PBKS batter Nehal Wadhera highlights importance of pre-season camp ah…

New Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], August 14 (ANI): Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Nehal Wadhera has highlighted the importance of the franchise’s pre-season camp in New Chandigarh, saying the initiative has provided players with an ideal platform to prepare for the upcoming domestic season as well as the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). freshyourfeel.com

Speaking to ANI, the 25-year-old left-handed batter described the camp as an important initiative, highlighting the gap between the IPL and the domestic calendar and the need for high-quality, competitive practice.

PBKS commenced a five-day off-season training camp in New Chandigarh on August 11, with the programme set to run until August 15. The current batch includes six players — Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Pyla Avinash, Praveen Dubey, and Nehal Wadhera.

“I think, first of all, it’s a very great initiative by Punjab Kings because the timeline between IPL and the domestic season is like two to three months. So I think we get good preparation because if we are in our hometowns, we don’t get that much competition or competitive, I would say, practice," Wadhera said.

According to Wadhera, training alongside teammates and coaches in a professional environment creates a significant difference in a player’s preparation.

The pre-season camp is being conducted under the supervision of the franchise’s coaching group, with Trevor Gonsalves leading the programme at the venue.

“We do practice there as well, but once you’re in that zone, once you’re among those people, obviously it feels really good. We always have something to learn from the other players and also the coaches. We are surrounded by the best. So that environment makes a lot of difference before entering into our domestic seasons, before entering into the IPL," he said.

The PBKS batter added that the camp allows players to prepare for various match situations and address potential weaknesses before the season begins.

“So I think every aspect of the game, the scenarios which we might anticipate which will happen in the games, will be covered during the pre-season camp," he added.

Reflecting on Punjab Kings’ disappointing IPL 2026 campaign, Wadhera admitted that the team was unable to maintain the momentum it had built during the early stages of the tournament.

PBKS endured a disappointing end to their IPL 2026 campaign, finishing fifth in the standings after registering seven victories in 14 matches.

Led by captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, the franchise enjoyed an impressive start and spent a significant period at the top of the table before a slump in the latter half of the season saw them narrowly miss out on a playoff berth.

“I mean, yes, we initially started really well, but later on, we didn’t capitalise on it that well. And the whole squad, all the coaches, were on the same page that we knew that we were not doing well," Wadhera said.

He further revealed that the players and support staff regularly analysed their shortcomings and attempted to rectify them during the competition, but the results did not always go in their favour.

“We were trying to learn from our mistakes. But when we had to execute that, we were trying to execute what we could do better, but it was still not turning out our way," he said.

The left-handed batter also acknowledged his own struggles during the season, saying that despite giving his best, things did not unfold as he had hoped.

“I was trying to put my best foot forward, but unfortunately those things weren’t happening the way I was expecting them to happen. So it doesn’t work sometimes," Wadhera said.

Despite the disappointment, the PBKS batter believes the team has gained valuable lessons that could help them avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

“We were really disappointed with where we were standing at the points table to where we ended at the 2026 standings. We all were really disheartened. But I’m happy that all of us could learn something out of it," he concluded.

Wadhera added that Punjab Kings will look to address the areas in which they fell short during the previous season and ensure that they begin their next campaign with greater consistency and intensity.

“So that the next year when we come, we already know that these were the areas which we lacked last year. We need to bring our A-game from the first game," Wadhera said. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

Paris [France], August 14 (ANI): S8UL Esports’ Nihal Sarin and Gen.G Esports’ Arjun Erigaisi have advanced to the quarterfinals of Chess at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 after progressing through the lower bracket (LB) on the final day of the group stage.

Both Grandmasters, who also reached the playoffs at last year’s edition, will now lead India’s challenge in the quarter-finals on August 14 as they vie for the title and a share of the $1.5 million (Rs 14.3 crore) prize pool, according to a release.

Nihal began his day with a closely contested LB matchup against Team Nemesis’ Wei Yi. After the opening two games ended in draws, the Indian Grandmaster held his nerve in the Armageddon tiebreaker to secure victory and advance to the LB decider.

He then faced Weibo Gaming’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda, drawing the first game before winning the second to book his place in the playoffs. The qualification marks another strong EWC showing for Nihal, who also reached the quarterfinals at last year’s edition before being eliminated by eventual champion Magnus Carlsen of Team Liquid.

Speaking after his qualification, Nihal Sarin said, “Firstly, I am just extremely happy to make the top eight again and to have managed to play some good chess in some really tough matches. The format is very short, and you need to be sharp from the start. Getting just one win can make a huge difference psychologically. I am relieved to pull through and hope to do well tomorrow."

His S8UL teammate Pranesh M also kept his playoff hopes alive with a hard-fought victory over Team MGD1’s Benjamin Bok. After winning the opening game, Pranesh came close to sealing the match in the second before Bok mounted a late comeback to force an Armageddon. The tiebreaker ended in a draw, with Pranesh, playing with the Black pieces, progressing to the next round.

That set up an all-Indian LB decider against Arjun, who ultimately prevailed 2-0 to join Nihal in the quarterfinals, ending Pranesh’s campaign and completing Group A’s playoff lineup. Arjun, who finished fourth at last year’s edition, will now look to build on that performance and go further this time around.

“I am happy I got the job done. It is not going to be easy (to lift the trophy) with strong players like Alireza, Magnus and others, but I’ll just focus on giving my best," said Arjun Erigaisi after his victory, as quoted by the release.

In Group B, Aurora Gaming’s Ian Nepomniachtchi defeated Virtus.pro’s Andrey Esipenko 1.5-0.5 to set up a Lower Bracket decider against AG.AL’s Denis Lazavik. Meanwhile, Team Stallions’ Sina Movahed defeated Fnatic’s Alexey Sarana in an Armageddon tiebreaker to advance to a decider against GodLike Esports’ Hans Moke Niemann.

The winners of those two matchups will join Nihal and Arjun in the playoffs, alongside defending champion Magnus, Team Falcons’ Alireza Firouzja and Hikaru Nakamura, and Natus Vincere’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, completing the eight-player quarterfinal lineup.

The playoffs will take place on August 14 and 15 and will feature a single-elimination bracket. The quarterfinals will be played over four games, followed by six-game semifinals, while the grand final will be decided through a best-of-three-sets format. The first two sets will consist of four games each, with a potential third and final set comprising two games. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

New Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], August 14 (ANI): Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Nehal Wadhera has credited head coach Ricky Ponting with creating a positive and encouraging environment within the franchise, saying the Australian great’s approach motivates players to push themselves, learn from those around them and continuously work towards improvement.

Speaking to ANI, the 25-year-old left-handed batter said being surrounded by experienced coaches and senior players naturally influences younger cricketers and motivates them to raise their standards.

“When you have positive people around you, you tend to have positive thoughts. As there’s a very good saying, ‘You are an average of the five people around you,'" Wadhera told ANI.

The PBKS batter highlighted the influence of the franchise’s support staff and senior players, including captain Shreyas Iyer, assistant coach Brad Haddin, bowling coach James Hopes, and teammates such as Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya and Shashank Singh.

“So if you’re surrounded by such people around you like Ricky Ponting, Shreyas Iyer, Brad Haddin, and then we have James Hopes, the coaching staff, then all the players, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran, Priyansh, Shashank, you feel really motivated to do well for the IPL, for the country," he said.

According to Wadhera, players often learn through observation rather than direct instruction, particularly when senior members of the squad lead by example.

“And you tend to pick certain things from them when you see everyone is working hard on their game, and everyone wants to put their best foot forward. If someone is working really hard, you don’t want to be the laziest person in the room," he said.

The left-handed batter explained that witnessing teammates dedicate extra time to training often encourages others to put in additional effort as well.

“Even if you’re the laziest, when you see someone working so hard, you also tend to get up out of your bed and do something extra. So that’s how, without even saying it to players, they set an example by doing things themselves," he added.

Wadhera singled out PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer for his disciplined approach, revealing that the India batter’s commitment to training, fitness and diet left a lasting impression on younger players.

“Like Shreyas Iyer, he used to go to the ground early, do his training, do his gym, do his batting, focuses on his diet. So these are certain things which senior players don’t have to say to the other players, but you just tend to pick them up," he said.

He added that consistency and attention to detail are essential in a sport as demanding as cricket.

“Cricket is such a competitive game; you can’t take anything for granted. You have to tick every box," Wadhera said.

Wadhera enjoyed a productive IPL 2025 season, scoring 369 runs in 16 matches at an average of 30.75 and a strike rate of more than 145. However, he struggled to reproduce that form in the 2026 edition, managing just 65 runs.

Despite his difficulties with the bat, Wadhera said Ponting personally approached him and offered reassurance at a time when his confidence was affected by his lack of runs. The batter said the former Australian captain’s words reminded him of the trust the franchise had placed in him.

“He was the first person to come to that player. Even though I wasn’t doing well this season, he came up to me himself, and I was really disappointed. I was talking to him, and he was like, ‘You are our senior player, we back you, and you just have to express yourself, enjoy yourself,'" Wadhera recalled.

The PBKS batter believes such reassurance can only come from a coach who has experienced the highs and lows of international cricket firsthand.

“These kinds of words just boost your confidence. So I think this happens only if you have an experienced coach who has himself gone through such things," he concluded.

Wadhera’s association with PBKS came after Mumbai released him ahead of the 2025 mega auction. He entered the bidding process with a base price of Rs 30 lakh, with Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals among the franchises that showed interest in securing his services. PBKS eventually acquired the left-handed batter for Rs 4.20 crore.

The move proved beneficial for both Wadhera and the franchise, as he produced his most productive IPL season in 2025. He amassed 369 runs in 16 matches at an average of 30.75 and a strike rate of more than 145, playing a key role in PBKS’ journey to the final as part of the team’s strong Indian core.

Meanwhile, PBKS commenced a five-day off-season training camp in New Chandigarh on August 11, with the programme set to run until August 15. The current batch includes six players including, Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Pyla Avinash, Praveen Dubey, and Nehal.

The pre-season camp is being conducted under the supervision of the franchise’s coaching group, with Trevor Gonsalves leading the programme at the venue. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

India vs Sri Lanka 2026 1st Test: Shubman Gill’s Team India will begin the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka on a special day – the country’s 80th Independence Day on Saturday. Since India got Independence in 1983, the country has seen plenty of landmark moments on the cricket field – from 2011 ODI World Cup win to 2007, 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup triumphs.

It is always a difficult proposition to pick one path-breaking triumph since Independence Day. Former India left-arm spinner Murali Kartik spoke to India.com and shared the one cricket success which changed India cricket’s eco-system.

Ahead of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at Galle, Kartik spoke to a select group of media, including India.com. Asked about Indian cricket’s biggest moment since gaining Independence in 1947, Kartik said it was the 1983 ODI World Cup win under captain Kapil Dev.

“The 1983 World Cup win was a huge, huge moment, because that inspired a lot of young people to take up the game. You think of one moment, and I’m thinking for other sports in India as well,” Kartik told India.com.

“Imagine somebody doing something similar in other sports – winning a major in golf or doing something spectacular in tennis. It actually inspires us. How did we all start playing the game? It is because we were inspired by somebody. That is the reason why you have somebody trying to copy Jasprit Bumrah or a Harbajan Singh or a Anil Kumble or Ravichandran Ashwin.

“If you can even inspire 1 per cent of the population, I think you’ve done a great job. So, from that point of view, I think 1983 was a huge moment, because things changed around, the belief system changed that we can also do it at the highest stage,” Kartik said.

Kapil Dev’s Team India defeated two-time champions West Indies to win their ODI World Cup title in 1983 at Lord’s in London. India had to wait another 28 years for their next ODI World Cup titles, which came under the captaincy of MS Dhoni in 2011.

In T20 cricket, India have won three World Cups – the first one again under Dhoni in 2007. Rohit Sharma helped India become T20 World Cup champions for the second time in 2024 in West Indies and Suryakumar Yadav’s side became the first team to defend the title – winning in 2026 earlier this year in March.

Independence Day plans? We’ve got you covered. #SLvIND 1st Test begins tomorrow, 9 AM onwards, LIVE on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV. #SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV #BeautifulGameOfTestCricket pic.twitter.com/MRMQXPc7Dx

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 14, 2026

Kartik turned out in 8 Tests and 37 ODIs for Team India in his career, claiming 24 and 37 wickets respectively. The 49-year-old left-arm spinner also snared 644 wickets in first-class cricket.

The former Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings star, however, refused to name a single player who can be called the ‘greatest Indian cricketers’ since Independence.

“Again, from a single point of view, as I said, I’m not going to name anyone, because all of them have played a huge part in where we are. It’s an exclusive club,” Kartik said.

“It’s not a club where you can pay and get into. People work really hard to wear that India cap, and what, 705 players have played for India or 706 have played for India, if I’ve got my stats right across all three formats. So that’s a very exclusive club and I’m pretty sure everybody has played a big part in getting India where it is,” he added.

Kartik believes that it will be an injustice to name only one cricketer as an inspiration for the sport. “We are in a better position because of what someone else did for us. So, from that point of view, think of what the first Indian team and what they had to endure, and what they had to do and from that, if you take the history of India to where it is right now, we are one of the powerhouses of world cricket,” he felt.

(Watch Sri Lanka vs. India 1st Test Day 1 on August 15, 2026, from 10 AM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD & Sony LIV)