Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar is mighty impressed with young Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma, who has been one of the few bright spots in the five-time IPL champions' otherwise listless campaign in IPL 2022.

Tilak Varma's batting acumen impresses Gavaskar

by Argus News

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Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar is mighty impressed with young Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma, who has been one of the few bright spots in the five-time IPL champions' otherwise listless campaign in IPL 2022.

Mumbai, May 17: Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar is mighty impressed with young Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma, who has been one of the few bright spots in the five-time IPL champions' otherwise listless campaign in IPL 2022.

A member of India's U-19 World Cup squad in 2020, he was bought by the Mumbai franchise for Rs 1.7 crore after an extremely competitive bidding competition from the likes of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.

Varma has so far amassed 368 runs in IPL 2022, with a highest of 61 and has remained unbeaten on three occasions. The left-hander's big-hitting capability has also come to the fore as he has smashed 27 boundaries and 15 maximums coming in the middle order.

"Tilak Varma's temperament (in IPL 2022) has been fantastic. In his knock against Chennai Super Kings, he walked into the middle when the team was under pressure. But the way he dealt in ones and twos (early on) was impressive. He played a wide range of shots and kept rotating the strike. This shows that he has a good cricketing head on his shoulders, and I think that's important.

"Once you have that good cricketing brain, you will be able to lift yourself when things are not going your way. You can analyse yourself and get back to scoring runs," said Gavaskar on Cricket Live, Star Sports.

Gavaskar also praised the youngster for having the basics right and agreed with Rohit Sharma's observation that the rising Hyderabad cricketer could be an all-format India batter in the future.

"He's got the basics right. Technically he's right. He gets right behind the line of the ball. He's got a straight bat, and while defending on the front foot his bat is close to the pad. So, all his basics are right.

"With all the right basics you've got to marry the temperament and that marriage we have seen is very good at the moment. I hope that he carries on. Rohit Sharma rightly mentioned that he could be an all-format player for India. So now it's up to him to work that little bit extra, get his fitness going, get a little tighter as far as the technique is concerned and prove Rohit right," added Gavaskar.

(IANS)

Khandapada MLA Soumya Patnaik, Remuna Legislator Sudhansu Parida Expelled From BJD

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Sep 21: In a major political development in Odisha, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday expelled two party MLAs- Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and Remuna MLA Sudhanshu Sekhar Parida for 'anti-people activities'.

BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed that both the MLAs have been expelled for their alleged anti-people activities.

In an official release on the expulsion of the Remuna MLA, the BJD president said, "Sri Sudhansu Sekhar Panda, when he was Managing Partner of M/s Nigamananda Associates, Balasore, in connivance with others misappropriated government subsidy, meant for farmers, of more than Rs.3 crores during the period from 2017-18 to 2019-20. This matter is being inquired into by the State Vigilance on the orders of the Honorable Lokayukta."

Similarly, on the Khandapada MLA, the BJD president said, "On an FIR by an ex-employee of Sambad Newspaper a case under sections 506/467/468/471/420/120-B IPC has been registered against him and others by Economic Offence Wing (EOW) Odisha. Further many ex-employees of Sambad newspaper have made similar allegations with EOW Odisha. It is a serious case of organized bank fraud involving loan worth crores of Rupees taken in the name of more than 300 employees Sambad by using fraudulent means and forged documents."

Read: Odisha News

Indian Visa Services In Canada Suspended Till Further Notice

by Manisha Das

Ottawa, September 21: The Indian Mission in Canada on Thursday suspended visa services till further notice citing operational reasons, according to BLS International.

BLS International Services Limited is an Indian outsourcing service provider for government and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages visa, passport, consular, attestation and citizen services.

As per BLS International , interested visa applicants have been advised to keep checking the BLS website for further updates on the issue.

"Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice. Please keep checking BLS website for further updates," the BLS website said.

This comes amid strain in India-Canada relations after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Najjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada's Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.

Trudeau during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, claimed his country's national security officials had reasons to believe that "agents of the Indian government" carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey's Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

The allegations made by the Canadian Prime Minister and foreign minister were rejected by the Ministry of External Affairs in India which dubbed the statements as absurd.

"We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated" the statement said.

On Wednesday, Indian nationals, students in Canada and those planning on travelling to the country were advised to exercise caution. Indian nationals and Indian students in Canada were advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen growing anti-India activities, according to a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Indian students in Canada have been particularly advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant.

(ANI)

Also Read: National News

Jimmy Kimmel Tests Positive For COVID-19

by Manisha Das

Los Angeles, September 21: Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Taking to X (formerly called Twitter), Kimmel shared his health update and also informed fans about the cancellation of his "Strike Force Three" live show.

“Well, Las Vegas, I got Covid, and sadly, we need to cancel this weekend’s Strike Force Three show,” Kimmel posted

“I could never live with myself if I got my hometown friends sick. Thanks to all who purchased tickets, everyone will get full refunds and we will try to reschedule if possible," he added.

After learning about Kimmel's ill-health, fans chimed in the comment section and wished for his speedy recovery.

"Take care Kimmel," a social media user commented.
"Wish you a speedy recovery," another one wrote.

As per US-based publication Variety, “Strike Force Three” was scheduled to take place at the Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas on September 23. The event was announced by Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert.

The event, which would have united the three late night hosts onstage for the first time ever, was born out of the “Strike Force Five” podcast that the trio launched alongside Seth Meyers and John Oliver on August 30.