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‘Only time will tell, don’t write off champion players’: Shastri, Ponting on 2027 WC prospects of Rohit, Kohli

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New Delhi, Oct 21: India legend Ravi Shastri and Australian great Ricky Ponting have shared their thoughts on whether they think the Indian batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain on track to feature at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2027 and said “only time will tell” whether the duo will still be around.

Rohit and Kohli, who have retired from Tests and T20Is within the last 18 months, and the 50-over cricket remains the only format they feature. The veteran duo played their first international fixture since the ICC Champions Trophy at the start of March when they contributed modest returns with the bat against Australia in Perth on Sunday.

When you come back from a long layoff, you are obviously going to be rusty,” Shastri said on The ICC Review.

“It’s not easy for any overseas team to land in Australia, say, two days prior to a game in Perth and adjust to those conditions straight away, especially when you have that extra bounce and against quality fast bowlers.

“But I think only time will tell. They’ll go to Adelaide, they have some time off to get into the nets, get their minds sorted and get back into action,”

“So I’m in no hurry to judge, but it’s when you come back at that age, after some time, it’s about how much you’re enjoying the sport and how much hunger is there and passion is left in you to play the game.

“So if you tick the boxes in two out of those three, especially the enjoyment part of it, then you can give them both time because they’ve got class, they’ve got experience and a little bit of time will sort things out. But I’d rather wait than jump and judge immediately,” he said.

Ponting echoed the sentiments of Shastri and believes Kohli in particular will be targeting some short-term goals during the Australian tour that will help him decide whether to keep playing on.

“The one thing I don’t like hearing from anyone is that ‘I’ve achieved everything in the game’ because I think you still have to have some really short-term goals and not just be hanging on to try and get through to the 2027 World Cup,” Ponting said.

“Virat’s always been a highly motivated person. And I’d like to think that he’s probably sat down and even just given himself some goals and things that he can achieve in this series here in Australia and not be just waiting and killing time for that next World Cup to come around.

“What we know with both of those guys, at their absolute best, yes, of course they’re in India’s best team. But can they find their best between now and when that World Cup rocks around?

“And that’s only an answer that, like Ravi said, that we’ll find out in a short period of time. They will get some really good batting wickets coming up over the next few weeks here in Australia. There’s not many places that are better to go and bat in a one-day game than Adelaide Oval, which is coming up in a couple of days,” he said.

Ponting thinks it will only be a matter of time before Rohit and Kohli are among the runs again and that could come as soon as the next ODI against Australia in Adelaide.

“Finding your rhythm and tempo is the biggest thing. When you’ve had a break, just getting back used to the rhythm and the tempo of the 50-over game again, it takes a little bit of time for anybody,” Ponting said.

“I’d expect to see both those guys bounce back into it pretty quickly. As I said, Adelaide is a great place to bat and a great place to play cricket. But it won’t be easy for the fact that they are facing some of the best white-ball bowlers that have ever played the game. So, the challenge is definitely there.

“But I say it all the time, you don’t write off champion players ever. And these two guys have been two of the best, and while I’m on record saying I think Virat’s the best 50-over player I’ve ever seen, you don’t write them off.

“They’ll find a way to contribute and win games for their team, and if they do that, then they’ll most likely be in that World Cup team in 2027,” he added.

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‘Political deceit’, JMM blames INDIA bloc allies for no seat-sharing pact in Bihar

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Ranchi, Oct 21: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on its INDIA bloc allies, accusing them of keeping the party “bewildered” over seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and forcing it to withdraw from the contest.

As the Bihar polls draw closer, internal tensions have surfaced within the Mahagathbandhan, with the JMM announcing its exit from the alliance just a day after declaring plans to contest six seats independently.

The decision, made public by Jharkhand Minister and senior JMM leader Sudivya Kumar in Giridih, came amid what he termed “political cunning” by the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Kumar alleged that the senior partners had undermined the JMM’s position and betrayed the principles of coalition politics.

Speaking to media, JMM spokesperson Manoj Kumar Pandey said, “Somewhere, a situation of confusion has been created that has left us bewildered. We did not want to be excluded from the alliance and made every possible effort, but unfortunately, we failed in our attempts. It is sad and unfortunate that political deceit or broken trust was exercised against us, which could have adverse effects on the INDIA bloc.”

“Will the alliance work like this only? We always supported our allies. We have always given them more. We even made their party leaders ministers. They were able to see the Assembly because of us. I am openly saying this. Even after this, if something like this happens with us, then it is wrong,” he added.

Reacting to the development, Congress leader Rakesh Sinha said the JMM deserved to get seats for the upcoming polls, but Congress should not be blamed for it.

Speaking to media, Sinha said, “I believe the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is a natural ally, and naturally, it should get seats in Bihar. However, what circumstances arose and what situations developed can only be explained by the leadership, whether from the Rashtriya Janata Dal or the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Discussions did take place, and two representatives from here also went to the talks. What happened there in Bihar, I am not aware, but JMM should have got the seats in Bihar.”

Sinha, however, clarified that the Congress should not be blamed for the fallout.

“The Congress has always made sacrifices for the sake of the alliance. We want the alliance to be formed with full strength because this is a fight to protect democracy and the Constitution. The Congress Party has consistently shown its commitment and sacrifice within the alliance,” he said.

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‘Those who light diyas responsible for Hindu-Muslim divide’: Udit Raj on Deepotsav record

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New Delhi, Oct 21: Congress leader Udit Raj on Tuesday criticised the Ayodhya Deepotsav celebrations, claiming that those who light diyas are the same people who create a Hindu-Muslim divide and are responsible for the oppression of Dalits.

The sacred city of Ayodhya marked this Diwali with a record-breaking Deepotsav celebration that lit up the ghats of the Saryu River and reignited political tempers across the spectrum.

The city entered the Guinness World Records after 26.17 lakh earthen lamps illuminated the riverbanks, while 2,128 devotees performed a synchronised aarti, creating a grand spectacle of spiritual fervour and visual splendour.

A Guinness World Records certificate was formally conferred, underscoring Ayodhya’s growing prominence on the global spiritual map.

Reacting to the event, Udit Raj told IANS, “Those who light diyas are responsible for the Hindu-Muslim divide in the society. They are responsible for Dalit oppression. They only talk about hatred. No matter how many diyas they light, it does not matter. There are several other records in India, like crime against Dalits, poverty, and unemployment. These should also be focused on.”

He also raised concerns over pollution levels in Delhi following Diwali celebrations, for which the Supreme Court had permitted the use of green firecrackers this year.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR remained in the ‘very poor’ category, reaching 400 on Tuesday morning, a day after Diwali festivities, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). While the overall AQI stood at 347, several areas recorded levels in the ‘severe’ category.

“The government is responsible — why did pollution suddenly rise during Diwali? They tried to say that stubble burning caused this, but fireworks went off all night. If anyone questions this, they are labelled anti-Hindu. In other words, if we talk about saving lives or the climate, we are considered against tradition. Now, who will speak up?” Raj asked.

“Another thing is that literate and wealthy people spend so much on crackers. Would we consider this an educated population? The civil society also has its responsibility. What can be more important than health?” he further questioned.

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Remembering bravehearts, Haryana DGP pays homage to supreme sacrifices of 191 martyrs

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Chandigarh, Oct 21: Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) O.P. Singh, along with other senior officers, on Tuesday paid homage to the supreme sacrifices of 191 martyrs by laying a wreath at the Police Martyrs Memorial in Police Lines in Panchkula to mark the Police Commemoration Day.

Extending condolences, Haryana DGP Singh said that whenever “a police personnel lays down his life, the family faces a mountain of hardships. In a single moment, their life’s direction changes — emotional and financial challenges emerge simultaneously.

In such difficult times, it becomes our foremost duty to stand firmly with the bereaved family. In this spirit, Haryana Police has made provisions to provide government jobs and financial assistance up to Rs 1 crore to dependents of the martyrs so that their livelihood continues with dignity and no child is deprived of education or a better future.”

DGP Singh said “martyrdom is regarded as the highest form of sacrifice”.

He emphasised that through imagination and sensitivity, “we must build a civilisation where the lion and the goat can drink water at the same stream, symbolising a balance between strength and peace”.

He said while “it is natural for a lion to take pride in its strength, a goat should not lament its helplessness. There are some criminal elements in society whose tendencies resemble wolves and foxes, driven by violence and selfish motives. Such people must be dealt with firmly and decisively”.

The DGP said those who “consider violence a means of progress are enemies of civilisation. Our fight with them is not ideological but legal. We are people who walk the path of law, and our policy is crystal clear – tit for tat.”

“If a criminal fires one bullet, the police will not retreat; we will ensure justice and security through all possible action.”

He added the police deeply respect those warriors who stand their ground in the battlefield and sacrifice their lives rather than turning their backs.

“These true sons of the soil keep the system alive through their valour and sacrifice.”

In conclusion, DGP Singh said Haryana Police deeply understands the pain of the families of its martyred colleagues.

“We bow to those brave mothers who gave birth to such valiant sons who laid down their lives for the nation,” he said.

“Together, we will make Haryana stronger, safer, and more sensitive, so that the sacrifices of our martyrs continue to inspire generations.”

On October 21, 1959, ten brave personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force were ambushed and martyred by Chinese soldiers while patrolling the Indo-Tibetan border in the Ladakh region. Since then, October 21 has been observed every year as Police Commemoration Day in their memory.

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