West Indies cricket legend Andy Roberts has lauded Mohammed Shami as India’s most skilled pacer, emphasizing his superiority in effectiveness and consistency over others, including Jasprit Bumrah. While acknowledging Bumrah’s ability to claim crucial wickets, Roberts expressed that Shami’s control, seam positioning, and adaptability under diverse conditions set him apart.

Roberts critiqued Mohammed Siraj, stating he has yet to reach the same level as Bumrah and Shami. He highlighted that Shami’s ability to relentlessly hit good lengths and extract movement makes him India’s standout bowler. He urged Indian cricket to focus more on nurturing such talent for long-term success in international cricket.

Roberts’ observations offer a fresh perspective on India’s pace attack dynamics, sparking debates among cricket fans worldwide.

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 4^th 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.

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.