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IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya’s captaincy has been a big part of our success, says Vikram Solanki

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3 years ago

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In the newbies Gujarat Titans’ impressive run in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL), the captaincy skills of Hardik Pandya has been a vital cog in the wheel, speaking to the bowlers and having good communication with everyone in the team.

Hence, it wasn’t surprising that on the eve of Qualifier 1 match against Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens, Vikram Solanki, Gujarat’s director of cricket, acknowledged that Pandya’s captaincy and involvement in the game has played a huge part in the success of the side in the tournament.

“He has grown as a leader. He has taken to the captaincy very well. He has been very giving of his time and has really sort of involved. That is what exactly is paying off. He is having conversations with each and every bowler. Of course, someone like a Shami needs no guidance. But it is always useful to have a connection or understanding of what they are planning to do,” said Solanki in the pre-match virtual press conference.

“Hardik’s display of captaincy is actually interacting with the bowler, which is just quick communication playing out and making sure that our plans are in place and everybody is on same sort of page. What I will add again is to reiterate the fact that Hardik’s captaincy has been a big part of our success. He’s absolutely been involved in every aspect of our campaign and long may he continue to do so,” added Solanki, a former England batter.

In the form of Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha, Gujarat have found a dependable opening pair though the latter has been the aggressor of late in power-play. Solanki quashed suggestions that the opening pair of Gill, in particular, and Saha are a weak point for the side, citing the former’s 63 not out off 49 balls and carried his bat through the innings on a tough Pune pitch against Lucknow Super Giants.

“I would disagree with it because the partnership created by Shubman and Wridhhi has been a very good one for us. What you are saying about Shubman’s performance, it is incorrect according to me. Shubman has made so many match-winning contributions on his own abilities. For example, you can see the match against LSG, the way he handled his knock and controlled the whole innings, he gave us a chance to put up a defendable score, and then we were able to win the match.”

“I am in total disagreement with your assessment. As far as opening partnership is concerned, at the moment, Wriddhi (Wriddhiman Saha) and Shubman are an ideal combination. They compliment each other in their style of play and having Wriddhi around Shubman works very well because they communicate and have a good understanding, which works well for our opening partnership.”

In three out of Gujarat’s four losses in the league stage, top-order collapses of the side stood out as a common thread. Losing wickets back-to-back was also something which Pandya had said they would like to avoid in the playoffs after Gujarat’s loss to Bangalore in their final league match.

Asked about what has been his discussion with the batting group on avoiding wickets back-to-back, Solanki explained, “It’s a good question. But it is a common held view across all ages that there is no value in losing wickets. Jab se cricket chala hain, yeh baat toh pakki hain ki agar aap wicket lose naa kare, toh you are in a better position. (Since the time cricket has begun, it’s absolutely certain that if you don’t lose wicket, you are better placed). If you happen to lose wickets in a cluster, you always put yourself under pressure.”

“It’s not necessary that anyone in management, coaching or captain has to have discussion with the players on this. Players are experienced, they are playing IPL and international cricket and are well-versed with exactly what is required. There are obvious dangers in losing wickets in a cluster; it’s a given matter. That said, sometimes when it happens, you have to react and respond to that. There is no sort of signs to it and no surety that you will lose wickets in a cluster.”

“You can manage risk, certainly evaluate what is appropriately required at that time. But then, that’s a fine balance as well. We are playing T20 format and are constantly needing to balance risk and actual mindful batting, which is a common thing. I assure you all teams will be exactly of the same mindset: don’t lose wickets in a cluster, give ourselves opportunity to create partnerships and make use of it by putting the opposition under pressure. It’s exactly the same phase.”

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Sports

Vijay Mallya leads wave of reactions as RCB end IPL title drought

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2 days ago

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June 4, 2025

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New Delhi, June 4: The long wait is finally over—and no one felt the emotions more than Vijay Mallya, the first owner of the Bengaluru franchise. As Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their maiden IPL trophy after 18 years of heartbreak and hope, the former RCB owner led the wave of congratulatory messages that poured in from across the cricketing world.

“RCB are IPL Champions finally after 18 years,” Mallya posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Superb campaign right through the 2025 tournament. A well-balanced team Playing Bold with outstanding coaching and support staff. Many congratulations! Ee sala cup namde!!”

It was a moment that brought together generations of RCB fans and stakeholders, past and present. And the rest of the IPL fraternity stood in unison to applaud the team’s hard-earned glory.

Mumbai Indians, five-time champions, hailed the effort: “Congratulations to the NEW #TATAIPL Champions, @RCBTweets. A strong & memorable campaign.”

Sunrisers Hyderabad, who themselves have tasted title success in the past, acknowledged RCB’s tenacity: “Congratulations on an outstanding season and a well-earned title, @RCBTweets.”

Chennai Super Kings, RCB’s fiercest rivals, also put rivalry aside to share in the moment: “Congratulations, @RCBTweets! #IPL2025Final #WhistlePodu .”

The message that perhaps captured the emotions of millions of fans came from Kolkata Knight Riders: “EE SALA CUP NIMDE, CONGRATULATIONS.”

Even Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants joined in, sharing stories, memes, and emotional posts celebrating the end of the title curse.

While the cricketing fraternity celebrated RCB’s victory, the occasion held deeply personal significance for Virat Kohli. As the team held on to win by six runs against Punjab Kings in a nerve-wracking final, Kohli dropped to his knees in tears. It was a fitting image of loyalty rewarded—after 18 years, three heartbreak losses in finals, and countless sacrifices, the talismanic batter had finally tasted IPL glory.

The journey to the title was far from smooth. RCB lost early wickets in the final, but vital partnerships—particularly between Kohli and Mayank Agarwal—ensured a fighting total of 190. Their bowlers, led by Krunal Pandya’s clutch spell of 2/17 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s nerveless death bowling, brought the cup home.

Despite a valiant 61* off 30 balls from Punjab’s Shashank Singh, RCB held their nerve. The final over drama only made the triumph sweeter. The title win united past legends, rival franchises, and fans from across the globe in celebration.

After years of taunts, memes, and near-misses, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are no longer titleless. The script has flipped, the wait is over, and the roar of “Ee Sala Cup Namdu” now echoes in reality, not just hope.

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health

Tobacco is not just addiction but poison: Delhi Speaker Vijender Gupta leads walkathon on World No-Tobacco Day in Rohini

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5 days ago

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May 31, 2025

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New Delhi, May 31: On the occasion of World No-Tobacco Day, Delhi’s Rohini area witnessed a strong show of public awareness and health advocacy through a walkathon organised to spread the message against tobacco consumption.

The event, themed ‘Walk for Life’, brought together medical professionals, civic leaders, and local residents in a collective stand against the harmful effects of tobacco.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta, who flagged off the walkathon, delivered a powerful message on the dangers of tobacco. “Tobacco is not just an addiction; it’s a poison,” he said, addressing the gathering. “It is a dangerous habit that ruins lives, and the only effective way to combat it is through sustained awareness and education,” he added.

Organised by the Indian Medical Association in collaboration with the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, the event saw enthusiastic participation from doctors, healthcare workers, and members of the public.

The walkathon aimed to raise awareness, especially among the youth, about the health risks associated with tobacco, including its direct link to life-threatening diseases like cancer.

“The younger generation often views smoking and tobacco use as fashionable, but we must help them understand the long-term consequences,” Gupta added, urging collective efforts to curb the rising trend of tobacco use among the youth.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Sudhir Rawal, Medical Director at the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, emphasised the medical impact: “Tobacco is one of the main avoidable causes of cancer. If you don’t use tobacco, you significantly reduce your risk of developing cancer, especially lung and mouth cancer.”

The event also featured health-themed activities, including group exercises and educational talks, to create a more engaging and impactful experience for participants.

As part of a broader initiative across the country, the Rohini walkathon served as a crucial reminder of the importance of quitting tobacco and promoting healthier, smoke-free lives.

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Sports

IPL 2025: This will be the year for RCB, AB de Villiers backs his former franchise to end title drought

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5 days ago

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May 31, 2025

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Mumbai, May 31: Former South Africa batter AB de Villiers backed his former IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to lift their maiden title this year after securing their berth for the summit clash with a commanding win over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday.

This year, RCB have been in stellar form and have not lost a single away game so far in the season. They finished the league stage with 19 points to seal the second spot in the points table.

Virat Kohli and Phil Salt have been leading the run-scoring for the franchise with 614 and 387 runs respectively. The duo has been supported by middle-order batters including captain Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma and Krunal Pandya.

On the bowling front, Josh Hazlewood is the leading wicket-taker for the side with 21 scalps in 11 games while Krunal Pandya (15 wickets), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (15 wickets) and Yash Dayal (12 wickets) are also contributing in tandem to make them a balanced unit.

“I’m very happy that RCB is in the final. We saw MI winning last night, so it’ll be a very good qualifier too, knockout match between Punjab and MI. Looking forward to that one, and whoever deserves it will play RCB in the final, so I’m very much looking forward to the final and hopefully, this will be the year for RCB,” De Villiers told Media in Mumbai.

The legendary batter backed Punjab Kings to play the final against RCB but remains sceptical after watching Mumbai Indians’ dominance against Gujarat Titans to knock them out of the tournament on Friday.

“I said quite a while ago, about a month ago, that Punjab and RCB will be in the final. MI looked very strong right now, so it looks like the odds are against my call, but it is still cricket. You never know. It is a knockout match. It takes one or two great performances to turn the pressure onto your opposition. So I think it’s still going to be Punjab, but I’ve got a little bit of doubt now in my mind after watching last night’s game,” he said.

Punjab Kings will now take on Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday to seal a place for the IPL 2025 final against RCB on June 3 at the same venue.

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