Former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has broken many records in his illustrious cricketing career. The 49-year-old's record-breaking spree continues even after his international retirement.

Dhoni has now become the second international cricketer ever to have 30 million followers on Instagram, a social media platform where he posted his retirement message last year.

His retirement message, posted on August 15, 2020, read: “Thanks a lot for your love and support throughout. From 1929 hours, consider me as retired."

The Instagram post has garnered a whopping 37.2 million views so far.

Also Read- MS Dhoni retires from international cricket

Dhoni, who made his India debut in 2004, scored 10,773 runs - the 11th highest tally in history - in 350 one-dayers. He also played 90 Tests and 98 T20 matches in his 16-year career.

The former wicket-keeper-batsman also captained the Indian national team in Test cricket from 2008 to 2014 and the limited-overs format of the game from 2007 to 2016.

However, Dhoni's successor Virat Kohli is currently on top of the list with a whopping 88.7 million followers on Instagram. The third place is occupied by 'Master Blaster' Sachin Tendulkar, with over 27.5 Million followers.

The West Indies cricket team arrived in Dhaka on Sunday morning to play a series consisting of three ODIs and two Tests.

The series will begin with the first ODI at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on January 20, while the second ODI will also take place at the same venue on January 22. The third and final ODI of the series will be played in Chattogram on January 25.

Also read: West Indies to arrive in Dhaka Sunday

Also read: International cricket set to return with WI tour of BD in January confirmed

After that, both teams will lock horns in two Tests.

All members of touring West Indies side will be quarantined for three days. They will not be allowed to do anything outside their rooms during this period. And at the same time, all of them will have to undergo a Covid-19 test.

After these three days of strict quarantine, all member of the West Indies team will have to undergo another Covid-19 test and those who will return negative will be allowed to join the intra-squad training from the fourth day. They will get support from the local staff after seven days.

Also read West Indies series: Bangladesh ODI, Test teams announced

Also read: Akram Khan: Bangladesh shouldn’t take West Indies lightly

At least 12 regular members of West Indies team have decided to stay out of this series due to concern over Covid-19 situation of Bangladesh.

West Indies Test Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Kavem Hodge, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Raymon Reifer, Jomel Warrican

Also read: After 20 years, Bangladesh still finding its feet in Test cricket

West Indies ODI Squad: Jason Mohammed (captain), Sunil Ambris (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua Da Silva, Jahmar Hamilton, Chemar Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Andre McCarthy, Kjorn Ottley, Rovman Powell, Raymon Reifer, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh jr.

The West Indies cricket team will arrive in Dhaka on early Sunday to play a three-match ODI and two-match Test series against the hosts from January 20.

This series will be Bangladesh cricket team’s first international meet after a Covid-19 hiatus.

Bangladesh played their last international match in March 2020 against Zimbabwe at home. They were scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in last October, too. But the series was postponed due to the Covid-19 situation in the island nation.

The West Indies team took a Covid-19 test before departing for Bangladesh. And one cricketer, who tested positive, was left out from the squad what was announced earlier.

After arriving in Dhaka, all the members of the touring team will undergo another Covid-19 test and will have to maintain a strict three-day in-room quarantine.

Also read: PM greets Tigers for victory over West Indies

After that, they will undergo another test. Those who will test negative will get the chance to join the intra-squad training programme for the next four days. After the seven days, they will undergo another Covid-19 test in Bangladesh.

On the same day of the West Indies’ arrival, Bangladesh will start their official training programme ahead of the tour.

All members of the Bangladesh team underwent a Covid-19 test on Thursday and everyone tested negative. They will take another test on Saturday, and those who will return negative will join the training.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will have to maintain a strict health safety protocol during the series to keep all the cricketers, staff and other stakeholders safe from Covid-19 infection.

Also read:West Indies series: Mashrafe left out 

“We are taking it seriously. We arranged two domestic events recently – BCB President’s Cup and Bangabandhu T20 Cup – while creating a bio-secure bubble for the cricketers. So we know how to do it,” BCB Cricket Operations Committee chairman Akram Khan said this on Saturday.

Unlike Australia, Bangladesh will not allow any spectators to the stadium during this series. “BCB is still discussing the issue and considering not to allow any spectators, keeping health safety in mind,” Akram said.

The series will commence with the first ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on January 20 while the second ODI will take place on January 22.

Also read:West Indies players sanctioned for breaching isolation rules

The third ODI will be played in Chattogram on January 25, and the first Test will also take place in the port city from February 3. Both the teams will come back to Dhaka to play the final Test from February 11. 

After the Covid-19 interruption, the West Indies played two series – against England and New Zealand – while the Bangladesh team are yet to make a return to international cricket.

Also read:Akram Khan: Bangladesh shouldn't take West Indies lightly

However, former Bangladesh captain Akram said, “West Indies are a good team. They have many quality players.”

“We know some of their regular players have opted out from participation. Still, they have a good bunch of cricketers. So we should not take them lightly.”

Also read:West Indies series: Bangladesh ODI, Test teams announced

After a few weeks' winter break, Bangladesh head coach Russel Domingo returned to Dhaka on Friday. That means apart from spin-bowling consultant Daniel Vettori, the foreign contingent of Bangladesh's coaching staff is now in Dhaka.

Ahead of the home series against West Indies to be played from January 20, the Bangladesh team is all set to start its preparations from January 10. On the same day, the West Indies cricket team will arrive in Dhaka.

The series against the West Indies will mark Bangladesh’s return to international cricket after the Coronavirus hiatus. Their last international match was back in March last year against Zimbabwe.

Also read: Jon Lewis of England new batting coach of Bangladesh

The Tigers were all set to tour Sri Lanka for a full series last October, but due to the Covid-19 restriction in the island nation, the series was postponed indefinitely. The two countries are in talks to make the series happen in March-April this year.

Both West Indies and Bangladesh have announced their squads for the forthcoming series. While a whopping 12 regular players of West Indies opted out of the series due to the Covid-19 situation, Bangladesh refused to bring back Mashrafe bin Mortaza, now an MP, to give some young players a chance.

Also read: After 20 years, Bangladesh still finding its feet in Test cricket

The series will kick off at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on January 20 with the first of three ODIs. The second ODI will be played on January 22 at the same venue while the third and final ODI will take place in Chattogram on January 25.

After the three-match ODI series, the teams will lock horns in a two-match Test series. The first Test will be played in Chattogram from February 3, with the final Test taking place from February 11 in Dhaka.

Also read: Akram Khan: Bangladesh shouldn't take West Indies lightly

Bangladesh's preliminary squads against West Indies:

ODIs: Tamim Iqbal (captain), Momimul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mustafizur Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Mohammad Mithun, Taijul Islam, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Yasir Ali, Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Nayeem Hasan, Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain.

Also read: International cricket set to return with WI tour of BD in January

Tests: Momimul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, Tamim Iqbal, Khaled Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mustafizur Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Mohammad Mithun, Taijul Islam, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Yasir Ali, Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Nayeem Hasan, Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain.

Steve Smith scored his first century in Australia in over three years but India’s bowlers sparked another batting collapse for the hosts before its batsmen made a solid start to reach 96-2 by the end of the second day of the third cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Smith’s 131, his first century since the 2019 Ashes and Australia’s first this series, helped lift the hosts to 338 but Australia will be disappointed to have not scored more given its final eight wickets fell for 130 runs with India spinner Ravi Jadeja taking 4-62 and completing a spectacular run out to dismiss Smith and end the innings.

India made a good start to its innings reaching 70 without loss before Australia’s pace attack responded by removing both openers in the final session.

At stumps, captain Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on five with Cheteshwar Pujara on nine, trailing Australia by 242 runs with eight first-innings wickets remaining.

Having resumed Friday at 166-2, Australia was well-placed to take a stranglehold on the match after it had won the toss and elected to bat.

Marnus Labuschagne made 91 off 196 balls, and shared a century stand with Smith to see Australia past 200 runs for the first time in five innings this series, before he edged the impressive Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane at slip with Australia at 206-3.

Jadeja then had Matthew Wade (13) playing a poor shot to be caught in the deep, before Jasprit Bumrah (2-66) trapped Cameron Green lbw with the last ball before lunch.

After lunch, captain Tim Paine (1) and Pat Cummins (0) were both bowled cheaply leaving Australia at 278-7.

Smith then reached his 27th hundred in 76 Tests with a leg glance for three runs off Navdeep Saini in the 98th over. The former captain was far more effusive in his celebration than usual reflecting the relief at having scored his first century in 15 innings spanning four series.

Smith’s eighth 100 against India came in 259 minutes off 201 balls, with 13 boundaries, and was the first against India in a home Test since David Warner’s quickfire century at the SCG in 2015.

It was also Smith’s first century in Australia since December 2017 in a drawn Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Also read- Australia 338 all out; India 26-0 at tea, day 2 of 3rd test

Starc scored 24 off 30 balls, including two boundaries and a six, before holing out from debutant Saini (2-65).

Nathan Lyon was also out for a duck, trapped by Jadeja to reduce the hosts to 315-9.

Smith’s was the last wicket to fall, run out spectacularly by Jadeja with a direct hit from deep square leg, as he was chasing quick runs with Josh Hazelwood.

India opened its innings briskly with second-gamer Gill especially looking comfortable at the crease.

Hazlewood made the lone breakthrough for the hosts in the 27th over to remove Sharma caught and bowled for 26, leaving India at 70-1.

Gill reached his maiden half century off 100 balls, with eight boundaries, before Cummins found the opener’s edge and had Gill caught by Green at gully the next ball.

Pujara and Rahane both survived some near misses in the final overs as Australia bowled a perilous line and length searching for a late wicket to tilt the match in their favor going into the third day.

On Thursday, Will Pucovski set the tone with a flourishing 62 on debut, before Labuschagne and Smith took over as Australia’s batting lineup finally clicked against India on a rain-interrupted opening day.

The four-match Border-Gavaskar trophy series is level at 1-1. The holder India is hoping to secure it with a victory in Sydney and Australia needing to win the series to reclaim it.

Australia won the opening day-night match in Adelaide by eight wickets and India responded with an eight-wicket win in Melbourne last week.