#FormerIndia

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Paris Olympics: Most Resilient Performance By Any Indian Hockey Team, Says Somaya

World Champion Germany: Former India captain and selector MM Somaya on Sunday termed the Indian Men's hockey team's victory over Great Britain in the quarterfinals in the Paris Olympics as "one of the most resilient" and "tactically well played" performance in recent times. Despite being a man down for three of the four quarters of the match, the Indian team defended stoutly and absorbed tremendous pressure to end the match 1-1 and then emerged 4-2 winners in the shootout to seal a place in the semifinals. This is the first time that India have reached the semifinals in two successive Olympics since the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Somaya, who was a member of the team that won India's eighth gold medal in men's hockey in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, hailed the players for their performance in the Paris Olympics and said they have raised hopes of going through all the way. India had ended a four-decade-long medal drought by winning the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics. "It was one of the most resilient and the most, I think, tactically very well-played (game) given the circumstances that the team found itself in. So, I think a very resilient and very strong tactical game to pull it off in the quarterfinal at the Olympics. So the game was not a, you know, pool game or a, you know, some smaller tournament quarterfinal. To do something like this at the Olympics is amazing. It is definitely one of the most resilient performances by an Indian team," said Somaya, who was the captain of the Indian hockey team at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. For years, lack of resilience and tactical acumen was considered as the reasons for the Indian men's team's failure to progress through key knockout matches in mega events -- conceding last-minute goals like at the 1984 Los Angeles and 2000 Sydney Olympic games that thwarted them from progressing to the last-four stage. On Sunday, resilient play and a strong tactical game saved the day as Harmanpreet Singh's team battled hard despite being reduced to 10 players at the start of the second quarter after Amit Rohidas was shown a red card. A keen observer of Indian hockey since his playing days, Somaya, who is a member of the senior men's selection committee of Hockey India, has seen the team grow in the last decade and said by reaching the semifinals in two successive Olympics, the team has lifted the stature of India in hockey. "There has been an amazing change. They have really lifted the stature of India in hockey. They have put us (in the top four). They have retained that stature we used to have earlier. May not be finishing as first, second, or third very often, but the quality of hockey they have played over the last ten years has been very, very encouraging and they have again put Indian hockey on the World map. So very happy with the style of playing," said Somaya. The 65-year-old Somaya, who was born in Madikeri, Karnataka but now settled in Mumbai for the last many decades, agreed that the team's performance was not perfect as they made many errors in midfield easily giving away the ball on many occasions, but said that could be because the players could not go up on attack too much as they were a man down. Somaya felt that the mistakes could be because the players were very tired while covering the length and breadth of the field as they had one person less. Asked what areas should the team focus on for the semifinal where they will meet the winner of the match between World Champion Germany and Argentina, Somaya the players' main concern would be to recover from Sudnay's exertions and get fully fit for the semifinal. Another area of concern will be the absence of Amit Rohidas for the next match because of the red card as that will reduce the squad to 15 players whereas the opponents will have their full quota of 16. "Recovering physically, mentally, emotionally is going to be difficult as the day after is the next match. So, you have to first recover physically, mentally, emotionally. These sorts of games drain you completely. So it has drained them. So, the first thing is they have to recover. And they, again, may at a handicap. If Amit Rohidas doesn't get a reprieve from the disciplinary committee, then he may have to (miss the semifinal). We may have to play one player short from the 16. And in today's rules of rolling substitution, where they make 40, 50 changes, you know, then your options are limited as compared to the opposition. "Recovering physically, mentally, emotionally is going to be difficult as the day after is the next match. So, you have to first recover physically, mentally, emotionally. These sorts of games drain you completely. So it has drained them. So, the first thing is they have to recover. Article Source: IANS Read the full article

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Yashasvi Has Class, Sarfaraz Needs To Be Consistent, Players On Border Line Will Have To Fight For Their Place: Madan Lal

Sarfaraz Khan: Former India all-rounder and 1983 World Cup-winning hero Madan Lal lavished praise on young batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan following their match-winning performances in the third Test against England in Rajkot. Yashasvi scored a phenomenal unbeaten double-century, the second of his Test career, while Sarfaraz made fifties in first and second innings in his debut match which India won comfortably. Speaking exclusively to IANS, Madan Lal said, "This young generation is quite good, they have a lot of experience playing first class cricket, IPL cricket, they are not scared of hitting the ball. If you look at their batting style, they are much more positive. "The way they play the shots, shows that they have a lot of confidence and that can only come when you play a lot of cricket. That’s the reason they are champions. The next generation is getting ready for India. He further said that "Yashasvi has the class following his consistent performance and Sarfaraz needs to keep performing in the same manner as his journey has just begun". Asked if it will be tough to manage the squad for the selectors when KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will be back? The former all-rounder said, "I think, it’s a good sign, like you talk about KL, Virat and Shreyas, they have done a lot better. And these new kids have just started. "So, preference will be given to the established players. They have won a lot of games for the country, inside or outside. It’s a good thing we have a good pool of talent, and those who are on the border line, will have to fight for their place." Further enquiring about his thoughts on 'Bazball', he said, "That’s their (England) way of approaching the game. With this, they will win a few and they will lose a few. But that’s their style. Like their win in the first Test was amazing. But at the same time they have to be patient while playing on Indian wickets," he added. Read the full article

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That’s Their Strength: Sunil Gavaskar Lauds CSK Opening Duo, Gaikwad And Conway

Chennai Super Kings: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has weighed in on the formidable batting prowess of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), singling out the opening duo of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway as potentially the best in the tournament.Gavaskar's observations come on the heels of a scintillating performance by Gaikwad and Conway in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, where they emerged as the top two run-scorers for the Chennai-based franchise. With Gaikwad's aggressive right-handed strokes complementing Conway's stylish left-handed finesse, the pair set the stage ablaze, consistently providing CSK with explosive starts. While the New Zealand southpaw amassed 672 runs at a strike rate of 139.70 in 16 matches, the Indian right-handed batter smashed 590 runs at a strike rate of 147.50 in as many games. Reflecting on CSK's batting might, Gavaskar said to Star Sports, "That's been their advantage over the years. All these years, they have always had batters at the top who can take the attack to the opposition from the first ball itself, and then they have got the finishers as well." "I feel their left and right-handed opening combination of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway is probably the best opening pair in the IPL because they always gave good starts last year. So the pressure was slightly eased on the players who used to come at No. 4 and No. 5," the former India captain added. Gaikwad and Conway's dynamic partnership proved to be the cornerstone of CSK's success in IPL 2023, with several memorable stands that propelled the team to victory. Notably, their remarkable 141-run partnership against the Delhi Capitals underscored their ability to dominate even the most formidable bowling attacks. In addition to their explosive opening pair, Gavaskar highlighted CSK's batting depth as a key asset in run chases. "For chasing, you need to have a lineup where someone can come at No. 7 as well and hit big sixes," he emphasised. The defending champion boasts a wealth of firepower in their middle order, with the likes of M.S Dhoni, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ajinkya Rahane capable of turning the tide of any match with their aggressive stroke play. With Dhoni's unparalleled finishing prowess, Dube's explosive hitting, and Jadeja's ability to deliver under pressure, CSK possesses a well-rounded batting lineup that strikes fear into the hearts of their opponents. Dhoni and Dube had strike rates of 182.45 and 158.33, respectively, in IPL 2023. While Ravindra Jadeja scored his runs at a strike rate of 142.85, the usually circumspect Ajinkya Rahane too had a strike rate of 172.48. "You always think about scoring runs in T20 cricket, but chasing is also important. For chasing, you need to have a lineup where someone can come at No. 7 as well and hit big sixes. You have got an MS Dhoni and now they have got somebody like Shivam Dube batting at No. 3 or No. 4. He is a long hitter, and then Jadeja, look at the way he finished the finals. Deepak Chahar can also play the big shots. So clearly their batting is the least of their worries," Gavaskar stated. Read the full article

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India ‘A’ Selection Is Good Opportunity For Upendra Yadav, Kumar Kushagra: Ajay Ratra

With KS Bharat: With KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel selected in the Test squad for the first two games against England at Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, Kumar Kushagra and Upendra Yadav were recently included in the India ‘A’ team for the second and third four-day games against England Lions in Ahmedabad. While Upendra was a member of India ‘A’ team on their tour of South Africa in 2021, Kushagra has been handed a maiden call-up to the squad. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Ajay Ratra believes the duo are on the radar of the selection committee, resulting in their selection for India ‘A’ team. "India ‘A’ is your second-best Test team and with them being selected for those games, it means that the selectors and team management are keeping an eye on those two, based on their domestic performances for a long time. There’s a lot of cricket happening and it’s great that those two wicketkeepers are getting a chance to play in this format," he said in an exclusive conversation with IANS. With Rishabh Pant still recovering from injuries sustained in a horrific car accident in December 2022, India has fielded three different wicketkeepers in Test cricket since February 2023 – Bharat, Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul. Bharat had been in the ‘A’ team set-up for a long time before graduating to the Test level, while Rahul has been the primary wicketkeeper in ODIs and even donned the gloves for the Test tour of South Africa. Kishan has been on a mental health break from the game since December 2023 while Jurel was given a Test call-up, based on his good showings in domestic cricket and India ‘A’ games. Hence, the call-ups of Kushagra and Upendra to the India ‘A’ team have two aims – of expanding the wicketkeeper pool in senior men’s cricket and give the ‘A’ level exposure to youngsters like Kushagra and Upendra. When Kushagra’s India ‘A’ call-up came, the wicketkeeper-batter converted his overnight score of an unbeaten fifty into a fine 132 for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy match against Services at the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam, New Delhi. Last month, Kushagra had earned an astonishing INR 7.2 crore deal with Delhi Capitals at the IPL 2024 Player Auction in Dubai. Ratra, who played six Tests and 12 ODIs for India, recalled seeing Kushagra as a young keeper a few years ago at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. “I still remember about doing an U16 camp with Kumar Kushagra in Bengaluru. The way he showcased his glovework at the U16 level, it made for a very impressive look.” "The NCA has a lot of camps going on in a year and at that time, he was at the U16 level. Someone like Jayant Yadav was at the NCA for rehab or practice and he needed a wicketkeeper to do his bowling practice. "We then sent Kumar for helping him and even though it was a practice session happening, he was catching balls at ease and gathered the deliveries very well. Seeing that, I got a feeling that he would be a decent keeper and has now done well at the domestic level." On the other hand, Upendra is a big-hitting wicket-keeper who has kept wickets and got big runs for Uttar Pradesh and Railways in first-class cricket. "I haven’t seen much of Upendra, but have heard a lot about him and read about his scores too. So, the India ‘A’ selection is a good opportunity for them and the way Dhruv Jurel entered India ‘A’ setup before getting the Test call-up, they can take inspiration from it." "If an overseas series comes up and whether India would take KL Rahul as a keeper there, there’s some time to it. But India ‘A’ selection is a good opportunity for both Upendra Yadav and Kumar Kushagra," concluded Ratra. Read the full article

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Sumptuous Lofted Drives, Glorious Shots: Irfan Pathan Hails Kl Rahul s Valiant Knock

Irfan Pathan: Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan lavished praises on wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul for his valiant knock on a tricky centurion pitch and lauded him for a "phenomenal display of skills in demanding conditions." Struggling at 92/4 at 92/4 against the potent South African fast bowlers on a demanding Centurion pitch on the first day, KL Rahul played a pivotal role, guiding India back into contention with an undefeated 70. His tenacious display took India to 208/8 208 for 8 before rain forced an early end to the day's play. "Sumptuous lofted drives, glorious shots along the ground, cracking pulls, excellent leaves, a rock-solid defence - this innings has had it all. Phenomenal display of skills in demanding conditions," Irfan wrote in his X post. Challenged by the formidable South African seam attack Rahul, who was batting for the first time in middle order, showcased his prowess by successfully blending caution with aggression while batting alongside the tailenders for a significant portion of his innings. India will resume on 208/8 after rain cut short play on day one. Rahul, unbeaten on 70, has Mohammed Siraj for company with Prasidh Krishna to follow. Read the full article

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Men’s ODI WC: Under Lights South Africa Might Be The Best Fast Bowling Unit, Says Aakash Chopra

Cricket World Cup:  Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes that under lights, South Africa has the best fast-bowling attack in the ongoing 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Chopra’s comments come after Proteas bowled out Bangladesh for 233 in defence of 382/5 to win by 149 runs at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. Chopra also made a mention of young pacer Gerald Coetzee, who picked 3-62 for the Proteas against Bangladesh. “Lungi Ngidi did not play and instead Lizaad Williams was given a chance who is a very consistent wicket-taking bowler. And I honestly think under lights this might be the best fast bowling unit in this tournament.” “Gerald Coetzee has made everyone forget that Anrich Nortje is not playing, and we all know what a world-class bowler Nortje is. I also want to commend Marco Jansen, who somehow always gets wickets regardless of the conditions and situation,” said Chopra in an episode of JioCinema’s daily sports show ‘#AAKASHVANI’. With the batting, South Africa were propelled by opener and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock scoring his third hundred of the World Cup, a smashing 140-ball 174 and is currently the highest run-scorer of the competition with 407 runs from five matches. Now in second place in the points table, South Africa will next face Pakistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Chopra applauded de Kock’s performance and admitted it will be hard for regular skipper Temba Bavuma to be back in the playing eleven after missing out on last two matches due to health issues, in which South Africa’s batters have runs aplenty. “Quinton de Kock is batting on another level and the best thing about his play style, compared to other batters, is that he always plays for the team. One can never say that he is being selfish, he is just so clinical that he does not stop putting runs on the board.” “We also saw Aiden Markram who provided stability on the other end with De Kock and led the South African side quite well. I believe that it will be hard for Temba to be part of this team even if he’s fit.” “On the other hand, Heinrich Klassen gave an extremely explosive performance smashing 90 runs off just 49 balls – this was even after he was consistently giving the strike to De Kock!” he concluded. Read the full article