Pakistan cricket team in action© AFP

Gautam Gambhir will face a stern Test as Indian cricket team when the side begins a long Test season, starting with a match against Bangladesh on September 19. Gambhir took charge from a short Tour of Sri Lanka last month. After that the Indian cricket team is long break. However, starting from the third week of September, India will play Bangladesh, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in back-toback series. Ahead of the series, Indian cricket team coach Gautam Gambhir had a fun interaction on the sidelines of Delhi Premier League T20. 

In a video posted by Delhi Premier League, Gambhir was asked to name cricketers based on one word.  

Here are Gambhir’s answers…

Badshah: Yuvraj Singh.

Angry Young Man: Me, Myself.

Dabang: Sachin Tendulkar.

Shahenshah: Virat Kohli.

Khiladi: Jasprit Bumrah. One more thing, ‘Khiladi’ is more important than all these.

Mr. Perfectionist: Rahul Dravid.

Tiger: Sourav Ganguly 

Recently, South Africa cricket legend Jonty Rhodes said the Indian team will only become stronger under new head coach Gautam Gambhir, and said the former opener has the ability to make an instant impact in any side. “Wherever GG (Gautam Gambhir) goes he makes an impact, we saw this when he left the Lucknow Super Giants and went to the Kolkata Knight Riders the impact that he had,” Rhodes told PTI videos at the Pro Cricket League launch event.

“He is very much a hands-on guy and is certainly somebody who knows what he wants and speaks his own mind.

“Gambhir leaves no stone unturned, and now that he has taken over the reigns of the Indian team, they will go from strength to strength,” he added.

Rhodes, who is the fielding coach of Lucknow Super Giants, also lauded Zaheer Khan‘s appointment as mentor of the IPL side.

He said Zaheer’s calm head will help the side get through tense situations during a game.

“A calm cricketing mind is what you need at the IPL level, especially in the dugout scenario. You need people with calm heads because it gets very tense.

“If emotions start to get the better of you it impacts everybody sitting in the dug-out or on the field. In such situations, it is great to have someone like Zak (Zaheer), because he brings the skills and the knowledge, and he also brings the mojo,” he said.

“We have worked together at Mumbai Indians and he is technically very sound indeed.” Rumours are doing rounds that Rohit Sharma is set to replace KL Rahul in LSG.

“I spent a lot of time with Rohit Sharma at the Mumbai Indians and I am just so grateful that had I had an opportunity to watch him play there. The changes, if there are, will not be my decision and I am not worried about them right now,” Rhodes said.

With PTI inputs

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes Rishabh Pant is on course to become an all-time great in Test cricket but at the same time, the southpaw needs to raise his game in the shorter formats. Pant on Sunday returned to the Test side for the first time since his life-threatening car accident in December 2022. He is expected to the start the first Test against Bangladesh beginning in Chennai on September 19. Since his return earlier this year following the accident, Pant has played T20s and ODIs and has done well.

“I consider Rishabh Pant one of India’s best Test batsmen. I’m not surprised that he’s back in the side, and he will continue to play for India in Tests,” Ganguly said at a promotional event here.

“He will be an all-time great in Tests if he keeps performing like this. For me, he needs to get better in the shorter formats. With the talent he has, I’m sure with time, he will become one of the best.” Indian selectors have opted to give Mohammed Shami more time to recover from an ankle surgery and have named uncapped left-arm pacer Yash Dayal and Akash Deep in the squad. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are the two frontline pacers.

“I know Mohammed Shami is missing because of injury, but he will be back very soon since India is going to Australia. It’s still a very good attack,” Ganguly said.

“In India, you will see a lot more spin. In Chennai, you will see a lot more bounce. Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar, and Kuldeep are the four best spinners in the world at the moment — it won’t be easy. When you play in India, spinners have a lot more say in the game. But India are a very good team.” “I am looking forward to their tour to Australia; that, for me, will be the real test for the squad. Then, when they tour England in July, these are the two most important tours, to be honest. I think the pace bowling department, with Bumrah and Siraj, and once Shami comes back, will be strong.” He also hailed Bengal pacer Akash Deep and said he’s one to watch out for.

“Akash Deep is an outstanding young fast bowler. He runs in, bowls quick, and will bowl for long periods. I’ve seen him play for Bengal, taking wickets.

“He will be as quick as Siraj and Shami, hitting high 140s. He is one to watch out for,” he added.

Tough challenge versus Bangladesh

Having conquered Pakistan, Bangladesh’s next assignment will be a two-Test series in India.

Ganguly said Rohit Sharma and Co will be a different “kettle of fish”.

“Going to Pakistan and beating them is never easy, so congratulations to the (Bangladesh) players. But India will be a different kettle of fish; India, whether at home or away, are a fantastic side with a very strong batting unit.

“I don’t see Bangladesh winning; India will win the series. But India must expect good and tough cricket from Bangladesh because they are coming into the series with a lot of confidence after beating Pakistan in Pakistan,” he added.

Genuine dearth of talent in Pakistan

With Pakistan hitting a new low with a Test series loss to Bangladesh, Ganguly feels there is a “genuine dearth of talent” in the country and they are far from the glory days when players like Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, formed the backbone of the team.

“I see a genuine dearth of talent in the country. Every time we think of Pakistan, we remember Miandad, Wasim, Waqar, Saeed Anwar, Mohammad Yousuf, and Younis Khan.

“That’s the memory of Pakistan for us, but that doesn’t win matches in the modern generation of cricket. Every generation has to produce outstanding players to win, and when I look at Pakistan in world cricket — I saw them in the West Indies World Cup, in India during the World Cup, and now after the Bangladesh series loss — there is a dearth of talent in that country.

“The people connected with the sport in Pakistan will have to look into it. I’m not saying this with disrespect. Pakistan of the old had some great cricketers, which I don’t see in this squad,” Ganguly said.

Pakistan cricket team in action© AFP

Sourav Ganguly (R) with daughter Sana© X (Twitter)

Virat Kohli is currently enjoying a break from cricket. He was last seen in action in an ODI series against Sri Lanka. He is expected to play a big part when India take on Bangladesh in a two-Test series starting on September 19. Though, he is away from the game, Kohli continues to make the headline. According to a report in Fortune India, Virat Kohli paid Rs 66 crore tax in the financial year 2023-24 – the highest among sportspersons. MS Dhoni (Rs 38 crore) and Sachin Tendulkar (Rs 28 crore) take the next two spots. 

Sourav Ganguly (Rs 23 crore) and Hardik Pandya (Rs 13 crore) are also among the top five, according to the report. The list only shows celebrity taxpayers. Actor Thalapathy Vijay tops the over all list after paying Rs 80 crore tax. 

One of the finest batters of his generation, Virat Kohli wasn’t always the sort of batter he is at present. Born in Delhi, Virat had a sort of flamboyance to his game when he first started playing but has gradually emerged as a more mature player who knows how to pace his game, depending upon the situation he is batting in. Those who played with him during the early days, see the sort of difference Kohli has brought about in his game. One such cricketer is Harbhajan Singh who was an established name in the Indian team when Virat played his first few games.

“I remember this one incident. Viru [Virender Sehwag] had gotten injured I supposed. [Ajantha] Mendis was getting everyone out. He comes in; young guy, free energy. He batted and scored a fifty. He asked me ‘Paaji, how did I play? I said, ‘Very well’. He then said ‘Paaji, I shouldn’t have gotten out, should have smacked him more’. Loved the attitude,” Harbhajan said about Kohli during a chat on Taruwar Kohli‘s podcast.

While Kohli has gone on to break some of the biggest records in the game, his journey hasn’t been all smooth. Harbhajan revealed that even Kohli had doubts about his career after a few unsuccessful outings, and had to be given course correction by the Turbonator.

“If I tell you something about his Test cricket, at the very beginning. We were in West Indies. On that tour, Fidel Edwards (former West Indies quick) had troubled him a lot, getting him out either LBW or against the short ball. He was getting out time and again, so obviously was very disappointed. He had self-doubt, and questioned ‘If I am good enough?’ I told him ‘You will shame yourself if you don’t score 10000 runs. You have the capability of scoring 10000 runs in Test cricket. And if you don’t, it’ll be because of your own fault’. After that, what Kohli has done is a once-in-a-lifetime exception,” said Bhajji.

File photo of Yuvraj Singh© BCCI/Sportzpics

Former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly, wife Dona and daughter Sana joined the ongoing protest against the rape and murder of a doctor in a Kolkata hospital on Wednesday. There has been nation-wide protests against the incident that happened at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The case is now being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under an order from the Calcutta High Court.

On Wednesday, Ganguly and his family could seen joining several other protesters despite heavy rain in Kolkata. Ganguly’s daughter Sana said: “Be it rain or fire, this protest should go on. We want justice. We are all in this together.”

VIDEO | Former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99), along with wife Dona and daughter Sana, takes part in candlelight protest in Kolkata, demanding justice for RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder victim. pic.twitter.com/aSxDZvohhz

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 21, 2024

VIDEO | Kolkata rape-murder case: “We want justice, whatever it takes to get it…” says Sana Ganguly, daughter of former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly, as she participates in candlelight protest along with her mother Dona Ganguly. #KolkataHorror pic.twitter.com/vNyNLKhPBV

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 21, 2024

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: On RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape-murder case, Dona Ganguly, wife of former Team India Captain Sourav Ganguly; says, “We are protesting against rape. We need a safe society. Rape needs to stop.” pic.twitter.com/5XZMFBnKDq

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024

Earlier, Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is also an ex-BCCI president, condemned the incident and said that the punishment should be severe. He also clarified one of his earlier statements on the issue. Several social media users had earlier said that Ganguly called it an ‘one-off incident’. The former India star, who hails from Kolkata, said his comments were taken out of context. 

“I told that last Sunday, I don’t know how it was construed or was interpreted. I have said it earlier also, it’s a terrible thing. Now CBI, police are investigating the matter. Its very shameful what has happened. I hope that CBI, who are investigating the matter, once they find the culprit strict punishment should be given. The punishment should be such that no one dares to commit such crime again in their life. That is important. Punishment has to be severe,” Sourav Ganguly told reporters.    

Responding to criticism of him undermining the gravity of the horrific rape and murder case of doctor Moumita Debnath in Kolkata, former India captain and Kolkata resident Sourav Ganguly has now chosen to show his stance in a different manner. Ganguly – who had been slammed by many for allegedly calling the rape and murder a ‘stray incident’ – had stated on Saturday that his words had been taken out of context. Now, Ganguly has blacked out his DP on social media platform ‘X’, in apparent solidarity, but has prompted further varied reactions.

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/WiHJwDf6z1

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) August 19, 2024

On Monday night, Ganguly changed his DP to black, captioning it with the hashtag ‘New Profile Pic’. Whilst Ganguly’s intention may have been to provide solidarity and show his support for the victim and the subsequent investigation, not all users seemed to believe so.

Many chose to call out the former India captain for such an act, instead of directly addressing the issue.

Saurav you have the cheek to post black profile pic when you call this rape as a stray incident ??

Shame on you !!

— Asit Ahuja (@asitahuja) August 19, 2024

Dada, you must speak against what’s happened.

Not just make token actions.

— Fox (@DBdox) August 19, 2024

Some others thought that Ganguly had finally indeed taken a proper stance on the issue, having been on the fence so far with his comments.

Finally you have dared like you did against the Aussies

This is the Dada I know

— Shabdabhedi (@themangoindian) August 19, 2024

Earlier, Ganguly had said that his initial statements may have been misconstrued or misinterpreted.

“”I said that last Sunday, I don’t know how it was construed or interpreted. I have said it earlier also, it’s a terrible thing. Now the CBI, police are investigating the matter. It’s very shameful what has happened,” Ganguly had said to reporters.

“The punishment should be such that no one dares to commit such crime again in their life. That is important. Punishment has to be severe,” he had added.

Now, the responsibility of the investigation into the Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder case, has been handed over to two of the CBI’s top women officers, who have handled a few such notorious cases earlier, with considerable success. The overall charge belongs Sampat Meena, a 1994 batch IPS officer from Jharkhand, who handled the Hathras rape-murder case and the Unnao rape case. With her is officer Seema Pahuja, who was also part of the Hathras investigation team.

A rape-murder case of a doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has shaken the nation. There have been protests around the country. The case is now being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under an order from the Calcutta High Court. “We have identified at least 30 suspects and have started questioning them,” a CBI officer said on Friday.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is also an ex-BCCI president, condemned the incident and said that the punishment should be severe. He also clarified one of his earlier statements on the issue. Several social media users had earlier said that Ganguly called it an ‘one-off incident’. The former India star, who hails from Kolkata, said his comments were taken out of context. 

“I told that last Sunday, I don’t know how it was construed or was interpreted. I have said it earlier also, it’s a terrible thing. Now CBI, police are investigating the matter. Its very shameful what has happened. I hope that CBI, who are investigating the matter, once they find the culprit strict punishment should be given. The punishment should be such that no one dares to commit such crime again in their life. That is important. Punishment has to be severe,” Sourav Ganguly said to reporters.    

VIDEO | Kolkata medic rape-murder case: “…this is a terrible thing, and what has happened is very shameful. The CBI and the police are investigating this, and I hope the strictest of punishment will be given to the accused,” says former India cricketer Sourav Ganguly… pic.twitter.com/Q9N8wuk0fN

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 17, 2024

Amid growing protests over the gruesome rape-murder of the trainee doctor at a Kolkata hospital, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a nationwide strike during which routine OPD services and elective surgeries will not be conducted. However, all emergency services will be functional.

The Health Ministry has requested the agitating doctors to resume their duties in the public interest and assured them that a committee would be set up to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals. Representatives of all stakeholders including state governments have been invited to share their suggestions with the committee. 

IMA, the largest organisation of doctors in India, has demanded an overhaul of the working and living conditions of resident doctors, including 36-hour shifts and safe places to rest. It sought a central law to prevent violence against medical professionals at workplaces.