New father Rohit enjoying "good phase" of his life

Agencies
June 17, 2019

Manchester, Jun 17: Calmness has always been Rohit Sharma's biggest asset and the bliss of fatherhood has only enhanced his composed personality, something which has reflected in his stellar performances in the World Cup.

The Indian vice-captain has hit the high notes with hundreds against South Africa and Pakistan along with a half-century against Australia.

For him, more than planning and preparation, it is the "head space" that has made all the difference.

"I think it’s just the space I am in right now. It’s a very good phase in my life. Having a daughter in my life actually has put me in a good space. So, yeah, I think I'm enjoying my cricket," Rohit said after his match-winning 140 off 113 balls against Pakistan here on Sunday.

"I think as a team we're heading in the right direction. For us, it is important to just keep ticking all the boxes, and I think, as a team, we have done that most of the time," Virat Kohli’s deputy echoed his skipper’s sentiments.

In every match so far, Rohit’s risk assessment has been immaculate in the initial phase of the innings.

"The last two days we were here, the pitch was under the covers, and it was a little soft when we started. When the conditions are like that, it becomes more of a new ball game and then the opposition can put pressure if you lose a few wickets," he said.

His captain had termed Rohit's hundred against South Africa as his best ODI innings.

So when asked where he would rate his match-winning effort against Pakistan, Rohit responded nonchalantly.

"I'm sure if I get 100 in another game, you'll ask me the same question. Was this satisfying," he laughed.

"I don't know. It's hard to put any knock on the top because all those knocks you play for your country are very, very important," he said.

Against Pakistan, Rohit scored 30 runs through cuts and 28 through pull shots which included seven fours and three sixes.

Was he pleasantly surprised that Pakistan bowlers, especially Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz, bowled short and wide to him?

"I don’t know what happens in their team meeting, whether it’s to bowl up (fuller) or bowl short. The first 10 overs, they bowled pretty well. Of course, we know in England, once you are in, it’s very hard for the bowlers to come back, and there’s not enough room for error. That is pretty simple," said the second highest aggregator in the competition (319 runs) behind Aaron Finch (343 runs).

But he did agree that Pakistan bowled to his strength as the innings went on.

"They did bowl up (fuller) a fair amount, but then, again, as a batsman you are ready to just pounce on it when given or bowl to your strength. So I think it is my strength when someone bowls short to me," he added.

The best response to a question was the one with which he signed off.

A Pakistani journalist asked, what would be his advice for Pakistan team which is in a crisis situation, he said: "Jab main Pakistan team ka coach banoonga tab jawab doonga (I will answer when I become Pakistan coach)".

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Agencies
April 12,2020

London, Apr 12: Former Formula 1 legendary driver Stirling Moss died at the age of 90 on Sunday.

"All at F1 send our heartfelt condolences to Lady Susie and Sir Stirling's family and friends," Formula 1 said in a statement.

Often referred to as the greatest driver never to win the world championship, Moss contested 66 Grands Prix from 1951 to 1961, driving for the likes of Vanwall, Maserati and Mercedes, where he famously formed a contented and ruthlessly effective partnership with lead driver Juan Manuel Fangio.

In his 10-year-long stint at the tracks, Moss took 16 wins, some of which rank among the truly iconic drives in the sport's history - his 1961 victories in Monaco and Germany in particular often held up as all-time classics.

Moss won the 1955 Mille Miglia on public roads for Mercedes at an average speed of close to 100mph, while he also competed in rallies and land-speed attempts.

Following an enforced retirement from racing (barring a brief comeback in saloon cars in the 1980s) after a major crash at Goodwood in 1962, Moss maintained a presence in Formula 1 as both a sports correspondent and an interested observer, before retiring from public life in January of 2018.

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News Network
February 14,2020

Hamilton, Feb 14: Batting first, India finished at 263 for nine on the opening day of the three-day warm-up game against New Zealand XI here on Friday.

Hanuma Vihari made 101 off 182 balls before retiring, while Cheteshwar Pujara scored 93.

Besides, Ajinkya Rahane (18) was the only other Indian batsmen to register double digit score.

The likes of Prithvi Shaw (0), Mayank Agarwal (1) and Shubman Gill (0) failed to cash in on the opportunity.

Scott Kuggeleijn (3/40) and Ish Sodhi (3/72) shared six wickets between them for New Zealand.

Brief Scores:

India: 263 for 9 in 78.5 overs (Hanuma Vihari 101, Cheteshwar Pujara 93; Scott Kuggeleijn 3/40, Ish Sodhi 3/72).

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News Network
June 27,2020

Jun 27: India's Test batting mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara cannot describe in words the influence that Rahul Dravid has had on his life but says he will always remain grateful to him for teaching the importance of switching off from cricket.

Often compared to Dravid, who was considered the 'wall' of Indian cricket, Pujara said he is thankful to Dravid for teaching him how to keep personal and professional lives separate.

"He helped me understand the importance of switching off from cricket. I had the same thought, more or less, but when I spoke to him, it gave me a lot of clarity about it and I was sure of what I needed to do," he told ESPNcricinfo.

"I also saw in county cricket how they keep personal and professional lives separate. I value that advice a lot. Many people consider me to be focused. Yes, I am focused, But I also know when to switch off. There is life beyond cricket."

In his illustrious international career, Dravid amassed 13288 runs in 164 Tests and 10889 runs in 344 ODIs. He also captained India in 79 ODIs, winning 42 of them, which includes the world record of 14 successive wins while chasing.

"I cannot say in one line what Rahul bhai means to me. He has always been an inspiration, and will remain one," Pujara said.

His mental fortitude and batting technique is often compared to Dravid but Pujara said "despite my enchantment with him" he never tried to "copy him."

"There is a similarity in our games, but that's not because of my fascination with him. That came mainly through my experiences with Saurashtra, where I learned that scoring a hundred alone isn't enough, you have to carry your team," he said.

"That is how I learned responsibility - it is about helping my team to raise a big total, and for that I ought to attach importance to my wicket. I learned that from my junior cricket days with Saurashtra, which was a weaker team in domestic cricket."

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