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Shami Nearing Comeback

Shami’s possible return and addition to the Indian team will be a source of uplifting news for the Rohit Sharma-led side, who suffered a series defeat to New Zealand through a 113-run loss in the second Test at Pune…reports Asian Lite News

Though Mohammed Shami was a notable omission from India’s squad for the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to his ongoing ankle injury recovery, there is a likelihood of him joining the team mid-way after making a return to competitive cricket through last two rounds of the ongoing Ranji Trophy.

Shami, who’s taken 229 wickets in 64 Tests, made a return to bowling at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and even bowled at the Indian team nets after they lost the Test series opener to New Zealand by eight wickets, where skipper Rohit Sharma had revealed the pacer had a setback in returning to action due to swelling on his knee.

Despite looking gingerly at times with a heavy strapping on his left knee, Shami seemed to have got a little bit of rhythm while bowling to Shubman Gill and a padded-up assistant coach Abhishek Nayar for more than an hour at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on October 20. The very next day, Shami said at a promotional event at Gurugram that he was 100% pain-free and expressed his keen interest in playing a few domestic matches.

Sources have made IANS understand that if all goes well, Shami will be available for Bengal’s Ranji Trophy matches against Karnataka in Bengaluru, starting from November 6 and then against Madhya Pradesh in Indore, commencing from November 13. If he gets the approval of being fully match fit from the decision makers to be a part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shami may link up with the Indian team and possibly be in action from the third game at Brisbane.

“Yes, we have heard that Shami may join the Bengal team for the Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka, as the side will be coming to Bengaluru, where he’s already training, preparing to his absolute best and doing his bowling practice at the NCA. Everyone around him has been working hard to ensure he hopefully gets to play the game against Karnataka from November 6.”

“The parameters NCA people could observe for him would be around the number of overs he bowls, and how his recovery process is after being out on the field for a day or even after featuring in all four days of the Ranji Trophy games. If all of the processes with regards to him go well, then one probably may see him be with the Indian team from the Brisbane Test happening from December 14-18,” said the source privy to the developments.

Shami, known for picking scalps with his good pace, ability to use the old ball for reverse-swing and have an upright seam position, last played competitive cricket when India played the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup final against Australia at Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023.

He then successfully underwent surgery on February 26 in London this year for solving his right achilles tendon problem and has been at the NCA since then for rehabilitation and recovery programme, followed by a gradual return to bowling.

Shami had played a pivotal role in India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018/19, where he picked 16 wickets in four matches at an average of 26.18. Though he didn’t play after the first Test in Adelaide in 2020/21 tour due to a fractured right forearm, India managed to secure an unforgettable 2-1 triumph.

His possible return and addition to the Indian team will be a source of uplifting news for the Rohit Sharma-led side, who suffered a series defeat to New Zealand through a 113-run loss in the second Test at Pune.

With the defeat to New Zealand breaking their streak of 18 consecutive series wins at home, India has to win at least four of its remaining six Tests to keep its hopes of playing the 2025 World Test Championship final alive.

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Rahul’s Last Chance?

With Shubman Gill, who missed the first Test because of neck stiffness, set to return in Pune, and Sarfaraz Khan making 150 – his maiden Test century in Bengaluru, Rahul is under pressure to hold on to his spot in the eleven…reports Asian Lite News

In the run-up to India’s second Test against New Zealand at Pune, former opener Aakash Chopra believes despite the hosts’ backing KL Rahul to come good, the pressure is undoubtedly on him to get runs.

Questions have risen over Rahul’s place in the Indian team due to his indifferent run. Though he made a firm 68 in the second Test against Bangladesh at Kanpur, Rahul couldn’t make an impact in the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand – making scores of zero and 12.

With Shubman Gill, who missed the first Test because of neck stiffness, set to return in Pune, and Sarfaraz Khan making 150 – his maiden Test century in Bengaluru, Rahul is under pressure to hold on to his spot in the eleven. But Chopra sees him playing the Pune Test.

“I am not privy to any inside information but it seems that he will be playing the second Test match. But then of course the pressure is building because one is his own form and I am not just thinking about one Test match here or there, because that will be just unfair to start judging people and then start picking or dropping people based on their single performance.”

“He hasn’t really been in very good form over the last 8-10 Tests (majority of which he missed due to injury), that’s also a fact. So time is running out. Sarfaraz has already scored 150 in the last game so that pressure is also there. So this game is an important one for him and team has also thought of it.”

“I mean they also feel that Rahul is basically an opener but he has been pushed up and down the order way too many times and its just not fair for somebody to be always in the line of fire and is asked to just adjust. The team is putting the weight behind him but in the end, it’s all about scoring runs. So yes, there will be pressure, there is no doubt about it,” said Chopra, an expert with JioCinema & Sports18, in a select virtual interaction on Wednesday.

Asked if there was a deadline in mind for Rahul to come good in Tests, especially with Border-Gavaskar Trophy happening next month, Chopra felt one can’t put an end date on anyone’s run in the set-up.

“But you can’t indefinitely go on without scoring, taking wickets, irrespective of what your name is. The rule applies to everyone who is playing for India. So, it’s not restricted to KL Rahul. Obviously, the team has seen value in him.”

“Now, if you want to turn it around and say, okay, he played in Kanpur and in the first series, he scored runs. In the first Test match, he could have scored more runs, the team decided to declare. Then we go back to the last series he didn’t play, that was the England series (ruled out after Hyderabad Test due to injury).”

“Previously, the series before that in South Africa, he scored a century. So, the team has more than one reason to think that he is bringing and adding value. Also the fact that out of the eight centuries that he scored, seven are overseas, including in SENA countries. From all those standpoints, you tend to feel that the boy has a lot to offer, and therefore, we must stick with him for a little longer.”

“But I am not the one who should be putting a date or time to it. It is for the Indian team to figure out if they feel they have given fair number of chances. If there and when there is a need to move to someone else, then they will take that call when it comes. But at this point in time, it looks like they are backing KL Rahul to the hilt.”

Another player who’s under pressure to put in note-worthy performances for India in Tests is pacer Mohammed Siraj, who has taken only 13 wickets in 15 innings since his stunning six-wicket haul coming against South Africa at Cape Town in January this year. Chopra feels there are a variety of reasons behind Siraj not being prolific of late at home and thinks he needs to step up at Pune, especially with someone like an in-form Akash Deep in the waiting.

“One thing is that it is a little difficult for him because he is standing with Jasprit Bumrah. So we tend to feel that if Jasprit Bumrah can do so well then he should also do well, and get as many wickets. See, it is not easy to get wickets in India, and it has become even more difficult because you can’t reverse swing that much ever since saliva has been banned.”

“It is a little tough, and the third thing is that sometimes it just goes unnoticed that he doesn’t even get that much bowling in the second innings because all the spinners are working. I was going through one stat not too long ago where his second innings average bowling overs were 5-6 overs.”

“So it is difficult to get wickets on Indian pitches if you are a fast bowler, and also when you are a part of a five-bowler pack because the fifth bowler is a wicket-taking option for the captain. For a simple reason, you have got three quality spinners and Jasprit Bumrah. I mean, that pushes you down in that pecking order.”

“It is very difficult, but the pressure is on him as well. We were talking about Rahul under pressure just now, and I am sure Siraj is also feeling the pressure. It’s more so because Akash Deep, whenever he is played, has done well. Of course, the pitches have been a little more seamer-friendly.”

“But Siraj will have to turn a corner. He is somebody who boasts a lot of heart and knows how to pick wickets. So if India goes ahead and backs him for the second Test match, I think it will be time that he picks up wickets and rather contributes decently. Otherwise, there might be a change in the offing, because you want people to be ready for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well.”

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‘I’m in No Hurry’

Shami’s return will be crucial not only for Bengal but also for India, as the fast bowler remains a key figure in the Indian team’s plans for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, scheduled for November…reports Asian Lite News

Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Shami is steadily working towards a return to competitive cricket after being sidelined due to an ankle injury that has kept him out of action since November last year. As he focuses on regaining full fitness, Shami is eyeing a return to domestic cricket with Bengal in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.

The 34-year-old, who had played through the 2023 ODI World Cup despite his injury, where he was instrumental in India’s campaign by taking 24 wickets at an astonishing average of 10.70, is now prioritising his health. After undergoing surgery in February in London, Shami has been working on his recovery at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

Shami bowled for more than an hour at full tilt in the nets after the conclusion of India’s first Test against New Zealand at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. With heavy strapping on his left knee, he bowled under the watchful eyes of bowling coach Morne Morkel and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. Despite the rigorous session, Shami reported no discomfort and expressed confidence in his progress.

“Before yesterday, I was bowling off a half-run-up, but I decided to go with my full run-up after the match and it felt good. My body feels fine, and I am recovering well,” Shami said in an interview with IANS on Monday.

“The Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia is key, but I’m in no hurry. Once fully recovered, I want to play in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season for Bengal.”

Shami, who represents Bengal in domestic cricket, is aiming to feature in Bengal’s upcoming match against Kerala at Eden Gardens. Bengal’s first match of the season was abandoned without a ball being bowled, and Shami hopes to be cleared by the NCA medical team in time to contribute to his state side.

“It all depends on how I progress,” Shami said. “I feel no issues with my knees, but I still need clearance from the NCA medical team. Once they give me the green light, I’ll be ready to play for Bengal against Kerala.”

Shami’s return will be crucial not only for Bengal but also for India, as the fast bowler remains a key figure in the Indian team’s plans for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, scheduled for November. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, had mentioned that Shami had faced a setback earlier with swelling in his knee, but the pacer is hopeful of a full recovery.

For now, Shami’s immediate focus remains on regaining his fitness and getting back to competitive cricket through domestic matches, ensuring that he is ready for the challenges ahead.

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Kerala Blasters End Away Curse

Jesus Jimenez Nunez of Kerala Blasters FC celebrates agoal during match 29 between Mohammedan SC and Kerala Blasters FC of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season held at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, on 20th October 2024. Abhijit Addya/Focus Sports/ FSDL

Kwame Peprah and Jesus Jimenez struck late to give Kerala Blasters a 2-1 win over Mohammedan SC, ending a 27-game away drought after conceding first in the ISL…reports Asian Lite News

Kwame Peprah and Jesus Jimenez netted late in the second half as Kerala Blasters FC secured a thrilling 2-1 win over Mohammedan SC at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on Sunday. This victory marked the first time in 27 games that they won an away match after conceding first in the Indian Super League (ISL).

Two second-half strikes from Kwame Peprah and Jesus Jimenez saw Mikael Stahre’s men secure their third consecutive victory in Kolkata, a feat they had never achieved in the competition. Mirjalol Kasimov handed Mohammedan SC the lead, but the visitors showed resilience in the second half to produce a come-from-behind victory in the 2024-25 edition of the competition.

The visitors were off the blocks quickly, as Noah Sadaoui found the right tune from the start. The Moroccan posed all sorts of trouble for the Mohammedan SC backline, especially after combining with Adrian Luna, who was pulling the strings from midfield. However, the hosts weathered the early storm brilliantly and gradually imposed themselves on the match’s tempo.

In the 20th minute, Mohammedan’s pillar in defence, Joseph Adjei had to be substituted after suffering an injury. Andrey Chernyshov turned to French defender Florent Ogier to replace the Ghanaian.

The next 10 minutes saw the hosts dominate possession and also create a few chances. Their persistent nature in attack was rewarded when Kerala Blasters FC’s debutant custodian, Som Kumar brought down Franca in the penalty area in the 27th minute, handing a penalty to Mohammedan SC. Mirajlol Kasimov stepped up and converted from the spot to hand a crucial lead to the hosts.

Mikael Stahre’s men didn’t bog down after conceding the goal, they were more spurred on to equalize. In the 34th minute, they almost managed to do so as Jesus Jimenez wriggled his way past multiple Mohammedan SC defenders before pulling the trigger. But the Spaniard’s long-range effort was denied by the crossbar.

The second period saw both teams trying to take control of the possession in midfield. But the game swayed in the favour of the Blasters by Kwame Peprah’s introduction in the 64th minute. Within three minutes, the forward came up with the equalizer, latching onto a cross from Noah. Peprah was quick to react to the cross, leaving his marker, Zodingliana Ralte in complete awe before tucking it past Padam Chettri in goal.

Riding on the positive momentum of scoring an equaliser, the Blasters enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and also created a flurry of chances. They eventually secured the lead in the 75th minute when Naocha Singh found Jimenez in the penalty area with a beautifully weighted cross from the left flank. The Spaniard rose the highest, beating Ogier in the air and eventually heading it past Chettri.

Mohammedan SC’s best chance of coming back into the game fell to Lalremsanga Fanai in the stoppage time when he combined with Cesar Manzoki. The former was through on goal but his eventual effort was brilliantly kept out by Som Kumar, who also became the fourth youngest goalkeeper to start a game in ISL. His last-ditch save was enough to see the Kerala Blasters FC home as they clinched their second win of the season.

Mohammedan SC will host Hyderabad FC at home on October 26 while Kerala Blasters FC will be in action on October 25 against rivals Bengaluru FC in Kochi.

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‘A Childhood Dream is Fulfilled’

Sarfaraz’s innings was remarkable not just for the runs but for the manner in which they were scored. He avoided playing through the traditional ‘V’ until his 115th run, instead finding runs creatively elsewhere on the field…reports Asian Lite News

Sarfaraz Khan delivered a stellar performance on Saturday, scoring his first Test century (150) and leading India’s remarkable recovery in the first Test against New Zealand. With the hosts setting a modest 107-run target, Sarfaraz expressed confidence that early wickets on a deteriorating pitch could turn the match in India’s favour.

“It felt really good to score a century for my country, fulfilling a childhood dream,” Sarfaraz told reporters at the end of the day’s play on Saturday. “It won’t be easy for New Zealand. The pitch has its challenges; the ball is moving and cutting unpredictably, and there will be turn. If we can get breakthroughs early tomorrow, they might find themselves in a similar spot as we did,” he added.

Sarfaraz’s century, in just his fourth Test appearance, marked a major milestone for the 26-year-old. “It felt really good to score a century for my country, fulfilling a childhood dream,” he said with a smile.

India had found themselves in a precarious position after being bundled out for just 46 in the first innings. But Sarfaraz’s 177-run partnership with Rishabh Pant breathed life back into their campaign. Both players, who were part of India’s 2016 U-19 World Cup squad, combined caution and aggression to put New Zealand under pressure. Their partnership turned the tide for India before another lower-order collapse left the visitors chasing 107. While Sarfaraz scored 150, Pant went on to miss a ton, getting out for 99 overall.

“Batting with Pant is enjoyable; runs come quickly when he is on strike. We’ve known each other a long time, and there’s good communication out there,” Sarfaraz said, reflecting on their fruitful collaboration at the crease.

The day was not without lighter moments, including a comical misunderstanding between Sarfaraz and Pant while running between the wickets. As they scrambled for a second run, Sarfaraz’s sudden jump to prevent a collision with Pant, who was nursing a knee injury, sparked amusement and quickly became viral fodder for social media.

Explaining the incident, Sarfaraz said, “We knew Rishabh was in pain, so we agreed to be careful with running. I recalled his condition mid-run and reacted instinctively. Thank God, he survived that moment.”

Sarfaraz’s innings was remarkable not just for the runs but for the manner in which they were scored. He avoided playing through the traditional ‘V’ until his 115th run, instead finding runs creatively elsewhere on the field.

Asked about this unconventional approach, he said, “It wasn’t a deliberate plan. They bowled a lot outside off, making it easier to score elsewhere. I wasn’t consciously avoiding the middle; I was just focused on scoring, however, it came.”

Despite making his Test debut in 2023 and scoring three half-centuries against England, Sarfaraz has spent much of his young Test career on the sidelines. Reflecting on how he stayed motivated, he said, “I stick to my routines and focus on what I can control. I continue doing what has worked for me over the years, keeping up with my practice, and fulfilling my team’s expectations. Conversations with my father also keep me motivated. Nothing changes in my approach.”

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India’s Bengaluru Blues

With the pitch covered, New Zealand’s fast bowlers dismantled India for just 46—their lowest Test score at home and the third lowest overall…reports Asian Lite News

For the fans itching to watch Test cricket action in Bengaluru, the wait was long. Day one of the India-New Zealand Test saw them see the rain hold fort. Day two could have gone down that route, but the cricketing Gods finally blessed the Bengaluru fans with Test match action.

But the wishes of sparse fans to see India dominate New Zealand didn’t pan out as per their expectations as under overcast skies, which made conditions more of England and less of India, especially with the pitch mostly under covers, New Zealand’s fast bowlers bowled out India for 46, their lowest Test score at home and third fewest overall.

With the bat, opener Devon Conway’s stroke-filled 91 on a pitch which eased out for batting helped New Zealand end day two’s play at 180/3 and lead India by 134 runs. With the ball hooping around, Matt Henry’s 5-15 and William O’Rourke’s 4-22 ensured New Zealand gained upper hand as the much-famed Indian batting line-up wilted due to lack of application under overcast skies.

Yashasvi Jaiswal managed to survive despite being beaten multiple times by the pacers. Captain Rohit Sharma was far from his fluent best and even survived an lbw appeal on umpire’s call off Henry. But in a bid to step out against a masterly Tim Southee, Rohit was castled through the gate while going for a big drive against the inswinger.

Virat Kohli’s surprising promotion to number three, with Shubman Gill out due to stiff neck, earned him vociferous chants from the crowd at his adopted home ground. But it was brought to a quick end when O’Rourke got extra bounce on a nip-backer which Kohli looked to defend, but it took the glove edge to forward leaping Glenn Phillips at leg-gully, as he departed for a nine-ball duck.

More trouble followed India as Sarfaraz Khan tried to counterattack with a forceful lofted drive, but ended up mis-hitting off Henry to Conway at mid-off, who stuck out his right hand and took a stunning catch. Rishabh Pant was a curious mix of caution and aggressiveness, including trying to reverse-sweep off Henry, before rain brought a halt to the proceedings.

After play resumed at 11:05am, Pant and Jaiswal got a boundary each to try and rebuild India’s innings. But O’Rourke struck again as Jaiswal went hard on the cut and was caught brilliantly by backward point diving low to his left.

One brought two for the pacer as KL Rahul, originally slotted to come at three, was strangled down leg for a six-ball duck off Henry, and was followed by Ravindra Jadeja being bizarrely too early into the flick and gave a high leading edge to backward point off Henry as New Zealand walked off the field as the happier side at lunch.

Post lunch, Henry struck on the very first ball by catching shoulder edge of Ravichandran Ashwin and the ball lobbed to gully. He then enticed Pant into tentative defence and edged to second slip. O’Rourke had Bumrah heaving to long leg, before Henry ended the Indian batting horror show by having Kuldeep Yadav caught at gully to get his 100th Test wicket.

After their captivating bowlers and brilliant fielders joined forces to blow away India, Conway was the main aggressor in a 67-run opening stand with captain Tom Latham. With bright sunshine slowly making way, Conway was superb in clipping and driving Mohammed Siraj for boundaries, followed by sweetly timing his fours off Jasprit Bumrah.

What really stood out from Conway’s breezy knock was the takedown of Ashwin. With his armoury of sweeps, reverse sweeps and even sixes smashed down the ground, Conway’s attacking blitzkrieg ensured he got his tenth Test fifty in 54 balls, as Ashwin went for 31 runs in his first six overs.

Though Kuldeep Yadav got India the breakthrough by trapping Latham lbw with a googly, Conway took two boundaries via drive and Will Young beginning brightly meant New Zealand pocketed another session. Batting at number three in place of injured Kane Williamson, Young began the final session by firmly hitting four boundaries off Kuldeep.

The misery increased on India as Rohit put down tough chances twice at slip of Conway and Young off Jadeja’s bowling. It was followed by the team giving Young a life when a throw went to the wrong end and Pant hobbled off the field after being hit on side of right knee by a sharply spinning in delivery from Jadeja, which evaded Conway’s attempted drive.

With Dhruv Jurel stepping in as the substitute keeper, Conway then showed his solidness on the front foot and back foot by hitting Kuldeep for six and four, before Young gave a top-edge on a sweep off Jadeja to fine leg and fall for 33.

Three overs later, Ashwin struck when Conway went for a pre-mediated sweep, but got into a tangle and saw the fuller ball rattle the stumps. Rachin Ravindra (22 not out) and Daryl Mitchell (14 not out) looked impressive in their stay at the crease before stumps came on a spectacular day of Test cricket for New Zealand, which was completely opposite of fans’ thoughts.

Brief Scores: India 46 in 31.2 overs (Rishabh Pant 20; Matt Henry 5-15) trail New Zealand 180/3 in 50 overs (Devon Conway 91; Ravindra Jadeja 1-28) by 134 runs

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Prince William shows off American football skills

The Prince asked Schecter for guidance on how to get the ball to spin properly, and promptly threw the ball into one of five small holes in a large net…reports Asian Lite News

Prince William impressed Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit and two-time Super Bowl-winner Osi Umenyiora with his (American) football skills at an NFL Foundation UK event in London on Tuesday.

William tried various football drills and was told to “embrace his inner Shakira” to avoid tackles by former Buffalo Bills coach and current GB Women’s Flag Football Team captain Phoebe Schecter as he threw a pass.

The event was hosted by the NFL Foundation in the UK — a charity working with young people in deprived areas — which uses the sport to engage teenagers in a team environment.

William looked on as the children went through various passing and catching drills, and even stepped in at quarterback in an NFL Flag match, launching one pass across the field.

“You can’t hide talent. He has it,” ex-NFL cornerback Jason Bell said. “I mean he was able to make a lot of throws and just come out here and just be willing to take part in all of this, which is the key. He’s the future king of England,” Umenyiora added “Even if he wasn’t good, we’re going to say he was good.”

The Prince asked Schecter for guidance on how to get the ball to spin properly, and promptly threw the ball into one of five small holes in a large net.

“That was pretty incredible, to be honest,” Schecter told ESPN. “I mean he has an incredible arm strength anyways … we all saw him throwing the football the length of the field at one point. But yes, to be able to give him a few pointers to be able to be even more successful was pretty special.”

William was heard saying he’ll continue honing his technique at home with his three children, but said he was wary of how many windows he could smash in the process.

“His arm was better than mine,” Rees-Zammit, who crossed from rugby union to the NFL and is part of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad said. “He was great. He was very intrigued about the game of football and about my transition.”

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Red For Luck: Djokovic’s Keeps China Tradition Alive

Novak Djokovic says, “I wear red as a respect to Chinese culture and tradition. Hopefully, red brings luck.”

Dressed in red from jersey to shoes, 37-year-old Novak Djokovic paid tribute to all the fans at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena and wrote different Chinese characters on the camera lens after winning a match, continuing his routine of showing love for China at the ATP Shanghai Masters.

Djokovic told the press that the whole world knows the red colour represents China. “I do it intentionally. I wear red as a respect to Chinese culture and tradition. Hopefully, red brings luck. I’ve been playing well in red, so I keep the tradition going,” he said.

Though losing to world No.1 Jannik Sinner in the final of the Shanghai Masters on Sunday, Djokovic proved he still has competitiveness in high-level events, reports Xinhua.

“My main motivation comes from a lot of passion for the sport and also the desire to keep competing. There are kinds of matches and challenges that I still strive for being in a position to play against the best players in the world on the biggest stage of the finals of the biggest tournaments,” he said.

Having clinched four Shanghai Masters titles, Djokovic has made his name a legend among Chinese fans. “It’s been five years, coming back to one of the happiest places I’ve had in my career, a country where I had plenty of success on the tennis courts, many titles won, great memories,” Djokovic said.

The great support from the fans in China has left a strong impression on the Serbian star. “They are probably the most unique, the most passionate fans and so dedicated, daily waiting for you and really feeding you with a lot of love and energy,” he noted.

Djokovic has also paid close attention to the development of tennis in China. As the Paris Olympic champion for men’s singles, Djokovic revealed he is a “big fan” of Zheng Qinwen, who claimed gold in the women’s singles, making history for China.

“She’s so young. She made China proud this year at the Olympic Games. She brought the gold medal, I think first ever in tennis for China, so it’s a big deal. She’s a great person and a really good player that keeps on improving. We have a nice relationship off the court, and when we have a chance, we chat,” said Djokovic, adding that he is available to Zheng anytime she wants his advice.

Djokovic also described Zhang Zhizhen as “the most successful male Chinese player.” “He’s climbing the rankings, and he’s helping also other players to believe that they can get to the high rankings,” Djokovic said.

The tennis legend is optimistic about the future of Chinese tennis. “I think the Chinese mentality is such that, when they are dedicated to something, they’re really dedicated to something, you can see that working hard is not an issue here. I’m really happy and excited to see how Chinese tennis will grow in the future,” Djokovic noted.

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Rohit Focuses on Team Resilience

Bengaluru: India's head coach Gautam Gambhir with captain Rohit Sharma during a practice session ahead of the first Test match against New Zealand at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday, October 14, 2024. (Photo: IANS/Dhananjay Yadav)

Rohit’s goal is to ensure that there are enough ready replacements, especially in the event of injuries, to keep the team competitive and prepared…reports Asian Lite News

As India gears up for their three-match Test series against New Zealand, captain Rohit Sharma has made it clear that building a deep and reliable bench strength, particularly in the fast-bowling department, is a top priority.

Speaking on the eve of the first Test in Bengaluru, Rohit emphasized the importance of creating a pool of eight or nine fast bowlers who can step into the playing XI at any moment.

“We want to create a bench strength where tomorrow, if anything happens to anyone, we are not worried or too heavily reliant on a few individuals. That’s not the right thing to do,” Rohit said, pointing to the need for India to move beyond relying on just a few key individuals.

His goal is to ensure that there are enough ready replacements, especially in the event of injuries, to keep the team competitive and prepared.

“We want to create guys where even if there are injuries, we have got someone to quickly step in and take that role.

“It’s not about three or four options. We want to try and do that like, you know, when it comes to batting, there are a lot of options. We want to create the same with the bowlers as well.”

India’s 15-member squad for the New Zealand series has been bolstered with traveling reserves Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Rohit explained that these young fast bowlers are being closely monitored to assess their potential for future tours, including the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting on November 22.

“You know, the reason we wanted to keep them close to us was because we are thinking of them to take them to Australia,” Rohit said. The five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins on November 22. “We just want to monitor them and see their workload. We have seen some talent in them. I understand that they have not played a lot of red-ball cricket, but when you see a talent, you want to try and groom them.

“You want to try and bring them as close to the team as possible. And in a short period of time, they have shown they have some ability as well. So, we want to keep them with the team and see whether they will be ready for international cricket or not, especially Test cricket, because Test cricket is a different ball game compared to white ball cricket. So, we want to keep them, we want to see what they can offer us, and have more options with us, more than anything else.

“Nitish and Harshit both obviously are quite talented individuals, and in the future obviously they are going to provide a lot of stability to the team. So, just want to see what they are capable of, what they have to offer.”

Mayank Yadav, in particular, has caught the attention of Indian selectors with his blistering pace, reaching speeds of 155kph during IPL 2024. However, with his history of injuries, Rohit stressed the importance of managing his workload carefully.

“Mayank obviously has shown what he can do, but we just want to be very careful with him, he has had a lot of injuries in the past,” Rohit said. “So, we want to progress him, not rapidly, we want to just see every day how he feels.

“We are trying to build his workloads with the red ball. He has not played a lot of red-ball cricket at all. So, for us, it’s important that we try and build them gradually, rather than just getting them into international cricket straight away.

Rohit also acknowledged the differences between white-ball and red-ball cricket, explaining that while formats like T20 allow a quick glimpse into a player’s talent, Test cricket demands stamina and endurance over five days. India’s approach, he said, will be to groom these emerging talents gradually, preparing them for the rigors of international Test cricket.

The first Test, however, faces potential disruption from rain, with relentless showers in Bengaluru forcing the Indian team to cancel their final training session. Rohit remained non-committal about the playing XI, stating that the decision would be based on pitch conditions and weather on match day.

“It all depends on the conditions now. Even today, there has been a lot of rain. The pitch is under the covers. So, we want to take that call when we come here in the morning tomorrow,” Rohit said. “And again, it depends on match-to-match, what sort of pitch we play on. Based on that, we want to decide what is going to be our best playing XI. We keep our options open for playing three seamers and three spinners as well.”

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BSC Cricket Academy launches team jerseys for U16 and U19

BSC Cricket Academy, one of the premier sports academies located in Azaiba, launched the newly designed jerseys for their Under-16 and Under-19 team at the Star of Cochin Banquet Hall  in CBD, Ruwi on Thursday evening.

The young cricketers heartily rejoiced on getting the newly designed Jersey from their club Bosher Sports Centre (BSC) for the forthcoming Oman Cricket League 2024-25, to be held in Oman Cricket in Amerat.

 BSC Cricket Academy, one of the premier sports academies located in Azaiba, launched the newly designed jerseys for their Under-16 and Under-19 team at the Star of Cochin Banquet Hall  in CBD, Ruwi on Thursday evening.

The BSC Cricket Academy will field teams in the U16 category, competing in 30-over and 20-over formats, while another team will contest under the U19 category, playing 50-over and 20-over formats. The tournament will span six months, with matches held at Oman Cricket’s facilities in Amerat. The U16 league will kick off on Saturday, and the U19 matches will begin after the conclusion of the Men’s Asia Cup, starting on October 18.

The main sponsor “Braveheart” owned by Santhosh Valappil, expressed his pride, saying, “as an alumnus of Indian School Muscat, it’s a proud moment to support children in sports. It’s heartening to see kids come from afar to train and participate in these matches. We offer our full support to them. This highlights the growing opportunities for young athletes in Oman and the increasing recognition of sports as a vital career path.”

Some of the other sponsors are Dr Anup Ayyappan Group CEO JBC EXPRESS, The Trust Oilfield LLC, Al Maya International LLC.