Makes it look so simple: Former cricketers laud Rohit Sharma

by Argus News

Chennai, Feb 13: India opener Rohit Sharma, who scored his seventh Test century to lead India's charge in the second Test against England here on Saturday, received effusive praise from former cricketers for his performance.

Sharma dominated and attacked the England bowling on a pitch that offered turn from the first session.

Former India spinner and Sharma's teammate Harbhajan Singh tweeted, "Top class @ImRo45 you are a beauty. Brilliant 100 #INDvsENG."

VVS Laxman, another former India player and Sharma's teammate, wrote on his timeline, "Well played @ImRo45 One of most satisfying century in challenging conditions. Also shows the importance of positive intent, decisive footwork when batting on a tough pitch. Now convert this into a biggie. #INDvsENG."

Former England captain recalled a tweet he had written in 2018 about Rohit Sharma being a Test batsman.

"Not changed my opinion about Rohit Sharma from 3 years ago," he wrote while quote-tweeting his tweet from two years back which said, "..if Rohit Sharma is not a Test match batsman then I have been watching a different Rohit Sharma over the last 5 years!!"

Another former England captain Michael Vaughan wrote, "Pure Ton @ImRo45 !! What a player to watch ... like all the great sports people ... he makes it look so simple & easy which it certainly isn't !!! #INDvsENG."

Former India left-handed batsman Suresh Raina tweeted, "Another great knock by my brother @ImRo45, always making a mark on the field. All the best, hope to see you soon #INDvENG."

Another former India opener and Sharma's former Mumbai teammate Wasim Jaffer tweeted, "Hitman strikes! Double it up @ImRo45 #INDvsENG."

Former India player Manoj Tiwary also wrote, "Always pleasing to the eyes when he is at his best. Fabulous 100 from the legend (emoticon: clapping hands) #RohithSharma #Legend #INDvsENG."

(IANS)

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HIV Drug May Help Prevent Covid-19 Variants: Study

by Manisha Das

San Francisco, Dec 10: Researchers have said that an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) drug could stop many coronavirus diseases, including the SARS-CoV-2 variants when given to infected cells at the right concentration.

The researchers have previously shown that a booster drug called -- "cobicistat", which is normally used to reinforce the effect of anti-HIV drugs, could have antiviral properties against a SARS-CoV-2 variant circulating in Europe in early 2020.

In the study, published in the journal Antiviral Research, the researchers investigated whether the anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties of cobicistat were maintained against the key variants of concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, including Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

With a death rate of over 30 per cent, MERS-CoV circulates throughout the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia without a vaccine or specific treatment.

The researchers also compared cobicistat's effects to those of ritonavir, a structurally similar molecule that is also one of the components of Paxlovid, the current gold standard for antiviral treatment of SARS-CoV-2.

Using automated image analysis for screening and parallel comparison of the anti-coronavirus effects of cobicistat and ritonavir, the researchers discovered that cobicistat and ritonavir both act against all eight VOCs of SARS-CoV-2 tested as well as other human coronaviruses, including MERS-CoV.

"Our study shows that the CYP3A inhibitors ritonavir and, to a higher extent, cobicistat can be repurposed as broadly effective anti-coronavirus agents at concentrations potentially achievable in vivo by adjusting currently approved dosing regimens," the researchers said.

The findings suggested that cobicistat is more effective than ritonavir. Both drugs demonstrated anti-coronavirus activity in vitro at well-tolerated doses that were higher than those currently used for anti-HIV drug booster activity and in Paxlovid.

Cobicistat and ritonavir both inhibited coronavirus replication when used at these higher doses, both alone and in combination with other drugs.

(IANS)

Dhiraj Sahu I-T Raids: Cash Counting Continues On 5th Day

by Manisha Das

Bhubaneswar, Dec 10: The counting of cash seized from a distillery unit, allegedly linked to Congress MP Dhiraj Prasad Sahu located at Sudpada in Odisha's Balangir district continued on the fifth day even as several counting machines broke down due to the heavy workload, said sources on Sunday.

Some mechanics were reportedly present at the bank to immediately repair the counting machines.

Officials of SBI informed the media persons that counting of notes has ended in Sambalpur and Titilagarh branches. The official sources said that Rs 11 crore has been seized from Titilagarh while the amount seized in Sambalpur stood at Rs 37.50 crore.

Sources claimed that around 60 staffers and several machines have been engaged at the SBI branch at Balangir for the counting of the cash brought to the branch in 176 bags.

The officials reportedly finished counting cash stashed in 102 bags amounting to around Rs 140 crore till Saturday night.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed sources claimed that the counting of cash kept in another 40 odd bags has been completed till Sunday afternoon increasing the seizure amount to around Rs 180 crore. The counting is expected to be finished by Sunday evening.

On the other hand, a team of Income Tax officials from Hyderabad has reached Balangir to assist in the investigation.

Notably, the Income Tax officials launched simultaneous raids at different places related to Boudh Distillery Private Limited, an Odisha-based distillery firm, and other liquor businessmen linked to the firm in Balangir, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Bhubaneswar in Odisha, Kolkata in West Bengal and Bokaro in Jharkhand on Wednesday.

The sleuths stumbled upon huge cash stashed in two almirahs at the Sudpada distillery unit in Bolangir district. The officials later took the cash in 156 bags to a nearby branch of State Bank of India (SBI) for counting. Sources stated that the cash recovered from the distillery firm was estimated to be over Rs 200 crore.

Later, the I-T officials also recovered more cash during searches at the house of the manager, Bunty Sahu at Sudpada distillery unit on Friday.

(IANS)

Also Read : Odisha News

Impact Player Rule In IPL Not Encouraging All-Rounders To Bowl, Says Wasim Jaffer

by Manisha Das

New Delhi, Dec 10: Former India batter Wasim Jaffer said on Sunday that the Indian Premier League (IPL) needs to take away the 'Impact Player' rule since it is not encouraging all-rounders to bowl and their lack of bowling is a lack of concern for Indian cricket.

Wasim took to 'X' to express his concerns about how 'impact player' rule has halted the bowling and overall development of all-rounders.

"I think IPL needs to take away the impact player rule, as it's not encouraging the all-rounders to bowl much and lack of ARs and batters not bowling is a major area of concern for Indian cricket. Thoughts? #IPL2024 #iplauction2024," said Jaffer.

As per the impact player rule, any franchise during the course of the match, can substitute a member of the playing eleven from anyone out of five substitutes named alongside the starting eleven during the toss. This was done to give teams more depth in their batting or bowling.