Sports
WPL 2024: I really hope that we get a lot of positive results this time, says Gujarat Giants’ Sneh Rana
New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) On the field, India’s off-spin all-rounder Sneh Rana looks serious in her pursuit of taking scalps and getting runs for her team. But off the field, she becomes a humorous person, with a knack of cracking witty jokes.
In WPL 2023, Sneh was tasked with leading the Gujarat Giants, the franchise owned by Adani Sportsline, when Beth Mooney limped off the field with a calf strain after facing just three balls in the tournament opener against future winners Mumbai Indians.
After that, the Giants’ didn’t have a memorable season, finishing at the bottom of the points table, even as Sneh was trying her best to keep the team afloat, despite nursing a finger injury. But now, the Giants, with many changes and injury replacements, are gearing up to make a fresh start.
In an exclusive conversation with IANS, facilitated by the franchise, Sneh talks about her role in the Giants’ set-up as the vice-captain, preparation for WPL 2024, the importance of being mentally strong and the changes she sees towards women’s cricket in India after WPL 2023.
Q. WPL 2024 will be taking place in Bengaluru and New Delhi. How important you think it is for the tournament’s growth to play at new venues?
A. When you are playing matches at newer venues, it becomes a very important thing as fans who live in different states and don’t get a chance to watch the games in the stadium due to distance, they get to see the matches.
This time, it’s a good thing that WPL games are in Bengaluru, which is a cricketing hub and makes for a very positive point. After that, it will be played in Delhi, a place which has a lot of craze for cricket. So, all of this will make for a very good tournament.
Q. As the vice-captain of the Gujarat Giants, after captaining them last season in Beth Mooney’s absence, how do you see your role in the leadership group in WPL 2024?
A. The role remains the same for all the players; it’s just that you do have a responsibility around how to manage the team and make them play as a unit. We did set it up well last time and with Beth joining in now (after missing out last year), I think it’s going to be a good one.
The leadership feeling has to be inside every player and that it should be coming from inside about the urge to do good for the team and do it in a certain way. I believe a quality like this should be inside everyone and as the team’s vice-captain, because this is the WPL, I know the Indian players personally and played a lot of games with them, so I can help Beth in that.
Q. Recently, you led Railways to winning Senior Women’s One-Day title and captained Central Zone to winning the 50-over Inter Zonal championship. What is there in leadership role which brings the best out of you as a captain?
A. It will be a tough one to explain this thing. But when the responsibility of leading the team comes on me, then you become more focused about it and you try to treat everyone in the team equally. For bringing the best out of them, you got to gel well with the entire team. I believe the type of bonding I have with the players in any team has been a key reason behind me getting success as a leader in cricket.
Q. In leadership roles, instinct and strategy play key roles in executing the plans well. In your view, how does one mix these two qualities well to get desired result on the field?
A. Its’ important that you see the strengths of the opposition, follow them a bit and their patterns, because that will help when you face them in a game. T20 is a quick game and you don’t get the time to make a comeback. So, if you are already prepared and have two-three plans in mind, then it makes life easy for you on the ground.
Q. You have previously won domestic titles as captain and formed a great captain-coach partnership with Nooshin Al Khadeer, who’s now the bowling coach at Gujarat Giants. How impactful has been her influence in your growth as a captain & leader?
A. I possess of a very great bonding with her as I have been under her for so many years, whether it’s at the Railways team or the Gujarat Giants side. Actually, she has really helped me a lot in terms of my growth as a player as she was an off-spinner herself in her playing time and I myself bowl off-spin.
So, there have been some tips from her which have really helped me a lot (in growing at the cricket). Moreover, she played a very important role in my cricketing comeback (after suffering a knee injury in 2016).
Q. You just mentioned about the comeback post injury. Could you talk about the learning that phase gave you in terms of being mentally strong?
A. In cricket, skills is another part as first, you got to be mentally strong in whatever you do on the field. The phase I had after my injury played a big part in me becoming mentally stronger and from there, I began to see a lot of positive things, all of which has been continuing so far.
The things which aren’t in my control, I don’t think much about them and because of that, my success rate in cricket has been going up. Plus, I focus a lot on my preparation, not on the results.
Q. You have been in both T20 franchise league and national side set-ups. Do you feel there’s any difference between these two systems?
A. The difference is that when are playing for your national team, you know everything about the players – like their positive and negative things when on ground. But when you are playing in a league like the WPL, then different players join you, about whom you aren’t much aware about.
To mix and interact with them and create that bonding, it does become challenging. But based on the practice sessions we have had, the girls have now gelled up well. Apart from that, I don’t see any much difference as such.
Q. Gujarat Giants’ didn’t have a great time in WPL 2023, by finishing at the bottom of the table. How has been the preparation been to have a great outing in this new WPL season?
A. Performances do go up-and-down, but as of now, the environment we have in the team has been very positive and the preparations in the camp we are having are going really well. I really hope that we get a lot of positive results this time.
Results are not in our hands, but the performances we put in and whatever we do on the field, that is in our hands. All the girls in the team, including the juniors and upcoming players, have a very great attitude on the field. Hopefully, the results do come good.
Q. Have you personally noticed any difference in the attitude towards women’s cricket in the country, after WPL 2023 happened?
A. Since the time WPL has come, there have been a lot of changes. The girls, who weren’t able to take up cricket as a profession previously for any reason, or any family who weren’t sending their daughters for whatsoever reasons, are now willing to be a part of this sport.
I mean, I have seen drastic change after WPL happened. I have been many little girls take up this sport and even three-year olds are going for practice, and seeing all of this makes me feel so happy. The same is happening in remote areas, like I went to hilly areas some time ago and in a space over there, small kids were playing cricket, which made me feel so good.
I am so grateful towards the Women’s Premier League (WPL), and to the BCCI for making women’s cricket go higher that many places in the country are now willing to take up the sport. It is a very good sign for the growth of women’s cricket in the country and in coming times, we will see more women in the sport.
Q. Outside of the field, you are known to be jovial, as seen from your comic reels on Instagram, mostly with Meghna Singh. How you manage to strike a balance between your on-field and off-field persona?
A. Thing is, whatever happened on the field, leave it there as there’s no point in carrying it outside. Sometimes it is very important to take an off day for your mind, so that you can be fresh for the next game. So the things of the ground and whatever is related to it, I leave it there. Outside of it, I am very different (laughs).
–IANS
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Bengaluru, Aug 22 (IANS) Shivamogga Lions’ woes continued as they suffered a 28-run defeat to the Mysore Warriors in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday.
Mysore Warriors delivered a well-rounded performance, anchored by Karun Nair’s (45) swift knock, supported by a few other good contributions in the middle order, and highlighted by late-innings fireworks from J Suchith (22*) and Manoj Bhandage (23).
On the bowling front, Vidyadhar Patil (3/29) and Karthik CA (3/31) played crucial roles in restricting the Shivamogga Lions. Sharath HS’ (4/29) lethal spell with the ball and valiant efforts from Abhinav Manohar (46) and Nihal Ullal (46) with the bat couldn’t turn the tide in Shivamogga’s favour.
Chasing 180, Shivamogga Lions got off to a disastrous start, with Vidyadhar Patil’s lethal first over leading to the dismissals of Mohith Bangalore (2) and Dheeraj Mohan (0) in consecutive deliveries. Skipper Nihal Ullal (46) managed to crack a few early boundaries, but Hardik Raj (17) was also removed by Krishnappa Gowtham, leaving the Lions reeling at 41/3 by the end of the powerplay.
K Gowtham then engineered the run out of Rohan Naveen (11), further denting the chase. The in-form Abhinav Manohar (Impact Player) joined Ullal, and the duo breathed life into the innings, putting together a 70-run partnership in just 43 balls.
However, Ullal fell short of his first half-century of the season, leaving the Shivamogga Lions at 123/5 in 15.1 overs. Manohar also narrowly missed his milestone, holing out to K Gowtham off Karthik CA. Manohar’s 26-ball knock included four sixes and three fours, adding valuable runs to the total.
Karthik CA struck again two deliveries later, dismissing Shivraj S and leaving the Lions in deep trouble. With 47 runs needed from the final 18 balls, Ashok D tried to keep the chase alive by smashing a six and a four off Vidyadhar Patil, but perished in the same over, effectively ending Shivamogga’s prospects. Shivamogga Lions finished at 151/9 in 20 overs, enduring their sixth consecutive loss.
Batting first, Mysore Warriors faced an early challenge as Sharath HS unleashed a menacing spell. He struck in the powerplay, dismissing Karthik SU (8), and then returned in the seventh over to remove CA Karthik (30), who smashed three sixes in a 34-run stand with Karun Nair (45) and Harshil Dharmani (0).
Nair continued in fine touch and peppered the boundary with six fours and two sixes during his 23-ball stay before falling to Ashok D in the 11th over.
Kishan Bedare (17) steered the innings, forming a 28-run partnership with Nair and adding another 29 runs with Sumit Kumar (28) before being caught and bowled by Bharath Dhuri, leaving the Warriors at 116/5 in 16.1 overs. The depth of Mysore’s batting lineup came to the fore as Manoj Bhandage and J Suchith launched a late assault.
Vasuki Koushik, tasked with the 18th over, began with a six and a four from Sumit Kumar. Bhandage then took charge, hammering three consecutive sixes off Koushik in the same over before falling as Sharath’s fourth wicket in the 19th ending a blistering 23-run cameo off just seven balls. J Suchith, carried on the momentum, smashing two sixes and a four in an 8-ball flurry, pushing the Mysore Warriors to a competitive 179/7 in their 20 overs.
Brief scores: Mysore Warriors 179 for 7 in 20 overs (Karthik CA 30, Karun Nair 45, Sumit Kumar 28; Sharath HS 4-29) beat Shivamogga Lions 151/9 in 20 overs (Nihal Ullal 46, Abhinav Manohar 46 runs; Vidyadhar Patil 3-29, Karthik CA 3-31) by 28 runs.
–IANS
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Castle Rock (Colorado), Aug 22 (IANS) Indian Americans Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia who failed to make it to the Top-10 last week at the St Jude Championships, the first of the three Play-offs events, will be looking for a better showing as they move towards the finale at the Tour Championships after that.
Last week Hideki Matsuyama, after leading by five at one time, had to birdie the last two holes to win the St Jude Championships. He became the first Asian to win a Play-off event and it was his 10th PGA Tour win, the highest from the continent.
Last week Bhatia was T-12, Rai was T-16 and Theegala was way behind in T-46, but all three have entered the second of the three Play-offs events.
World No, 2 Xander Schauffele, a two-time Major winner in 2024, was tied second last week with Viktor Hovland, while World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was fourth last week, though World No. 3 Rory McIlroy had a poor week in T-68 place.
Among Asians Korea’s Si Woo Kim has all to play for at the BMW Championship, the second of three FedExCup Playoffs events, in Colorado this week, with two big goals providing the drive for him to step up his game.
The four-time PGA TOUR winner tees up at Castle Pines Golf Club with the intention of breaking into the top-30 of the FedExCup points list and qualify for the Playoffs Finale, the TOUR Championship next week. Kim is presently ranked 44th after last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship.
A strong week is also required for Kim to keep alive his hopes of earning a spot in the International Team to face the U.S. Team in the Presidents Cup in Royal Montreal next month. Currently 14th on the team roster, the top-6 after this week’s BMW Championship will secure automatic spots, with captain Mike Weir naming six more picks after the TOUR Championship.
Compatriots Sungjae Im and Byeong Hun An, who are 10th and 15th respectively on the FedExCup rankings, are virtually assured of teeing up at the TOUR Championship, which will use a staggered-scoring format based on positions after this week.
Irrespective of how his week plays out, Kim is pleased to secure his top-50 status, which guarantees starts in all eight Signature tournaments next season.
–IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) The packed schedule of men’s county cricket in 2025 will remain largely unchanged, despite concerns raised by the majority of players over the impact on their physical well-being.
According to a survey conducted by the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) earlier this season, more than 80 per cent of players expressed fears that the current schedule is too demanding and poses risks to their health.
However, despite these concerns, the 2025 schedule is set to continue as usual. Each county will still compete in a minimum of 14 County Championship matches, eight Metro Bank Cup fixtures, and 14 Vitality T20 Blast games. The changes for next season will be largely cosmetic, offering little relief for players concerned about the gruelling calendar.
The PCA has been advocating for adjustments that would spread out the T20 fixtures across the week, aiming to reduce tight turnarounds and introduce more consistent three-day breaks between Championship games.
“There’s definitely room for improvement in 2025 compared to 2024,” said Daryl Mitchell, the PCA’s interim chief executive, in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. “The schedule can definitely be managed better. Certainly, the Blast was very much looked at through a commercial lens, trying to squeeze as many games as possible into Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Utilizing the majority of the week is probably the way forward, trying to spread them out to give that time for recovery, travel, and preparation.”
The T20 Blast, in particular, has been the main point of debate when it comes to scheduling. The timing of the knockout stages has been a significant concern. In 2023, these stages were held immediately after the group matches in July, allowing counties to retain their overseas players. This year, however, the knockout stages will be pushed to September, giving clubs an extended six-week window to market and sell tickets for home quarter-finals.
While these adjustments offer slight improvements, the overall schedule remains packed, leaving many players apprehensive about how much more they can push themselves physically in the long term. Despite the calls for change, it appears that any significant reduction in the number of fixtures is unlikely in the future, with commercial considerations still driving much of the decision-making process around county cricket.
–IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) After ending his T20I career with an elusive T20 World Cup title in Barbados, captain Rohit Sharma revealed that it was his dream to transform the team without thinking too much about the results.
Rohit-led Indian team ended the decade-long ICC title drought after beating South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 to lift their second title in the format. In 2023, the Men in Blue failed to win the World Test Championship and 2023 ODI World Cup under Rohit’s leadership after losing to Australia in the finals.
The swashbuckling opening batter also credited the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah, former head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar for their support in transforming the team and creating a fearless culture in the squad.
“It was my dream to transform this team and not worry too much about stats and results and also to make sure that we create an environment where people can go out and play freely, without thinking too much. I got a lot of help from my three pillars Jay Shah, Rahul Dravid and chairman of selector Ajit Agarkar. That was critical for me to do what I did. Obviously, not to forget players who came in at different points in time and helped the team to achieve what we have achieved today,” Rohit said in a video posted by BCCI on X.
On Wednesday, Rohit was awarded ‘Men’s International Cricketer of the Year’ while Dravid was accorded the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at Ceat Cricket Rating Awards 2023-24 in Mumbai. India’s batting stalwart Virat Kohli was named the ‘Men’s ODI Batter of the Year’ while on the bowling front, Mohammed Shami was awarded the ‘ODI Bowler of the Year’.
The 37-year-old batter finished as the second-highest run-getter in the T20 World Cup with 257 runs including three half-centuries and at a strike rate of 156.70. He played a major role in providing solid starts for the team on the slow pitches of the USA and the West Indies.
After lifting the title, Rohit joined Kohli to announce his retirement from the T20I. With 4,231 runs, Rohit is the leading run-getter in the format behind his teammate Kohli (4188 runs). Both batters will continue to play the other formats of the game. The duo last featured for India in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier this month.
–IANS
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Gotemba (Japan), Aug 22 (IANS) A year after being the youngest ever to make the cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Kartik Singh, now 14 years of age, is the highest ranked among the four Indians set to take part in the 15th AAC to be held in Japan.
As of date Kartik is the highest ranked Indian at 199 while the other three players to have received the invitation for this prestigious event are Krishnav Nikhil Chopra and Vedant Sirohi, both past participants in the event and Rakshit Dahiya will be in the four-player team.
Kartik Singh has also been named to the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup team. A regular winner in junior and amateur events, Kartik will spearhead the Indian challenge.
Apart from India’s Kartik Singh, there are seven others named to the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup International Team. They are Joshua Bai, Warut Boonrod, Xihuan Chang, Rayhan Latief, Khanh Hung Le, Thangwin Lee, Anh Minh Ngyuyen,
As many as 113 players have been confirmed for the Championship, which will be held October 3-6, 2024, at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba in Gotemba, Japan. A full list of confirmed players can be found. The field will be 120 with a few more names to be added by the Organisers.
India’s best ever placing has been second place by Rayhan Thomas, who was runner-up in Sentosa, Singapore in 2018. The Dubai-based Indian Rayhan has since turned professional, and last week won his first pro title on India’s Professional Tour of India Tour.
Krishnav, who plays college golf in the US, is the son of former India cricketer turned commentator, Nikhil Chopraa, who often takes the role of a caddie for his son.
Created in 2009, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship was established by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament to further develop amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region.
The champion will receive an invitation to compete in the 2025 Masters Tournament and The 153rd Open, while the runner(s)-up will gain a place in Final Qualifying for The Open.
The confirmed list which has players from 38 APGC member organizations is highlighted by defending champion Jasper Stubbs of Australia and four players representing China inside the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking: Wenyi Ding (No. 4), Xihuan Chang (No. 36), Xiangyun Bai (No. 61) and Paul Chang (No. 97).
Ding finished runner-up to Stubbs in the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur while Xihuan Chang reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Junior Amateur in July.
Other top-100 participants include Vietnam’s Anh Minh Nguyen (No. 68) and Japan’s Rintaro Nakano (No. 78).
Notable past competitors include 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, a two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, and 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith. Over the Championship’s 14-year history, the Championship has served as a springboard to some of the world’s top players, including Matsuyama, Smith, Cameron Davis, Ryan Fox, Si Woo Kim, Satoshi Kodaira, Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Min Woo Lee, Keita Nakajima and C.T. Pan. Collectively, alumni of the Asia-Pacific Amateur have gone on to win 27 tournaments on the PGA Tour to date and more than 130 across the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
As the host nation, Japan will lead the list of up to 43 APGC member nations represented with 10 players in this year’s field. A player from Japan has won four of the 14 editions of the Championship (Matsuyama/2010, 2011; Takumi Kanaya/2018; Nakajima/2021).
–IANS
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