England's Huge Advantage vs India Even Before 1st Ball Is Bowled On Final Day Of 5th Test
Ahead of the day, England are likely to use the heavy roller which flattens and makes the surface compact, potentially making it easier for the batters. If the batting side requests, it can be used for a maximum of seven minutes before the start of play.
With England needing only 35 runs, using the heavy roller might help their batters counter the effects of an uneven pitch. India need to strike fast if they are to make a match out of the final day. If the heavy roller does impact the pitch a lot, it will be all over for Shubman Gill and Co.
Jamie Overton (0*) and Jamie Smith (2*) were unbeaten when rain forced early stumps. Former Indian seamer Varun Aaron believes Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna delivered high-intensity overs, resulting in key wickets in the third session of the fifth Test on Day 4.
Aaron felt Siraj was unlucky, bowling very well but not getting LBW calls. Siraj and Prasidh bowled a fiery spell post Tea, however Siraj didn't took any wicket in the final session but was bowling on tight length, while Prasidh cleaned up Jacob Bethell for five followed by centurion Joe Root for 105 in his following over.
"Siraj and Prasidh bowled five high-intensity overs each after tea, and that effort resulted in two crucial wickets. Siraj was quite unlucky, as he has been throughout the day--he bowled unbelievably well. So many of his deliveries hit the pad, but he just didn't get the LBW calls," JioHotstar expert Varun Aaron said.
Aaron felt England find themselves in a tough spot and praised Indian skipper Shuman Gill for his smart captaincy post tea, which didn't allow easy singles to the visitors.
"England now find themselves in a tough spot, and I genuinely feel this break is going to do India a world of good. The bowlers get to rest, stretch, have a massage, and get some treatment from the physios. They can come back fresh and give it everything again. This post-tea session has been brilliant--accurate bowling, smart captaincy by Shubman Gill, who didn't allow easy singles, and two very important wickets," he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
24 minutes ago
- First Post
Chennai Grand Masters director reveals surprising reason behind Gukesh and Pragg's absence from tournament: 'We simply didn't get any...'
Chennai Grand Masters tournament director GM Srinath Narayanan revealed the reason why World Champion D. Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa are not featuring at the event, read more The third edition of the Chennai Grand Masters tournament is underway, and much like every Chess tournament, it will feature a heavy Indian battalion. The likes of Arjun Erigaisi, who is a super GM with a current FIDE Ranking of No.5, will enter the tournament along with veteran Vidit Gujrathi. Besides the Indians, other prominent players like Anish Giri and Jorden van Foreest will also be present at the event. However, the competition will remain sans the two national jewels, R Praggnandhaa and the current World Champion of Chess, D Gukesh. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While both Pragg and Gukesh have remained considerably busy over the last few years, they will miss out on the tournament. Not because they are taking some time off, but due to the fact that they have committed to raising the Indian flag somewhere else. Why Guki and Pragg not featuring in Chennai Grand Masters? Tournament Director and Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan addressed their absence and revealed the reason behind them not playing in the event. 'Ideally, we would have loved to have Gukesh and Pragg playing. But this year, we had to clash our event with the Grand Chess Tour because the calendar was insanely full. And we simply didn't get any free dates. But in the future, whenever they are available, we would certainly love to have them. And hopefully, we can schedule it at a time when it doesn't clash with another major event in the future years,' said Srinath. Gukesh, who is enjoying a purple patch in his career, will play at the St Louis Rapid and Blitz from August 10-15, a key leg of the Grand Chess Tour. Meanwhile, Praggnandhaaa has been juggling a packed schedule and hence could not find room to compete in the Chennai event. Despite the scheduling challenges, the Chennai Grand Masters tournament is set to garner much interest from chess fans and will make further strides towards relevancy. 'Over the last two years, we have already seen a tradition where a young talented player goes on to get world-class recognition after winning here. Happened with Gukesh in 2023, happened with Aravindh Chithambaram also… Similarly, we hope to keep unearthing more talents,' Srinath added.
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Poovanna looks to shine in Aus
Bengaluru: The year started on a painful note for Poovanna Chandura Boby. The Karnataka player suffered a facial injury while representing Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers against Soorma Hockey Club in the Hockey India League in Jan. Poovanna went under the knife shortly after and was out of action for two months. The time away from the sport hurt his selection chances for the Indian team and also for the FIH Pro League. There's some salvation for the 22-year-old, who has earned a maiden call-up to the 24-member national team for the upcoming Tour of Australia. The four-match exposure tour, starting Aug 15 in Perth, provides an opportunity for the midfielder-turned-defender to showcase his skills against one of the strongest hockey nations in the world. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Poovanna has his task cut out for the trip Down Under. The goal is to play good hockey and seal his spot in the 18-member Indian team for the Asia Cup, which starts on Aug 29 in Rajgir, Bihar. "It is my goal to earn a place in the Asia Cup squad," he told TOI at the Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru. "This tour (of Australia) is a really big thing for me in terms of selection. It all boils down to me, how I deliver on the pitch there. I need to show what I can do on the field. I am excited. It also provides me an opportunity to assess myself, where I stand at this top level." The present squad will be pruned for the continental event, which acts as a World Cup qualifier. Needless to say there's tough competition for spots in the Indian team. Poovanna, who hails from Kodagu, understands the situation, but remains positive. "There are a lot of quality players in the team and I am just 22 and I have a lot of room for improvement with age on my side. We have a lot of competition for every position now. Even if I fail to break into the Asia Cup side, I know I will be there for big competitions soon," he said. Poovanna has climbed the rungs with strong performances from the junior level. Besides being a gold medal winning member of the Indian team, which won the Junior Asia Cup in 2023 in Oman, he has also featured in the 2023 Junior World Cup in Malaysia and the Indian 'A' teams. "You need to evolve every day in the senior team. It is not difficult, but it will be a challenge. I need to find that consistency and constantly improve," said Poovanna. The 22-year-old's performance graph has shown a steady climb. He'll look to keep it that way.
United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
Shooting League of India will be a landmark moment for the sport: Ronjan Sodhi
New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) Former world number one and Olympian Ronjan Sodhi is enthusiastically looking forward to the Shooting league of India (SLI) and has described it as a landmark moment for the sport. Sodhi, one of India's most decorated trap shooters said "The league format is something we have been discussing for a long time. With the kind of depth we now have in Indian shooting, this is the right step forward,' Sodhi said. 'It's going to be exciting for the fans, great for the young shooters, and much-needed for the sport.' "This league has the potential to transform Indian shooting. It's not just about medals anymore. It's about building a culture,' Sodhi added. Sodhi feels that apart from being a great platform for young domestic as well as International shooting talent the league will enhance visibility of the sport. "You can't love a sport you don't see. Kids have to see the sport to be inspired. Neeraj Chopra winning gold caused javelins to sell out across the country overnight. That's the power of visibility,' he said. "When international stars and Indian Olympians shoot together in a televised, high-energy league, it becomes a spectacle people will want to follow and join" he added. The Shooting League of India, scheduled to be held between November 20 and December 2, 2025, will feature eight franchise teams in a fast-paced mixed-team format. Events will include 10M and 25M Pistol, 10M and 50M Rifle (3P), and Shotgun (Trap & Skeet). Teams will compete in a two-pool league stage, with player selection strategically tiered into Elite Champions, World Elite, National Champions, and Junior & Youth Champions to create competitive balance. While praising government support through schemes like Khelo India and the National Centres of Excellence, Sodhi made a strong pitch for corporate involvement. 'You can't expect only the government to fund sport. Shooting has delivered medals consistently—at the Olympics, World Cups, and Asian Games. It is time to give back. Sponsors should see it as a national contribution, not just an investment.' Sodhi believes the franchise model can create financial sustainability for athletes. 'Shooting is a long-term sport- athletes can stay competitive for 20+ years. If we support them early with the right structure, they can build stable careers, just like in cricket or kabaddi.' Shedding light on the psychological side of the sport, Sodhi highlighted the mental resilience shooting demands. 'In shooting, you hold a gun-- you cannot show emotions. You cannot kick the turf or break your bat. You have to internalise everything. That's what makes it the most mentally demanding sport.' He also advocated for innovative broadcast elements, like cameras capturing facial expressions. 'At the 2012 Olympics, they zoomed in on our faces. Viewers could see me talking to myself between shots. That kind of intimacy builds emotional connection with the audience.' While not every registered shooter may get a team spot this season, Sodhi sees the league as a movement that will evolve. 'In the beginning, pick your favourite franchise, wear the jersey, cheer for your shooters. That is how fan bases grow. Give it time- it will happen.' As the Shooting League of India prepares to host top-tier international and Indian athletes, Ronjan Sodhi's words serve as both a reality check and a rallying cry- for fans, brands, and institutions alike. UNI RKM
