"There's no doubt that she will be in the mix": Amol Muzumdar on Shafali Verma's ODI World Cup contention
Dropped after India's group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup last year, Shafali was recalled for the T20I series against England, which India won 3-2.
Verma slammed 176 runs at an average of 35.20 and a strike rate of 158.55, including scores of 20, 3, 47 and 31 and a 41-ball 75.
'I think there's a lot of depth in this Indian line-up, a good headache to have as a coaching staff. And Shafali has been a terrific player. There's no doubt that she will be in the mix. She will be amongst the core group of India. There's no doubt in my mind about it. But at the moment, Pratika has joined the squad probably four or five days prior to the ODI. The depth is stronger, it's getting stronger,' Amol Muzumdar said as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.
Shafali is not part of the ODI series that will start in Southampton on Wednesday, against England.
Shafali scored 75 off 41 balls in the fifth T20I to finish the series as the second-highest run-scorer behind Smriti Mandhana.
Muzumdar felt it shows that India has got a lot of depth now in batting and praised Pratika Rawal, who has been opening the innings alongside Mandhana in ODIs.
'It just shows that we've got a lot of depth now in this India squad,' Muzumdar said. 'Pratika Rawal, she was drafted in the month of December, so it's almost six months, but she has left a mark, a big mark in her initial stage in her international career.
Rawal averages 63.80 from 11 ODIs since making her debut at home against West Indies in December. She has slammed 638 runs, including a highest score of 154, at home against Ireland and five half-centuries. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- Indian Express
With 3 months left, FIDE World Cup 2025 host city still under wraps as FIDE confirm once again that India will host prestigious event
The global governing body of chess, FIDE, has once again reiterated that the prestigious FIDE World Cup event will be contested in India this year. However, once again, the organisation has not weighed in on which city will host the event. There has been plenty of speculation about the host city so far, with Goa being a prime candidate for the event. 'Further details, including the announcement of the host city, will be released in due course,' FIDE said in a statement on Monday. As per FIDE, at least 21 Indians have qualified for the tournament out of the 206. However, this list includes names like five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, who is semi-retired and is also FIDE Deputy President, and reigning world champion Gukesh. The other Indian players are: Praggnanandhaa R (courtesy of being World Cup 2023 second place finisher), Arjun Erigaisi (as per rating list in June 2025), Aravindh Chithambaram (June 2025 rating list), Nihal Sarin, Iniyan Pa, Raja Rithvik R, Narayanan SL, Pranesh M, Harshavardhan GB, Karthikeyan Murali, Idani Pouya, Karthik Venkataraman, Surya Shekhar Ganguly, Neelash Saha, Diptayan Ghosh, Aromyak Ghosh, Himal Gusain, Lalit Babu MR (all via continental spots) and Vidit Gujrathi (via Chess Olympiad spot). The announcement of the host city is now long overdue, with FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich even telling media during the Norway Chess earlier this year that an announcement could be made within days. Initially, India's capital New Delhi was being touted as a host venue, but there were concerns about it, which led to a rethink. Talking to Indian media on the sidelines of the Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger a couple of months ago, FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich had said: 'The location will be determined based on our standards, of course by the Indian government, not by us. But we will agree with any reasonable choice. And I think the announcement is going to be made in the next few days, but I cannot disclose which location, since it's going to be announced by one of the top officials in India, of course, together with us.' So what do we know about the upcoming FIDE World Cup? FIDE has confirmed the dates of the event: The World Cup is scheduled for October 30 to November 27 this year. The FIDE World Cup 2025 will feature 206 players competing in a head-to-head, two-game knockout format over eight rounds. Each round spans three days: two classical games (between two players) on the first two days, followed by tie-breaks on the third day, if necessary. In the first round, the top 50 players receive byes, while players seeded from 51 to 206 compete, with pairings based on the principle of the top half versus the reversed lower half. The FIDE World Cup is the event that offers the top three finishers direct qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship.
Business Standard
30 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Cricket at Olympics: LA 2028 bows to India and subcontinent viewership
For the first time in Olympic history, the clock is being set to Indian time—figuratively, at least. As cricket makes its grand return to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028, organisers have bent the scheduling arc towards the subcontinent's billion-strong cricket fanbase. In a strategic masterstroke, the local organising committee, in concert with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), has locked in match timings designed to maximise TV audiences in India. Two T20 clashes per day will unfold in Los Angeles (LA) — at 9:00 am and 6:30 pm local time—translating to 9:30 pm and 7:00 am IST, respectively. For Indian viewers, it's a golden window. The Cricketing carnival begins before the Olympics 2028 opening ceremony Cricket's re-entry into the Olympic fold is so momentous that it will even jump the starter's gun. The men's and women's six-team T20 tournaments will start on July 12, two full days before the opening ceremony. The venue? A brand-new stadium set to rise at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, just 30 miles from the athletes' village. And in a surprising twist, the men's and women's events will run in separate slots instead of being played simultaneously—giving each format its own stage. In a move that defies standard Olympic protocol, the medal matches for cricket will take place in the early morning hours of Los Angeles time—the 9:00 am to 12:00 pm window. The bronze medal contests will follow in the evening. The symbolism is unmistakable. While Olympic tradition often crowns bronze before gold, here, gold takes centre stage—perhaps under the assumption that India, a cricketing powerhouse, will be in contention. Yet, a word of caution: the schedule is still labelled "subject to change" until the Games conclude. Billion-Eyes Bet: IOC sweetens the media rights pot With India all but guaranteed to field its top team, the inclusion of cricket has become a trump card in the IOC's media rights game. On July 3, the IOC opened bidding for Olympic broadcast rights from 2026 to 2032—a tender that spans India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. Three types of rights packages are on offer: multiplatform, TV-only, and digital-only. The deadline? August 13. Given the meteoric rise of cricket consumption in India and the sport's mass appeal, the IOC's calculated timing could send bids soaring. Olympic rights in this region draw their biggest value from the summer Games, and cricket's inclusion adds rocket fuel. Viacom18's 2024 Coup and the 2032 Horizon In 2022, Viacom18 outbid Sony for the Paris 2024 rights in India, disrupting the Olympic broadcast status quo. Now, with cricket in the mix, broadcasters will return to the table with heightened urgency—and deeper pockets. The IOC knows it's sitting on a goldmine. "Cricket will massively boost the Games' appeal in India," said Jerome Parmentier, IOC VP of media rights and content. "When you bring in a sport that speaks to over a billion people, you amplify the Olympics' universality." Still, Parmentier cautioned that the Olympics must be more than just a cricket show. "We don't want to limit the Olympic Games to [just] a cricket tournament in India," he noted. Cricket isn't the only fresh face at LA 2028. Several debutant sports have also been slotted with an eye on local and global appeal: Flag Football, another LA 2028 addition, scores a prime-time slot for its men's final (6–8:30 pm PT, July 21), with the women's final the next day. Lacrosse will share a stadium with flag football, kicking off on July 24 and wrapping with both finals on July 29. Squash, another debutant, opens on July 15, with its finals on July 23 and 24, scheduled for evening sessions. Baseball-softball makes a comeback. The men's final returns to Dodger Stadium at 6:00 pm on July 20, while the women's softball final—staged in Oklahoma City—will take place at 12:00 pm (local time) on July 29. With cricket stealing the spotlight and prime-time slots pointing squarely at Indian eyeballs, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics could mark a new era in India's relationship with the Games. Not just as spectators—but as a dominant force shaping the Games' global narrative.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
30 minutes ago
- First Post
India camp rocked by injury crisis: How team combination could change after Nitish Reddy, Arshdeep Singh blow
Team India face a major injury crisis ahead of the must-win 4th Test against England at Old Trafford. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Arshdeep Singh are ruled out, while Akash Deep remains doubtful. Here's how the team combination could change for Manchester Test. read more Team India's preparations for the fourth Test against England in Manchester have taken a big hit with multiple injury concerns. The BCCI confirmed on Monday that all-rounder of the remaining two matches due to a left knee injury. Meanwhile, pacer Arshdeep Singh has also been ruled out of the Old Trafford Test after suffering a thumb injury while bowling in the nets at Beckenham. The fourth Test at Old Trafford, starting July 23, is a must-win for India, who trail 1-2 in the five-match series after losing at Lord's. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also Read: 'Public ke saamne yeh dikhate ho...': Former Pakistan cricketer exposes Indian players' double standard after WCL boycott The injuries have created a major selection headache for the team management, including captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir. According to The Indian Express, pacer Akash Deep, who starred with a 10-wicket haul in the second Test, is struggling with a groin niggle and remains doubtful. Shardul Thakur back in contention The injury list has forced India to rethink their playing XI. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar were crucial for balancing the side, and with Nitish out, Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur is likely to return. He played the series opener at Leeds but was dropped after a modest show with bat and ball. Arshdeep's injury will also put extra pressure on team management, who may now have to look to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to deliver for the remainder of matches. Meanwhile, uncapped pacer Anshul Kamboj has been added to the squad and may come in to replace Akash Deep. There is also a possibility of Kuldeep Yadav getting his first game of the tour. However, that would leave India weak in the pace department, as the team already has two spin-bowling all-rounders - Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. One of them might have to sit out to accommodate a specialist spinner. Also Read: T20 Champions League set for comeback as Test cricket feels the heat: Report However, nothing has been confirmed as of yet, and the final playing XI is likely to be revealed right before the fourth Test. India are expected to make at least two forced changes to replace Nitish and Akash. India's predicted playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
