The Extras – Weekly round-up of cricket’s major happenings

The Coronavirus pandemic which has spread across the globe has brought all sporting activities to a grinding halt. Even cricket hasn’t been spared with matches and tournaments being cancelled or postponed at a rapid rate. Like most of the world, cricketers have been stuck at home, which has allowed us to see a different side to their personality away from the heat of the action. Many have kept active on social media, keeping us updated with their daily happenings.

Here in the Extras, we take a look at what the players have been up to over the past week:

Virat, ABD combine forces for a charitable cause

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_eirM2lkAc/

After their Instagram live which was viewed by millions, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers again joined forces for a charitable cause. The pair will auction off some of the items from their memorable partnership of 229 in the 2016 IPL against Gujarat Lions. The memorabilia includes Virat’s bat and gloves and ABD’s shirt and bat from that unforgettable day in Bangalore. All the proceeds from the auction will be split 50/50 between various charities battling the Coronavirus pandemic in India and South Africa.

Overall, it certainly was an eventful week for de Villiers as he had to deny reports that Cricket South Africa had asked him to lead the Proteas again. De Villiers who is yet to make a comeback from his retirement quashed the reports with a tweet which read:

Reports suggesting Cricket SA have asked me to lead the Proteas are just not true. It's hard to know what to believe these days. Crazy times. Stay safe everyone.

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) April 29, 2020

Mithali lays down the gauntlet

In a bid to raise awareness about fitness during the lockdown, Indian legend Mithali Raj has launched the #FitnessWithMithali challenge. With the challenge, Mithali aims to raise funds for a charity that is currently on the frontlines battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Raj has nominated many of her current and former teammates to share their workout videos in order to spread the word. Her teammates have duly obliged, taking to their Instagram handles to help Mithali in her cause. Here are a couple of them:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_aZh2XnG6f/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ZP-j8pYVK/

Warner’s tryst with TikTok continues

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_mINrppW7d/

As we previously reported, Australian opener David Warner has become infatuated with the social media platform TikTok. After showing off his skills on the famous Hindi song, Sheila ki Jawaani, Warner has now decided to add some spice in his moves. This time around, Warner can be seen shaking a leg to the popular Telugu song Butta Bomma in a Sunrisers Hyderabad jersey. He is joined by none other than his wife Candice as the pair expertly appears to be in sync during their performance. If somehow cricket doesn’t work out, Warner certainly has a future in the Indian film industry.