As Team India batsmen are struggling to score runs in Australia, Test veteran Ajinkya Rahane who was not selected for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is showcasing his finest batting efforts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. Representing Mumbai in SMAT, Ajinkya Rahane's batting approach has been all guns blazing. In seven matches of SMAT, Mumbai's Ajinkya Rahane has garnered 334 runs. With the highest score of 95 runs, the right-hander has registered four half-centuries. With this, Ajinkya Rahane has secured the fourth spot on the list of highest run-scorers in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. Also Read: "Has been magnificent": Sachin Tendulkar on ISPL response In the SMAT match against Vidarbha, Ajinkya Rahane scored 84 runs off just 45 deliveries. He shouldered Prithvi Shaw in the match to put up a partnership of 83 runs in just seven overs. Shaw, on the other hand, accumulated 49 runs. Taking to X: 𝑴𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒂𝒊 𝒄𝒉𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒈𝒉 🐯Ajinkya Rahane's brilliant innings powers Mumbai into the semis! 🙌Keep watching the #IDFCFirstBankSyedMushtaqAliTrophy, streaming on #JioCinema & #Sports18Khel 👈#JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/If7IsAOVgo — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 11, 2024 Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has already acquired the services of Rahane. Ahead of the IPL 2025, Ajinkya Rahane could emerge as a dark horse for KKR's captaincy slot. Recently, the official social media handle of KKR has shared a post featuring the stylish right-hander. The post read, "Petition to change the definition of 'consistency' to Ajinkya Rahane! 👏 #SMAT2024." Taking to X: Petition to change the definition of 'consistency' to Ajinkya Rahane! 👏#SMAT2024 pic.twitter.com/gxrPWM5SLO — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) December 11, 2024 Riding high on their knocks, Mumbai successfully chased down the target of 222 runs against Vidarbha with six wickets and four balls left. With this, Mumbai has sealed the semi-final berth of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024.
11 December,2024 08:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar feels that the response to the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) has been magnificent. The second season will feature 350 players, selected from 55 cities through trials, who will participate in an auction scheduled in Mumbai later today. The league has also introduced an Icon Player rule, allowing each team to acquire a renowned player from an exclusive list. Sachin Tendulkar believes that the ISPL auction is a big moment. The veteran also acknowledged that some players might get unsold but urged them to continue with their passion and love for the game. Also Read: PM Narendra Modi congratulates Indian deaf team for best-ever effort in Asia Pacific Deaf Games "The response has been magnificent. Over 30 lakh registrations show the eagerness and enthusiasm amongst all the aspiring cricketers to play ISPL. I want to wish them the very best of luck. This auction is a big moment. I know the players have worked really hard, some will get picked, some, unfortunately, might miss out, but I want to tell them that continue with your passion and love for the game," Sachin Tendulkar told reporters. Ashish Shelar, Core Committee Member of ISPL, remarked, "We are delighted to announce our new exclusive broadcast partner, a collaboration that will revolutionise the way fans experience tennis-ball cricket. This partnership reflects our shared vision of growing the league and bringing its excitement to larger audiences." "Through ISPL, we are showcasing cricket in its rawest and most democratic form, offering an authentic narrative of a sport that connects fans to its very essence. The league encourages participation without barriers, transforming street skills into a stage for creativity and community, while galvanising a collective passion for the game," he added, as stated in the press release. The ISPL features six teams, owned by popular names from the entertainment industry: Majhi Mumbai (Amitabh Bachchan), Srinagar Ke Veer (Akshay Kumar), Falcon Risers Hyderabad (Ram Charan), Chennai Singams (Suriya), Bangalore Strikers (Hrithik Roshan), and Tigers of Kolkata (Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan). (With ANI Inputs)
11 December,2024 07:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India star all-rounder Hardik Pandya showcased his exceptional skillset while featuring in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). Hardik Pandya is playing for Baroda in the SMAT. In the match against Bengal, the all-rounder claimed three wickets for 27 runs. Taking to X: 𝑲𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒖 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒚𝒂 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 🥋Keep watching #IDFCFirstBankSyedMushtaqAliTrophy on #JioCinema & #Sports18Khel! 👈#JioCinemaSports #HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/3vrMNDL7wS — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 11, 2024 With the willow, Hardik Pandya came in to bat at number three position. Facing 11 deliveries, he was able to garner just 10 runs which included 1 four. Riding high on opening batsman Shashwat Rawat's 40-run knock, Baroda posted a target of 173 runs against Bengal in 20 overs. In the run chase, Shahbaz Ahmed kept fighting but fell short of reaching the target. He played a knock of 55 runs off 36 balls. His knock was laced with 3 fours and 4 sixes. Also Read: India batter Sai Sudharsan undergoes surgery for sports hernia Along with Hardik Pandya's three-wicket haul, Lukman Meriwala and Atit Sheth also scalped three wickets. Apart from them, Abhimanyusingh Rajput bagged one wicket for 10 runs in one over. Despite Hardik Pandya's stellar show with the ball, the main focus was on Bengal pacer Mohammed Shami as he is trying to make a comeback in Team India which is currently bust facing Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Shami snapped two wickets for 43 runs in four overs. The pacer departed on a duck after facing two balls. However, Baroda registered a victory by 41 runs as they bowled out Bengal for 131 runs in 18 overs. In the other quarterfinals at Alur, Madhya Pradesh rode on the all-round show of Venkatesh Iyer to enter the last four with a fine six-wicket win over Saurashtra.Venkatesh took two wickets and made an unbeaten 38 off 33 balls as MP overhauled Saurashtra's 173 for seven with four balls to spare. Brief scores of Baroda vs Bengal: At Bengaluru: Baroda: 171/7 in 20 overs (Shashwat Rawat 40, Abhimanyu Rajput 37, Shivalik Sharma 24; Mohammed Shami 2/43, Pradipta Pramanik 2/6). Bengal: 131 all out in 18 overs (Shahbaz Ahmed 55, Ritwik Roy Chowdhury 29; Lukeman Merriwala 3/17, Hardik Pandya 3/27, Atit Sheth 3/41) by 41 runs. (With PTI Inputs)
11 December,2024 05:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs we all know success and failures are part and parcel of any sport you play. There are numerous sports which are played across the world and no athlete has escaped from the fate of undergoing a rough patch in his career. Injuries, setbacks and poor performances have been a consistent part of a person's life when it comes to sports. But a patch can not describe the legacy and hard work put in by the athletes behind the stage. In countries obsessed with sports comes India which is famously known for its love towards "Cricket." The time has been witness of how great and classic players, Indian cricket has produced over the course of time. From great Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev to Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, all have undergone low phases in their cricketing careers. But do their rough patches make us forget about the contributions they have made to Indian cricket? No, right? The current Team India stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have found themselves in similar situations where they have been facing continuous trolls for their rare failures. Over the years, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have responsibly kept the Indian flag flying high in the field of cricket. Now when their careers are nearing the end, a few fan groups have started raising questions on their potential and place in the squad in the years to come. Also Read: Prithvi Shaw: From next Sachin Tendulkar to going unsold in IPL 2025 Mega Auction? As soon as any of these two stars depart on low scores, there emerge waves of criticism on their places in the squad. Words like "Chokli" and "Vadapav" are often used by a certain group of people to troll the stalwarts. Do people even realise what it takes to make the cut in the top 11 players of the national team? India, where every second child has the habit of mimicking shots with the willow in his hand aspires to represent the country at some point in time. The people lashing out at Rohit and Virat will never realise their worth till the time they draw curtains on their illustrious careers. Whenever there's a tense situation in the match, the Indian heads turn towards Rohit or Virat to pull the scoresheet in India's favour. This shows what kind of legacy the two greats have set for world and Indian cricket. It is easy to sit on a couch or an air-conditioned room and troll the professionals for their work. But the same people have no idea about the tension the body needs to absorb during a high-voltage match like India-Pakistan. During the live matches in stadiums, a person with a fat belly will often be seen reacting to Rohit's rare fielding failure. "Aah shit! he's very careless about his fitness. How could he be, after all he loves to eat Vadapav", this is the kind of reaction being seen in the stands from the people who keep enjoying the match with a beverage and savouries in their hands. Another term, "Chokli" is used for the great like Virat Kohli. Despite showcasing his skill set in so many matches, people are often critical of his recent performances. Fans see Virat Kohli falling short at times when the performance is needed the most, but is he the only player playing for the team? Do other players garner the required runs at that moment or is Virat Kohli the only player responsible for Team India's loss in all matches? It is understood that the reactions from the fans are because of their love towards the game, team and players, but the trolls are not acceptable for every match. The thought process of the fans has to take a turn and have to extend their support to the athletes in their low phases irrespective of any sport.
11 December,2024 04:48 PM IST | Mumbai | Sujay ShivalkarTeam India batsman Sai Sudharsan has undergone surgery for a sports hernia in London. Sai Sudharsan shared a post on his social media handle. He updated about his surgery and assured that he would make a comeback in no time. The batsman also thanked the medical team and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their efforts and support. Taking to X: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sai Sudharsan (@sais_1509) Also Read: Shaheen Shah Afridi scripts history by becoming... "Will be back stronger in no time. A big thank you to the medical team and BCCI for their efforts and support. Thank you Titans family for your love and support," Sudharsan wrote in a post on Instagram. Sai Sudharsan who represents Tamil Nadi featured in just one game in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In the match against Tripura, the left-hander could managed to score just nine runs. The 23-year-old is expected to miss the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, which is slated to be played from December 21 to January 18. Before making his sole appearance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Sudharsan was with the India A team. He thrived in the first match against Australia, putting up scores of 21 and 103. But in the second match, he failed to replicate the success that he enjoyed in the first game after registering disappointing scores of 0 and 3. Before playing in Australia, Sai Sudharsan impressed in the Ranji Trophy. He smashed 82 runs against Saurashtra and played a blistering knock of 213 runs against Delhi. For the next year's Indian Premier League, Sudharsan was retained by the Gujarat Titans for a price of Rs 8.5 crore. Along with Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (Ts 16.5 crore), Rashid Khan (Rs 18 crore), Shahrukh Khan (Rs 4 crore) and Rahul Tewatia (Rs 4 crore) were retained by the franchise. With Sudharsan's latest setback, GT will hope that he recovers in time to be fit for the IPL 2025 and help them in their pursuit of lifting their second IPL title. (With ANI Inputs)
11 December,2024 04:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentStarting Season 2, the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) will be aired on Star Sports Network and streamed on JioCinema. This ground-breaking three-year association will elevate ISPL the popularity of India’s pioneering tennis-ball T10 cricket, delivering thrilling action and an unparalleled viewing experience to millions of fans across the country. Launched with an aim to bring the excitement of street cricket and provide a professional platform for the country’s talented players, ISPL became an instant hit during its inaugural season, held earlier this year. The league’s second season is scheduled to be held in Mumbai from January 26 to February 15, 2025. “Indian Street Premier League is a great platform for India’s cricket talent and the inaugural season showcased the immense potential of this tournament. ISPL not only offered opportunities for players but also delivered unforgettable moments for fans. I’m confident that ISPL’s new media partners will further elevate the league to even greater heights, inspiring the next generation of players,” commented Sachin Tendulkar, Core Committee Member, ISPL. Also Read: Chokli...Vadapav, What are these trolls for? The media network, formed from the merger between Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and the Walt Disney Company, will broadcast the high voltage matches across its digital and television platforms. “We are thrilled to partner with Indian Street Premier League to showcase this innovative format and take it to audiences across the country. This association reflects our commitment to delivering a wide variety of sports and highly engaging content to our audiences,” commented Mallika Petkar, Head of Strategy and Business Development – Sports, RIL-Disney JV. The second season of ISPL will see a total of 350 players, selected from 55 cities through trials, go under the hammer in the auction, scheduled in Mumbai later today. The league has also introduced an Icon Player rule wherein each team will have the right to acquire a player from the available list of renowned players. Ashish Shelar, Core Committee Member, ISPL, said: “We are delighted to announce our new exclusive broadcast partner, a collaboration that will revolutionize the way fans experience tennis ball cricket. This partnership reflects our shared vision for growing this league and bringing the excitement to larger audiences.” “Through ISPL we are showcasing cricket in its rawest and democratic form, offering an authentic narrative of a sport that connects fans to the very essence of the game. It encourages participation without barriers, turning every street skill for a stage of creativity, and community, galvanizing a collective passion for the game,” Siddharth Sharma, Head of Content - Sports, RIL-Disney JV, added. “The inaugural season was a blockbuster hit, and we received a great response from fans across the country. We have increased our reach from 18 cities to 55 cities to select players through trials and the upcoming auction will have more talent for teams to select. This also underscores our commitment and vision for the growth of this league,” Suraj Samat, League Commissioner, ISPL, added. With an exciting line-up of popular names from the entertainment industry as the owners, the league features six teams – Majhi Mumbai (Amitabh Bachchan), Srinagar Ke Veer (Akshay Kumar), Falcon Risers Hyderabad (Ram Charan), Chennai Singams (Suriya), Bangalore Strikers (Hrithik Roshan) and Tigers of Kolkata (Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan). Fans can enjoy the auction live on Star Sports First and JioCinema. About the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL): The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), India’s pioneering tennis-ball T10 cricket tournament played inside a stadium, is gearing up for its second edition from January 26 to February 15, 2025. This season, Mumbai will continue to be the epicentre of new-age cricket entertainment, featuring six competitive teams – Majhi Mumbai (Amitabh Bachchan), Srinagar Ke Veer (Akshay Kumar), Falcon Risers Hyderabad (Ram Charan), Chennai Singams (Suriya), Bangalore Strikers (Hrithik Roshan) and Tigers of Kolkata (Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan). With inaugural edition held earlier this year, ISPL received huge response from cricket fans across the nation, coming after a spectacular line-up of celebrity superstars taking up the mantle as team owners. The league not only promises thrilling on-field action but also aspires to revolutionise sports entertainment. Attendees can anticipate a vibrant musical festival with live performances, mesmerizing drone shows and breath-taking laser displays, creating a seamless blend of cricket prowess and entertainment extravagance. The ISPL aims to redefine the sports entertainment landscape with this unprecedented fusion. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
11 December,2024 03:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFor the first time, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is organising a fair ‘The MCA Cric-Kit Fair 2024’ that will display cricket gear. Also Read: Modern English poised to defeat Dnyandeep The fair is a two-day exhibition that brings together leading cricket equipment manufacturers from India and the cricketing community. The fair will be held at the Wankhede Stadium on December 13 and 14. The fair will be open from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm on both days. The exhibition will be inaugurated by former India cricketer Paras Mhambrey on Friday.
11 December,2024 07:47 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentBowling well as a unit, Modern English School (Chembur) have given themselves a great chance of making the final of the MSSA inter-school Harris Shield cricket tournament as they ended Day Two of the three-day semi-final with an upper hand over Dnyandeep Seva Mandal’s Primary & Secondary School (Navi Mumbai) at the Parsee Gymkhana here on Tuesday. Dnyandeep, chasing 104 to win, lost their way in the final 30 minutes. They ended Day Two at 75 for eight, still requiring 29 on the final day. Left-arm spinner Deekshant Patil (4 for 19) snared three key wickets in his second spell — getting the batsmen trapped in front. Also Read: Harmanpreet & Co aim to avoid clean sweep v Australia At one stage, Dnyandeep looked to have shifted the momentum with a steady fourth wicket stand of 43 between opener Vardaraj Desai (17) and captain Virat Yadav (28) before left-arm seamer Shashwat Naik (2 for 21) provided the vital breakthrough, claiming both batsmen in quick succession. Resuming at the overnight score of 95 for 7, Dnyandeep gained a 11-run first innings lead as they were dismissed for 125. Later, left-arm spinner Zaid Khan (6 for 38), who finished with a match haul of 12 wickets, tormented the Modern English batting line-up, who were dismissed for 114. However, it seems at this stage, Zaid’s efforts have been undone by their batsmen, who have disappointed with poor application.
11 December,2024 07:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Neeraj AnandA battered and bruised India will look to avoid a clean sweep and address some glaring issues ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup at home when they face Australia in the third and final women’s ODI here on Wednesday. The three-match series against the seven-time defending world champions has served as a harsh reality check for India, who have faltered in batting, bowling and fielding, with each area contributing to their struggles. A record 122-run defeat in the second ODI highlighted India’s vulnerability. Even thought the batters shone in patches, they never truly looked to chase down Australia’s 371-8. Also Read: Taylor urges India players to address Siraj’s premature celebrations In batting, the biggest disappointment has come from India’s two big stars—skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and her deputy Smriti Mandhana. Mandhana has capped scores of eight and nine in Australia following her century in India’s 2-1 home series win over New Zealand in October. The flamboyant opener had been in fine form earlier this year, scoring 450-plus runs at a 70-plus average and she would look to regain her form. Harmanpreet, on the other hand, failed to convert her starts with 57 runs from two matches as her captaincy and batting both have come under scrutiny following India’s early exit from the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Richa Ghosh’s 54 has been the highest score by an Indian batter in the series, in stark contrast to the two centuries and two fifties scored by Australian batters, highlighting the Amol Muzumdar-coached side’s batting struggles. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 December,2024 07:42 AM IST | Perth | PTIFormer Australia captain Mark Taylor believes Mohammed Siraj has a tendency of celebrating wickets prematurely without waiting for the umpire’s decision and his senior India teammates should have a word with the pacer to address this as it is giving him a “bad look”. Taylor said Siraj charges down the wicket towards his teammates, without checking the umpire’s decision when he thinks that he has got a batter out. Also Read: Shivaji Park gates need a sporting ring to them “I think with Siraj, I’d like to see some of the Indian players have a chat with him, not so much what happened with Travis Head but how when he thinks he’s got a batter out he doesn’t turn around and actually acknowledge the umpire whether he’s given it out or not. I think that’s the bad look for him and the game,” Taylor told Nine News. “I love his exuberance, I love his competitive nature, I love the fact we’ve got a really good series going on but there is also the respect of the game that needs to be upheld. I think a little word from one of the senior players would go a long way.” Siraj has become a topic of discussion after his showdown with Head on Day Two of the Adelaide Test, which Australia won by 10 wickets to level the series 1-1. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 December,2024 07:41 AM IST | Adelaide | PTIThe recent unveiling of the Dronacharya Ramakant Achrekar memorial at Shivaji Park is a wonderful tribute to Achrekar sir’s contribution to Indian cricket. It’s great to see that his efforts have been acknowledged by the residents of Shivaji Park. And while we hail the gesture, we must not lose sight of the contribution of many sports personalities in and around Shivaji Park, who made a significant impact on various sports. I clearly remember the dimunitive figure of coach Anna Vaidya sir toiling on the cricket plot adjacent to Achrekar Sir’s coaching nets. Then there was Bharat Cricket Club’s Appa Babrekar sir, who fought with the Municipal authorities to procure water connection, which is a basic requirement to prepare cricket pitches. Also Read:Big batters is what matters! The ever-youthful Uday Deshpande of Samarth Vyayam Mandir, shaping the careers of many Mallakhamb athletes. And of course, the famous cricketers of the Shivaji Park Gymkhana — Vijay Manjrekar, Ramakant Desai, Ajit Wadekar and Padmakar Shivalkar to name a few. The towering figure of Dada Khanolkar, the founder of the tennis academy at Shivaji Park Gymkhana cannot be missed too. Each of these individuals played a crucial role in shaping Shivaji Park’s sporting identity. Many may not know that Anjali Bhagwat, the Commonwealth record holder in 10m Air Rifle and Sports Rifle 3P, was a student of Kirti M Doongursee College, an institution in the vicinity of Shivaji Park. It’s heartening that the revered Ramakant Achrekar has received acknowledgment for his impeccable service to the game of cricket, but can the people residing around Shivaji Park come together again to honour five more sports personalities by naming the five entrance gates of this eminent sporting arena? It would be a fitting tribute to their contribution and a great way to preserve their legacy. Residents of Shivaji Park must come together again.Otherwise, one fine morning, while taking a stroll around the park, you may find the names of politicians adorning the entrance gates of Shivaji Park. Jagdish Achrekar was Hon Treasurer of the MCA before the last elections in 2022
11 December,2024 07:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Jagdish AchrekarADVERTISEMENT
