The legendary Sunil Gavaskar said two-time World Cup-winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's popularity in India has exceeded the level of fandom even the great Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli enjoy in the cricket-crazy nation. Gavaskar, also a former India captain, is in the UAE to commentate in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League. Dhoni, who last month retired from international cricket, is back to play in the IPL for his first competitive outing since the 2019 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand. Speaking about Dhoni before the IPL opener, Gavaskar said, 'Since MSD comes from Ranchi, which doesn't have a cricket culture as such, the whole India loves him. Tendulkar has Mumbai and Kolkata, Kohli has Delhi and Bengaluru but when you talk of Dhoni it's the whole India.' Staying in self isolation for the first six days after spending five months with family was the hardest phase, according to Dhoni, who spoke for the first time in months.
Australia win ODI series decider against England
Australia stunned England in the third ODI to pocket the three-match series by a 2-1 margin. The series decider saw England post 302/7 in 50 overs. Jonny Bairstow (112), Sam Billings (57) and Chris Woakes (53*) helped England pile up a competitive total. In reply, Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey struck respective centuries to guide Australia home. England were rocked early on as Mitchell Starc sent back Jason Roy and Joe Root off the first two deliveries. Bairstow and Eoin Morgan added 67 runs. England were reduced to 96/4, before Bairstow and Billings added 114 runs. Woakes' blitz helped them surpass 300. nn Maxwell and Alex Carey added a record stand to win the game. Roy registered his ninth ODI duck, whereas, Root got dismissed for nought for the fifth time in his career. Woakes amassed his fifth career ODI fifty and raced to 97 fours. Woakes (1,315) surpassed Matt Prior in terms of runs (1,282). Meanwhile, Billings scored his fourth ODI fifty. This was his second fifty-plus score in the series.
