Favourites will probably win 2-0: Panesar drops massive prediction ahead of India's Test series in England
New Delhi [India], June 16 (ANI): Former left-arm spinner Monty Panesar has rated India as the 'favourites' ahead of his former side, England, and believes that under the dynamic duo of head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill, the tourists will triumph in the five-match Test series by a 2-0 margin.
India has been solidifying its preparations in Beckenham ahead of the first Test, scheduled to kick off on June 20 at Headingley. The five challenging Tests will mark the commencement of not only the new World Test Championship cycle but also a new era in Indian cricket.
The fourth-ranked Test team will line up without its batting bigwigs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who bid adieu to the Test format last month. Along with the batting wizards, India won't have the presence of its frontline crafty off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
While fans and former cricketers are divided about the possible outcome of the series, Monty has faith in the Indian team's capability to overwhelm England's 'Bazball'. The 43-year-old feels that some players who gained experience playing on English soil during their stints in the County Championship will come in handy, and flat pitches will add to India's chances of success.
'Well, I think India has an advantage because they have players who have played County Cricket. I think India are favourites to win and I think they will probably win 2-0. But the key is going to be how they take on the seaming conditions. But also, there is gonna be a lot of hard work. If there are green pitches, I think England are favourites, but if there are flat pitches, I think India has got a chance of winning,' Panesar told ANI.
The five-match Test series will take place from June 20 to August 4, with matches scheduled at Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord's and The Oval (London), and Old Trafford (Manchester).
India's Test squad for England series: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
England squad for first Test vs India: Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (capt), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
10 minutes ago
- India Today
Inspired by Vaibhav Suryavanshi, his 13-year-old friend smashes 327 in 134 balls
Inspired by his friend Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 13-year-old Ayan Raj has made headlines after scoring an unbeaten 327 runs off just 134 balls in a district cricket match in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Playing a 30-over match, IPL fame Vaibhav's friend slammed 22 sixes and 41 fours. He was playing for Sanskriti Cricket Academy. Raj's extraordinary innings included 296 of his runs coming through boundaries young batter's strike rate stood at an astonishing 220.89 as he dominated the opposition in a display of clean hitting and composure well beyond his age. Raj's performance comes just a month after his friend, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, displayed an exceptional rookie season in the Indian Premier for Rajasthan Royals, Vaibhav recorded the fastest century by an Indian batter in the history of the tournament. He smashed a 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans in the recently concluded tournament, shocking the cricket watchers in the world. Raj revealed that the two share a close bond, and that he has always looked up to Suryavanshi, who has recently drawn comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar due to his performances.'Every time I talk to Vaibhav bhai, I get a special feeling. We used to play together when we were younger. Today, he has made a big name for himself, and I'm also following in his footsteps,' Raj told News18 in an runs in the Raj household. His father, a former cricketer, once dreamed of representing India, a goal now passed down to his son. With the backing of his family, Ayan Raj has set his sights firmly on fulfilling that Wants to Double Down on IPL SuccessRajasthan Royals' teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi has vowed to double his efforts in the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), with the goal of helping his team reach the final. The 14-year-old made headlines in IPL 2025 with an electrifying debut, smashing a six off his very first ball in the tournament and later scoring a stunning 35-ball century—the fastest ever by an Indian in IPL ended his debut season with 252 runs in seven innings, averaging 36 with a strike rate of 206.55. His explosive performances included one century and one fifty, earning him the 'Super Striker of the Season' award for maintaining the highest strike on his impactful first season, Suryavanshi said he is determined to elevate his game further to help Rajasthan go all the way next year."The key learning is that whatever I did this season, I have to do it better next time—not just better, but twice as good—so that my team makes it to the finals next year. I will focus on how I can contribute as much as possible toward that goal," he said in a video shared on the IPL ahead, the young batter added that he plans to work on the areas where he fell short and build on the positives from his maiden campaign."Playing in the IPL is like a dream for everyone, and this was my first season. I gained a lot of positives from it. Next season, I'll try to do even more for the team. I also got to learn a lot, so I'll work on the areas where I fell short this year and try to perform even better next year for the team," he added.
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Game on: Phonemakers tap eSports to woo young Indians
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: Smartphone brands are increasingly tapping into the fast-growing eSports segment in India to increase visibility and boost sales in an otherwise muted such as OnePlus, Realme, iQOO and Infinix are sponsoring large-scale mobile gaming tournaments and partnering with eSports teams as a core marketing strategy amid growing influence of mobile gaming on the Indian youth, industry watchers has almost 450 million mobile gamers, which is expected to reach 720 million by 2028, according to Krafton India, the company behind popular eSports title Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). The surge in mobile gaming is fuelled by the rapid growth of affordable smartphones and cheap data packages, creating a thriving ecosystem. Now, smartphone brands are tapping into that segment to grow their June, OnePlus announced a partnership with top-tier eSports teams God's Reign, K9, and Cincinnati Kids. The partnership extends to deep product integration, with players providing real-time feedback to shape current and future OnePlus iQOO and Infinix have also entered into similar partnerships where the feedback loop from gamers are allowing them to market their devices as ones built by gamers for gamers, experts said."With gaming being a top indicator of smartphone performance, our collaboration will showcase the raw power and capabilities of our devices," Nipun Marya, chief executive of iQOO, told ET. "By supporting India's eSports teams, we're not only fuelling their passion but also demonstrating our commitment to delivering hardcore performance that every Gen Z demands."Many devices of these brands support higher frame-rates in online games, helping players to gain higher accuracy and improve the overall experience."It's a great way to showcase the performance of the devices," said Upasana Joshi, research manager at market tracker IDC India. "If the top eSports players are using their products, it becomes a good testament for the rest of the market about its reliability, especially when it comes to gaming, which is a high-performance use-case that pushes devices to their limits."The strategy is particularly relevant when the overall market is down for smartphones, she shipments fell 5.5% on-year in the March quarter, marking a slow start to the year with 32 million units shipped, according to IDC. Smartphone brands and telecom operators are also sponsoring major eSports tournaments in India, where their devices are used in the are also hosting eSports tournaments in smaller towns and colleges to identify grassroots talent, helping build the ecosystem. OnePlus, Realme and Infinix didn't reply to ET's emails seeking comment until press time research firms said India is primarily a mobile-first market when it comes to gaming, with over 94% of users using handsets for the activity."While earlier there used to be gaming-focused smartphones from these brands, they used to be niche. Now they are mainstream," said Shilpi Jain, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research. "Nearly every device now comes with some dedicated features targeted at mobile gamers, as competition has increased in this segment," she Jain, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research said the development, while not new, has gained prominence as mobile gaming evolved from being a niche use-case to a mainstream juggernaut that has grown by leaps and bounds in mobile gaming segment has also attracted the attention of telecom operators, who have launched dedicated prepaid plans aimed at mobile gamers that offer higher data limits and in-game instance, Reliance Jio has plans starting as low as ₹48 for a 3-day pack with 10 MB of data offering access to its cloud gaming app that hosts hundreds of games.
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ravi Krishnan aims to blend sport, culture & commerce with new venture Abler Sports & Entertainment
In a changing sports and entertainment landscape, veteran sports marketer Ravi Krishnan is focusing on the intersection of intellectual property (IP), data, and popular culture through his new venture, Abler Sports & Entertainment ( ASE ). The veteran sports marketing executive aims to reimagine how sport and entertainment are consumed, monetised, and experienced—not just in India, but internationally. ASE is backed by a group of investors from media, technology, sports, and private equity. Notable investors in ASE include Suv Mohapatra, Managing Director at Accenture Singapore; Josh Liberman, Co-founder and Chairman of CVS Lane Capital Partners; Mike Dolan, former Chairman of IMG and former CEO of Bacardi; and Ashutosh Srivastava, former CEO of APAC at GroupM. From his early career at IMG South Asia to initiatives like the Sahara Cup and Lakmé Fashion Week, Krishnan has focused on innovation and long-term strategy. His latest venture centres on fan engagement, IP ownership, and a digital-first approach. He sees this as an opportunity for India to play a more prominent role in the global sports ecosystem. Krishnan's perspective is straightforward: sport remains one of the few true real-time entertainment experiences. 'If you want to watch Royal Challengers Bengaluru play Punjab Kings, you need to watch it live. That urgency gives sport an edge,' he says. However, he notes that most digital engagement today still focuses on awareness, rather than driving action. This, he believes, is where his company comes in. It positions itself as an 'awareness-to-action' platform—where fan interaction leads to revenue generation, data-driven decision-making, and better returns for rights holders and sponsors. Focus on IP ownership A central element of Krishnan's strategy is the creation and control of IP. 'Everyone wants to build value now,' he says. 'Celebrities don't want a one-time payout to generate $100 million in revenue for others. They want IP ownership.' He contrasts the long-term value of Lakmé Fashion Week, which he launched while at IMG with the Unilever brand as its title sponsor in 2000, with the more transactional nature of properties like the IPL , which has had several title sponsors over the years. His point: lasting IP creates long-term brand equity. India as a growth market Krishnan also sees growing interest in India from global rights holders. 'Manchester City doesn't need more fans in Manchester. They need to monetise fans in India, Indonesia, and Africa,' he says. He argues that while many international entities highlight their Indian fan bases, few have been able to translate that interest into sustainable revenue. His company seeks to help bridge that gap—supporting both foreign brands entering India and Indian brands looking to expand abroad. 'In the '80s it was Japan, in the '90s Korea, then China. India will make its mark on the globe even more substantially in the future.' Bridging worlds With offices in London, Mumbai, San Francisco, and Melbourne, Krishnan describes his venture as a 'global business with an Indian heart.' This positioning, he believes, allows the company to serve as a conduit between Indian and international markets. He points to partnerships like Infosys at Grand Slams, TCS with global marathons, and Apollo Tyres with Manchester United as signs of India's increasing presence on the global sports stage. 'Indian culture, IP, and commerce are poised for global relevance. And we want to be at the centre of it,' he says. Growing opportunity in women's sport Krishnan sees significant untapped potential in women's sports. 'Women's sport is an absolute rising tide in the world of sports,' he says. From growing participation and audiences to rising sponsor interest, he expects the category to grow quickly. His company is already working with World Rugby on the Women's World Cup and integrating women-oriented content on its digital platform, Stepathlon. 'If companies have $100 to spend on sport, they won't spend it all on men in the future.' Sport as a cultural experience Another area Krishnan highlights is the 'festivalisation' of sport—blending athletic competition with music, fashion, and food to create a broader experience. 'The Australian Open is a festival with a tennis tournament,' he says. He sees the IPL as another example, having become more than just a cricket league. His goal is to develop IPs that span platforms, cultures, and generations—not just as media products, but as experiences. Exploring new models Although cricket continues to dominate the Indian sports landscape, Krishnan is also exploring tennis, football, and multi-sport formats. He is particularly focused on creating properties that don't rely solely on traditional broadcast models, which he says are heavily tilted toward the IPL. 'There's very little left for other leagues. We need to find alternative monetisation models—direct-to-consumer, sponsor-led, or data-driven,' he says. His company is also developing year-round engagement platforms, including non-live content and fan communities. Understanding the market Krishnan describes India as a 'head and heart' market, where success depends on local insights, cultural nuance, and long-term thinking. With most of the population under 25, he sees both an opportunity and a challenge: the demographic potential is there but remains under-monetised. He also sees parallels with other emerging markets such as Africa and Latin America. A broader purpose For Krishnan, sport is more than a business opportunity—it's a tool for positive change. His platform Stepathlon aims to address health challenges by encouraging physical activity. 'Wellness is a $6.3 trillion industry. Sport is $500 billion. The connection between the two is undeniable,' he says. 'We use popular culture not just to entertain, but to heal, inspire, and mobilise communities.' Krishnan believes the coming decade could be pivotal for India in global sport and entertainment. He sees the potential to drive change through smart partnerships, IP creation, and a technology-first approach. 'We're ambitious—quantitatively and qualitatively,' he says. 'Our goal is to be a thoughtful leader in a rapidly transforming global industry.'
