logo
Gautam Gambhir Returns to India Amid Family Emergency; Coaching Staff Leads Team in Warm-Up Match

Gautam Gambhir Returns to India Amid Family Emergency; Coaching Staff Leads Team in Warm-Up Match

Hans India18 hours ago

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has returned to New Delhi due to a family emergency, as his mother suffered a heart attack. She is currently recovering at Gangaram Hospital, and while her condition remains serious, doctors are hopeful for her early recovery. Gambhir left the team's training camp on Wednesday and may rejoin the Indian squad before the first Test against England, starting June 20 in Leeds, though his return date remains uncertain.
In Gambhir's absence, assistant coaches Sitanshu Kotak and Ryan ten Doeschate, along with bowling coach Morne Morkel, are managing the Indian team during the ongoing intra-squad warm-up match against India A in Beckenham. The game, held behind closed doors until June 16, is helping both teams prepare for the upcoming Test series.
Meanwhile, the team management is focused on key decisions regarding the batting order following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Australia win-loss record in ICC finals: Can South Africa inflict rare defeat in WTC 2025?
Australia win-loss record in ICC finals: Can South Africa inflict rare defeat in WTC 2025?

Indian Express

time25 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Australia win-loss record in ICC finals: Can South Africa inflict rare defeat in WTC 2025?

Pat Cummins' Australia are on the brink of enduring a feeling that has not been experienced by a bunch of serial winners for over a decade. The senior core of Australia's ICC World Test Championship 2025 final playing XI against South Africa at Lord's have not suffered a defeat in an ICC tournament final, across formats. For Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Steve Smith have won every final Australia have contested in the last decade, including the 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cups, the 2021 T20 World Cup, and the last ICC World Test Championship final against India in 2023. For cricket's most successful international team, losing finals or ICC finals for that matter has been a rarefied event that their former captain Smith might be the first and only Australian player thus far to be part of two ICC finals defeats. Starting as a leg-spinning all-rounder, Smith was part of Australia's last finals defeat during the T20 World Cup 2010 against England in Barbados. Batting first, Australia could only gather 147 runs in 20 overs before England romped to a seven-wicket victory to mark their first ICC title triumph under the leadership of Paul Collingwood. Smith is the only member from that Australia XI to be part of the WTC 2025 final, staring at the possibility of defeat to South Africa while attempting to defend 281 runs. South Africa are 69 runs away from victory and inflicting a rare defeat to the Aussies in the ICC finals, one that has only occurred once since 2001 and twice in the previous century. Having won 10 ICC titles across formats, Australia's first defeat came in their maiden ICC final appearance, taking on the mighty West Indies in the first men's World Cup final in 1975. A Mark Taylor-led unit also missed out on winning the 1996 World Cup, losing to a belligerent Sri Lankan side, led by Aravinda de Silva's century in the final in Lahore. A defeat to South Africa will spell the end to a 15-year spotless record and only a fourth loss across 14 ICC finals in 50 years.

IPL 2025 Final Breaks Viewership Record As RCB Lifts Maiden Title After 18 Years
IPL 2025 Final Breaks Viewership Record As RCB Lifts Maiden Title After 18 Years

India.com

time38 minutes ago

  • India.com

IPL 2025 Final Breaks Viewership Record As RCB Lifts Maiden Title After 18 Years

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final turned into more than just a cricket match—it became a cultural phenomenon. On June 3, an electrifying contest between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings drew an unprecedented 169 million television viewers, the highest ever for any cricket match in India. The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) confirmed that this staggering figure eclipsed the 2021 T20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan, which previously held the record at 166 million. This record-breaking viewership was not just about numbers—it was symbolic. After 18 long seasons, RCB finally lifted their maiden IPL trophy, giving fans a long-awaited fairytale ending. The narrative was ripe for history, and Indian audiences responded with unwavering attention. Also Read: Who Did What In India vs India A: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shardul Thakur Shine In Closed-Door Match - In Pics What made this viewership surge even more impressive was its timing. The final was held on a weekday, yet it recorded a Television Rating (TVR) of 11, the third-highest in IPL history. TVR, which measures the percentage of target audience reached and the time spent watching, revealed just how deeply audiences were engaged during the high-octane finale. The match racked up an astounding 15 billion watch-minutes, comfortably surpassing the 14.2 billion minutes clocked during the India vs South Africa T20 World Cup 2024 final. These figures highlight not only the growing appeal of IPL but also the deep-rooted emotional investment fans have in their teams—especially one with as passionate a following as RCB. A Season Interrupted but Not Derailed The 2025 IPL season was anything but smooth. A sudden one-week suspension due to the India-Pakistan geopolitical conflict raised concerns over fan retention. However, when action resumed on May 17, audiences returned in droves, proving the league's unmatched pull. According to IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, both TV and digital platforms saw strong traction, despite the disruption. The championship concluded on June 3, having started on March 22, with 17 matches played post-resumption. Opening Weekend Set the Tone The momentum was evident from day one. The opening weekend alone drew over 253 million viewers and logged 27.7 billion watch-minutes—setting the stage for what would become one of the most watched IPL seasons in history. The third league match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians also featured high on the viewership chart with 163 million viewers, showcasing the league's consistent ability to captivate fans. RCB's Victory: The Emotional Core RCB's first-ever IPL title win served as the emotional glue that held millions of fans in thrall. For a team that had reached the finals thrice before—only to fall agonizingly short—this win was redemption. The scenes at the stadium and on social media painted a picture of sheer euphoria. Stars like Virat Kohli, who had long shouldered the franchise's hopes, were at the heart of the celebration, making the moment even more iconic. What This Means for Sports Broadcasting The record-smashing IPL 2025 final is more than a sports milestone; it's a media and marketing marvel. With BARC viewership peaking and engagement metrics off the charts, advertisers and broadcasters alike are re-evaluating the power of live sports in a fragmented content landscape. Despite JioStar, the official TV and digital partner, choosing not to comment on the numbers, the data speaks volumes. The IPL brand continues to redefine live sports entertainment in India, offering not just cricket but high-impact storytelling, emotional resonance, and unbeatable reach.

India vs India A match: New captain Shubman Gill shines on Day 1; Shardul Thakur among wickets
India vs India A match: New captain Shubman Gill shines on Day 1; Shardul Thakur among wickets

First Post

timean hour ago

  • First Post

India vs India A match: New captain Shubman Gill shines on Day 1; Shardul Thakur among wickets

India's new captain Shubman Gill led from the front on Day 1 of the intrasquad match against India A at Kent while KL Rahul and Shardul Thakur also made a mark ahead of the Test series against England. read more India's new Test captain Shubman Gill hit a fifty on Day 1 of the intrasquad game in Kent. Images: BCCI While the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia at Lord's is proving to be great fun , a little far away the Indian cricket team are busy preparing for the upcoming five-match Test series against England. Team India is currently engaged in an intrasquad game against India A at the Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham. The Day 1 on Friday witnessed India's new Test captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul getting some valuable runs ahead of the Test series. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why India vs India A match is not being broadcast? The India vs India A match is not being broadcast as the team management has opted for closed door practice. The BCCI has reportedly also denied permission to journalists and the scorecard for the match is also not available. It has been reported that a player or the member of the support staff will speak to media on Monday at the end of the four-day practice match. Till then we will have to rely on BCCI for all the updates. India vs India A match: Day 1 details The Indian cricket board on Friday late night shared the updates from Day 1 of the India vs India A match on its social media handle. It said that Rahul and Gill scored half-centuries on the opening day while returning all-rounder Shardul Thakur was among wickets. 📍 Beckenham A solid Opening Day in the Intra-Squad game! Half-centuries for KL Rahul & Captain Shubman Gill 👌 👌 Shardul Thakur amongst the wickets 👍 👍 — BCCI (@BCCI) June 13, 2025 Meanwhile, Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir was missing during the practice game as he rushed back to India after his mother suffered a heart attack earlier this week. There's no clarity when Gambhir will return to England and it could depend on his mother's recovery. Team India players and members of support staff also wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence to pay homage to the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store