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Time of India
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG Test: How a slight change in technique and some 'scolding' from Zubin Bharucha helped Yashasvi Jaiswal bounce back
India's Yashasvi Jaiswal walks off the field after losing his wicket during the third day of the fifth cricket test match between England and India at The Kia Oval in London, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Mumbai: Yashasvi started and ended the five-Test series in England with a bang — 101 in the first innings of the first Test at Leeds, and 118 in the second innings of the fifth and final Test at The Oval. However, India's dashing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal endured an ordinary time in the period in between, scoring just two fifties across seven innings. Just as the critics were sharpening their knives, reminding everyone of how the 23-year-old had similarly tapered off after starting the Australia tour with a blazing hundred in the first Test at Perth, Jaiswal bounced back with a potentially match-winning knock. Apparently, it was a timely conversation with his mentor Zubin Bharucha before he went out to bat in the second innings of the Oval Test that helped the Mumbai youngster rectify a few flaws that had crept into his game and rediscover his mojo. Being someone whom Jaiswal has approached for all cricketing advice for the last five years, Bharucha knows the young southpaw's game inside out. While asking Jaiswal to slightly alter his trigger movement while facing the ball, the former Mumbai first-class batter didn't hesitate to give a piece of his mind, known as a 'bamboo' in popular Mumbai cricket parlance. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'We had a long chat on the morning of Day Two (Friday) of the Test. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo He was doing a lot of things wrong. He was naturally a bit frustrated that he wasn't getting the runs after starting the series so well. I gave him a little 'bamboo' (scolding). I have that kind of relationship with him," Bharucha told TOI on Sunday. "Of course, you need a lot of luck when the ball is doing that much. A few of his catches were dropped, but it was fitting for all the luck he didn't have earlier (in the series). And I guess the little bamboo helped," the seasoned coach added with a grin. And what exactly was the 'bamboo' about? "Basically, I reminded him about how tough the journey was to get to this point and to remember all the things that got him here. I told him to go out and bat like a 'Dada' (dominate the opposition bowlers) and play some 'Khadoos' (gritty) cricket, a la Mumbai maidan style. I also advised him on how to manage all the constant noise that top cricketers have to deal with. Anyone can get carried away with the name and fame they get these days," Bharucha revealed. Yashasvi Jaiswal press conference: Message from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli help, support from Gambhir The slight technical advice Bharucha offered to Jaiswal was related to the left-handed opener's LBW dismissal for just two runs off English pacer Gus Atkinson in the first innings of the Oval Test, when Jaiswal played down the wrong line to a fuller, inswinging ball. Bharucha pointed out that Jaiswal was planting his front foot too early and keeping his bat angle too straight while doing so — a flaw that former India batter Ajay Jadeja had also noted while commentating on Sony Sports Network's Hindi broadcast. "My advice to him was about not planting the front foot too early and ensuring the correct angles were maintained when the bowler went around the wicket," Bharucha shared. "It happens when you get a little anxious to get to the ball, especially when you're not scoring many runs. That's the first thing that happens and it creates the problem. If you notice, (Indian captain) Shubman Gill is consistently getting out in the same way," Bharucha pointed out. "I noticed that he had stopped taking the bat toward the ball, which happens as a result of the front foot coming in the way. That stemmed from how he got out in the previous game — caught at first slip off Chris Woakes , turning the face of the bat. As the bat straightens toward the bowler from around the wicket and the ball keeps coming in, it becomes impossible to play the fuller inswinging ball. If you want to play with that bat alignment, then you have to start outside the leg stump — which Yashasvi did in the second innings — so the ball hitting the pads passes the leg stump. In his first-innings dismissal, his bat was very straight, but there was no way it was going to hit the ball as it kept coming in,' Bharucha explained. 'In the second innings, he was adjusting to the fuller deliveries better and getting into a good position to meet them. Despite all this, you still need some luck, some courage, and some Mumbai-style Khadoos batting, which he displayed in abundance while scoring his sixth Test hundred,' Bharucha praised. What was noticeable in the second innings of The Oval Test was that Jaiswal altered his stance a little bit, moving more toward the leg stump. That allowed him to play his favourite shot more often, accessing the area behind square on the off side for boundaries. Unleashing some ferocious cuts, a few even over the third man region, Jaiswal punished the English pacers for any width during his 164-ball knock, which was studded with 14 fours and two sixes. Poll How important do you think mentorship is for young athletes like Yashasvi Jaiswal? Extremely important Somewhat important Not very important Not important at all Outlining things, Bharucha said, 'From where we sit, it's not about the runs, but about how you're approaching it, your preparation, and working things out at that level (whether it's the front foot landing early or something else in the sequence that isn't working). If that's all in place in the preparation, then over time, the runs will come." After the gruelling England series, Jaiswal is set to earn a well-deserved rest before turning up for West Zone in the Duleep Trophy. 'I think it would be the best preparation for the series (against West Indies) that follows the Duleep Trophy, given that there are no other matches after this Test. I believe he also wants to play. However, in an ideal world, you probably want to play a couple of matches and not more than that. Given how gruelling this series has been, and the fact that they've played some eight games on this tour, Test match cricket is super draining,' Bharucha observed. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Indian Express
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘It's about being an absolute goofball': How improv theatre is transforming India's creative culture, promoting fearless expression and boosting confidence off-stage
In dimly lit venues across India's metro cities, performers take the stage with nothing but a word from the audience. No script, no rehearsed lines, no safety net. What unfolds is the magic of pure spontaneity: scenes built from scratch, emerging from collective creativity, characters shaped in real time but feel lived in, and comedy that rises not from punchlines but the unpredictable chaos of human connection. This is improvisational theatre – improv – and it's quietly revolutionising India's creative culture. What makes it compelling is that improv turns the audience into active participants, inviting them to contribute ideas, suggest topics, or offer a single word that becomes the focal point of an entire performance. But, what has led to the growth of this art form in recent years? 'Who says I have that confidence?' asks Neville Bharucha, founder of The Sandbox Creative Academy, when asked about filling auditoriums for improv shows. 'Every time we have a show at a big venue like the NCPA, I check the ticket link every two hours to make sure tickets are selling.' Yet Bharucha has witnessed something remarkable: a steady stream of returning audiences. 'Today one person shows up, and tomorrow they come back with three more. It's such a euphoric live experience that once you attend an improv show, 90 per cent of the time, you'll return,' he tells This word-of-mouth momentum is driving India's improv scene shift from niche to mainstream. Mumbai and Bangalore have emerged as major hubs, and Delhi-NCR and some smaller cities are rapidly catching up. 'Now we can just jump on stage and say 'we're doing some improv', and the audience is ready,' says Bharucha. The form's appeal lies in its unpredictability, with every show being a unique experience that cannot be replicated. What sets India's improv scene apart is its emphasis on mental health and emotional healing. Gaurav Singh Nijjer, general manager at Kaivalya Plays, explains how his group prioritises performer wellbeing: 'In 2018, we received the inaugural Refunction grant from the Goethe-Institut to create Unravel, a full-length production exploring improv's therapeutic effects on mental health.' One of their unique practices is the concept of a 'safe spot' during sessions. 'At any point, if someone feels uncomfortable, they can go to their chosen spot in the room. No one is allowed to interact with them there. It gives them agency and emotional control,' says Nijjer. For some, improv has even helped address, and heal, childhood trauma. Mrinal Gautam, who facilitates workshops in Bir, Himachal Pradesh, recalls his first encounter: 'Standing at a distance from an improv troupe playing in Mumbai, I felt a wave of fear wash over me, goosebumps, sweaty palms, a mild panic attack,' he recalls. 'But as I walked away, something shifted. I thought, 'I'm done letting this fear run my life'.' His journey illustrates improv's transformative power. 'Core improv tenets like 'Yes, and…,' 'Take care of your partner,' 'Be silly,' 'Take risks,' and 'Stop pretending, start being yourself' weren't just stage directions; they were life teachings. Slowly, they began to shape how I lived,' says Gautam. The benefits of improv extend well beyond the performance space. Ankur Sardana, founder of the Nautankibaaz Improv Collective and a professional design leader, sees substantial overlap between improv and creative professions. 'Skills like empathy, spontaneity, storytelling and imagination are equally important for good designers and good improvisers,' he tells 'Without any exaggeration, I can confirm that teaching and practising improv makes you a better person. First, during those two hours you jam, and then slowly, in life,' he says. Bharucha agrees and says, 'People who don't come from performing arts backgrounds benefit the most. It helps boost their confidence, gets them to think quickly and more than anything, people find a new group of friends.' For many, improv also offers a counterbalance to rigid work-life structures. 'I hated the fact that I could not have a 9-to-5 job and also enjoy what the performing arts gave me,' said Bharucha, explaining why more people, regardless of their background, must get involved, just like he did. 'But it's like sport—you don't have to be a pro athlete to enjoy playing. Similarly, anyone can enjoy improv.' Improv's rise in the country coincides with interesting developments in India's comedy scene. Stand-up comedian Jackie Thakkar observes, 'Look at the latest viral stand-up clips – they're mostly crowd work,' says stand-up comedian Jackie Thakkar. 'Stand-up comics are adopting and embracing improvisational setups to crack their jokes.' Actor Sarthak Kathuria finds improv to be instrumental, even in scripted work. 'With scripts, you know the context, you feel secure. But improv teaches you to build that context in real time.' He recalls memorable exercises, such as the 'Alphabet Improv' game, where each line of dialogue must start with the next letter of the alphabet. Another favourite is from clowning practice – wordless scenes based entirely on exaggerated physical traits or quirks. 'You enter with a limp, or mimic a karate player. It forces you to commit fully to character. It's about being a goofball and making people laugh without saying a word,' he said. To stay relevant, Indian improv groups are adapting the form to suit their cultural and linguistic contexts. Nijjer's team performs in multiple languages. 'Since 2014, we've done shows in Hindi, and during the pandemic, we formed the India Improv Ensemble that performed in English, Hindi, Kannada, Punjabi, Telugu, and Marathi.' Relatable themes also help bridge the cultural gap. 'Our most popular shows are about the criminal underworld, murder mystery, familiar Bollywood themes and movies like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and the big fat Indian wedding,' says Nijjer. However, this popularity comes with responsibility. 'If we play LGBTQ+ characters on stage, we avoid stereotyping or easy laughs, sometimes disappointing audiences but educating them in the long run that we will challenge the narratives they have grown up with,' Nijjer explains. Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of improv is its approach to failure. Nijjer emphasises that in a culture where mistakes are often punished or mocked, improv embraces them. 'If a scene fails, you let it go. You move on. That's a revolutionary mindset in India,' says Nijjer. Gautam echoes this sentiment: 'It becomes a gentle path to emotional maturity. It teaches us how to live more fully, allowing all our parts to show up. In improv, failing isn't punished, it's celebrated.' Despite its growth, improv faces significant challenges in India. Sardana identifies key issues: 'We lack budget-friendly jamming and performance spaces. Also, there's this 'hobby' mindset—where joy takes a backseat to work.' Gautam adds that many still don't see improv as a legitimate pathway. 'Since it doesn't lead directly to money or career advancement, it's often dismissed.' There's also the challenge of differentiation. 'Lack of reference points makes it difficult to publicise improv,' Sardana notes. 'The Indian audience currently places improv against stand-up. Which is not a fair comparison.' What ultimately drives improv's appeal is that it allows performers to express themselves without the fear of messing things up. 'What audiences are starting to understand is that magic happens when things go wrong –– when we embrace the unexpected rather than fight it,' says Nijjer. In a world increasingly dominated by scripted content and predictable outcomes, improvisational theatre offers something rare: authentic human connection, genuine surprise, and the courage to embrace uncertainty. It's not just changing how Indians think about performance – it's changing how they think about life itself. As Bharucha reflects, 'I just want people to have fun. Whether it is learning improv or jumping on stage and performing, I always tell people their best show and worst show is always ahead of them. Just go on stage and have fun.' Swarupa is a Senior Sub Editor for the lifestyle desk at The Indian Express. With a passion for storytelling, she delves into the realms of art & culture, fitness, health, nutrition, psychology, and relationships, empowering her readers with valuable insights. ... Read More
New Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
London targets TN start-ups in push to deepen UK, India ties
CHENNAI: As the UK sharpens its pitch to Indian businesses in the wake of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, the city of London is organising roadshows in Tamil Nadu, primarily targeting the state's SaaS and the emerging deep tech and startup ecosystem. Hemin Bharucha, chief representative of the mayor of London and regional director - India and Middle East for London & Partners - the city's official business growth agency - is leading a roadshow in Coimbatore, Chennai and Madurai this week. 'Chennai is already known as the SaaS Capital of India,' Bharucha told TNIE. 'There is a strong base in AI/ML, Deeptech, VFX, gaming, and clean energy-sectors where London can offer both capital and market access.' 'With a highly skilled talent base, cost advantages and rising global ambition, Tamil Nadu's tech firms are well placed to leverage London as their next scale-up destination,' he said, describing the state as one of India's fastest growing innovation hubs. In 2023 alone, 31 Indian companies set up shop in the British capital, followed by 23 in 2024, and 12 more in the first quarter of the new financial year.
