Hardik is Neymar as Neymar could rarely be

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Both are blinding individual talents, but only one of them has the strength of a team’s cohesion backing him

Alagappan Muthu21-May-20235:13

Runorder: Ravi Shastri wants Hardik to be India’s full-time T20I captain

Twenty-five seconds into stoppage time in extra time. Neymar has the ball.Thirty-five seconds into stoppage time in extra time. Brazil have the goal.Despite the best efforts of a ticking clock and a low block, he found a way through.A one-two with Rodrygo 30 yards out. Then another with Lucas Paquetá as he makes his run into Croatia’s box. He beats the last defender. He rounds the goalkeeper. And he scores.A place in the World Cup semi-final was his. And then it wasn’t.Lucknow Super Giants need 39 off 45 with nine wickets in hand.Hardik Pandya had top-scored in the first innings with 66 off 50. The highest score by a visiting batter on the toughest pitch in the IPL. And it looked like it wasn’t going to matter all that much.For the third time in four nights, he was going to lose. Until he didn’t.Mohammed Shami bowls a sublime 19th over. Mohit Sharma follows him and produces four wickets in four deliveries.From being unable to defend six runs a ball, Gujarat Titans had gone and defended less than six runs an over.”Maybe,” Hardik said at the presentation, “this was god is telling us that no it’s okay. I’m not always gonna take from you guys. I’m gonna give you something back as well.”Hardik Pandya: “A lot of people counted David Miller out but for us he was always a match-winner from the time we bought him at the auction”•BCCIDivine intervention aside, that World Cup game and this IPL game have another thing in common. They tell the story of how even blindingly talented individuals need a team backing them up.Neymar can’t do much to fix his situation. In football, players are brought in on the orders of a coach or at the whim of the owner. He is neither.In cricket, it’s different. Hardik has more power in his hands and, though it is still very early, he is starting to build something special. If he goes all the way again, like he did in 2022, he will become the first man in IPL history to win back-to-back titles with two different franchises.It feels remarkable that only four years ago, he was on a talk show where he was so impressed with himself he forgot he was being all kinds of wrong. Back then, Hardik possessed a rare gift. He could come in and hit the very first ball he faced for six. And that opened doors he would have only dreamed of growing up in a small town in Gujarat. This one led straight to infamy.People don’t follow a show-off, but that is a big part of who Hardik is. It actually enables him to be that most fabled of all things. A man for the big occasion. The first time he ever bowled a 20th over in defence of a total, he won India a World Cup game with impossible odds. But that’s the fun part. When you go hunting for glory, you will be confronted by failure. Repeatedly. You have to be strong enough – remain driven enough – to get up every time you are knocked down.Hardik is. Neymar, too. But only one of them has had the chance to build a team for himself.David Miller was an IPL outcast in 2022. In the previous five years, he had made 494 runs, with only two fifties, at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 117. Only two – of 10 – franchises showed any interest in him when his name came up for auction. He maintained that his stats – especially in the two seasons before joining Titans – were not so much a reflection of his ability but a consequence of uncertainty. He didn’t know where – or if – he even fit in.A few months after Rajasthan Royals passed him over when the price hit INR 3 crore, Miller was out there on the field, beating them to a pulp. At the end of it all, when he had 68 runs in 38 balls with three fours, five sixes and a place in the final, he was asked what had changed, and he said, “I think opportunity firstly. I have been given a good role and a good extensive run in the team. I felt extremely backed from the onset.”These are Hardik’s words from that night. “It kind of shows if you show love and importance to an individual player, he can flourish and how. A lot of people counted David Miller out but for us he was always a match-winner from the time we bought him at the auction. What he did today we always expected from him. But for us it was important to give him the importance, give him that love and give him the clarity as to what we expect from him. And if he fails, it’s okay; it’s just a game.”3:37

Why have Gujarat Titans been so successful so quickly?

Man management. Gut feel. And faith. All part of the dark art of captaincy.Hardik sought out players who were themselves seeking someone to believe in them. He gave them the chance they’d always wanted, the support that had been so hard to come by and that bound them to him; made them work miracles for him.Rahul Tewatia had to slog through seven IPL seasons to cobble the 48 matches he had to his name before Titans came for him. Now, even though he barely gets to bowl, and barely gets to bat, he walks in to work every day knowing he is an indispensable part of a champion side. “Every time we’d be in a tough situation,” he said, “Hardik would say, ‘Oh I know that Tewu will finish the job for us’. What more do you need when the captain shows such confidence in you?”Tewatia, Josh Little, Noor Ahmad, Vijay Shankar. They’ve been stuck in the margins, having to do their thing in relative obscurity. They were forged by the hunger to prove themselves on a bigger stage. They need this. They hunt this. They’re not great players by themselves, but Titans didn’t need greats. They already had that in Rashid Khan. They just needed people who could play off him. They needed parts to make a whole. Nobody believed they could win in 2022. Now here they are two (or maybe three) games away from going back-to-back.Hardik appears to understand that captaincy isn’t just about the ideas you take onto the field but the ideals you stand for. It isn’t a particularly difficult lesson to learn. All you have to do is spend some time watching your plans fall apart. And when they do, the only thing that stands between you and defeat are your team-mates and their willingness to put everything on the line.Hardik has that now. He is Neymar as Neymar could rarely be. A tattooed badass who does the sexiest thing in his sport (hitting sixes and dribbling respectively) with the strength of cohesion behind him.It won’t be long before India go all in.Hardik spent his formative years under MS Dhoni. He shaped the most successful franchise in IPL history alongside Rohit Sharma. Soon, he could walk the path of Kapil Dev. Maybe, one day, this fast-bowling allrounder will stand up there on the Lord’s balcony too, the world in his hands.

Pakistan's Hyderabad experience: heavy security, thoughtful hospitality

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Babar Azam’s team have been in India for a little over a week and they’ve been well looked after ahead of their World Cup opener

Shashank Kishore05-Oct-2023As the Pakistan team bus zooms into the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad, their motorcade of armed police jeeps containing a few hundred security personnel quickly swing into action. They spread themselves across the outdoor nets area within a blink of an eye, just before the team comes out to train.Behind the police jeeps, there’s a van full of trained commandos that makes a swift entry. As they disembark, their chief issues orders detailing the areas they will survey and the activities they have to carry out. A local liaison officer is then briefed by the security chief, and plans are relayed across walkie-talkies to various department heads around the venue.It’s not hard to understand why security is so elaborate. There’s body frisking at every entry point; those with a valid pass only have it slightly better than many others, and fans making a beeline outside the gates to catch a glimpse of the players, or those trying to get hold of tickets, are kept out.Even before the Pakistan team emerges from the dressing room, three armed guards station themselves besides the perimeter of the nets area, while six others are at the entrance of the main pavilion block as Babar Azam strides out with his team after a slip catching drill inside the main ground.Related

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These guards with dark glasses have their backs to the action. They’re so seasoned that they don’t flinch or move a muscle, even when someone with the ferocious ball-striking capabilities of Iftikhar Ahmed, or Ifti as the team calls him affectionately, goes about his business. As he has a hit, repeatedly swinging big to the chorus of ‘played, yaar’ from team director Mickey Arthur, the sound of ball on bat echoes around the concrete stadium.As Pakistan go about training, the intense security seems overwhelming to the bystander watching from afar. But if you’re wondering whether Pakistan feel the same way, remember that they play under heavy security when hosting international teams at home. They’ve taken the protection in their stride at the World Cup, with smiles on faces amid the warm hospitality they’ve received in Hyderabad.At the ground, organisers have gone out of their way to procure many more kilos of ice than originally requested for, and the chef has tailored local delicacies to the taste of the players. This is i, Hyderabadi style, where food is an integral part of the conversation. Generous cups of Irani chai and diet Karachi biscuits – a local delicacy – are served, apart from dishes curated by the team trainer to ensure players aren’t loading themselves up prior to a training session or match.Back at the hotel, the Pakistani players have an entire floor to themselves, cut-off from the general public, and a dedicated set of staff to cater to the team’s needs. There’s a separate dining area, a cordoned off swimming pool that’s kept open beyond usual hours to accommodate late recovery requests, and round-the-clock security that makes arrangements for the team if they want to head out.Four nights ago, the entire team visited Jewel of Nizam, near the famous Golconda Fort, for dinner. A section of the route was turned into a green channel to facilitate smooth movement. On their plate were different varieties of kebabs, biryani and lots of spicy local food. and were favourites. It was Pakistan’s first and only outing since arriving in India.Mohammad Bashir might be the only Pakistani fan at their opening game against Netherlands in Hyderabad•Mohammad BashirOnly a week ago, there was so much uncertainty around Pakistan’s journey to India. Visa delays had prompted the team to cancel a training trip to Dubai. Now, those teething troubles have been long forgotten and the team appeared at ease with their environment. The only hint of regret, from Babar at the captain’s event in Ahmedabad on the eve of the tournament opener, was the absence of Pakistani fans.Babar has been asked several times about the welcome his team received in India. How the airport came to life as news spread that Pakistan had arrived. Babar has said he’s been surprised, not just on arrival but also at their warm-up games.”To be honest, we also heard that,” he said, when asked if the team thought they’d receive a hostile reception. “But since the time we arrived in Hyderabad, the kind of hospitality we’ve received and the kind of welcome we had from the airport to the hotel … even in the last match at the ground we felt very good.”On Friday, Babar will be able to hear shouts of ‘Pakistan jeetega’ and ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ from an elderly gentleman, 66-year-old Mohammad Bashir, who is a bit of an anomaly in Hyderabad. He’s perhaps a lone ranger, the only Pakistani fan in the city.Bashir is from Karachi, but he’s been able to make it in time for their first game against Netherlands only because he’s a now a US citizen. He’s been traveling to World Cups since 2011 and has quite a rapport with several Indian players, including MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. Bashir has several photos with them and their families, and says Dhoni and Rohit regularly give him tickets for ICC events. Bashir says while he isn’t as familiar with the current Pakistan players, he’s excited to watch Babar and Mohammad Rizwan “do something special” at the World Cup.In June, much against his doctor’s wishes, he decided to travel to India to watch the tournament. All he knew then was that he would be based in Hyderabad, the hometown of his wife, Rafia. To many, Bashir has already become a familiar face around the ground. He cheers for the players, waves the Pakistan flag passionately, and belts out chants that resonate loudly around the ground.He’s mighty impressed with the ” Hyderabad has given him. It’s likely the Pakistan team will share the sentiment when they reflect on this World Cup campaign many years later.

An Asia Cup XI featuring the best from the subcontinent

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Our correspondents from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka put on their selector hats and pick their composite Asia Cup XIs

26-Aug-202314:49

Does your favourite player figure in ESPNcricinfo’s Asia Cup XI?

Andrew Fidel Fernando
There’s a bunch of players that pick themselves in a current Asian XI. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi and Shakib Al Hasan. Consistent, proven across conditions, dynamic – you get it. (Although, whether there is room for that many egos on the team bus is another question.) Charith Asalanka is there because the guy averages 44.54 and strikes at 93.28 at No. 5, which is a more specialised position in ODIs these days.Litton Das gets the nod ahead of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Kusal Mendis, for having been more consistent than both.And in a team full of mostly-proven ODI performers, you needed a bolter. Maheesh Theekshana is that guy – capable of delivering tight powerplay overs, operating through the middle period, and shutting down charges at the death. He’s got 36 wickets in 22 innings, with an economy rate of 4.34. Sure, most of his ODI opponents have been on the weaker end of the spectrum, but in T20s he’s bossed the best too.Related

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Asia Cup 2023 – Where, when, who, what, and everything else

And at the time of writing, Haris Rauf just got 5 for 18 on a Sri Lankan deck. So he’s hard to ignore.Fidel’s Asia Cup XI: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Litton Das (wk), 3 Babar Azam, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Shakib Al Hasan 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Rashid Khan (capt), 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Haris RaufSidharth Monga
Only those players selected for the Asia Cup have been considered. Shakib Al Hasan and Shreyas Iyer are interchangeable in the order; the middle order is flexible anyway. My fantasy team, my rules: batters don’t play out of position, overall career and potential trump current form, which has been used only as a tiebreaker. The players selected are self-explanatory so it is more important to note who missed out narrowly:
– Virat Kohli does not bat in the middle order or at the top, so he loses out to Babar Azam at No. 3 on current form (the tiebreaker);
– Wanindu Hasaranga and Shadab Khan are superb legspin allrounders, but we already have Rashid Khan. Either of the two could easily get into side as the No. 7 too, but my batting allrounders need to give me variety as bowlers, which is why I have picked Shakib, who bowls left-arm spin, and Hardik, who bowls pace;
– Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Taskin Ahmed are three fast bowlers who challenge Siraj’s position, but Siraj has great current form. Don’t @ me. You couldn’t even if you wanted to.Sidharth’s Asia Cup XI: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Shreyas Iyer, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Jasprit BumrahDanyal Rasool
This is probably not the best XI you could carve out of the talent pool this continent has to offer, but then again, Asia Cup squads have always been more about having fun. If you want cold, hard, calculations and considered decisions after parsing through reams of data and Excel spreadsheets, this tournament is not your spirit animal.This is a squad where current form trumps legendary status – which, for example, is why Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t round out the attack. The incessant talk of Virat Kohli’s decline imperilled his place briefly, but I’d also like to use social media while preserving my mental health. Also, his recent ODI form actually is extremely good. Following the frenzy of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rohit Sharma’s liquid elegance, and the reliability of Babar Azam, Kohli can have the platform he likes from which to launch.Form is also why Shakib Al Hasan misses out for Charith Asalanka – though genuine quality middle-order batters are surprisingly hard to find these days. Wanindu Hasaranga and Hardik Pandya provide both attacking impetus with the bat and quality all-round options. And once these superstars set you a total, good luck chasing it down against that bowling line-up.Oh, and Rashid Khan to captain, because I’m not keen on picking between one of Babar and Kohli, despite the latter not having led India since March 2021.Danyal’s Asia Cup XI: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Wanindu Hasaranga, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Rashid Khan (capt), 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Naseem Shah, 11 Haris RaufMohammad Isam
There are many contenders for the opening spots but the prospect of watching Ishan Kishan and Fakhar Zaman batting together is compelling. Despite both being left-handers, they will attack different lengths. And watching them, you wonder what they would say to each other in the middle. The next two batters select themselves but then comes Charith Asalanka, who averages 50-plus after the 30th over in the last two years.Shadab Khan and Rashid Khan add all-round depth to the batting, and are part of an attack comprising Mohammed Siraj, Taskin Ahmed and Naseem Shah.Isam’s Asia Cup XI: 1 Ishan Kishan (wk), 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Babar Azam, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mohammed Siraj

Suryakumar, Samson and Tilak jostle to fit in India's Asia Cup jigsaw

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The No. 8 slot, the third spinner, and the fourth seamer are set to be the other contentious topics when the selectors pick the squad for the tournament

Shashank Kishore10-Aug-20232:11

Wasim Jaffer: Tilak Varma can be fast-tracked into ODIs for Asia Cup

How close are Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul to full fitness and selection? Do India take a punt on Tilak Varma based on his spectacular batting form in the T20Is against West Indies, or do they back Suryakumar Yadav despite his “really bad” ODI numbers?Does Ishan Kishan play the dual role of back-up wicketkeeper and reserve batter? Who among Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur and Yuzvendra Chahal misses out? What about Prasidh Krishna, who lines up for an international comeback after more than a year?These are some of the key questions for the Ajit Agarkar-led senior men’s selection committee to address when they convene to pick India’s Asia Cup squad. Ideally, their squad for this tournament would lay down the blueprint for the 15 they pick for the World Cup, but India’s situation at present is far from ideal. Two first-choice players haven’t yet been passed fit. Two others will be making a comeback during the Ireland T20Is after a substantial gap.Related

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This is perhaps why it’s entirely possible the selectors could look at naming a bigger pool for the Asia Cup that begins on August 30, before narrowing down on their World Cup squad, which needs to be named by September 5.

A straightforward top seven in an ideal world

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli pick themselves in the top three. Iyer and Rahul slot in at four and five, followed by Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja to complete the top seven.In such a scenario, the only consideration for the selectors will be to identify back-ups in the batting department. But because there are still question marks over Iyer and Rahul, this isn’t as straightforward as it should be. If Rahul doesn’t recover from his thigh injury, Kishan will likely come in as the frontline wicketkeeper. If Iyer isn’t yet fit after rehabilitation from back surgery, the selectors will need to identify a middle-order back-up.

A three-horse race in the middle order

Until recently, Suryakumar and Sanju Samson seemed to be jostling for the middle order back-up spot. But now there’s a third candidate in Tilak, however left-field, because both Suryakumar and Samson haven’t been able to nail down their spots in the 50-overs format.In 26 ODIs, Suryakumar has scored 511 runs and averages only 24.33. Earlier this week, he made a scathing self-assessment of his performances in the format. “If I am honest with myself, my numbers in ODIs are really bad,” he said. “And there’s no shame in admitting that; everyone knows that already.”You need to be honest with yourself; but then, getting better is also important. That is what Rohit [Sharma] and Rahul [Dravid] sir have told me, that because I don’t play a lot of ODIs, I need to practice and think as to what I can do. I can take my time, and if I happen to be at the crease in the last 10-15 overs, then I need to think for myself as to what I can do for the team.”Then there’s Samson. An enigma in white-ball cricket, someone who can play breathtaking strokes from the get-go but has often been riddled with inconsistency. In the two ODIs against West Indies, he made 9 and 51. The half-century was a stunning innings that sustained the tempo set by the openers, but his dismissal left a sense that he’d thrown it away when he needed to capitalise. In the two T20I knocks after that, he made scores of 12 and 7.This brings us to Tilak, who packs a punch. He brings in the left-handedness India lack in their top five without Rishabh Pant. He also carries with him runs, albeit in the T20I format. He’s uncapped in ODIs, but wise heads in Indian cricket are excited by the potential he has in the format.Yet, for all the excitement, this race will be a non-starter if both Iyer and Rahul are available. This is because Kishan can double up as back-up keeper and reserve opener.Jasprit Bumrah will make his return during the Ireland tour, after more than a year out of the side•BCCI

Siraj, Bumrah, Shami and who?

In the bowling department, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah are certainties. Mohammed Shami is the frontrunner to be the third seamer, and there have been enough signs lately to attest to that. His workloads have been carefully managed in the run-up to the World Cup to ensure India aren’t shortchanged if Bumrah or Siraj pull up.It’s also likely the selectors will look closely at how Prasidh goes in Ireland on his comeback from a lumbar spine injury. If the Asia Cup squad is to be named before the first game there on August 18, it’s likely they wouldn’t have seen him play in a match environment. However, this much is certain: Prasidh offers a point of difference with his height and ability to hit the deck, which makes him a compelling middle-overs option.It’s a role he performed prior to his injury, and his ODI record (25 wickets in 14 ODIs at 23.92) underlines that. Then there’s Mukesh Kumar, who made debuts in all formats on the tour of the Caribbean, who has an outside chance along with Jaydev Unadkat, who made his ODI comeback after more than a decade in the West Indies, and brings in the left-arm angle.Shardul Thakur provides the batting depth India have been lacking of late•Associated Press

The No. 8 dilemma

Kuldeep Yadav’s consistency in the West Indies ODIs may have made him the No. 1 spinner for now, with Jadeja being the second option. This then leaves open the door for two slots, which could be contested between Shardul Thakur, Prasidh, Axar Patel, and Yuzvendra Chahal.Shardul lends batting heft at No. 8 in addition to his seam-up. He’s also been in excellent form lately, finishing the West Indies ODI series as the highest wicket-taker. But on surfaces that might aid turn and with India already having two seamers and Hardik, Axar can lend batting insurance lower down in addition to being the third spinner. This could mean leaving out Chahal altogether, of which there have been signs considering he wasn’t picked in any of the ODIs in the West Indies.Essentially, this call will depend on whether the selectors want to take a punt on one of Suryakumar or Tilak for the reserve batter’s slot or pick an extra specialist bowler in Prasidh or Chahal, which throws open the slim possibility of India reuniting the wristspin twins – Kul-Cha – in a crunch game based on conditions.R Ashwin last played an ODI in January 2022•ICC/Getty Images

The missing offspinner

The only other glaring miss is a genuine frontline offspinner. Among those who can potentially be looked at, R Ashwin played the last of his 113 ODIs in January 2022, while Washington Sundar is on the comeback trail, having missed a lot of top-flight cricket over the past year due to multiple injuries. He featured in the Deodhar and Duleep Trophy without much success but will line up for an India comeback at the Asian Games in China.Whichever way the selectors go, there will be deliberations aplenty, with the Asia Cup squad giving an inkling of the make-up of the World Cup squad. After the Asia Cup, India play three ODIs at home against Australia prior to the World Cup. Teams have until September 27, the day of the last India-Australia ODI, to make changes to their initial World Cup 15.Expected Asia Cup squad (assuming everyone available): Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav/Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel/Yuzvendra Chahal/Prasidh Krishna.

Ladies who Switch: Ashes alive with England on a roll

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Firdose Moonda and Valkerie Baynes look ahead to the decisive ODIs and discuss who’s been in form

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jul-2023With three ODIs left, one – or all – of which will decide the Women’s Ashes, Valkerie Baynes and Firdose Moonda take a look at who’s been in form and what’s in store next as the series moves to Bristol, Southampton and Taunton.

Harmanpreet and Healy – different methods, same ambition

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

On the eve of the Test, the India captain was intense and thoughtful, while her opposite number was full of laughs and wisecracks

S Sudarshanan20-Dec-20234:26

Harmanpreet: ‘Our approach hasn’t changed, we will look to attack and win the game’

Harmanpreet Kaur and Alyssa Healy cut contrasting figures at their respective press interactions at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, a day away from the start of their one-off Test.Harmanpreet had just finished a long batting stint in the nets, taken her pads off and pulled on the white jumper over her training jersey. She looked serious, and gave her answers after a lot of thought. Healy walked into the room with the air of a student confident of topping the exam. She chuckled at the mention of Mitchell Starc and his record IPL auction payday. Her 16 minutes with the press were replete with laughs and wisecracks.Like when she expressed surprise at India not pushing for a points-based multi-format series at home: “I would have thought India would have backed themselves in their home conditions and got off to a 4-0 start.” Or, the “I’ll let you know on day four!” when asked if everyone in the touring party had acclimatised to the Mumbai weather.Related

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Harmanpreet was also a picture of focus during training on both the days before the Test. On Tuesday, she first faced a mix of spin and pace in the nets. She then moved to the pacers-only net and batted for a few more minutes before proceeding to face throwdowns. The only breaks she took were to stand behind the nets to observe the others and engage in discussions with head coach Amol Muzumdar.Towards the end of India’s training session, she practiced range-hitting for about 15-20 minutes. Standing away from the right-most practice net, she swung a fair few through the midwicket arc. The focus was on skipping down the track and connecting with the ball with her head as still as possible.”[Tuesday] was a day we could spend a lot of time in nets. If you are set batter [it’s about] how can you charge against which bowler,” she said. “Our approach will be to win this game, like last time [against England]. For that, it is not enough to just stay there but score crucial runs for the team. If you start attacking a bowler and have a good defence, you can play mind games with them.”[Wednesday] was more specific to the match: how to start [an innings]. [Muzumdar] is taking our match preparations seriously and we are also approaching it in the same way. After a long time, we are preparing in this way. Before this, sometimes we just felt that net sessions were on without a purpose. We were not achieving much.

“There’s going to be a lot of talk about spinners and what sort of impact they have. But I think our pace attack can do some real damage right throughout the day if they get it right”Alyssa Healy

“Since [Muzumdar] has come, we have been specific in our preparations and what situations we can come across in a match and, in that, how can we do the best for the team. He had given us different situations, and everyone was batting accordingly.”Healy’s preparations, not just for the Test but cricket in general, has been tricky. She was sidelined after she was accidentally bitten in the finger by her dog in October. The five training sessions since Australia landed in Mumbai were her first after the layoff. But if you were looking for signs of rustiness, there weren’t any.She scored a 52-ball 55 in Australia’s red-ball practice match on Sunday against a Mumbai XI, where she hit six fours and two sixes. On the eve of the Test, she faced a combination of Australia’s seamers, spinners, and a few local net bowlers for about 20 minutes in pairs with Phoebe Litchfield.”What the injury gave me is a forced rest, but also an opportunity for a little mini pre-season,” she said. “And [I] did four-five weeks of pretty hard physical work to get myself right. I wasn’t able to hit balls or catch balls or anything. I was running a lot and was at the gym a lot.”4:39

Healy hyped for the Australia vs India rivalry

India played only two fast bowlers against England and could be tempted to continue with the same template against Australia. But Healy backed her fast bowlers based on what she had seen of the SG balls that will be used in the Test match.”The SG balls have been a real fun to play around,” she said. “It is a nice mix between the Kookaburra and Dukes ball. It swings a little bit when it is shiny, but if you can keep it in some sort of condition, it swings the whole day. That brings our pace bowlers back into the talking.”There’s going to be a lot of talk about spinners and what sort of impact they have. But I think our pace attack can do some real damage right throughout the day if they get it right. Hopefully our ball-management crew can get that job done.”It is after over 250 internationals that Healy has got the permanent captain’s hat, one that Harmanpreet is no stranger to, having led India in over 100 T20Is alone. They come into this Test with contrasting moods and preparation, and very different game plans. In four days, we will know if it is two in two for Harmanpreet or a Test win on permanent-captaincy debut for Healy.

Ghosts of Chepauk's past don't spook South Africa

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Team tunes out echoes of 1975, 1999 and 2011 to come out clutch in a brand-new classic

Karthik Krishnaswamy28-Oct-20234:27

Bavuma: ‘The chase could have been more clinical’

There’s history all around you at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. There are murals memorialising everything from the Tied Test of 1986 to Karun Nair’s triple-hundred against England in 2016. There’s a three-storey triptych of Dhoni as wicketkeeper, batter and captain splashed over the entrance to the C, D and E stands, located strategically to catch the eye of passengers riding the elevated train line running next to the stadium.The walls of the press-conference room are full of history too, recorded in framed newspaper pages. “Visvanath (sic) alone Tames Roberts’ Pace”, reads one headline.Related

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This, of course, is an account of GR Viswanath’s 97 not out, out of a first-day total of 190, against West Indies in January 1975. To the Chepauk aficionado, all other information other than the number 97 is superfluous.That innings came at a time when Chepauk had a reputation for pitches with pace and bounce. “That reputation is to be as near the ‘ideal cricket wicket’ as it is possible to come,” Scyld Berry wrote in , his book chronicling England’s 1981-82 tour of India. “It has the bounce appreciated by batsmen, bowlers and wicketkeepers too, and it is regular bounce; it is fast, agreed to be the fastest in Test cricket since the Perth pitches slowed down in the late seventies; and in the latter half of the game it responds increasingly to spin bowling.”On Friday evening, on a springy pitch redolent of those heady days, Aiden Markram plays a shot off a fast, rising short ball from Haris Rauf that Viswanath may have been proud to pull off – though he may have needed to be a foot taller to do so. This isn’t merely a ramp over fine third that harnesses Rauf’s express pace; it’s an uppercut of twisting wristwork that gives the ball extra impetus; both of Markram’s feet are off the ground when his bat connects with the ball when it is already almost past him.For much of South Africa’s chase of 271, it is 1975 that your mind goes back to – or manufactures ways of going back to, because, let’s face facts, you probably weren’t actually around then. There is pace and bounce – some of it scattergun, some of it thrillingly well-directed – and Markram counters in breathtaking fashion, punching through cover point, clubbing over mid-on, cutting past a futilely diving backward point.Keshav Maharaj roars after hitting the winning four•ICC/Getty ImagesThis is, however, a chase of 271, against Pakistan, in Chennai, so other ghosts are at work too, and at one point they seem to have Markram in their grip. Until South Africa lose their third wicket – Rassie van der Dussen lbw following a widely debated DRS glitch – Markram bats with serenity, scoring 40 at a control percentage of 88. Thereafter he runs into turbulence, his last 51 runs coming at a control percentage of 73.Most of this is down to a Pakistan attack that’s rediscovered its verve after taking a pounding from South Africa’s top order. In the space of three balls, the bustling Mohammad Wasim beats Markram’s bat and has him inside-edging past his stumps; the in-between ball is thumped back over the bowler’s head for four.Crucial bits of luck seem to be going Markram’s way, South Africa’s way. Your mind goes back to 1999 again, to Sachin Tendulkar stepping out to Saqlain Mushtaq, losing his shape through an attempted hit over long-on, and inside-edging – only for Moin Khan to drop the ball and miss the stumping.Your mind, of course, jumps immediately to how it ended for Tendulkar, on 136, with India 17 runs from their target.January 31, 1999: Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq celebrates the dismissal of the final Indian batter – Javagal Srinath•AFPIt ends for Markram on 91, with South Africa 21 runs from their target. The echoes are still loud, if a little garbled. Markram is out to an Usama Mir legbreak in much the same way Tendulkar was out to Saqlain’s doosra, but he isn’t caught at mid-off as on that fateful final day but off a loopy slice to backward point like Tendulkar in the first innings of the same Test match.India were seven down in that chase, South Africa are seven down in this one. Ghosts. “Tendulkar’s brilliance just not enough” is the headline on the newspaper page framed in the press-conference room.On that day the Chennai faithful had given Pakistan a standing ovation when all they’d wanted to do, probably, was curl up and weep. This ovation is still present at Chepauk in mural form, but it also lingers implicitly. On this day there’s much less at stake, of course, and no downsides to a Pakistan win here.There are green shirts everywhere. Some have MILLER 10 on their backs, Some DE COCK (sic) 12, some BABAR 56. All of them sway in unison, arms in the air, as the DJ plays , that 90s ode to college friendships.Then Shaheen Shah Afridi has Gerald Coetzee caught behind to leave South Africa eight down with 21 to get, and anticipation fills the air. The crowd goes clap-clap-clap as Shaheen runs in, the frequency rising as he nears the crease. Then a gasp, as another ball from left-arm around straightens past the edge. This crowd has watched Wasim Akram do this, or heard stories about Wasim Akram doing this.Shaheen does this five times in the space of two overs, and sees an edge sneak past slip and down to deep third. With this he is done for the day. Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi have survived Pakistan’s biggest threat.An irresistible force seems to swirl around Chepauk, however, and Ngidi is soon gone, the victim of a miraculous, sprawling return catch from Rauf. It is a catch fuelled almost entirely by Pakistan’s desperation to win this, somehow, and stay in this World Cup.South Africa collapsed from 124 for 3 to 165 all out against England during the 2011 World Cup, at the same venue•Getty ImagesSouth Africa are 11 away from victory now, with one wicket in hand.Ghosts are everywhere, populating the ground so thickly that you can barely see what’s actually happening. While your mind’s eye plays back the horror reel that is Javagal Srinath’s slow-motion dismissal off Saqlain – back-foot defensive bouncing backwards off the pitch, between his legs, and into the stumps – a raucous appeal wrenches you back to the present. Rauf has struck Tabraiz Shamsi, South Africa’s No. 11, on the front pad, and Alex Wharf has turned down his appeal for lbw. Pakistan review, and groan as the cartoon ball on the ball-tracking graphic clips the outside of leg stump.Umpire’s call. This game would be over if the umpire had called differently.The game isn’t over. What is, though, is Rauf’s 10-over quota. And an over later, Wasim’s too, his 10th negotiated resolutely, with no great alarms, by Maharaj and Shamsi.It is down, then, to 18 balls, five runs, and one wicket, with all of Pakistan’s quicks bowled out. There are ghosts as far as the eye can see: of 1999, yes, but also of 1986 – “are there Super Overs in the league phase?” someone in the press box asks – and 2011. That was a World Cup game too, and South Africa lost it by six runs, collapsing from 124 for 3 to 165 all out.Ghosts of Chepauk’s past, everywhere.The present is a different place, though, pregnant with possibility. Maharaj sees all this possibility, and seizes it, when Mohammad Nawaz, a man shadowed by ghosts from elsewhere, drops short.Maharaj’s shuffling paddle-pull is a shot of tranquility in a sea of spectres. The ball rolls away through backward square leg, and as your eyes follow it you realise there is no one impeding its path. No fielders, and no ghosts either. This is no longer 1975 or 1999. This is October 27, 2023, and you have been privileged to witness a brand-new Chepauk classic.

Mandhana shuns the spotlight as 'Queens 2024' party at the Kotla

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

For a while, it looked like it would be Delhi Capitals’ night, but smart captaincy and exceptional spin bowling turned the game RCB’s way

S Sudarshanan and Vishal Dikshit18-Mar-20246:03

Mandhana lauds RCB’s fighting spirit and belief

Smriti Mandhana wasn’t there.After Richa Ghosh hit the winning runs, all the Royal Challengers Bangalore players rushed onto the field. They had finished fourth in the inaugural edition last year, and now they had won the WPL title by beating Delhi Capitals – who had an all-win record against them and had directly made the final. RCB had made it to the playoffs only after winning their last league game and finishing third. And add to it the running joke about RCB never quite winning anything.And so, the joy the players felt – and displayed – was completely warranted, with over 29,000 cheering them on at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Shreyanka Patil led the way. Among the first to reach Ghosh in the middle, hugging every member of the RCB contingent, giving a sassy interview – “They keep saying, [this year the cup is ours]’, look we got the cup so… that’s it, guys!” – and just dancing the moment away before and after the presentation and in front of the cutout that said “QUEENS 2024”.Related

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It was only fitting – Ghosh and Patil had broken down on the pitch exactly a week ago after a heart-wrenching one-run loss against Capitals.
But Mandhana was almost subdued.She was the last to walk out even as the entire bunch jumped around in the middle after the eight-wicket win. The joy on her face was visible – but nowhere close to overflowing – as she slowly made her way to the middle. She first gave a warm hug to Capitals allrounder Arundhati Reddy, off whom the winning runs were hit. After a few handshakes, she hugged and lifted Ellyse Perry, who saw off the chase with an unbeaten 35, off the ground.
But a few moments later, Mandhana was gone again. She was neither in the middle where a group of RCB players were dancing nor in another group that was laughing and chatting with the team owners. And not even among the players celebrating with members of the support staff.About ten minutes later, she emerged from the dressing room and joined her team-mates.”The first thing I did was I went to the dressing room and sat,” Mandhana explained in the press conference later. “It’s hard to celebrate the way others do. I don’t know, there’s some defect.”

****

The smiles did not seem probable for RCB about three hours earlier. Capitals opted to bat – like has been the norm in the Delhi leg of WPL 2024 – and were off to a flier, courtesy Shafali Verma. She gave the RCB bowlers a shellacking in the powerplay, hitting sixes off Sophie Molineux, Renuka Singh and Perry. Shafali had an answer to whatever came her way. The result? Capitals were 61 for no loss in six overs, their second-highest in the phase in the two seasons of the competition.
Mandhana then brought back Molineux, who had given away ten runs in the second over of the match. The move paid dividends immediately. Molineux tossed one above Shafali’s eyeline and she slogged it straight to deep midwicket. She then struck twice in two balls, bowling both Jemimah Rodrigues and Alice Capsey for ducks, a jolt Capitals could never recover from.Sophie Molineux, back after an injury layoff, did the star turn for RCB with the ball in the final•BCCIWith the initial damage done, Mandhana brought Patil into the attack, and she responded by dismissing Meg Lanning for the second time in two games. Patil and Asha Sobhana continued what Molineux had started as Capitals lost nine of their ten wickets to spin. From 64 for none, they lost ten wickets for just 49 to be skittled for 113.Little would have pleased the RCB management more than Molineux’s returns in WPL 2024. The punt they took in picking her at the auction paid off as she returned 12 wickets at an economy rate of 7.31, bowling a majority of her overs in the powerplay and at the death. She was RCB’s joint-second highest wicket-taker, that too after coming in on the back of an ACL injury that had kept her out of action for a large part of two years.”We’ve been following her for a very long time,” Mandhana said. “I remember her bowling against us in the one-day series [in 2021], which we nearly won when we went to Australia. I think she was the difference between the Australian team and the Indian team and, at that time, the way she bowled in the last four-five overs, it always stuck with me somehow – her performance.”The last two years have been really tough on her with a few injuries. She went through ACL and I can feel that ACL pain [having gone through it myself], so really, really happy for her. The way she came back – she was really clear. Not only today but even in the eliminator, to [bowl] that kind of a 19th over [four runs and a wicket against Mumbai Indians]. So, really, really happy for her and I think she is definitely a special player.”The party begins…•BCCIThe series in 2021 was also one where Molineux broke her jaw after being struck by a throw in the third ODI. She had continued playing. Time and again, her resilience and clutch performances have come to the fore, and with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh on the horizon, she is also back in Australia’s white-ball squads.
“This one’s special – to be taken by RCB after not playing any cricket for a while was pretty special,” Molineux said after being named Player of the Match. “I felt like I was bowling really slow tonight. I got a bit quick throughout the tournament. I suppose that is tournament play – you have to keep learning from the innings and the mistakes that you make before that and look forward to the next game.”And it was Molineux’s triple-wicket over that denied an Australian captain and ensured an Indian captain lifts the trophy again.
After she received the WPL trophy, Mandhana passed it to the young brigade led by Patil, and quietly slipped to the back of the group on the left. Quiet. Almost vanishing again.Smriti Mandhana’s bowling changes worked perfectly•AFP/Getty Images

… ‘I didn’t hear anything’ of what Virat Kohli said

But her glee was on full display at the press conference after the final, and everyone present got to see a side of Mandhana even she may not have known existed. She is not usually too expressive in public. She had said so herself after the league stage. And we believed her.Here, she barely finished the first answer when she was she told to pause. A formally dressed gentleman wearing white gloves appeared and placed the WPL trophy next to her.”Oooooh,” Mandhana went. “I have to leave my shyness now.””Okay, sorry,” she said as she pulled herself together, but the laughs and giggles didn’t go away. Nor did her awkwardness at being in the situation she was in. ” [why did you bring this]?” she asked the gentleman while pointing to the trophy.An answer or two later, the gentleman returned to take the trophy away.” (Done, taking it already)?” she chuckled. When she was told the trophy had to be adjusted a little for the video being recorded, she said, ” (I thought you’re taking it back).” Mandhana found her own joke funny enough to burst into another spell of laughter.3:00

RCB take home the trophy

On being asked about the conversation with Virat Kohli on a video call moments after the final ended, Mandhana said, “I didn’t hear anything what he was saying because it was too loud.”Cue laughter from all those gathered.”No, I’m not saying I didn’t [care to] hear what he said, I’m saying I couldn’t hear. What you’re laughing? Don’t take it the wrong way .” More laughter. “As I said, I couldn’t hear what he was saying because of the noise. Hans rahe hain yaar ye log, marwayenge [these people are laughing, they’ll get me in trouble].”There were also serious and insightful answers from Mandhana to explain her emotions, what a ride the two WPLs have been, what a find Shreyanka Patil is, and more. Almost all of it was sprinkled liberally with – you guessed it – her never-seen-before sense of humour.Right at the end, she was asked whether her 31 off 39 to steer the RCB chase would make her think of adopting a similar approach for India at times to close out more games, and she interrupted to ask, “Is she [the journalist in question] telling me or asking me?” to draw more laughs from her audience.Mandhana was high. She was high on her win, on holding the big golden trophy, and the sweet taste of success after a bitter baptism in the WPL last year. It was the night of her life. And the next time she says she doesn’t show her emotions, just remind her of this Sunday night.

Can Shakib-less Bangladesh keep their unbeaten spree going?

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Sri Lanka are without Hasaranga for the first two T20Is, but the absence of the two allrounders will open the door for others

Andrew Fidel Fernando and Mohammad Isam03-Mar-2024Hasaranga’s absenceGiven recent improvements in his batting, Wanindu Hasaranga has enlarged his reputation as Sri Lanka’s most valuable player. But his mouth got him in trouble when he asked umpire Lyndon Hannibal whether he was a Sri Lankan when Hannibal seemed to get a no-ball call wrong (the implication was that only a foreigner would be so biased against Sri Lanka). As a result, Sri Lanka’s new captain is suspended from the first two T20Is.As he is essentially two players in one (a world-class legspinner, and a floating hitter), Sri Lanka will have trouble replacing him. They have legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay in as cover for his bowling, but need the rest of the middle order to produce the bursts of energy he increasingly brings to the Sri Lanka innings with the bat.Bangladesh without ShakibShakib Al Hasan’s eye condition will keep him out of the Sri Lanka series entirely. Najmul Hossain Shanto has been appointed as the Bangladesh captain for the next 12 months, so he starts off his permanent stint with this home series. Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah are the in-form batters. Anamul Haque, Mohammad Naim and Soumya Sarkar have to do well to stay in contention for a place in the T20 World Cup squad.Bangladesh have included legspinner Rishad Hossain though mystery spinner Aliss Al Islam is out due to a finger injury. The new selection panel led by Gazi Ashraf Hossain hasn’t announced a replacement yet.Shakib Al Hasan will not take part in the series because of his eye condition•ICC/Getty ImagesCan Kamindu Mendis establish himself?Renowned first for his ambidextrous fingerspin, it is his batting that has always been Kamindu Mendis’ primary skill, and his batting that Sri Lanka will likely need in this series, especially in the two matches Hasaranga is out for. He had played just one good innings – a 41 off 29 against South Africa – in his first five T20I knocks, and struggled to get chances. In his latest match, less than two weeks ago against Afghanistan, Kamindu struck 65 not out off 39, even if he couldn’t quite close that game out. That performance will likely see him get games against Bangladesh, and if he can get his batting right, Sri Lanka will have a player who brings a substantial skillset onto the park. In addition to bowling with both arms, Kamindu has been an outstanding fielder.Bangladesh’s unbeaten spreeT20Is have never been kind to Bangladesh but of late, they have been winning a lot more. They tied the three-match T20I series against New Zealand in New Zealand in December. Before that, they beat Afghanistan, Ireland and England at home. Shakib played a big role in Bangladesh developing a fearless mindset in T20Is. The onus now is on Shanto to keep it going.Will there be needle?In recent years, Bangladesh-Sri Lanka fixtures often tend to spill over emotionally. There has been the dance of course, but more recently, Bangladesh dismissed Angelo Mathews with a timed out dismissal, after which Mathews alleged that if it had been any other team but Bangladesh, they would not have appealed. Mathews, who has so far made a successful comeback to the T20I team after years of being left out of it, may also have points to prove in a series in which the opposition’s head coach is Chandika Hathurusinghe. When Hathurusinghe was Sri Lanka’s coach, Mathews had had a months-long public fallout with him. If these matches get tight, there may be more flashpoints.

Riyan Parag: 'I wanted to know more about my game, because I've been lost inside those 22 yards too many times'

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The Rajasthan Royals batter talks about everything he did to transform his IPL career and get his first India call-up

Interview by Shashank Kishore01-Jul-2024Riyan Parag, who had his best IPL so far this year, scoring 573 runs at a strike rate of nearly 150, was at the Rajasthan Royals Academy in Talegaon, outside of Nagpur, when he received news of his first India call-up – for five T20Is in Zimbabwe in July. It marked a significant milestone for the former Under-19 World Cup winner (2018) and the IPL’s youngest half-centurion (in 2019).Not long ago, his dream to play for India had seemed distant, when Parag had four wretched IPL seasons. His celebrations on the field and his outgoing personality often made him a target of online abuse, especially after he couldn’t build on his early promise. After the 2023 IPL, Parag was determined to turn things around. In this interview, he talks about how he made the transformation.It’s taken you six years to have that breakthrough IPL. What led to it?
In one of our last chats after the 2023 IPL, Kumar Sangakkara told me I had to work harder to come back and perform. Three poor IPLs back to back made me doubt myself at different points. But over the years, I’ve always been very big on finding and fixing solutions myself, so I wasn’t speaking to anyone actually. I was just trying to figure out what went wrong.Why was I getting so much hate? Why was I getting negative energy from all the people except those from the Royals set-up? I tried to understand my game. And once I started doing that, I got this sudden love for getting into cricket a lot. I was never a big cricket geek, but today I like watching videos, analysing my game, comparing certain elements of my batting to someone that does some things better, and learning from it.Related

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What kind of work did you put in?
Just going out of my comfort zone was the first step. I went to the Rajasthan Royals Academy immediately after the [2023] IPL. It’s hot, 45 degrees or something, and I’d do three sessions a day, every day, for a month. It takes a lot of dedication to just go there, because it’s a tough place, tough conditions, but then you’ve just got to get your work done, right? That has to come from within. That’s what helped me, because I wanted to improve. I wanted to know more about my game, I wanted to plan different scenarios. Because I’ve been lost inside those 22 yards way too many times. I’ve been lost for options for what I needed to do in certain situations. I think once you go through all those phases, you understand that you need to have at least two to three options for every single ball. And for that, you need to practise. Those practices take a lot of time, but eventually, when you do it for a consistent period, I think it works out pretty well.It contributed to a stunning domestic season. You made the most runs in the 50-over zonal Deodhar Trophy and the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, in which you made seven straight half-centuries and were a step away from taking Assam to their first final.
It was the coming together of everything I’d put into my game. Playing domestic cricket is a different kind of pressure, because now when I play for Assam, I have to stay till the end. In the IPL, if I get out, there’s Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell and Dhruv Jurel [to come after me]. It’s not the same in Assam. That pressure is different because the whole team is expecting me to get a fifty or a hundred every game so they can play around me. I’m not comparing the pressures of IPL and domestic; yes, at the IPL, the quality of bowling is way higher, but domestic cricket has a different kind of pressure. To do well across both those spheres is satisfying.What are the kind of sacrifices you’ve made in this period that has contributed to the transformation?
I wouldn’t call them sacrifices. To me, they are hard choices because I’m doing this for myself. I need to be fit and I want to play good cricket. For that, I’ve to be in good shape.Food’s a big factor. I like my food, but I can’t really eat whatever I want. Sleep is another factor. I can’t go out or stay up late. These are the general things I have been working on to upgrade myself. Those are choices but good choices for me.Fans in Guwahati show their support for the local boy•Biju Boro/AFP/Getty ImagesYour mother says you’ve become ruthless in saying “no” when it comes to food.
Yeah, I don’t mind being rude about this. Recently I was at an event and they were trying to offer me food. I told them, “No, thanks, I can’t eat this.” I think not giving in to those temptations makes you strong minded. A slice of pizza is not going to hurt me because I just went to the gym this morning and I cycled for like 10km, but then I’m not going to give in. Those are “private victories”. That’s what one of the UFC fighters I follow, Conor McGregor, says. If you can have those private victories when no one knows what’s going on, like refusing half a slice of pizza, even though you know you can burn it off easily… Now I get that self-assurance and self-confidence that, okay, I can control myself. Food is a very small thing to give up.You said during this IPL that this clarity has come with maturity.
Maturity comes with pain. There are millions watching the IPL. When I don’t perform, I feel terrible. And people add to it. Opinions from fans add to it. Opinions from great players add to it. So I just had to figure out what really mattered. Once I did, I think it turned out well. Me not performing, me feeling sad, me being left out of the team, me being abused by people, me coming back to my house knowing my dad and mom were expecting something, even though they don’t say it – I think that was pain. I really didn’t tell anyone. And I think that’s how you mature.It’s not about the age. It’s that pain. And only after going through all this, I realised, “Okay, I can’t suffer through this.” I am going out there to perform.Everyone has high expectations, but I have had to figure out what expectations work for me. The last year has been about working through all of this.You’ve copped a lot of online trolling. Over your performances, celebrations, tweets. How did you deal with it?
After last year, I decided to shut it out. There was a whole stand in certain stadiums that kept abusing me. That’s when I understood that you can’t really change someone’s opinion, no matter what you do. And how I look at life is not how someone else is going to look at it. If I see something that’s going on with a person but if I don’t know what they’re going through, I don’t really share my opinion on it. But that’s not how everyone sees it. Social media nowadays, even if you try to avoid it, you can’t, to be honest. Because if you open Instagram, you’ll just see something like that. You can just scroll [past] it, but there will be a thousand other posts. So you can’t really not see it. So I was just like, I might as well not open Instagram because I don’t need it.Parag’s best score in the 2024 IPL – 84 not out off 45 balls against Delhi Capitals – came while he was on painkillers and flu medication•Pankaj Nangia/Associated PressIt couldn’t have been easy?
It’s not easy. But then again, after last year, I had a chat with myself. And this sort of a comeback is personal because I had to put up with stuff I didn’t really deserve. Maybe I’ve lacked in preparation, maybe I’ve lacked in a few things, but then I’ve always put my best foot forward. I thought I didn’t deserve all the trolling, but what could I do? People are going to say things regardless. Last year they said I wasn’t good enough to play in the IPL. Now they want me in the Indian team. So people change, just like a switch.The abuse and trolling – when did it begin?
During the Covid IPL season [2020]. I was 19, I had a great start to the IPL [debut season in 2019]. You dance [Parag’s Bihu dance was a social-media hit], you’re active on social media, you’re doing well and everyone loves you for it. I got so much praise from people in Assam, who love me because I’m showcasing our culture there. And then when the runs didn’t come, they’re picking on you. I used to sit on my balcony and stare at the sea endlessly. It took a lot out of me. That’s why I say maturity comes with pain.On the field, you seem very intense now. You smile a lot less, your celebrations are muted. Is that a deliberate attempt to tone things down?
Earlier I wanted to be my absolute true self. That’s how I portrayed myself. But because I got so many negative responses from that, because I was not performing… I understood that, okay, I don’t have to do that. As the years have gone by, I’ve refrained a bit. Now I’m just so into my game and into what’s happening on that given day. I can’t really express myself even if I want to. I don’t look back to the crowds even if they are all rooting for me. I’m looking at the bowler, the captain, I’m looking to think about what I would do if I was captain. The way I view a game is different now.Kumar Sangakkara spoke very highly of your routines and mindset during the IPL. How has your relationship with him evolved – you’ve now worked together for four seasons?
Communication is key. A lot of players get shy [of speaking to coaches]. Sanga made it very clear from the first year that he was very easy to approach and I took that. I always went to him, spoke about cricket, spoke about life, spoke about golf and a lot of things. It’s been really great working with him in the last three-four years. He’s very open to suggestions. He is very keen on how you’re developing your game even beyond the IPL, for the ten months where no one’s watching you. He’s still checking on you, on what you’re doing, how you’re playing. It’s been great working with him. He’s a legend, but then he’s a great human being too.Royals captain Sanju Samson has given Parag more leadership roles this season: “The captain had faith in me to talk to the bowlers, change fields if required, bowl certain bowlers in high-pressure situations”•Samuel Rajkumar/BCCIThe shift from a finisher to No. 4 – tell us about that.
Personally, I always felt I was not doing justice to the Nos. 6-7 spots. But I also had to move on quickly and not keep giving excuses, even though people around me made me believe it’s a tough position since you don’t get too many balls to play. All of which was true. But if I kept living under that umbrella of excuses, I wouldn’t further my game. If someone plays three years in the same spot, he’s got to figure it out, and I couldn’t. I have no one else to blame but myself. I could have done more, and I did not. I got to know just after the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy that I’d bat at four in the IPL. I was batting there for Assam, so I had a fair idea of how to go about it, whether it’s 0 for 2 or 100 for 2. So yeah, No. 4 was very easy to accept, but then going out there and implementing it and getting results out of it – that’s the difference.Getting the spot you love must have also brought some pressure with it?
Whatever I’ve done in my career till now, it’s down to confidence and mental strength. I’m not the best, technically. My last domestic season was superb. I got runs in Deodhar Trophy, topped charts in Syed Mushtaq Ali. I was having a good Ranji season and then I got injured in the fourth game, two months before the IPL. I didn’t even touch a bat for a month. But the fact that I was able to go into the IPL with confidence is because of the preparation and the confidence of runs.Then when the season started, just before our second game, I was sick. I couldn’t move out of bed. But I’ve always been very strong mentally, and I didn’t want to let go of a golden chance [of getting to bat at No. 4] so easily. That innings against Delhi Capitals [Parag made an unbeaten 84 off 45 balls] was some sort of a momentum builder for me. A lot of people told me after that: don’t get complacent, don’t get satisfied. And I was thinking to myself: How am I going to get complacent? How am I going to get satisfied when I’ve had three years of nothing except abuse and negative energy? So this year I was going to play regardless of anything. I’ve had a fracture, I had a ligament injury, but I just played through because I was not going to leave it.You’ve spoken about your admiration for Sanju Samson. What is your relationship with him like?
We are really close. This year we got even closer because he asked me to be part of the leadership circle during the games. I looked out for him, I had to speak to bowlers, talk about fields and communicate with him. So I got a lot of [time in] charge this season, which made me feel really nice because the captain had faith in me to talk to the bowlers, change fields if required, bowl certain bowlers in high-pressure situations.”Whatever I’ve done in my career till now, it’s down to confidence and mental strength. I’m not the best, technically”•Vishal Bhatnagar/Getty ImagesI think we’ve gotten really close in the last six years. Sanju . I’ve always wanted to be something outside of cricket, and that’s how I found gaming, back in 2018-19. When I’m home I don’t even pick up books, don’t text anyone. I just don’t do anything. I go to the gym in the morning, come back, rest, practise, and once that’s done, there’s no one who can get me out of my chair. I just game, game, game and then go back to sleep and do the same thing the next day. I’m pretty good at it and that’s why I can’t game when I’m outside, because my set-up is here. I miss it a lot when I’m out on tour but when I’m home, the love is just unreal for gaming. I’ve now started playing the PubG PC version.Looking ahead, how does it feel to be recognised as a bit of a path-breaker from Assam?
Growing up, I always felt people from our region limit themselves from dreaming big. I’d like to change that. I’m not there [an international player] yet. I want to play for the country. Once I do, then people know they can have a pathway, a road map from one of their very own who got there. Now I’ve played in the IPL and there’s realisation from the people that even if you’re from a small state like Assam, you can get to that level. But the thing is, the IPL can’t be that big a goal. You can play for one year and fade away. But when I play for the country, when I make it to the country, I think that’s when the actual road map will be set. They don’t have to really follow it. They can have their own versions of it.