SPORTS GOSSIP
3rd T20: Shreyas, Avesh help India complete sweep
Mohammed Siraj and Avesh Khan bowled brilliantly to destroy the top and middle order of Sri Lanka cheaply.
Sri Lanka was 5 down for 60 before Dasun Shanaka smashed a brilliant 74 runs knock to put his side on to a respectable total of 146 runs.
Although India lost their openers early, the 3rd successive half-century from Shreyas Iyer again made the chase an easy one for India to seal the series by 3-0.
Sri Lanka 20 overs 146-5
Shanaka 74*(38) Avesh 2-23 Chandimal 22 (27) Siraj 1-22
India 16.5 overs 148-4
S. Iyer 73*(45) Kumara 2-39 Jadeja 22*(15) Karunaratne 1-31
India rested all their senior bowlers in the 3rd T20I to give a proper chance to the young bowlers and they didn’t let them down with some exceptional bowling.
Avesh Khan Mohammad Siraj dismissed the in-form Lankan openers in the first two overs.
Avesh Khan picked up his second wicket in the 4th over to remove the Lankan top-order on just 11 runs.
In the 9th over, Ravi Bishnoi joined the party by dismissing Janith Liyanage on just 9 runs.
The experienced Dinesh Chandimal tried to play patiently and build the innings but Harshal Patel had other ideas as he dismissed him on 22 runs.
Dasun Shanka sizzles
Half the Sri Lanka side had departed on 60 runs when Dasun Shanaka started to accelerate.
He played an outstanding knock and smashed the Indian bowlers all around the ground in the death overs.
Shanaka saved his side from getting bowled out on a low score and with his power hitting, he put a fighting 146 runs on the board for the Indian team to chase.
He remained unbeaten on 74 runs off just 38 balls including 2 sixes and 9 fours.
India also didn’t have the best of the starts as they lost their skipper Rohit Sharma on just 5 runs in the second over.
Sanju Samson added 45 runs for the second wicket with Shreyas Iyer before getting caught out on 18 runs in Karunaratne’s over.
Deepak Hooda came in at No 4 and after playing a quick cameo of 21 runs off 16 balls, he was bowled out by Kumara in the 11th over.
Ravindra Jadeja then joined Iyer to get their side over the line.
Jadeja added the second consecutive 50 run partnership with Iyer to chase down the target of 146 runs in the 17th over.
Shreyas Iyer’s third successive half-century
Shreyas Iyer has been in excellent form after being promoted at no 3.
He scored another superb fifty to finish as the highest run-scorer of this series.
In the absence of Virat and Rahul, Shreyas Iyer turned out to be the match-winner for India in all the 3 games of this series.
Iyer thrashed an unbeaten 73 runs off just 45 deliveries.
This was the 3rd consecutive half-century for the right-hander in this series.
He smoked 9 fours and a six in his explosive knock.
LATEST
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman hails rise of good performance amongst sports during 2024 Budget speech
India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman lauded the rise of sports in India during her Union Budget speech. The Indian contingent finished with its highest-ever medal tally during the Asian Games last year.
Even the Asian Para Games contingent did well and won many medals. Chess has also produced some amazing Indian talents. 18-year-old Praggnanandhaa came in for special attention from the Finance Minister.
The youngster reached the finals of the Chess World Cup before losing to Magnus Carlsen. This achievement was lauded by Nirmala Sitharaman during her speech in the floor of the house.
Finance minister lauds Indian growth in sports
India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman was presenting the interim budget ahead of the 2024 Elections. During her chat listing all the achievements the country has made, her comments on sports took the limelight.
Sitharaman said “The country is proud of our youth scaling new heights in sports. The highest-ever medal tally in Asian Games and Asian Para Games in 2023 reflects a high confidence level. Chess prodigy and our number-one ranked player Praggnanandhaa put up a stiff fight against the reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsson in 2023. Today, India has over 80 chess grandmasters compared to little over 20 in 2010,”
Last year during the Asian Games, India finished 4th in the medals tally. The final tally read, 28 gold medals, 38 silver medals, and 41 bronze medals. Men’s and Women’s cricket won gold medals for the first time. The Indian Kabaddi Team did well to beat Iran in the final of a pulsating contest.
Despite their bad performance in the AFC Asian Cup 2024, even Indian football has started to perform well. Indian Cricket Team reached the finals of the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championships in 2023. 2024 is set to be yet another huge year for Indian sports. The focus will be on the huge Olympics set to be held in Paris this year. The likes of Neeraj Chopra will be looking to bring even more glory to the nation with their performances.
CRICKET
CSK Skipper MS Dhoni files lawsuit against Business partner, accuses cheating and financial loss
In surprising news, cricketing legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni has taken legal action against his former business associates, Mihir Diwakar and Soumya Vishwash of Aarka Sports and Management Limited. The former India captain accuses them of tricking him in a deal related to cricket academies, resulting in a huge financial loss of over Rs 15 crore. Dhoni filed a criminal case in October 2023, accusing them of cheating.
The legal battle unfolded as Dhoni and Diwakar agreed in 2017 to open a cricket academy. However, Diwakar allegedly failed to stick to the specified conditions, causing substantial financial harm to MSD.
Today, the court witnessed the proceedings in the case, highlighting the intricacies of the alleged breach of agreement. The cricketing maestro and Mihir Diwakar’s agreement in 2017 outlined the opening of a cricket academy. However, Diwakar is accused of failing to adhere to the predetermined terms, causing a significant loss estimated at Rs 17 crore for Dhoni.
MS Dhoni is set to make a comeback in IPL 2024
The accusations of deception and breach of agreement have added a new layer to the ongoing legal saga. Dayanand Singh, representing MS Dhoni through Vidhi Associates, emphasised the alleged failure of Mihir Diwakar to fulfil the agreed-upon conditions, leading to substantial financial losses for the cricket icon.
The legal battle takes a more dramatic turn as Dhoni’s friend, Simant Lohani (Chittu), also files a complaint. Lohani alleges that he faced threats and abuse from Mihir Diwakar after legal action was initiated against Aarka Sports.
Despite the legal complexities, MS Dhoni remains resolute in his return to competitive cricket. Recently returning from Dubai after celebrating the New Year, Dhoni is gearing up for IPL 2024, which is anticipated to be his farewell season in the league. The legal tussle with former business partners adds an unexpected twist to Dhoni’s journey, underscoring the challenges even cricketing legends face beyond the boundary.
OTHERS
South Africa’s paralympian Oscar Pistorius released on parole
Former South Africa Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been released on strict parole conditions. Back in 2013, he mistakenly murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. He claimed to have mistaken her for a burglar and shot her from inside his bathroom. In the same year, he was jailed for 16 years. However, after completing his 11 years of sentence, he has been released on bail on some conditions.
Pistorius’ sentence will conclude in 2029. As per the law of the South African land, offenders are allowed to be considered for parole after serving half of their total sentence, and in Pistorius’s case, this moment has arrived. His parole conditions include strict monitoring and participation in programs addressing anger management and gender-based violence.
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June Steenkamp, expressed her acceptance of the legal process, stating as per BBC, “The conditions imposed by the parole board, which includes anger management courses and programs on gender-based violence, send out a clear message that gender-based violence is taken seriously.” She acknowledged the limitations of justice, emphasizing the irreparable loss suffered by her family.
Oscar Pistorius’ journey in a nutshell
The 37-year-old’s career took off when he secured four gold medals in the Paralympics. During the 2012 London Olympics, he competed against non-disabled athletes. However, due to the unfortunate event mentioned above, his much-celebrated career came to an end.
The Department of Correctional Services in South Africa asserted that Pistorius, despite his celebrity status, would be treated like any other parolee. The conditions entail home confinement during specific hours, a ban on alcohol consumption, and restrictions on media interaction.
June Steenkamp reflected on the complexity of justice in the face of an irreparable loss, stating, “There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back.” She expressed her hope to focus on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, dedicated to continuing her daughter’s legacy.
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