polishsouls.co.uk – Fast Global Commentary & Views

Sandeep Sharma recounted a memorable IPL moment from 2017 when Preity Zinta, co-owner of Punjab Kings, advocated for him to receive the Player of the Match award after his crucial spell against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Sharma dismissed Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers, helping Punjab defend a low score.

Virat Kohli, India's most followed personality on Instagram with 273 million followers, has scaled back his social media presence. Citing the energy drain from constant online engagement, Kohli prioritized focusing on his game and personal life. While fans may miss his frequent posts, the article revisits some of his most memorable moments shared on the platform.

RCB captain Rajat Patidar addressed fans following the tragic stampede after their IPL victory parade, expressing condolences and solidarity. Virat Kohli echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the heartbreak and offering prayers. RCB announced a compensation package, a memorial, and safety measures, while a judicial commission held organisers responsible for safety lapses.

Indian cricketers, including Rohit Sharma, recently underwent fitness assessments at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru following a break. While the Yo-Yo test was conducted, the Bronco drill, recommended by Strength & Conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux, was absent but might be included during the Asia Cup in Dubai.

Robin Uthappa revealed that his criticism of Virat Kohli's captaincy, specifically regarding Ambati Rayudu's exclusion from the 2019 World Cup squad, strained their personal relationship. Uthappa admitted he should have discussed his concerns with Kohli privately before making them public. He acknowledged the impact of his comments and learned a valuable lesson about communication within the cricket community.

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, celebrated for their achievements and strong bond, recently visited Vrindavan with their children to seek blessings from Premanand Maharaj. A video showed them attentively listening to Maharaj's sermon. Anushka recalled a previous visit and expressed her desire for divine love. Maharaj praised their devotion amidst fame.

Pat Cummins will miss the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India due to lumbar bone stress, jeopardizing his Ashes preparation. The injury, discovered after persistent back soreness following the West Indies tour, necessitates further management and rehabilitation. Cricket Australia aims to have Cummins ready for the Ashes series, closely monitoring his progress.

Jitesh Sharma's dream of lifting the IPL trophy alongside Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik materialized after RCB's victory. His impactful performance, particularly his impressive strike rate while batting in the lower order, earned him a spot in India's Asia Cup squad. Despite Kohli's desire to see Jitesh's fun side, Jitesh maintained a respectful distance due to his small-town upbringing.

Nasser Hussain stated that with Cheteshwar Pujara's retirement, the game has lost a one-of-a-kind old-school batter. He added that Shubman Gill and Joe Root are reluctant to take on the challenging No. 3 position.

Mrunal Thakur, known for her roles in ‘Love Sonia’ and ‘Sita Ramam’, once confessed a teenage crush on cricketer Virat Kohli. An old statement resurfaced recently, sparking online chatter, to which Mrunal reacted firmly. She had also spoken about turning down films early in her career and missing out on ‘Sultan’.

Gautam Gambhir was celebrated at the DPL 2025 final, where he playfully tagged cricketers with fitting descriptions. West Delhi Lions, led by Nitish Rana's unbeaten 79, clinched the title by defeating Central Delhi Kings. Rana's consistent performance throughout the playoffs and Gambhir's presence added excitement to the event.

Legendary South Africa batter AB de Villiers snubbed Virat Kohli from his list of the top five cricketers. De Villiers and Kohli have played together in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for number of seasons in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers revealed his fondness for batting with Virat Kohli during his 11 seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Their synergy led to five 100+ partnerships and two 200+ partnerships in IPL. De Villiers highlighted their shared competitive spirit and proactive approach to dismantling bowlers, recalling memorable partnerships at Wankhede and Chinnaswamy stadiums amidst electrifying crowds.

Despite their strong bond and memorable IPL partnerships for RCB, AB de Villiers didn't include Virat Kohli in his top five Test cricketers. De Villiers named Jacques Kallis, Andrew Flintoff, Mohammad Asif, Shane Warne, and Sachin Tendulkar. He praised Kallis as potentially the best cricketer ever and Asif as the best seamer he faced.

Former England spinner Monty Panesar feels Joe Root could face a similar fate as Virat Kohli in Tests, if he fails to score runs in the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.

The BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru is buzzing with activity as Indian cricketers gear up for upcoming tournaments. Rohit Sharma, along with Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and others, underwent pre-season fitness tests under Adrian le Roux. Discussions are ongoing about Rohit potentially playing for India 'A' before the Australia series.

Cricket Australia has announced that the dedicated Indian fan zones at all eight venues for the upcoming white-ball series against India have been sold out.

Suresh Raina supports KL Rahul's return to India's T20I team, despite his Asia Cup exclusion, citing Rahul's temperament and class. Raina highlighted Rahul's impressive IPL 2025 performance, where he scored 539 runs at a strike rate of 149.72. Rahul's T20I record includes 2,265 runs in 72 matches, though he hasn't played since the 2022 World Cup.

Pacer Neil Wagner has reflected on the 2014 Auckland Test, noting that he found MS Dhoni more comfortable against pace than Virat Kohli in overseas conditions. Wagner used the short ball plan to perfection to help his team win the first Test by 40 runs.

Rohit Sharma, India's ODI captain, is set to undergo fitness assessments at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru starting September 13, including the newly-introduced Bronco Test. He'll also practice there to prepare for the Australia white-ball tour in November.