Cricket News Today: Virat Kohli in line to break MS Dhoni's record, IPL 2020 All-Star game details revealed and more - 28th January 2020

Hello and welcome to the daily round-up of all the major stories happening in the cricketing world today.

First up is Virat Kohli's possibility of breaking yet another T20I captaincy record of MS Dhoni, followed by an all-star IPL 2020 game this year. KL Rahul is in line to achieve a big T20I feat while Vikram Rathour believes that the core of T20 WC has been identified. And lastly, Faf du Plessis remains adamant of a South African comeback under his captaincy.

Here is a look at those stories in detail.

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#1 Kohli in line to break Dhoni's T20I record

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma lead the list of highest run-getters in T20Is

Indian captain Virat Kohli is in line to break a massive T20I record held by former Indian captain MS Dhoni. Kohli needs only 25 runs in T20 internationals to become the highest scorer in T20Is for India as captain. The record, currently, is held Dhoni with 1112 runs in 72 T20Is.

In 35 matches as captain, Kohli has scored 1088 runs at an astonishing T20 average of 45.33 with eight fifties. The list is led by Faf du Plessis of South Africa and New Zealand's Kane Williamson with 1273 and 1148 runs respectively.

List of highest run-getters in T20Is as captain

Full article: New Zealand vs India 2020 | Virat Kohli in line to break MS Dhoni's T20I record

#2 IPL 2020 All-Star game details revealed

2019 IPL Final - Mumbai Indians win their 4th title by beating CSK

Three days before the 13th edition IPL 2020 kicks-off on March 29, cricket fans will be treated to a one-off all-star match. Considered to be the brain-child of former Indian captain and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel, the game will see two star-studded teams compete against each other.

North and East Zone franchises - Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and Kolkata Knight Riders will form the core of one team while the other team will comprise South and West Zone franchises - Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The prospect of players like Andre Russell, Steve Smith, Jofra Archer, and Ben Stokes taking on the MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and AB de Villiers will light up the days leading into IPL 2020.

Full article: IPL 2020: Details about the all-star game revealed; get ready to see your favourite stars line up alongside each other

#3 KL Rahul eyeing massive T20I record

KL Rahul has a rare record in his crosshair

Wicket-keeper-batsman and opener KL Rahul is eying a rare T20I record not ever achieved by an Indian player - scoring four successive half-centuries. Rahul, whose last three T20I scores read 56, 57* and 54 can become the first Indian to do so during the third T20I against New Zealand tomorrow in Hamilton.

During the post-match interview after the second T20I, KL Rahul opened up about his recent purple patch and acknowledged the consistency factor as an important cog in his increased confidence.

"I don’t really know what to say about that (the consistent run of scores). The understanding of my game and reading my game has helped me to be more consistent. I always need to keep the team ahead and what the team requires. I have come up with the right shots and the right answers. That’s been my mantra over the last few games and in the T20 format."

Full article: New Zealand vs India 2020 | KL Rahul eyeing massive T20I record

#4 Vikram Rathour reveals management have identified core group for T20 WC

The core group of players that will represent the country in the T20 World Cup has already been identified, per Rathour

As per the batting coach of the Indian team, Vikram Rathour, the core of the T20 WC in Australia has already been identified. If the first two games in the New Zealand series were to be taken into consideration, Indian captain Virat Kohli trusted a certain group of players to take the mantle forward.

Rathour mentioned that other than some last-minute tweaks, the core of the WC T20 had already been identified. In the first two games, players like KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey showed tremendous resolve to take India home, battling crunch situations.

"Adjustments will keep going on till the last minute. But as far as I am concerned and the team management is concerned, we have the core. We know what our team is going to be. Unless there is a case of injury or really bad loss in form, I don't see many changes happening."

"Apart from having those (batting) skills, I think the mindset is amazing. He (Iyer) believes he is a big player, and he is, without any doubt. He genuinely believes that he is a match-winner and he is here to stay. And that mindset I think helps him, that is the biggest advantage he has."

Full article: Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour reveals management have identified core group for the T20 World Cup

#5 Faf du Plessis insists he won't make a hasty decision on his future

Du Plessis is under mounting pressure due to the South African team's horrific Test form

Under the pump South African Test skipper, Faf du Plessis has pledged not to take any hasty and emotional decisions regarding the captaincy future. After starting the series strongly, South Africa lost three back-to-back games to eventually lose the four-match Test series 1-3 to England.

Despite losing the last eight out of the nine Tests under his captaincy, Faf du Plessis maintained that the current situation wasn't the one to be swayed away by a radical decision and instead vowed to return fresh form break which the team needed badly.

“It feels like you’ve been pushing me that way in the last while,” du Plessis said when asked if he would resign.

“You don’t make decisions like that when you are emotional or disappointed.

Full article: Faf du Plessis insists he won't make a hasty decision on his future amidst calls for resignation