Former Indian cricketer and legendary World Cup-winning captain, MS Dhoni, cast his vote at a polling booth in Ranchi during the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections. The 43-year-old cricket icon was accompanied by his wife, Sakshi, as they participated in the democratic process. #WATCH | Former Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni along with his wife, Sakshi arrives at a polling booth in Ranchi to cast his vote for #JharkhandAssemblyElections2024 pic.twitter.com/KlD68mXdzM — ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2024 As of 3 pm on the voting day, the Election Commission of India (ECI) reported a voter turnout of 59.28 percent across the constituencies participating in the first phase of the elections. The polling saw varying levels of engagement across different districts, with the Seraikella-Kharsawan constituency leading the way with an impressive 66.38 percent voter turnout. It was followed by Lohardaga at 65.99 percent and Simdega at 64.31 percent. However, not all areas experienced the same level of participation. Ranchi, the state capital, recorded the lowest voter turnout at 53.40 percent, while Palamu saw a slightly higher turnout of 56.57 percent. Other districts also exhibited varying levels of voter participation. Also Read: Team India practice session in Perth shielded from cameras by stringent security Ramgarh recorded 59.22 percent, Khunti 63.35 percent, and Gumla 64.59 percent. West Singhbhum reported 60.35 percent, while Latehar registered 62.81 percent. Garhwa recorded 61.06 percent, East Singhbhum 58.72 percent, and Hazaribagh 57.16 percent. The first phase of voting, which began on Wednesday morning, covered 43 of the state’s 81 legislative assembly seats. With the elections spread over multiple phases, this initial round has set the stage for a crucial contest in Jharkhand’s political landscape. To ensure a smooth and secure voting process, the Jharkhand Police have deployed advanced surveillance measures, including the use of drones in Ranchi. This effort aims to enhance security and maintain order in the capital city, known for its large voter base. (With ANI inputs)
13 November,2024 04:47 PM IST | Ranchi | mid-day online correspondentRising pacer Arshdeep Singh has been a force to reckon with in T20 cricket, rapidly establishing himself as India’s go-to bowler in death overs. Known for his accurate yorkers, composure under pressure, and a commitment to honing his skills, the 25-year-old left-arm seamer has credited his steady improvement to focus on simplicity and mental discipline. Since his debut in 2022, Arshdeep has made an impressive mark with 89 wickets in just 58 T20I matches at an average slightly above 18. This consistency stems from his versatility in adapting his plans to match the conditions, the state of the pitch, and the demands of the game. “My plans depend on the conditions, the wickets, and the situations,” Arshdeep said during a media interaction on the eve of the third T20I against South Africa. “Sometimes we need wickets; other times we just need to contain runs,” he added. However, Arshdeep admitted that death bowling isn’t always straightforward, often requiring a calm approach, especially on days when things don’t go as planned. “Death bowling—some days it comes off well, some days it does not. You have to stay level-headed and not overthink. With two overs in the beginning and two overs at the end, there’s a lot at stake,” he explained. “I try to keep things simple, avoid complicating them, and focus on meeting the team’s needs,” Arshdeep noted. While known for his bowling, Arshdeep is also working on improving his all-round skills, especially his batting. In a light-hearted comment, he admitted he enjoys a flat wicket and a spinner’s half-volley, but he’s genuinely committed to becoming a more complete cricketer. “I challenge myself in the nets to see how I can improve in all three aspects of the game. It’s about how we can contribute as a team, and the same goes for me personally,” he said. Also Read: 'Getting five-for while defending 125 is incredible': SKY lauds Chakravarthy For Arshdeep, playing alongside international legends has been transformative. Sharing the dressing room with seasoned cricketers like Jasprit Bumrah has added valuable dimensions to his game. “I enjoy the present, both on and off the field, and learning from the legends,” he said, noting the impact of Bumrah on his bowling evolution. “Jassi bhai [Bumrah] has helped me enormously in taking wickets by creating pressure from the other end. A lot of credit goes to him as well,” Arshdeep said. Arshdeep also highlighted the influence of India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, whose mental strength and leadership have left a lasting impression. “The way he controls his emotions and manages his highs and lows—he’s incredibly strong mentally, no matter how his day is going,” Arshdeep observed. Looking forward to the upcoming match against South Africa, Arshdeep is well-prepared to make a tactical impact, especially by leveraging the spin-bowling department. “They [South Africa] have been struggling against spinners, so we aim to contain them early and give a strong platform for our spinners to attack,” he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 November,2024 04:37 PM IST | Centurion | IANSFormer Australian captain Brad Haddin opined that Indian batters will struggle against the star-studded bowling line-up during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, pointing out that opening during the first Test in Perth would be a 'hard work' for young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is making his first trip to Australia. The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be played at Perth's Optus Stadium from November 22 onwards. The series is extremely crucial for both sides' ICC World Test Championship final chances. While Aussies will be aiming to get a good start in their bid to prevent a hat-trick of series losses to India at home, the visitors would also be charged up after a humiliating whitewash series loss to New Zealand at home in the three-match Test series, their first Test series loss in home conditions in 12 years. Speaking on the Willow Talk Podcast with Australia's T20 winning skipper Aaron Finch on Monday, Brad said, "I do not think that the Indian batters are going to stand up to our quicks. I know Jaiswal is a really good player, but he has not come out and seen Australia before, so I am not sure whether he is going to handle the bounce. Opening in Perth is hard work." Also Read: Team India practice session in Perth shielded from cameras by stringent security In 14 Tests since his debut last year, Jaiswal has made a reputation as one of the most ferociest Test openers in a long time, capable of scoring fast and big both. He has scored 1,407 runs at an average of 56.28, with three centuries and eight fifties and best score of 214*. However, his only trip to SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries, to South Africa from December 2023-January 2024 was dissappointing, scoring just 50 runs in four innings with best score of 28. These tours hold a lot of significance to any Indian batter as they have been places where India has struggled largely since becoming an international side. With a 3-0 series whitewash against New Zealand at home, India need to win the series by 4-0 to punch their ticket to feature in London for the WTC final for the third successive time directly. After the conclusion series opener in Perth, the second Test, featuring the day-night format, will take place under lights at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. Fans will then turn their attention to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test from December 14 to 18. The traditional Boxing Day Test, scheduled from December 26 to 30 at Melbourne's iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, will mark the series' penultimate stage. The fifth and final Test will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, promising an exciting climax to a highly anticipated series. India's squad for Border-Gavaskar Series: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar. Australia squad for the first Test: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 November,2024 04:37 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIJames Anderson, England’s legendary pacer and current bowling mentor, has voiced strong support for Jofra Archer, suggesting that the speedster could play a pivotal role in England’s quest to reclaim the Ashes in Australia in 2025/26. Archer, who has faced a challenging spell with injuries, has only played white-ball cricket since recovering from a persistent elbow injury and hasn’t featured in a Test match since February 2021. Anderson, however, sees the pacer as essential to England’s Ashes campaign – if he’s willing and physically able to take on the demands of the red-ball game. Anderson spoke about Archer’s potential, stating, “If we can keep him fit, the Ashes is a definite opportunity. The only worry is whether the injuries have scared him away from Test cricket and he thinks: 'Can my body cope?' But if Jofra works hard enough, and he's managed well, he would be huge for us in the Ashes,” Anderson told The Guardian. Also Read: Team India practice session in Perth shielded from cameras by stringent security England’s current focus on building a formidable pace attack has also contributed to Anderson’s own retirement from international cricket, as the team prepares a roster of quicks fit for Australian conditions. Beyond Archer, Anderson highlighted England’s promising crop of fast bowlers, including Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, and Matthew Potts, all of whom could be vital contributors to England’s attack in 2025/26. Among the new generation of bowlers, Anderson praised Surrey’s Gus Atkinson, who debuted in the same match Anderson bowed out against the West Indies. Atkinson’s impact was immediate, with 12 wickets in the series, including a stunning seven-wicket haul in the first innings. Anderson noted that Atkinson, who has now accumulated 40 wickets in eight Tests, has ‘got it all.’ "I think we've got enough experience with Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Archer potentially, and then the guys that are coming in. "Gus Atkinson has done really well, so have Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts. They're getting experience all the time and if they've got 12 Tests under their belts that's great. It doesn't have to be 50 Tests.” “He has got it all. Pace, skill and he picks up things really quickly. I've worked with him a little bit and he'll say, 'right, I want to learn an in-swinger' and within 12 balls he'll have it. That's a great trait. He's got amazing ability and a great temperament.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 November,2024 04:26 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSIndia skipper Suryakumar Yadav lavished praise on spinner Varun Chakravarthy for his magical figures of 5 for 17 during their three-wicket loss to South Africa in the second T20I here on Sunday. Chakaravarthy's stunning spell reduced South Africa to 66 for 6 while chasing 125, but Tristan Stubbs (47) and Gerald Coetzee (19) held their nerves to take the hosts across the line in 19 overs, ending India's 11-match winning streak. "In a T20, someone getting a five-for while defending 125 is incredible. Varun has been waiting for this for a long time, working hard on his bowling, and everyone enjoyed it," Suryakumar said during the post-match presentation. Invited to bat, India struggled with the bat, posting just 124 for six. "You always have to back whatever total you get. Of course, in a T20 game you don't wanna get 120, but proud of the way we bowled," Suryakumar said. "Two games to go, lot of entertainment left. 1-1 going into Jo'burg gonna be a lot of fun." South Africa captain Aiden Markram lauded the bowlers for their excellent execution of plans. "I thought we bowled really well, some really good plans and our bowlers executed really well," he said. "From the batting point of view, you want to break it at the mid-way stage but it didn't work out. Sometimes when you lose wickets in a cluster it doesn't look pretty. We need to take it on the chin, we are definitely going to keep our brand of cricket going." Also Read: How 'clarity' transformed Varun Chakravarthy into a force to be reckoned with Chasing the modest total, South Africa were down 86 for seven before Stubbs and Coetzee added 42 runs for the eighth wicket to take them home. "Fortunately the run rate never got away from us. I had 30 (runs) in mind to get off the last three, and the dew came in to help us also," said Stubbs, who was adjudged the Player of the Match. "Coetzee came in and played that innings in the end and we got over the line. He (Coetzee) walked in and said we can win this. It was always two hits away being back to run-a-ball. "I just tried to breathe. It's my mom's birthday so there were 20-30 people who came to watch the game. This is my favourite place to play cricket. I was nervous, so I was trying to control by breathing." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 November,2024 04:26 PM IST | Gqeberha | PTIThe Indian team arrived in Perth on Tuesday amid extremely tight security—the same level of security that is provided to English Premier League giants Manchester United, it is learnt. It’s also the same kind of protection the team got during the 2022-23 T20 World Cup match against South Africa at this venue. Strict rules have also been established for the employees working at Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) office. Employees cannot shoot any activities taking place on the field with their mobile cameras. Moreover, the entire ground has been covered with a black cloth, ensuring no one can catch a glimpse of the Indian team’s practice session. Also Read: Jaiswal gets Aussie nod as 'new King’, can Gill hold his ground? It is learnt that a few local journalists landed at the WACA to watch the Indian team members train but the visiting team management have given local authorities strict instructions not to allow anyone from Wednesday. The training session on Tuesday involved Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli. The schedule for the next two days is also set and the India ‘A’ players have joined the team. From Friday to Sunday, the team will indulge in match simulation.
13 November,2024 07:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Amit ShahPremier India pacer Mohammed Shami will make his much-anticipated return to competitive cricket after a hiatus of nearly a year through Bengal’s Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Indore from Wednesday, announced Cricket Association of Bengal. Shami, who has been out of action since the 2023 World Cup final on November 19 due to an ankle injury and the subsequent surgery, will aim to prove his fitness in a real match situation after undergoing intense rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. “In a major boost to Indian cricket and the Bengal Ranji Trophy team, star pacer Mohammad Shami will make a comeback into competitive cricket for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match in Indore starting on Wednesday,” CAB secretary Naresh Ojha said in a statement. Also Read: 'What will they achieve going to CAS?': Kaneria slams Pakistan Cricket Board Ojha said Shami will spearhead the Bengal pace bowling unit and the Indian thinktank in Australia too will closely follow Shami’s outing. Meanwhile, in Elite Group ‘A’ league match, defending champions Mumbai will be playing against Services in New Delhi. After four games Mumbai are placed third place with 16 points, while Services have 13 points to their credit. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 November,2024 06:57 AM IST | Kolkata | PTIFormer Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by asking what will they achieve by going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after India refused to travel for next year’s Champions Trophy. As per the media reports, the PCB is exploring an option of approaching the CAS on the matter as they remain adamant about hosting the full tournament in Pakistan. Also Read: India eye batting high Kaneria said it was almost evident that India would not travel to Pakistan because of security concerns and political reasons, adding that nothing will be achieved by going to CAS. “The issue was ongoing for long that India will not travel to Pakistan for political and other reasons. They have an option of the hybrid model as they did in the Asia Cup but things should be settled as Pakistan travelled to India for ODI World Cup last year. If Pakistan go to the international court (CAS) what will they achieve out of it? There’s always the uncertainty of security in Pakistan. International teams are coming but security concerns are much higher with the Indian team,” Kaneria told IANS. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 November,2024 06:57 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSMumbai produced an all-round show to thrash Bengal by 10 wickets and win the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy here on Tuesday. In a one-sided contest at the Wankhede Stadium here, Mumbai shot out Bengal for a meagre 85 in 20 overs and got over the line unscathed to make 86 for no loss in 12.3 overs. Dhara Gujjar’s 26 from 38 balls was the only bright spot with the bat for Bengal. Mumbai’s Jagravi Pawar returned impressive figures of 3-13 from her four overs and Soumya Singh took 2-11. Also Read: Oxford bowled out for five by Anjuman-I-Islam Bengal bowlers failed to produce any challenge to the Mumbai batters as Humaira Kaazi hit five fours and a six in her 41 not out off 36 balls, while Vrushali Bhagat made 45 not out off 39 balls with six fours. “In recognition of this achievement, the MCA will match the BCCI prize money of R40 lakh, so the total will be R80 lakh, honouring your commitment and spirit. This win inspires every young woman cricketer in Mumbai to dream big and strive for excellence,” MCA President Ajinkya Naik said in a statement. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 November,2024 06:55 AM IST | Mumbai | PTIAnjuman-I-Islam Allana English School (CST) openers Afzal Shaikh and Hamza Khan were in terrific form, leading their team to a massive 647-run win over Oxford International School (Kandivli) in a second-round match of the MSSA Harris Shield inter-school cricket tournament, at the Sassanian ground, Azad Maidan, on Tuesday. The victory was much sweeter as they bowled out their opponents for a mere five runs in just 5.4 overs. Electing to bat, Afzal, making his debut, cracked his maiden double century, scoring 234 off 100 balls which included 43 fours and three sixes. His partner Hamza scored a brilliant 188 off 92 balls with 33 fours and a six to help Anjuman Islam post a mammoth 652 for four in 37 overs, including 152 penalty runs. Also Read: Is Fox’s poster featuring Kohli-Cummins a masterstroke of Aussie mental tactics? Meanwhile, Yuvraj Bhingare scored 22 off 21 balls with three fours. Parth Pawar added another 10 in six balls, including two fours. Mohammed Farooqui (8) and Hasan Kheradia (11) remained unbeaten. Medium pacer Shane Raza bowled a deadly spell of three overs, picking up seven wickets for a solitary run. Bowling from the other end, Shahid Khan claimed the remaining three wickets for four runs.
13 November,2024 06:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Rufus VedanayagamIndian batting line-up needs to get its mojo back against a resurgent South Africa to regain the lost ground on rather unfamiliar SuperSport Park conditions when the two teams clash in the third T20I here on Wednesday. Experienced Pandya Since 2009, India have played only one T20I at this venue, which they lost by six wickets in 2018 and have only one survivor from that squad in this side — Hardik Pandya. Along with that unfamiliarity factor, India will also grapple with the ordinary form of their batters, particularly when the pitch here is touted to be similar to the one at Gqeberha — quick and bouncy. In the second T20I, India batters struggled against the South Africa pacers upfront, getting restricted to 124 for six, and Centurion has similar characteristics. Also Read: Team India practice session shielded from cameras by stringent security in Perth The problem starts from the top — more precisely with Abhishek Sharma, whose extended lean run with the bat has now snowballed into a serious concern. He is in desperate need of a good outing here before the management thinks of juggling the combination. Options in Tilak, Ramandeep Even now, they can think of giving the job of partnering Sanju Samson at the top to Tilak Varma and bring in Ramandeep Singh in the middle to add more muscle to the unit. However, the senior batters like skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Pandya and Rinku Singh too cannot absolve themselves of the blame entirely for India’s struggles.Both Suryakumar and Rinku have shown only fleeting images of their prowess here while Pandya made 39 in the second match but he consumed 45 balls for it. In fact, the power-hitter took 28 balls to find his first boundary. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 November,2024 06:53 AM IST | Centurion | PTIADVERTISEMENT
