Achieved 100 per cent of Op Sindoor targets: PM in his pre-monsoon session address
Former India batter Suresh Raina has described wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant as the backbone of the Indian Test team. Pant has amassed 425 runs at an impressive average of 70.83 in the series so far, making him the second-highest run-scorer behind captain Shubman Gill. "Rishabh Pant is the backbone of the Indian Test team. The way he bats, the way he keeps on chirping from behind the stumps to disturb the opposition batters," Raina told India Today.
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Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant, Chris Woakes and more - Full list of injuries in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy
The India-England Test series has produced high-quality cricket, but injuries have played an equally dramatic role as the teams battle it out in the final match at The Oval. The latest setback came on Day 1 when England all-rounder hurt his left shoulder while diving to stop a boundary. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He walked off holding his arm in a sling and has been ruled out of the rest of the match. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Here is a quick look at the growing list of players who have picked up injuries during this five-match series and missed games as a result: India vs England weather, rain forecast: Why bad news for India from The Oval India: Rishabh Pant – Fractured his right foot during the fourth Test in Manchester. He did bat in the first innings of that match but did not take the field to keep wickets. He was ruled out of the fourth Test's second innings and the entire fifth Test. – Fractured his right foot during the fourth Test in Manchester. He did bat in the first innings of that match but did not take the field to keep wickets. He was ruled out of the fourth Test's second innings and the entire fifth Test. Nitish Kumar Reddy – Injured his left knee in a gym session after the third Test. Missed the last two matches. – Injured his left knee in a gym session after the third Test. Missed the last two matches. Akash Deep – Picked up a groin injury at Lord's, missed the fourth Test. He's fit and available for the fifth Test. – Picked up a groin injury at Lord's, missed the fourth Test. He's fit and available for the fifth Test. Arshdeep Singh – Suffered a thumb injury during practice before the fourth Test. Returned for the fifth Test but not in the playing XI. England: Chris Woakes – Injured his shoulder while fielding on Day 1 at The Oval. Unlikely to play any further part. – Injured his shoulder while fielding on Day 1 at The Oval. Unlikely to play any further part. Ben Stokes – Missed the fifth Test due to a right shoulder injury sustained earlier in the series. – Missed the fifth Test due to a right shoulder injury sustained earlier in the series. Shoaib Bashir – Fractured his finger during the third Test at Lord's. Ruled out of the last two Tests. With the series level at 2-2, both teams are feeling the toll of a tightly fought contest, physically as much as mentally.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG 5th Test, Day 1: Wickets tumble in tough batting conditions; Karun Nair holds firm at The Oval
Karun Nair of India (PTI Photo) LONDON: As Shubman Gill closed his eyes and turned to make the long walk back to the dressing room after being run out in careless fashion, he knew he had exposed the Rishabh Pant-less middle order to the toughest batting conditions in the series so far. India were then at 83/3, and their worst fears came when as they found themselves in the middle of a mini-collapse at 153/6 after Dhruv Jurel loosely edged Gus Atkinson to Harry Brook at second slip for 19. Karun Nair, forever on trial, took strike off the next ball. He knew he got a chance to bat at No. 5 because India were trying to make up for the absence of Pant. Nair, having got another lifeline to stretch his Test career, negated the tough conditions at the Oval with composure and immaculate technique to bring up a half-century. This was his only score above fifty besides the triple century he scored against England in Chennai in 2016. Nair walked back to the pavilion at stumps on 52 off 98 balls, with the in-form Washington Sundar on 19 off 45. Nair ensured India were still in the game, with the scoreboard reading 204/6 at close on Day One. With Chris Woakes going off the field with a suspected severe shoulder injury, Nair and Washington may fancy themselves to put the English bowling under pressure on Friday morning. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bojongsari: Unsold Sofas Prices May Surprise You (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo As he has done in the other three matches he has played in, Nair absorbed the pressure from one end in a desperate bid to avert a collapse after India lost a set Sai Sudharsan and Ravindra Jadeja in quick succession. Nair never let the English bowlers dictate terms, hitting with some crisply-timed drives and shots off his pads. His knock took the mind off Gill's moment of madness after looking so good at the crease. Whenever Gill the batter goes in for a practice session, he leaves Shubman Gill the captain behind. Discussions with the team management only happen when he is through with all his batting drills. At the Oval on Wednesday, Gill looked distracted. He walked back and forth while padding up, discussing strategies with the coaching staff. This has been a gruelling series for Gill. Yet, on Thursday, his imperious form with the bat ensured another sublime start in testing conditions on the first morning of the final Test. He came out to bat at 38/2 with the ball jagging around off the distinctly green pitch under the gloomy London skies. He looked in absolute control to move to 21 off 35 on either side of the two-and-half hour-long rain break. He also galloped past a significant milestone — the most runs by an Indian captain in a series, beating Gavaskar's 732 against West Indies in 1978. And then the big brain fade happened. In between all the rain breaks, Gill tapped a short-of-a-goodlength delivery off Gus Atkinson back to the bowler and took off for a run. Six steps into the run, he turned back, but Atkinson had already broken the stumps with a direct hit. After coming in to bat at 0/2 in Manchester last week to save the Test, this was the earliest Gill had to take strike in an innings after KL Rahul dragged Chris Woakes on to the stumps to leave India vulnerable at 38/2. With Sudharsan at the other end batting at No. 3, Gill was in his comfort zone from the word go. The chemistry between the two from Gujarat Titans was on display. It looked like India were shaping up for another big score in their first innings in the series. Gill brought out his lazy elegance, finding the boundary through cover and square-leg off front and backfoot punches even as the floodlights were switched on. Sudharsan's defence looked impeccable before the moment indiscretion ruined recovery for India. The ball was comfortably flying to the wicketkeeper at head height, a rare sight in the series. The English attack, helped by rain breaks, was always going to come hard at the Indian batters all day. Tongue, picked for the first time after Jofra Archer had replaced him in the third Test, proved the most challenging bowler to face. Spraying it around for wides and extras, Tongue landed one on the spot to catch Sudharsan's outside edge to end his gritty innings of 38 off 108. Sudharsan punched his bat in frustration after throwing away another good-looking start. It's up to Nair to go big now. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
Nithiin and director Vikram Kumar reunite after a decade; duo to team up for high-stakes sports drama– Read more
Actor and director are coming together after more than a decade, this time, for a new sports drama. The Telugu actor is all set to play the lead role in director 's big-budget sports film. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The two, who had last worked together in the 2012 hit film 'Ishq', are now, coming back with a fresh and challenging story that's already creating buzz in the film industry. About the upcoming film According to the reports of India Today, the upcoming film will be filled with emotions and intense performances. The movie will feature Nithiin in a never-seen-before role, something physically demanding and emotionally deep. Though the makers haven't revealed which sport the movie is based on, it is expected to involve a lot of physical training and advanced technology. Nithiin has been in talks with Vikram for a while and is reportedly excited about taking on this unique role in this gritty drama that will see him in a new light after his work on romantic, fantasy and sci-fi films. However, according to reports, unlike his other films, this one will not be a quick 60-day schedule. For Vikram Kumar, who is known for his unique storytelling in films like '24', 'Manam', and 'Hello', this will be his first film in the sports genre. He is reportedly treating this project more like a powerful emotional journey where the sport is just one part of a bigger story about struggle, identity, and redemption. The script of the film has gone through several changes to strike the right balance between the sports angle and the emotional depth that Vikram is known for. If things go as planned, the film will begin shooting in late 2025, after Nithiin finishes his current projects. The makers are planning a pan-India release by mid-2026. An official announcement is expected soon.
