Sports
Rohit Sharma: The Indian captain who lost cricket World Cup but won hearts
Millions of Indians cried along with cricket captain Rohit Sharma on Sunday as he walked off the field, trying to hold back his tears.
His team had just lost the cricket World Cup final to Australia, prolonging India’s painful wait for the glory since 2011.
This was arguably his best shot at winning the coveted trophy – he will be 40 years old in 2027, when the tournament will be held next. In theory, Rohit could still play in the next World Cup and give it another try. But the pain of losing at home is likely to linger for a long time.
When India won the trophy in front of an overjoyed crowd in Mumbai in 2011, Rohit was not part of the team. He has been vocal about his disappointment at his exclusion at the time. It would have been poetic justice if he had won on Sunday, not just playing in a home World Cup but also leading his side – that wasn’t meant to be.
But a discussion of just the final will not give you the complete Rohit Sharma story from this World Cup. Look closer and you will see a player who was absolutely sure about his ability to play selfless and fearless cricket in the tournament.
As an opener, he was expected to give his side a flying start and take the wind out of the opposition’s attack. He did that effortlessly. Even in the final, he got off to a fast start. At one point, India were scoring at the rate of 10 runs per over.
Some former Indian cricketers have criticised Rohit for losing his wicket to a rash shot in the finals. They argue that it was the match’s turning point.That may well be true but by then, Rohit had already done what he did in so many matches earlier – he had set up a platform for others to build the innings on. But after he departed, the other batters just choked in front of a spirited and tactical Australia bowling attack.
Let’s rewind a bit.
In the group stages, Pakistan set a target of 191 for India to chase. It looked like a sub-par total but then Pakistan had a dangerous bowling attack including Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali.
Matches between arch-rivals Pakistan and India are a sporting spectacle but they also put players under extreme pressure.
Rohit led from the front and scored a brisk 86 off 63 deliveries, effectively ending Pakistan’s hopes of winning the game. He scored more than 40 runs seven times in the tournament, converting three of them into half-centuries. One could argue that he failed to turn these brisk starts into big scores.
But that would be an oversimplification. As he mentioned in different press conferences, every player in the team had clearly defined roles, and his was to be the destructor.
India didn’t lose any match until the finals and their success hugely relied on Rohit’s spirited starts which allowed time and pace to players like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer to take the matches deep and put big totals on the board.
Rohit could have easily slowed down after reaching the 40s for bigger scores but that simply wasn’t his role. He was tasked to pace his innings according to the conditions, regardless of where his personal score stood.
India’s dominating batting line-up also allowed him to play freely. He knew that the batters who followed him were more than capable of putting the opposition under pressure.
While Rohit the batter has been a revelation in this tournament, his leadership deserves equal praise. His approach as a batter also inspired his crafty tactics as a captain. He earned the respect and trust of his team-mates and support staff, including head coach Rahul Dravid.
His bowling changes and fielding placements were astute and well-timed. When Pakistan were scoring at a brisk pace, he brought Mohammed Siraj back into the attack. Siraj had previously leaked 76 runs against Afghanistan and failed to pick up a wicket. A good captain knows his strategy well, but a great captain knows his players even better.
Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan had put together a stand of 81and were threatening to take the game away until Siraj broke their partnership.
Rohit also stood firmly behind his players when India were not doing well. He agreed with Dravid’s strategy of believing in the process and not letting results affect the team.
But sporting triumphs don’t happen in a vacuum.
The coach-captain duo worked hard in the background for almost two years with an eye on the World Cup. India entered the final undefeated, a result of their patient and astute planning.
Rohit backed players like Iyer, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav when they were not doing well, and they repaid their captain’s faith with match-winning performances in the World Cup.
The loss in the final would hurt Rohit, his team and Indian cricket fans for a long time. But it takes nothing away from the captain’s achievements.
He truly is the unsung hero of the tournament and could still make it to India’s World Cup squad four years later. It may sound difficult but then sporting glories are all about making impossible dreams come true.
Rohit will surely heal, rebuild and come back stronger because he knows no other way. But for now, the World Cup trophy is still painfully out of his grasp.
(BBC)
by Reemus Fernando
St. John’s College Jaffna and their arch rivals Central College Jaffna have a success story to celebrate when they meet in the annual Battle of the North Big Match at Central College ground on Thursday.
For the first time in the historic match, the two schools have in their ranks players who have represented the national youth team.
Ranjithkumar Newton who captains Central team and St. John’s Kugadas Mathulan were among country’s top speedsters selected to represent the Youth team late last year. The two pacemen did well during the Youth Asia Cup.
Hence both Mathulan and Newton are expected to lead the pace attacks of the two schools.
St. John’s are captained by J. Ashnath. They encountered fluctuating fortunes this season. Their report card shows two outright victories against two defeats at the end of ten matches. They could not complete their full quota of matches in the tournament proper and that has made them fight for their place in the Division II Tier ‘A’ tournament. They have taken the first step successfully in the relegation matches beating St. Peter’s College Negombo by an innings and 56 runs to keep alive their chances of remaining in the top Tier of Division II tournament.
Central too had two victories against two defeats and will be eager to conclude the Tier B tournament on a successful note.
When the two teams meet it is St. John’s who lead the talley 38-29.
St. John’s College Team
(Seated from left) A. Sansajan (Coach), S. Thileepan (Master in Charge), U. Abijoyshanth, J. Ashnath (Captain), V. S. B. Thuseetharan (Principal), M. Randyo (Vice Captain), K. Mathulan, C. A. Aravinthan (Prefect of Games). (Second row-standing from left) S. John Nathenia, E. Vandat Mario, S. Vinukshan, R. Anushanth, S. Aatharsh, V. Sanjay, Y. Sarujan, K. Sanjuthan, D. Larun. (Back row- standing from left) N. Krishan, G. Methun, S. Kirshan, A. John Stafford Arnold, R. Nithursijan.
Central College Team
(Seated from left) V.Paruthy, K.Balakumar (Prefect Of Games), R.Newton (Captain), S. Indrakumar (Principal), T.Abilash (Vice captain), F. Kulendran Shelton (Coach), S. Similton, S. Manimaran (Master in Charge). (Second row standing from left) S. Thison, M. Karthikan, S. Niyanthan, N. Sajith, K. Mathusuthan, T. Venujan, R. Akshayan, M. Thison, A. Abishek, P. Navinthan, A. Sharalan, S. Danushan. (Back row from left) U. Voltan, J. Jenoshan, V. Harish, S. Sarujan.
The Hundred Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025, where over 650 international shuttlers representing 28 countries including Sri Lanka, commenced at the St. Joseph’s College Indoor Complex, Darley Road on Tuesday. Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi, the Rector of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, the hosting venue, graced the opening ceremony as chief guest, with Rohan de Silva, President of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), Dinesh Jayawardene, Vice President of SLB and Chairman of Organising Committee and other invitees and dignitaries making their presence at the inauguration of Sri Lanka’s first high-ranked international badminton tournament this year.
The six-day competition, which was initially planned to be staged at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, was shifted to Darley Road due to unavailability of the original venue. St. Joseph’s College authorities swiftly responded to the request made by Sri Lanka Badminton officials in making the Hundred Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025 and the upcoming Hundred Sri Lanka International Series 2025 that will follow soon after, a success, given the fact that the competition is of great importance to the country, both in badminton as well as toursim.
“I should thank St. Joseph’s College and Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi for promptly coming forward in assisting Sri Lanka Badminton to rearrange this 12-day competitions at their Indoor Complex. Their assistance should be greatly appreciated given the fact that SLB had limited time to make all venue arrangements after the original venue was taken out from hosting over 650 international players competing under one roof. Over 80 players are expected to be in action every day, and there are 80 to 90 officials on duty at any given time to make this event a success. Approximately 200 hotel rooms will be utilised during the 12-day tournaments, which is definitely a boost to tourism in Sri Lanka in addition to the country’s badminton,” noted Dinesh Jayawardene, Vice President of SLB and Chairman of Organising Committee.
The Hundred Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025 will feature five events – Men’s and Women’s Singles, Men’s Women’s and Mixed Doubles, where over 650 international badminton players from 28 countries, including hosts Sri Lanka, will contest. The global event is sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Asia (BA). A total prize money of USD 17,500 will be on offer at the Hundred Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025 which is sponsored by Hundred, Mobil, McFoil, 3M and Rovin
Senuja Wakunugoda scored an unbeaten century for St. Joseph’s to seal 17 runs victory according to Parabola Method as the Darley Road team ended the unbeaten run of St. Anthony’s Katugastota in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ limited overs tournament at Katugastota.
Batting first the home team made 252 runs as Kevan Fernando scored an unbeaten half century. In their essay the Joes were helped by a quick fire half century by Aveesha Samash and an unbeaten century by Wakunugoda. The Joes were 17 runs ahead according to Parabola method.
Joes win at Katugastota
Scores
St. Anthony’s 252 all out in 50 overs
(Januka Rathnayake 30, Anjana Weerasekara 25, Sadew Amarakoon 37, Kaushika Kumarasinghe 41, Kevan Fernando 61n.o.; Yenula Dewthusa 2/33, Nimthaka Gunewardena 3/41, Demion de Silva 2/38)
St. Joseph’s 249 for 3 in 41.2 overs
(Aveesha Samash 68, Senuja Wakunugoda 102n.o., Yenula Dewthusa 41; Ryan Gregory 2/44)
It is our collective responsibility to build a nation grounded in unity and strength – President
Fairly heavy showers above 75mm can be expected at some places in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Galle, Matara, Kalutara and Rathnapura districts.
USD 900,000 paid monthly for three unused SriLankan aircraft– Dy. Finance Minister
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