Cricket

Virat Kohli's Attacking Mindset Draws Praise from Former India Spinner Laxman SivaramakrishnanFormer India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has lauded Virat Kohli's aggressive on-field approach, comparing it to the legendary Vivian Richards. In a recent interview on Sony Sport's Tamil Cricket Podcast - Cricket Petta, Sivaramakrishnan praised Kohli's ability to intimidate bowlers with his eyes and celebrate his emotions on the field."Kohli's attacking attitude is something that he himself enjoys and celebrates. You should show your emotions. You shouldn't be like a machine on the ground. You should have an attitude like Sir Vivian Richards who would intimidate bowlers with his eyes," Sivaramakrishnan said.Sivaramakrishnan also named Kohli and MS Dhoni as the best red and white ball captains respectively. "Kohli's attacking attitude and MS Dhoni's calm demeanour. For me, the red ball best captain is Virat and the white ball is Dhoni," he said.The veteran spinner also recalled his playing days under Sunil Gavaskar, whom he considers the best captain he played under. "Sunil Gavaskar was the best captain, I played under. He was very good with strategy and analytical in approach. Kapil Dev was a very instinctive captain. He will go with his gut instinct. He gave an extra over to Madan Lal in 1983, that's instinctive captaincy," Sivaramakrishnan said.Sivaramakrishnan further praised Gavaskar's ability to give players freedom and Venkataraghavan's excellent leadership skills. "With Sunil Gavaskar, you can ask for anything but you have to justify it, why you want to do it. If you do that he will give you the freedom to set your fields and plan your attack. Venkataraghavan was also an excellent captain, he was wonderful as captain," he added.

Former India leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has taken a sharp dig at renowned cricket commentator and analyst Harsha Bhogle over his remarks on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Bhogle had suggested that CSK were 20 runs short of the par score during their IPL 2024 match against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium.Sivaramakrishnan, however, blasted Bhogle for his prediction, accusing him of bias against CSK and Chennai players. He questioned Bhogle's contribution to Indian cricket and suggested that he was more interested in promoting Mumbai teams.Despite Bhogle's prediction, CSK bowlers executed their plans to perfection, restricting MI to 186/6 in the chase and winning the game by 20 runs. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar criticized MI skipper Hardik Pandya for his leadership qualities, while MI batting coach Kieron Pollard defended Pandya and expressed frustration over the criticism directed at him.Sivaramakrishnan's comments have sparked a debate on the role of commentators and analysts in cricket. Some have defended Bhogle's right to express his opinions, while others have accused him of being biased and lacking objectivity.The incident highlights the importance of impartiality and professionalism in cricket commentary. Commentators and analysts should strive to provide fair and balanced analysis, avoiding personal attacks or bias towards particular teams or players.

Former Indian cricket team spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has recently faced a racist remark on social media, to which he responded with a powerful statement. Sivaramakrishnan posted a picture of himself from the Ayyappan temple in Mahalingapuram, Tamil Nadu, which included an elephant. A user commented, "Hii sir that elephant is more visible in night than you."Sivaramakrishnan responded with dignity and assertiveness, stating, "Yes I am dark" and adding, "It's a temple festival and you people are so cheap." The user made further comments, which were later deleted.Sivaramakrishnan's response has been widely praised for its strength and grace. It highlights the ongoing issue of racism in society and the importance of standing up against it.In a separate incident, Sivaramakrishnan expressed his disappointment with the treatment he received from veteran Indian cricket team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Sivaramakrishnan claimed that Ashwin disconnected his calls and did not reply to his congratulatory messages on his 100th Test milestone."Tried calling him a few times to wish him for his 100th Test. Just cut off my call. Sent him a message, no reply. That's the respect we former cricketers get," Sivaramakrishnan wrote on social media.Meanwhile, in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming praised Rachin Ravindra for his impressive debut performance against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Ravindra scored 37 runs off just 15 balls, including three fours and three sixes.Fleming emphasized the importance of encouraging players to play to their strengths and creating a comfortable environment for them. He also praised Ravindra's ability to handle the pressure of his debut match.