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THE HINDU DELHI THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 SPORT 19 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Dravid to Pant dilemma: To be, or not to be? depose All eyes on the sky as rain looms Should he play his natural game or protect his spot? South Africans and BPXI players keen to get some action ahead of the Test series Vijay Lokapally SA IN INDIA NEW DELHI The relatively new Rishabh V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM Pant is already faced with a VIZIANAGARAM dilemma — should he play Rain threat persists as the his natural game or change visiting South African team to protect his place in the and the Board President’s XI squad? are scheduled to meet in a Pant has faced criticism three­day warm­up game at from various quarters for the Dr. PVG Raju Sports throwing away his wicket Rahul Dravid. Complex here from Thurs­ time and again. * K. MURALI KUMAR day. “I think someone from the Rains lashed the town on team­management should Special Correspondent Wednesday morning but re­ have a word with him,” em­ Mumbai ceded by afternoon much to phasised Virender Sehwag, A high profile conflict of in­ the relief of the District Asso­ who played all formats of the terest (COI) issue­related ciation officials. “If it doesn’t game with the same hearing will be conducted rain tonight, then there will approach. here on Thursday by the be a prompt start to the “He should do nothing,” BCCI Ethics Officer Justice match,” said a senior VDCA insisted Kapil Dev, who was (Retd) D.K. Jain, and atten­ official. known to never compromise tion will be on one of In­ With the first Test bet­ with his natural flair to strike No let up: Rishabh Pant has pressure being mounted on him dia’s most distinguished ween India and South Africa the ball, even if it was the with every outing. * K. MURALI KUMAR cricketers, Rahul David. scheduled for Visakhapat­ first one he faced. The coach and mentor nam from October 2, this “For me, he must wait to captain (Kohli). Also, he awesome talent and if he im­ of the India­A and U­19 was match assumes significance feel the sweet touch of the should decide if he wants to proves his shot selection, I recently appointed Head of as it is expected to provide a ball on the bat. What is the keep playing his natural am sure he will serve India the NCA. platform for the fringe hurry? He has the ability and game or look to become a for the next 15 years,” Seh­ It has been alleged that players to raise the bar and the calibre. It is the tempera­ performer,” said Sehwag. wag said. Dravid is on the payrolls of grab the attention of the na­ ment that he needs to work The former India opener India Cements, once­own­ tional selectors. on. There is a thin line bet­ cited two examples for the Matter of time er of the IPL team Chennai More so for a player like ween failure and success. benefit of Pant. “I flopped in Kapil wanted Pant to “relax” Super Kings. COI rules say captain Rohit Sharma, who You connect the shot and 20 innings before I scored. and look to contribute con­ that an individual holding a had two forgetful outings in you are a hero. If you don’t, But then I had the support of sistently. BCCI post cannot be part of the T20I series against South the same shot becomes your the team­management. I “I know he can hit fours any other party associated Africa. The other Test squad nemesis. It’s a tough choice could regain form without and sixes at will but there are with BCCI’s activities. member who will be the fo­ to make, but a choice has to changing my game because times when you have to be cus of attention is Mayank be made before it is too late,” of that support. Similarly, MS judicious. I was dropped Agarwal. was how Kapil put it. (Dhoni) played his natural once (in a Test in 1984) but

Lanka-India The skipper’s here! Rohit Sharma will look to make the warm­up game count.* K.R. DEEPAK game and India lost a match then I could not blame Big match Up to him which prompted skipper anyone. I had given the se­ T20I series In a way, this is a big match in 2018 and replaced the in­ for skipper Faf du Plessis, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Avesh Having gone through ups Dravid to speak to him. lectors a chance to drop me. for players like Priyank Pan­ jured Jasprit Bumrah in the vice­captain Temba Bavuma Khan, Ishan Porel, Shardul Tha­ and downs in his career, Seh­ “It brought about a Pant should now look to de­ Special Correspondent chal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Test squad, should grab the and the in­form Quinton de kur, and Umesh Yadav. wag knew how to deal with change. MS became a per­ ny anyone a chance to drop Mumbai Karun Nair and wicketkeep­ chance to get into the groove Kock to fine­tune their skills South Africa XI: Faf du Plessis such situations and criti­ former the way Rahul want­ him. He has it in him and it’s Sri Lanka will play three er­batsman K. Srikar Bharat before the first match. for the longer format. (Capt.), Temba Bavuma (vice­ cisms. “I took it philosophi­ ed him to. Of course, he did a matter of time before he re­ capt.), Kagiso Rabada, Quinton T20Is against India on Ja­ who, when he last played at It is no different for the cally. That’s what Rishabh curtail his natural game and gains his form and confi­ The teams (from): Board Presi­ de Kock, Dean Elgar, Vernon Phi­ nuary 5 (Guwahati), Jan. 7 this venue, scored a century likes of pacers Shardul Tha­ dent’s XI: Rohit Sharma (Capt.), lander, Keshav Maharaj, Dane should also do. He should re­ learnt the art of finishing the dence. Let’s back him.” (Indore) and Jan. 10 (Pune). against Hyderabad in a Ranji kur, Avesh Khan and all­ Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Pan­ Piedt, Zubair Hamza, Lungi Ngi­ member that anyone can game. I think Pant should al­ As for Pant, he is doing Sri Lanka is the replace­ Trophy game. rounder Jalaj Saxena. chal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ka­ di, Aiden Markram, Theunis de flop. But it’s important that so look to become a perform­ what he has been asked to — ment for Zimbabwe which The 31­year­old Umesh Ya­ On the other hand, this run Nair, Siddhesh Lad, K.S. Bha­ Bruyn, Heinrich Klassen, Anrich he should have the backing er. He should concentrate on play domestic cricket to re­ was suspended by the ICC. dav, who last played in a Test will be the final opportunity rat (wk), Jalax Saxena, Nortje, and Senuran Muthusamy. of the coach (Shastri) and his shot selection. He has organise his game. KSL a real learning curve: Jemimah Mixed day for Khade; Shoan shines again

Says her ability to finish games is the biggest takeaway from the league N. Sudarshan stroke: 50m: 1. Vladislav Mus­ BENGALURU tafin (Uzb) 27.68, 2. Denis Pe­ trashov (Kyr) 28.35, 3. S.P. SA WOMEN IN INDIA deal. It was a bitter­sweet expe­ “To get quick runs, bat rience for Virdhawal Khade Likith 28.38; Butterfly: 100m: 1. Wongcharoen Navaphat (Tha) Amol Karhadkar with the tail, take the res­ on the second day of the 54.06, 2. Sajan Prakash, 54.42, SURAT ponsibility and see the team 10th Asian Age Group swim­ 3. Mhah Qali Bbas (Kuw) 55.10; When she burst out on to the through was a real learning ming championship here on 400m IM: Klzie Ayman (Syr) international arena at the curve. I don’t think I would Wednesday. He clinched the 4:30.22, 2. S. Siva 4:32.11, 3. Ke­ start of 2018, Jemimah Ro­ have got that experience gold in his pet event — 50m tin Nuttapong (Tha) 4:37.11. drigues, then 17, was tipped playing in India.” freestyle — and came within Women: Freestyle: 50m: 1. Sri­ to carry forward the tradi­ 0.04 seconds of matching sa Ard Jenjira (Tha) 26.16 (NMR; tion of Mumbai’s batting Growing experience the meet record that he set OR: 26.29, Yang Xialoin (Chn), from the men’s to the wo­ She admitted that the KSL as a teenager way back in 2015), 2. Khader Baqlah Talita men’s cricket arena. stint was also a “growing ex­ 2009. Bishara (Jor) 26.37, 3. Junkra­ Thanks to her rich re­ perience” in terms of “get­ But his dream of bettering jang Natthanan (Tha) 26.51; 1500m: 1. Junkrajang Nattha­ wards in the Kia Super ting out of the comfort his personal best of 22.43 to The sizzler: The 14­year­old Shoan Ganguly has made waves nan (Tha) 17:39.93, 2. Shivani at the Asian Age Group meet. * SUDHAKARA JAIN League (KSL) in England — zone.” Her maturity came to inch closer to the Olympic Kataria 17:58.16, 3. Teeka Kata­ her maiden appearance in the fore when she empha­ Qualifying Time (22.01) A­ wan (Tha) 18:00.86; Breast­ an overseas league — Jemi­ sised that during her topsy­ mark was shattered as he However, for 14­year­old very hard. [But] it was not as stroke: 50m: 1. Srisa Ard Jenjira mah seems to have justified turvy ride with the National could come home only in Shoan Ganguly, his maiden hard as expected.” (Tha) 32.12 (NMR; OR: 32.46, the tag of being the next big team so far, the “lows have 22:59. Age Group championship Yekaterina Sadovnik (Kaz), thing. helped the most”. continued to get better as he Kushagra’s third gold 2009), 2. Vu Thi Phuong Anh (Vie) 33.04, 3. Boonamphai Jemimah’s exploits — 401 She admitted that carry­ Disappointed added a silver to the gold and Elsewhere, Kushagra Rawat runs at 57.28 with a strike ing drinks during the Asia “Very disappointed,” two silvers he had won on Saovanee (Tha) 33.24; Butterf­ added a third gold by win­ ly: 100m: 1. Kittiya Patarawa­ rate of 149.62, including a re­ Cup last year created “self­ Khade said later. “I should the opening day. In the ning the 1500m freestyle in cord unbeaten 112 off 58 balls doubts about whether I was have done way better. I got Group II boys’ 400 freestyle, dee (Tha) 1:02.53, 2. Soun­ 15:41.54. The two record­ thornchote Suspasuta (Tha) — in England showed that good enough for internation­ too excited and tried to pow­ he set a new personal best by breaking performances of 1:02.57, 3. Liu Pei Ting (Tpe) the teenager has matured as al cricket,” but also made her er through. I got a brilliant finishing in 4:07.21. Later in the day came from Thai 1:02.94; 400m IM: 1. Pawapo­ a batter. “work harder” on her game. start I feel, the start I had the evening, he came fourth swimmer Srisa Ard Jenjira, tako Phiangkhwan (Tha) But more than her record­ She may have turned 19 trained for. Usually I pull off in 200m butterfly, but called who lowered the meet’s best 5:04.97, 2. Wong Ching Lam spree, she stressed that her barely three weeks ago, but after the 25m, but it just it his “favourite” timings in the women’s 50m Athena (Hkg) 5:08.97, 3. Nim­ dam Kanitta (Tha) 5:12.79. ability to finish games as her Managing the transition: Jemimah Rodrigues will be keen to her clarity of thought proved didn’t happen because I performance. freestyle and breaststroke transfer her gains from the KSL to India’s cause. * VIJAY SONEJI Mixed 4x100m medley: 1. Thai­ biggest learning from the that she was no longer the ruined my technique due to “It will now push me to do events. KSL sojourn. ‘baby of the team’, a tag she over­excitement.” better the next time,” Shaon land 3:39.17, 2. Uzbekistan takes his team to victory. I of Thursday’s second T20I had to abandon during her The 28­year­old still has said later. The results: Open category: 3:41.73, 3. India 3:42.56. Finish it could do it in the KSL. That against South Africa. professional commitment in time till June 29, 2020, to get “This is my first Asian Men: Freestyle: 50m: 1. Virdha­ Other Indian medallists (num­ wal Khade 22.59s, 2. Khurshid­ ber indicates position): “I used to never finish a was the biggest learning for That she was made to bat England. the A­mark. But the competi­ meet. I just wanted to give jon Tursunov (Uzb) 22.96; 3. Group I: Boys: Butterfly: 100m: game. I used to bat well and me,” a bubbly Jemimah told at No. 4 for a better part of It was, in a way, symbolic tion in Bengaluru was the my best time. Pradeep [Ku­ Gharehhassanloo Benyamin 2. Tanish George 55.98; Group The Hindu not take it till the end. My on Wednesday, the KSL — instead of her that with the inclusion of the one he had targeted and had mar] sir trained us for 4 to 5 (Irn) 23.23; 1500m: 1. Kushagra II: Boys: Freestyle: 400m: 1. dad (Ivan, also her coach) after persistent rain forced usual position in the top­ 15­year­old Shafali Verma in warmed up well by clocking weeks. The camp was a bit Rawat 15:41.54, 2. Chang Cheng Shoan Ganguly 4:07.21; But­ used to always say that a real the Indian women to cancel three while playing for and the squad, Jemimah is no 22.44 at the senior Nationals hard but good. He told me Li Wei (Tpe) 15:49.85, 3. Kittiya terfly: 200m: 2. Utkarsh Patil champion is the one who their training session ahead in India — helped a great longer the baby of the team. in Bhopal earlier this month. that the competition will be Tanakrit (Tha) 16:19.75; Breast­ 2:09.82. Warriors ride on Maninder’s shoulders Improved India goes down to Korea

PKL in the last 90 seconds, but it A disastrous second quarter after a good start puts paid to the host’s hopes was too late. Uthra Ganesan ASIA CUP Chinese Taipei in its last JAIPUR Contrasting scenario group match on Thursday in Maninder Singh led from the While Warriors have already Ashwin Achal order to avoid the relegation front, achieving a personal comfortably qualified for the Bengaluru playoff encounter. milestone and single­hand­ playoffs, Titans continue to India fizzled out after a Earlier, Japan, China and edly dragging his team past languish in the penultimate bright start to lose 62­97 to Australia all registered their the finish line as Bengal War­ spot, with its playoff hopes Korea in the FIBA Women’s second successive victories riors edged past Telugu Ti­ all but over. Asia Cup Division­A basket­ of the tournament. tans 40­39 to go to the top of ball tournament at the Sree The second match saw Jai­ The results: Group A: Japan 78 the table in the seventh sea­ Kanteerava Indoor Stadium (Maki Takada 19, Ramu Tokashi­ son of the ProKabaddi pur Pink Panthers start ten­ here on Wednesday. tatively but race ahead to a ki 19, Yuki Miyazawa 15) bt Chi­ League here on Wednesday. India raised expectations nese Taipei 49 (Ling Chuan comfortable 43­34 win It was the second consec­ of creating a spectacular up­ Huang 12); Korea 97 (An Jin 21, against Puneri Paltan. Panth­ utive one­point win for War­ Pulling away: Warriors captain Maninder Singh proved set, going up 6­0 and 10­2 in Hyeyoon Bae 14, Leeseul Kang ers, who remained in the se­ riors, Maninder scoring a unstoppable against Titans. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT the opening minutes. Jeena 13, Seul Ku 12, Minjeong Kim 11, venth spot, still have a whopping 17 of his team’s Scaria and Anjana Geetha Top scorer: Jeena Scaria’s efforts were not enough for India Hyejin Park 11, Jihyun Park 10) chance of qualifying. bt India 62 (Jeena Scaria 14, An­ points and going past 150 managed to win a point, Ma­ gamely to counter Manin­ ran the floor and found their to challenge the Koreans. * K. MURALI KUMAR touch points for the season, ninder would hit back with der’s challenge, scoring 15 The results: Bengal Warriors 40 range, while the Koreans jana Geetha 9). stepping forward every time two of his own. points, but despite his best (Maninder Singh 17, Sukesh struggled to find offensive team defence, Korea snuffed Overall, India put up a far Group B: China 104 (Mingling his team was in trouble. With a well­rounded de­ attempts — including a super Hegde 5) bt Telugu Titans 39 rhythm. At the end of the out all scoring opportuni­ improved show after the 27­ Chen 21, Guo Zixuan 19, Y. Li 11, (Siddharth Desai 15, Rajnish 6, Li Yuan 10, Jiacen Liu 10, Xu He first changed the game fence led by veteran Jeeva raid and an all­out of his own first quarter, India held a 22­ ties. The home team could 103 hammering received at Rakesh Gowda 5, Abozar Moha­ Han 10) bt Philippines 57 (Afril by failing a raid but taking Kumar that kept the pres­ — found his team falling jermighani 5); Jaipur Pink 20 lead. score only six points, and the hands of Japan on Tues­ Bernandino 10); Australia 82 three defenders out with sure on the opposition, his short in defence. Panthers 43 (Deepak Hooda 12, A disastrous second quar­ lost all momentum. Korea day, but it was not enough to (Ezi Magbegor 14, Darcee Gar­ him in the 14th minute and attacks made all the Titans, in fact, scored five Deepak Narwal 11, Nilesh Sa­ ter, however, put India out of raced to a 44­28 advantage at prevent a second straight de­ bin 13, Abby Bishop 10) bt New then effecting an all­out two difference. more raid points than War­ lunke 7) bt Puneri Paltan 34 contention. With tough half­time, and never looked feat. Zealand 44 (Antonia Edmond­ raids later. Every time Titans Siddharth Desai tried riors, most of them coming (Pankaj Mohite 14, Manjeet 8). physical play and double­ back. India will have to defeat son 12, Micaela Cocks 10).

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