Shikhar Dhawan could move to new IPL side in 2019, ABD opens up about Dhoni's place in the ODI team, and more - Cricket News Today, 21 October 2018

Dhawan

Welcome to Sportskeeda's Cricket News Today for October 21, 2018.

The first ODI of the five-match series between India and West Indies began today at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Rishabh Pant made his much-awaited debut and is playing alongside MS Dhoni. The latter is keeping wickets in the match.

The Windies put on a show with the bat, scoring 322 runs on the board in their 50 overs, with Shimron Hetymer socring a blazing century.

Apart from the India-Windies ODI, the final of the Afghanistan Premier League will take place today at 21:30 IST.

Let's take a look at the trending news from today:

#1 Reports: Shikhar Dhawan could join Mumbai Indians in IPL 2019

After acquiring the services of the Royal Challengers Bangalore star Quinton de Kock, the Mumbai Indians are reportedly after the services of Sunrisers Hyderabad's Shikhar Dhawan.

If reports from the Mumbai Mirror are to be believed, the three-time champions are in talks with the Indian opening batsman to play for them next year. He could join his Indian opening partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the order if this happens.

"That’s right. If we get a couple of good players as a trade-off, we’re open to it," a Sunrisers official said."That’s right. If we get a couple of good players as a trade-off, we’re open to it," a Sunrisers official said.

A few of the reports had suggested that Dhawan had a rift with the Sunrirsers' coach Tom Moody, which led to him asking to leave.

#2 AB de Villiers defends MS Dhoni's place in the Indian team

MS Dhoni

Former South African international cricketer AB de Villiers is currently in India attending an event.

Speaking at the event, he was asked about Virat Kohli's captaincy and whether MS Dhoni deserves to be in the current Indian ODI set-up.

He laughed it off saying that he would keep Dhoni in his team any day of the year.

“You guys are funny. No, I would play MS Dhoni in my team every day of every year. He can be 80 (years old), I ensure he will play for my team. He is fantastic I mean look at his record. You want to drop a guy like that? You can go ahead by all means. I wouldn’t,” he was quoted as saying by The Quint.

#3 Mohammed Abbas rises to career high ranking

After an extremely successful outing against Australia in the recently concluded Test series held in Abu Dhabi, Pakistani pacer Mohammed Abbas rose to a career-high ranking in the latest ICC rankings.

He picked up his maiden ten-wicket haul against the Aussies in the second Test, which saw them win the match and the series. He picked up 7 wickets in the first Test as well.

He is currently at no. 3 in the rankings for bowlers, behind James Anderson and Kagiso Rabada. He had begun the series at no. 14 in the rankings.

#4 Graeme Smith to deliver lecture at Dalmiya Conclave

Graeme Smith

Former South African captain Graeme Smith will deliver the lecture at the second edition of the Jagmohan Dalmiya Annual Conclave on November 2. The Conclave will be held prior to the silver jubilee celebrations of the 1993 Hero Cup, the first time a day-night match was played at the Eden Gardens.

"We plan to see whether we can get former West Indies players. Lara is here. We will try and get something organised," Ganguly told PTI at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.

"1993 was the first day-night match at Eden Gardens, it's exactly 25 years. And India played West Indies also. So we will try to get something," he added.

On the conclave, Ganguly said: "We have it annually. Last year it was Kapil Dev and this time Smith has confirmed."