Sports

Have to take the team forward from where Virat’s left it: Rohit

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/4

India captain Rohit Sharma has credited his predecessor, Virat Kohli, for the success of the Test team in recent times and believes that the side hasn’t done “anything wrong in the last two-three years”. He’s looking forward to the challenges of Test captaincy and wants to pick up the threads from where Kohli left it.

“As a Test team at the moment, we stand in a very good position. If you look at the last five years of our Test cricket, the whole credit goes to Virat himself to get us going in this particular format,” Rohit said ahead of India’s opening Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali.

“You know what he’s done with the Test team over the years was brilliant to see. For me, I have to honestly just take it from where he’s left. The team stands in a very good position. Of course, we are somewhere midway in the World Test Championship table, but honestly, I don’t see that we’ve done anything wrong in the last two or three years of Test cricket. Of course, we want to improve as a team, every game that we play, and that is always going to be the benchmark that we’re going to set for ourselves moving forward. We’re looking forward to correct all our mistakes that we made in the past. No team I believe is perfect. You always try and improve every game. So that will be the sole purpose of us moving forward in the right direction.”

This will be Rohit’s first match as India Test captain and as excited as he is for this new challenge, he’s hoping to do right by the players and ensure that the team is focused on the present and not looking too far ahead.

“Honestly, I’m looking forward to just win games as much as possible and do the right things with the right players in the squad. That is the whole point,” Rohit said. “It’s a completely different ballgame – limited-overs and Test cricket. But my philosophy of captaincy will remain the same. I wouldn’t go away from that. And that is just staying in the present, understanding the situation that the team is in and what is the right call to make at that particular time. I’ll be thinking about all those things. It’s five-day cricket, so obviously things will change every day. So you have to do a lot of analyzing about how the first day went, what you need to do on day two, day three, and thereon. So I think a lot of things depend on how we react to a particular situation and then whatever planning or whatever strategy that we need to create, we will create that. That has been my philosophy, not to think too far ahead.

“It’s important to stay and think one thing at a time and not go too far ahead. Like we all know, it’s a different format, Test cricket and limited-overs. So there is no comparison there. It will be a challenge of course, it’s the first time I’m leading in red-ball cricket for India. I’ve captained a few games in Ranji Trophy but again, a whole lot of different challenge it is when you’re captaining the test team. But it’s something I’m really looking forward to. it’s going to be very exciting. And I really can’t wait.”

India are also in a tight spot in the WTC points table and have an uphill task at hand if they are to make the finals for the second time in a row.

“It’s gonna be a challenging one, no doubt about that. it’s going to be important that those nine Test matches that we’re going to play, I feel like we have to win almost every game. There will be a lot of pressure. But I think that is where you know you will build a lot of character as a team. You will see some of the champion cricketers coming out from these situations and that’s my belief; you thrive under pressure and you turn out to be a solid cricketer for the future.”

Rohit also spoke about the void left by Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, both of whom have been dropped for his series, and was excited to see how the likes of Hanuma Vihari, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill fare. Rohit said that these players have been “waiting for a while” and he is looking forward to giving these guys a long run.

“Mayank, Shubman, Vihari, all these guys are brilliant. They are the future of Indian cricket. You know, and I think they need to be given a solid run for them to excel in this particular format. It’s important for us to do that and it will start from the management to show enough support, enough backing.

“Wherever there are changes in the squad, it’s always a fresh start for the guys who are coming in and it’s never easy. But those guys who are going to replace these two guys, Pujara and Rahane, have done exceedingly well whenever they’ve gotten an opportunity, whether it’s first-class cricket back home, or the India A tours or the limited opportunities that they’ve got playing Test cricket. I think we need to just back these guys to come good for us. You know, at times, you always need to look forward and I think those guys have been waiting for a while now. So hopefully, if they get an opportunity, they can turn things around for us. And it’s just not about one or two games but I’m looking at a number of years for them playing for India and doing well for us.”

Glad that the crowds have been allowed for the Test, which will also be Kohli’s 100th, Rohit harked back to his most favourite memories of his colleague.

“As a team, my favourite memory is the series which we won in Australia in 2018. It was a great series and Virat was the captain,” Rohit reminisced. “As an individual, my best memory of him is his Test hundred in South Africa in 2013. The pitch we were playing on was very challenging, it had a lot of bounce and a lot of us were playing a Test in South Africa for the first time. To then face Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Kallis… it was never going to be easy but the way Virat batted in that match, scoring hundred in the first innings and 90 odd in the second, was sensational. It was one of his best knocks. He had made a hundred in Perth in 2018 too but I think the one in South Africa beats that.”

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Sports

Dasun scales new heights as Sri Lanka bag three medals

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

Tharindu Dasun in action in the men's high jump.

Sri Lanka’s small but highly successful contingent returned with an impressive haul of three medals from the Malaysian Open Athletics Championship, which concluded on Sunday, and all three athletes representing the country finished on the podium.

‎Leading the way was high jumper Tharindu Dasun, who produced a personal best performance to claim the gold medal in the men’s high jump. The 26-year-old cleared 2.22 metres, surpassing his previous personal best and securing top place in the competition. The achievement marks another significant milestone for the jumper in an important year inclusive of several international competitions.

‎

Tharindu Dasun reached his personal best in the high jump.

Middle-distance runner Harsha Karunaratne added a second gold medal for Sri Lanka with a strong performance in the men’s 800 metres. Karunaratne crossed the finish line in 1 minute and 50.61 seconds to secure first place and underline his consistency in the event.

‎Meanwhile, hurdler Roshan Ranatunga contributed the third medal by finishing second in the men’s 110 metres hurdles. Ranatunga clocked 14.19 seconds to earn the silver medal and complete a perfect medal-winning campaign for the Sri Lankan team.

‎With only three athletes competing, Sri Lanka achieved a remarkable 100 percent medal success, collecting two gold medals and one silver medal from the championship.

Roshan Ranatunga settled for silver in the 110 metres hurdles.

‎The team was accompanied by Thiron Gamage, the coach of Ranatunga, who served as the team manager and coach during the tour.

‎”It is important that athletes compete in events like these as better conditions help them improve, Gamage told The Island.

‎”The preperation of the athletes and their coaches helped them do well.

Harsha Karunaratne won the men’s 800 metres gold.

‎”Dasun used the conditions well to reach his pb. Harsha did not have much competition for him to push for a better timing as he won easily,” said Gamage.

Commenting on his own athlete Roshan, he said that the hurdler will improve during the season as he is getting back to competition after recovering from an injury.

Sri Lanka team with coach Thiron Gamage (left).

‎The outstanding performances in Malaysia provide a timely boost for Sri Lankan athletics ahead of several major international assignments. Sri Lanka Athletics will now turn their attention to crucial upcoming competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, where Sri Lanka will be looking to build on the momentum generated by successful campaigns such as these.

‎Dasun’s personal-best clearance of 2.22 metres stood out as the highlight of the championship for Sri Lanka. (RF)

Sports

HNB Assurance, Hayleys Group ‘B’, Maliban Biscuits and Power Hand Plantations undefeated as league stage concludes

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

CDB –MCA T10 CRICKET TOURNAMENT 2026 [TIER B]

HNB Assurance, Hayleys Group ‘B’, Maliban Biscuits and Power Hand Plantations topped their respective groups as the league stage of the CDB sponsored MCA T10 Cricket Tournament was concluded on Sunday.

On Sunday, English Tea Shop, Camera LK, Hayleys ‘B’ and Power Hand Plantations registered two wins each while HNB Assurance, Maliban Biscuits and Peoples Leasing registered a win each. The game between Stafford Motors and South Asian Technologies ended in a tie.

At the Mercantile Cricket Association ground, English Tea Shop defeated Akbar Brothers by 22 runs and Heshan Flex by 41 runs to clinch second spot in Group A of the tournament while HNB Assurance beat Heshan Flex to lead the group undefeated. Maliban Biscuits beat Seylan Bank to emerge undefeated leaders of Group ‘C’.

At the Ananda College grounds, both Hayleys ‘B’ and Camera LK registered two wins each over David Peiris ‘B’ and Siyapatha Finance to take first and second spots of Group ‘B’ respectively.

In the Group ‘ D’ games played at the Nalanda College grounds, Power Hand Plantations defeated both South Asian Technologies and Peoples Leasing to lead the group undefeated while Peoples Leasing defeated Stafford Motors to clinch second spot. The game between South Asian Technologies and Stafford Motors ended in a thrilling tie.

At the MCA grounds:

English Tea Shop won by 22 runs

English Tea Shop 102/5 in 10 overs

[Nuwan Wijesinghe 14, Ramesh Fernando 42, Lahiru Gamage 20, Gaveen Gunarathna 10*; Roshen Perera 2-20, Chinthaka Shriyantha 1-18]

Akbar Brothers Group 80/6 in 10 overs

[Chathura Devinda 20, Sahan Sankalpa 23, Pasindu Botheju 15, Tharanga Kumara 11; Oshanda Wickremesinghe 1-08, Gaveen Gunarthne 2-22, Lahiru Gamage 1-10, Ramesh Fernando 1-14]

Pasindu, Taariq power HNB Assurance to an 83 run win

HNB Assurance 164/3 in 10 overs

[Lahiru Sithpriya 21, Dasun Abeywardena 13, Pasindu Pathum 84*, Dulanjana Wijesinghe 10, Chamod Piyumal 29*; Nuwan Hettiarachchi 2-24, Akila Madushanka 1-15]

Heshan Flex 81/8 in 10 overs

[Akila Madushanka 17, Chamath Hirantha 12, Asitha Nilanga 25*; Taariq Naziar 4-07, Dulanjana Wijesinghe 2-16, Milinda Sanjaya 1-24, Lahiru Sithpriya 1-03]

English Tea Shop beat Heshan Flex by 41runs

English Tea Shop 93/8 in10 overs

[Nuwan Wijesinghe 41, Oshadha Wickramasinghe 22; Akila Madushanka 2-21, Shamala Asokan 1-13, Rasika Chandana 4-11]

Heshan Flex 52/10 in 8.4 overs

[Sapumal Senanayake 22; Oshadha Wickramasinghe 2-18, Gaveen Gunarathne 3-05, Semila Liyanage 3-18, Gihan Madushanka 2-08]

Maliban Biscuits beat Seylan Bank by 39 runs

Maliban Biscuits 113/7 in 10 overs

[Mohomad Shilmi 32, Chathuranga Dewapriya 45; Chanuka Santhush 1-22, Nimesh Jayamaha 1-17, Nishane Fernando 2-17, Shehan Deen 2-28]

Seylan Bank 74/6 in 10 overs

[Nethum Basnayake 22, Chanuka Santhush 11, Nimesh Jayamaha 11; Chamara Rathnayake 2-14, Chathuranga Dewapriya 3-06]

At the Ananda College grounds

Anjana stars as CameraLK beat David Peiris Group by 18 runs

CameraLK 123/5 in 10 overs [Anjana Orton 66*, Asitha Chamara 39; Maleesha Sankalpa 2-23, Amila Jayawardena 1-16, Kasun Chathurapriya 1-30]

David Peiris Group ‘B’ 105/5 in 10 overs

[Vihanga Jayanama 32, Amila Jayawardena 48*; Anushka Gunasinghe 1-10, Anjana Orton 3-20, Kaveesh Sathsara 1-29]

Hayleys ‘B’ beat Siyapatha Finance by 9 wickets

Siyapatha Finance 76/5 in 10 overs

[Gayath Menis 22, Kaveen Bandara 28; Sanuja Niduwara 2-18, Daham Nirmal 1-16, Senal de Silva 1-03, Yasiru Jasinghe 1-16]

Hayleys Group ‘B’ 80/1 in 7 overs

[Yuthika Silva 53*, Lahiru Dawatage 13; Nimesh Lakmal 1-08]

Hayleys ‘B’ beat David Peiris by 8 wickets in 3 over game

David Peiris Group ‘B’ 33/0 in 3 overs

[Vihanga Jayanama 15*, Amila Jayawardena 15*]

Hayleys Group ‘B’ 34/2 in 2.4 overs

[Lahiru Dawatage 28*; Amila Jayawardena 1-16]

Camera LK beat Siyapatha Finance by 2 wickets

Siyapatha Finance 88/8 in 10 overs [Gayath Mendis 25, Kaveen Bandara 34, Niroshan Dihan 15; Anushka Gunasinghe 1-23, Ranmira Fernando 1-17, Kasun Madushanka 2-13, Kaveesh Sathsara 3-11]

Camera LK 89/8 in 9.2 overs

[Theekshana Maduwantha 13, Kasun Madushanka 15, Anushka Gunasinghe 13, Asitha Chamara 16; Chamith Kularathne 1-07, Nimesh Lakmal 1-07, Kaveen Bandara 3-25, Malith Pathirana 2-08]

At the Nalanda College grounds:

Ruwin and Waruna star in Power Hand Plantations’ nine wicket win

South Asian Technologies 57/10 in 9.5 overs

[Suviru Sathminda 13, Lasantha Kamalal 14, Maoshada Fernando 15; Tharindu Silva 2-10, Waruna Mayantha 1-12, Hirusha Dulanja 2-22, Ruwin Sankalpa 4-06]

Power Hand Plantations 61/1in 6 overs

[Waruna Mayantha 40*, Kasun Vidura 18; Dilshan Maduwantha 1-16]

Peoples Leasing beat Stafford Motors by 32 runs on DLS

Peoples Leasing 85/6 in 10 overs

[Arrokkiyanathar Vinoshan 21, Chathura Anuradha 28, Ashen Kavinda 21; Sanjaya Fernando 2-12, Asanka Kumarage 1-27, Sanjeewa Vishan 1-07]

Stafford Motors 44/6 in 9 overs

[Gajidu Yasas 11, Sajeewa Vishen 13; Isuru Gunasekera 1-06, SanathDasanayaka 1-13, Nadun Kulathilake 2-05, Arjuna Perera 2-05]

Power Hand Plantations by 29 runs

Power Hand Plantations 113/6 in 10 overs

[Kasun Viduea 12, Thisura Udara 25, Hirusha Dulanja 21*, Pulasthi Athapaththu 32; Arrokkiyanathar Vinoshan 3-17, Arjuna Perera 1-14, Isuru Gunasekera 2-16]

Peoples Leasing PLC 84/4 in 10 overs

[Isuru Gunasekera 15, Chamila Bandara 13, Chathura Anuradha 17, Esitha Gimhana 14, Ashen Kavinda 14*; Dhanushka Ranasinghe 1-17, Tharindu Silva 1-21, Ruwin Sankalpa 1-05, Waruna Mayantha 1-17]

Stafford Motors vs South Asian Technologies SC tied

Stafford Motors 103/5 in 10 overs

[Gajindu Yasas 53, Sanjaya Fernando 14, Sajeewa Vishan 23*; Dilshan Maduwantha 1-19, Maoshada Fernando 2-19, Chamod Rathnayake 1-23]

South Asian Technologies SC 103/6 in 10 overs

[Lasantha Kamalal 24, Maneendeera Jayathilake 20, Dilshan Maduwantha 10, Risith Ishara 18; Shanaka Sampath 3-21, Janith Maduwantha 1-19, Asanka Kumarage 1-14, Sanjaya Fernando 1-16]

Latest News

Ellyse Perry runs the show as Australia brush past Pakistan

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

Ellyse Perry started quick in the powerplay [Cricinfo]

Ellyse Perry produced one of her best innings of a long T20 World Cup career to lead Australia to a fourth victory from as many matches at this edition, with a massive 113-run win against Pakistan.

On a batting-friendly pitch on a glorious summer evening at Headingley, Perry struck 71 off 48 balls to lead her side to 199 for 7, sharing a century partnership for the second wicket with Georgia Voll, after Pakistan had made an early breakthrough removing Beth Mooney first ball.

Mooney braved a twice dislocated finger during Australia’s fielding innings to continue keeping wicket as Pakistan lost a steady stream of wickets, including two to Perry in her first over to finish with 2 for 9.

Sophie Molineux and Annabel Sutherland also took two wickets each, Mooney and Sutherland combining for the last to fall, Sadia Iqbal caught behind for a first-ball duck as Pakistan were bowled out for just 86 with 6.2 overs to spare.

Having played in all 10 T20 World Cups, Perry was at her best, scoring a maiden half-century from any of her 51 appearances at the event. She exuded class as she manipulated the crease with sharp footwork, picked the gaps expertly and punished anything short. Her six over a leaping long-on off Rameen Shamim was a perfect blend of elegance, timing and power.

Before this innings, Perry’s best score at a T20 World Cup was 42 in a losing cause to New Zealand in Nagpur in 2016, although her 71 fell short of her career best in T20Is of 75 and 72 not out, both scored on Australia’s tour of India in 2022. It was her first fifty in the format since October 2023.

Introduced into the attack with Pakistan four wickets down in the 10th over, Perry struck first ball as Muneeba Ali sent a short one straight to midwicket and, with the last, she had Aliya Riaz caught behind.

Gull Feroza took a stunning one-handed catch diving to her right at slip to remove Mooney on the first ball of the match and give Pakistan a boost. Mooney had recovered from the back soreness which prompted her to retire hurt on 74 not out against Netherlands on Saturday, but her stay at the crease was brief this time when she prodded at a Sadia Iqbal delivery outside off and angling in, Feroza plucking the ball from the air and holding firmly as she landed

From there, however, Perry and Voll piled on the misery for their opponents. Fatima Sana conceded 17 runs in the second over and Diana Baig, the experienced seamer playing her first match of the tournament, went for 19 off her first, including five wides as wicketkeeper Muneeba failed to gather one down the leg side, and three boundaries as Perry hit her stride. By the end of the powerplay, Australia were 64 for 1, their best in that phase of the innings for this tournament.

Two wickets in three balls for Nashra Sandhu gave her side cause for celebration in the 10th over as Pakistan maintained their flawless start in the field. Voll looked to go down the ground but holed out to long-off and Ash Gardner fell to a second-ball duck chipping to cow corner. Pakistan continued to hold their catches as Georgia Wareham and Sutherland both fell to Shamim, the latter after a 44-run stand with Perry. The key catch came when Pakistan reviewed after Perry gloved a Sana bouncer behind and, as the ball died on her, Muneeba slid forward and managed to get her gloves under the ball.

Mooney’s retirement in the previous match was described by the Australian camp as precautionary but her courage in Leeds on Tuesday night was impressive, continuing to keep wicket after having a dislocated finger put back in place not once, but twice.

Mooney was initially struck on the fingertips of her right hand as she tried to stop a wide delivery from Kim Garth to Muneeba. With Mooney clearly in agony, team medical staff realigned her finger and, amid the relief that followed, she donned the gloves again. She then had to have the same finger taped up when she was struck again reaching in vain to collect an edge from Muneeba. But again she carried on and was involved in five dismissals thereafter.

Muneeba clubbed the next ball for six over deep midwicket but either side of that strike, she had been involved in two run outs. The first was on a Mooney fumble trying to gather down the leg side and Muneeba belatedly sent back opening partner Feroza as Voll fired the ball back to Garth and the bowler flicked off the bails. It was a similar story when Ayesha Zafar pushed a Lucy Hamilton delivery towards cover and set off for a run, only to be sent back by Muneeba as Molineux threw the ball back to Mooney with Ayesha out of her ground.

Pakistan managed to reach 50 for 3 in the powerplay but the wickets continued to fall, not least to yet another shocking run out, Shamim hitting Molineux to mid-on and getting more than halfway down the pitch before captain Sana sent her back, Voll’s throw to Mooney beating her by some distance.

SCORES:
Australia Women 199 for 7 in 20 overs (Georgia Voll 39, Ellyse Perry 71, Annabell Sutherland 27, Nicola Carey 26*; Sadia Iqbal 2-31, Fatima Sana 1-45, Rameen Shamim 2-34, Nashra Sandhu 2-33) beat Pakistan Women 86 in 13.4 overs (Muneeba Ali 32, Iram Javed 14, Fatima Sana 17; Sophie Molineux 2-06, Georgia Wareham 1-02, Ellyse Perry 2-9, Annabel Sutherland 2-12) by 113 runs

[Cricinfo]