Spoke as an Indian: Shashi Tharoor reacts after Congress' 'Lakshman Rekha' remark
Ahead of India's tour of England, Gautam Gambhir went to the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai to seek blessings. Gambhir is set to meet the selectors to decide on the future of the Indian cricket team, with the new captain and squad selection high on the agenda.
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First Post
4 minutes ago
- First Post
Sinquefield Cup 2025: Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa eye glory in star-studded Grand Chess Tour
Indian chess stars D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa are set to compete at the Sinquefield Cup 2025 in St. Louis, facing a world-class field including Fabiano Caruana, Levon Aronian, Alireza Firouzja, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh will compete in the fifth leg of the Grand Chess Tour. AFP St Louis (USA): World Champion D Gukesh returns to classical chess after a brief hiatus to face a star-studded field at the Sinquefield Cup starting Monday while R Praggnanandhaa will eye a podium finish in the fifth leg of the Grand Chess Tour to strengthen his overall fifth-place standing. While many argue that the field feels incomplete without world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian Grandmaster has openly admitted that he no longer enjoys classical chess. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Without Carlsen, the GCT was announced and this is the culmination point wherein the players would qualify for the grand finale slated later this year. Fabiano Caruana of United States, Alireza Firouzja from France, and in-form Armenian-turned-American Levon Aronian are most likely to pose a stiff challenge for the Indian duo but the rest of the field is also quite impressive as all the nine selected players for the Grand Chess Tour for this year will compete together. Given his current form in faster version, Gukesh may not be one of the favourites here but one should be reminded that classical chess is the Indian GM's forte. Praggnanandhaa, meanwhile, has already cemented his credentials by qualifying for next year's Candidates Tournament, which will decide Gukesh's challenger for the world title. Both Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa have also chosen to compete in the Grand Swiss in Uzbekistan next month, underlining their intent to win everything. In the GCT standings, Praggnanandhaa currently leads Gukesh, but consistency will be key as they face seasoned opponents. Among them, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave remains the man to beat, while 42-year-old Aronian has rediscovered top form. The former world junior champion and World Cup winner has already bagged two titles in as many weeks –Freestyle Chess in Las Vegas and the St. Louis Rapid & Blitz. Now it's classical chess and an encore is what his fans are rooting for. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The event, to be played over nine rounds between ten players, has a total prize pool of USD 350,000. Participants: D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa (both India); Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Levon Aronian, Sam Savian (All USA); Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Alireza Firouzja (both France); Duda Jan Kryzstof (Poland), Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan).
The Hindu
4 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Last Word: John Arlott and a slice of cricket-writing history
As the Indian cricket team was making its way around England during an exciting cricket series, I spent some time with John Arlott. Or more precisely, the book he wrote on India's tour of England in 1946, the first series after World War II. India were led by Pataudi Sr., and lost all three Tests. There is something exciting about the start of a tour. In England those days, tourists played First-Class matches against the counties, traditionally starting with one against Worcestershire. I love the way Arlott (in pic) tells it in Indian Summer: 'On the morning of 4 May 1946, I sharpened six pencils, pocketed a new notebook, looked out of the window of the perfect cricketers' hotel beside the Severn at Worcester, congratulated myself on having left my grey flannel suit at home in favour of a tweed suit and set off for the first real cricket match for six and a half years.' There's a slice of cricket history there; so too cricket-writing history. Here's how the Indian team got there, in Arlott's words: 'Gradually, in twos and threes, the Indian team arrived, their heads ringing still with the noise of airplane engines, to wait in vain for their sea-borne cricket gear, to skid through a mud-and-rain-bound mockery of net practice at Lord's, and to leave, on the evening before the game, for Worcester — in a coach that lost its way in the Midlands and deposited them at their hotel shortly before three o'clock on the morning of their first match…' This was another time, another world. Shubhman Gill and his team didn't play First-Class matches at Worcester or anywhere else; if their bus got lost on the road, it would have become an international incident. This current Indian team has the world's No. 1 all-rounder and left-arm spinner, Ravindra Jadeja. So did that 1946 team. This was Vinoo Mankad, 'his rebellious straight black hair gleaming, laughter richly present in his deep-set eyes, he bustles powerfully through his short run and bowls with a thick left arm.' Arlott might have been writing about Jadeja when he said, 'His over will last little more than a minute, ….(he) never allows a batsman to rest.' How was the first post-War Test received? 'It was', says Arlott, 'attended by the sun, who saw very little First-Class cricket in 1946. On the first day, 29,000 people watched the play in varying degrees of cramming.' This wasat Lord's, where the England captain Walter Hammond caught Vijay Hazare at slip, 'with an unhurried ease which suggested that he had been warned in advance.' Indian Summer is a slim book. Before the appendix (statistics), there is this:'….you sir, who have followed me relentlessly with your pencil to mark off my errors — you may have the appendix and I have no doubt that you may be happy with your figures while I slink off and attempt to arrange to pack my bag again.' The cricket might have been disappointing, but the writing about it was fabulous!
News18
28 minutes ago
- News18
Irfan Pathan Makes Huge Workload Management Claim: 'Talking About Everyone, Not Just...'
Last Updated: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan criticised workload management in cricket, stressing that once a player wear the Indian jersey, workload should not matter. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan recently opened up on the issue of workload management, a topic that has become increasingly prevalent in modern cricket discussions. Without directly naming Jasprit Bumrah, Pathan expressed strong disapproval of this practice, emphasising that once a player dons the Indian jersey, workload considerations should no longer matter. What Did Irfan Pathan Say About Workload Management? Speaking to The Lallantop, Pathan stated that technology and recovery should work together, and players should listen to their bodies 'I believe that technology and recovery should go hand in hand," he was quoted as saying. However, he stressed that once on the field, workload should not be a factor. 'You should also listen to your body. But once you step onto the field, workload shouldn't be a consideration anymore. Once you step in, you are wearing the Indian jersey," Irfan Patah said. 'After that, don't look back. You can't say, 'I will just bowl four overs' or 'I will bowl three overs.' People don't just say this, they actually do it. That's how it works these days," he added. Pathan highlighted that this level of commitment is expected when playing for India. 'I am talking about everyone, not just one player. Siraj, on the last day of the last Test, was bowling at 145 kmph. He has a workload too, right? This applies to everyone. But once you step in, you give it your all." The debate around workload management intensified during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, after chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir announced that Bumrah would not play more than three Tests during the ongoing tour of England, considering his history of injuries, especially a back issue that resurfaced during the Sydney Test against Australia earlier this year. Bumrah eventually played in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, and then the third and fourth Tests at Lord's and Old Trafford, Manchester. Over these three matches, he bowled 119.4 overs, took 14 wickets, and achieved two impressive five-wicket hauls at an average of 26. Despite his form, he was rested for the final Test at The Oval and was released from the squad midway through the game. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
