MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI WALKS INTO TEST SUNSET

MS Dhoni has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect, following the drawn Test against Australia in Melbourne.Virat Kohli will take over as India captain for the final Test of the series, which India have already lost, in Sydney. He chose to retire from Test Cricket with immediate effect in order to concentrate on ODI and T20 formats.

In recent months Dhoni suffered from fitness issues, missing five ODIs against Sri Lanka in November because of a hand injury, which also sidelined him from the first Test against Australia in Adelaide.

In addition to the pressure of leading India in all three formats, and the Chennai Super Kings franchise, for six years Dhoni has also had to play an extraordinary amount of matches. Since the start of 2008 - taking into account international matches across formats, IPL and Champions League T20 games - Dhoni has played 398 matches, the most for any cricket during this period. Suresh Raina is second with 369 games.

Dhoni did not play the first Test in the current series against Australia because of a thumb injury. In his absence, Virat Kohli led the team and won accolades for his attacking approach. Many former players declared that it was time for Kohli to take over the leadership from Dhoni given that the incumbent had been struggling to present any fresh approach.

Though Dhoni's place in India's Test side has not been under question, his batting form took a dip in 2014 and he averaged only 33 in 17 innings this year. His wicketkeeping has also deteriorated, in particular his ability to move laterally to take testing catches. India's overseas results have also suffered under Dhoni's leadership in recent years. Since 2011, they have won only two out of 22 away Tests and lost 13.

Dhoni, however, is India's most successful captain, having presided over 27 wins in his 60-Test tenure, which began in 2008. His first Test as captain was against South Africa in Kanpur in April that year, because of an injury to regular captain Anil Kumble, and he took over full time after Kumble retired following the Delhi Test against Australia in October. Dhoni led India to the No.1 Test ranking in 2009, a position they enjoyed until the tour of England in 2011.

Dhoni was one of India's greatest Test captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the test rankings, MS Dhoni, has decided to retire from Test cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of cricket. BCCI, while respecting the decision of MS Dhoni to retire from Test cricket, also thanked him for his enormous contribution to Test cricket and the laurels that he brought to India.

Posted By: Shreya Saraf, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

Pickyouropinion: BEST PERSON OF THE YEAR IN INDIA 2014

It is almost the end of 2014 now. Just over a week and 2014 will be bid goodbye and we will welcome 2015. A lot has happened in this year which has made this year significant and memorable one. Actors, politicians, scientists, cricketers, astronauts all have contributed equally to make this year a memorable one.

From Narendra Modi who led BJP to a sweep with majority of votes and ousted Congress to Kolkata Knight Rider’s second IPL win to Kailash Satyarthi’s noble peace prize win. Everything has made India equally proud. It will be difficult to decide who the person of the year is since everybody has contributed greatly in this year.

Last year person of the year was awarded to Arvind Kejriwal who had risen to popularity and also won people’s hearts after winning the elections in Delhi. Whether he can win it again or not is doubtful since his stint as the CM didn’t last more than 50 days and he left the citizens of this country is angst and disappointment.

In politics the name which has been reverberating in everyone’s ears throughout the year was Narendra Modi. He through his powerful speeches and his magnifying aura drew attention of all in this country. He was welcomed with majority of votes too.

In cricket too, Sachin Tendulkar retired this year and left everyone in tears and feeling of shallowness. Everyone realised that cricket will not remain the same anymore. He also launched his maiden autobiography which garnered support from all over the world making it the bestseller.

Virat Kohli who has now cemented his place in the Indian side has also won millions of hearts. He has improved a lot over the years as a batsman and now is doing equally good as a captain too. His aggression has not been liked by many but whenever he has played well, he has managed to win hearts every time.

In Bollywood, Aamir Khan contributed again with Satyameva Jayate by taking up the right issues and connecting to the people of this audience through television. His end of the year release ‘PK’ has received rave reviews.

Aamir’s acting has been appreciated a lot since he has played the role of an alien wonderfully. The movie raises a few questions of religions and our blind faith which has received equal amount of flaks.

Finally Kailash Satyarthi received the Noble Peace Prize of 2014 which has made the nation proud. He was awarded with a lot of respect. Kailash’s work on child labour and saving thousands of children from the trap of child labour made him immensely recognized. He has been working for this cause since many years.

Since there have been so many persons who have contributed equally well in their respective fields it has put us in a fix. You have to decide who truly deserves to win the ‘Person of the Year in India 2014’ award. So put in your votes in the link given below and choose your ‘Person of the Year in India 2014’.

Posted By: Karan Bhatt, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

ATAL BIHARI & MADAN MOHAN MALAVIYA TO BE AWARDED ‘BHARAT RATNA’-A HISTORIC MOMENT

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya will be conferred the nation's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. This was announced on the eve of Vajpayee's 90th birthday and Malaviya's 153rd birth anniversary.

The announcement coincides with Vajpayee's birthday on December 25 which the government has already declared as the 'Good Governance Day'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP members, including LK Advani, will be present when the Bharat Ratna is presented to Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi as he won't be able to attend a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan due to ill health, a government official said.

The date for this hasn't been decided. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi also received the award at his home, in Pune, in 2009. However Modi moved the Bharat Ratna proposal to President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday evening.

The government had decided a while ago to give the Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee, said the official cited above. "It was only looking for a fitting occasion and what better than his 90th birthday," the person said.

He said the government was also keen to bestow the honour upon Malaviya as he was considered a Hindu nationalist besides being founder of the Banaras Hindu University in Modi's constituency, Varanasi.

"Malaviya's grandson, Giridhar Malaviya, was a proposer of Modi when he filed nomination papers from Varanasi," the official said. A Bharat Ratna for Malaviya, who was Congress president in 1909 and 1918, also serves to show that the award is not dictated by political affiliation.

PM Modi tweeted: "Atal ji means so much to everyone.A guide, inspiration & giant among giants. His contribution to India is invaluable. Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya is remembered as a phenomenal scholar &freedom fighter who lit the spark of national consciousness among people. Country's highest honour to these illustrious stalwarts is a fitting recognition of their service to the Nation."

LK Advani of BJP said, “AB Vajpayee truly deserves the award as he had a blemish free tenure as PM.” Several other BJP leaders also expressed their pleasure on the development on social media.

The government steered clear of criticizing the previous UPA government for not bestowing the honour on Vajpayee. "The time and occasion is correct for the Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee and Madan Malaviya".

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.43 people have been honoured with the Bharat Ratna since its inception, including scientist CV Raman, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, singer Lata Mangeshkar and politicians C Rajagopalachari.

Posted By: Shreya Saraf, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

The Feel of festival Merry Christmas

“So warm by the fireplace we glow, all cozy and happy Hang all the stockings in a row, I've got the Christmas feeling I'll take it everywhere I go, And make this Christmas feeling grow”

Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. 

They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child.

Christmas has a way of making people feel all the feels. From the twinkling Christmas tree to the thoughtful gifts beneath it, there’s just something heartwarming about the holiday. For some it may mean the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, turkey dinners with family and friends, snow in the yard, stockings hanging in the living room, and shouts of "Merry Christmas" to those who pass us in the streets. But Is this really Christmas?

For many people, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don't have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmas time when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons.

Turkey dinners may be only a wish and not a reality for some. Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.

However sometimes it's hard when you grow older, as the business and pressures cause you to lose that wondrous spirit of Christmas. When money is tight and time is too, you can end up feeling disappointed, lost or dreading Christmas. Yet, everyone deserves to feel special at Christmas. Restoring the spirit of Christmas time 2014 is worth everyone’s focus and they feel better for it after.

Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for His people. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. If everyone looks at Christmas in a different way this season, then it is a season to invite Jesus to our  hearts. This joy and the peace will last in our hearts for ever and ever.

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season! Rejoice!

Posted By: Shreya Saraf, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

Pickyouropinion: SWACCH “MANN” ABHIYAN

For the past few months the “movement” which has been reverberating in everyone’s ears is ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyan’. Everyone is going gaga, right from the politicians to film stars.

But still we cannot see any such improvement. We walk down the streets and see that things have not changed much. People are still ignorant enough to throw waste on the roads.

One such incident was noticed by our Pickyouropinion team on a special visit to Udaipur. A person was having bath in a lake near the famous Chittorgarh fort. It was a disturbing sight because the lake was already filled with dirt. 

He was ignorant of this and also of the fact that bathing there would do no good to his body. When our team went and quizzed him about it, he got agitated and said that everyone bathes here and asked us to question them all. He went away.

We were left with only questions that are we really part of a country which cannot stop talking about cleanliness? We pledge to keep our surroundings clean but cannot even make the effort to throw the waste in the bin.

We are ignorant enough that when someone asks you to refrain from doing something wrong, we counter charge? In this kind of a scenario all one can think of is, how can things really change?

The government or any superior authority cannot bring change in this country and make it clean overnight. Until and unless we do not clean our souls, we really cannot keep our surroundings clean.

We are a part of this country and it is our duty to keep it clean. If we cannot do it then we have no one to blame apart from ourselves. We as a team visited more than 20 lakes and rivers in Gujarat and Rajasthan and there were none where complete cleanliness was maintained.

Sabarmati River, where the PM Narendra Modi’s ambitious project of riverfront is based on has the same situation. Even though there bins kept for throwing things like garlands and other ritualistic materials but people are adamant enough to throw it in the river. 

In this case, we cannot blame only the government. One might say that government can install cctv cameras and impose fine on the defaulters but then isn’t it our duty too to learn before they start imposing fines? 

We are humans and intelligent enough to understand that these activities are going to harm us and our children in the future.

It is high time we understand that it has been 67 years since Independence and there is a reason why India is still being denoted as a “progressive” country and not a developed country. There are many areas where India still needs to progress, one such area is “cleanliness”.

India is a democratic country and we form the government. So as a citizen who is powerful enough to make a government it is also a moral responsibility to keep our surroundings clean.

All we need right now is introspection, let us start with basics and the bigger issues will be solved right along, let us start with cleansing of our soul and run a “Swacch Mann Abhiyan” first and “Swacch Bharat Abhiyan” will be implemented right along. Jai Hind!

Posted By: Karan Bhatt, Misha Sata, Aastha Maheshwari, Shraddha Jha, Pratik Thakkar Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

Sarita Devi slapped with one year ban from boxing by AIBA

Sarita Devi had refused to accept her Asian Games bronze medal after a controversial bout in Incheon saying that the judges had been partial in their verdict. Ending months of speculation regarding her career, troubled Indian female boxer L.

Sarita Devi as she was banned for one year and fined Swiss francs 1,000 by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) for refusing to accept her 2014 Asian Games bronze medal.

The world boxing body also handed down two-year bans, ending October 1, 2016 to the 29-year-old boxer's husband Thoiba Singh and coach B.I. Fernandez, and barred her coach Lenin Meitei for one year ending October 1, 2015. Fernandez was also fined Swiss francs 2,000 and Meitei Swiss francs 1,000. The AIBA, however, relieved Indian boxing chief coach G.S. Sandhu from all charges of misdemeanor.

The Disciplinary Commission Chair rules that Laishram Sarita Devi is suspended from any activity at the National, Confederation and International levels for a period of one year starting from the 2014 Asian Games medal ceremony (Oct 1). She will have to pay a fine of Swiss francs 1,000. Devi's suspension will end on October 1, 2015, provided that all fines have been paid and no additional DC rulings have been rendered against her.

Speculation was rife that the apex body of world boxing will impose a life-ban on the former world champion. The Indian government had earnestly appealed for consideration of her humble background and controversy-free image to spare her a career-ending ban. The ban will run till October 1, 2015, providing her an opportunity to represent the country in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Expressing her views on the verdict, Sarita Devi said in a release: "I am hugely relieved and would like to thank the boxing fraternity and Boxing India for helping me sail through these difficult times. I will now be able to participate in the Games and will work harder to bring laurels to the nation."

In Incheon, a day after she lost the 60-kg category semi-final bout to host challenger Jina Park despite dominating the bout, an inconsolable Sarita refused to accept the bronze medal and later handed it over to Park, who left the medal on the podium before making her exit at the Seonhak Gymnasium.

Expressing his opinion on the AIBA verdict, Boxing India (BI) president Sandeep Jajodia said: "AIBA's verdict on Sarita Devi comes as a relief to Boxing India, the boxing fraternity, Sarita's fans and boxing enthusiasts around the world.The one-year ban ending October 2015 can further be reduced on the basis of her good demeanour and hard work.

We will, in the meanwhile, continue to correspond with AIBA to reduce the punishment, thus enabling and motivating Sarita to prepare for her qualifications for Olympics."

Jojodia also said that Sarita, mother of two, will now be relieved of the mental trauma and can focus on boxing wholeheartedly and added: "I wish for Sarita to recover from her wrist injury in this interim period, and advise her to focus on further sharpening her boxing skills and on her fitness to be able to participate in the international events to happen after her suspension gets over."

Posted By: Shreya Saraf, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

Peshawar School Attack: With the children, dies humanity

Another heart wrenching event marked on the same treacherous date “16 December”. 

Peshawar, an ancient city of more than 3 million people tucked right up against the Khyber Pass, has often found itself in the center of it all. 

Militants repeatedly targeted the city in response to Pakistani military offensives, like a 2009 truck bombing of a popular marketplace frequented by women and children that killed more than 100 people.

And the Taliban hasn't hesitated to go after school children.An attack on a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, early Tuesday morning left more than 120 people dead, most of them children. 

The attack, which the Taliban claimed responsibility for, saw a number of militants wearing military uniforms open fire and detonate explosives at the Army Public School.

The BBC reported early on Tuesday that the school was attacked because it is an army-run institution, which has been confirmed by the Pakistani arm of the Taliban.

As the rescue operation had been underway, many parents frantically searched for their children outside the school, which was sealed off with an unknown number of hostages still inside. 

The nearby hospitals, which had received a number of the victims, had reportedly begun posting lists of the deceased. 

One doctor at the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar told that some of the wounded and deceased who were brought in had been shot in the head and chest, while others were killed in a suicide bomb attack on the school playground. 

Parents dementedly searched for their wards while others queued outside hospitals to give blood. 

After all this, at the scene there was a very eerie atmosphere. A place like this, which should have been very happy and lively, was now just a desolate barren piece of land. 

Mohammad Hilal, a student in the 10th grade, was shot three times in his arm and legs when the gunmen stormed the school auditorium. “I think I passed out for a while. I thought I was dreaming. 

I wanted to move but felt paralyzed. Then I came to and realized that actually two other boys had fallen on me. Both of them were dead," he told the media. 

In line with the national mourning, Pakistani embassies worldwide will have their flags lowered to half-mast and books of condolences will be opened. No religion ever sanctions the killing of children. 

Going to school, market, and other public places are some of the mundane things, but now parents and families in Pakistan will be terrified off their wits to send their children to these places to be a part of these simple everyday activities.

Despite of all this, we still have hopes because we know; “When a good thing goes bad it's not the end of the world”. 

Posted By: Shreya Saraf, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com 

PM NARENDRA MODI-ASIAN OF THE YEAR 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been named "Asian of the Year 2014" for being a "development-focused" leader who also fashioned an impressive victory for his Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in the year's national elections.Under his leadership the nation also picked up the growth baton from China.

Despite being relatively new to the job, Modi had already made a mark on Asia, reaching out to neighbors and receiving national leaders including Xi Jinping of China and Tony Abbott of Australia.He also has had a highly successful visit to Japan for a summit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In January, he will receive President Barack Obama of the US, the first time that a US leader will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations of India.

Terming Modi, 64, as the first Indian premier to be born after the nation's independence, the paper said its editors picked him for a host of factors, notably his campaigns such as "Toilets before Temples" and "Make in India" that have energized India socially and politically.

If his "Make in India" campaign is pursued with friendlier investment climate and less rigid labour norms, it could fire the growth of this $2 trillion economy and the region at large, especially when China as number one is slowing and Japan as number two is in recession.

Also given its huge market, the travelers who fill up hotel rooms and cruise ships from Singapore to Sydney, its hunger for capital goods and commodities, a resurgent India will be a boon for the region and the world.

In the six months he has been in office, the country’s key stock index has treaded record highs. Investors are beginning to return to India. If a single person is responsible for this, it is Modi.

As much for Modi's performance as a growth-focused provincial administrator as for the promise of what is to come for India under his leadership, The Straits Times declares Prime Minister Narendra Modi Asian of the Year for 2014.

The editors also noted with satisfaction Modi's priority to build ties in India's much neglected immediate neighborhood, while promising at the Asean summit in Myanmar last month a new era of partnership to translate India's "Look East" policy into an "Act East" policy.

It was also said it was cognizant of the criticism and concern that has been voiced about Modi's handling of the communal violence that took place in Gujarat in his first months as chief minister. Also that Gujarat, under Modi, has had a healthy period of communal peace since, and adding his development focus, the emphasis on cleanliness and the protection of women are helping the vast nation focus on a better life and equal opportunities for all its citizens.

Editor Warren Fernandez said when President Xi and Prime Minister Abe were last year named joint winners; it was in recognition that they will be committed to fulfilling their national aspirations. At the same time, the award came with the call to both leaders to work together to lower tensions between their two nations and to consider a summit meeting and then the two finally shook hands and sat down together in November.

For the same reason,the award to Modi is as much a recognition of his record as a strong administrator who has propelled his home state, Gujarat, to global attention, as for the promise of re-energising larger India.

Modi has got India and the world excited about his country's prospects again.

He has given the people of India a renewed sense of direction and purpose, and there are hopeful signs that he is minded to using his strong mandate to good effect in one of Asia's major powers.

Posted By: Shreya Saraf, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

RITURAJ MOHANTY IS INDIA’S RAW STAR

Known for his soulful voice, Rituraj's consistent performance throughout the season of the singing reality show led him to victory. Aged 26, Rituraj Mohanty came all the way from Orissa to make it big in the music industry.

Music is his passion and Sufi is his forte. Facing tough competition from Mohit Gaur and Darshan Raval, Rituraj at one point thought that he would lose the title to some other contestant. But his hard work and his diligence has got the level where audiences voted frantically for him so much so that the man went on win the title.

He won an exclusive music contract with Star Plus India, Rs 50 lakh and a swanky swift car as he proudly wore the tag of India’s Raw star on his humble sleeve. Unfortunately Mohit Gaur and Darshan Raval’s fans were seen weeping as the show concluded.

At the grand finale, Reshammiya, who took over as the mentor from Honey Singh, added power to the evening with his performance on his song "Ice cream khaungi" from the film "The Xpose". The composer, who had promised a song to the budding singer, said: "He has a brilliant voice and a great talent.

The show was not just about singing but about outstanding performances and this is the reason why the audiences have gone all out to vote for him".

The night also had some foot tapping performances by the artistes’ .Popular singer Kailash Kher and Rituraj gave a heartwarming Sufi performance whereas Shaan teamed up with Mohit Gaur. Darshan, who performed with Mohit Chauhan, transported the audience to a romantic zone with their performance.

The grand finale of this musical reality TV show was held in the presence of renowned singers like Kailash Kher, Mohit Chauhan and Shaan while music composers Sajid-Wajid, Sachin-Jigar and Himesh Reshammiya were present too.

It was after 14 weeks, thirteen concerts and tens and hundreds of songs, millions of voters across India picked Rituraj Mohanty to be crowned the with the title of India’s Raw Star.When Rituraj Mohanty was announced as India's RAW Star he said,"It is very difficult for me to sink in the feeling that I have won this show.

Firstly, I would like to thank YoYo Honey Singh and STAR Plus for getting me on the show and for giving me such a huge platform to perform on.”

Posted By: Shreya Saraf, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

First three days 20 crore collection of Kill Dil

“KILL DIL” starring Parineeti Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Ali Zafar, Govinda, and directed by Shaad Ali isn’t one of those films that slides after a promising start. It began badly, plodded away the way it began, and ended worse.

A street-side hood picks up a couple of babies from a ‘kachre ka dabba’, raises them to shoot sharp from mouth and barrel, and the boy gang rolls along merrily till it hits a roadblock: the plot is thinner than a wafer, and older than the hills.

Govinda, playing Bhaiyyaji the Goon, goes through the film slitting his eyes and growling his lines, and bantering with his henchmen. Chief henchboys  Dev (Ranveer Singh) and Tutu (Ali Zafar) wear leather and wield guns, surrounded by standard Yashraj designer grunge. Then Dev runs into Disha (Parineeti Chopra), and sees the light. 

Nothing rescues us, however. Because Govinda can dance, he’s given a couple of completely outlandish numbers. But there’s nothing in this that he can save with his still-deft moves. Ali Zafar’s familiar amiable self is hopelessly miscast. Ranveer Singh is given a part that allows him to shoot and scoot, things he can do with ease, and is partnered with Parineeti Chopra: the two are buried under despite their best efforts.

This has steadily and sadly become a Yashraj trademark, the studio that has given Hindi cinema so many of its beloved landmarks, this cannibalizing bits and pieces of its own films without being able to give us a story we can believe in. It’s one thing to have an element or two which is exaggerated, it’s completely another to get through a full film with such few credible moments.

And ‘Kill Dil’ goes one better in the way it gets all its lead characters to spew cringe-inducing, crass dialogue. Released on last Friday Kill Dil total collection 20 crore in box office only first 3 days.

"Kill Dil" is a smaller disaster than "Gunday". Ranveer who played one of the two buddies in the earlier film as well, is far more entertaining here. He's still way over the top. But here he is hammy in a pleasant way.On screen "Kill Dil" is as flat as the midriff that Ranveer loves to flaunt whenever the script permits.

Not that the script here is too particular about what goes and what doesn't. This is a free-for-all guns-and-romance spree where Gulzar Saab's poetry slyly meets Ranveer Singh's buffoonery. Half-way down the narration you realise director Shaad Ali has run out of designer-cool tricks.

Enough of those chic shots of our two heroes riding down busy highways gunning for unsuspecting victims. Yes, our heroes Dev and Tutu are assassins. "Kill Dil" is one of those misfired gun shots of masala cinema that reads like a fun fest on paper.

I am sure everyone must have ROFL (Ranveer's semi-illiterate character doesn't know what ROFL means,) while shooting and enacting the scenes and even before that there must have loads of laughter while reading the script.

Is this the same filmmaker who once made the endearing "Bunty Aur Babli"? Shaad brings down with him some of our very best technicians like cinematographer Aveek Mukhopadhyay and editor Ritesh Soni who have done their most patchy work in this film.

Posted By: Shreya Saraf, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

HIGHEST EVER 264 RUNS ODI SCORE SMASHED BY ROHIT SHARMA

Rohit Gurunath Sharma an Indian international cricketer, a right-handed batsman and an occasional right-arm off break bowler (with a hat-trick in the Indian Premier League) plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket.

He is the captain of Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. Having started his international career at the age of 20, Sharma quickly came to be pegged by many analysts as a permanent fixture in the Indian cricket team in the next decade. In 2013, he started playing as an opening batsman for the Indian ODI team, and performed consistently.

He scored consecutive centuries in his first two Test matches against the West Indies in November 2013, scoring 177 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on debut, followed by a score of 111 in the next Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

On 13 November 2014, he scored 264 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, which is the highest individual score in ODIs. Rohit Sharma's individual 264 runs high score in odi cricket, ODI in 10-weeks began with a touch of nerves. He was even kept scoreless in one Angelo Mathews maiden.

By the end of the innings, his batting had become cartoonish. There was no shot he had not played. No part of the ground he had not exploited. No bowler who escaped his brutality. Rohit amassed 45 more runs than any ODI batsman had ever managed in an innings, finishing on 264 from 173 balls when he was finally caught off the last ball of the innings. India, almost incidentally, had moved to 404 for 5, despite having travelled at a run rate of less than six for the first 32 overs.

Rohit's innings was so ludicrous that the first 100 runs, which were hit at a run-a-ball, seemed achingly humdrum in comparison to the 164 that followed. The surge had actually begun before he reached his century, when he plundered 14 runs in four balls, in Nuwan Kulasekara's 30th over. Soon after that, the ball was leaping off the middle of his bat with almost every stroke he offered.

There were many incredible shots, from among his 33 fours and nine sixes, but the most gob smacking was the six off Kulasekara at the end of the 48th over, when he walked across to off stump, took a half volley from about a foot and half away from him and flicked it high over the midwicket boundary. It was the kind of shot, and innings, that seemed in open defiance of physics.

Sri Lanka had played a tour match against Mumbai to warm-up for the series, but little did they know Rohit Sharma was warming-up against them. He hit 145 from 111 in that match - his first competitive game since fracturing a finger in August - and he has now re-embedded himself at the top of the India batting order in the most resounding fashion imaginable.

Another beautifully orchestrated batting Powerplay from India - between the 30th and 34th overs - brought them 67 runs, and was enough to hammer the Sri Lanka bowlers off their rhythm for the rest of the innings. Short, wide deliveries, thigh-high full tosses and rank long hops were presented with alarming regularity, and the fielding was almost as woeful.

Sri Lanka had not expected to begin the series strongly, given their lack of preparation, but in these two disciplines, they have actually worsened significantly through the tour.

By the time Rohit hit Kulasekara down Mahela Jayawardene's throat at long-off, the record for most fours struck in an innings had also tumbled, and Rohit was in possession of half the ODI scores over 200. Kulkarni removed two more from the lower order to finish with 4 for 34, and India completed yet another crushing victory.

Asked if he was tired after his epic knock, a smiling Rohit said, "Not really. I have had a break due to injury and I am not tired at all. I could have continued for another 50 overs." Eden Gardens also holds an emotional place in Rohit's heart as he scored a big hundred on debut at this very venue last year and has now got the highest-ever ODI score.

"It's been a great venue for me as I got my hundred on Test debut at this venue. The crowd were cheering me right through.” said Rohit Sharma.

Posted By: Shreya Saraf, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com