THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q FRIDAY Q JANUARY 22, 2021 11

Red-carpet welcome for Rahane as Kings XI Punjab retain 16 players for this year’s IPL NEW DELHI, JANU- , Deepak ARY 21: Kings XI Punjab Hooda, , victorious Indian team arrives home head coach on , Sarfaraz MUMBAI/NEW Covid pandemic. Wednesday said that they Khan, KL Rahul, Nicholas DELHI, JANUARY 21: In his society, residents are building a solid side for Pooran, Prabhsimran Chants of 'aala re aala and videographers jostled the 2021 edition of the In- Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Ajinkya aala' headlined a to capture the moments dian Premier League (IPL) Chris Jordon, Darshan red-carpet welcome for and the unassuming bats- while keeping the core Nalkande, Harpeet Brar, Is- Ajinkya Rahane as the man posed happily for group of players intact. han Porel, Mohammed stand-in , along them. KXIP retained 16 mem- Shami, and with coach and Rahane was then greeted bers of their IPL 2020 . some other members of the in a traditional manner as squad and the likes of Glenn Released players: Glenn team, returned to the coun- he walked towards the en- Maxwell and Sheldon Cot- Maxwell, , try on Thursday after In- trance of the building. trell have been released Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Jimmy dia's epic triumph in Aus- Dhol tasha is usually from the squad. Neesham, Hardus Viljoin, K the plan is to fill those gaps into this season as well. We tralia. played to celebrate special "After yesterday's historic Gowtham, , Ja- in the coming auction so believe that this group The chants (meaning achievements and during Test victory in Australia, we gadeesha Suchith, Tejinder that we will be a solid team along with whoever we will here comes our Ajinkya) joyous occasions. are all excited about the re- Singh. KXIP had finished going into the 2021 IPL," pick in the auction will be were heard amid the beat- his village in Tamil Nadu's awaited the reticent bats- An injury-ravaged sult, having said that it is the IPL 2020 season at the Kumble said in a video able to turn things around ing of the traditional dhol Salem. The players from man after he drove straight beat Australia by three also that time of the year sixth spot under the leader- posted by the KXIP's official for the side. It is important tasha and showering of , including veteran to his housing society in in the series-decid- where IPL preparations ship of KL Rahul. Punjab is Twitter handle. for us to look to keep the flower petals at Rahane's off-spinner Ravichandran suburban Matunga, where ing fourth Test in Brisbane kick-start for the new sea- yet to win the IPL title and "The plan was to keep the squad similar and hope for a residential complex. Ashwin, rookie Washington residents had made elabo- on Tuesday to clinch the son 2021 IPL. So today, we the side has made it to the core team and make sure better performance in the Besides Rahane and Sundar and coach rate preparations to accord rubber 2-1 and retain the have retained 16 players out finals in 2014. But they suf- that players who are part of coming season," he added. Shastri, also arriving in Bharat Arun are currently their hero a royal welcome. Border-Gavaskar Trophy. of the 25-member squad fered a loss to Kolkata the last season continue KXIP's retained players: Mumbai were star batsman in Dubai and are expected Rahane was welcomed Stepping in after the cata- that we had last season. So, Knight Riders. , pacer to reach the country on Fri- with the beats of dhol, while strophe in Adelaide in the Shardul Thakur and opener day morning. others showered the crick- absence of , Ra- , while Bris- On arrival in Mumbai, eter with flower petals. hane led by example with a bane Test hero Rishabh Rahane, Shastri, Rohit, Rahane was also joined classic century in the sec- We have to be at our absolute Pant landed in the national Shardul and Shaw were fe- by his wife and two-year- ond Test at Melbourne, capital early in the morn- licitated by Mumbai old daughter in the celebra- guiding India to a series- ing. Association officials, in- tion. levelling victory. best against India, says Root T Natarajan, who was cluding president Vijay Soaking in the carnival- There was no looking originally picked as a net Patil and apex council like atmosphere, Rahane back after that as Rahane GALLE, JANUARY 21: to fully expect to win that bowler but became the first members Ajinkya Naik, acknowledged the love and inspired a heavily-depleted India’s come-from-behind series - but we have a lot of Indian cricketer to make his Amit Dani and Umesh adulation showered on him Indian team to an unbeliev- series win over Australia hard work to do before we international debut across Khanvilka. by the people of the city, able series triumph against was a “great advert” for Test get there (with the second all three formats during the Rahane also cut a cake to many of whom waited for a full-strength Australian cricket and his side will Test against Sri Lanka).” same tour, landed in Ben- celebrate the team's win. his team at the airport team that possessed the have to be at their “absolute England had won the first galuru and then took off for However, more surprises wearing masks amid the world's best bowling attack. best” to challenge them at Test against Sri Lanka by home, said England captain seven wickets. Joe Root. Star players An injury-hit India, who and , who were Captain Rani rescues India with late strike were also missing some star rested for the series against BUENOS AIRES, chief coach Sjoerd Marijne. players like skipper Virat Sri Lanka, are expected to JANUARY 21: The Indian “Today players got the Kohli, registered a three- be named in the England women’s hockey team chance to show their best win in the series-de- squad for the India tour. wasted a number of penalty and these are players who ciding fourth Test to clinch “India showed great fight, in Chennai on February 5. character and resilience and The Test series will be fol- “You speak to any side in corner chances before skip- normally don’t get a chance the four-match series 2-1, a the world, those two guys per Rani Rampal’s fourth- to make the 18-member month after facing the ig- depth in their squad for lowed by five T20Is and guys to come in and per- three ODIs. coming back into it would quarter strike helped the squad so it’s good they are nominy of being bowled out give the squad a huge boost visitors salvage a 1-1 draw able to get international ex- for their lowest-ever score form the way they did. “I expect India to be full of “As a cricket fan watching confidence. They are a very and it’s certainly the case for against Argentina’s junior posure. of 36 at Adelaide. us,” said Root. “It was a fantastic series it was a great good team and know how to side here. It was a second It is also good for the core “We (will be) excited to to watch from start to finish advert for the game and for get the best out of their con- straight draw for the Indian group that we are getting to see them back in and team following a 2-2 result try more players and see with some brilliant cricket us going out to India it ditions. We are going to around the squad. Hope- in the tour-opener. how different combinations played,” Root told reporters makes that tour even more have to be at our absolute fully they are full of energy India began on an attack- work,” he added. on the eve of England’s sec- exciting now.” best but that is an exciting and ready to go when they ing note, earning a penalty “We created enough op- ond Test against Sri Lanka England will tour India to prospect for us,” Root said. ceeded in converting the penalty corners in the play four Tests, beginning They will be going there get here.” corner in the very first last one for a 1-0 lead in the course of the game and portunities to score more here. minute but Gurjit Kaur’s 13th minute. eventually succeeded in and this is an area we need powerful drag was saved by While India created drawing level in the 58th to keep working on. We the Argentine goalkeeper. plenty of opportunities to minute when a powerful in- have a break of two days be- 50% attendance for England Tests likely India won another score in the second and jection by Navneet Kaur fore our next game against penalty corner in the fifth third quarters by making a was well received and pow- the Argentina B team and NEW DELHI, JANUARY 21: In- “As of now, we are likely to allow 50 In the new stadium at Ahmedabad, minute, but Deep Grace number of circle penetra- erfully struck by Rani. we look forward to the chal- dian cricket board (BCCI) officials are percent spectators for the four Test which can accommodate over one lakh Ekka’s shot went wide. In tions, they were unable to “Today the quality of play lenge,” he added. contemplating allowing crowds up to matches. The BCCI is in talks with spectators, spacing of seats to main- the following minutes, the break the Argentine de- was better and that’s why India will take on Ar- 50% of the stadium capacity in both both state cricket associations (of tain social distancing will not be an is- home side won three fence. we are here - to improve in gentina B team on Satur- Chennai and Ahmedabad during Eng- Tamil Nadu and Gujarat) and also sue. penalty corners and suc- India earned four more every match,” said India’s day. land’s upcoming four-Test tour to In- state health authorities,” a senior KP warns India dia. BCCI source said. New Delhi: Kevin Pietersen’s tweet The first two Tests will be played in However, the BCCI is also factoring in Hindi had the netizens in splits as Dhoni comparisons amazing but Pant Chennai from February 5, while the the fluid public health situation due to the former England skipper warned next two will be played at the reno- the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, if the India that the ‘real team’ is coming to vated stadium at Motera in Ahmed- caseload in either Chennai or Ahmed- take them on. “LEKIN, ASLI TEAM wants a name for himself in Indian cricket abad. abad increases, they will change the toh kuch hafto baad a rahi hai jisse The BCCI is thinking of following plans accordingly. “If you allow 50 aapko harana hoga apne ghar mein NEW DELHI, JANU- umph for now. the process followed by Cricket Aus- percent crowd with all necessary pre- (But the real team is coming after a few ARY 21: The comparisons "I think the whole team is tralia, which had allowed entry of cautions, then it will be an indicator if weeks and you have to beat it in your with the iconic Mahendra very happy with the way we spectators during the series against we can also allow spectators during own backyard),” he tweeted. Singh Dhoni are flattering played the series in Aus- India, which concluded on Tuesday. IPL in India,” the official said. but young Indian wicket- tralia," he said. keeper-batsman Rishabh India made a stupendous Pant on Thursday said he fight-back after being Emotional Siraj heads straight to father’s wants to carve his own iden- bowled out for a record low- tity in the game after play- est score of 36 in Adelaide ing a key role in the side's and went on to win the se- grave from airport, offers prayers historic Test series win in ries despite their captain Australia. not being available for the HYDERABAD, JANU- instrumental part in the Pant is often compared remainder of the contest ARY 21: team’s victory while fulfill- with the two-time World and many key players lost went straight to the grave- ing his father’s dream of Cup winning former cap- Pant told reporters after anyone, I want to make my- to injuries. yard on his return from a representing the country in tain and wicketkeeper bats- landing here from Australia self as a name in Indian They won the second Test historic tour and paid his the highest form of the man, who retired last year where his match and series- cricket, because it's not in Melbourne and drew the last respects to his father game. “It was my (late) fa- after a glorious interna- winning effort of 89 in the good compare some legend next at the SCG before who died two months ago ther’s dream that Siraj tional career. second innings of the fourth with some youngster." pulling off a remarkable while the India speedster should represent India in "You feel amazing when Test won him all-round The 23-year-old also victory at the Gabba -- was doing national team Tests. He always wanted to you are compared to some- praise. scored a 97 in the drawn where Australia had not duty in Australia. see him (Siraj) in blue and one like MS Dhoni and you "It's amazing but I don't third Test in Sydney. And lost since 1988 -- to clinch As Siraj stood and prayed white jersey to represent the compare me with him," want to be compared with he wants to savour the tri- the series. in front of his father Mo- nation, so the dream got ful- hammed Ghouse’s grave, filled,” Siraj’s brother Mo- his two-month long wait fi- hammed Ismail had said. Smith, Maxwell, Bhajji released ahead of next month’s IPL auctions nally came to an end. Siraj bowled his heart out NEW DELHI, JANUARY 21: 2020. , Piyush Chawla and He laid flowers at his fa- and picked up a maiden Sanju Samson replaced and Aaron Finch who were also let go by ther’s grave while offering five-wicket haul (5/73) at as captain after the were also released by Kings XI Punjab CSK. prayers before heading to the Gabba in Brisbane, Aus- Australian batsman and some other and Royal Challengers , re- decided to enter the his home in Al-Hasnath tralia’s fortress which was under-performing stars were released spectively. Also released by KXIP were next edition without Jason Roy, Alex colony. breached on Tuesday after by their respective IPL franchises even West Indies’ Sheldon Cottrell, Carey and Mohit Sharma. Siraj’s 53-year-old father, of returning home but the by any Indian bowler as the 32 years. as retained vet- Afghanistan’s Mujeeb-ur-Rahman After today, Kings XI Punjab’s total who was an auto driver, had pacer chose to stay back team came from behind to “It was a great achieve- eran Suresh Raina for the upcoming and New Zealand’s Jimmy Neesham. purse increased from Rs 16.5 crore to died on November 20 due with the team for the tour. script a memorable 2-1 se- ment by the Indian team 14th edition of the league. CSK’s Harbhajan Singh and Mum- Rs 53.2 crore. to a lung ailment—barely a He made his Test debut in ries win. Having got the and my brother Siraj has Samson was appointed to the top bai Indians’ Lasith Malinga were Meanwhile, Malinga today an- week after his son landed in the second match in Mel- backing of his family, Siraj’s achieved what our father job after RR decided against renewing among the other big names to be re- nounced retirement from franchise Australia with the Indian bourne and finished the brave decision to stay back dreamt. We are happy that former skipper Steve Smith’s contract. leased ahead of next month’s auction. cricket. Malinga is the highest-wicket team. Border-Gavaskar series not only saw him make his Siraj was able to contribute Smith’s contract ended in October Harbhajan was joined by the likes of taker in the IPL history. He was given the option with 13 wickets — the most India debut but also play an to the victory,” Ismail said.