A league match of the Summer Slam Premier League T-20 was played between the Topguns and JMA on 9th July 2022. The venue for the game was Krickshetra Sports Ground, Noida. JMA won the toss and elected to bat first.
JMA had a relatively sedate start in the powerplay, they scored 41 runs for the loss of two wickets. Opener Nitin Chikara contributed 29 runs to the team before the aggressive partnership between Akshay Tandon (47) and Ashish (33). The duo added 57 quick-fire runs in just under six overs. Southpaw Akshay Tandon stole the show with a fine inning of 47 off just 27 balls. Anand Verma provided the finishing touch with a handy cameo of 35 runs at the back end of the innings which helped JMA to cross the 160-run mark.
Opening bowler Sahil Bhatia was the pick of the bowlers for topguns. He bowled brilliantly and returned with the figures of 3-24 in his four overs. Shashank Bharti (2-44) was expensive, but he scalped two important wickets. Arpit Mehrotra was economical too. Finally, JMA finished their innings at 168-7 at the end of twenty overs.
In reply, the topguns had a slow and steady start to their innings. Sushant (30) and Shobhit (30) tried to stabilize the innings, but they couldn’t capitalize on their starts. The top 3 batsmen of the topguns failed to accelerate the innings. As a result, the asking rate started creeping up. They required 79 runs in the last six overs. Arpit Mehrotra and Amit (19) batted aggressively and tried their best to pull off a fantastic win for their team. Arpit played brilliantly for his knock of 39 off just 24 balls. However, none of the topguns batsmen was able to make a substantial contribution to the total.
JMA displayed a solid and collective bowling effort. Barring one, all bowlers entered into the wickets column of the scorecard. Anand Verma, Mohit Sharma, and Harendra Chaudhary had imposing and economical bowling figures. Harendra Chaudhary was the pick of the bowlers as he took 2 wickets for just 29 runs in his quota of four overs.
JMA stopped the topguns charge at 148-7 at the end of twenty overs. In the end, JMA won the match comfortably by 20 runs. Akshay Tandon was adjudged as the man of the match for his superb performance.
-Charvak Naik
Click below to watch the game highlights:
The Mumbai to Caribbean Tour 2022 organized by SportzTank, is a once in a lifetime opportunity! As mentioned above, the tour is only for players above 35 years of age. The games are scheduled against top local teams in the similar age group. The first part of the tour will take place in Trinidad & Tobago while the second part in St Kitts & Nevis. In each city 2 games will be played of 30 overs.
During the tenure, players will be playing on 3 international stadiums:
- Brian Lara Stadium
- Saint Kitts Warner Park
- Nevis Cricket Ground
The tour initiates at the Mumbai Airport on 15th September 2022 reaching Trinidad & Tobago on 16th September with a layover at Heathrow Airport in London.
From 16th to 20th the players will be playing games at Trinidad & Tobago along with sightseeing. Before playing a game though, all the players will be treated to a CPL game between St Kitts & Nevis vs Kings. After the game, there is an exclusive meet scheduled with the St Kitts Team. The following days will include tourism and 2 back-to-back 30 over games.
On 21st September, the team leaves for St Kitts & Nevis. The next 2 days are scheduled for sightseeing and one 30 over game at St Kitts International Stadium and Nevis Cricket Stadium respectively.
Here is the complete schedule of the 12-day tour to the West Indies:
|
Day No. |
Date |
Location |
Activity |
|
1 |
15/9/22 |
India |
Departure |
|
2 |
16/99/22 |
Trinidad & Tobago |
Arrive at Port of Spain and Rest |
|
3 |
17/9/22 |
Trinidad & Tobago |
Watch Match St Kitts & Nevis VS Kings Evening Meet & Greet with St Kitts Team |
|
4 |
18/9/22 |
Trinidad & Tobago |
Sightseeing |
|
5 |
19/9/22 |
Trinidad & Tobago |
T30 – Brian Lara Stadium |
|
6 |
20/9/22 |
Trinidad & Tobago |
T30 – Brian Lara Stadium |
|
7 |
21/9/22 |
St Kitts & Nevis |
Arrive at St Kitts & Nevis |
|
8 |
22/9/22 |
St Kitts & Nevis |
Sightseeing |
|
9 |
23/9/22 |
St Kitts & Nevis |
T30 – St Kitts International Stadium |
|
10 |
24/9/22 |
St Kitts & Nevis |
T30 at Nevis Island – Nevis Cricket Stadium |
|
11 |
25/9/22 |
St Kitts & Nevis |
Local Tourism |
|
12 |
26/9/22 |
St Kitts & Nevis to India |
Depart for India |
The total price for the entire cricket tour is 4,50,000 INR. This is all inclusive of the following:
- All flights and other travel expenses
- Visa and Travel Insurance
- Accomodation
- Match Fees
- In-game food & refreshments
- Tourism
The following are EXCLUDED from the total budget:
- In Flight and Airports personal food and other expenses
- Team kit
- Food – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Shopping and other personal expenses
Bookings will be done on a first-come-first-serve basis as limited slots are available.
To know more about the tour, contact the tour’s media partner Cricketgraph on the following number – +91 8591631744 (Media Manager)
Most of our readers must be familiar with the cupping therapy as a source of recovery but a lot of them are unaware of its benefits. The trendy method of relapse actually dates back to the ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. Thankfully, we have an expert, Dr. Badar Batliwala to explain its benefits.
Dr. Batliwala has already spoken about his personal ventures in the given field in a previous article. He also explained the origins and various methods of the cupping therapy. Badar has enough practitioner’s experience. Here are a few benefits:
-
Cupping reduces anxiety- When your therapist glides the cups across your skin, your parasympathetic nervous system engages. This promotes deep relaxation to move through your entire body. Your parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for slowing your heart rate, assisting in digestion, and increasing intestinal and gland activity.
- Circulation is increased by cupping- Circulation in the region where the cups are put is improved by the suction from the cups. The increased blood flow to that location can aid in cell healing and the relaxation of tense muscles. Cupping helps to improve circulation and lessen the appearance of cellulite.
- Using cups helps cells discharge toxins- The organs in your body that eliminate poisons from your blood really exist. The contemporary way of life, however, overburdens your body with poisons. Your body is assisted in expelling those poisons through cupping. Focused blood flow benefits your body by clearing toxins through the lymphatic system that have accumulated. Your lymphatic system is in charge of getting rid of waste and poisons from your body
- Scars and stretch marks can be lessened by cupping- The removal of toxins from your body, the restoration of lymphatic circulation, and the removal of edoema (extra fluid) are all made possible by increased blood flow, which also helps to hide scarring. Even in locations far from the area where the cups are administered, studies have shown that cupping has a good impact on stretch marks and scars.
- Cupping can help with digestion and unclog colon obstructions- The parasympathetic nervous system is activated by cupping, increasing the amount of blood flowing to the digestive tract. Additionally, gentle abdominal cupping stimulates the inside of your digestive system. It promotes blood and bodily fluid flow through your organs, helps eliminate colon obstructions, assists in peristalsis (contractions that drive food through your digestive system), and relieves indigestion.
Dr. Badar Batliwala also provides services regarding the cupping therapy.
The term ‘Off-season’ is probably not the right term to describe the true concept behind it. The varying cycle of seasons across the globe ensures that no outdoor sport can be played continuously around the year. This weather aspect has led to the existence of an ‘Off-season’ in every outdoor sport. It is usually a 2–3-month extended period in which no major matches or tournaments are played.
Players use this period to prepare for the upcoming season. This is the period when the elite athletes do their behind-the-scenes hard work. Great playing seasons of athletes are often preceded by great off-seasons. Hence, contrary to what the name suggests, the off-season is perhaps the most important part of the year for a player. Readers must be curious to know what exactly the top players do in the off-season and most importantly, what to work on during the off-season? Let us find the answer to these questions.
The four-month-long monsoon is the off-season for Indian cricketers. One of the biggest advantages of an off-season is that it gives you time to work on certain facets of your game. It is often not possible for players to make major technical adjustments during the season. You can make such adjustments in the off-season, and you can use this time to perfect your technical skills. Cricketers usually have highly focused skill-based sessions with their coaches during this period. They try to fine-tune their game through a combination of drills, shadow practice and knocking etc. You can also have such sessions with your coaches which will help you to improve your game. The off-season time is also ‘ripe’ if you want to experiment or try a new skill (e.g., a new shot or a new delivery). The creation of ‘indoor cricket’ facilities have made this entire process much easier. A few years ago, Shikhar Dhawan worked on his leg-side stroke play in a comparable manner which has helped him to become one of the best batters in the IPL since then.
Fitness has certainly become a decisive factor in modern-day cricket. The off-season provides you with the perfect opportunity to improve your fitness. Most cricket academies conduct monsoon fitness camps for their players. You can also take the help of professionals such as sports physiotherapists and certified trainers to devise your optimal fitness program. Such an improvement can make your results a whole lot better. Virat Kohli’s special emphasis on gaining lean muscle mass and power during the 2015 off-season enabled him to become the highest six-hitter as well as the orange cap winner in IPL 2016.
Mental training has also become an important part of off-season routines nowadays. Elite athletes are taking help of the professionals (e.g., sports psychologists) to master techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises, positive thinking, and visualization. These techniques help the player to perform under pressure. It was meditation that helped Mayank Agarwal to stay focused when he was not getting selected for India despite performing very well. Today, he has four test hundreds to his name as a result. Similarly, you can also use the off-season to master your mind.
Every player has unique needs. You must consult with your coaches, physiotherapists, psychologists etc. to create an optimum off-season program for yourself. Remember that one good off-season can be a game-changer for your career. In extreme cases, you can even use it to reinvent your game completely just like Imran Khan did in the late seventies. Now, you have been equipped with all the information about the off-season. So why stop then? Go ahead and enjoy your off-season.
-Charvak Naik
The Qualifier 1 of the T-30 Cricket League in New Delhi was played between the Vikings XI and Shipoars Shipping. The toss was won by the Vikings who chose to bat first.
The batsmen of Vikings worked as a single unit as everyone played their part and contributed towards the cumulative total. The opening stand lasted for 77 as Shoaib went on to score 47 off 32 while his partner made 42 off 49. Number 3 batsman Ishanth chipped in with 28 and managed the middle overs.
Coming at number 5, Sahil Khan scored an excellent 47 to make sure the Vikings crossed the 200 mark providing an ideal finish. Sanjeev Pant who was brought into the bowling attack late in the innings took 3 wickets in 4 overs while Kapil Kantiwal bowled an economical spell bagging 2 wickets as well as the Vikings lost 8 of their wickets.
At the loss of 8 wickets, the Vikings set a good target of 213 in 30 overs for the Shipoars Shipping.
Just like their rivals, Shipoars Shipping made a good opening start as well with 74. Nitin Kasana missed his half century by just 1 run while his opening partner supported him with a modest 23. It was the number 4 batsman, Tarun Singh Chhonker who top scored with 58 off 55 balls. It was flowing quite well for the Shipoars Shipping but they were losing wickets on the other end as well.
The final 10 overs of the game saw a dramatic swing as late heroics from Rakesh Das and Karamveer Solanki bagged two quick wickets each turning the game upside down. Tarun’s efforts were in vain as the Shipoars Shipping were bowled out for 177 with 5 overs still to spare. Shoaib also claimed 3 crucial wickets and bowled a brilliant spell.
The Viking XIs comfortably won the game in the end with 36 runs.
The T-20 Champions League at the Haryana Cricket Academy produced one of the most entertaining games. The game between Warriors Cricket Club and Cricket Studs seemed one sided on paper but the reality was quite different.
Studs won the toss and elected to bowl first. A comprehensive bowling performance restricted the Warriors to 148 only. Warriors were bowled out with an over to spare. Opener Ramnek Singh started off well with 28 runs to his name meanwhile, the other side collapsed. It was the heroics of Kundu scoring 42 off 30 balls only which pushed the team to a fighting total. Stud’s bowling attack was led by Saurabh who took 3 wickets. He was supported by Sarojanand Jha and Abhishek Prasad who claimed 2 wickets each.
The target to chase down was 149, a below average yet competitive total.
The second innings was started off by opener Praagya Shukla who scored 22 off 24 balls. It seemed Shukla was the only batsman who got off as no other batsman was able to survive and chase it down. It was a catastrophic batting performance from the Studs as they were bundled up for only 77 in 16 overs by the Warriors. Robin Bhardwaj claimed 4 wickets in his 3 overs. He received a helping hand from Karamjeet Singh who took 2 wickets himself.
Even after scoring a modest 148 in 19 overs, the Warriors Cricket Club had a super comeback against the Cricket Studs to bowl them out for a mere 77 and winning the game by 71 runs.
The recently held 20 over game between Ace Brigade and Stalwarts XI in the Straight Drive Ent Present Freedom Cup Edition -2 was a one sided affair. Stalwarts XI eased up to victory as the Aces had no chance.
Winning the toss, Ace Brigade chose to bat first. This move backfired as the batting unit managed only 110 in the allotted 20 overs losing 8 wickets in the process. Opener Shershaah top scored with 23 runs while the other 9 out of 10 batsmen were dismissed for single figures. From the Stalwarts, Amit Sidana had a brilliant spell bagging 3 wickets in 4 overs giving away only 14 runs. He was backed by Aditya Srivastava who took 2 scalps in his 4 overs. Overall, it was the bowlers who handed the Stalwarts an early advantage in the game.
The second innings lasted for only 10 overs as the Stalwarts convincingly chased down the target with 7 wickets in hand. Initially though, they lost their 3 wickets for 51 only. It was the match winning partnership of Himanshu Gulati (33 off 18) and Sagar (34 off 14) which took the team home. The duo absolutely hammered the opposition with a combined count of 7 sixes.
The bowlers of Ace Bridges had a tough outing as every one of them went for more than 9 per over. Ankit Ekanna managed to take 2 wickets while the other 1 was taken by Anil Chaudhary.
A dominating performance from Stalwarts XI.
In a cricket loving nation, everyone knows the ins and the outs of the Indian cricket team but is anyone aware of the cricketing scheme for wheelchair cricket? The chances seem bleak. Vicky Lamba Kumar from Delhi is an unknown personality in relation to any other cricketing personalities but the work put in by him is more than exceptional.
Vicky Kumar is an ex-wheelchair cricketer who represented India in the last decade. It wasn’t just the cricketing abilities but his willpower and determination which were lauded by everyone. Making a career in cricket isn’t as easy as it looks anyways but Kumar managed it even with his physical disabilities.
With the lack of support from the government and cricketing bodies, cricket for the disabled was always neglected. Vicky had to go through a lot during the initial phase. Playing in a wheelchair was challenging itself, and added struggles from society amplified it. Regardless of the difficulties, Vicky Kumar was able to reach the top and represent the nation in 2015. He debuted against Bangladesh in Dubai but his career lasted short with only 3 games.
Leaving the field for good, Kumar was assigned the role as the President of Delhi Wheelchair Cricket Association in 2017. He regularly organizes tournaments for the physically challenged as there are very rare instances of them playing regular games.
After becoming the President, he only had one goal in his mind, to spread awareness about the wheelchair cricketing community in the society. During his playing days no one paid attention to these leagues leaving him and his comrades heartbroken. Due to this, the funding was low which resulted in poor development.
Vicky Kumar wants to send a strong message through his work so that the Government would monetarily aid the leagues. This would enable cricketers to have better financial backing and security for their respective futures after their careers are over. Kumar is not only doing this for the wheelchair cricketers but also for other physically disabled teams.
Currently Kumar and his Delhi team are preparing for the WCI National tournament at Lucknow in October. 16 Teams from India will be participating in this prestigious league. Vicky will travel with the team to guide and support them.
The recently held game between Kadapa Warm Up and HCA Colts played on 30th June was a competitive game of cricket. On paper it seems like HCA Colts won easily but it doesn’t paint the whole picture. The Colts won the toss and asked Kadapa to bat first.
After being asked to bat first, Kadapa Warm Up managed to score only 227 for the loss of 9 wickets in 50 overs. After a decent opening partnership of 61, wickets fell in a heap. Opener R. Rohit Varma scored 85 off 138 and anchored the innings. From the other end though, wickets regularly collapsed and the team never got going. A valiant effort from T Sudharshan (31 off 31) down the order made sure Kadapa crossed the 200 mark.
The Colt’s bowling attack was led by Jeevan who bagged 4 wickets in his allotted 10 overs and gave away just 30 runs. Overall bowling partnerships were quiet in order to restrict the opposition to just 227.
Smith Dhyawartiwar kicked off the run chase for HCA Colts by scoring 36 off 50 but after losing 4 wickets for such 83, they were in a spot of bother. Palem Charan Theja made sure the run chase came to a halt by bagging 2 quick wickets. It was the match winning innings and partnership of Aryan Reddy (73 off 92) and Aaditya R K (71 off 79) which secured the victory. Thanks to Aryan’s ability to soak the pressure, Aaditya could go on and play his game freely. The Colts managed to complete their target in the 47th over with 6 wickets in hand.
Aryan Reddy of the Little Scholar School is also selected for the U-16 HCA State Colts Tournament.
‘Bradmanesque’ is an English adjective that is rarely known by people. But ask any avid cricket fan and he will immediately tell you the meaning of the word. The adjective is a tribute to the great Sir Don Bradman, whose batting average of 99.94 is unmatched in the history of the game. Many pundits also consider him to be the greatest ever sportsperson to have ever lived. But what was so special about his performances that made people immortalize them in the form of a new adjective? The answer is consistency. Here, we will try to decipher the secret behind consistency.
We require consistency in all fields of life. Consistency separates the very best from the good. Even though we will limit our discussion of consistency to sport and cricketing examples. The major takeaways from this discussion will be applicable everywhere.
According to many greats, consistency doesn’t come out of the blue. Rather, it depends upon doing the basics correctly and mastering them over a period. When the legendary AB De Villiers was asked about the secret to his 360-degree batting, he had said that “I just focus on doing the basics correctly and since I have mastered them, I can innovate according to the need.” It often takes years of hard work and effort to really master the basics. All successful people in their respective fields do their basics right, it is something that is common to them.
The readers might wonder, the greats have some extraordinary abilities which the ordinary folks like you and me can never have. It is true that some individuals are more talented than others, but talent is not the only determinant of consistency. One of the most important things for ensuring consistency is following the process and not worrying about the results. MS Dhoni had once talked about how following the process helps him to get superb results. Rasmus Ankersen, a Danish author has done a case study of six very small regions of the world which consistently produce great sportspeople in their respective sports. His findings are described in his book titled ‘The Gold Mine Effect’. He has also highlighted the importance of following the process in their consistent success at the Olympics.
There is one last piece for solving this puzzle of consistency. This last piece is the mindset of the individual. Successful people who have shown remarkable consistency have often talked about ‘getting into the zone’. What is this zone then? It is typically defined as a mental state where one is completely focused on the task, has an empty mind, and doesn’t worry about the results. Virat Kohli had once stated in an interview that when he is batting, he sees only the ball and the rest is a complete blur. This is an example of ‘getting into the zone’ and we all have seen what terrific consistency Virat has achieved over the years. Common people like us also experience this feeling sometimes and when we enter the ‘zone’ everything happens just perfectly for us.
Finally, one must always consider the fact that there is no single formula or method to ensure consistency. Apart from the basic points mentioned above, you are free to choose your own method. Trust yourself, your process and figure out what works best for you. Remember, Sehwag and Dravid achieved great results by using totally different methods and yet they both are considered as legends of the game.
-Charvak Naik