Page 397 - Sports
Hurts that squash is still not part of Olympics: Ghosal
Although he recently made history by becoming the first Indian male squash player to break into the top-10 of the PSA world rankings, Saurav Ghosal still rues the fact that the sport is not a part of the Olympic Games.
Dhoni spends time with Watson, Tahir sons
On a high after yet another clinical performance, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was seen taking part in a sprint with Imran Tahir and Shane Watson's sons here after the game.
Toss: RCB asked to bat first by Delhi
Delhi Capitals skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field first against Royal Challengers Bangalore in an Indian Premier League (IPL) clash here on Sunday.
Delhi Capitals win toss, put RCB in to bat
Delhi Capitals won the toss and opted to bowl against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their Indian Premier League match here on Sunday. Both the sides are playing the unchanged XI. Teams: Royal Challengers Bangalore: Parthiv Patel (wk), Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Marcus Stoinis, Moeen Ali, Akshdeep Nath, Pawan Negi, Tim Southee, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj. Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (capt), Rishabh Pant (wk), Colin Ingram, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma, Sandeep Lamichhane.
Rohit Sharma should lead India in ICC World Cup: Twitter users
Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians have won three out five matches in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), but the way he managed to defend a modest total of 135 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Twitterati lauded the Hitman. They also insisted that he should lead India in the ICC Men's cricket World Cup.Meanwhile, India skipper and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli is on a losing streak as RCB faced back-to-back five defeats and is the bottom-placed team. Even after setting a target of 206, Bangalore could not defend that total as Kolkata Knight Riders chased down the target and won the match by five wickets. All these incidents have lead Twitter users saying that Rohit Sharma should lead India in the forthcoming World Cup.One user twitted, "Rohit Sharma knows how to win matches. He should replace Kohli as captain for the #CWC2019 #IPL #mi."Another user tweeted, "He (Kohli) is a phenomenal batsman no doubt. But cannot balance captaining a team. He needs to get street smart.
Cricket betting racket busted, 3 held
: A cricket betting racket allegedly being run from a lodgehere has been busted and three people have been arrested in this connection, police said. The accused were using cricket live buzz mobile app for betting whena police team led by an inspector Guruprasad raided the lodge Friday after a tip-off. The three were collecting money from thepublic through betting during the IPL cricket match between Kolkata Knight Raiders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the police said. Mobile phones and Rs 11,620 in cash were seizedfrom the arrested, they added.
Flower hails Pak batsmen despite 5-0 series defeat against Australia
Pakistan batting coach, Grant Flower is all in praise for Pakistan batsmen even as the team was unable to win even a single match against Australia, as Aaron Finch-led side thrashed Pakistan 5-0 in ODI series in UAE to claim their first whitewash abroad since 2008.Mohammad Rizwan scored 115 and 105 in the second and fourth ODI respectively which impressed Flower stated that he believes that Rizwan has versatility."Rizwan's been playing well, less frenetic and paced his innings better. He's good enough to bat in the top four, but I also think he's versatile enough to play lower down. He doesn't have the power-hitting, but he can still find the boundaries and the odd six and do a job. His running between the wickets is among the best of our players," ESPN cricinfo quoted Flower as saying.Haris Sohail too hammered two centuries during the series which had Flower calling him a 'class' player. "Haris is a class player and he showed that," he said.Flower also eulogised Abid Ali who gave a ..
Sarfaraz's remarks cast doubts on Amir's World Cup selection
Mohammad Amir's World Cup selection was throw into uncertainty after captain Sarfaraz Ahmed expressed concerns over the experienced left-arm pacer's inability to take wickets in One-day Internationals. "When your main strike bowler is not taking wickets regularly obviously it causes concern to the captain," Sarfaraz told a television channel. Since the Champions Trophy final at the Oval in 2017 when he produced a match-winning spell of 3 for 16, Amir, 26, has not taken more than a wicket in 14 ODIs and has also gone without a wicket in nine of these matches. Even he has hit an average of around 85 per wicket in these 14 games and even his pace and strike rate has gone down in Test matches. The selectors are due to announce the Pakistan World Cup squad on April 18 and sources say that they are likely to announce 17 to 18 players to go to England on April 23. "Pakistan is due to play a five-match ODI series against England besides some matches against English counties in May and since ..
Dhoni loses calm after Chahar bowls freebies at death
Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is known as Captain Cool for a reason. Whatever the situation, he just doesn't let his emotion get the better of him. But even the best lose their calm when it comes to high-voltage clashes in the Indian Premier League. On Saturday, it was Dhoni's turn.
Jr WC-winning captain Harjeet back in senior men's national camp
India's Junior World Cup-winning side captain Harjeet Singh was Sunday named among 60 players for the senior men's national camp which begins at the Sports Authority of India Centre, Bengaluru on April 8. The players have been selected based on their performances at the recently held ninth Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2019 A Division as well as their recent international showings. Harjeet, who was the skipper of the Indian team that won 2016 Junior World Cup in Lucknow, has been called up after nearly a gap of one year. His junior Indian teammates Santa Singh, Vikramjit Singh, Dipsan Tirkey, Manpreet (Junior) and Armaan Qureshi, who were not part of the previous national camp, too have been selected in the list of 60 players named by Hockey India. The list will be further pruned down to 33 core probables after a selection trial on April 20. "This list of players has been selected keeping in mind their recent international performances in both senior and junior men's ..
Diego Simeone irked by refereeing inconsistency after Costa given red card
Atletico Madrid's manager Diego Simeone seemed unhappy by a lack of consistency from La Liga's referees after Diego Costa was sent off for dissent in Atletico Madrid's 2-0 defeat at Barcelona.Atletico Madrid got their big blow when Costa was given red card after the 30-year old appeared saying something to referee Jesus Gil Manzano."In the last 11 games here [at Camp Nou] we have received seven red cards, we must be doing something wrong," Goal.com quoted Simeone, as saying."I asked the referee and he told me something that Costa says he didn't say. If he said it [what the referee claims], he is deservedly sent off. But other players have said things and he doesn't send them off. We see it and they do not send them off," he added.The moment when it seemed that the match will end on a tie 0-0, Luis Suarez scored the opening goal in the 85th minute of the game putting Barcelona in the lead.In the very next minute, Lionel Messi scored and gave Barcelona a two-goal lead as Barcelona ...
Middle-order woes for Sunrisers ahead of Kings XI clash
A top-heavy Sunrisers Hyderabad are seeking to sort their middle-order woes against Kings XI Punjab as the two teams eye a return to winning ways in the Indian Premier League here Monday. Both Sunrsiers and Kings XI have garnered six points after three wins from five games but the Hyderabad outfit is placed second in the eight-team standings on account of a better run rate. Kings XI, meanwhile, are lying fifth in the points table. But, having suffered defeats in their previous games, both Sunrisers and Kings XI would be desperate to get back to winning ways. While Sunrisers lost by 40 runs against Mumbai Indians in Hyderabad on Saturday while chasing a below-par 136, Kings XI were beaten by 22 runs by Chennai Super Kings. Sunrisers have been threatening in their first three games when David Warner and Jonny Bairstow stitched century-plus stands but once the duo got out cheaply, the Hyderabad team's middle-order looked in complete disarray. Sunrsiers' middle-order has hardly been ...
FC Goa enters Super Cup semi-finals after claiming victory over Jamshedpur FC
FC Goa entered the Super Cup 2019 semi-finals by defeating Jamshedpur FC by 4-3 in the third quarter-finals played at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.Goa's Edu Bedia scored the opener goal of the match in the 23rd minute and Goa kept a strong performance throughout the first half while they added another goal to have a two-goal lead. Jamshedpur made two changes at the start of the second half by taking off Jerry and Karan Amin for Mohammad Mobashir and Robin Gurung.When there was just little over 25 minutes left to the game, Goa's Seriton Fernandes scored his maiden goal for his club and gave his side a three-goal lead.In the 69th minute, Pablo Morgado scored Jamshedpur's first goal and reduced the Goa's lead to two goals. But just four minutes later, Goa again scored a goal restoring their three-goal lead.In the 77th and 83rd minute, Sergio Cidoncha and Carlos Calvo's scored one goal each, bringing the match to 4-3, boosting their side's morale and putting Goa under ...
MSD joins Watson and Tahir's sons in playful run
Who is the actual kid? The question was on everyone's lips after Mahendra Singh Dhoni, lively and full of fun, joined Imran Tahir and Shane Watson's sons for a playful run at the Chepauk. While he rarely betrays emotions on the field regardless of the match situation, the story can often be different off it. Dhoni was in a playful mood after his team Chennai Super Kings' convincing win over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday evening. In the video posted by the franchise, the 37-year-old, after entering the frame from behind, is seen running alongside the kids only to lift Tahir's son and run back to the finishing line. "Jr. #ParasakthiExpress and Jr. Watto having a sprint face-off and a lightning joins them! Priceless!" CSK wrote on the team twitter handle. "ParasakthiExpress picks wickets and runs! #Thala picks Jr. #ParasakthiExpress and runs!" mentioned another tweet, leaving the social media buzzing with activity. It is well-known that India's two-time ..
We want to win as many games as possible at the start: Rohit
Traditionally a slow starter, Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma says he wants his team to win most of its initial matches this IPL season, as some of his players will leave for World Cup preparations at the back-end. "We want to win as many games as possible at the start because we know how hectic it gets in the end. A few of the guys leaving for the World Cup doesn't help either," Rohit said after his team's victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad Saturday night. "We don't want to be a team who starts off poorly." The win was made possible by Alzarri Joseph's dream IPL debut, returning with figures of 6/12, which is the best in the league's history. Rohit was in awe of the young pacer from the West Indies. "It was a sensational bowling effort from Alzarri, to bowl like this in first game. He's come in with a lot of confidence from the CPL and he's carrying it here," Rohit said. Joseph broke the back of the Sunrisers Hyderabad batting order as he helped Mumbai Indians defend a below-par ...
IPL debutant Alzarri Joseph records best bowling figures
Mumbai Indians bowler Alzarri Joseph, who made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut on Saturday, showed an impeccable performance by recording the best bowling figures of 6-12 in IPL and breaking Sohail Tanvir's 11-year-old record of 6-14 in the IPL's inaugural edition in 2008.Joseph sent the in-form David Warner to the pavilion on his first ever delivery in the IPL and conceded no run from his first over. The 22-year old said that the team's win comes first more than his personal performance or limelight."It is not something that I really play for; I only play for wins and not [for] limelight. It is a good feeling but I want to win this tournament and not just personal performances," Joseph said during the post-match conference.When asked about which wicket gave him the maximum satisfaction, the 22-year old replied that the last wicket was his favourite because it gave them victory.Joseph's incursion was not really tackled well by Sunrisers Hyderabad, as a result, the hosts were ...
It was unbelievable, will cherish for long: Joseph on dream IPL debut
Young West Indian pacer Alzarri Joseph described his record-breaking bowling effort on his IPL debut as "unbelievable", saying he will cherish the moment for a long time to come. The soft-spoken Joseph (6/12) claimed the best bowling figures in IPL's history, bettering Sohail Tanvir's 6/14 registered in the inaugural edition in 2008. The previous best figures on IPL debut was Andrew Tye's 5/17, in 2017. "Unbelievable. It's a great start. I dont' think I could have asked for anything better. So I will really cherish this moment," said Joseph at the post-match press conference after helping Mumbai Indians secure a 40-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad here on Saturday night. Defending a modest 136 for seven, Joseph wreaked havoc with the ball to bundle out Sunrisers for 96. Joseph claimed the wickets of dangerman David Warner, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Siddharth Kaul to hand Mumbai Indians their third win from five games. Asked what was going on his ..
We did not apply ourselves: Bhuvneshwar
Sunrisers Hyderabad failed to apply themselves on the field as well as with the bat, feels stand-in skipper Bhuvneshwar Kumar after they lost to Mumbai Indians by 40 runs here.
Smith backs fellow ball-tamperer Bancroft as Durham captain
Shamed former Australia captain Steve Smith has backed fellow ball-tamperer Cameron Bancroft as an astute choice to skipper English county side Durham after his appointment raised eyebrows. Smith, Bancroft and David Warner were all banned over the scandal involving sandpaper to alter the ball in South Africa last year, but are now back playing. While Warner was also barred from ever holding a leadership role again and Smith prevented from doing so for 12 months after his one-year suspension expired, Bancroft was free to assume a captaincy. Durham appointed him last month, insisting he was "the best available option" despite criticism from some quarters, including former English bowler Darren Gough who slammed it as "disgraceful". But Smith said Bancroft had shown "great character" in the way he handled his ban and return to cricket. "Cam is a good choice for captain," Smith told ESPNcricinfo. "He's got a good head on his shoulders and has shown great character in the way he has come ..
Riled Bayern rout Dortmund 5-0 to reclaim Bundesliga lead
Stung by recent criticism, Bayern Munich delivered a clear statement of intent after reclaiming top spot in the Bundesliga with a 5-0 thrashing of former leader Borussia Dortmund. Bayern leads Dortmund by one point with six rounds remaining. "I've no explanation for it," Dortmund captain Marco Reus said. Two former Dortmund players, Mats Hummels and Robert Lewandowski, set Bayern back on track toward a record-extending seventh straight title a remarkable turnaround considering the side was nine points behind Dortmund earlier in the season. After temporarily losing the lead in a 1-1 league draw at Freiburg last weekend, before a close shave to second-division Heidenheim in the German Cup on Wednesday, Bayern's pride was hurt. "I'm particularly pleased because many people really criticised the team harshly," Bayern coach Niko Kovac said. The home side seized the initiative from the start, forcing a corner in the first minute and appealing for a penalty early on when Lewandowski went ...