Mumbai: Indian Women’s and Men’s Team’s Historic Success, Special Appreciation to Captains Priyanka Ingle and Pratik Waikar

“This Vijayashree is unforgettable and a moment that Maharashtra should be proud of,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis while congratulating the Indian men’s and women’s teams for representing India at the first Kho-Kho World Cup.

The Chief Minister said that the Indian women’s and men’s teams have made the country and especially Maharashtra’s name shine at the global level by winning the historic victory in the first Kho-Kho World Cup. He expressed his pride that these teams are led by sons of Maharashtra.

Special praise for captains

The captain of the women’s team, Priyanka Ingle, and the captain of the men’s team, Pratik Waikar, have achieved this historic victory under their leadership. The Chief Minister also congratulated them and other players in the team. The Chief Minister has given special praise to the contribution of Ashwini Shinde, Reshma Rathod, Vaishnavi Pawar in the women’s team and Suyash Gargate, Aniket Pote, Aditya Ganpule, and Ramji Kashyap in the men’s team.

Coach and assistants’ contribution

The Chief Minister said that the guidance of the team’s coaches Shirin Godbole (men’s team) and Prachitai Waikar (women’s team) has been decisive in the team’s success. Also, physiotherapist Dr. Amit Ravahate has also made a valuable contribution to the team.

Support of families and best wishes for the future

The Chief Minister said that along with the hard work of the players, the support of their families has also been important in this success. He congratulated the entire team, the coach, and their families and wished the players for their future journey.

“This victory has given the country and Maharashtra a moment of pride. This chapter will be etched forever in the history of Kho-Kho,” the Chief Minister said in his message.

Dubai, Jan 14: India pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Australia all-rounder Annabel Sutherland have been named ICC Men’s and Women’s Players of the Month for December, respectively on Tuesday.

Bumrah, the top-ranked Test bowler, provided stern resistance to Australia’s resurgence in a compelling Border-Gavaskar Trophy series with destructive bowling spells, while Sutherland was in sparkling form during Australia’s ODI encounters against India and New Zealand, twice winning Player of the Series accolades for her all-round contributions.

“Both players were crowned following a vote conducted among global fans registered at ICC’s official website and a specialist panel comprising ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives,” ICC said in a release.

Bumrah clinches his second ICC Men’s Player of the Month crown from fellow nominees, World Test Championship wicket-takers Pat Cummins and Dane Paterson. Sutherland also wins her second ICC Women’s Player of the Month prize, overcoming Smriti Mandhana and Nonkululeko Mlaba in the global vote.

Bumrah’s memorable year on the international stage drew to a close with more outstanding efforts in Australia, taking 22 wickets in December’s three Tests at an average of 14.22.

As the home side grew in confidence, battling back from a 1-0 deficit to take the lead in the series, the seamer spearheaded India’s resistance, first starring in Adelaide with four for 61. Onward to Brisbane and Bumrah blitzed the Australian batting lineup in the first innings, recording six for 76 in a fearsome spell in the first innings and three for 18 in the second.

Another nine-wicket return in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne included a spell of five for 57 in the second innings, upon which the 31-year-old set a new record for the highest rating points tally by any Indian bowler in history. Bumrah will be hoping for continued success in the coming weeks, where he is nominated for two of the top honours in the ICC Awards 2024 – the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year Award and the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.

“I am thrilled to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December. It is always humbling to be chosen for individual accolades, and it is always nice to be recognized for your efforts,” Bumrah, said. “The Border-Gavaskar Trophy was one of the most closely-fought contests ever, and it was an honour for me to go out there and perform for my country,” he said.

ICC Women’s Player of the Month, Sutherland capped a landmark year with the bat and ball starring in Australia’s recent wins over India and New Zealand, notching 269 runs at 67.25 and nine wickets in her five outings.

Sutherland began with four for 39 in a commanding victory over India in the second ODI in Brisbane, before she followed up in explosive fashion with the bat – striking 110 in 98 balls in the final match to claim the Player of the Series prize.

The subsequent series against New Zealand across the Tasman Sea saw another display of batting prowess, and the 23-year-old hit a statement 105 runs in just 81 balls en route to opening victory by 65 runs (DLS).

The second matchup saw her hit another 42 runs and take three wickets as Australia claimed back-to-back ODI series sweeps and Sutherland a second successive Player of the Series accolade.

The all-rounder is also in contention for the ICC Awards 2024 and is nominated in both the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year category and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

“December was a great month for us and it was nice to be able to contribute to the team’s success. We’ve got great depth within the squad so to be able to make the most of the opportunities to spend some time out in the middle was really pleasing,” Sutherland said. “Those ODIs were really important for us ahead of the upcoming Women’s Cricket World Cup, and it was great to be able to win both series against India and New Zealand,” she added.

Chandigarh, Jan 13: Ahead of the announcement of the squad for the Champions Trophy 2025, former India cricketer Yograj Singh has backed captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for next month’s eight-team competition despite their poor run in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.

In five Tests, Kohli scored just 190 runs and was dismissed eight times chasing deliveries outside the off-stump. Meanwhile, Rohit, who missed the Perth Test due to the birth of his second child, managed only 31 runs across three matches before opting to sit out the fifth Test in Sydney.

The senior players came under heavy scrutiny from fans and former cricketers for their dismal performance and social media users even speculated about their retirement from red-ball cricket.

However, veteran pacer Yograj is of a different opinion and wants the duo to play 3-4 years more for the team to groom the youngsters. “I was saying that don’t remove Rohit from captaincy and nor drop Virat. We need these two legends to groom the youngsters. The team needs these two players for 3-4 years more including (Jasprit) Bumrah. We have to create a solid bench strength,” Singh told Media on Monday.

“You should never break the team. In 2011 it was started and the team was broke as the power was given to one single person. We went on to lose World Cups, multiple series and even lost three-four Test series on the trot. We need to take all players together as win or loss is part of sport. In Australia, India won back-to-back (Test) series and I don’t think anybody has done it except West Indies. I feel my advice has been heard by the BCCI,” he added.

The 66-year-old Yograj expressed his happiness over Punjab batter Abhishek Sharma’s selection for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England later this month. He asserted that Shubman Gill should have also been named in the squad.

“It was pleasing to see Abhishek back, he is a very big player and I see a reflection of Yuvraj Singh in his batting. The more he plays, the more he excels. I feel Shubman Gill should have also been picked,” he said.

Singh credited BCCI for making careers of young cricketers via IPL and now replicating the same for women cricketers in the country.

“Since the start of IPL, cricket has improved a lot in India. Many cricketers got a chance and many made their careers. They also received a lot of money from it. IPL has played a very big role in India and I congratulate BCCI for it. It has become an important tournament as the board is spending a lot of money and giving it to players.

“Women’s cricket is also getting a lot of money. I’m very proud of BCCI that they have started a pension scheme for retired/veteran cricketers. IPL is a boon for cricketers in this country,” he said.

Singh added he is happy that women cricketers are getting the same platform and exposure as men cricketers in the country.