Latest news with #COVID-enforced
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Back from brink: Mind coach recalls gritty Karun's fight to stay afloat after Test snub in 2018
Mullanpur , Karun Nair's fall into a world of despair back in 2018 is a well-documented tale of frustration but what pulled him out of that rut? The answer lies with Bengaluru-based mind coach Shree Advani, whom Karun consulted at his most vulnerable and the one who ensured that the talented batter did not allow his axing from the team, despite a rare triple ton in Tests, become a defining moment for his self-worth. Shree, brother of 28-time World Champion cueist Pankaj Advani, worked with Karun for a year and was left impressed with his dedication towards the game that had not returned his love back at the time. "We had to make him realise that the drop was not a reflection on his ability. And we had to keep the confidence in his ability high and make him understand that there is so much cricket left in him," Shree recalled in an interview to PTI, expressing his joy at Karun's comeback to the Test squad for the tour of England next month. Though he didn't do much wrong after becoming the second ever triple centurion from India in December 2016, Karun did not get too many chances the following year and when he warmed the bench for the entire tour of England in 2018, his frustration hit its peak. "Karun has gone through a lot in his career. After not getting opportunities on the entire tour of England, Karun was frustrated to say the least. It hit him hard and there were bound to be self doubts. You tend to question your self worth. Like 'what more do I need to do?'..." Shree remembered. However, the worst was yet to come as after COVID-enforced shutdowns, he was dropped from the Karnataka Ranji squad and his viral social media post, pleading for a chance to prove himself, followed. He was forced to move to Vidarbha where his career got a second wind that has now led to a Test comeback after eight years. Shree recalled the mind sessions with Karun between 2018 and 2019 and praised his ability to bounce back after hitting rock bottom. "But even at that time, his dedication towards the game stood out. My belief was that he is coming back stronger than ever," said Shree, who has worked with elite athletes from different sporting backgrounds. A forgotten notebook and red mustang ========================= Shree has lost count of the sessions he had with Karun but one interaction stays fresh in his mind. "So, he would take down notes during our sessions, which is something that I encourage. On that particular day, he left his notebook at home, he had driven down in his Mustang, which also got the number 303 . "When he realises he has forgotten the notebook, he drives back, picks it up, comes to see me. So, he was a very, very committed and dedicated student of the mind. And that is why I'm not surprised that he's, you know, right there at the top again, because of these kind of qualities," said Shree. The value of his 300 ============== Besides joining Virender Sehwag in the thin list of triple centurions in Tests, Karun also has a 300 to his name in Ranji Trophy. So, when he was suddenly out of selectors' radar, Shree felt it was important for him to stress on his glorious past. "...the 300 in Tests and Ranji, these things don't happen by chance. So, don't ever let a selector's decision define your calibre," the mind coach recalled telling him in one of the sessions. The chat with universe =============== "Dear Cricket, give me one chance," Karun had hopelessly written on Twitter in December 2022 after being dropped from the Karnataka squad. Now that the game has given him that chance, Shree reflected on Karun's state of mind at the time. "That tweet was him communicating with the universe more than the selectors. And, when you dial the universe, it picks up. It listens. It answers your call. And now that's exactly what has happened."
The Advertiser
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Galvin situation comes with more questions for Bulldogs
Canterbury will roll the dice on their best start to a season in 23 years, hoping to repeat history and make Lachlan Galvin the missing piece of a premiership puzzle. Bulldogs officials expect to have a clearer picture on the Galvin situation this week, after the Wests Tigers' teenage prodigy decided Canterbury was his club of choice. It remains possible the playmaker could be in Bulldogs colours next week, if a six-figure transfer fee can be agreed to get Galvin out of the last 17 months of his deal. That would allow the 19-year-old to take the field for the Bulldogs on June 9, against a Parramatta side he also met with last week. If a deal can be brokered, Galvin's move would represent one of the biggest mid-season transfers in history. Parramatta commanded headlines in 2017 when they got Mitchell Moses out of the Tigers early, on the way to that year's preliminary final. But the Eels were ninth on the ladder when they signed Moses, rather than in first place like Canterbury are now. Penrith also made use of a COVID-enforced loophole in 2021 when they signed Tevita Pangai Junior for three months on his way from Brisbane to the Bulldogs. Canterbury, meanwhile, have a history of making mid-season moves work. The effort to lure Rod Silva from the Sydney Roosters in 1995 was crucial in that year's run to the premiership, with Silva the club's long-needed answer at No.1. History almost repeated in 2012 when the Bulldogs brought in Sam Perrett and Krisnan Inu, with Inu in particular starring on the run to that year's grand final. The Galvin switch is not as simple, and there are questions over whether it has the potential to destabilise the Bulldogs. While Canterbury had holes at fullback in 1995 and out wide in 2012, there are no obvious gaps in this year's team. Halfback Toby Sexton has a 61 per cent win rate in the Canterbury No.7 jersey, but remains uncontracted beyond this year. The 24-year-old has so far attempted to block out talk about his future, but that noise will only grow louder once Galvin arrives. One option for coach Cameron Ciraldo would be to partner Galvin and Matt Burton in the halves, but that would be a tough call on Sexton after the club's 9-2 start. Another option could be to play Galvin off the bench or at lock initially, in a move that would help ease the Bulldogs' back-row shortage. Burton has also played centre at Penrith and the option of fullback has been suggested in recent days, allowing Galvin to partner with Sexton. But questions would then linger over the futures of Bronson Xerri or Connor Tracey, with the latter having collected more Dally M points than any Bulldog this year. The other quandary for Canterbury is what Galvin's arrival means for fellow 19-year-old Mitchell Woods, who has long been viewed as the Bulldogs' future No.7. Canterbury will roll the dice on their best start to a season in 23 years, hoping to repeat history and make Lachlan Galvin the missing piece of a premiership puzzle. Bulldogs officials expect to have a clearer picture on the Galvin situation this week, after the Wests Tigers' teenage prodigy decided Canterbury was his club of choice. It remains possible the playmaker could be in Bulldogs colours next week, if a six-figure transfer fee can be agreed to get Galvin out of the last 17 months of his deal. That would allow the 19-year-old to take the field for the Bulldogs on June 9, against a Parramatta side he also met with last week. If a deal can be brokered, Galvin's move would represent one of the biggest mid-season transfers in history. Parramatta commanded headlines in 2017 when they got Mitchell Moses out of the Tigers early, on the way to that year's preliminary final. But the Eels were ninth on the ladder when they signed Moses, rather than in first place like Canterbury are now. Penrith also made use of a COVID-enforced loophole in 2021 when they signed Tevita Pangai Junior for three months on his way from Brisbane to the Bulldogs. Canterbury, meanwhile, have a history of making mid-season moves work. The effort to lure Rod Silva from the Sydney Roosters in 1995 was crucial in that year's run to the premiership, with Silva the club's long-needed answer at No.1. History almost repeated in 2012 when the Bulldogs brought in Sam Perrett and Krisnan Inu, with Inu in particular starring on the run to that year's grand final. The Galvin switch is not as simple, and there are questions over whether it has the potential to destabilise the Bulldogs. While Canterbury had holes at fullback in 1995 and out wide in 2012, there are no obvious gaps in this year's team. Halfback Toby Sexton has a 61 per cent win rate in the Canterbury No.7 jersey, but remains uncontracted beyond this year. The 24-year-old has so far attempted to block out talk about his future, but that noise will only grow louder once Galvin arrives. One option for coach Cameron Ciraldo would be to partner Galvin and Matt Burton in the halves, but that would be a tough call on Sexton after the club's 9-2 start. Another option could be to play Galvin off the bench or at lock initially, in a move that would help ease the Bulldogs' back-row shortage. Burton has also played centre at Penrith and the option of fullback has been suggested in recent days, allowing Galvin to partner with Sexton. But questions would then linger over the futures of Bronson Xerri or Connor Tracey, with the latter having collected more Dally M points than any Bulldog this year. The other quandary for Canterbury is what Galvin's arrival means for fellow 19-year-old Mitchell Woods, who has long been viewed as the Bulldogs' future No.7. Canterbury will roll the dice on their best start to a season in 23 years, hoping to repeat history and make Lachlan Galvin the missing piece of a premiership puzzle. Bulldogs officials expect to have a clearer picture on the Galvin situation this week, after the Wests Tigers' teenage prodigy decided Canterbury was his club of choice. It remains possible the playmaker could be in Bulldogs colours next week, if a six-figure transfer fee can be agreed to get Galvin out of the last 17 months of his deal. That would allow the 19-year-old to take the field for the Bulldogs on June 9, against a Parramatta side he also met with last week. If a deal can be brokered, Galvin's move would represent one of the biggest mid-season transfers in history. Parramatta commanded headlines in 2017 when they got Mitchell Moses out of the Tigers early, on the way to that year's preliminary final. But the Eels were ninth on the ladder when they signed Moses, rather than in first place like Canterbury are now. Penrith also made use of a COVID-enforced loophole in 2021 when they signed Tevita Pangai Junior for three months on his way from Brisbane to the Bulldogs. Canterbury, meanwhile, have a history of making mid-season moves work. The effort to lure Rod Silva from the Sydney Roosters in 1995 was crucial in that year's run to the premiership, with Silva the club's long-needed answer at No.1. History almost repeated in 2012 when the Bulldogs brought in Sam Perrett and Krisnan Inu, with Inu in particular starring on the run to that year's grand final. The Galvin switch is not as simple, and there are questions over whether it has the potential to destabilise the Bulldogs. While Canterbury had holes at fullback in 1995 and out wide in 2012, there are no obvious gaps in this year's team. Halfback Toby Sexton has a 61 per cent win rate in the Canterbury No.7 jersey, but remains uncontracted beyond this year. The 24-year-old has so far attempted to block out talk about his future, but that noise will only grow louder once Galvin arrives. One option for coach Cameron Ciraldo would be to partner Galvin and Matt Burton in the halves, but that would be a tough call on Sexton after the club's 9-2 start. Another option could be to play Galvin off the bench or at lock initially, in a move that would help ease the Bulldogs' back-row shortage. Burton has also played centre at Penrith and the option of fullback has been suggested in recent days, allowing Galvin to partner with Sexton. But questions would then linger over the futures of Bronson Xerri or Connor Tracey, with the latter having collected more Dally M points than any Bulldog this year. The other quandary for Canterbury is what Galvin's arrival means for fellow 19-year-old Mitchell Woods, who has long been viewed as the Bulldogs' future No.7.
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Galvin situation comes with more questions for Bulldogs
Canterbury will roll the dice on their best start to a season in 23 years, hoping to repeat history and make Lachlan Galvin the missing piece of a premiership puzzle. Bulldogs officials expect to have a clearer picture on the Galvin situation this week, after the Wests Tigers' teenage prodigy decided Canterbury was his club of choice. It remains possible the playmaker could be in Bulldogs colours next week, if a six-figure transfer fee can be agreed to get Galvin out of the last 17 months of his deal. That would allow the 19-year-old to take the field for the Bulldogs on June 9, against a Parramatta side he also met with last week. If a deal can be brokered, Galvin's move would represent one of the biggest mid-season transfers in history. Parramatta commanded headlines in 2017 when they got Mitchell Moses out of the Tigers early, on the way to that year's preliminary final. But the Eels were ninth on the ladder when they signed Moses, rather than in first place like Canterbury are now. Penrith also made use of a COVID-enforced loophole in 2021 when they signed Tevita Pangai Junior for three months on his way from Brisbane to the Bulldogs. Canterbury, meanwhile, have a history of making mid-season moves work. The effort to lure Rod Silva from the Sydney Roosters in 1995 was crucial in that year's run to the premiership, with Silva the club's long-needed answer at No.1. History almost repeated in 2012 when the Bulldogs brought in Sam Perrett and Krisnan Inu, with Inu in particular starring on the run to that year's grand final. The Galvin switch is not as simple, and there are questions over whether it has the potential to destabilise the Bulldogs. While Canterbury had holes at fullback in 1995 and out wide in 2012, there are no obvious gaps in this year's team. Halfback Toby Sexton has a 61 per cent win rate in the Canterbury No.7 jersey, but remains uncontracted beyond this year. The 24-year-old has so far attempted to block out talk about his future, but that noise will only grow louder once Galvin arrives. One option for coach Cameron Ciraldo would be to partner Galvin and Matt Burton in the halves, but that would be a tough call on Sexton after the club's 9-2 start. Another option could be to play Galvin off the bench or at lock initially, in a move that would help ease the Bulldogs' back-row shortage. Burton has also played centre at Penrith and the option of fullback has been suggested in recent days, allowing Galvin to partner with Sexton. But questions would then linger over the futures of Bronson Xerri or Connor Tracey, with the latter having collected more Dally M points than any Bulldog this year. The other quandary for Canterbury is what Galvin's arrival means for fellow 19-year-old Mitchell Woods, who has long been viewed as the Bulldogs' future No.7.
