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DELHI THE HINDU 18 SPORT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Ganguly wears the India blazer, again Takes over as BCCI president, says domestic will be his priority B CCI MEETING ‘Will support Kohli in Amol Karhadkar As much as it is about win­ every possible way’ ning and losing, sport is also about nostalgia. As he en­ SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Test venues, we have a lot of The new team: with Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, Mahim Varma, Jayesh George, MUMBAI tered a jam­packed confe­ States, a lot of venues... we Anshuman Gaekwad, Jay Shah, Arun Singh Dhumal and Shanta Rangaswamy. * VIVEK BENDRE rence room at the Cricket Sourav Ganguly answered a will have to sit with him and Centre — for the second range of questions during the see what he wants, and take time, with a young team of media interaction after tak­ it forward from there. newly elected apex council ing over as BCCI president. members accompanying On restructuring domestic ‘We will work with ICC and On the way ahead him — Sourav Ganguly cricket turned the clock back al­ It is a really young group (of­ That will be the first thing we most two decades. fice­bearers), so we will have will do. And we will get it take money matters forward’ Sporting the India blazer to do a lot of hard work to un­ done before the actual Ranji — he revealed it was the derstand every method. We Trophy season starts. G. Viswanath ICC and take this forward.” be welcome.” same that was presented to don't know what happened The structures are there, Mumbai Giving his insight on the The BCCI is not exactly him when he was elevated to in the last three years be­ the tournaments are there, BCCI president Sourav Gan­ sensitive subject , the outgo­ happy with the ICC’s new India captaincy in 2000 — cause we were not a part of and there are a lot more guly was quite guarded when ing CoA chief Rai said: “It is World Cup plans (T20 and Ganguly occupied his chair. it. There were no AGMs, teams now. In the last three fielding a question about being reported that there 50 overs) for the 2023­2028 And as he took centrestage, there were no committee years, the matches have dou­ who would be named India’s was a 2014 model. Any of cycle. the four chairs that had been meetings... so we had no idea bled actually. director in the ICC Board. you who has followed the This is because the ICC arranged for the other office­ how it happened last year. We will have to make sure The BCCI can name its direc­ BCCI knows how much we global tender for media bearers were quickly pulled that the best tournament in tor and alternate director. got as per the 2014 model. rights for the post 2023 cycle out. On Kohli’s suggestion to have the country is competitive “No, it has not been decid­ We took charge in 2017. Not a may be floated in 2021, well five permanent Test centres One couldn’t help but and it remains important to ed. But the ICC matter is im­ single dollar was lost to us. before the BCCI gets the op­ sense that the second India I will speak to him tomorrow everyone because that is portant for everyone to When we took charge, we portunity to invite a tender captain to become a BCCI The boss: Sourav Ganguly has likened his taking over as BCCI [Thursday]. He is the captain where you get the Kohlis, the know, don’t just go on hear­ were told that we were al­ for its media rights. president would continue to president in muddled times to his captaincy on the back of India. He is the most im­ Dhonis, the Rahanes, and say. India is to get $372 mil­ lowed $293 million. When The BCCI’s media rights steal the limelight, just like of the match­fixing saga. * VIVEK BENDRE portant man in Indian crick­ the Rohits of India. That lion from the ICC 2016­23 cy­ Vikram Limaye went and ne­ for 2018­23 was won by Star he did during his stint as In­ et as captain of the team. We structure has to be at its best, cle. It is a lot heavy at the gotiated with the ICC, $293 Sports for ₹6138 crore and dia skipper. the Wankhede Stadium, a will have a word with him both structure­wise and fi­ backend. Till now we have million got increased to $405 the IPL rights was also won place where he made his and we will support him in nancially, and that will hap­ got whatever it is and we million. That is where it by Star Sports for ₹16,347 Vision statement mark early on in what every possible way. As for the pen. have to make sure we get our stands today, and if in the fu­ crore for the five­year period For the next 25 minutes, turned out to be a memora­ due. We will work with the ture if we get more, that will (2018­2022). Ganguly spelt out his vision ble career on the field. for what could well be just a 10­month tenure as BCCI Where it all started Dada on Dhoni president. “I came here as a young boy, He related taking over a I remember scoring my first SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT It depends on him. Even Former office­bearers kept away muddled BCCI administra­ hundred, it was against Pa­ MUMBAI when I was left out and tion to him taking over as kistan in an under­19 match BCCI president Sourav when the entire world captain in the aftermath of at the Wankhede stadium, it Ganguly fielded a few said I will never make it, I from BCCI meeting the match­fixing scandal. was a different Wankhede questions on M.S. Dhoni, believed in myself and Special Correspondent congregated for a meeting. so a former IPL chairman) He also reiterated that stadium then. saying he will address the came back and played for Mumbai The three erstwhile office­ and Ravi Savant, former le­ domestic cricket would be “We stayed at the Sea issue of the former four years. Minutes after the newly bearers — acting president gal committee member Ab­ his priority, explained Green Hotel next door,” Gan­ skipper’s future in Champions don’t finish elected office­bearers of the C.K. Khanna, acting secre­ hay Apte, also entered the BCCI’s stand while dealing guly said. “The hundred international cricket. quickly. I don’t know what Board of Control for Cricket tary Amitabh Choudhary enclosure. with ICC on the revenue­ against Pakistan actually Did you speak to Dhoni? is in his [Dhoni’s] mind, in India (BCCI) took charge, and treasurer Anirudh Once it was known that sharing model and even ex­ triggered my career. what he thinks about his a few high­profile indivi­ Chaudhry — were also invit­ none of them were among plained his interpretation of “I got picked for the Ranji I haven't spoken to him career... he is one of the duals were asked to vacate ed along with the represen­ the designated representa­ the new rulebook that has Trophy, got my Test If Ganguly can walk the yet. I have just taken over greats of the game. Over a the meeting of the BCCI affi­ tatives of three non­com­ tives of their respective State been thrust on the BCCI as a hundred here (173 versus Sri talk and get Indian cricket today. Hopefully, we will period of time, his liates’ representatives here pliant State Associations. Associations, Khanna re­ result of the apex court­di­ Lanka in 1997), got my Test back on its feet during his te­ meet soon and have a achievements, when you on Wednesday. Once they were invited, quested them to leave the rected administrative wins here and then coming nure, the cricket fraternity word with one of the sit down and take note, After the short General others like former BCCI and conference room. reforms. back to the IPL last year with will continue to be nostalgic greats of Indian cricket. you say wow! So, when I Body meeting, in which the ICC president N. Srinivasan, “Yes, I announced that Amidst all this, the bes­ Delhi Capitals and winning about October 23, the day he Do you see Dhoni making am around, everybody Sourav Ganguly­led dispen­ former BCCI secretary Ni­ uninvited guests should va­ pectacled Ganguly also re­ here again as BCCI wore the India blazer for his a comeback like you did? will be respected. sation was handed over the ranjan Shah, former vice­ cate the room,” Khanna con­ minisced about his return to president.” second . reins, the BCCI members presidents Rajeev Shukla (al­ firmed to The Hindu. The CoA innings ends Kohli may be rested for T20Is advances SELECTION part of the World Test Press Trust of India Satwiksairaj Rankireddy G. Viswanath malities, Rai said: “We are Championship. PARIS and Chirag Shetty pro­ MUMBAI totally satisfied because we Amol Karhadkar Kohli could be replaced Saina Nehwal brought cheer gressed to the second round “Getting off the Mark” and are leaving the BCCI behind MUMBAI with either Sanju Samson or to the Indian camp by dis­ but Manu Attri and B. Su­ “End of the Innings” were with five former players in is set to be rested Shubman Gill, both of whom posing of Ngan Yi Cheung of meeth Reddy lost. the two catchphrases Justice administration in the Apex for the next month’s Twen­ are in prolific form. If the se­ Hong Kong 23­21, 21­17 to ad­ Satwiksairaj and Chirag Lodha used while writing Council and IPL Governing ty20 series versus Bangla­ lectors decide to try out vance to the second round defeated the Dutch pair of the Reforms in Cricket Re­ Council. The BCCI adminis­ desh, while Shivam Dube — both of them, it could well of the French Open on Wed­ Robin Tabeling 21­16, 21­14 port four years ago. The re­ tration could not have been the Mumbai all­rounder — is be at the cost of another es­ nesday. but Manu and Sumeeth lost port was presented to the better than this because we likely to earn his maiden tablished batsman. However, it was bad day 21­19, 20­22, 21­15 against En­ Supreme Court in July 2015 have a president who is one call­up for the Men in Blue With Hardik Pandya re­ for the men with K. Sri­ gland’s Ben Lane and Sean and exactly a year later — Ju­ of our most successful on Thursday. Virat Kohli. * PTI cuperating from a back sur­ kanth, P. Kashyap and Sa­ Vendy. ly 18, 2016 — the Supreme captains.” In what could well be the gery, Dube, who has been meer Verma being ousted in The Indian challenge Court validated it. The CoA felt it was able to last meeting of the selection cricket. consistent for India­A and in the opening round. came to an end in mixed The Lodha Panel set time­ bring almost all members in­ panel headed by former In­ The decision to rest Kohli the , is Srikanth fought hard doubles with the exit of Sat­ lines to implement the Su­ to the framework of the dia wicketkeeper M.S.K. Pra­ will be done keeping in mind all set to be tried out as an against second seed Chou wiksairaj Rankireddy and preme Court order, but the BCCI Constitution. sad, the selectors will final­ his workload management allrounder. Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei Ashwini Ponnappa and Pra­ BCCI and its members defied The CoA has also enabled ise the squad for the three and an attempt at trying out before losing 15­21, 21­7, 21­ naav Jerry Chopra and N. them. the BCCI to function through T20Is and two Test matches, the bench­strength in the Chahal back? 14, Kashyap was no match Sikki Reddy.

In January 2017, the Su­ Vinod Rai. * PTI its professional managers to be played from November shortest format in the build­ It is possible that Yuzvendra for Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long While Satwiksairaj and preme Court, at the behest and a large group from the 3 to 26. Kohli is set to attend up to the next year’s T20 Chahal, India’s third­highest Angus as he went down 21­ Ashwini lost 21­17, 21­18 of Justice Lodha, created the na Edulji and Lt. Gen (Retd) NorthEast, Bihar, Puducher­ the meeting at the BCCI World Cup in Australia. As a ­taker in T20Is, could 11, 21­ 9 and Sameer lost 20­ against Seo Seung Jae and Committee of Administra­ Ravi Thodge) ended its 33­ ry and Uttarakhand take headquarters, besides inte­ result, Rohit Sharma will be recalled for the series. 22, 21­18, 21­18 against Ja­ Chae Yujung of Korea, Pra­ tors (CoA) to implement the month tenure on Wednes­ part in the . racting with BCCI president lead India for the three With the Test squad wearing pan’s Kenta Nishimoto. naav and Sikki were ousted reforms process. day. It has also made the Sourav Ganguly on a host of T20Is, with the captain set a settled look, it will not tin­ It was a mixed outing for by England’s Chris and Ga­ The CoA (Vinod Rai, Dia­ After completing the for­ Players Association a reality. issues related to Indian to return for the two Tests as kered with too much. India in men’s doubles as briellle Adcock 21­13, 21­18. ‘ connects me to my inner self’ Going for glory with Ashwin says he is fit and the ball is coming out from the hand ‘like a dream’ guts and gumption EXCLUSIVE in my hands. Nothing gives on the board. It is never me greater joy. Bowling is about one individual. RAKESH RAO 2691, Harika won twice, lost S. Dinakar NEW DELHI like therapy to me. It con­ Virat Kohli has said Test wins twice and drew seven times. nects me to my inner self. I abroad should be worth Rarely does a lady chess Her victims included Mircea­ He leaves one landmark be­ am not the same person I double the points in World player gets to play 11 Grand­ Emilian Parligras (Romania, hind and stares at another. was. I am not as intense as Test championship masters in as many rounds 2629) and Alex Bachmann Spin ace R. Ashwin, though, before. I just want to bring It is more challenging to win of a competition. And to do (Paraguay, 2629). She lost to is not concerned about the the joy back. in somebody else’s home, well against such quality op­ compatriot K. Sasikiran numbers as he revealed in a On pitches that were not gives you more satisfaction. position is considered highly (2675) and Alexander Moi­ The Hindu chat with . turners, you were the highest Virat has a point. improbable. seenko (Ukraine, 2635). Her You have been focusing a lot wicket­taker, with 15, among Remarkably, Grandmas­ strongest performance in Your time under Virat and more on your off­spin these both sides in the recent ter D. Harika made the most the drawn games came coach and the days. You seem to have put India­South Africa Test series of this rare opportunity with against Nils Grandelius (Swe­ atmosphere in the team fitness concerns behind I don’t complain about pitch­ her strongest­ever perfor­ den, 2691). I have always focused on off­ es, nor do I depend on them. Virat has led from the front. mance in the just­concluded “It’s been an incredible spin, got 80 to 90% of wick­ A lot of times we play on He has captained India to so FIDE Chess.com Grand couple of weeks playing the ets with it. I have dismissed a green­tops in county cricket. many series wins. He de­ Swiss at Douglas, Isle of Man. prize of $10,000. FIDE Grand Swiss tourna­ lot of right­handers. You adapt. serves credit. Whenever I The invitational field at­ Rated 2495, Harika per­ ment. Feels good to be back have had a conversation with I am fit and the ball is com­ The manner you use your tracted some of the stron­ formed at a never­before in the World’s top­10 and ing out from the hand like a crease in the South Africa Shastri, he comes up with so­ gest players, including the high level of 2651 and gained looking forward to working dream. I am not thinking too series, both over and round mething useful. With the World champion Magnus 23 points that should take even harder and carrying much technically. I ran into the wicket, impressed many team winning so much, the Carlsen and second ranked her back into the World’s this form in future,” was some very good form I have been criticised for it atmosphere within has to be Fabiano Caruana. The depth top­10 list. how Harika expressed her too at county cricket but too. Some say I try too many good. of the field can be gauged thoughts on twitter. have lately not received too things. For me, if it gives me Are you still hopeful about from the fact that, out of 154 Stubborn defence Harika has the grit and many opportunities for In­ an extra opportunity to get a your white­ball career for players in the fray, 131 were Known for her stubborn de­ the gumption to perform at dia. wicket, I will go for it. India. Two T20 World events GMs, two Woman GMs and fence and ability to draw far the highest level. After all, You went past 350 Test This Indian team has taken are coming up... 16 International Masters. more games than win deci­ three World championship recently. Are you the pitch out of the equation I consider myself one of the Harika, highest rated sively against quality opposi­ bronze medals stand testi­ conscious of the approaching with the options in its attack. best, if not the best spinner, among 18 ladies, started in tion, Harika showed the stuff mony to her capabilities. landmarks? We have a very good bunch in T20 cricket. I don’t think the 122nd place and finished she is made of this past A close look at Harika’s Not at all. I am just enjoying of pacemen. Then we have age is a factor. Imran Tahir is 83rd after scoring 5.5 points fortnight. latest display surely reinforc­ my bowling. I am like a 10­ the spinners. We have a com­ 40. I have the variety and ex­ New perspective: R. Ashwin insists that he is not as intense as from 11 rounds. Her display Facing far stronger rivals, es the belief that her best year­old when I have the ball plete attack and we put runs perience. My hopes are alive. before and is just enjoying his bowling. * FILE PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK was worth the women’s top rated between 2629 and clearly lies ahead.

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