THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q MONDAY Q JUNE 21, 2021 11

Tumhe rukna nahi hai: India goalie Sachin Tendulkar pips Kumar Sangakkara to be the greatest Test batsman in 21st century Gurpreet remembers Milkha’s words NEW DELHI, JUNE turions. 20: Former India batsman The commentators who NEW DELHI, JUNE Sachin Tendulkar, who holds voted included VVS Laxman, 20: “Tumhe rukna nahi hai the record for most Test and Irfan Pathan, Aakash Chopra (you cannot stop)”, these ODI runs as well as most among others. words from legendary centuries across the two for- Tendulkar, who made his Milkha Singh still inspire mats, pipped former Sri Test debut at the age of 16, Indian football goalkeeper Lanka captain Kumar San- captivated the world of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu gakkara as the greatest Test cricket. He was the only In- who says the advice from batsman of the 21st century dian in an all-time Test the ‘Flying Sikh’ helped him in a poll. World XI which was an- fight challenges during his "This was a tight one. Both nounced in 2013 to com- European stint. Kumar Sangakkara and memorate the 150th an- Iconic sprinter Milkha Sachin Tendulkar are icons niversary of Wisden Singh died in Chandigarh cricket commentators and behind. of the game but the vote, the Cricketers' Almanack. on Friday due to Covid-19 fans voted. In terms of centuries, he is winner of the greatest Test In 2002, the Wisden related complications and Tendulkar's 15,921 runs six clear of Jacques Kallis batsman of the 21st century, Cricketers' Almanack ranked there was outpouring of and 51 centuries are the most who has 45 Test tons. is my fellow Mumbaikar him as the second greatest tributes from thousands of in Test cricket history. Sangakkara, who has Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar," Test batsman of all time be- countrymen, including The man nearest to him in scored 12,400 runs and 38 Gavaskar said in a video up- hind Don Bradman and the sports persons. the run-getters' list is former centuries in Tests, is sixth in loaded by Star Sports, who second greatest ODI bats- Gurpreet remembers a Australia captain Ricky the list of all-time run-getters organised the poll in which man behind Viv Richards. ceremony in Chandigarh in Ponting who is 2,543 runs and fourth in the list of cen- 2015 where Milkha gave Sikh’ himself, they were a Stabaek till 2017. In 2016, the country whose lives away an award to him. great motivator and he became the first Indian were touched by the leg- “He (Milkha) told me pushed me to give my all player to play in Europa endary Milkha and hoped Mithali Raj pitches for more ‘Hard work has no replace- each day. League, European foot- they would be able to push ment. I even used to vomit “The words he spoke to ball’s second tier club com- themselves to the next blood at times after training me are still with me and petition. level through his blessings but tumhe rukna nahi hai’,” continue to be a huge Paying tribute to Milkha, and wisdom. Tests after draw against England (You cannot stop!),” Gur- source of inspiration. His whose best-known exploit “All of us grew up read- preet said in an AIFF re- words and blessings will was the fourth-place finish ing about him and his suc- BRISTOL, JUNE 20: lease. always be with me when- at the 1960 Rome cesses, and to have shared On a day when India put up “At that time, I was play- ever I am fighting on the Olympics, Gurpreet said, the stage with him in per- a gritty display to steal a ing my club football in Nor- football pitch for my coun- “Legends and their legacies son is a memory I will al- draw in the one-off way with FC Stabaek, try,” said the 29-year-old live on forever.” ways keep close to my women’s Test against Eng- where every day was a fight India number one goalie “Milkha Singh-ji and his heart. land here, skipper Mithali to prove myself and break who has also captained the life story has influenced “He is one of India’s Raj pitched for more Test into the starting lineup. It national team. billions of people in India greatest sports persons of matches to help her team was a great challenge and In 2014, Gurpreet be- and across the world, and all-time. His achievements get used to the rigours of living abroad, there were came the first Indian foot- even though he is no more on the track are second to the longest format of the days when it was hard to baller to play in a top divi- with us, he will continue to none and even in his eight- game. keep my spirits up. sion club in Europe when inspire future genera- ies, he was devoted reli- Powered by a gritty un- “However, I used to fall he turned out for FC tions.” giously to fitness and always beaten 80 (154 balls) by back on these words spo- Stabaek of Norway. He said there must be so encouraged others to do the debutant Sneh Rana and ken to me by ‘the Flying He stayed with FC many more athletes across same.” her unfinished 104-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Taniya Bhatia (44 not out, 88 balls), India India celebrate 'once-in-a- frustrated the hosts to snatch a draw on Saturday. India, who had looked “It’s a good idea to have a cricket team’s maiden Test days. I’m okay with five-day down and out at one point five-day Test but (first) we since 2014. Indian women Tests also, but I would pre- generation' talent Shafali Verma in time when they were at actually have to start (hav- have played only 36 Tests in fer having a Test match first ing) Test matches regu- five decades, which is less in a series and then take it NEW DELHI, JUNE 199 for seven wickets while larly,” said Mithali, when than one per year. India from there,” Mithali was 20: India women's cricket following on before tea on asked if the number of days played only two Tests be- quoted as saying by ESPN- team captain Mithali Raj Saturday, saw gritty batting in women’s Test matches tween 2010 and 2020. cricinfo. described team mate from the lower order should be increased from “Having a Test match fea- The sides next meet in the Shafali Verma as a rare tal- against an England bowling the current four to five. turing in a series is impor- first ODI, back in Bristol on ent who can dominate all attack that seemed to be tir- This was India women’s tant and then take it to five June 27. three formats of the game ing. after the teenage opener's fairytale Test debut in Eng- land. Tokyo organisers working on safe stay Seventeen-year-old Verma scored 96 and 63 on her Test debut in Bristol, and training of Indian athletes winning the player-of-the- NEW DELHI, JUNE been put in place for all well from other 10 coun- cases declining from more match award and also be- 20:The Tokyo Olympic or- travellers -- including ath- tries and all other 195 than 3 lakh daily a few coming the first woman ganisers are working on letes, coaches and support NOCs can stay safe in the weeks back to less than cricketer to hit three sixes in how to ensure safe stay staff -- of 11 countries, in- Villages and have train- 60,000 right now. a test match. and seamless training of cluding India, where dif- ing." Earlier, the advisory "I think Verma is a player the Indian athletes inside ferent variants of COVID- "We hope to provide you from the Tokyo Games or- who comes across once in a the Games Village, accord- 19 have been identified, with those information ganisers had said that ath- generation," Raj said after ing to a letter they have within 14 days of their ar- and discuss together as letes from Group 1 coun- India pulled off a thrilling sent to the Indian Olympic rival in Tokyo. soon as possible we de- tries must be tested every draw on Saturday while fol- Association (IOA). Terming the rules as 'un- velop it," the Games or- day, for seven days, prior lowing on. The Indian athletes and fair and discriminatory', ganisers said in a letter to to departure to Japan. "I'm sure from here on, officials travelling for the the IOA had written to the the IOA. Afghanistan, Maldives, she'll go from strength to game in the second innings standing', while former In- Richards did from the 70s Olympics have been asked Tokyo Organising Com- The IOA, on its part, said Nepal, Pakistan and Sri strength and will be very, with a restrained display dia opener Virender Se- to 90s," Raman tweeted re- by the Japanese govern- mittee of the Olympic that its president and sec- Lanka were clubbed in very important to the bat- that largely contributed to hwag hailed her 'fearless' ferring to the West Indies ment to undergo daily Games (TOCOG) to ensure retary general were in dis- Group 1. ting of the Indian team in all saving India from defeat. batting. batting great. COVID-19 tests for a week that mechanisms to pre- cussion with TOCOG and "Physical distancing: For formats." Verma's six-hitting abil- Former Test player WV Verma said she wanted to prior to their departure vent COVID-19 do not seeking clarifications on seven days prior to your "She beautifully adapted ity has earned her a stint Raman, whose stint as In- grow into an all-format and not to interact with have any 'adverse and the conditions imposed on departure to Japan, you to this format. She didn't go with the Birmingham dia women's team coach player. anyone from another detrimental impact' on the Indian contingent for must keep your physical like how she would go Phoenix at The Hundred ended last month, said "I was so disappointed (to country for three days performance of athletes. Tokyo Olympics. interaction with all others, bonkers in the T20 format." competition in England Verma could have a major miss the century). I just upon arrival, strictures In reply to the IOA letter, India's COVID-19 situa- including from another Known for her swash- from next month. impact on women's cricket. want to be a good cricketer that have left the IOA fum- TOCOG said: "Tokyo 2020 tion has improved consid- team, delegation or coun- buckling batting, Verma England captain Heather "We may see her doing in for my side, that's it," she ing. is working to define how erably after a catastrophic try, to an absolute mini- showed the other side of her Knight called Verma 'out- women's cricket what Viv said. Stricter regulations have athletes of your NOC as second wave with daily mum," the advisory said. When will Ravichandran ?Ashwin quit cricket? NEW DELHI, JUNE pretty much I think I do," Chennai, who has captured about his own performances live." by chance," he said. 20: Star India off-spinner Ashwin was quoted as saying 409 Test wickets so far, said as for him playing the sport "I am too excited about it. I India bowling coach Bharat Ravichandran Ashwin says by the ICC ahead of the ongo- that he doesn't enjoy contro- and excelling in it is his pro- don't time for people rating Arun also lavished praise on competition always brings ing World Test Champi- versy but if poked he doesn't fession. me or not rating me, it's just Ashwin's work ethics and said out the best in him and the onship final between India hesitate to give it back on the "I don't really read or dwell another person's opinion and he is never satisfied and wants day he feels he has lost that and New Zealand in field with his performance. on my performances to be that's just brutally how I live to learn new things daily. urge to improve his craft, he Southampton. "It's not like that I enjoy very honest. To be brutally my life." "Ashwin is not very happy will quit the sport. "I think whatever I have controversy but I enjoy a fight honest I just hate the fact that India pace spearhead with whatever he does, he al- Ashwin is regarded as a achieved so far in my career is and that pretty much sums up I am who I am because of Jasprit Bumrah considers ways loves to come out of his thinking cricketer who always because of that attitude, did why I am here," he said. what I do. In India you get a Ashwin as one of the greats of comfort zone and learn new strives to explore something not settle for anything, con- "I don't celebrate victories lot of adulation but I am just the game. things, develop different an- new, something extra in his stantly looking to improve. as much as I ideally should be- another normal person who "I think he (Ashwin) is one gles and that's what makes game and that attitude has "I maintained that if I don't cause for me victory is an in- finds peace and happiness of the greats of the game be- him so special," Arun said. paid rich dividends for him like doing different things and cident and is coincidental to playing the sport," he said. cause if you look at his "He understands his bowl- throughout his career. if I lose the patience to do planning and practice. I sit "It is just absolutely won- records, it speaks for itself. He ing most often. What bowlers "The beauty about Test something new or get satis- and think about what can be derful that I can ply my trade has done well with the bat as actually and think they are do- cricket is you are always aspir- fied then I might not play the better," Ashwin said. and feed my family and I get well as with the ball. He has ing are two different things, so ing to be perfect but you can sport anymore," he said. By his own admission, Ash- paid so well. This is a sport taken more than 400 Test Ashwin understands his settle for excellence, so that's The 34-year-old from win doesn't like to talk much that gives meaning for me to wickets so that doesn't come bowling to bridge this gap.