Ahead of World Cup trials, Ashwin warms up with an economical spell in TN club game
Chennai (PTI): Nursing dreams of one final ODI World Cup appearance in India blues, Ravichandran Ashwin warmed up nicely by bowling full quota of 10 overs before linking with the national team for the upcoming three-match series against Australia.
If 37-year-old Ashwin pips a hamstrung Axar Patel in the final 15 of the World Cup, he will be one of the two existing cricketers (other being Virat Kohli), who were part of the historic 2011 squad.
Someone, who has always been a dedicated club cricketer even after becoming an international star, it wasn't surprising to find Ashwin turn up for Mylapore Recreational Club A against Young Stars Cricket Club at SSN ground in the TNCA VAP Trophy here on Tuesday.
Ashwin's team was asked to bat first, which posted a total of 285 for 7, with Mukunth K (78) and Affan Khader M (79) being the top scorers, whereas Ashwin managed 12 from 17 balls without hitting any boundaries.
In reply, the Young Stars were bundled for 257 by the 48th over, thanks to Diran VP's 4 for 59, while Ashwin captured a wicket for 30 in his 10 overs as Mylapore Recreational won by 28 runs.
Mylapore Recreational Club coach Guru Kedarnath was all praise for Ashwin's performance in this contest and said, "He is a world-class player; no questions about it. The control he had in today's tie was absolutely fantastic."
India's three ODIs against Australia start on Friday in Mohali, followed by the remaining two fixtures on September 24 (Indore) and 27 (Rajkot).
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Rupee rises 6 paise to 90.85 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee rose 6 paise to 90.85 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday on the back of a weaker greenback and FII inflows.
A positive start to the session at the domestic equity markets lent further support to the local unit while a rise in global crude oil prices, coupled with geopolitical uncertainties, capped sharp gains, according to forex traders.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 90.86 against the greenback before inching up to 90.85, higher by 6 paise from its previous close.
The rupee stayed range-bound and settled with a gain of 4 paise at 90.91 against the US dollar on Wednesday.
"As the dollar index fell and Asian currencies gained today (Thursday) the rupee opened higher... A risk-on sentiment in the markets and RBI selling near 91.00 levels ensured yesterday (Wednesday) also that rupee is unable to cross 91.00 levels with FPIs being buyers of equity and sellers of dollars," Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.13 per cent down at 97.57.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.21 per cent to USD 71.00 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the Sensex climbed 303 points to 82,579.16 in early trade, while the Nifty rose 85.1 points to 25,567.60.
On Wednesday, foreign institutional investors purchased equities worth Rs 2,991.64 crore, according to exchange data.
