Rinku has to be a certainty in the 15 for T20 WC, says K Srikkanth

by Manisha Das

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the former India opener and chief selector, said left-handed hard-hitting batter Rinku Singh has to be a certainty in the 15-member India squad for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup.

New Delhi, April 29: Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the former India opener and chief selector, said left-handed hard-hitting batter Rinku Singh has to be a certainty in the 15-member India squad for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup.

Rinku shot to the limelight with five sixes on last five balls of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ innings against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023, a season where he continuously showed his finishing skills. He made his India T20I debut later in the year and amassed 356 runs in 15 games, staying not out in seven of them at a high strike rate of 176.23.

With the KKR top order doing bulk of scoring so far for the side in IPL 2024, Rinku hasn’t got much time to bat, making 112 in eight matches at a strike-rate of 157.74. "A classic example is Rinku Singh. Rinku Singh is a certainty in my 15. He hasn't got that many opportunities to bat in the IPL but you see his international track record, it's an amazing track record. Amazing track record in South Africa and with every opportunity he has got. So Rinku Singh has to be a certainty in the 15."

"But if we go by recent form or opportunities, he hasn't got enough opportunities. End of the day you've to forget who the player is and look at what is his track record. Is he a great player, is a deadly player, is he fit? So Rinku Singh has to be a certainty, he has to get the Visa and he will fasten his seat belt to take the flight to the United States to play the game as one of the 15 members in the side," said Srikkanth, who was the chief selector of India’s 2011 World Cup winning teams, on ‘Ticket to World Cup’ episode of Star Sports Press Room Show.

Matthew Hayden, the former Australia batter, believes IPL has brought out some a lot of Indian talent to the fore, who are now being talked about in selection race of the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup. "I tell you it's a true credit to the IPL, that it gets so much headspace in terms of selection, for international cricket.

"It's a testimony to how brilliant the competition is and it's also a credit to the way the IPL has allowed it's foreign players, to play and strengthen the tournament. I'm not sure there's another across T20 cricket that's equal. How good is it, because we have found Jaiswal and he's just one of the many like Rinku who have been discovered by IPL cricket."

India, the 2007 edition winners, will begin their Men's T20 World Cup campaign in June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. They are slotted in Group A alongside Pakistan, Canada and tournament co-hosts USA.

(IANS)

HM Amit Shah Holds Roadshow In Odisha's Cuttack City

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Bhubaneswar, May 15: Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a 2 km-long roadshow in Odisha's Cuttack city on Wednesday.

HM Shah embarked on the roadshow on a saffron-coloured vehicle decked up with flowers. The roadshow started from Gopabandhi Bhawan in Buxi Bazar area of Cuttack.

The roadshow ended at Naya Sadak area in the city.

BJP's candidate for Cuttack Lok Sabha seat, Bhartruhari Mahtab, and Barabati-Cuttack MLA candidate Purna Chandra Mohapatra accompanied HM Amit Shah on the vehicle during the roadshow.

The Home Minister holding an illuminated Lotus (party's election symbol), waved and greeted thousands of enthusiastic crowd gathered on both sides of the road as his vehicle moved past.

According to sources, over 20,000 people participated in the roadshow.

HM Shah was also seen throwing flower petals at the workers as well as people who raised slogans like "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", "Modi Modi" and other pro-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slogans.

Polling will be held in Cuttack on May 25.

Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1.

The results of the polling for both Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha will be out on June 4.

IANS

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IPL 2024: Punjab Kings Restrict Rajasthan Royals To 144/9

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Guwahati, May 15: Rajasthan Royals batting struggle continued as the Punjab Kings’ excellent bowling efforts restricted them to a score of 144/9 in match 65 of the Indian Premier League at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday.

It was once again the hometown hero, Riyan Parag who continued his impressive form scoring 48 runs off 34 deliveries. He replayed his innings from their previous game against CSK in a similar fashion where he had scored 47 runs off 35 deliveries. Parag’s contribution was the only worthwhile one in the RR batting lineup as the team was restricted to a sub par score.

The Royals for the second game in a row struggled to get off to a good start in the game. Punjab captain Sam Curran who stated before the game that he “certainly does not want to lose tonight’ started the game by backing his statement and bowled out Indian Prodigy, Yashasvi Jaiswal in the very first over.

RR managed to score only 33 runs in the powerplay which was similar to their powerplay score of 42 against CSK in their previous game. This was followed by wickets at regular intervals for PBKS whose bowlers did not give the Rajasthani batters any chance of gathering rhythm.

The fall of the third wicket saw the team send Ravichandran Ashwin to the crease in hopes of restoring some sort of rhythm into the team. The Indian veteran did answer the calls of the team’s management as he strung together a 50-run partnership which was the largest of the night before Ashwin was caught trying to clear the boundary off Arshdeep Singh. After Ashwin’s departure, the middle and lower order were kept in check by the Kings’ bowlers.

Riyan Parag lost his wicket as he was caught plumb for lbw in the final over through a slower full toss by Harshal Patel who became the leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets overtaking Jasprit Bumrah (20 wickets) with one game to go.

Brief Score: Rajasthan Royals 144/9 in 20 overs (Riyan Parag 48, Ravichandran Ashwin 28; Sam Curran 2-24, Rahul Chahar 2-26) against Punjab Kings

(IANS)

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Odisha: HM Amit Shah Targets Ruling BJD Govt Over Various Issues

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Bhubaneswar, May 15: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday attacked the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in Odisha over various issues including the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar (treasury of Jagannath Temple of Puri), "influence" of non-Odia officials on the Odisha government, and Odia Asmita, among others.

Speaking at a rally in Sorada in Aska Parliamentary constituency in Ganjam district, HM Amit Shah said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has honoured the entire state of Odisha by making an Adivasi daughter of the state President (Droupadi Murmu) of the country. PM Modi enhanced the popularity of Odisha across the globe by keeping an image of Konark Surya Temple behind the platform where he was welcoming world leaders during the G20 conference. PM Modi also released coins and postal stamps in honour of Paika rebellion."

The Home Minister accused the BJD government of stopping the people of Odisha from participating in Ram Mandir-related celebrations in various ways.

He said that PM Modi has made the country secure by ending the menace of Left Wing Extremism and terrorism.

"PM Modi is supplying 5 kg rice to every family in the country. (Odisha Chief Minister) Naveen Patnaik only gives an empty bag and prints his photo on it. He later tells the poor that the rice has been given by him. Naveen ji should have given an extra 2.5 kg rice in addition to Rs 5 kg being supplied by PM Modi instead of the empty bag," HM Shah said.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said that people have decided to bid adieu to the Naveen Patnaik government and elect the government of BJP in Odisha.

HM Shah said that there are no road connections to 6,412 villages in Odisha.

He said that the income of farmers in Odisha is among the lowest in the country as the farmers are forced to sell their paddy at a cheaper price.

The Union Minister further said that in the name of the Parikrama project, the BJD government destroyed mutts and temples in Puri.

He also said that the devotees are experiencing various problems as the BJD government is not opening all the four doors of Jagannath Temple.

HM Shah assured the people of Odisha that the day the BJP Chief Minister will take an oath, he will open all the four doors of the temple.

Raking up the issue of missing Ratna Bhandar keys, HM Shah questioned: "Where are the original keys of Ratna Bhandar, treasury of Jagannath temple? Who made the duplicate keys? Where is the probe report on the missing keys? Whom is your government trying to save?"

The Union Minister assured to make public the probe report on Ratna Bhandar within six days of forming the government.

HM Shah also said that his party, after coming to power, will make public the full details regarding the inventory of ornaments and precious stones kept at the Ratna Bhandar.

He alleged that "non-Odia bureaucrats are running the government in place of Naveen Babu who was elected by the people".

"You elect the BJP government this time, and we will ensure the Odia language survives for the coming 1,000 years," Shah added.

HM Shah also mentioned various promises made in the manifesto of the BJP government.

He assured to return the money looted through Chit Fund scam within 18 months of coming to power in Odisha. Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1.

Polling will be held in Aska constituency on May 20.

(IANS)

Rinku has to be a certainty in the 15 for T20 WC, says K Srikkanth

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