In 1983-84, West Indies toured India for a test series of 6 matches with a squad consisting of no front-line spinner and won the test series 3-0, a feat that now seems impracticable on turning Indian pitches.

Back then, the West Indies bowling attack consisted only of pacers who conquered the world with their intimidating pace. That was the era of Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and Michael Holding.

This was only about the bowling attack of the West Indies.

Have you ever heard about the batting prowess of Vivian Richards, Desmond Haynes, Clive Lloyd and Gordon Greenidge? The lineup that would rip apart the best of bowlers on any day.

Vivian Richards, the most dreaded batsman whom the bowlers feared the most as he could rip apart the best of bowlers on his day. He was a complete batting maestro, a run-machine, part-time off-spinner and an energetic fielder.

Gordon Greenidge-Desmond Haynes were the most fearsome opening pair of 1980’s having the record of highest ever opening partnership of 298 in test cricket.

From winning two consecutive ODI World Cups to thrashing Australia and England in tests in their own dens, this team made headlines throughout the period of 1975-1995 before most of these players retired.

Post their retirement the golden era of Caribbean Cricket also became history. The quality of West Indies declined from then onwards with only Brian Lara being the ray of hope.

Brian Lara did live up to the title “Prince of Cricket” scoring nine double centuries including the highest ever individual score of 400 not out before hanging up his boots in 2007.

Thereafter started the never-ending downfall of West Indies cricket.

2002 and then 2007 was the last instance when West Indies won a test series at home against India followed by a test win in South Africa. Since then, West Indies have failed to win a single test against these two nations.

West Indies also failed to qualify for ICC tournaments – 2017 Champions Trophy, 2022 T20 World Cup and 2023 ODI World Cup.

What has led to this?

Here is my analysis for the reasons of downfall of West Indian Cricket:

Sponsorship disagreement between Board and Players

The problem has its roots in 2005 where West Indies Cricket Board added a clause stating that all sponsorship rights of the team will be handled by the Board.

The Board bought Digicel as sponsor though most of the players had a contract with Cables & Wireless.

This resulted in loss of revenue for players.

This was also the main reason behind West Indies players backing out of the India tour of 2014 midway leading to severe losses for BCCI for which they sued WICB.

The West Indies Cricket Board is the 9th richest cricket board in the world, with a net worth of $15 million ahead of New Zealand Cricket Board that has a net worth of $9 Million.

Despite being ahead of New Zealand, WICB saw a loss of revenue that led to rapid decline in their performance.

Their only major source of revenue is broadcasting rights from the CPL (Caribbean Premier League), which started in 2013.

Despite having a lower revenue, the New Zealand cricket has made rapid progress.

Playing two consecutive ODI World Cup finals, winning the first edition of World Test Championship, winning two consecutive test series in Pakistan.

How did the New Zealand Cricket Board despite being the poorest among the top 10 manage to overcome their crisis?

While West Indies being ahead of New Zealand cannot even properly compensate their players compelling them to prefer franchise cricket over their country?

 Lack of Clarity on the Brand of Cricket they Should Play

West Indies are known to play aggressive cricket with all the great players from Vivian Richards to Brian Lara having played attacking cricket.

Swashbuckling players like Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard made West Indies an intimidating side when it came to T20.

It was due to them that the West Indies managed to win two T20 World Cups in 2012 and 2016.

Playing aggressive cricket is what suited them for so many years.

Then why did they stop playing their original brand of cricket despite having some of the best T20 players.

Why the approach that could have improved West Indies cricket’s fortunes is not being followed?

Sub-Optimal Management and Talent Scouting

There was no dearth of talent ever within the West Indies with players like Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sheldon Cottrell.

Chris Gayle started his career with a bang and seemed like an all-format player for the Windies. His powerful knock of 317 (483) balls against South Africa is a testimony of that. Unfortunately, his career was plagued by recurring injuries that affected him.

Marlon Samuels who always stepped up during crucial games like the 2012 T20 World Cup where due to his fighting knock of 78 West Indies reached a decent total winning the finals against Sri Lanka.

The above is enough evidence to show how important he was for the West Indies team.

Kieron Pollard was one of the most feared batsmen as his casual flick was powerful enough to send the ball out of the stadium. He was also a handy fast bowler.

He was considered only a limited-overs format player by many including former England captain David Gower.

So many T20 players like AB De Villiers and Brendon McCullum (to name a few) became all-format players due to support from their management.

The same could have been the case for Pollard had WICB given an opportunity to him.

His first-class stats of 1584 runs in 44 innings with an average of 37.71 (his highest in any format) strengthens his case further.

Andre Russell is another case. Fortunately, he got the opportunity to make a debut in red-ball game in Sri Lanka where he picked the wicket of the Sri Lankan great Tillakaratne Dilshan for 0 on a pitch not offering much to fast bowlers.

Yet he was dropped with his debut test being his last as he never played the long format game again.

Over the years, Russell has proved how lethal he is with the ball along with the bat for Kolkata Knight Riders.

It would not be wrong to imagine how much of an impact he would have made in SENA countries with his sheer pace in test cricket.

Sheldon Cottrell a left arm pacer who performed spectacularly in the 2019 ODI World Cup finishing as the highest wicket-taker for the Windies with 12 scalps in 9 games.

In an age where left arm fast bowlers are in big demand especially in the longest format of the game, he is busy playing cash-rich leagues.

Should he be given a second chance in the red ball cricket? It’s up to the West Indies selectors.

Huge Pay-Disparity

In the current era where T20 style batting is taking predominance in red ball games, Jason Holder the former West Indies captain and one of the greatest all-rounders of the present generation shares his insights on the Bazball approach.

“There are only three teams in the world that can play ‘Bazball’ and that’s England, Australia and India. Those are the teams that play the most cricket.

Those are the teams that have more to fall back on if players don’t succeed at that level. They are the three nations with the best structures and the best resources.”

It is worth mentioning that Holder has been around for as long as Joe Root while the latter has played 128 tests, Holder has not played 100 tests till now highlighting the fact that there is less opportunity for players to improve.

According to Holder the pay disparity is what compels the players to prefer franchise cricket over International.

It is to be noted that some players cannot play franchise cricket so they depend on the white ball format.

Getting less opportunities and the fear of failure might be the factor deterring them from playing their natural game.

Lack of Motivation

New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel was dropped after he created history by taking all 10 wickets against India in a single innings.

Ignoring his exclusion, he stated that pitches there do not offer much to spinners but he is still very motivated to make spin bowling a part of the big picture in New Zealand cricket.

He wants to play more test cricket as the hunger within him and the fire within his belly has grown further.

It is this sheer determination and strong will to do well that the West Indies players need.

Too Much Dependency on Tailenders

West Indies have relied more on their bowlers more so than their batsmen when it comes to scoring runs as has been the case with Darren Sammy and Jason Holder.

There have been numerous instances where their bowlers have helped the team reach respectable totals in the game. Be it in the 2011 tour of India, 2013, Champions Trophy or the 2015 ODI World Cup.

Darren Sammy and Jason Holder were the ones who rescued them after batting collapses.

It is enlightening as well as disappointing to see West Indies bowlers scoring more runs than their batting line-up.

Why did their bowlers have to double up and play as all-rounders?
It makes it important to ask why the batsmen could not perform the role they were assigned.

The West Indies themselves can answer these questions.

Actions Speak Louder than Words

Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy at the post-match presentation of the 2nd Test against India at Mumbai was extremely disappointed after his team’s dismal performance leading them to losing two games within three days.

In the post-match presentation, he said “In Rohit’s [Sharma] debut Test series, we gifted him two centuries. Mohammed Shami made his debut and his gifts were gifts, 11 wickets in the series.”

The next step should have been to figure out the errors and improve those areas to reach to the level of top 4 nations, which didn’t happen.

The only hope of rewriting their fortunes in white-ball cricket came in 2017 where they managed to win a test at Headingley chasing a mammoth target of 321 courtesy of twin hundreds by Shai Hope.

Yet they could not build on that momentum. They only performed in patches and it took them nearly 5 years to recreate something like that again when Kyle Mayers played an innings of 210 in the fourth innings against Bangladesh.

Before the start of the series in England in an exclusive interview their captain Kraigg Brathwaite on having so many inexperienced youngsters in the batting order said “My advice to all the younger boys in the group, like Mikyle making his debut, is don’t just expect to play for West Indies, expect to be the first to score 30 hundreds.”

It’s a very good message to inspire fresh blood but a good captain himself needs to lead from the front like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith did for India and Australia.

Kraigg Brathwaite is different from current set of players as he prefers taking his own time batting all day long.

While it’s true that every player has his own style of playing, it’s equally vital to keep the scorecard moving as runs makes the most difference in the end.

That doesn’t mean hitting boundaries on every ball or playing at a strike rate of 100 and above.

The Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara played Bazball at times in his career without playing a single lofted shot.

This is because he had that much range of grounded shots under his belt which very few players have these days.

While encouraging his players to make 30 hundreds the captain should also score 30 hundreds first.

 Strategies they can adopt to overcome their precarious situation:

Taking 2-3 month break to decide on the kind of pitches that suit their players they want to play on.

Pitches in West Indies assist both spinners and pacers which shows the lack of clarity within the board and management.

SENA and Asian countries have fixed structure when it comes to pitch curation and that has what made them successful in their home turf.

All the top teams like Australia, India and England have been successful in their home series due to which they stand where they are now.

West Indies needs to become undefeatable at home first if they want to compete for WTC.

• Developing an intimidating pace quartet

West Indies have always lagged a formidable bowling attack that can take 20 wickets anywhere across the globe.

They don’t have a fast bowler who can bowl at 150KPH which is the main reason they struggle when touring SENA countries.

Currently, South Africa has the best pace attack in the world with Anrich Nortje who is a gun bowler, Ngidi has different variations, Rabada gets the ball to swing and Marco Jansen being a left-arm pacer.

The above quartet destroyed the Indian batting order in 2021-22 series akin to what New Zealand did in 2020.

West Indies does have some good prospects in Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph.

It’s important to groom them motivating them to become better.

Virat Kohli during his captaincy days encouraged the bowlers to improve themselves which led to India having the strongest bowling attack in the world.

At the start of his career, Siraj wasn’t that efficient as he is today. Due to proper grooming by the management he has become one of the pillars of India’s pace attack.

A Shuffled and Reformed batting Line-up with a new Captain

West Indies needs a player as a captain who will lead from the front and serve as a role model for the remaining guys and that player currently is none other than Shai Hope.

Ever since he has taken over as a ODI captain, his batting has improved and he has started scoring more runs which is exactly what they need.

Shai Hope has it in him to come into the list of top 10 greatest cricketers of the decade. His twin hundreds in England getting his team over the line is a testament of that.

Mike Louis and Alick Athanaze are their future stars and they should retain their place in the playing 11.

In a time when aggressive batting is becoming the predominant force in White-ball cricket why not West Indies give chance to someone like a Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran.

Hetmyer can play the role Rishab Pant and Travis Head play for their countries which he has done in the past when he used to play Test Cricket before being dropped.

Players like Gill, Jaiswal, Pant and Travis Head don’t do blind hitting. They do the same thing that Hetmyer used to do before being dropped from the test side.

The next thing is to have a batting all-rounder who can be the 5th bowling option like England has Ben Stokes and Australia has Cameron Green.

From a long term point of view, Sherfane Rutherford is a good prospect with his all-round skills especially in subcontinent giving West Indies an option of fielding an extra spinner.

Justin Greaves can be a lower order tailender who can score vital 30-40 runs in important occasions and can take wickets. He should be brought back to strengthen both the departments.

The ideal playing 11 and the 15-member squad that can challenge any team and win series outside the Carribean Islands:
1)  Shai Hope (C)
2)  Brandon King/ Mike Louis
3)  Alick Athanaze
4)  Shimron Hetmyer
5)  Kavem Hodge
6)  Sherfane Rutherford/Roston Chase
7)  Nicholas Pooran (VC) (wk)
8)  Justin Greaves/Romario Shepherd
9)  Shamar Joseph
10) Alzarri Joseph
11) Jayden Seales

Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Joshua Da Silva, Kirk Mckenzie, Oshane Thomas, Akeal Hosein, Keemo Paul and Akeem Jordan should be kept as reserves.

The above team can surely win a test series outside West Indies and become the No. 1 test team in the world.

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Bengaluru, July 26, 2024 – The K.C. Mahindra Education Trust proudly announces the re-defined intervention from Project Nanhi Kali with an innovative campaign that integrates football into the curriculum for underprivileged schoolgirls across India. This campaign, created by Ogilvy, underscores the Trust’s commitment to holistic education, blending academic learning with essential life skills acquired through sports.

KC Mahindra Education Trust started Project Nanhi Kali to encourage and support underprivileged girls to complete 10 years of schooling. In alignment with the National Education Policy which advocates integration of sports as part of the curriculum Project Nanhi Kali is introducing the girls to the game of football.

Project Nanhi Kali’s campaign film captures the transformative power of football on young girls, highlighting real-life stories of schoolgirls from across India who are part of this program. These girls are not just learning to play football; they are gaining confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of self-worth that transcends the football field. The film is a testament to how sports can be a powerful vehicle for change, teaching values such as teamwork, perseverance, and resilience.

Project Nanhi Kali has transformed the lives of more than 700,000 girls across India.

Watch the film here: https://youtu.be/R5icw4Pvuao

Commenting on the new film, Sheetal Mehta, Trustee and Executive Director, K.C. Mahindra Education Trust says, “At Project Nanhi Kali, we empower underprivileged girls through a transformative blend of education including 21st-century skills and sports leadership training. This holistic approach provides the girls with the essential tools to succeed in life. Our ‘Lessons from a Football’ film vividly showcases how football teaches crucial values like teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. By incorporating sports into our program, we see Nanhi Kalis evolving into strong, confident leaders who are ready to take on the world.”

Asha Kharga, Chief Customer and Brand Officer, Mahindra Group also added, “Nanhi Kali represents Mahindra’s philosophy of Rise in action. We approached the new campaign with the mindset of an innovation launch. In alignment with the National Education Policy, Nanhi Kali has revamped its curriculum to be more holistic by integrating sports, while maintaining a focus on English, Math, Digital & Financial Literacy, and Soft Skills.“

“We needed to effectively communicate this shift and a day with the Nanhi Kalis in the village of Jambusar gave us rich insights. For these girls, football is more than a sport, it instills in them the confidence to Rise.” 

Ogilvy India conceptualised this thought-provoking film. Kainaz Karmakar and Harshad Rajadhyaksha, Chief Creative Officers of Ogilvy India opined: “We visited a rural Nanhi Kali centre and spent a lot of quality time interacting with several Nanhi Kalis, and their coaches. The raw, captivating, and liberating stories of what the simple game of football has come to mean for these little girls and their sense of confidence and self-worth, is what inspired us to create this piece of communication.

“It is a privilege and honour for all of us at Ogilvy to partner with the super-driven Nanhi Kali client team in this journey. We are also very pleased with what our director, Afshan, has been able to bring to life in this film, working with so many amazing actual Nanhi Kalis who had never ever faced a movie camera in their lives, before this film.”

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पीटरमैरिट्सबर्ग से डरबन तक 87 किलोमीटर (लगभग 54 मील) की आश्चर्यजनक दूरी तय करते हुए, कॉमरेड्स मैराथन एथलीटों का शारीरिक और मानसिक दोनों तरह से परीक्षण करती है। इसे व्यापक रूप से दुनिया के सबसे कठिन अल्ट्रा मैराथन में से एक माना जाता है। इस भीषण दौड़ को पूरा करने में आनंद लोंढे की उल्लेखनीय उपलब्धि से भारत का नाम दक्षिण आफ्रिका में रोशन हुआ है। आनंद ने महज १०:२७:४९ सेकण्ड में ख़तम किया।

इस बार कॉमरेड्स रन में अप हिल होने के कारण ३८ किलोमीटर की ठोस चढ़ाई सामिल थी. इस साल २३००० स्पर्धको ने इसमें हिस्सा लिया भारत की तरफ से सबसे कम उम्रवाले रनर बने आनंद का कहना है की पिछले ६ महीने से वह इस रेस के लिए ट्रेनिंग ले रहे थे। इसके लिए उन्होंने दो बार लोनावला में ५० किलोमीटर और ६५ किलोमीटर का प्रेक्टिस रन किया.,अब तककी यह उनकी सबसे लम्बी रेस रही है। साथ ही पहली इंटरनेशनल रन। आनंद का कहना है की २० साल की उम्र में विश्व की सबसे कठिन मेरेथॉन में दौड़ने का अनुभव सुखद रहा। वही आनंद के पिता दीपक लोंढे का कहना है की पिछले ६ महीने से आनंद की ट्रेनिंग चल रही थी। कभी नहीं सोचा था की वह इतनी कम उम्र में कॉमरेड्स रन करेगा कॉमरेड्स मेरेथॉन पहली बार 24 मई 1921 को हुई थी तब से लेकर आजतक ये मेरेथॉन जारी है, विश्व की सबसे पुरानी रेस में से यह एक है द्रितीय विश्व युद्ध के दौरान एक ब्रेक के साथ -साथ कोविड-19 महामारी से प्रभावित 2020 और 2021 को छोड़कर, हर साल यह मेरेथॉन हुई है । आज तक, 300,000 से अधिक धावक दौड़ पूरी कर चुके हैं। इस मैराथन के दौरान जो माहौल होता है, वह धावकों के लिए एक बड़ा आकर्षण होता है। रेस के दौरान स्थानीय लोगों द्वारा टेंट लगाए जाते हैं। जहां वह खाने पीने की सामग्री मुहैया कराते है। जिससे धावकों को रेस पूरी करने में सहूलियत हो। मैराथन के दौरान रास्ते में किसी को चक्कर आने की हालत में तुरंत का मदद पहुंचाने का पूरा बंदोबस्त होता है।

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The post Parimatch Sports Launches New Advertising Campaign, Featuring Dinesh Karthik, Arshdeep Singh, and Shivam Dube appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

Over 84 countries participate annually in Comrades each year and this prestigious run that dates back to 1921 was initiated to commemorate the soldiers who lost their lives during World War I and is a symbol of Unity and Camaraderie and now an important part of South Africa’s culture.

The 96th edition of the Comrades Run will be a “down” run starting from the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and will end 12 hours later at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.

It is a strange coincidence that the run that starts in Pietermaritzburg is also the place where Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi started his political career and it holds a great significance in the life and activism of Mahatma Gandhi and played a pivotal role in shaping his philosophy and commitment of nonviolence.

Comrades is unique because of Challenging terrain – it includes steep hills and descents, across the scenic countryside of KwaZulu Natal province offering breathtaking views en-route and tests the endurance and determination of participants Spirit of Camaraderie – every runner is a winner irrespective of timing as runners encourage each other which fosters a sense of unity and mutual encouragement

India, which until a decade ago was not considered to be a sporting nation has seriously evolved into a country where the largest number of entries are from for Comrades this year and the number of entries from India far exceeds the combined entries of participants from U.K and USA put together. India has the largest number of foreign entries at 403 followed by neighboring Zimbabwe at 255 entries, at 224 , USA at 173 and Brazil at 142.

A great contribution for taking Indian runners global has been that of running clubs such as Striders who have been training marathoners since more than 17 years and train over 30000 runners across India which includes a large segment of runners from the Corporate world. Deepak Londhe, founder of Striders, says that every year we train a runner for comrades, this year is special for us because more than 400 Indian runners will take part.

The Consul General of South Africa H.E.Ms Andrea Kuhn is excited that India has the largest contingent across the world visiting South Africa to participate in Comrades .She is confident that the participation will double with the growing popularity.

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The post महान धावक मिल्खा सिंह का निधन appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

TheUnion Jal Shakti Minister Shri Shekhawat emphasized on the need to focus on water conservation and rainwater harvesting while Shri Rijijustressed on the importance of involving the youngsters in the revolutionary campaign.Shri Kataria said that the Union Government accords the highest priority to the issue of water conservation andthe need of the hour is to adopt an integrated approachtowards water management.The Ministers collectively unveiled the posters and IEC material promoting Catch the Rain campaign.

As a preparatory phase of JSA-II, the Ministry has involved Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangthan (NYKS) for undertaking ‘Catch the Rain’ awareness campaign to cover 623 districts. The awareness generation phase of campaign will run from mid-December 2020 to March 2021. NYKS will undertake this awareness building campaign through various IEC activities which will include conducting education & motivational programs, mass awareness campaigns, environment building including wall writing, banners & e-posters, knowledge competitions, demonstration activities like theme-based nukkadnataks& skits, branding & popularize the campaign by logos & printed IEC materials etc. During this period, the NYKS teams will also meet district administration, line departments and water agencies, hold meetings with Pradhans, local influencers and volunteers to further the cause and also prepare plans for the water conservation to be taken up in the next phase of the campaign.

NWM has launched a campaign Catch the rain” with tag line “catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls” in order to nudge all stake-holders to create Rain Water Harvesting Structures (RWHS) suitable to the climatic conditions and sub-soil strata to store rain water as rains falling in the four/five months of monsoon are the only source of water for most parts of the country.  Drives to make water harvesting pits, rooftop RWHS and check dams; removal of encroachments and de-silting of tanks to increase their storage capacity; removal of obstructions in the channels which bring water to them from the catchment areas; repairs to traditional water harvesting structures like step-wells and using defunct bore-wells and old wells to put the water back to aquifers etc, are some of the activities suggested to be taken up with peoples’ active participation under this campaign. The collaboration with NYKS is a step to engage people at the grassroots through effective campaigning & IEC activities for implementation of the campaign.

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Argentina’s stunned soccer fans sought each other out Wednesday to mourn the death of Diego Maradona, gathering by the hundreds in spots linked to the life of the legendary player.

MEANWHILE Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the demise of Diego Maradona.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Diego Maradona was a maestro of football, who enjoyed global popularity. Throughout his career, he gave us some of the best sporting moments on the football field. His untimely demise has saddened us all. May his soul rest in peace.”

FANS  gathered outside the Maradonas home where he was born and raised in the Villa Fiorito neighbourhood.

They went to the stadium of Argentinos Juniors, where he started as a professional footballer in 1976. They stood at the historic La Bombonera stadium of his beloved Boca Juniors. More were at the headquarters of Gimnasia La Plata, the team he was coaching.

“I am touched. I can’t understand it, I can’t see the reality. Diego will never die, today is the birth of the Maradona myth,” said Dante L pez, a physician who went to the Argentinos Juniors stadium, which carries the beloved player’s name.

Fans put candles and flowers along the wall around the field.

“Diego was Argentina in the world. He gave us joy and we will never be able to repay him for so much joy,” said Argentine President Alberto Fern ndez, who issued a decree for three days of national mourning and offered the presidential palace for the funeral.

Mariano Jeijer sat with his wife and their baby in a small car near the Boca Juniors stadium. He said he didn’t want to be sad at home.

At the headquarters of Gimnasia La Plata, where Maradona became coach in September 2019, many fans cried in the stands. He made his last appearance there at a game Oct. 30, which was his 60th birthday.

“We will keep that smile, and the most beautiful crest on your chest,” the club said on Twitter.

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एम एस धोनी (MS Dhoni) ने आखिराकार इंटरनेशनल क्रिकेट से संन्यास ले लिया है. माही ने सोशल मीडिया के जरिए एक वीडियो शेयर किया और साथ ही कैप्शन में बेहद ही अलग अंदाज में जो लिखा उसने हर किसी का दिल जीत लिया. शाम 7 बजकर 29 मिनट से मुझे रिटायर माना जाए.’ धोनी के इस पोस्ट के साथ ही पूरे क्रिकेट वर्ल्ड में उनको लेकर बात होने लगी है.भारत को 2 बार वर्ल्डकप का खिताब जीताने वाले धोनी ने लिखा, ‘आप लोगों के प्यार और समर्थन के लिए शुक्रिया.  बता दें कि धोनी ने अपने रिटायरमेंट के लिए 15 अगस्त का दिन चुना तो वहीं दूसरी ओर जो वीडियो उन्होंने शेयर किया उसमें गायक मुकेश के द्वारा गाया हुआ गाना- ‘पल दो पल का शायर हूं.’ धोनी का यह अंदाज भी उनके फैन्स को भावुक कर रहा है. बता दें कि धोनी को यह गाना काफी पसंद है और कई दफा इस गाने को वो गुनगनाते हुए नजर आए हैं. ऐसे में धोनी ने अपने खास दिन इसी भावुक गाने के साथ क्रिकेट का साथ छोड़ा है.

धोनी के साथ-साथ सीएसके के उनके साथी सुरेश रैना ने भी इंटरनेशनल क्रिकेट को अलविदा कह दिया है. रैना ने भी भावुक पोस्ट के जरिए अपने इंटरनेशनल करियर को विराम दिया. उन्होंने लिखा, ‘माही आपके साथ खेलने के अलावा कुछ भी नहीं था. पूरे दिल से गर्व के साथ मैं इस यात्रा में आपसे जुड़ना चाहता हूं. शुक्रिया भारत’. रैना ने धोनी के साथ संन्यास का ऐलान करके साबित कर दिया कि वो माही के सच्चे दोस्त और शिष्य हैं.

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Speaking about Haryana hosting the next edition of KIYG Sports Minister Rijiju said, “I am very happy to announce Haryana as the host state for the fourth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games. Khelo India Games, envisioned by our Prime Minister, has been instrumental in identifying grassroot level talent from across the country, who have represented India in international sporting events. It is the Mahakumbh of sport. Haryana already has a very strong sporting culture and has given the country some of its best athletes. I am sure that with the Games being hosted in the state, more and more aspiring athletes from Haryana will be motivated to take up competitive sport. Usually the Khelo India Youth Games take place in January of every year. However, this time owing to the pandemic, we are having to postpone it. However, I am sure by the time we host the Games the pandemic will abate and we will be able to host the Games at the same scale, with participation of all states and over 10,000 participants.”

Like in the previous editions, this time too, Star Sports will be the Official Broadcast Partner of the Khelo India Youth Games. Speaking about the partnership the Sports Minister said, “Star Sports has catapulted the Khelo India Youth Games into an annual event in the country’s sporting calendar. When a young athlete sees himself or herself on a national television channel, it not just motivates the athlete, but also other youngsters watching the broadcast to take on sport as a serious career. I am very happy that the partnership is being continued.”

During the announcement, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar said, “As a state Haryana has always promoted sports in a big way and supported its athletes. Hosting the Khelo India Youth Games in Haryana will only add greater impetus to our commitment towards creating a strong sporting ecosystem. Haryana has done very well in the last few editions of the Khelo India Youth Games and many of our athletes are already training under the Khelo India Scheme. I am confident that the upcoming edition of the Games will be grand, and I welcome all of you to Khelo India Youth Games, Haryana. Panchkula is equipped with the best sporting infrastructure to host a multi-sport event like Khelo India Youth Games and there is enough lodging facilities for the large number of participants who are expected to attend.”

Haryana has been consistently doing well in all three editions of KIYG. While they came second in both KIYG 2019 and 2020 editions (200 medals in 2020 and 159 medals in 2019) they won KIYG 2018 edition with 102 medals (38 gold, 26 silver, 38 bronze).

Haryana has also produced many elite athletes, such as, wrestlers Yogeshwar Dutt, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat, para-athlete Deepa Malik, athlete Neeraj Chopra, Boxer Amit Panghal and shooters Sanjeev Rajput, Manu Bhakar, Anish Bhanwala, among others, who have represented and won medals for India at international platforms.

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