*Dhaka:* A last minute strike gave India a 5-4 victory in their final game against hosts Bangladesh and helped them lift the U-18 Asia Cup here yesterday.
In what was almost a replay of the opening game, the two teams treated the fans to a thrilling nine-goal encounter with India emerging triumphant in the end. India scored in the last 20 seconds to outplay Bangladesh and emerge champions.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01varun-dhawan-s.jpg
*Guwahati:* A carnival atmosphere will fill the air when the opening ceremony of India Super League 3 celebrates the cultural diversity and spirit of the eight sisters before familiar foes Northeast United FC and Kerala Blasters resume their rivalry on the pitch here today.
For long the hub for producing and nurturing talent who ply their trade in the ISL, the I-League and the Indian national sides, the region has been rewarded with the opening ceremony by the tournament organisers.
It would not be an overstatement to say that the ISL’s attempt at being recognised as the premier football tournament of India has been a success. This is largely due to the several high-profile signings over the past two years, and the emergence of new talent.
Former Atletico Madrid and Manchester United star Diego Forlan, Brazilian World Cup-winner Lucio, ex-Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda and former Liverpool and AS Roma star John Arne Riise are some of the big names leading various franchises in this edition of the tournament.
Besides the cultural part, act 1 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium will feature a bevy of Bollywood stars gyrating to hindi chartbusters.
Bollywood heartthrobs Jacqueline Fernandez, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, along with about 500 performers are ready to rock the stadium in the short, yet spectacular, 30-minute show.
NorthEast United owner John Abraham accompanied ISL Founder and Chairperson Nita Ambani to the state capital ahead of the much-awaited opening ceremony.
Mumbai City FC co-owner Ranbir Kapoor, Kerala Blasters FC co-owner Sachin Tendulkar and Chennaiyin FC co-owner Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be reaching today. The local flavour will be added by the famed Shillong Chamber Choir who have enthralled audiences across the globe. Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu will be another star attraction at the gala event.
As far as football is concerned, both Northeast United and Kerala Blasters missed out on qualification to the semi-finals of the league last year and will be eager to go that extra mile this year.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/Saha-fifty-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* New Zealand were 85 for four in their first innings in reply to India's 316 all out at tea on the second day the second cricket Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata today. Rain interrupted play, following which early tea was taken.
Earlier, Wriddhiman Saha added gloss to his growing reputation of scoring vital runs in the lower-order as India rode his brilliant half-century to post 316 in the first innings. At lunch, New Zealand were 21/2 after five overs. Stand-in captain Ross Taylor was batting on 2 while Henry Nicolls was unbeaten on 1.
Saha remained unbeaten on 54 (85b, 4x7, 6x2) as the hosts recovered from an early jolt on day one to put up a par total on a trying wicket. For the visitors, pacer Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers returning figures of 3/46 with Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Jeetan Patel bagging two wickets each.
The local boy looked in fine touch from the outset caressing the second ball of the day through covers for four elegantly. The diminutive stumper never looked back taking the Kiwi attack to the cleaners.
Preferring the off-side, Saha hit seven fours and two sixes en route to his half-century which he scored in 109 minutes.
In the fear of running out of partners, Saha upped the ante as soon as the other overnight batsman Ravindra Jadeja fell for 14.
The flamboyant Jadeja hit the first six of the match but was soon caught in the rivals' web. The southpaw ignored the two fielders on the leg side to tonk Mitchell Santner over deep mid-wicket. But his stay at the crease was short-lived as in the next over the Saurashtra allrounder took on a short ball hooking it straight to long leg.
The partnership of 41 for the eighth wicket was broken and the visitors had again picked up a wicket just when the duo were starting to look good. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami did not last long falling to Santner and Trent Boult, respectively, as the Indian essay folded 87 minutes into the morning session.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01WC-champions-s.jpg
Mahendra Singh Dhoni became a household name ever since India were crowned world champions in South Africa on his captaincy debut in 2007. Besides the Ranchi luminary’s achievements that embellish his cricketing resume, Dhoni also had his fair share of controversy, with some critics questioning the way he handled senior players in his quest to shape a team with younger legs.
'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story' which hit screens yesterday sadly had nothing that was untold, with the makers straying light years away from controversy. The film begins with Dhoni (played by Sushant Singh Rajput) in the dressing room watching India in a tight spot during the 2011 World Cup final, chasing 275 runs against Sri Lanka.
After Virat Kohli’s dismissal, Dhoni is seen telling coach Gary Kirsten (not shown in the frame) that he’s promoting himself up the order ahead of Yuvraj Singh.
*Array of cinematic effects*
What follows is an array of cinematic effects and Sushant’s impeccable acting skills, where you can actually see shades of Dhoni at Wankhede Stadium.
The film then abruptly flashes back to 1981 in a Ranchi hospital where Dhoni’s father Pan Singh (played by Anupam Kher) is waiting for the birth of his child.
What grips the viewer in this flick is the first half which shows Dhoni’s struggle — from a ticket collector to a trophy keeper. While the makers have done well to trace minute details in his life, especially when he was a TC at Kharagpur station, the sporting action is superficial. It is understandable that being a biopic, there will be a certain level of glorification, but cricket is a team sport and one expected to see dressing room scenes, player-banter, team talks, all of which were given a miss.
Dhoni’s rise to the captaincy was also surprisingly left out. However, in some parts, the makers have done a fairly good job when they explained how Dhoni mastered the helicopter shot. Another welcome cricketing moment is where Yuvraj slams a triple ton (358) for a winning cause against Bihar in the 1999 Cooch Behar Trophy. According to Dhoni, Bihar lost because his teammates were overpowered by Yuvraj’s reputation.
The second half doesn’t appeal much and the film loses its narrative and with it, a bit of sheen. In fact, there’s hardly any sporting action and Dhoni’s biopic now turns into a quintessential B-Town love story.
*Over-stretched movie*
Two romantic stories in the second half, with more songs than a BeeGees concert stretch this film to over three hours.
Interspersed in all of this are scenes of team selection prior to the 2007-08 CB series in Australia where Dhoni wanted a senior player to be dropped.
But the portion where a selector reveals the name of the unwanted player has been muted.
*ALSO READ: 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story' - Movie Review*
The film ends at the 2011 World Cup final where Dhoni smashes that famous six into the crowds to give India its second World Cup title. Ravi Shastri’s commentary echoes in the hall, almost giving you goose bumps.
Dhoni is at the centre of all this, almost coming across as though he single handedly powered India to victory. Five minutes each at the start and the end are the ones which will stick in memory.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01emily-s.jpg
Aussie legend Shane Warne turned out to be the talking point on social media yesterday, not because of his wizardry with the red cherry but due to model Emily Sears. Wondering how? The Australian babe posted a picture on Twitter replicating Warne’s run-up to the crease in a photoshoot, wearing just her lingerie. “Most iconic shoot I ever did tbh @ShaneWarne #classic,” Sears tweeted. Warne too was quite impressed with the picture. “Bowled @emilysears! You’re rocking the zinc cream hahaha,” he tweeted.
*Spin great Shane Warne retweeted the above picutre posted by Australian model Emily Sears*
The picture created quite a stir with some users, saying Emily’s seam position was wrong, while others said that “would probably come down the wicket to her bouncers.”
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01lodha-s.jpg
*Mumbai:* In the wake of the Lodha Committee recommendations, BCCI is staring at a leadership crisis as 95 per cent of the top brass will be wiped out if the report is implemented with retrospective effect. According to cricket board sources, this matter was discussed by the BCCI members at the Special General Meeting here before it was adjourned for today on technical grounds.
The discussions focused on the implications of the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed committee, with members feeling that the BCCI is caught between a rock and a hard place, said a source who attended the meeting. The members were of the view that if the recommendations are implemented, there will be chaos in Indian cricket as 95 per cent of the BCCI leadership will be wiped out, the sources said.
“We are sure that the Lodha Committee wants betterment of cricket, but who will run Indian cricket if the entire leadership is finished? There will be organisational chaos and it will spell doom for Indian cricket,” said a BCCI member.
The member noted that the situation has emerged in the middle of the cricket season, with 13 international Test matches lined up.
“If there is no experienced leadership, who will manage the affairs? Most work at the lower level is done by the honorary members,” he said.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01shirke-s.jpg
The petitioner in the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing scandal and Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) secretary Aditya Verma said the adjournment of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Special General Meeting (SGM) yesterday was nothing but a farce and termed BCCI officials as ‘Alibaba and 30 men’.
So far, the BCCI has convened several meetings successfully but maybe for the fist time the SGM had to be adjourned within a few minutes due to improper authorisation letters from some of the representatives of the state associations.
The SGM will now be held this afternoon. In the process, the BCCI has missed the deadline of September 30 set by the Lodha Committee for the implementation of the first stage of recommendations passed by the Supreme Court on July 18.
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla, who was present at the BCCI headquarters, said every representative attending the meeting will need an authorisation letter from the respective state associations. “Not everybody had that letter. Consequently, the meeting was adjourned. BCCI has given them a day’s time to get the letters as the nominees to attend the SGM,” Shukla, who was representing Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, said.
*Behaving like a novice*
It is hard to digest that state association secretaries, who themselves have convened their respective state association meetings several times, run the associations’ day-to-day affairs and are responsible for financial decisions involving lakhs of rupees, arrived at the SGM without proper documents.
“There is no issue of authorisation letter or documents; this is just an excuse. The fact is that no one went to attend this meeting (SGM) even after a proper invitation. BCCI is already divided into two groups. “This BCCI is the group of ‘Alibaba and his men’. I am sure they will not be able to decide on anything even after getting that additional 24 hours,” Verma told mid-day yesterday.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01ganguly-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* Sachin Tendulkar wardrobe secrets, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Ajay Jadeja’s unorganised off field habits were some of the anecdotes shared by the former India cricketers in a talk show at the Eden Gardens here yesterday.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly revealed that batting maestro Tendulkar would just ‘bat and shop’ during his playing days. “He would get a Test hundred and the next day you would see him shopping in an Armani or Versace and you will see them hanging in his wardrobe. He was very fond of his clothes and had a great wardrobe,” Ganguly remembered. Talking about VVS Laxman, Ganguly said the elegant Hyderabadi batsman was a perennial latecomer.
“You would see him taking a shower even as the No 4 and 5 batters were at the crease. Even he would be the last to board the team bus,” Ganguly said in a talk show, organised on the occasion of Kolkata hosting India’s 250th Test on home soil. The show also featured India coach Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev and Virender Sehwag. Often credited for changing the face of Indian cricket by bringing in aggression to the table, Ganguly said his teammates were his jewels who delivered for him.
“Viru at top with his batting and when you came to bowl you knew you’ve one (Kumble) who can bowl and give you wickets on any surface. He would say, ‘You give me runs on the scoreboard and I will win you Tests.’ He did exactly did that.”
Sehwag gave credit to Ganguly and Kumble and also named MS Dhoni, saying that a successful player has a great captain behind him.
“Dada had only one motive to win overseas and become number one. Their captaincy was attacking and to back their boys was their strength. I remember having dinner and Kumble told me you would play the next four matches, performance would not matter, just go and give your 100 per cent. Kapil Dev named former opener Navjot Singh Sidhu and middle-order batsman Ajay Jadeja as the most unorganised off the field.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01rahane-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* Ajinkya Rahane tends to score big in the second Test of most series. He came good to an extent, hit one in the air which substitute fielder Doug Bracewell couldn’t get hold of but perished through the guile of off-spinner Jeetan Patel who had the Mumbai mainstay leg before for 77.
On the last tour of the West Indies, Rahane scored a hundred in the second Test at Kingston, Jamaica where India batted just once. Same was the case against Sri Lanka at the P Sara Oval, Sri Lanka’s first Test ground where India beat the hosts by 278 runs. Also, at Lord’s in the English summer of 2014.
There was a hundred for the taking yesterday too on Day One of the second Test against New Zealand, but the day ended in disappointment for India – 239 for seven. The man himself was frank. “It was not a good day for us. We had a few soft dismissals, but the partnership between me and Pujara was crucial. Pujara and me will take the blame as we both were set. It was our responsibility to carry the partnership forward. A batsman just needs one ball to get out, but if we could have scored a century each, our position would have been different. I am not blaming anyone. Maybe, it was our responsibility,” Rahane told the media at the end of the day.
*Tough conditions*
The humid conditions were a surprise to the hosts as well and Rahane thanked the fans who watched Day One of India’s 250th Test at home. “It was very tough and credit should be given to the ones who turned up. If there’s shade and good facilities available, people will turn up. It will be good for cricket,” he said, something which the Cricket Association of Bengal authorities should take note of.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who came into this Test match with talk surrounding his strike rate, was determined to go the distance and sent his critics running for cover with every shot that beat the enthusiastic New Zealanders.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/afridi-twitter-peace-s.jpg
'Boom Boom' Shahid Afridi is known for his confrontational attitude, but the former Pakistan skipper seems to have mellowed with age and on Friday showed his pacifist avatar.
The Indian Army's 'surgical strike' in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan's response to it is currently the hottest topic of discussion among citizens of both countries and how could Afridi stay away.
On Friday, reacting to the escalating tension, the Pakistani cricketer urged that two neighbouring countries to avoid war and give peace a chance.
Afridi posted on Twitter that Pakistan was a peace loving country and that they wanted cordial relations with everyone. "Pakistan is a peace loving nation, why talk about extreme measures when things can be resolved through dialogues?” the former T20 skipper asked.
"Pakistan wants cordial relationship with all. When two neighbours fight both homes are effected (affected). Say No to war. #Pakistan #India #Peace #neighbours," he tweeted.
Pakistan is a peace loving nation,y talk abt extreme measures when things can be resolved through dialogues. Pakistan wants cordial 1/2
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 29, 2016
Relationship with all. When 2 neighbours fight both homes are effected. #sayno2war #pakistan #peace #india #neighbours
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 29, 2016
While he did talk about de-escalating tensions among the neighbours, what upset many Twitterati was his calling Palistan a 'peace-loving nation'.
People took to the platform in droves to respond to the all-rounder's tweets.
*HERE'S HOW TWITTERATI RESPONDED:*
@SAfridiOfficial LOL! Peace or (leg)Piece loving nation? Dialogues? Stop watching movies! Dialogue with a nation that breeds terrorists?
— Caustic News (@CausticNews) September 30, 2016
. @SAfridiOfficial ðÂÂÂð Joke of d year ð peace loving PAK
— Arnab Goswami (@DwivediJISpeaks) September 29, 2016
@DwivediJISpeaks @SAfridiOfficial Y isn't no team playing since 2009 in Pak, Afridi?? U must b living in fools paradise
— Indrajit_G (@ig2015) September 30, 2016
@SAfridiOfficial Pakistan is a peace loving nation??? Bwahahahahahaha! Biggest joke of the day. #IndiaStrikesBack
— Panun Kashmir (@WandererSS6) September 29, 2016
@SAfridiOfficial Out of favour in cricket, and want to try your hand at comedy? All the best!
— Giridharan KESAVAN (@girikesavan) September 30, 2016
@SAfridiOfficial pic.twitter.com/szv5XPD4hw
— Gopal (@NeerGopal) September 30, 2016
@SAfridiOfficial Peace loving country!!! Say this to the families of the soldiers who lost heir life in #UriAttack and many other attacks
— Sai Teja Reddy (@tejaspeakz) September 30, 2016
@SAfridiOfficial check out what rubbish this account is doing @defencepk .. and this is your defence ðÂÂÂ
— Prathamesh (@Pratham_10) September 29, 2016
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/11-Anurag-Thakur_s.jpg
*Dharamsala*: BCCI president Anurag Thakur today condoled the demise of Vikrant Kumar, an Under-23 cricketer from Himachal Pradesh, who died in an accident. "It is extremely sad to learn about the sudden tragic death of Vikrant. He was a very bright boy and would have definitely made HPCA and the entire state of Himachal proud," said Thakur, who is also the president of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30matt-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* Riding on some disciplined bowling, New Zealand bowlers restricted India to 239/7 on the opening day of the second Test at the iconic Eden Gardens on Friday after a resolute Cheteshwhar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had pulled India out of the rut.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, India were off to a pathetic start before Cheteshwar Pujara (87) and Ajinkya Rahane (77) put on a 141-run stand for the fourth wicket to bail the team out of trouble.
At stumps, stumper Wriddhiman Saha (14 not out) and Ravindra Jadeja, who was yet to open his account, were at the crease.
For the visitors, pacer Matt Henry (3/35) and off-spinner Jeetan Patel (2/66) were the wicket-takers along with Trent Boult (1/33) and Neil Wagner (1/37).
India's vaunted batting line-up failed to recover from the early blows dealt by New Zealand's concerted bowling effort and gave the honours of India's 250th home Test to the visitors.Barring Cheteshwar Pujara (87) and Ajinkya Rahane (77), none of the batsmen came good after skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat on the relaid pitch of the historic Eden Gardens stadium.The Kiwis, who were dealt a blow this morning when regular skipper and top batsman Kane Williamson was ruled out of match owing to illness, showed tremendous resilience to put up a fine first day show.India, who will regain the top spot in ICC rankings if they seal the three-match series in this match, did not make a very good start and lost their top-three batsmen even before the score had touched 50.Pujara and Rahane's dogged fourth-wicket stand of 141 was the high point for India today.
For the in-form Pujara, it was his third half-century from as many innings but a lapse in concentration ended his patient innings for 87 that came off 219 deliveries and was studded with 17 hits to the fence.
From being 46/3 in a jittery first session, Pujara and Rahane batted with grit and determination under the blazing afternoon heat and energy-sapping humidity.
The duo's stand spanned three hours and nine minutes but the Kiwis made an impact in the final session snapping four wickets. Pujara was set up brilliantly by left-arm pacer Neil Wagner, who put a short cover for him, and the Indian holed out to Martin Guptill.
It was not a good day at his favourite ground for Rohit Sharma (2), who was dismissed by Patel. The right-hander also looked to have hurt his left shoulder while attempting a single.For the Kiwis, it was a tale of two comeback men as first 24-year-old Henry (3/35), who had replaced their pace spearhead Tim Southee created quite a flutter by removing both the openers -- Shikhar Dhawan (1) and Murali Vijay (9).Off the second ball of his first over, Henry bowled Dhawan who tried to cut in an angled delivery only to drag the ball back to his stumps.
Replacing Lokesh Rahul, Dhawan's stint lasted just 10 balls with scorecard reading 1/1 in the second over. Vijay also perished to a beauty from the youngster playing only his fifth Test.Continuing a rare lean patch, skipper Kohli (9) was steadying the ship with a set Pujara, but Trent Boult (1/33) dismissed the skipper. Kohli got carried away after an exquisite cover drive that was cheered by the small turnout and went for an IPL-like shot chasing a ball way outside the off-stump to be caught brilliantly by Tom Latham.The dismissal less than half an before the lunch break disturbed India's recovery plan before Pujara and Rahane held firm in the second session.
Pujara, in the midst of a storm over his slow strike rate, gave an exhibition of classy batsmanship to complete his 10th half-century in 37 Test matches.
Pujara played in his typical gritty manner, but was also ruthless on the loose balls as the wicket eased out under the afternoon sun and gave little or no purchase to the New Zealand bowlers.
He reached his half-century by steering Wagner to the fence past backward point, the landmark coming off 146 balls after a 185-minute stay. But 44 of those runs came courtesy 11 boundaries.
Rahane also looked solid and cautiously aggressive as the New Zealand bowlers failed to get any success in the second session, after dominating the first.
In the morning, India struggled to reach 57/3 at lunch with the New Zealand bowlers seizing the initiative on a lively and grassy track that gave their pacers, particularly Matt Henry, carry from the wicket, and they repeatedly went tantalisingly close to finding the batsmen's outside edge. Both Henry and Trent Boult bowled to a plan, maintaining a line on or just outside the off-stump.
India began on a wrong note after winning the toss, losing openers Shikhar Dhawan (1) and Murali Vijay (9) by the first drinks interval.
Skipper Virat Kohli (9) also failed to break his Eden Gardens jinx in the longest format of the game.
The dashing batsman chased a ball wide outside the off stump and finished in the hands of Tom Latham at gully. It was a brilliant catch as Latham virtually plucked the leather from thin air.
Kohli has now totalled 38 runs in four Test innings at the Eden, at a niggardly average of 9.50.
New Zealand got a huge jolt before the match as their skipper and batting mainstay Kane Williamson was ruled out due to indisposition with Ross Taylor becoming the stand-in captain.
India made two changes from the team that played the first Test at Kanpur. Shikhar Dhawan replaced the injured Lokesh Rahul, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar made it to the final XI in place of Umesh Yadav.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/ambani-isl-s.jpg
Indian Super League (ISL) Founding Chairperson Nita Ambani on Thursday met all eight ISL club owners along with host broadcaster Star Sports in Mumbai ahead of the League’s 2016 season kick-off.
The teams were represented by Dr Anil Sharma (Delhi Dynamos FC), Akshay Tandon (FC Goa), Kapil Wadhawan (FC Pune City), Ranbir Kapoor (Mumbai City FC), Abhishek Bachchan (Chennaiyin FC), John Abraham (NorthEast United FC), Sanjiv Goenka (Atletico de Kolkata), Sanjay Gupta (Star India) and N Prasad (Kerala Blasters FC).
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/dhawan30sept-s.jpg
Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan, who is yet to find proper form, was at the receiving end of Twitter users when he was dismissed for just 1 run in the second Test against New Zealand in Kolkata today.
Dhawan, who came in as a replacement for injured KL Rahul, got out bowled by Matt Henry. Indian Test captain Virat Kohli chose Shikhar Dhawan over a returning Gautam Gambhir.
Fans on Twitter vented their anger in humorous ways and Dhawan was the butt of all jokes.
What does Shikhar Dhawan hv in common with Michael Jackson? They both wear gloves for no apparent reason. Seen on Twitter. LoL. :)
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) September 30, 2016
Shikhar Dhawan Is Doing #SurgicalStrike Against India For More Than A Year Now. It's Time To Strike Him Off Indian Team Now.#IndvNZ #INDvsNZ
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) September 30, 2016
Shikhar Dhawan lives up to everyone's expectations, yet again
— VIVEK KOKA (@Vivek_Koka) September 30, 2016
Thank you Shikhar Dhawan, because of you even our number 3 batsmen can become competent openers.#IndVsNZ
— The Viral Fever (@TheViralFever) September 30, 2016
Not watching test match...but I'm 200% sure why Shikhar Dhawan is trending!!ðÂÂÂðÂÂÂ
— Gauresh Mahadik (@Gaureshsm53) September 30, 2016
A biopic on Shikhar Dhawan will just be a montage of him wearing pads, going to the field and coming back immediately, played in a loop.
— Ushnota Paul (@journojuno) September 30, 2016
Shikhar Dhawan should be the
next brand ambassador of
Maggi noodles because 2 mins
that's how much time he
spends at the crease.
— zoy_pal (@zoy_pal) September 30, 2016
Kohli should have rather let Amit Mishra open with Murali Vijay today than Shikhar Dhawan ðÂÂÂðÂÂÂðÂÂÂ
— Abhishek (@ImAbhishek_) September 30, 2016
Indian fans reaction... when they came to know Shikhar Dhawan will play and not Gautam Gambhir pic.twitter.com/d9MsdAehuV
— rohit jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) September 30, 2016
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/sep/hingis29sept-s.jpg*Martina Hingis. Pic/ AFP*
>>Martina Hingis was born in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. She then moved to Switzerland.
>>She was named after tennis great Martina Navratilova.
>>She turned pro at the age of 14.
>>She reached the no. 1 ranking in the singles at a record age of 16.
>>She is also the youngest ever Grand Slam singles champion
>>Her favourite food dish is Sushi.
>>Hingis has dated a list of sportsmen – tennis players Magnus Norman, Ivo Heuberger and Julian Alonso, golfer Sergio Garcia. She was also engaged briefly to tennis star Radek Stepanek. She also married a much younger Thibault Hutin, a show jumper but parted ways.
>>She has 5 singles grand slams to her name – 3 Australian Open titles and 1 Wimbledon and US Open each.
>>She has won the double grand slam an impressive 11 times. – 4 Australia Open, 2 French
Open, 3 Wimbledon and 2 US Open titles.
>>In 2001, Hingis sued the company Sergio Tacchini for their defective manufactured shoes due to which she suffered a foot injury.
>>She retired in 2003 at age 22 only to come out of retirement ten years later in 2013.
>>She was banned during the Wimbledon 2007 for testing positive for cocaine.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/nadal30sept-s.jpg
Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal displayed his heroics on court in a different way when he halted an exhibition match mid-way to help a mom and her daughter reunite.
Nadal was playing an exhibition doubles match along with Simon Solbas against John McEnroe and Carlos Moya in Mallorca, when a huge commotion took place in the crowd.
Watch the video below.
A mother lost her daughter in the crowd during the game and TV footage showed her desperate search for the little girl.
Nadal paused in the middle of his serve after noticing the child missing. Soon, the crowd looked on to find the little girl, shouting out her name 'Clara' and shorty afterwards, she was reunited with her mom.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30gambhir-kohli-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* Gautam Gambhir, it seems, will have to wait a little longer for his return to Test cricket as India is most likely to bring in Shikhar Dhawan in place of injured KL Rahul and retain the rest of the squad, which played in Kanpur. Today’s Test here against New Zealand is India’s 250th at home.
Gambhir didn’t bat in the nets but did some knocking on an adjoining pitch. Dhawan, who didn’t play the first Test, had a good session in the nets and is all set to accompany Murali Vijay to open the India innings. With India’s main spinner R Ashwin nursing an injury there were some speculation that the uncapped offie Jayant Yadav might get a look in given that the visitors have as many as six left-handers in the team. But skipper Virat Kohli ruled out any such possibility, stating that Ashwin was “absolutely fine”.
There were some talk to let Cheteshwar Pujara open the innings with Vijay and bring in leggie Amit Mishra as the third spinner since the Eden Gardens wicket is expected to assist spinners as the match progresses.
But Kohli, like he did in Kanpur, is almost certain that he would rather prefer the six-batsmen cushion and stick to the same bowling side which helped India win the first Test.
The pitch too doesn’t look as dry as it was in Kanpur.
It will have something for the fast bowlers too as there is some moisture but it is most likely to help the spinners from the third day. India did not put a foot wrong in Kanpur even as Kohli’s bold move to go with a four-prone bowling attack surprised many.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30bell-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* Kapil Dev is delighted and honoured to be the first cricket great to ring the bell which will signal the start of today’s India vs New Zealand Test at the Eden Gardens.
Speaking from New Delhi yesterday morning, Kapil said that he was happy to note that the installing of the Lord’s Cricket Ground-like bell was a result of Indian cricket officials travelling and noticing different grounds around the world.
He was also happy when told that now cricketers will have a clock to view from the iconic ground, something that was missing at the Eden Gardens until last year.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30laxman-s.jpg
Legendary Indian batsman VVS Laxman highlighted the contribution and impact the Bhagavad Gita and junior cricket coach Sandeep Patil made on his overall progress as a cricketer, while delivering the eighth Dilip Sardesai Memorial Lecture at the Cricket Club of India yesterday.
“I understood the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita from which I derived inspiration (Chapter 12 —the Bhakti Yoga). Those teachings remained with me for the rest of my cricketing career and beyond. I learnt that I could not influence my selection one way or the other apart from scoring runs... lots of them,” Laxman explained at the CK Nayudu Hall.
*'It was fun'*
“There is no guarantee of scoring runs no matter how gifted or talented you might be. The only thing in my control was education, commitment, effort, hard work and labour. So I got involved fully in cricket. It was fun because that was something I wanted to do,” the 41-year-old Laxman added.
Laxman, who represented the Indian under-19 team in two Test home series against Australia and England in 1994, scored three half centuries and also remained unbeaten on 151 against an Australian attack comprising Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Andrew Symonds. “Sandeepbhai (Patil) was another hero of mine while growing, because of his swagger and style as well as his fearless approach. To have him in our dressing room, helping us with his inputs and expertise meant a lot to us,” Laxman said.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30roseberg-s.jpg
*Kuala Lumpur:* Nico Rosberg, back in the championship lead, is bidding to extend his winning streak this weekend with a maiden victory in Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix. The German vaulted back to the top of the standings with a clear eight points lead ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton following his win in the Singapore Grand Prix a fortnight ago.
*Singapore did Nico good*
That triumph, on a weekend when Hamilton put on an uncharacteristically error-riddled display, was his third in a row with the 31-year-old also winning the preceding races in Belgium and Italy.
Never has Rosberg been so strong in the second half of the year. The manner of his Singapore win, with the German holding an edge over Hamilton throughout the weekend, marked a return to form after a lacklustre middle part of the season.
The Singapore win was also his eighth of the season. No driver has ever failed to take the title after scoring eight or more wins in a season and Rosberg heads into Sunday’s race looking like a much stronger contender for the title than he did heading into Formula One’s annual August summer break.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30atletico-s.jpg
*Madrid:* Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone hailed his side’s display as one of the best in his hugely successful five-year reign in charge as Yannick Carrasco inflicted another 1-0 defeat for Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon.
Simeone’s men also beat Bayern at home in April on their way to a second Champions League final in three years. And the Argentine lauded Atletico’s tactical discipline as they secured an incredible 15th clean sheet and 14th win in 18 home Champions League games under Simeone.
“I feel so proud to be the coach of this team,” said Simeone. “I liked everything today. We pressed high, took advantage of spaces on the counter-attack and played with intensity for 90 minutes, which is very difficult to do against one of the best teams in the world. “Tactically, the team interpreted the game fantastically. It was one of the best performances in my time at Atletico Madrid.”*Diego Simeone*
Carrasco fired home the winner 10 minutes before half-time after Jan Oblak had denied Thomas Muller with a stunning save early on with Bayern’s best effort.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30southgate-s.jpg
*London:* Gareth Southgate promised to bring some “stability” to the England set-up after Sam Allardyce’s shock exit as the national side’s manager.
“It’s obviously been a difficult situation for the Football Association but it was important that there was some stability and continuity for everybody,” Southgate said. “So, from my point of view, it was important to step forward and give us the best possible chance to win these games.”
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30katie-price-s.jpg
Brit model and television star Katie Price insists she never had sex with Dutch footballer Fernando Ricksen and would have sued him over his false claims had it not been for his terminal illness.
Ricksen, best known for his six-year spell at Rangers, is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. Earlier in 2003, he claimed to have had sex with Jordan (Price’s previous pseudonym).
In his autobiography, he said: “The sex was amazing. It was a once-in-a-lifetime I will never, ever forget. I was having problems with my ex-wife Graciela and we’d split up. I was on the prowl again. That night I was damn proud of myself.”
However, Price vehemently slammed whatever happened.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30woods-s.jpg
*Chaska (US):* Tiger Woods has endured two tough runner-up finishes in majors at Hazeltine, but he could be reduced even further, to sandwich delivery man, at the Ryder Cup here this week.
Woods, is serving as an assistant to US captain Davis Love at this week’s 41st edition of the US-Europe team golf showdown. Long-hitting teammate JB Holmes said he thought Woods was prepared to come through in whatever way needed.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30wengerarsenal-s.jpg
*London:* Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to completely rule out accepting a potential offer to take charge of England at the end of the season.
Wenger has been linked with the England job following the Football Association’s decision to part company with Sam Allardyce on Tuesday. Quizzed on possible England interest after Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Basel, Wenger stopped short of confirming he would snub an FA approach.
Asked if he was flattered to be linked with the job, Wenger said: “Of course, but my priority has always been Arsenal and until the end of this season I am here.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30barcapique-s.jpg
*Monchengladbach:* Gerard Pique said committing fewer second-half errors was the key to Barcelona’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday as they proved they can win in the Champions League without injured Lionel Messi. Thorgan Hazard gave Gladbach a first-half lead. But goals in the final 25 minutes, from Arda Turan and Gerard Pique, sealed Barcelona’s second win.
“They scored with the only chance they had in the first half, but the game is 90 minutes long and they put in a huge effort,” said match-winner Pique. “They didn’t have the same legs in the second half and we made fewer mistakes in midfield. By losing possession less and them running less they had fewer counter-attacks and it was more difficult for them.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/29boomer-s.jpg
USA’s legendary swimmer Michael Phelps’ four-month-old baby Boomer has been the cynosure of all eyes since making his most famous initial public appearances during his 23-time Olympic gold medal-winning father’s heroics at the Rio Olympics.
*September 30: With Kelly Slater*
*September 26: With Taylor Hill*
Across the last month or so, Boomer has confidently shared space with some of USA’s most famous faces. He boasts of a whopping 739,000 followers on social media outlet, Instagram, which easily overshadows his mother, Nicole Johnson’s list of 426,000 followers. Boomer has had a ball on the TV sets of renowned US talk show hosts Jimmy Fallon and Ellen DeGeneres among others, besides raising TRPs with appearances on USA Today and NBC shows.
*September 23: With Ellen DeGeneres*
*September 2: With Jimmy Fallon*
He has also spent time with millionaire reality TV judge Simon Cowell and took a weekend break with his parents to Milan, where he ‘flirted’ with lingerie model Taylor Hill. “Sooo I guess I love to flirt. I wonder how I did? @taylor_hill,” read Boomer’s Instagram post on Sunday night. This morning, Boomer posed alongside champion surfer Kelly Slater after the surfer played a few rounds of celebrity golf with Phelps Sr in the build up to the Ryder Cup. Undoubtedly, Hollywood can’t get enough of its most famous baby!
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30ganguly-s.jpghttp://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30pepguardiola-s.jpg
*Glasgow:* Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed hope his players would learn their lesson after losing their 100 percent season record in a spectacular 3-3 Champions League draw at Celtic.
Aiming to equal Tottenham Hotspur’s English record of 11 straight wins at the start of a season, City had to come from behind three times to earn a point on Wednesday.
“This club was 25, 26 years without playing in Europe and last year was the first time to go further than the quarter-finals,” Guardiola said. “So that will be a good lesson. Europe is special. Teams are so strong. It doesn’t matter where. The opponent here, Celtic, is an amazing environment, with the fans, and we knew that.
“We had many chances to win. We scored three away goals and we created more clear chances.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30edris-elba-s.jpg
*London:* Actor Idris Elba is to have his first professional kickboxing bout in October.
The 44-year-old star has decided to take his hobby to the next level and is actually travelling to Thailand for the fight, reported Female First.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30button-s.jpghttp://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30rene-s.jpg
Despite winning gold in the District Sports Office (DSO) inter-school athletics meet high jump girls U-17 event yesterday at Sports Authority of India (SAI), Kandivli, Ryan International’s (Malad) Rene Desai was a bit disappointed as she missed out on bettering her personal best by a whisker. Rene managed to post a height of 1.55 metres.
She was just 0.01 metres short of her personal best of 1.56 m which she achieved in January at the 61st National Schools Athletic Championships in Kerala.
“It was a bit disappointing. I tried to get a new personal best. It did not happen but it’s fine,” the 15-year-old Desai told mid-day yesterday.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/sourav-ganguly-scare-s.jpg
*Kolkata: *Sourav Ganguly on Thursday survived a scare at his very own Eden Gardens when the club house lift of more than 29 years malfunctioned and the former India captain had to be pulled out using a stool on the eve of the second Test versus New Zealand.
On his way to his office on the first floor, the old manually operated grill door lift got stuck between the two levels and the securitymen quickly pressed into action to avoid any mishap.
"We quickly disconnected the power and manually opened the door. A stool was lowered inside and Dada came out by climbing on it," a security official told PTI.
A switch-over in power supply led to this embarrassing incident around 5pm.
"When such things happen we quickly turn off the power and open the grill lock manually," the security added.
The lift was installed during the renovation work of the stadium way back in 1987 when it hosted the World Cup final, a former CAB secretary said.
The fabled Eden has gone for a major facelift in the 2011 World Cup but the age old lift has remained untouched and incidentally this is the only lift that the iconic BC Roy Clubhouse has.
"We have proposal to change the lift and install a high tech automatic one but it will take sometime," the official added. Reported by Mid-Day 17 hours ago.
In what was almost a replay of the opening game, the two teams treated the fans to a thrilling nine-goal encounter with India emerging triumphant in the end. India scored in the last 20 seconds to outplay Bangladesh and emerge champions.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01varun-dhawan-s.jpg
*Guwahati:* A carnival atmosphere will fill the air when the opening ceremony of India Super League 3 celebrates the cultural diversity and spirit of the eight sisters before familiar foes Northeast United FC and Kerala Blasters resume their rivalry on the pitch here today.
For long the hub for producing and nurturing talent who ply their trade in the ISL, the I-League and the Indian national sides, the region has been rewarded with the opening ceremony by the tournament organisers.
It would not be an overstatement to say that the ISL’s attempt at being recognised as the premier football tournament of India has been a success. This is largely due to the several high-profile signings over the past two years, and the emergence of new talent.
Former Atletico Madrid and Manchester United star Diego Forlan, Brazilian World Cup-winner Lucio, ex-Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda and former Liverpool and AS Roma star John Arne Riise are some of the big names leading various franchises in this edition of the tournament.
Besides the cultural part, act 1 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium will feature a bevy of Bollywood stars gyrating to hindi chartbusters.
Bollywood heartthrobs Jacqueline Fernandez, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, along with about 500 performers are ready to rock the stadium in the short, yet spectacular, 30-minute show.
NorthEast United owner John Abraham accompanied ISL Founder and Chairperson Nita Ambani to the state capital ahead of the much-awaited opening ceremony.
Mumbai City FC co-owner Ranbir Kapoor, Kerala Blasters FC co-owner Sachin Tendulkar and Chennaiyin FC co-owner Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be reaching today. The local flavour will be added by the famed Shillong Chamber Choir who have enthralled audiences across the globe. Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu will be another star attraction at the gala event.
As far as football is concerned, both Northeast United and Kerala Blasters missed out on qualification to the semi-finals of the league last year and will be eager to go that extra mile this year.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/Saha-fifty-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* New Zealand were 85 for four in their first innings in reply to India's 316 all out at tea on the second day the second cricket Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata today. Rain interrupted play, following which early tea was taken.
Earlier, Wriddhiman Saha added gloss to his growing reputation of scoring vital runs in the lower-order as India rode his brilliant half-century to post 316 in the first innings. At lunch, New Zealand were 21/2 after five overs. Stand-in captain Ross Taylor was batting on 2 while Henry Nicolls was unbeaten on 1.
Saha remained unbeaten on 54 (85b, 4x7, 6x2) as the hosts recovered from an early jolt on day one to put up a par total on a trying wicket. For the visitors, pacer Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers returning figures of 3/46 with Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Jeetan Patel bagging two wickets each.
The local boy looked in fine touch from the outset caressing the second ball of the day through covers for four elegantly. The diminutive stumper never looked back taking the Kiwi attack to the cleaners.
Preferring the off-side, Saha hit seven fours and two sixes en route to his half-century which he scored in 109 minutes.
In the fear of running out of partners, Saha upped the ante as soon as the other overnight batsman Ravindra Jadeja fell for 14.
The flamboyant Jadeja hit the first six of the match but was soon caught in the rivals' web. The southpaw ignored the two fielders on the leg side to tonk Mitchell Santner over deep mid-wicket. But his stay at the crease was short-lived as in the next over the Saurashtra allrounder took on a short ball hooking it straight to long leg.
The partnership of 41 for the eighth wicket was broken and the visitors had again picked up a wicket just when the duo were starting to look good. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami did not last long falling to Santner and Trent Boult, respectively, as the Indian essay folded 87 minutes into the morning session.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01WC-champions-s.jpg
Mahendra Singh Dhoni became a household name ever since India were crowned world champions in South Africa on his captaincy debut in 2007. Besides the Ranchi luminary’s achievements that embellish his cricketing resume, Dhoni also had his fair share of controversy, with some critics questioning the way he handled senior players in his quest to shape a team with younger legs.
'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story' which hit screens yesterday sadly had nothing that was untold, with the makers straying light years away from controversy. The film begins with Dhoni (played by Sushant Singh Rajput) in the dressing room watching India in a tight spot during the 2011 World Cup final, chasing 275 runs against Sri Lanka.
After Virat Kohli’s dismissal, Dhoni is seen telling coach Gary Kirsten (not shown in the frame) that he’s promoting himself up the order ahead of Yuvraj Singh.
*Array of cinematic effects*
What follows is an array of cinematic effects and Sushant’s impeccable acting skills, where you can actually see shades of Dhoni at Wankhede Stadium.
The film then abruptly flashes back to 1981 in a Ranchi hospital where Dhoni’s father Pan Singh (played by Anupam Kher) is waiting for the birth of his child.
What grips the viewer in this flick is the first half which shows Dhoni’s struggle — from a ticket collector to a trophy keeper. While the makers have done well to trace minute details in his life, especially when he was a TC at Kharagpur station, the sporting action is superficial. It is understandable that being a biopic, there will be a certain level of glorification, but cricket is a team sport and one expected to see dressing room scenes, player-banter, team talks, all of which were given a miss.
Dhoni’s rise to the captaincy was also surprisingly left out. However, in some parts, the makers have done a fairly good job when they explained how Dhoni mastered the helicopter shot. Another welcome cricketing moment is where Yuvraj slams a triple ton (358) for a winning cause against Bihar in the 1999 Cooch Behar Trophy. According to Dhoni, Bihar lost because his teammates were overpowered by Yuvraj’s reputation.
The second half doesn’t appeal much and the film loses its narrative and with it, a bit of sheen. In fact, there’s hardly any sporting action and Dhoni’s biopic now turns into a quintessential B-Town love story.
*Over-stretched movie*
Two romantic stories in the second half, with more songs than a BeeGees concert stretch this film to over three hours.
Interspersed in all of this are scenes of team selection prior to the 2007-08 CB series in Australia where Dhoni wanted a senior player to be dropped.
But the portion where a selector reveals the name of the unwanted player has been muted.
*ALSO READ: 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story' - Movie Review*
The film ends at the 2011 World Cup final where Dhoni smashes that famous six into the crowds to give India its second World Cup title. Ravi Shastri’s commentary echoes in the hall, almost giving you goose bumps.
Dhoni is at the centre of all this, almost coming across as though he single handedly powered India to victory. Five minutes each at the start and the end are the ones which will stick in memory.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01emily-s.jpg
Aussie legend Shane Warne turned out to be the talking point on social media yesterday, not because of his wizardry with the red cherry but due to model Emily Sears. Wondering how? The Australian babe posted a picture on Twitter replicating Warne’s run-up to the crease in a photoshoot, wearing just her lingerie. “Most iconic shoot I ever did tbh @ShaneWarne #classic,” Sears tweeted. Warne too was quite impressed with the picture. “Bowled @emilysears! You’re rocking the zinc cream hahaha,” he tweeted.
*Spin great Shane Warne retweeted the above picutre posted by Australian model Emily Sears*
The picture created quite a stir with some users, saying Emily’s seam position was wrong, while others said that “would probably come down the wicket to her bouncers.”
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01lodha-s.jpg
*Mumbai:* In the wake of the Lodha Committee recommendations, BCCI is staring at a leadership crisis as 95 per cent of the top brass will be wiped out if the report is implemented with retrospective effect. According to cricket board sources, this matter was discussed by the BCCI members at the Special General Meeting here before it was adjourned for today on technical grounds.
The discussions focused on the implications of the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed committee, with members feeling that the BCCI is caught between a rock and a hard place, said a source who attended the meeting. The members were of the view that if the recommendations are implemented, there will be chaos in Indian cricket as 95 per cent of the BCCI leadership will be wiped out, the sources said.
“We are sure that the Lodha Committee wants betterment of cricket, but who will run Indian cricket if the entire leadership is finished? There will be organisational chaos and it will spell doom for Indian cricket,” said a BCCI member.
The member noted that the situation has emerged in the middle of the cricket season, with 13 international Test matches lined up.
“If there is no experienced leadership, who will manage the affairs? Most work at the lower level is done by the honorary members,” he said.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01shirke-s.jpg
The petitioner in the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing scandal and Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) secretary Aditya Verma said the adjournment of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Special General Meeting (SGM) yesterday was nothing but a farce and termed BCCI officials as ‘Alibaba and 30 men’.
So far, the BCCI has convened several meetings successfully but maybe for the fist time the SGM had to be adjourned within a few minutes due to improper authorisation letters from some of the representatives of the state associations.
The SGM will now be held this afternoon. In the process, the BCCI has missed the deadline of September 30 set by the Lodha Committee for the implementation of the first stage of recommendations passed by the Supreme Court on July 18.
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla, who was present at the BCCI headquarters, said every representative attending the meeting will need an authorisation letter from the respective state associations. “Not everybody had that letter. Consequently, the meeting was adjourned. BCCI has given them a day’s time to get the letters as the nominees to attend the SGM,” Shukla, who was representing Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, said.
*Behaving like a novice*
It is hard to digest that state association secretaries, who themselves have convened their respective state association meetings several times, run the associations’ day-to-day affairs and are responsible for financial decisions involving lakhs of rupees, arrived at the SGM without proper documents.
“There is no issue of authorisation letter or documents; this is just an excuse. The fact is that no one went to attend this meeting (SGM) even after a proper invitation. BCCI is already divided into two groups. “This BCCI is the group of ‘Alibaba and his men’. I am sure they will not be able to decide on anything even after getting that additional 24 hours,” Verma told mid-day yesterday.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01ganguly-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* Sachin Tendulkar wardrobe secrets, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Ajay Jadeja’s unorganised off field habits were some of the anecdotes shared by the former India cricketers in a talk show at the Eden Gardens here yesterday.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly revealed that batting maestro Tendulkar would just ‘bat and shop’ during his playing days. “He would get a Test hundred and the next day you would see him shopping in an Armani or Versace and you will see them hanging in his wardrobe. He was very fond of his clothes and had a great wardrobe,” Ganguly remembered. Talking about VVS Laxman, Ganguly said the elegant Hyderabadi batsman was a perennial latecomer.
“You would see him taking a shower even as the No 4 and 5 batters were at the crease. Even he would be the last to board the team bus,” Ganguly said in a talk show, organised on the occasion of Kolkata hosting India’s 250th Test on home soil. The show also featured India coach Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev and Virender Sehwag. Often credited for changing the face of Indian cricket by bringing in aggression to the table, Ganguly said his teammates were his jewels who delivered for him.
“Viru at top with his batting and when you came to bowl you knew you’ve one (Kumble) who can bowl and give you wickets on any surface. He would say, ‘You give me runs on the scoreboard and I will win you Tests.’ He did exactly did that.”
Sehwag gave credit to Ganguly and Kumble and also named MS Dhoni, saying that a successful player has a great captain behind him.
“Dada had only one motive to win overseas and become number one. Their captaincy was attacking and to back their boys was their strength. I remember having dinner and Kumble told me you would play the next four matches, performance would not matter, just go and give your 100 per cent. Kapil Dev named former opener Navjot Singh Sidhu and middle-order batsman Ajay Jadeja as the most unorganised off the field.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/01rahane-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* Ajinkya Rahane tends to score big in the second Test of most series. He came good to an extent, hit one in the air which substitute fielder Doug Bracewell couldn’t get hold of but perished through the guile of off-spinner Jeetan Patel who had the Mumbai mainstay leg before for 77.
On the last tour of the West Indies, Rahane scored a hundred in the second Test at Kingston, Jamaica where India batted just once. Same was the case against Sri Lanka at the P Sara Oval, Sri Lanka’s first Test ground where India beat the hosts by 278 runs. Also, at Lord’s in the English summer of 2014.
There was a hundred for the taking yesterday too on Day One of the second Test against New Zealand, but the day ended in disappointment for India – 239 for seven. The man himself was frank. “It was not a good day for us. We had a few soft dismissals, but the partnership between me and Pujara was crucial. Pujara and me will take the blame as we both were set. It was our responsibility to carry the partnership forward. A batsman just needs one ball to get out, but if we could have scored a century each, our position would have been different. I am not blaming anyone. Maybe, it was our responsibility,” Rahane told the media at the end of the day.
*Tough conditions*
The humid conditions were a surprise to the hosts as well and Rahane thanked the fans who watched Day One of India’s 250th Test at home. “It was very tough and credit should be given to the ones who turned up. If there’s shade and good facilities available, people will turn up. It will be good for cricket,” he said, something which the Cricket Association of Bengal authorities should take note of.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who came into this Test match with talk surrounding his strike rate, was determined to go the distance and sent his critics running for cover with every shot that beat the enthusiastic New Zealanders.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/afridi-twitter-peace-s.jpg
'Boom Boom' Shahid Afridi is known for his confrontational attitude, but the former Pakistan skipper seems to have mellowed with age and on Friday showed his pacifist avatar.
The Indian Army's 'surgical strike' in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan's response to it is currently the hottest topic of discussion among citizens of both countries and how could Afridi stay away.
On Friday, reacting to the escalating tension, the Pakistani cricketer urged that two neighbouring countries to avoid war and give peace a chance.
Afridi posted on Twitter that Pakistan was a peace loving country and that they wanted cordial relations with everyone. "Pakistan is a peace loving nation, why talk about extreme measures when things can be resolved through dialogues?” the former T20 skipper asked.
"Pakistan wants cordial relationship with all. When two neighbours fight both homes are effected (affected). Say No to war. #Pakistan #India #Peace #neighbours," he tweeted.
Pakistan is a peace loving nation,y talk abt extreme measures when things can be resolved through dialogues. Pakistan wants cordial 1/2
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 29, 2016
Relationship with all. When 2 neighbours fight both homes are effected. #sayno2war #pakistan #peace #india #neighbours
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 29, 2016
While he did talk about de-escalating tensions among the neighbours, what upset many Twitterati was his calling Palistan a 'peace-loving nation'.
People took to the platform in droves to respond to the all-rounder's tweets.
*HERE'S HOW TWITTERATI RESPONDED:*
@SAfridiOfficial LOL! Peace or (leg)Piece loving nation? Dialogues? Stop watching movies! Dialogue with a nation that breeds terrorists?
— Caustic News (@CausticNews) September 30, 2016
. @SAfridiOfficial ðÂÂÂð Joke of d year ð peace loving PAK
— Arnab Goswami (@DwivediJISpeaks) September 29, 2016
@DwivediJISpeaks @SAfridiOfficial Y isn't no team playing since 2009 in Pak, Afridi?? U must b living in fools paradise
— Indrajit_G (@ig2015) September 30, 2016
@SAfridiOfficial Pakistan is a peace loving nation??? Bwahahahahahaha! Biggest joke of the day. #IndiaStrikesBack
— Panun Kashmir (@WandererSS6) September 29, 2016
@SAfridiOfficial Out of favour in cricket, and want to try your hand at comedy? All the best!
— Giridharan KESAVAN (@girikesavan) September 30, 2016
@SAfridiOfficial pic.twitter.com/szv5XPD4hw
— Gopal (@NeerGopal) September 30, 2016
@SAfridiOfficial Peace loving country!!! Say this to the families of the soldiers who lost heir life in #UriAttack and many other attacks
— Sai Teja Reddy (@tejaspeakz) September 30, 2016
@SAfridiOfficial check out what rubbish this account is doing @defencepk .. and this is your defence ðÂÂÂ
— Prathamesh (@Pratham_10) September 29, 2016
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/11-Anurag-Thakur_s.jpg
*Dharamsala*: BCCI president Anurag Thakur today condoled the demise of Vikrant Kumar, an Under-23 cricketer from Himachal Pradesh, who died in an accident. "It is extremely sad to learn about the sudden tragic death of Vikrant. He was a very bright boy and would have definitely made HPCA and the entire state of Himachal proud," said Thakur, who is also the president of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30matt-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* Riding on some disciplined bowling, New Zealand bowlers restricted India to 239/7 on the opening day of the second Test at the iconic Eden Gardens on Friday after a resolute Cheteshwhar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had pulled India out of the rut.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, India were off to a pathetic start before Cheteshwar Pujara (87) and Ajinkya Rahane (77) put on a 141-run stand for the fourth wicket to bail the team out of trouble.
At stumps, stumper Wriddhiman Saha (14 not out) and Ravindra Jadeja, who was yet to open his account, were at the crease.
For the visitors, pacer Matt Henry (3/35) and off-spinner Jeetan Patel (2/66) were the wicket-takers along with Trent Boult (1/33) and Neil Wagner (1/37).
India's vaunted batting line-up failed to recover from the early blows dealt by New Zealand's concerted bowling effort and gave the honours of India's 250th home Test to the visitors.Barring Cheteshwar Pujara (87) and Ajinkya Rahane (77), none of the batsmen came good after skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat on the relaid pitch of the historic Eden Gardens stadium.The Kiwis, who were dealt a blow this morning when regular skipper and top batsman Kane Williamson was ruled out of match owing to illness, showed tremendous resilience to put up a fine first day show.India, who will regain the top spot in ICC rankings if they seal the three-match series in this match, did not make a very good start and lost their top-three batsmen even before the score had touched 50.Pujara and Rahane's dogged fourth-wicket stand of 141 was the high point for India today.
For the in-form Pujara, it was his third half-century from as many innings but a lapse in concentration ended his patient innings for 87 that came off 219 deliveries and was studded with 17 hits to the fence.
From being 46/3 in a jittery first session, Pujara and Rahane batted with grit and determination under the blazing afternoon heat and energy-sapping humidity.
The duo's stand spanned three hours and nine minutes but the Kiwis made an impact in the final session snapping four wickets. Pujara was set up brilliantly by left-arm pacer Neil Wagner, who put a short cover for him, and the Indian holed out to Martin Guptill.
It was not a good day at his favourite ground for Rohit Sharma (2), who was dismissed by Patel. The right-hander also looked to have hurt his left shoulder while attempting a single.For the Kiwis, it was a tale of two comeback men as first 24-year-old Henry (3/35), who had replaced their pace spearhead Tim Southee created quite a flutter by removing both the openers -- Shikhar Dhawan (1) and Murali Vijay (9).Off the second ball of his first over, Henry bowled Dhawan who tried to cut in an angled delivery only to drag the ball back to his stumps.
Replacing Lokesh Rahul, Dhawan's stint lasted just 10 balls with scorecard reading 1/1 in the second over. Vijay also perished to a beauty from the youngster playing only his fifth Test.Continuing a rare lean patch, skipper Kohli (9) was steadying the ship with a set Pujara, but Trent Boult (1/33) dismissed the skipper. Kohli got carried away after an exquisite cover drive that was cheered by the small turnout and went for an IPL-like shot chasing a ball way outside the off-stump to be caught brilliantly by Tom Latham.The dismissal less than half an before the lunch break disturbed India's recovery plan before Pujara and Rahane held firm in the second session.
Pujara, in the midst of a storm over his slow strike rate, gave an exhibition of classy batsmanship to complete his 10th half-century in 37 Test matches.
Pujara played in his typical gritty manner, but was also ruthless on the loose balls as the wicket eased out under the afternoon sun and gave little or no purchase to the New Zealand bowlers.
He reached his half-century by steering Wagner to the fence past backward point, the landmark coming off 146 balls after a 185-minute stay. But 44 of those runs came courtesy 11 boundaries.
Rahane also looked solid and cautiously aggressive as the New Zealand bowlers failed to get any success in the second session, after dominating the first.
In the morning, India struggled to reach 57/3 at lunch with the New Zealand bowlers seizing the initiative on a lively and grassy track that gave their pacers, particularly Matt Henry, carry from the wicket, and they repeatedly went tantalisingly close to finding the batsmen's outside edge. Both Henry and Trent Boult bowled to a plan, maintaining a line on or just outside the off-stump.
India began on a wrong note after winning the toss, losing openers Shikhar Dhawan (1) and Murali Vijay (9) by the first drinks interval.
Skipper Virat Kohli (9) also failed to break his Eden Gardens jinx in the longest format of the game.
The dashing batsman chased a ball wide outside the off stump and finished in the hands of Tom Latham at gully. It was a brilliant catch as Latham virtually plucked the leather from thin air.
Kohli has now totalled 38 runs in four Test innings at the Eden, at a niggardly average of 9.50.
New Zealand got a huge jolt before the match as their skipper and batting mainstay Kane Williamson was ruled out due to indisposition with Ross Taylor becoming the stand-in captain.
India made two changes from the team that played the first Test at Kanpur. Shikhar Dhawan replaced the injured Lokesh Rahul, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar made it to the final XI in place of Umesh Yadav.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/ambani-isl-s.jpg
Indian Super League (ISL) Founding Chairperson Nita Ambani on Thursday met all eight ISL club owners along with host broadcaster Star Sports in Mumbai ahead of the League’s 2016 season kick-off.
The teams were represented by Dr Anil Sharma (Delhi Dynamos FC), Akshay Tandon (FC Goa), Kapil Wadhawan (FC Pune City), Ranbir Kapoor (Mumbai City FC), Abhishek Bachchan (Chennaiyin FC), John Abraham (NorthEast United FC), Sanjiv Goenka (Atletico de Kolkata), Sanjay Gupta (Star India) and N Prasad (Kerala Blasters FC).
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/dhawan30sept-s.jpg
Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan, who is yet to find proper form, was at the receiving end of Twitter users when he was dismissed for just 1 run in the second Test against New Zealand in Kolkata today.
Dhawan, who came in as a replacement for injured KL Rahul, got out bowled by Matt Henry. Indian Test captain Virat Kohli chose Shikhar Dhawan over a returning Gautam Gambhir.
Fans on Twitter vented their anger in humorous ways and Dhawan was the butt of all jokes.
What does Shikhar Dhawan hv in common with Michael Jackson? They both wear gloves for no apparent reason. Seen on Twitter. LoL. :)
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) September 30, 2016
Shikhar Dhawan Is Doing #SurgicalStrike Against India For More Than A Year Now. It's Time To Strike Him Off Indian Team Now.#IndvNZ #INDvsNZ
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) September 30, 2016
Shikhar Dhawan lives up to everyone's expectations, yet again
— VIVEK KOKA (@Vivek_Koka) September 30, 2016
Thank you Shikhar Dhawan, because of you even our number 3 batsmen can become competent openers.#IndVsNZ
— The Viral Fever (@TheViralFever) September 30, 2016
Not watching test match...but I'm 200% sure why Shikhar Dhawan is trending!!ðÂÂÂðÂÂÂ
— Gauresh Mahadik (@Gaureshsm53) September 30, 2016
A biopic on Shikhar Dhawan will just be a montage of him wearing pads, going to the field and coming back immediately, played in a loop.
— Ushnota Paul (@journojuno) September 30, 2016
Shikhar Dhawan should be the
next brand ambassador of
Maggi noodles because 2 mins
that's how much time he
spends at the crease.
— zoy_pal (@zoy_pal) September 30, 2016
Kohli should have rather let Amit Mishra open with Murali Vijay today than Shikhar Dhawan ðÂÂÂðÂÂÂðÂÂÂ
— Abhishek (@ImAbhishek_) September 30, 2016
Indian fans reaction... when they came to know Shikhar Dhawan will play and not Gautam Gambhir pic.twitter.com/d9MsdAehuV
— rohit jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) September 30, 2016
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/sep/hingis29sept-s.jpg*Martina Hingis. Pic/ AFP*
>>Martina Hingis was born in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. She then moved to Switzerland.
>>She was named after tennis great Martina Navratilova.
>>She turned pro at the age of 14.
>>She reached the no. 1 ranking in the singles at a record age of 16.
>>She is also the youngest ever Grand Slam singles champion
>>Her favourite food dish is Sushi.
>>Hingis has dated a list of sportsmen – tennis players Magnus Norman, Ivo Heuberger and Julian Alonso, golfer Sergio Garcia. She was also engaged briefly to tennis star Radek Stepanek. She also married a much younger Thibault Hutin, a show jumper but parted ways.
>>She has 5 singles grand slams to her name – 3 Australian Open titles and 1 Wimbledon and US Open each.
>>She has won the double grand slam an impressive 11 times. – 4 Australia Open, 2 French
Open, 3 Wimbledon and 2 US Open titles.
>>In 2001, Hingis sued the company Sergio Tacchini for their defective manufactured shoes due to which she suffered a foot injury.
>>She retired in 2003 at age 22 only to come out of retirement ten years later in 2013.
>>She was banned during the Wimbledon 2007 for testing positive for cocaine.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/nadal30sept-s.jpg
Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal displayed his heroics on court in a different way when he halted an exhibition match mid-way to help a mom and her daughter reunite.
Nadal was playing an exhibition doubles match along with Simon Solbas against John McEnroe and Carlos Moya in Mallorca, when a huge commotion took place in the crowd.
Watch the video below.
A mother lost her daughter in the crowd during the game and TV footage showed her desperate search for the little girl.
Nadal paused in the middle of his serve after noticing the child missing. Soon, the crowd looked on to find the little girl, shouting out her name 'Clara' and shorty afterwards, she was reunited with her mom.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30gambhir-kohli-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* Gautam Gambhir, it seems, will have to wait a little longer for his return to Test cricket as India is most likely to bring in Shikhar Dhawan in place of injured KL Rahul and retain the rest of the squad, which played in Kanpur. Today’s Test here against New Zealand is India’s 250th at home.
Gambhir didn’t bat in the nets but did some knocking on an adjoining pitch. Dhawan, who didn’t play the first Test, had a good session in the nets and is all set to accompany Murali Vijay to open the India innings. With India’s main spinner R Ashwin nursing an injury there were some speculation that the uncapped offie Jayant Yadav might get a look in given that the visitors have as many as six left-handers in the team. But skipper Virat Kohli ruled out any such possibility, stating that Ashwin was “absolutely fine”.
There were some talk to let Cheteshwar Pujara open the innings with Vijay and bring in leggie Amit Mishra as the third spinner since the Eden Gardens wicket is expected to assist spinners as the match progresses.
But Kohli, like he did in Kanpur, is almost certain that he would rather prefer the six-batsmen cushion and stick to the same bowling side which helped India win the first Test.
The pitch too doesn’t look as dry as it was in Kanpur.
It will have something for the fast bowlers too as there is some moisture but it is most likely to help the spinners from the third day. India did not put a foot wrong in Kanpur even as Kohli’s bold move to go with a four-prone bowling attack surprised many.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30bell-s.jpg
*Kolkata:* Kapil Dev is delighted and honoured to be the first cricket great to ring the bell which will signal the start of today’s India vs New Zealand Test at the Eden Gardens.
Speaking from New Delhi yesterday morning, Kapil said that he was happy to note that the installing of the Lord’s Cricket Ground-like bell was a result of Indian cricket officials travelling and noticing different grounds around the world.
He was also happy when told that now cricketers will have a clock to view from the iconic ground, something that was missing at the Eden Gardens until last year.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30laxman-s.jpg
Legendary Indian batsman VVS Laxman highlighted the contribution and impact the Bhagavad Gita and junior cricket coach Sandeep Patil made on his overall progress as a cricketer, while delivering the eighth Dilip Sardesai Memorial Lecture at the Cricket Club of India yesterday.
“I understood the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita from which I derived inspiration (Chapter 12 —the Bhakti Yoga). Those teachings remained with me for the rest of my cricketing career and beyond. I learnt that I could not influence my selection one way or the other apart from scoring runs... lots of them,” Laxman explained at the CK Nayudu Hall.
*'It was fun'*
“There is no guarantee of scoring runs no matter how gifted or talented you might be. The only thing in my control was education, commitment, effort, hard work and labour. So I got involved fully in cricket. It was fun because that was something I wanted to do,” the 41-year-old Laxman added.
Laxman, who represented the Indian under-19 team in two Test home series against Australia and England in 1994, scored three half centuries and also remained unbeaten on 151 against an Australian attack comprising Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Andrew Symonds. “Sandeepbhai (Patil) was another hero of mine while growing, because of his swagger and style as well as his fearless approach. To have him in our dressing room, helping us with his inputs and expertise meant a lot to us,” Laxman said.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30roseberg-s.jpg
*Kuala Lumpur:* Nico Rosberg, back in the championship lead, is bidding to extend his winning streak this weekend with a maiden victory in Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix. The German vaulted back to the top of the standings with a clear eight points lead ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton following his win in the Singapore Grand Prix a fortnight ago.
*Singapore did Nico good*
That triumph, on a weekend when Hamilton put on an uncharacteristically error-riddled display, was his third in a row with the 31-year-old also winning the preceding races in Belgium and Italy.
Never has Rosberg been so strong in the second half of the year. The manner of his Singapore win, with the German holding an edge over Hamilton throughout the weekend, marked a return to form after a lacklustre middle part of the season.
The Singapore win was also his eighth of the season. No driver has ever failed to take the title after scoring eight or more wins in a season and Rosberg heads into Sunday’s race looking like a much stronger contender for the title than he did heading into Formula One’s annual August summer break.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30atletico-s.jpg
*Madrid:* Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone hailed his side’s display as one of the best in his hugely successful five-year reign in charge as Yannick Carrasco inflicted another 1-0 defeat for Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon.
Simeone’s men also beat Bayern at home in April on their way to a second Champions League final in three years. And the Argentine lauded Atletico’s tactical discipline as they secured an incredible 15th clean sheet and 14th win in 18 home Champions League games under Simeone.
“I feel so proud to be the coach of this team,” said Simeone. “I liked everything today. We pressed high, took advantage of spaces on the counter-attack and played with intensity for 90 minutes, which is very difficult to do against one of the best teams in the world. “Tactically, the team interpreted the game fantastically. It was one of the best performances in my time at Atletico Madrid.”*Diego Simeone*
Carrasco fired home the winner 10 minutes before half-time after Jan Oblak had denied Thomas Muller with a stunning save early on with Bayern’s best effort.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30southgate-s.jpg
*London:* Gareth Southgate promised to bring some “stability” to the England set-up after Sam Allardyce’s shock exit as the national side’s manager.
“It’s obviously been a difficult situation for the Football Association but it was important that there was some stability and continuity for everybody,” Southgate said. “So, from my point of view, it was important to step forward and give us the best possible chance to win these games.”
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30katie-price-s.jpg
Brit model and television star Katie Price insists she never had sex with Dutch footballer Fernando Ricksen and would have sued him over his false claims had it not been for his terminal illness.
Ricksen, best known for his six-year spell at Rangers, is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. Earlier in 2003, he claimed to have had sex with Jordan (Price’s previous pseudonym).
In his autobiography, he said: “The sex was amazing. It was a once-in-a-lifetime I will never, ever forget. I was having problems with my ex-wife Graciela and we’d split up. I was on the prowl again. That night I was damn proud of myself.”
However, Price vehemently slammed whatever happened.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30woods-s.jpg
*Chaska (US):* Tiger Woods has endured two tough runner-up finishes in majors at Hazeltine, but he could be reduced even further, to sandwich delivery man, at the Ryder Cup here this week.
Woods, is serving as an assistant to US captain Davis Love at this week’s 41st edition of the US-Europe team golf showdown. Long-hitting teammate JB Holmes said he thought Woods was prepared to come through in whatever way needed.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30wengerarsenal-s.jpg
*London:* Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to completely rule out accepting a potential offer to take charge of England at the end of the season.
Wenger has been linked with the England job following the Football Association’s decision to part company with Sam Allardyce on Tuesday. Quizzed on possible England interest after Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Basel, Wenger stopped short of confirming he would snub an FA approach.
Asked if he was flattered to be linked with the job, Wenger said: “Of course, but my priority has always been Arsenal and until the end of this season I am here.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30barcapique-s.jpg
*Monchengladbach:* Gerard Pique said committing fewer second-half errors was the key to Barcelona’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday as they proved they can win in the Champions League without injured Lionel Messi. Thorgan Hazard gave Gladbach a first-half lead. But goals in the final 25 minutes, from Arda Turan and Gerard Pique, sealed Barcelona’s second win.
“They scored with the only chance they had in the first half, but the game is 90 minutes long and they put in a huge effort,” said match-winner Pique. “They didn’t have the same legs in the second half and we made fewer mistakes in midfield. By losing possession less and them running less they had fewer counter-attacks and it was more difficult for them.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/29boomer-s.jpg
USA’s legendary swimmer Michael Phelps’ four-month-old baby Boomer has been the cynosure of all eyes since making his most famous initial public appearances during his 23-time Olympic gold medal-winning father’s heroics at the Rio Olympics.
*September 30: With Kelly Slater*
*September 26: With Taylor Hill*
Across the last month or so, Boomer has confidently shared space with some of USA’s most famous faces. He boasts of a whopping 739,000 followers on social media outlet, Instagram, which easily overshadows his mother, Nicole Johnson’s list of 426,000 followers. Boomer has had a ball on the TV sets of renowned US talk show hosts Jimmy Fallon and Ellen DeGeneres among others, besides raising TRPs with appearances on USA Today and NBC shows.
*September 23: With Ellen DeGeneres*
*September 2: With Jimmy Fallon*
He has also spent time with millionaire reality TV judge Simon Cowell and took a weekend break with his parents to Milan, where he ‘flirted’ with lingerie model Taylor Hill. “Sooo I guess I love to flirt. I wonder how I did? @taylor_hill,” read Boomer’s Instagram post on Sunday night. This morning, Boomer posed alongside champion surfer Kelly Slater after the surfer played a few rounds of celebrity golf with Phelps Sr in the build up to the Ryder Cup. Undoubtedly, Hollywood can’t get enough of its most famous baby!
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30ganguly-s.jpghttp://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30pepguardiola-s.jpg
*Glasgow:* Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed hope his players would learn their lesson after losing their 100 percent season record in a spectacular 3-3 Champions League draw at Celtic.
Aiming to equal Tottenham Hotspur’s English record of 11 straight wins at the start of a season, City had to come from behind three times to earn a point on Wednesday.
“This club was 25, 26 years without playing in Europe and last year was the first time to go further than the quarter-finals,” Guardiola said. “So that will be a good lesson. Europe is special. Teams are so strong. It doesn’t matter where. The opponent here, Celtic, is an amazing environment, with the fans, and we knew that.
“We had many chances to win. We scored three away goals and we created more clear chances.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30edris-elba-s.jpg
*London:* Actor Idris Elba is to have his first professional kickboxing bout in October.
The 44-year-old star has decided to take his hobby to the next level and is actually travelling to Thailand for the fight, reported Female First.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30button-s.jpghttp://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/30rene-s.jpg
Despite winning gold in the District Sports Office (DSO) inter-school athletics meet high jump girls U-17 event yesterday at Sports Authority of India (SAI), Kandivli, Ryan International’s (Malad) Rene Desai was a bit disappointed as she missed out on bettering her personal best by a whisker. Rene managed to post a height of 1.55 metres.
She was just 0.01 metres short of her personal best of 1.56 m which she achieved in January at the 61st National Schools Athletic Championships in Kerala.
“It was a bit disappointing. I tried to get a new personal best. It did not happen but it’s fine,” the 15-year-old Desai told mid-day yesterday.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/sourav-ganguly-scare-s.jpg
*Kolkata: *Sourav Ganguly on Thursday survived a scare at his very own Eden Gardens when the club house lift of more than 29 years malfunctioned and the former India captain had to be pulled out using a stool on the eve of the second Test versus New Zealand.
On his way to his office on the first floor, the old manually operated grill door lift got stuck between the two levels and the securitymen quickly pressed into action to avoid any mishap.
"We quickly disconnected the power and manually opened the door. A stool was lowered inside and Dada came out by climbing on it," a security official told PTI.
A switch-over in power supply led to this embarrassing incident around 5pm.
"When such things happen we quickly turn off the power and open the grill lock manually," the security added.
The lift was installed during the renovation work of the stadium way back in 1987 when it hosted the World Cup final, a former CAB secretary said.
The fabled Eden has gone for a major facelift in the 2011 World Cup but the age old lift has remained untouched and incidentally this is the only lift that the iconic BC Roy Clubhouse has.
"We have proposal to change the lift and install a high tech automatic one but it will take sometime," the official added. Reported by Mid-Day 17 hours ago.