Sports
At Modi’s hometown
Rex Clementine in Ahmedabad
There are many women leaders who have shaped politics of their countries. We produced the world’s first female Prime Minister in Sirimavo Bandaranayake. Then, Israel had Golda Meir, India had Indira Gandhi, Britain had Margret Thatcher and Australia had Julia Gillard.
There is a famous story regarding Gillard. During the Sri Lankan cricket team’s tour of Australia in 2012, she hosted the team for tea at her residence in Canberra. Team Manager Charith Senanayake was introducing the players to the Prime Minister, and they came up to a certain all-rounder. The Prime Minister shook his hands and asked, ‘how are you keeping.’ Our man apparently told, ‘I am not a wicketkeeper, I am a fast bowler.’
Talking of women leaders, Calcutta’s Chief Minister is a lady – Mamata Banerjee. She is serving her third term and hugely popular here in Bengal and at the age of 68 she is tipped as a national leader.
From Calcutta where Australia and South Africa played a thrilling semi-final, we head to Ahmedabad, the city that will host the final. It’s relatively a long three hour ten minute flight. Strange. From Bombay to Colombo it takes you only two and half hours.
Ahmedabad is the de facto headquarters of Indian cricket at the moment. The IPL final, marquee Test matches and now the World Cup final, all big cricket games are slotted to Ahmedabad.
It has been the case always. Bombay used to be the capital of Indian cricket. Then when Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya ruled the sport, it shifted to Calcutta with Eden Gardens getting all the important games. Next could be Madras.
Rupa Gurunath calls the shots at Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. She is the daughter of N. Srinivasan, India Cements owner and former ICC boss.
Coming back to Ahmedabad, Sri Lanka played a Test match here in 2009, where Mahela Jayawardene produced a stunning effort. His 275 is still the highest score by an overseas batsman in India, quite remarkable indeed as India have been playing Test cricket for 89 years now.
It was also here in Ahmedabad that Mr. Michael Tissera’s Ceylon team beat the Indian team captained by Tiger Pataudi. It was an unofficial Test match. Since then, Sri Lanka have never overcome India in a Test match.
That was of course before the ground underwent reconstruction. The modern ground is an architecture marvel and it’s the largest stadium in the world able to host 138,000 fans.
The ground is named after the Prime Minister of India – Narendra Modi. He is expected to be present at the finals.
Ahmedabad is the capital city of the state of Gujarat. The other main cities of the state are Rajkot and Baroda. Although most Indian states have just one First Class team, Gujarat has three First Class teams – Saurashtra, Baroda and Gujarat. The reason for that is the state is so vast and there are so many cricketing talents.
The Prime Minister is not the only reason why Ahmedabad gets all the prominent games. Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Indian Board is also from this part of the world.
Jay Shah is the son of India’s interior Minister Amit Shah. At the age of 35, Jay has come a long way in cricket. Although he may not have many fans back in Sri Lanka, he is supposed to be a very efficient person and it is no doubt he is ICC President in waiting.
Under his watch, the Indian board has got a new facelift and a lot of things in Indian cricket are changing. No doubt the likes of Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma deserve a lot of credit for making Indian cricket so formidable.
So does Jay Shah. His greatest contribution to the sport has been to look after the administration part and not to meddle with the cricket affairs leaving it to the experts. That’s where folks back home have faulted. They have meddled with everything from selection to fitness standards.
The selectors had a very good plan to make any player who failed a fitness test ineligible for selections. Our administrators went and vetoed it and introduced pay cuts for those who failed fitness tests treating them with kids’ gloves. Results have been devastating. Praising Jay Shah maybe not a very popular thing back home, but that’s the reality. Let’s learn from him. Here’s hoping that we have our own Jay Shah.
England Women 81 for 3 in 13.5 overs (Sophia Dunkley 22, Mala Bouchier 19*, Heather Knight 18; Bree Illing 1-20, Nensi Patel 1-07, Melle Kerr 1-18) beat New Zealand Women 80 in 19.1 overs (Isabella Gaze 17, Maddy Green 14, Jess Kerr 20; Linsey Smith 2-15, Issy Wong 1-20, Sophia Ecclestone 1-11, Charlie Dean 3-13, Dani Gibson 3-14) by seven wickets
Royal Challengers Bengaluru [RCB] might look at Gujarat Titans [GT] across the ring in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026, and wonder if they helped create this monster. When GT went to Bengaluru on April 24, they were still a conservative side straddling the middle of the table, and happy with a 57-ball hundred from their opener. But they have been a changed unit since RCB cruised to that chase of 206 against them that day.
Since that match, the halfway point for GT, their run rate has increased by nearly a run per over. That is 20 runs per innings. By the time they faced RCB next, they were giving more importance to balls remaining than to wickets in hand while chasing. When batting first, GT were looking to score above par; there has been a pair of 229s in the two matches they have batted first in since that Bengaluru debacle.
The thing with GT is that they have a team with such strong basics that they don’t need to make only subtle changes to their approach. Their control rate has gone from 80% to 75%. A little more risk, a lot more rewards. Their bowling has only become more streamlined over this period with Jason Holder adding constant threat to an already good attack. The result is a 6-1 win-loss record in the second half of their tournament.
RCB, though, have been solid throughout, carrying forward the change in approach that took them to the title last year. They won five in the first half and four in the second. They have consistently looked to finish matches early or set above-par scores when batting first. A second consecutive top-two finish is just rewards for being the most consistently good side over this period.
They will want to make it straight from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad, where they won their first title last year. Not only to make the final but to also hope to avoid meeting GT in a final at their home, something that should be the right of defending champions. Not least because GT are on a four-match winning streak at home, which includes two wins despite losing the toss.
RCB have used the fewest number of players this IPL, a sign of a settled unit. It would certainly have been fewer if not for the injury to Phil Salt, who is now back in India and racing against time to be ready in time for the playoffs. If he doesn’t make it, though, it brings in the temptation to drop Suyash Sharma for Jacob Duffy considering Suyash has not had a great IPL, and night games in Dharamsala can negate spinners. In fact, Dharamsala hosted the only completed match this season where no spin was used.
Venkatesh Iyer has made a case for himself in the limited opportunities he has got, but Salt should be a no-brainer as opener if he is fit.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable): Virat Kohli, Phil Salt/Venkatesh Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Jitesh Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy/Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam
GT have played the second-fewest number of players. They seem to have their first XI figured with Nishant Sindhu being persisted with as the extra batter. Their only doubt remains around the Impact Player: extra fast bowler in Prasidh Krishna or extra spinner in R Sai Kishore or Manay Suthar.
Gujarat Titans (probable): Shubman Gill (capt), B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Nishant Sindhu, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna/R Sai Kishore/Manav Suthar
[Cricinfo]
Aken Thilakawardhana produced an impressive all-round display as St. Sylvester’s registered a huge 101-run victory over Sri Rahula, Katugastota in their Under 17 Division I first round cricket encounter at Katugastota on Monday.
Chasing a target of 219 runs for victory, the home team never looked in contention as wickets fell at regular intervals before they were bowled out for 117 runs in the 34th over.
St. Sylvester’s bowlers struck early to put Sri Rahula under pressure, with Sasiru Dineth and Sakuna de Silva reducing the hosts to 18 for three wickets. Aken then joined the attack to further dismantle the batting line-up, claiming three wickets to cap an outstanding all-round performance.
Aken, who had earlier contributed a valuable 48 runs with the bat, finished with impressive figures of 3 for 24.
Sri Rahula’s innings was led by Savinu Mendis, who top scored with 28 runs, but lacked support from the other batsmen as St. Sylvester’s maintained control throughout the chase. Sasiru Dineth returned figures of 3 for 33, while Sakuna de Silva too two for 23.
Earlier, put to bat first, St. Sylvester’s posted a competitive 218 all out in 49.2 overs after receiving a brisk start from opener Adithya Ranamukage. He raced to a half-century in just 35 deliveries, smashing nine boundaries and two sixes in an aggressive knock.
Nithil Herath contributed 25 runs, Keshan Perera made 27, while Aken added 48 to strengthen the innings. Vihanga Perera also chipped in with 23 runs.
For Sri Rahula, Chamindu Sathsara was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 55, while Shehan Weddagala, Praboth de Silva and Savinu Mendis claimed two wickets apiece.
Scores:
St. Sylvester’s
218 all out in 49.2 overs (Adithya Ranamukage 50, Nithil Herath 25, Keshan Perera 27, Aken Thilakawardhana 48, Vihanga Perera 23; Shehan Weddagala 2/31, Chamindu Sathsara 3/55, Praboth de Silva 2/24, Savinu Mendis 2/31)
Sri Rahula Katugastota
117 all out in 33.2 overs (Savinu Mendis 28; Sasiru Dineth 3/33, Sakuna de Silva 2/23, Aken Thilakawardhana 3/24). (RF)
Cabinet approves sale of Paddy stocks held by the Paddy Marketing Board
Amendment to the Promotion of Export Agriculture Act, No. 46 of 1992 to be gazatted
Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, appointed as Director General of the Department of Management Services
Cabinet approves collaboration agreement between Sri Lanka and Brazil for the implementation of the “Sugarcane Project in Sri Lanka”
Cabinet approval for Implementation of a Project for the Joint Exchange of Genetic Resources between Sri Lanka and Vietnam and the Development of High-Yielding and Salinity-resilient Rice Varieties.
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura extended till1600 hrs on Wednesday [27]
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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