Mishra contender for 2015 World Cup - Laxman

Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman , currently the mentor of Sunrisers Hyderabad team, believes legspinner Amit Mishra is a contender for the 2015 World Cup. Mishra, who last played for India in 2011, has bowled some impressive spells for the Hyderabad franchise, with five wickets in four matches. According to Laxman legspinners will play a key role on the Australian pitches during the 2015 World Cup and Mishra is one of the top legbreak bowlers in the country. Laxman is also confident about Mishra's batting skills, which proved vital in their previous match against Delhi Daredevils. "Like Steyn and Ishant, Mishra is a wicket-taking bowler... It helps if a team has three of that kind... Mishra's at the top where his bowling is concerned and he's working hard on his batting as well," Laxman told the Telegraph. "The next World Cup is in Australia-New Zealand and, traditionally, legspinners have been successful in Australia. Mishra would be very useful."

Dilshan expected to be fit for RCB-Daredevils clash
Tillakaratne Dilshan is expected to have recovered fully from his bruised knuckle in time for Royal Challengers Bangalore's home game against Delhi Daredevils on Tuesday. Dilshan had picked up the injury while fielding in the away game against Sunrisers Hyderabad last Sunday. Dilshan had flown home for Sinhalese New Year, which fell on April 14, but is likely to be available for selection on Tuesday. Meanwhile, batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who is also recovering from finger injury, is expected to join the Royal Challengers squad by the last week of April.

Sreesanth focused on India comeback
Two days after alleging that the IPL had withheld footage of the 2008 slap incident involving offspinner Harbhajan Singh and himself, fast bowler Sreesanth has said he wants to now focus making a comeback to the national team. In a series of tweets on Friday, Sreesanth called Harbhajan a "backstabbing person" who had "elbowed him", and said he had then not received any support from the concerned authorities. On Friday, Sreesanth said he had bared his feelings and had moved on: "I dont want to say anything more as I am playing in the IPL. I just shared my feelings. I want to do well in the matches ahead. I want to work hard to make a comeback to Indian side for the South Africa tour."

Show faith in Yusuf - Akram
Yusuf Pathan, one of the key players in Rajasthan Royals' 2008 IPL success story, has never had the same impact, consistently, for Kolkata Knight Riders. However, captain Gautam Gambhir has always backed him in public, saying several times that he expected Yusuf to produce "something special". Now former Pakistan quick Wasim Akram, who was Knight Riders bowling coach over the previous three seasons but is taking a break this year, has come out in support of Yusuf. In his column in the Times of India, Akram wrote: "Motivation and desire are two things that KKR have never lacked; they need just one good win and you will see them back in top form. I would like to see Yusuf batting up the order though. The captain needs to show more faith in him." Yusuf had shown glimpses of his hitting abilities against Royal Challengers on Thursday, hitting three fours - down the ground, through point and square on the leg side - off his first three balls, batting at No. 4. Knight Riders.

Moody, the Alex Ferguson fan
There is one coach Tom Moody, the former Australian allrounder and current Sunrisers Hyderabad coach, has a lot of time for: Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary manager of English football club Manchester United. Moody, who was the Sri Lanka coach during the 2007 World Cup, believes it is beneficial to read about and listen to people from the same discipline if an individual wants to improve and grow. Following Ferguson's career, he said, has always motivated him. "When a successful coach talks, you listen... You try and draw from what they're doing, see if there's something to learn," Moody told the Telegraph. "You'd be crazy if, in whatever field you are, you don't listen to or read other people's works just to get a feel of the direction they are taking." In addition to Ferguson, Mick Malthouse, an Australian Rules Football coach, and John Wooden, an American basketball coach, have impressed Moody with their coaching methods.