DRS Nov 14: Dhoni-Kohli destroyed Sanju Samson’s career, Shreyas Iyer sold for 4cr & Tilak Varma shines

Suryakumar Yadav’s India remain undefeated in another T20I series. Yes! The Men in Blue produced a scintillating show in Centurion on the back of Tilak Varma’s incredible century, making him the youngest Indian T20I centurion after Yashasvi Jaiswal. Meanwhile, the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy began, with Mohammed Shami going wicketless. Meanwhile, he had Sanju Samson’s father, who asserted some strong views against the likes of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Moreover, the KKR franchise also had their mock IPL auction, where Shreyas Iyer was sold at just Rs 4 crore. On that note, catch the best stories from November 13, Wednesday.

Dhoni-Kohli destroyed Samson’s career?

Sanju Samson’s father, Vishwanath, has accused MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rahul Dravid of ruining his son’s 10-year career. Despite debuting in 2015, Samson was consistently benched under these players’ leadership. However, recent success, including two consecutive centuries, has solidified his position in the Indian T20I team. Vishwanath believes these four individuals hindered Samson’s career, but their actions only fueled Sanju’s desire to work hard for his place.

Tilak Varma is a huge talent!

Tilak Varma’s maiden T20I century powered India to a superb 11-run win over South Africa. His blistering knock, assaulting every bowler he faced, set the tone for the innings. Abhishek Sharma’s quickfire fifty provided crucial support. Despite early setbacks, India’s strong batting performance put them in a commanding position. With this, Varma not only bagged the Player of the Match but also became the second-youngest Indian after Yashasvi Jaiswal to score a T20I ton.

Shreyas Iyer sold for Rs 4.4 crore?

KKR hosted a mock auction for fans ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, revealing unexpected outcomes. Shreyas Iyer, a top captaincy contender, was bought for just ₹4.4 crore, significantly lower than his ₹12.25 crore price tag in 2022. Mohammed Shami, recently returned from injury, sparked a bidding war, eventually going to Regal Knights for ₹9.6 crore. Notable players Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, and Glenn Maxwell were also auctioned off. The mock auction’s results may reflect fan opinions on player valuations ahead of the actual mega auction in Jeddah on November 24-25.

New schedule for Team India?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled Team India’s senior women’s schedule. India will host West Indies for three T20Is and three ODIs in December, followed by a three-match ODI series against Ireland in January in Rajkot. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team, fresh from a 2-1 ODI series win over New Zealand, will see these matches as crucial practice. International cricket returns to Baroda after four years, with three ODIs against West Indies. West Indies, led by Hayley Matthews, seek direct qualification for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India which looks unlikely as of now.

Virat Kohli is back!

Virat Kohli’s return to Australia has generated immense excitement. The former Indian captain trained hard at the WACA Ground, focusing on back-of-a-length deliveries to adapt to the bouncy Perth pitch. Despite recent struggles, Kohli has a strong record in Australia. The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy presents a golden opportunity for him to regain his form and once again prove why he is the ultimate King of modern-day cricket. Apart from him, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman and Jaiswal also practiced for hours.

Not in AUS, but Rohit Sharma starts his prep

Rohit Sharma continues his training in Mumbai amidst uncertainty about his departure to Australia. The rest of the Indian team is already in Perth, preparing for the first Test. While the news of the birth of his second child are cited for his potential absence from the first Test, the exact timeline for his arrival in Australia is still up in the air. The Indian captain was training at the Reliance Corporate Park in Mumbai on Wednesday and has been training consistently. The report claims that the Hitman wants to use his time in India to gear up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.