Rajasthan won Indian premier League (IPL) like Royals

They played the tournament like Royals.
The team without Icon player, without couch, without star players in team. The least expensive side in the tournament.
The only thing they have is team spirit, they carried throughout the tournament and won the first IPL (Indian Premier League).
Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by 3 wickets on the last ball of the 20th over to lift the DLF Indian Premier League trophy

Every member of the team played important role in different matches of tournament according to need.
Yusuf Pathan is outstanding, he is the man of the match of final with all round performance, who took 3 wickets and top-scored with a 39-ball 56 runs. He was like nightmare for opposite teams throughout tournament. he has fastest fifty in 21 balls of IPL on his name. Yusuf grabbed 435 runs in 16 matches in the IPL, at an amazing strike rate of 179, inclusive of 43 boundaries and 25 sixes.

Shane Watson who played All rounder's role throughout tournament. Watson is the player of the tournament with his 474 runs and 17 wickets.

Sohail Tanvir picked 22 wickets, the highest in the IPL tournament, to become the proud owner of the purple cap.

Shane Warne, yes he was the inspiration of the team. he kept the team spirit high. he was not only the captain of the team but coach also. Hats off to him.
"Ravindra Jadeja is a rockstar. He will be the next superstar for India. [Swapnil] Asnodkar is a terrific shot maker. Yusuf Pathan is finally fulfilling his potential and he has been rewarded with a place in the Indian ODI side. It makes me proud as the captain of the Royals," Warne said.

Lowest scores in Test Cricket by Indians.

Lowest scores committed by Indians in Test cricket

(Score Overs Opposition Ground Match Date)
42 17.0 v England Lord's 20 Jun 1974
58 21.3(8balls over) v Australia Brisbane 28 Nov 1947
58 21.4 v England Manchester 17 Jul 1952
66 34.1 v South Africa Durban 26 Dec 1996
67 24.2(8balls over) v Australia Melbourne 6 Feb 1948
75 30.5 v West Indies Delhi 25 Nov 1987
76 20.0 v South Africa Ahmedabad 3 Apr 2008
83 27.0 v New Zealand, Mohali, 1999-00
88 v New Zealand 1st Test, Mumbai (Brabourne Stadium) 1964-65

http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/team/lowest_innings_totals.html?class=1;id=6;type=team

Rahul Dravid joined 10000 run gainers club

When Rahul Dravid reached 80 in the first Test against South Africa, Rahul Dravid of India became the sixth batsman in history to score 10,000 Test runs, and third Indian.

Dravid has played 120 Tests so far, with averages 55.41. He has 10,031 runs on his account 25 centuries.

Following is the stat: Out of six only sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are playing currently.

Brian Lara (WIS) 131 Tests, 11,953 runs, with 34 centuries, and 48 fifties.

Sachin Tendulkar* (IND) 147 Tests 11,782 runs with 39 centuries and 49 fifties.

Allan Border (AUS) 156 Tests 11,174 runs with 27 centuries, and 63 fifties.

Steve Waugh (AUS) 168 Tests 10,927 runs with 32 centuries,and 50 fifties.

Sunil Gavaskar (IND) 125 Tests 10,122 runs with 34 centuries,and 45 fifties.

Rahul Dravid* (IND) 120 Tests 10,031 runs with 25 centuries, and 5 fifties.

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HOLI - Festival of colours

The festival of Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March (Phalguna) every year.

Holi celebration begins with lighting up of bonfire symbolizing the victory of good over evil.

A public bonfire is held, commemorating the burning of Holika. Traditionally, Hindu boys spend the weeks prior to holi combing the neighborhood for any waste wood they can find for the bonfire.

On the second day, known as Dhulhendi (Dhulwad), people spend the day throwing coloured powder and water at each other. The spring season, during which the weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold. Thus, the playful throwing of the coloured powders has a medicinal significance: the colours are traditionally made of Neem, kukmkum, Haldi, Bilva and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors. A special drink called thandai is prepared, sometimes containing Bhaang. People invite each other to their houses for feasts and celebrations.

Legends & stories associated with Holi.

Holi is now a symbolic commemoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story centres around an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempts to kill his son but fails each time. Finally, the king's sister Holika who is said to be immune to burning, sits with the boy in a huge fire. However, the prince Prahlada emerges without injury, while his aunt burns to death. Holi commemorates this event from mythology, and huge bonfires are burnt on the eve of Holi as its symbolic representation.

This festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha, and hence, Holi is spread over 16 days in Vrindavan as well as Mathura. Apart from the usual fun with coloured powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandoned vitality.

Holi in different parts of India:

In Maharashtra, Holi is called Shimga or Rangpanchami.

Holi differs from North India in Maharashtra, People of Maharashtra celebrate Holi like the North Indians. Play with colours is Rangpanchami, which comes five days after Phalgun Poornima. Puran-poli is dish of festival.

In Bengal, Holi features the Dolayatra (Swing Festival), in which images of the gods are placed on specially decorated platforms and devotees take turns swinging them.

In Punjab, they call it 'Hola Mohalla', Holla Mohalla is celebrated a day after Holi in Punjab especially by the Nihang Sikhs.

In Rajasasthan, The Braj Festival is held in honour of Lord Krishna a few days before Holi, in the month of March. There are different holi traditions in rajasthan like Mali holi, Gair at Godaji, Dolachi holi at Bikaner.

In the towns of Rajasthan — especially Jaisalmer — the music's great, and clouds of pink, green, and turquoise powder fill the air. The grounds of Jaisalmer's Mandir Palace are turned into chaos, with dances, folk songs, and colored-powder confusion.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi

http://www.indiaexpress.com/rangoli/holi.html

http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/holidays/holi.htm

http://www.holifestival.org/

I am not thinking of retirement -- Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar on latest tour, experience with youngsters, and about him.

I am not thinking of retirement.
After my debut (in 1989), every day has been special. I am still living my dream.
I'm getting to learn lots of lessons from the youngsters in team. They're young but all chalu guys.
We played very competitive cricket in Australia.
The dressing room atmosphere is very lively.


Talking about latest Australia tour:
This series has been very satisfying. We played very competitive cricket. We were competitive in Tests and won the ODIs, which makes it a very special tour.

Experience with younger generation:
I've been part of terrific sides and this is one of the top sides I've been a part of.
All the youngsters are very talented. They’ve worked hard. All I can say is the future looks good.
I'm getting to learn lots of lessons from the youngsters in team. They're young but all chalu guys. They're good-humored. The dressing room atmosphere is very lively. I like the atmosphere. It is fantastic to be around such good players.

Thanks to NDTV to bring such fantastic interview.

http://www.cricketndtv.com/convergence/ndtvcricket/cricketstory.aspx?id=SPOEN20080043266

http://www.cricketndtv.com/convergence/ndtvcricket/cricketstory.aspx?id=SPOEN20080043272

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India won CB tri-series by beating Australia

India have won the Commonwealth Bank Series, A brilliant performance by young Praveen Kumar and Sachin's 91 runs took India to historic win.
Beating Australia by 9 runs in a thrilling second final of the CB Series, India brought historic win over Australia.
Praveen's first spell was splendid, he took 3 wickets of Gilchrist, Pointing and Clarke, Australia was on 32/3, and before that Sachin Tendulkar's knock of 91 runs with help of Yuvraj and Dhoni headed India to win.
Last few overs were thrilling.

Mahendrasingh Dhoni: "It was the building stage of my team. There were a few doubts if this team can do well in Austalia. The bowlers did well but the way we improved our batting was great. The way Sachin gave us a start was great. It can't get better than this, beating them(Australia) in two finals. With their batting line there were a few concerns with all of them not scoring."

On Praveen Kumar: He looks quite deceptive, he's a bit skiddy, he moves the ball both ways, he's one of the bowlers to look out for in the coming seasons.

Ricky Ponting:" All credit to the Indians. Our level of cricket over the last week has dropped off. Thats disappointing. We've stumbled at the last turn again, can't take anything from India again. We've probably played our worst cricket over the last week. There are no excuses for that."
about newcomers: "Ishant Sharma was very good in the series and Praveen Kumar also came good in the last couple of games. Ishant's presence was vital for the team but others made up well for his absence."

Sachin misses another one:
This is the sixteenth occasion when he missed his century-knock in One-days. The Little Master, who hit his 42nd ODI hundred in the first final against Australia on Sunday, in the past one and half year he has missed seven ODI centuries.
In 2007, he was dismissed thrice on 99 against South Africa, England and Pakistan. Sachin Tendulkar tops the list of batsmen with maximum dismissals in nineties in the history of cricket. The second Indian, who has been a victim of nervous nineties next to Sachin, is Mohammad Azharuddin with seven dismissals. Sourav Ganguly closely follows erring six times in nineties. Other Indians in this unfortunate list are K Srikkanth with five dismissals, Ajay Jadeja and Rahul Dravid with four missed opportunities.

http://www.cricketndtv.com/cricket/ndtvcricket/cricketstory.aspx?id=SPOEN20080042997

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