Cricket News Today: Virat Kohli insists he will play all formats for three more years, IPL franchises want to play abroad and more - 19th February 2020

Hello and welcome to the daily round-up of all the major stories happening in the cricketing world today.

First up is Virat Kohli insisting to play all formats for three more years, followed by IPL franchises wanting to play abroad in the offseason. Kohli wants Prithvi Shaw to follow in the footsteps of Mayank Agarwal while Ravi Bishnoi expresses his excitement to learn under Anil Kumble. And lastly, Shane Bond reckons that India will find it hard to beat New Zealand in their den.

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Here is a look at those stories in detail.

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#1 Virat Kohli insists he will play all formats for three more years

Kohli to represent India in all three formats at least until the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup

Ahead of the first Test match against New Zealand in Wellington, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has revealed his intentions of playing for India for at least three more years in all three formats of the game.

Kohli cleared the air about his plans and stated that playing for 300 days in a year for more than eight years takes a toll on the body and players must be managed properly. He stated that taking regular and planned breaks was a crucial factor in keeping himself intact during those grueling years.

Also see – Women’s Cricket world cup winners list

According to Kohli, keeping the same intensity on the field needs off-the-field work and therefore cooling off is also equally necessary.

The two Captains pose for the shutterbugs ahead of the two match Test series.Who do you reckon is taking this trophy home ?#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/a6z4dkO6s6

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 19, 2020

"My mindset is on the bigger picture as I prepare myself for a rigorous three years from now and after that, we might have a different conversation."

"It's not a conversation you can hide away from in any manner. It is around eight years now that I have been playing 300 days a year, which includes travelling and practice sessions. And intensity is right up there all the time. It does take a toll on you."

"I can keep going on with the same intensity and also understand that the team wants a lot of my contribution in the next two to three years, so that I can ease into another transition that we faced five-six years ago."

Full article: New Zealand vs India 2020: Virat Kohli insists he will play all formats for at least three more years

#2 IPL Franchises want to play abroad in offseason

Three franchises have shown interest in playing abroad

IPL franchises Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals reportedly want to participate in foreign leagues and play abroad. According to sources, all three IPL franchises are interested in playing off-season matches to help the players improve their skills and get better exposure.

The franchises are open to playing domestic teams from across the globes and not amongst themselves. Champions League T20, which had to be scrapped in 2014 due to poor viewership, was the only platform that provided the IPL franchises an opportunity to face off against domestic teams from other countries.

“Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals - they’ve all shown interest in playing abroad during the off season. The BCCI refuses to even take it up officially, despite the GC discussing it in the recent past,” TOI quoted its sources as saying."

“As long as two or more IPL franchises are not playing between each other overseas, nothing stops them.”

Full article: IPL 2020: Franchises reportedly wanting to play abroad in the off-season, BCCI not heeding to request

#3 Kohli wants Prithvi Shaw to learn from Mayank Agarwal

Prithvi Shaw

Indian skipper Virat Kohli wants youngster Prithvi Shaw to learn from the likes of opener Mayank Agarwal in terms of work ethic and consistency. Speaking ahead of the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington, Kohli praised the talented 20-year-old and wants him to follow his instincts and play his natural game.

He stated that despite his relative inexperience, Shaw won't be intimidated by the prospect of facing genuine fast bowlers with pace and bounce on the pitch. Instead, he wants Shaw to take on the opposition head-on and play aggressively.

"Prithvi is a talented player and he has his own game and we want him to follow his instincts and play the way he does. Look, these guys have no baggage and are not desperate to perform in any manner."

"They don’t have any nerves to do well overseas. Like a clear head with which Mayank played in Australia, Prithvi can do the same in New Zealand. A bunch of guys playing with fearlessness, something that can motivate the whole team, gives us start that the team wants and not get intimidated by the opposition in any way."

Full article: New Zealand vs India 2020: Virat Kohli wants Prithvi Shaw to learn from Mayank Agarwal

#4 Ravi Bishnoi excited to work under head coach Anil Kumble

Ravi Bishnoi playing for India Under-19

Kings XI Punjab's INR 2 crore buy Ravi Bishnoi wants to learn under the guidance of coach Anil Kumble during his stint in IPL 2020. Bishnoi ended the U19 World Cup as the highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets in six games.

Bishnoi expressed his excitement of playing under the mentorship of Kumble and is looking forward to learning the flipper which helped Kumble claim a host of wickets during his playing days. Bishnoi revealed that he used to watch videos of Shane Warne and Anil Kumble while growing up and how he changed from a medium-pacer to a leg-spinner.

💪💪Ravi Bishnoi hua sadda. We buy him for ₹2 Crores! #SaddaPunjab #SaddeKings #IPLAuction #IPL2020Auction

— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) December 19, 2019

"Whenever I start an over, I always want to bowl every single delivery at the stumps... Bowling on the off and middle stumps has worked a lot for me. Apart from that, leg-spin and googlies are my main weapons, especially googlies. I bowl at least one google in six deliveries I bowl in an over. The google has many a time given me success. This is the art I have learnt from Shane Warne and Anil Kumble sir."

"I have always admired Shane Warne and Anil Kumble sir. I have watched Kumble sir's bowling videos. He is a God gifted bowler and an amazing spinner. If you watch his bowling, you will notice that he has always bowled his deliveries at the stumps. The best part of his bowling was his speed with the spin."

"The one thing I will request him is to teach me is the art of bowling the flipper... After the World Cup, the target is to perform well for KXIP in IPL. There have been cricketers who got a chance in the Indian team after performing magnificently in the IPL. My ultimate dream is to play for India (senior team)."

Full article: IPL 2020 | Kings XI Punjab leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi excited to work under head coach Anil Kumble

#5 Shane Bond claims Kiwis are hard to beat at home

Shane Bond reckons that New Zealand could opt for an all-pace attack against India in the first Test

Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond feels that beating the Kiwis at home will prove to be an uphill task for the Indians. Citing the recently concluded Test series against England at home as an example, Bond spoke on the variety and depth in New Zealand's bowling style and how dangerous they were in familiar home conditions.

The former pacer explained that the flat nature of the pitch will be exploited fully by the Kiwi pace-attack comprising of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Kyle Jamieson, and De Grandhomme as the Indian batsman can find it tough to score against them.

"New Zealand is hard to beat at home. Recently, they beat England. It will be a tightly-contested series as New Zealand have great variety in their bowling attack."

"Neil [Wagner] will test with short balls. [Tim] Southee has got swing and [Kyle] Jamieson has both pace and swing. They are a different kind of bowling unit.”

"New Zealand could go in with five fast bowlers in Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Kyle Jamieson and De Grandhomme. The wickets later on become so flat that New Zealand are really hard to beat here. I don’t think it’s going to be any different."

Full article: New Zealand vs India 2020: Kiwis are really hard to beat at home, claims Shane Bond