Sports
Amid blaring music and overflowing emotions, BCCI fetes T20 Champions on a magical night at Wankhede
Mumbai, July 4 (IANS) Cheered on by thousands of fans assembled inside the Wankhede Stadium and by the huge crowd that had turned the Marine Drive into a sea of people, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) felicitated the Champions as they returned home with the trophy. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the two elder statesmen of the Indian team, articulated the feelings of players to the scores of fans across the country when they told the huge gathering how happy and proud they were feeling after bringing the trophy back home.
“This trophy is for the entire nation, along with all the players that have represented the country,” said India captain Rohit Sharma as he along with his teammates was accorded grand felicitations by a jam-packed Wankhede Stadium at a function organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday. The BCCI handed over to the team and the support staff a cheque of Rs 125 crore that it had announced as a reward for their victory.
“Since the time we have come to India, it has been wonderful. The reception we have got has been wonderful. The trophy belongs to everyone, to the players, the support staff, the BCCI officials, along with the people who have wanted us to win the World Cup, this trophy belongs to them,” said Rohit as he expressed his emotions and his teammates at the Wankhede Stadium.
The stadium was packed to the rafters since 3 pm as they waited for the team to arrive from Delhi, travel from the Mumbai airport to Nariman Point for a victory parade over an open-top bus along the Marine Drive, crawling through a sea of humanity which delayed the function by a couple of hours.
Neither the players nor the waiting crowd was bothered by the delay despite first being roasted by the afternoon sun and then soaked by a drizzle. While the crowd cheered them on, the players ran into the crowd, danced along with the supporters, cheered each other, and thanked the fans as they expressed their delight at being able to watch the demigods.
“Bringing this World Cup to the country means a lot to us. We got a solid reception, along with BCCI and my teammates, I thank the fans for their support,” said Rohit saying every World Cup triumph is different and the last three that have come during his career were each special in its own way.
“To bring the World Cup to the venue where India won the 2011 ODI World Cup is very special for us. I would not single out some particular players but all of them played their role in this victory,” said Rohit, who hailed his teammates Suryakumar Yadav, for his sensational catch off David Miller in the final at Bridgetown, Barbados, and Hardik Pandya for bowling that final over that sealed victory for India. Rohit’s praise for Hardik at the Wankhede was special considering the kind of things they had to face after the allrounder from Gujarat had replaced the local boy as captain of the IPL side Mumbai Indians.
Bumrah, once in a generation player, says Kohli
While Rohit Sharma had words of praise for Surya and Hardik, Virat Kohli, who like Rohit has announced his retirement from T20I cricket, expressed some special words for Jasprit Bumrah for how the pacer extricated the Indian team from difficult situations on several occasions during the World Cup.
He agreed that Bumrah should be declared a “national treasure” for the way he saved the team from difficult situations during the World Cup. Bumrah was declared the Player of the Tournament for his heroics and received a special round of applause from the crowd as Kohli urged them on.
“At one time I also felt that ‘man is it going to slip away again’. But what happened in those five overs, two of which were bowled by Jasprit Bumrah was truly, truly special. What I would like everyone is to applaud a guy who brought us back into games, again and again in this tournament,” said Kohli.
“We want him to continue playing for India as long as he can. He is once in a generation player,” said Kohli of Bumrah. He also made a special mention of head coach Rahul Dravid and the support staff for helping and guiding the team to triumph.
Bumrah on his part said that having his toddler son along with him at the Kensington Oval made it special for him, laughing off suggestions that he may have to encounter a petition signed by a billion people urging him not to quit the game.
While there were numerous moments for the fans to score in their memory for eternity, three would find a place in everyone’s favourite moments of the evening.
Top-most of those cherished moments will be when Rohit Sharma walked hand-in-hand with Virat Kohli to the crowd near the stands as if saying thanks on their behalf as they retire from the game’s shortest format.
The second moment that will stay forever in people’s minds will be Hardik Pandya getting cheered vociferously at the same ground where Mumbaikars booed him as captain of Mumbai Indians. And then there was the iconic moment of all the players dancing together as they went on a lap of honour around the stadium, reminding people of the similar scenes at the same venue in 2011 when Kohli was among those who lifted Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulder around the ground.
On Thursday, there were no such scenes even though the two oldest members of the team and the most loved ones were retiring from this format of the game. However, there was no doubt in the minds of the gathered about the yeomen service both of them have rendered to the country.
–IANS
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Bengaluru, July 7 (IANS) Former champion from Bengaluru, Ruhaan Alva of MSport clinched the day’s honors with a fine double in the Senior Max category as the second round of the National Rotax Max Karting 2024 concluded at the Kartopia track, here on Sunday.
Nikhilesh Raju of Peregrine Racing, also from Bengaluru, won the Junior Max final, but it was Arafat Sheik who topped the pre-final race in the Junior class. Mumbai’s Hamza Balasinorwala of Rayo Racing won the Micro Max final after Chennai’s Rivaan Dev Preetham of MSport bagged the pre-final.
Alva took a fine victory in the final race, but in the pre-final, Akshat Misra of Crest Motorsports finished ‘first’ before logging a 5-second penalty for causing a collision and was pushed down to second place behind Alva. Ishaan Madesh of Peregrine Racing came third in both races.
Earlier, in the pre-final of the Junior class, Nikhilesh Raju had to be content with a second place as Pune’s Arafath Sheikh of Crest Motorsport notched up a comfortable win. Mumbai’s Kiaan Shah of Rayo Racing completed the podium in third in both races.
In the Micro Max pre-final, first round winner 11-year-old Rivaan Dev Preetham, took the honors as he edged out Danish Dalmiya of MSport to second. Dalmiya had won second place in the final too. Hamza, of Rayo Racing, who came third in the pre-final went on to win the final in Round 2.
–IANS
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Guwahati, July 7 (IANS) NorthEast United FC has announced the signing of Spanish forward Guillermo Fernandez Hierro.
Fernandez began his career with Athletic Bilbao, making his first-team debut in La Liga in 2013. Known for his finishing in front of goal, he later played for clubs like Elche, CD Numancia, and most recently for Cultural Leonesa.
Guillermo’s notable achievements include scoring a goal in the UEFA Champions League group phase against FC Porto, decisive goals in La Liga and Copa del Rey, and playing a crucial role in CD Numancia’s successful campaigns in Segunda División. Fernandez has consistently demonstrated his skill on the field with his ability to adapt and perform in various attacking roles.
Expressing his delight on joining the highlanders, Guillermo said, “I am very excited to work with the team and coaching staff. The club has shown faith in me, and I am ready to repay them and set my mark in the Indian Super League.”
His experience in Spain’s top leagues brings valuable expertise to NorthEast United FC, strengthening the team’s attacking lineup. The club is optimistic about the impact Guillermo will have in the upcoming season.
“Guillermo is a very experienced professional; his career says it all. He will give us the much-needed boost in our attack, and we are happy to have him here.” Mandar Tamhane, CEO of NorthEast United FC, shared his thoughts on the signing, “We feel we have got the right fit for our team. Guillermo has played at the top level of football in Europe, his expertise will not only bolster our attack but also serve as a catalyst for growth and development for our entire squad,” said head coach Juan Pedro Benali.
–IANS
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Silverstone, July 7 (IANS) Williams team principal James Vowles has confirmed that Logan Sergeant’s seat may be under threat and even admitted that a mid-season change may be on the cards for the team.
“There will be a line in the sand where we have to make a decision and at that point, both for 2025 and maybe for something this year, we’ll make a decision on it. But we’re not there today,” said Vowles to Sky Sports F1.
Logan is currently in his second year with the British team and has not been able to perform up to the mark. The team currently sits at ninth place in the Constructors Championship.
“Logan all the way through has been provided [with] the opportunity to retain his seat – that’s in his control. I need performance that’s at Alex’s level, I need him to be there day in and day out, fundamentally,” added the British engineer.
Williams is perhaps thinking ahead to the future of the team without Sergeant having already offered Albon a multi-year deal with the team. Rumours suggest that the side may be looking into bringing in F2 sensation Kimi Antonrlli who is backed by Williams engine partner Mercedes.
“My priority at the moment is, let’s sort out the car, because we’ve underperformed in that area. Not Logan, not Alex. Once we have a car at the right performance level, then let’s assess what we’re costing ourselves, if we are costing ourselves,” he said.
–IANS
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London, July 7 (IANS) Former England fast-bowler Stuart Broad has said James Anderson is “an addict of the art of bowling” ahead of the veteran pacer preparing to play his final Test match against the West Indies at Lord’s starting on July 10.
Anderson had earned 187 caps for England since his debut in 2003 and will end his international career during the Lord’s Test against the West Indies. Earlier this year, Anderson became the third bowler after Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan to reach the landmark of 700 Test wickets – the most by any fast-bowler – earlier this year during England’s fifth and final match of their India tour at Dharamshala in March.
“He loves the rhythm of running into bowl, the control of the technique of his action, the tactical side of whether he’s bowling away swing, inswing, wobble seam. When you talk about professionals who have had longevity, you often talk about their dedication to training, their discipline in the gym and their diet.
“And of course you don’t play to 42 unless you have that but the thing that makes him different is his genuine love of the art of what he does. Addict is generally used as a negative word but I’d say he is an addict of the art of bowling,” wrote Broad in his column for The Times on Sunday.
Broad, who retired from all forms of the game after the final Ashes Test at The Oval last year, shared the dressing room with Anderson for 138 games to form a lethal new-ball pair. He feels Anderson’s ability to reverse-swing in Tests is highly underrated.
“He doesn’t get enough credit for his reverse-swing, which has been crucial to his great record in the subcontinent. Because his line and length are so immaculate it makes it lethal. (South Africa paceman) Dale Steyn was phenomenal and quicker than Jimmy but Jimmy is certainly the best reverse-swing bowler I’ve played with and probably the best I’ve witnessed in the flesh outside of Steyn.
“(His) ability to adapt and learn is why he has been so successful for so long. In professional sport you have to be continually improving because there is always a younger bowler trying to get your shirt.
“It is that genuine love for the art of bowling that has made him want to improve and learn new deliveries. It’s why he will go out at Lord’s this week as England’s greatest ever bowler,” he concluded.
–IANS
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Sports
Now BCCI can give, what's stopping them: '83 WC-winner demands cash reward for Kapil-led side
New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) After the BCCI awarded Rs 125 crore prize money for the T20 World Cup winning team, the former India player, who was part of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, asked the board to also announce a cash reward for the Kapil Dev-led side that brought laurels to the country.
Under the leadership of Kapil Dev, India defeated the two-time champions West Indies by 43 runs in the final of the 1983 World Cup. After posting 183 runs in 60 overs, the Indian bowlers did a wonderful job defending the target. Madan Lal and Mohinder Amarnath picked up three wickets each to help bowl out the mighty West Indies for 140.
The win not only made India champion but also announced their arrival at the world cricket.
Drawing a comparison with the Rohit Sharma-led side, the veteran cricketer said the 1983 title-winning team was not given any reward at that time as BCCI told them they ‘don’t have money’ but the board can now announce prize money as they have it now.
“Rs 125 crore is huge. Happy for Team India. Well, we were not given cash rewards at that time (after 1983 World Cup victory), because board (BCCI) had said ‘we don’t have money’. Now they can give, what is stopping them? Only a few players (of that team) are getting work, rest are struggling. BCCI should look into it,” a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian team told IANS on condition of anonymity.
The 1983 World Cup-winning players were awarded a cash prize of Rs 25,000 each by the BCCI. When late singer Lata Mangeshkar came to know about the low prize money, she organised a fundraising musical concert in Delhi and awarded Rs 1 lakh to each player in the team.
–IANS
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