a combination of his lucky number 7, and there was a high possibility that he would get it.

The Rs 100 fine for an SUV said to have cost him Rs 1 crore, including the high import duty, may not pinch the skipper’s pocket, but he could face a bigger hole if he continues to drive around in the numberless luxury vehicle. Under the motor vehicles act, the penalty increases to Rs 4,500 after the initial fine, the official said.

On the Harley-Davidson, Banka said the registration number could not be issued till the road-worthiness certificate was furnished.

“First, the maker certifies whether the bike is fit for driving on a particular road. Then we send a motor vehicle inspector to assess the fitness of the vehicle. After that, we issue a fitness certificate, following which the registration is done,” Banka said.

Speedster R.P. Singh had accompanied Dhoni when the captain had driven the Hummer from Lucknow to Ranchi on July 30.

Harbhajan Singh is the only other cricketer to own the SUV, made by US auto giant General Motors.

This is the second time Dhoni faces a penalty in connection with cars or for flouting driving rules. Three years ago, a traffic policeman had fined him for driving a car with tinted window panes, which is banned in Ranchi.

Dhoni was unaware of the curbs, which came into force when he was out of town on India duty. Advertisement

Phoney Dhoni

Deepak Sharma is perhaps the luckiest, if not most popular lookalike in the country. The Haryanvi talks, walks and rocks like cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and helping him in his endeavour are a neighbourhood sports shop owner, media persons, and Dhoni himself

Intelligent imposters can manage to copy just about everything. But how do you explain failing in an examination the same year, in the same subject, without knowing what fate would descend on the other? Call it coincidence, but Deepak Sharma, who turned 24 a few days ago, always saw it as a sign. A sports marketing agent from Yamuna Nagar, a small town in Haryana, he decided that he'd make not a living out of his resemblance with Ranchi's cricketing rockstar, but a life.

"When I saw him for the first time, he seemed the chosen one. I always knew I wasn't just another fan."

Today, Deepak and Dhoni meet up often, share tips and turf talk, and Deepak comes home a happy man.

Except, of course, he misses his own identity.
Why did you want to be Dhoni?
It was in 2002 that a newspaper in Rae Bareilly published Dhoni's picture, and I saw a striking similarity between us. Just a few days before this, my doctor had told me that I should quit sports (I was a football and cricket freak) due to a leg injury. I saw it as a sign and started grooming myself like him. My Dhoni journey began in 2004.

How do you manage to be like him?
It takes a lot of effort, especially affording stuff that's essential to his style. But there's a sports store by the corner in my colony, and the shopkeeper stocks all that Dhoni wears, on request, at a special discount for me. His pictures, posters and reports help me keep up-to-date with how he looks and behaves. Of course, the Internet helps too. Television coverage helps me walk the walk and talk the talk.

Does Dhoni know you well?
Yes, by first name. He knows what a big fan I am. We meet every now and then. I met him in Mohali recently. It was during the first season of the IPL that he advised that I try a new haircut. We catch up whenever we can.

Have you butchered your own uniqueness in trying to be someone else, even if he is a star?
Yes, I feel it a lot. The loss of identity hurts. People know me not as myself but Dhoni, but I'm okay with that. At least, they know me because of him. He is the one who has made a celebrity out of me, so, I have no complaints.

How does your family perceive your peculiar preoccupation?
My wife is happy; she says I must do whatever I enjoy. Meri ek gudiya hai teen saal ki (I have a little doll of a daughter who is three years old). She calls me "Dhoni papa". I take her along to most of Mahi's matches, and we love being there together. But, I don't do television shows or over-expose myself; I want to keep my family away from all the attention so that my girl can make a name for herself independent of me some day.

What is the best thing about being who you are?
Once, I spent 47 days at a stretch with Dhoni, travelling and training, in Hyderabad. On one of those days, I was in the hotel car, passing through a college, and a bunch of pretty girls mobbed me. Even when I told them I was only a lookalike, they showered me with love. That was my moment of pride. I had to beg them to disperse.

What about the mocking?
Yes, many people don't take me seriously on the job, and think I am joking, too. They tell me to go to Mumbai to try my kismet. But I shrug it off. Every passion has its risks.

How long do you plan to go on with this?
For as long as I live.

One quality in Dhoni you admire?
His sharp mind. It's an important trait in today's times. Advertisement

M/S Dhoni fails in B Com 1st year

Indian cricket skipper Mahindra Singh Dhoni may have won big matches and Cups for India through his luck but when comes to academics, Mahi has no such lucky charm.The Indian skipper's dreams of getting a graduate degree met with a hurdle.

Mahi failed in the 1st year of his B Com examination and his name was put up on the college notice board. Dhoni did not appear for the exams, may be due to Cricket. He got enrolled himself at St Xavier's college, Ranchi, for the B Com course.

Dhoni got admission in the college under sports quota and was exempted from attending classes because of his cricketing commitments. But, he also missed out the examinations which has put his educational career in a hurdle. Advertisement

College mistakenly 'fails' an absent MS Dhoni

Fans of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni would say that it's just not cricket. The college authorities initially declared that Dhoni, who did not appear for his B Com part-I examination, had 'failed' his exams. The mistake has since been rectified.

The second semester results of B Com part-I results were announced on Tuesday by the Ranchi University. The list, which appeared at the St Xavier's college, had 'fail' before Dhoni's name. The family members and fans of the cricketer were shocked at the news and the issue was brought to the notice of the college administration.

The college administration was prompt to verify the facts and rectify the mistake. "It was a mistake and the list has been revised," Nicholas Tete, principal of St Xavier's College, told reporters. Now Dhoni has been marked 'absent', a source in the college administration said.

Dhoni is a part-I student of St Xavier college of Ranchi. He could not appear in the second semester examination held in May and June. At the time Dhoni was in South Africa for the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 matches.

To become a graduate, Dhoni will have to clear six semesters in five years. According to the college, a student has to clear six semesters in three years. If a student fails to clear a semester, then the student will be given a maximum of five years to clear all semesters. Dhoni has already cleared the first semester and now he has to clear five more semesters in four years.

Dhoni took admission in St Xavier's College last year under sports quota. He was exempted from attending classes. Advertisement

Dhoni world's top earning Cricketer: Forbes

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has topped the list of world's 10 top earning cricketers compiled by Forbes, which also features four other players from the sub-continent Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.

Raking in $10 million, Dhoni is at the top of the chart followed by Tendulkar at the second spot with earnings worth $8 million in the list of The World's Top-Earning Cricketers. While Singh and Dravid are at the third and fourth spot, respectively, Ganguly and Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting share the sixth place.

"Paycheck figures include club and national team salaries and commercial endorsement income over the last 12 months," Forbes said.

According to the magazine, Singh earned $5.5 million while Dravid and Ganguly raked in $5 million and $3.5 million, respectively. Ponting also earned $3.5 million.

"With its deep-pocketed owners and global appeal, nine of the 10 highest-paid cricket players call the Indian Premier League (IPL) home, the publication added.

At the fifth spot is England's Andrew Flintoff with earnings of $4 million followed by Australia's Brett Lee and English cricketer Kevin Pietersen both at eighth place and Australian Michael Clarke is ranked tenth. While Lee and Pietersen raked in $3 million each, Clarke earned $2.5 million.

"Take Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who plays for the Chennai Super Kings and tops our list as cricket's first $10 million-a-year man (that's $5,426 for each run scored). "His $8 million in endorsements, from the likes of Reebok, General Electric and Pepsi, is 45 per cent more than any other player.

"Among all Indian athletes and entertainers, Dhoni's 17 corporate sponsors is second to only Bollywood star and co-owner of the Knight Riders, Shah Rukh Khan," Forbes said.

About Tendulkar, the magazine said the holder of numerous offensive records, is considered among the greatest batsman in cricket history. "... he's one of five IPL players who have been bestowed icon status, meaning he automatically receives a paycheck 15 per cent larger than his highest paid teammate.

"Tendulkar's $1.1 million salary from the Mumbai Indians helped push his total earnings to $8 million over the last 12 months," it added. Advertisement

Dhoni nominated in three categories for ICC awards

India's recent superb run in Test and one-day cricket was reflected in the ICC's annual awards nominations as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was listed in three categories for honour.

Dhoni was nominated for ICC Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year and ODI Player of the Year awards.

Gautam Gambhir and Harbhajan Singh were the other Indian nominees for the prestigious Cricketer of the Year award.

VVS Laxman joined the trio of Dhoni, Gambhir and Harbhajan to be in the line for the Test Player of the Year award while Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag were also in the fray for the honour of ODI Player of the Year.

Dhoni has already been the ODI Player of the Year in 2008 besides being named in the ODI Team of the Year.

Zaheer Khan was nominated for Twenty20 Performer of the Year award while Amit Mishra will be vying for the honour in the Emerging Player of the year category as Indians led the overall nominations for the award.

Mithali Raj was nominated for the Women's Cricketer of the year award.

The nominations were announced by dashing Indian opener Virender Sehwag and former captain Ravi Shastri in the presence of International Cricket Council Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat while the awards will be presented on October 1 in Johannesburg, South Africa during the Champions Trophy.

The nominations were based on performances from August 13, 2008 to August 24, 2009 and were selected by a five-member selection panel, headed by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd,.

The panel also included former India Test captain Anil Kumble, Mudassar Nazar of Pakistan, Bob Taylor of England and New Zealand's Stephen Fleming.

The awards include eight individual prizes and also features the selection of the Test and ODI Teams of the Year and the award to the side that has adhered most to the Spirit of Cricket.

Besides Dhoni, Tillakaratne Dilshan has also been nominated in three different categories, while 18 players make appearance in two distinct categories in the sixth edition of the awards.

The individual player awards will be selected by an academy of 25 highly credentialed cricket personalities from around the world.

The academy includes a host of former players and respected members of the media, representatives of the Emirates Elite Panels of ICC Umpires and ICC Match Referees.

The nominations for Women's Cricketer of the Year were decided after a committee of former players, current administrators and journalists created a long-list.

The Spirit of Cricket Award was voted on by all international captains as well as all members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.

The Umpire of the Year Award was voted on by the captains and the match referees based on the umpires' performance statistics.

Lists of nominees (in alphabetical order):

Individual Awards --

Cricketer of the Year: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI), Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Ind), Gautam Gambhir (Ind), Saqib Al Hasan (Ban), Mitchell Johnson (Aus), Graham Onions (Eng), Thilan Samaraweera (SL), Kumar Sangakkara (SL), Harbhajan Singh (Ind), Graeme Smith (SA), Andrew Strauss (Eng), Daniel Vettori (NZ), AB de Villiers (SA)

Test Player of the Year: Stuart Broad (Eng), Michael Clarke (Aus), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Ind), Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL), Gautam Gambhir (Ind), Saqib Al Hasan (Ban), Mitchell Johnson (Aus), VVS Laxman (Ind), Jesse Ryder (NZ), Thilan Samaraweera (SL), Ramnaresh Sarwan (WI), Peter Siddle (Aus), Harbhajan Singh (Ind), Graeme Smith (SA), Dale Steyn (SA), Andrew Strauss (Eng), Graeme Swann (Eng), Daniel Vettori (NZ), AB de Villiers (SA).

ODI Player of the Year: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Ind), Andrew Flintoff (Eng), Chris Gayle (WI), Umar Gul (Pak), Martin Guptill (NZ), Michael Hussey (Aus), Nuwan Kulasekara (SL), Ajantha Mendis (SL), Muttiah Muralidaran (SL), Yuvraj Singh (Ind), Virender Sehwag (Ind), Thilan Thushara (SL)

Emerging Player: Martin Guptill (NZ), Ben Hilfenhaus (Aus), Philip Hughes (Aus), Amit Mishra (Ind), Graham Onions (Eng), Kemar Roach (WI), Jesse Ryder (NZ), Peter Siddle (Aus),

Twenty20 International Performance of the Year: Shahid Afridi (Pak), Saeed Ajmal (Pak), Dwayne Bravo (WI), Alex Cusack (Ire), Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL), Chris Gayle (WI), Umar Gul (Pak), David Hussey (Aus), Sanath Jayasuriya (SL), Zaheer Khan (Ind), Ajantha Mendis (SL), Wayne Parnell (SA), Abdur Razzak (Ban), David Warner (Aus).

Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Suzie Bates (NZ), Holly Colvin (Eng), Charlotte Edwards (Eng), Laura Marsh (Eng), Sana Mir (Pak), Shelley Nitschke (Aus), Mithali Raj (Ind), Karen Rolton (Aus), Priyanka Roy (Ind), Lisa Sthalekar (Aus), Claire Taylor (Eng), Sarah Taylor (Eng), Stafanie Taylor (WI), Haidee Tiffin (NZ), Aimee Watkins (NZ)

Umpire of the Year: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Daryl Harper, Asad Rauf, Simon Taufel.

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Dhoni, Yuvraj lead ICC ODI Batsmen ranking

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued to top the one-day batsmen chart with his deputy Yuvraj Singh occupying the second position in the the latest ICC ODI Player Rankings released on Wednesday.

Apart from Dhoni and Yuvraj, Delhi dasher Virender Sehwag, at the seventh spot, is the other Indian to feature in the top 10 batsmen list.

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir are at the 14th and 17th spot respectively in the chart.

However, no Indian features among top 10 ODI bowlers with left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan languishing at the 17th spot in the list which is being headed by Sri Lankan Nuwan Kulasekara, followed by Kyle Mills and Daniel Vettori of New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan continued to top the ODI all-rounders table, followed by England's Andrew Flintoff in the second spot and Kiwi Jacob Oram at the third position.

India also managed to hold on to their second best ODI team status with 126 rating points.

South Africa tops the table with a point lead over India, while World Champions Australia is lying third with 119 points. Advertisement

When Dhoni met Kavita

TV actress Kavita Kaushik, who plays the Haryanvi cop Chandramukhi Chautala in FIR, finally understood what the airhostesses mean when they say,

On Monday night, while flying from Delhi to Mumbai, her co-passenger was the Indian cricket team’s captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The captain apparently enjoys an occasional episode of FIR, but he failed to recognise Kavita.

Kavita told us the story, “When I actually met Dhoni, he refused to believe that I was the same Kavita who plays the lead in FIR. He was totally confounded. ‘But you look so different in person!’ he exclaimed. That’s probably because I have a different hairstyle, curly hair these days, whereas on the show as a part of the costume, I dress up differently.”

Who doesn’t love attention, especially when it comes from the good-looking captain of the cricket team? Kavita added, “He told me that whenever he’s surfing the channels and comes across FIR, he makes it a point to watch it.” Kavita further added, laughing, “He asked me if I beat up people in real life too.”

After the mid-air run-in, we’re sure Kavita udaan ke liye tayaar hai. Advertisement

Jharkhand Governor Shower praise on Dhoni

Showering praise on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Governor K Sankaranarayanan today said the Team India captain had put Jharkhand on top of world cricket map with his stupendous performances.

"No account of our sporting heroes will be complete without the mention of the remarkable and superlative achievements of Mahendra Singh Dhoni who has put Ranchi and Jharkhand at the very top of the cricketing map of the world," the Governor said after inaugurating Birsa Munda Stadium here.

Promising that his administration was committed to encourage sports and culture in a befitting manner, the Governor said the 34th National Games scheduled in November this year would reflect the state's determination to preserve its distinguished sporting landscape in the country.

He said the government was paying Rs 16 lakh to various sporting personalities for their achievements. Advertisement

Are Tendulkar-Dhoni Above Phelps & Bolt?

While the cricket world awaited with bated breath to know what position Indian cricket’s governing body - the BCCI would take in order to push forward the uncomfortable ‘whereabouts’ clause of World Anti Doping Agency, the Indian board made it clear that it would not succumb to anything and sided with their players.

Prima-facie, what the BCCI has done seems to be right, if one looks at the players’ point of view, but what it has done is something which will only be detrimental for the reputation and transparency of players like Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

By refusing to toe the WADA line, BCCI has created a problem for International Cricket Council, as it would become toothless if a few more boards follow the Indian board’s footsteps.

So, let us take a look at the contentious clause which has Team India worried , and because which it is refusing to sign on the dotted line.

In what is possibly, till date, one of the most effective ways to free the sport from cheats and create a fair-play environment, WADA brought its anti-doping code in effect from January 1, 2004. According to its draft, the WADA code is the core document that provides the framework for harmonized anti-doping policies, rules, and regulations within sporting organizations and among public authorities.

And to guarantee a dope free sport, it has ensured that players are tested randomly and made to undertake routine sample tests, even if they are not playing. Advertisement

Tendulkar-Dhoni Wear Turbans

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Deepika Hopes to tie rakhi to Dhoni

Deepika has proposed to tie a rakhi to Indian cricket skipper M S Dhoni on Rakshabandhan day. But before you start guessing, this Deepika
is not the Bollywood heartthrob with whom Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh's names were linked sometime back.

She is the budding archer from Jharkhand who brought laurels to the country by bagging a gold medal in the 11th Youth World Archery Championship in US on July 16 this year.

Busy practising at the Tata Archery Academy with Olympic glory on her mind, Deepika has plans to come to Ranchi on August 5 and go to Dhoni's home to tie the rakhi.

"I've always revered him as an elder brother and when I bagged a gold medal in US, I thought if I approach him on Rakhsabandhan he may not refuse me," the 15-year-old told TOI with a glint in her eyes.

Deepika, hailing from a nondescript village, Katamkuli, in the Ranchi district has been a sports-lover since childhood. Showing that lack of money and facilities could not stop a focused individual from succeeding, she joined the Saraikela-Kharsawan Archery Academy for a brief period before coming to the Tata academy where coach Dharmendra Tiwary began grooming her up.

Her father Shiv Narayan Mahto is an auto driver in Ranchi and mother Geeta Devi is a nurse in a government hospital in Tupko. Deepika never got a chance to go to school for formal education but appeared in the final exams directly this year and passed it.

"Though I secured second division in the matriculation exam, I was happy because I could continue with my education," she said. Deepika is now doing her intermediate at Kareem City College in Jamshedpur.

Deepika gives a lot of credit to the Tata academy for her development as an archer. "As a child I never picked up bow and arrow because I had no scope for that. But my mother acknowledged my interest and agreed to send me to the academy in Saraikela despite financial constraints," she said.

"The gold medal in the World Youth meet has brought me to the centrestage and now I have to live upto the expectations of people. For that I am putting in the best effort," she said.
Deepika gets up at 6.30 in the morning and after practising for 10 hours everyday retires to bed by 10 in the night. In this packed schedule, she spares one hour daily for studies. Talking about her training, Deepika said, "Apart from physical exercises, we are taught special tricks to control breath and undergo imagination training so that while participating in an event we are not nervous."

She added that she was groomed to face international competition while participating in events in Turkey and Bangkok. "I was a bit nervous in US but mental training and presence of Purmina madam (her coach) helped me." Advertisement

Dhoni taught me to walk the Ramp: Pragyan Ojha

Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his newest lieutenant Pragyan Ojha have something in common. They are both in the first year of their BCom and ironically, both of them want to complete their degree whatever comes their way

Dhoni is studying at St Xavier's College, Ranchi, while Pragyan has taken admission at Bhavan's College in Hyderabad. So, do the two share notes when they meet? "When you meet Dhoni, studies are the last thing that's on your mind. It is actually an opportunity for me and we have only spoken about cricket so far," he smiles.

Pragyan then goes on to reveal something startling about his captain: Dhoni actually taught his 'classmate' to walk the runway! "We were a part of this exercise where we were showcasing the new Team India jersey and it required me to walk the ramp. I never thought that one day I will have to do that and the thought of a million flashbulbs on my face made me even more nervous! It's so easy to face the toughest rookie on the pitch than walk the runway,"

he says. "That was when Dhoni came up and gave me confidence. (During rehearsals) He told me not to look at the audience, just walk normally and slowly, with a smile, and then turn back."

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Asin shoot Big Bazaar commercial with Dhoni

The latest actress to shoot with the Indian cricket captain is South sensation, Asin. The actress shot for the Big Bazaar commercial with Mahendra Singh Dhoni at a studio in Film City.

Actresses teaming up with cricketers have proven to be an exciting combination for advertisers. MSD has shot with Bipasha Basu for the Reebok commercial in Hong Kong and this is the second time that the cricket captain has been roped in to lure customers for a product with another actress.

Asin signed the clothing company sometime in April and had earlier shot a print campaign for them. But this is the first television commercial for the actress with this brand. Asin shot with Dhoni for the entire day, which included several dress changes. The mood of the shoot was full of fun as the duo kept playing games with each other and at the end of it, Asin said, "MSD was great fun. I had a ball shooting with him."

With Asin's shooting schedule for her Indo-Japanese film still in the pipeline and Dhoni, taking a welcome cricket from international cricket till September, the clothing company got the two celebrities together for the ad campaign which will hit television screens by mid August. Advertisement