SL vs IND 1st Test: भारत ने टॉस जीतकर किया पहले बल्लेबाजी का फैसला, ए…

Sri Lanka vs India 1st Test: भारत बनाम श्रीलंका दो मैचों की टेस्‍ट सीरीज का आगाज 15 अगस्‍त को गॉल में हो गया है। गॉल इंटरनेशनल स्‍टेडियम में खेले जा रहे पहले टेस्‍ट में भारत ने टॉस जीतकर पहले बल्‍लेबाजी का फैसला किया है। टॉस जीतकर कप्‍तान शुभमन गिल ने कहा कि अच्छा विकेट लग रहा है और मौसम भी अच्छा है। हम पहले बैटिंग करना पसंद करेंगे। हम उसी प्लेइंग इलेवन के साथ उतर रहे हैं, जो पिछले मैच में खेली थी। हमारे पास पांच गेंदबाज दो फास्ट बॉलर और तीन स्पिनर हैं। हमारे लिए यह स्वतंत्रता दिवस और 600वां टेस्ट मैच है, इसलिए हम इसका बेसब्री से इंतजार कर रहे थे। bettingx.club

While India attained political freedom on 15 August 1947, it achieved a form of sporting freedom a year later at the 1948 London Olympics. For a newly independent India, the London Games were more than a sporting event. They offered an opportunity for assertion and provided a stage for a young country to establish itself among the world’s successful sporting nations.

The Indian hockey team satisfied that national yearning, winning its fourth consecutive Olympic gold after triumphs at Amsterdam in 1928, Los Angeles in 1932 and Berlin in 1936. The golden journey did not stop in 1948 but continued until 1964, with a brief silver interlude in 1960, when India had to cede top spot to arch-rivals Pakistan.

When India won gold at the London Olympic hockey stadium in 1948, defeating England 4–0 in the final, much more than an Olympic victory was scripted. It was a newly independent nation’s declaration against the forces of colonialism, retribution for the humiliation inflicted by the English over almost 200 years and, finally, a statement to the world about the significance of sport in an era of decolonisation. Hockey, the victory demonstrated, held the promise of becoming the new opiate of the masses.

For many in the country, the sport offered a substitute for religion as a source of emotional attachment and spiritual passion. For many others, since it was among the earliest memorable post-Independence experiences, it infiltrated memory, shaped enthusiasms and served fantasies. Though claims of hockey being the ‘national’ game of the country originated as far back as the turn of the century and gathered momentum after the victories at Amsterdam, Los Angeles and Berlin, it was not until London that hockey’s supremacy was assured.

Compared with the Games of 1928, 1932 and 1936, London 1948 offered a fundamentally different challenge for Indian hockey. More importantly, the players, for the first time, were not representing British India but playing for their motherland. This was the first time Indians were playing under the new tricolour and against the British, under whose imperial flag they had participated in previous Games.

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It is pertinent to recount this achievement today, on Independence Day, as India takes the field at the World Cup in the Netherlands. The build-up has been anything but ideal, with the jersey controversy dominating the headlines. But it is time for everyone back home to move beyond such issues and focus on the game at hand.

With the Asian Games a month later, a strong World Cup performance can create momentum for a sport that badly needs it. While the women are not expected to make the podium, we do expect a strong showing from them, with the team pushing some of the more fancied sides in the world. In contrast, the men are expected to win a medal, and anything less would be a disappointment.

Hockey, yet again, has a chance to galvanise the nation. Let’s do our bit to help the players do so.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is a strong contender to host the 2036 Olympics and to ensure that the country has a strong presence in the mega event, a nationwide talent hunt would be launched to identify prospects in the age group of 5 to 15.

Addressing the country from the ramparts of Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Modi said the government’s flagship Target Olympic Podium Scheme, which was launched in 2014, has been a major success in providing support to athletes.

“India is making space for itself in the world of sports. We hear our national anthem frequently and see our tri-colour going up very often. TOPS has achieved great success. Whether it is Khelo India Games, University Games, Beach Games, Winter Games, or sports training, sports medicine, sports nutrition, India is moving ahead at great pace," he said.

“India’s performance is improving, and we are strong contenders to become an Olympic host in 2036. We are hosting the CWG in 2030. There are about 40 disciplines in Olympics, with nearly 350 events. It is sad that we are not able even compete in at least two third of these events because we are not even able to qualify.”

“We have decided that in 2036, we should have participation in at least three fourth events. We are launching a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to identify prospects in every corner of the country. They will get special training to become world class athletes," he added.

India is hosting the 2030 CWG in Ahmedabad, which is also in the race to host the 2036 Olympics.

Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews believes Shubman Gill-led Indian team will miss pacer Jasprit Bumrah dearly in the two-match Test series, starting at Galle on Saturday. The former SL all-rounder also reckoned that this offers the hosts the best chance to win the series given India’s comparatively inexperienced bowling attack.

“Yes, it [India’s inexperienced bowling attack will be an advantage to SL] because Bumrah has got the skill to bowl in any condition. And he would have been lethal, especially in Galle with the reverse swing. That’s why I feel Sri Lanka is quite lucky not to come up against Bumrah. But [pacer Mohammed] Siraj, [spinner Ravindra] Jadeja and [wrist spinner] Kuldeep Yadav, they’ve got skills too. So, our batters can’t be complacent. They have got to respect [the opposition] and play the match with a positive attitude. But, India will definitely miss Bumrah,” Mathews told mid-day about India’s bowling line-up, during a virtual media interaction organised by the Sony Sports Network on Friday.

India’s pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj (left) with speedsters Auqib Nabi (centre) and Gurnoor Brar in Galle on Thursday. PIC/PTI

Mathews, 39, a veteran of 119 Tests, 226 ODIs, and 90 T20Is also had a warning for the Dhananjaya de Silva-led Lankans though. He insisted that the batters should not be complacent.

“Both India and Sri Lanka are in a transitional phase at the moment, so I think that’s going to be a challenge for them. Obviously, there’s a huge advantage for Sri Lanka playing at home, knowing the conditions well, knowing their strategies, etc. But India also has played a lot of cricket in SL. So, it’s not new for them too. It will be an even contest, I believe. Whoever plays aggressive, positive cricket will come out good,” Mathews said.

Jasprit Bumrah

When asked what should be the strategy of the Gary Kirsten-coached SL team to counter visitors, he said: “It’s basically a lot to do with the mindset and the attitude. You’ve got all the videos and there are no secrets in international cricket nowadays. So, it’s just the right body language and mindset that they need to take on to the field. It’s never easy to play against India in any condition. So, it’s a matter of having that right attitude.”

Mathews also feels having coach Gary Kirsten is an asset to the Lankans. “We have a world-class coach [Kirsten], one of the best in the world, if not the best. He knows exactly what needs to be done. You need to trust the coach, give him what he needs, and support him all the way. And of course, be patient,” added Mathews.

2
No of times India have lost against SL in nine Tests since 2010; both times at Galle