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“There is no one close to him” Ravi Shastri praises Hardik Pandya
“There is no one close to him” Ravi Shastri praises Hardik Pandya
Image Credits: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Former Team India coach Ravi Shastri has called Hardik Pandya the most important cog of India in Asia Cup 2022.
Ravi Shastri admitted there is no one close to him when it comes to quality and hailed him as one of the most important players in Team India’s setup.
Hardik Pandya, who has been named in the India squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup, played the 2021 ICC event as a batter instead of a pure all-rounder.
Hardik was subject to a lot of criticism due to his inability to bowl and eventually took a break from cricket to focus more and recover from his injuries.
Hardik Pandya returned to competitive cricket in the 2022 Indian Premier League, where he captained Gujarat Titans and guided them to their maiden title as well. Pandya displayed his all-around ability, scoring 487 runs in 15 matches, and also performed brilliantly with the ball.
He also took eight wickets, which included a three-wicket haul. Since his return, he has become an important player in the Indian line-up.
“He (Pandya) is one of the most important cogs in the wheel as far as India is concerned,” Shastri said in a press conference organized by Star Sports, the official broadcaster of Asia Cup 2022.
“You take him out of the squad and the balance goes away. That’s how important he is. You don’t know whether to play an extra batsman or an extra bowler.
“We missed him really badly last year in the (T20) World Cup when he couldn’t bowl. It makes a massive difference.” Ravi Shastri noted
There is no one close to him when it comes to the quality that he possesses at that number. I think he is an extremely important player and has to be watched very closely.” Shastri added
“With the number of matches coming up, he is the last person you want to play in all those matches,” Shastri said
Yuzvendra Chahal also praised the stylish all-rounder for his batting versatility and discussed how Hardik has improved as a bowler.
“Hardik has changed completely, we saw him batting at No.7 earlier. I think when he went to Gujarat Titans from Mumbai Indians, he realized he can bat higher up the order,” he said
“Any batter who can hit right from the crease is difficult to bowl to him. He is batting like a proper batter, which has given us more strength,” said Chahal on Sports Yaari.
Yuzvendra praised Hardik’s bowling and said that his bouncer is “really deceptive”.
While Hardik Pandya was rested for the three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe, he will be back in the Asia Cup, which begins on August 27 in the United Arab Emirates.
Hardik Pandya has steadily grown in stature in world cricket due to his fantastic all-round abilities and holds a very important place in the current Team India setup
IPL 2022 proved to be the major turning point where he got regained his form.
He led Gujarat to their maiden IPL title in 2022, becoming the first captain after Shane Warne to lead a team to the title in its first year.
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WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo storms off pitch after throwing his runner’s-up medal into stands
Cristiano Ronaldo and his AL-Nassr side lost the Riyadh Cup to AL Hilal on Saturday. It was a clinical performance from the Al-Hilal side as they won the match 2-0. It was a frustrating night for the Portugal legend as he was heckled by the fans in the crowd.
The cameras panned to Cristiano Ronaldo who was swarmed by his teammates. There were chants cheering on Lionel Messi from the stands. Already peeved after losing the game, Ronaldo lost his cool and threw his medal at the fans.
Watch the video here:
Ronaldo thought he was getting player of the Match/tournament and then left the pitch furiously because he lost both trophies to savic and mitrovic lol 😭pic.twitter.com/1kk5fH4VH5
— ACE (fan) (@FCB_ACEE) February 9, 2024
During the game, Ronaldo was seen showing disgraceful actions towards the AL-Hilal fans. A scarf which was thrown his way saw the Portugal superstar rub it in the most inappropriate area. The 39-year-old earned the ire of the fans after this incident came to light.
AL-Hilal down AL-Nassr to win Riyadh Cup 2024 –
The 2024 Riyadh Cup final saw some amazing football being played. Cristiano Ronaldo was all smiles as WWE Superstar The Undertaker came out to place the trophy. Once the action began it was an end-to-end encounter as both teams went hard at goal.
Serbian star Sergej-Milinkovic Savic opened the scoring in the 17th minute of the game. It was two-nil 13 minutes later as Salem Aldaswari scored an amazing goal. That was the end of the contest despite an hour left in the game to be played.
There was no way back for the Al Nassr side as they looked clueless in front of goal. Not many chances were created by Ronaldo and his team. Al Hilal’s defense held their own against a rampaging Al Nassr side in the last few minutes.
There was pandemonium in the stands as the final whistle was sounded and the Al Hilal fans celebrated. There was a chorus of Messi chants which visibly irked Ronaldo at the end of the game.
Ever since his move from Manchester United in late 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo has changed Saudi Football. The likes of Karim Benzema and N Golo Kante are currently playing in the Saudi Pro League. AL Hilal themselves signed noted Brazilian sensation Neymar who sic out injured. With the veteran star in the twilight of his career, this kind of behaviour is least expected from Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Sandeep Lamichhane convicted of molestation, jailed for eight years
Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been convicted of raping a 17-year-old in 2022. During the case, he kept playing for the team, notably during the Asia Cup 2023 and ODI World Cup qualifier in June last year. After the case was filed, he was playing for eventual winners, Jamaica Tallawahs. The leg-spinner was released from the team and was taken into custody.
“I know I am facing a difficult time of conspiracy and wrongful allegation and the ramification of its effect is something unimaginable. I am sure there must be some mechanism of compensating to the accused who proven to be innocent in our legal system,” he wrote. “I will soon seek legal support against wrongful prosecution and allegation made against me and I am sure I will get the justice and will return to the cricket ground soon to make the name and fame of my beloved country and I pray for speedy trial.”
After landing home, the former Delhi Capitals player claimed that the allegations made against him were baseless.
“All these things affected me mentally on one hand and on the other hand, I had to go through illness, and due to mental stress and ill health I kept myself in isolation. I have been mentally and physically affected by the portrayal and I have reached a state of imbalance and I have been bringing myself back to a normal state under the advice of doctors. My health is gradually improving, and I am planning to return to Nepal as soon as possible to defend against the false complaint against me,” the leggie wrote on Facebook in September 2022.
Talking about the current status, the bench also slapped him with a fine of Rs 300,000 (USD 2255 approx) and ordered him to pay Rs 200,000 (USD 1500 approx) in compensation to the victim. Lamichhane’s lawyer, Saroj Ghimire, told AFP that he “will appeal the decision in a higher court.”
Sandeep Lamichhane’s career at a glance
He is the first Nepal player to play in IPL, PSL, CPL, and several other leagues. He made his international debut at the age of 18
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WATCH: Gautam Gambhir makes endearing comment while answering question related to Virat Kohli
Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir is believed to have a personal dislike for former India skipper Virat Kohli. Over the years, Gambhir has been critical of the 2008 U19 World Cup-winning captain on a lot of issues. Not to forget, Gambhir has been vocal about not the media should be worshipping individual players.
During a talk show on Star Sports, the two-time World Cup winner was asked about the bowler Kohli faced while completing his 50th ODI hundred. As Gambhir gave the right answer, he also mentioned that his rivalry is with Kohli which stays on the field only.
Watch the video here
Kohli 🤝 Gambhir
That smile at the end tho 😄pic.twitter.com/jSXz2xFUE6— Ishan Joshi (@ishanjoshii) December 23, 2023
He replied:
“Lockie Ferguson.”
Gambhir then smilingly went on to add:
“Ye aap baar baar dikhana, mujhe sab kuch yaad rehta hai. Ladai meri sirf on the field hai (Please show this clip again and again, I remember everything. My fight is only on the field)”
I want Virat Kohli to bat with the same intent he is known for: Gautam Gambhir
In another conversation. Gambhir said that Kohli must bat the same way against South Africa in the two-match Test series the way he does. Notably, the latter won’t play the practice game as he has come back to India for personal reasons. However, the right-hander will be available for the series.
“It will be in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s minds that Shreyas Iyer, who is on his first tour, will be batting after Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul, if he plays, will be playing as a wicketkeeper for the first time. However, I want Virat Kohli to bat with the same intent he is known for.”
India’s squad for Tests: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk)
Tuesday | 26-Dec-23 to 30-Dec-23 | 1st Test | Centurion |
Wednesday | 03-Jan-24 to 07-Jan-24 | 2nd Test | Cape Town |
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