It’s about battles on the field. It’s about do-or-die situations. It’s about just one goal. It’s about victory. In short, it’s about playing fair. Howzzat? Well, that’s SIMPLY SPORTS! 07 Kohli and Bumrah will be ’s trump cards in WC: HOLDING

You are part of World Cup history, since You have been coming to England for Who is the favourite in this World Cup? Yes, it is good. No team can com- you were the last man out in the 1983 World more than four decades. Can you antic- Not one team. I’ll jointly mention In- plain that they have not got enough Cup between India and the West Indies... ipate what kind of pitches will be offered dia and England. opportunity. Ultimately this is World Oh, it’s a sarcastic question. I just hap- this time for the World Cup? Cup, so, if any team has one or two bad pened to be the last man out. I do re- These days World Cups are played most- Can you elaborate? days during the group stages, they can member that. But frankly speaking I do ly on flat so that batsmen can England will be playing at home. They make a comeback. But for the semifi- not want to remember that. Now that score runs. I think seaming tracks will have really displayed well in One-day nal and final, it will not be a cakewalk. you had brought out the topic I could see not be there in England this time as well. recently. They really have a bal- If any team wants to win, they have to that I was LBW to Mohinder Amarnath. anced side. India have been outstand- give their best in the last two matches Do you think the spinners can manage ing. They are consistent. They have got — the semifinal and the final. And immediately the whole of India went some purchase from the ? good players. The champion team must into wild celebrations… May not be on all the grounds in all the know to play under pressure. I’ll not be Talking about the other contenders from I can imagine because that was the first matches, but spinners will definitely surprised if either England or India the subcontinent, Pakistan last won in victory for India in a World Cup final, have a role in the World Cup. These days wins the Cup this time. 1992 and in 1996. What about beating a mighty West Indies team. the boundary is not that big. That will their chances in 2019? ‘Whispering Death’ be a disadvantage for spinners across What is the x-factor for the Indian Pakistan have surprised the cricketing Why did West Indies lose that day — 25th the smaller grounds in England. team? world many times in many matches. But Michael Holding, June 1983 — at Lord’s? I will mention two names, the current Sri Lanka team does not one of the finest fast In One-day cricket, the day’s form is very Do you fancy the chances of the West and . Both these crick- have match winners like Kumar San- important, and India played better crick- Indies team? eters have excellent qualities to win the gakkara and Mahela Jayawardena. I bowlers to have et than West Indies that day. We could Frankly speaking, I have not seen the Cup for India. know anything can happen in cricket, graced the game, not score 184 runs. I still cannot figure West Indies team in more than one-and- especially in , but out why we could not chase India’s to- a-half years. So, I’m not in a position to Are you happy with the format? All teams at the end of the day, you need to have a believes flat pitches tal of 183 and win the match. air my views about the West Indies team. will have to play each other… strong team with real match-winners. may be the norm in the World Cup, and DON’T COMPARE KOHLI’S IPL CAPTAINCY RECORD WITH THAT OF INDIA, SAYS GANGULY that Jasprit Bumrah Former Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Rohit in his team as the vice-cap- and Virat Kohli will be insisted that Virat Kohli’s IPL cap- Sharma — on whom he can fall back tain. Dhoni is there. So he’s well India’s trump cards in taincy will not have an impact in the on during testing situations. supported,” Ganguly said. the tournament. World Cup as he enjoys a good record “Don’t compare Virat Kohli’s The 46-year-old felt Hardik as an ODI skipper. The biggest IPL captaincy record with that of Pandya will play a key role in India’s Excerpts from an advantage for Kohli will be the sup- India. His captaincy records for campaign at the mega event, start- interview... port of two very successful leaders — India is very good actually. He’s got ing May 30 in England. Jasprit Bumrah Virat Kohli Digest There is no one closer to Hirwani, Kotak and Yadav Team believes I can do the Photo: GETTY IMAGES Hardik’s talent: Sehwag Photo: GETTY IMAGES named India A coaches job, that matters: Shankar ➤ There is no one Photo: GETTY IMAGES he BCCI on Wednesday an- ll-rounder Vijay Sh- closer to his tal- nounced that former India leg- ankar being picked ent with both bat T spinner Narendra Hirwani, ex- A as No.4 bats- and ball. If there India wicketkeeper Vijay Yadav and man for the World Cup domestic cricket stalwart Sitanshu saw the birth of the bigg- was, he would not Kotak are now the , field- est debate to engulf Indi- have made it back Pakistan’s Shadab Khan declared fit: ing and coaches of the In- an cricket in recent times. into the team Former cricketers and Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan has ■ The team will tour West pundits have had their say. been declared fit for the upcoming Indies for a Two-Test series Many believe Ambati Ray- Cricket World Cup. “His latest test ll-rounder Hardik Pandya has talent unmatched udu or would that marks their launch into results reflected zero viral load in his by any other player in the Indian cricket team, have been a better option. says big-hitting former opener . the World Test Championship. Interestingly, criti- Vijay Shankar blood,” the Pakistan Cricket Board A Narendra Hirwani According to Sehwag, Hardik has become irre- They will also play ODIs and cism and Shankar have a announced. IANS placeable in recent times. Hardik played a pivotal next year in , Dravid history. Not many fans human being. thing is that the team role in Indians’ record fourth title triumph T20Is on that tour. has to focus his attention on junior would have forgotten the On the World Cup management has shown in the IPL recently, coming in after enduring a tu- cricket too. He’ll shuttle between a all-rounder’s struggle slot, Shankar has learned trust in me and believes multuous phase following his outrage-evoking re- dia A team for the tour of West In- Zonal Cricket Academy (SCA) tour- against in the to de-stress and not get I can do the job. That marks on women on a chat show. dies and against Sri Lanka at home. nament, begin in Surat from May final of the Nidahas Tro- bothered by what is being gives you extra motiva- Having served the ensuing ban, the star all-round- Explaining why batting legend 17, and the India A team.” The phy and the hate reaction said around him. For tion. The team is my pri- er pummelled 402 runs in 15 in the IPL at a wasn’t named as the Board has also assigned him a big- that followed. Shankar him, it is the team man- ority and I am always staggering of 191.42, and a highest score India A coach, a source in the Board ger role, giving direction to the Na- says it was a life lesson agement that counts. ready to adapt to situa- of 91. said: “With the under-19 World Cup tional Cricket Academy (NCA). and made him a stronger “The most important tions and conditions. IANS

Peter Fulton to be NZ’s coach: Saha in 4-day games Former New Zealand batsman Peter Kohli: Karthik pipped Pant ‘Learnt from different coaches, players’ Photo: AFP against WI ‘A’, Pant Fulton will take as batting coach “It’s just little things like game of the national side following the because of experience in one-day team plans. He (Warner) hits in com- World Cup. Fulton played 84 interna- pletely different areas to poten- he Indian national selec- tionals for New Zealand as a top- ☛ ’s experience tors on Tuesday picked tially myself. I guess it’s method order batsman. IANS and composure in pressure situa- T the India ‘A’ team for two four-day and five one-day matc- Photo: AFP tions helped him pip young sensa- more than anything else. But learning from them, as well as the hes against Sri Lanka ‘A’ to be Photo: GETTY IMAGES Photo: tion Rishabh Pant to the second guys here, that can only be a good played from May 25 as also the wicketkeeper’s spot in India's ‘A’ team for the West Indies ‘A’ thing playing under pressure with World Cup squad, captain Virat tour. The team is set to play expectation,” said Bairstow. three four-day & five one-day Kohli has said. Jonny Bairstow matches against West Indies "In pressure situations, he's ‘A’ starting July 11. ngland opener Jonny series with two to play. losing his wicket to Junaid Interestingly, Wriddhiman shown composure. He has the Bairstow says batting alo- The 29-year-old Yorkshire- Khan. “I was cross because you Saha has been picked ahead of experience. and can be immensely Engside Australian swash- man carried on his recent form want to see that through,” Bair- Rishabh Pant in the India ‘A’ Genoa to be up for sale: Genoa, valuable behind the wickets. As a buckler David Warner during a from the IPL where he scored stow said after England made squad for the multi-day games Italy’s oldest professional football finisher, he’s done well. successful Indian Premier 445 runs in 10 games for the Sun- light of a 359 target with their against West Indies ‘A’ while club, will be put up for sale, the Serie League helped raise his game. risers Hyderabad. second-highest ODI run chase KS Bharat is the second-choice A outfit said in a statement. Founded Karthik, who has played 26 tests Bairstow’s 128 off 93 balls “You’re able to learn differ- to win with 31 balls to spare. keeper. Pant has been named for India, has the ability to bat powered World Cup hosts Eng- ent things from different coach- “You want to be going on, get- in the squad for the five one- in 1893, the club is one point and one land to a dominant six-wicket es and different players,” Bairs- ting potentially 200 and seeing day games with Manish Pand- place above the Serie A relegation anywhere, which makes him a lim- win over Pakistan in the third tow, who opened the batting for your team through. Bairstow's ey named skipper. Shreyas Dinesh Karthik zone with two matches to play. REUTERS ited-overs asset. REUTERS one-day international, helping Sunrisers with Warner, said. commanding 100 was the cen- Iyer will lead the team in the them go 2-0 up in a five-match Bairstow was miffed after trepiece of England’s win. three four-day games. IANS

Q.1) Which of B. Lausanne, ‘Steyn, Rabada on these football Switzerland JOSH HAZELWOOD NAMED AS WC STANDBY South Africa coach GIBSON WARY OF ENGLISH WEATHER clubs has C. Madrid, Spain track to recovery Ottis Gibson Photo: GETTY IMAGES Cristinao D. Rome, Italy before World Cup’ believes weather Ronaldo played will play its part in Q.5) Identify the foot- deciding the out- for? outh Africa head coach baller in the picture below. come of the Cricket A. Chelsea Ottis Gibson has said that Photo: GETTY IMAGES World Cup in B. Real Madrid S premier fast bowlers and are England and Wales. C. Manchester City on track to be available for the South Africa play D. Liverpool World Cup slated for England England in the and Wales from May 30. Q.2) Diksha Dagar is associ- Rabada, who was one of tournament opener ated with ______sport. the stand-out performers in on May 30. REUTERS A. Hockey the just-concluded IPL where B. Skating he picked up 25 wickets in 12 matches for Capitals, CHRIS COLEMAN FIRED BY CHINESE CLUB C. Golf had to return before the play- Chris Coleman has D. Wushu offs after suffering a stiff back. become the first coach On the other hand, Steyn Q.3) Name the Indian fired in the 2019 had come midway into the Chinese Super League Premier League team that A. Mohamed Salah tournament for the RCB as a Photo: GETTY IMAGES Jasprit Bumrah represents. B. Sadio Mane replacement player, but he season. Hebei China A. C. Christian Benteke could only last two matches be- Australia’s national selection panel chairman Trevor Hohns Fortune, with former D. Kurt Zouma fore a shoulder injury forced on Monday said that both fast-bowlers Josh Hazelwood Barcelona star Javier B. Super Kings him to return to South

and Kane Richardson will be the team's "standby bowlers" Mascherano in its C. Royal Challengers Mane Sadio B. 5. Africa and put doubts over

his World Cup participation. after they were not named in the final squad of fifteen for ranks, made the move Bangalore Switzerland,

However, now Gibson be- the World Cup. Hazelwood's omission from the World Cup after the club posted D. Lausanne, B. 4. Indians,

lieves their injuries are “not squad was a major headline. The bowler is one of the just one win from nine Q.4) Where is the Court of Mumbai D. 3. Golf, 2.C. alarming”. “There was an is-

sue with KG (Rabada) and handful Aussie quick bowlers who are currently on their games and fans calling Arbitration for Sport located? Madrid, Real B. 1. ANSWERS with Dale, but we feel that way back from injury. ANI for him to be fired. AP A. Paris, France those guys are on track,” he Photo: GETTY IMAGES said. IANS