QPlay: SA’s Ashwin Fears, Gayle On India-SA Tests & Sania’s “Swag”

All the latest sports stories in The Quint’s morning wrap.

1. Gayle: Virat is Great but South Africa Favourites For Test Series

A series whitewash in the T20s was followed by a 3-2 defeat at the hands of South Africa in the recently concluded ODI series for the Indian cricket team.

Now even as Virat Kohli and his Men in White prepare for the Test series that starts on the 5th, his team-mate from IPL side Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chris Gayle is showing support for South Africa.

The first test starts in Mohali on Thursday.

2. Ashwin Will be The Main Threat, Says Du Plessis

Despite winning the ODI and T20 series, South Africa’s Faf du Plessis said they were wary of slow and spinning tracks that will be on offer in the upcoming Test rubber against India, zeroing in on off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as the main threat.

He is an outstanding spinner but I feel we played him well (in T20s). Now, its a case of Test cricket, but with the conditions he will get a little more turn. Ashwin is our main threat, but we will plan really well. The way we play Ashwin in this series will definitely determine definitely the success in this series.

Faf du Plessis

3. IPL Has Taken “Ugly Sledging” Away From Cricket: Dhoni

Stressing the need to keep the spirit of gentleman’s game alive, Indian limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the IPL had helped players from across the globe connect with each other and taken “ugly sledging” away from cricket.

“We play a gentleman’s game. We want to win, but have to do it in the right way. IPL has taken the ugly sledging away from cricket. Friendly banter is good and that’s what these Twenty20 Leagues has done. Really helped the cricketers in streamlining in what was known as sledging,” Dhoni, who shared the stage with West Indies batsman Chris Gayle, said at a promotional event to kick off the “Yaari” digital movement in a city hotel.

“IPL has helped us a lot to deal with it (sledging). IPL has helped different players from different cultures come together and share the same dressing room. IPL got me closer to many individuals, whom I might not have interacted with otherwise,” Dhoni said.

4. Martina Praises Sania After WTA Finals Win

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis reflect on an amazing 2015 after winning the doubles title at the WTA Finals in Singapore on Sunday. Hingis said it was great to see Sania play incredible Tennis during the final.

Mirza and Hingis thrashed the Spanish team of Garbine Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0,6-3 in the final to register their ninth title victory of the year. There is no doubt about the fact that they ended the year as the world’s number one doubles pair.

5. Force India in Rebranding Talks With Aston Martin & Johnnie Walker

Indian Formula 1 team Force India are in talks with Aston Martin and Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker about a deal that would see the team change its name and look, co-owner Vijay Mallya said on Friday.

Yes, there are discussions on with Aston Martin. Yes, there is excitement on both sides. But it still has to go through due process before we agree and shake hands on a concept, whatever that concept may be... we have not exchanged anything in terms of an outline or draft contracts. This is a sort of tripartite discussion that is going on which involves Diageo with its Johnnie Walker brand as well.

Vijay Mallya