The Paris Olympics finally began for the Indian contingent on Thursday, July 25. Archery was the sole sport played by Indian players, with men’s and women’s both giving a great account of themselves. In cricket, however, there wasn’t much action. Regardless, the Indian team had a practice session in Pallekele ahead of their first T20I on July 27. Shubman Gill, who had a funny banter with Mohammed Siraj, also addressed a short press conference, where he talked about Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav being on the same page with each other.
Suryakumar Yadav & Gambhir have same mindset?
Shubman Gill, India’s new white-ball vice-captain, praised the synergy between captain Suryakumar Yadav and newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir. Having played together at KKR, Gambhir and Suryakumar share a ‘similar mindset and thinking’. Gill, who has played under Suryakumar in South Africa, expects their chemistry to positively impact the team’s performance. After just two days of working with Gambhir, Gill notes a clear understanding of the coach’s expectations among all players.
Pant over Samson again?
India faces a wicket-keeping conundrum with Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant. Samson, one of the most elegant batters, was sidelined for the T20 World Cup in favor of Pant. Despite Pant’s inconsistent performance, he might be again preferred over Samson for the Sri Lanka series. This persistent selection might raise some questions, especially among Samson’s huge fandom. Considering that India played Pant at number three, he is likely to continue to bat there.
Gambhir made excuse on Pandya?
Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has dismissed fitness concerns as the reason for Hardik Pandya’s removal as India’s T20I captain. Latif argued that many previous successful captains were not exceptionally fit as well. He believes the decision to replace Pandya with Suryakumar Yadav for the Sri Lanka series was merely an excuse.
How did Indian archers perform on Day 1 at Olympics?
India’s archery campaign at Paris 2024 kicked off with a strong start. Ankita Bhakat led the women with a season-best score, while young Bhajan Kaur impressed. However, Deepika Kumari struggled. The men’s team shone, led by Dhiraj Bommadevara’s fourth-place finish. Despite a tie with Germany’s Unruh, one less X pushed him to fourth. Veteran Tarundeep Rai also performed well, while Pravin Jadhav had a less successful day. India secured direct quarterfinals berths for both men’s and women’s teams, finishing third and fourth respectively. The mixed team qualified for the round of 16, setting a promising stage for India’s archery challenge at Paris Olympics.
Dravid signed for Rs 50K?
Samit Dravid, son of cricket legend Rahul Dravid, has made his mark. The 18-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder has secured his first T20 contract at Rs 50 thousand with Mysuru Warriors in the Shriram Capital Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 auction. The young Dravid will play under the captaincy of veteran Karun Nair.
Arshdeep soon to be Test player?
Indian selectors are keen on adding left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh to the Test team. To add spice to the team, he could be included in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. To boost his chances, Arshdeep has been advised to play in the Duleep Trophy. It looks like Arshdeep’s impressive white-ball performances have caught the selectors’ attention, and he’s seen as a potential game-changer alongside Jasprit Bumrah in the Australian Test series.
