West Ham v Chelsea: EFL Cup preview, line-ups & predictions

Chelsea to win 2-1

Kerala Blasters FC vs Atlético de Kolkata Preview, Predicted Lineups and prediction

Kerala Blasters

Goal:Stack

Defense: Jhingan,Ishfaq,Hengbart,Gurwinder

Midfield: Mehtab,Vinit,Joshu

Attack: German, Chopra, Nazon

Misses- Aron Hughes due to his international call. Azrack Mahamat, the former Espanyol midfielder, hasn't yet recovered. 

Kolkata

Goal: Majumdar

Defense: Arnab, Tiri, Lalthlamunna, Pritam

Midfield:Doutie, Lara, Borja,Bikramjit

Attack:Hume, Postiga

Predicted result

  Kerala -1 Kolkata -1

Kerala Blasters FC vs Atlético de Kolkata Preview, Predicted Lineups and prediction

Kerala Blasters

Goal:Stack

Defense: Jhingan,Ishfaq,Hengbart,Gurwinder

Midfield: Mehtab,Vinit,Joshu

Attack: German, Chopra, Nazon

Misses- Aron Hughes due to his international call. Azrack Mahamat, the former Espanyol midfielder, hasn't yet recovered. 

Kolkata

Goal: Majumdar

Defense: Arnab, Tiri, Lalthlamunna, Pritam

Midfield:Doutie, Lara, Borja,Bikramjit

Attack:Hume, Postiga

Predicted result

  Kerala -1 Kolkata -1

North East United vs FC Goa preview,prediction, probable lineups and Fantasy League Suggestions

North East United:

Goal:  Subrata Paul

Defense:  Nirmal Chhetri, Robin Gurung, Malison Alves, Gustavo Lacazetti

Midfield: Rowlin Borges, Romaric, Narzari, Katsumi Yusa,

Striker: Nicolas Velez, Alfrao

FC Goa:

Goal: Laxmikant Kattimani 

Defense: Lucio,Rafael Dumas,Raju Gaekwad

Midfield: Richarlyson Barbosa, Jofre Mateu,Pratesh Shirodkar,Romeo Fernandes, Mandar Rao Dessai 

Striker: Rafael Coelho , Reinaldo

Prediction : Goa wins by 1-nil. Don't forget NEU is yet to beat Goa in ISL so far.This is not going to change even now.

Big misses for Goa- Arnolin, Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, Denzil Franco, Robin Singh due to injuries.

Key Players: Lucio, Velez, Katsumi Yusa,Reinaldo

Stay tuned for the next preview.

India gets back the premier spot in cricket

India pulled off a brilliant all-round performance to trounce New Zealand by 178 runs in the second Test and clinch the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead, a win that propelled the team to the top of the ICC rankings, dethroning arch-rivals Pakistan.

Some records and what all they said...

Most consecutive Tests without defeat for an Indian captain:

18 S Gavaskar

17 Kapil Dev

14 M Azharuddin

12 VIRAT KOHLI *

Indian venues with most number of Tests and India's performance:

Eden Gardens: 40 matches, 12 won, 9 lost, 19 drawn.

Feroz Shah Kotla: 33 matches, 13 won, 6 lost, 14 drawn

MA Chidambaram Stadium: 31 matches, 13 won, 6 lost, 11 drawn, (1 tied)

Wankhede: 24 matches, 10 won, 7 lost, 7 drawn

Green Park: 22 matches, 7 won, 3 lost, 12 drawn

Kohli - captain, India: "Lovely Test match. As Taylor said, this was a brilliant Test wicket apart from the variable bounce here and there. When the wicket settles down, it will be a pretty wanted venue in India. It was an all-round performance. Bowlers did well. Saha did well, with Shami and Bhuvi contributing. Those extra runs were important. We expect fight from a side like New Zealand but it took character to bounce back both times. Saha is the best keeper in the country and he is doing a great job in Tests: is wonderful behind the stumps and can bat. He backs himself and can bat with the tail. Backs himself to play his shots. That hundred in the West Indies really helped his confidence and he has been a revelation for the side. In the 1st innings, we threw it away with loose shots. In the second, NZ bowlers were good and put us under pressure. Rohit showed good intent, played positive cricket and we all know about his love affair with Eden Gardens. I was expecting him to score at least once in these two innings. I think in the last session, when we wanted early wickets, the crowd helped us pick them. That made a massive difference to Shami and it put extra pressure on the new batsmen. So the extra intent to get the crowd going there. To keep playing consistent cricket is our objective, and if we do that, with a long home season, we have a control of the No. 1 ranking. We have played really good cricket for the last one and a half years. We want to keep doing that and show character when needed."

Ross Taylor - captain, New Zealand: "Very impressive the way the bowlers stuck it out under tough circumstances. Very hot and humid. We put this Indian side under pressure. India did well. Saha got crucial runs in both the innings and got them over the line. To be honest, I expected the pitch to play different. It's a good cricket wicket. It's just been relaid and guess, with time, it will get better and better. Spinners were able to create some pressure with tight lines. Anytime you have a 112-run deficit, you are under pressure. We took early wickets but the stand between Rohit and Saha took it away and it was difficult to get back. Latham was outstanding today. Hopefully we can get back in Indore. We have nothing to lose. We will play fearless cricket. Need to see what the wicket will be like. Was good to see Williamson at the ground today but still looked a bit pale. Hopefully he can get a bit of energy back in the next few days. Knowing him, he will be back in the nets tomorrow. Doesn't help to have a world class player in your side not playing. Will be good to have our skipper back."

Wriddhiman Saha - Man of the Match: "I am very happy about winning the series and getting my first MoM award, well supported by the crowd and my teammates. No extra pressure. When I was out there, I was thinking about defending the good balls and hitting the bad balls. Kolkata's media has always supported me, and so have the players. I didn't score in the Kanpur match and so took my time in the beginning here and then went to my strengths. I just did my job behind the stump. I watch the ball upto the last minute and use soft hands, that's it." (He's the local boy and Eden Gardens is behind him, cheering and clapping)