logo
Expect The Unexpected : Birthday Boy Sunil Gavaskar Compares Rishabh Pant To This Tennis Star And Its Not From Big 3

Expect The Unexpected : Birthday Boy Sunil Gavaskar Compares Rishabh Pant To This Tennis Star And Its Not From Big 3

India.com2 days ago
Indian cricket Legend Sunil Gavaskar is celebrating his 76th birthday today on 10th June. The cricketing great covering India vs England Test series is in England and also went out to watch the enthralling Tennis action at Wimbledon. Gavaskar compared India's hard hitting batter and vice-captain Rishabh Pant to young tennis prodigy Carlos Alcaraz. Rishabh Pant has been in a stellar form in the ongoing Test series with Twin tons in the First Test while Alcaraz defeated Cameron Norrie to reach semis to play Taylor Fritz on Friday.
Talking about Wimbeldon, Gavaskar said on Star Sports, "Every time I am in England around this time, I go to Wimbledon, but I hardly go to Lord's if India isn't playing there. So yes, one could say that I come here more often than I go to Lord's. I would like Djokovic to win because it would be his 25th Grand Slam title. Nobody has ever won 25 majors, so that would be fantastic. My heart says Djokovic, but I guess my mind says Alcaraz. Also, Alcaraz, simply because I think Sinner is injured. Whether he's going to be 100% for the remainder of the tournament, we don't know.'
'Alcaraz is moving around so well, and he's got all the shots in the book. He can be a bit of a showman sometimes, trying those drop shots when you think he should be finishing the point. But that's what people come to watch, it's like watching Rishabh Pant. With Pant, you have to expect the unexpected. Similarly, with Alcaraz, you have got to expect the unexpected. That's what makes him so exciting," Gavaskar added.
The Cricketing greats have been making a headline at Wimbeldon 2025 as people of different walks of life along with these cricket premadons were seen at the Royal Box. Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane, Deepak Chahar along with Sunil Gavaskar were spotted seeing tennis. The cricketing royalty shared their thoughts on the thrilling tennis action while also talked about their favourite tennis stars. Virat Kohli stated that only India vs Pakistan match could match the intense action at the Wimbeldon else cricketing stadiums are less intimidating. Virat along with his wife Anushka was present to watch the Men's Round of 16 match between Novak Djokovic and Australia's Alex de Minaur on Monday.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'I Work Very Hard, Don't Want To Lose Money': Bumrah Tight-Lipped On Dukes Ball Controversy
'I Work Very Hard, Don't Want To Lose Money': Bumrah Tight-Lipped On Dukes Ball Controversy

News18

time12 minutes ago

  • News18

'I Work Very Hard, Don't Want To Lose Money': Bumrah Tight-Lipped On Dukes Ball Controversy

The Dukes ball continues to grab the headlines in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. On the second day of the third Test at Lord's, it became the center of attention, again, after India captain Shubman Gill was left fuming at the condition of a replacement ball provided to his team during England's innings. Jasprit Bumrah had rocked England early on Friday when he got rid of Harry Brook, Joe Root and Ben Stokes with the second new ball which was helping the Indian bowlers. However, towards the end of the 91st over, Gill seemed unhappy with the condition of the ball and asked the umpires if it can be changed.

Rahul hits gritty fifty, India reach 145/3 at stumps
Rahul hits gritty fifty, India reach 145/3 at stumps

United News of India

time24 minutes ago

  • United News of India

Rahul hits gritty fifty, India reach 145/3 at stumps

London, July 11 (UNI) Jasprit Bumrah's maiden five-wicket haul at Lord's and a composed half-century from KL Rahul headlined a gripping second day of the third Test as India reached 145 for 3 at stumps in reply to England's 387. Rishabh Pant added flair late in the day with a string of boundaries as India closed 242 runs behind. The day began with England resuming at 251/4. Brydon Carse frustrated the Indian bowlers with a gritty 56, capitalising on two dropped chances. He reached his maiden Test fifty with a towering six off Mohammed Siraj before the Indian pacers wrapped things up. Bumrah cleaned up Jofra Archer with a trademark inswinger to complete a memorable five-for (5/74), earning a spot on the Lord's Honours Board. Siraj (3/83) dismissed Carse with a sharp yorker to end the innings. India's reply got off to a cautious start. Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed early for 13, caught in the slips. KL Rahul and Karun Nair then stitched together a gritty 50-run partnership. Nair looked fluent, driving Carse and Chris Woakes with elegance and authority. He struck boundaries through cover and point, including a stylish four in the 15th over off Carse. However, Nair's promising knock of 40 came to an end when Ben Stokes induced a thick edge, brilliantly taken low by Joe Root diving to his left. The catch, Root's 211th in Tests, saw him surpass Rahul Dravid's record for most Test catches by an Indian. Rahul, meanwhile, played a mature innings, navigating the early movement and accelerating post tea. He brought up his 50 off 97 balls with a single off Shoaib Bashir in the 39th over. His knock included classy boundaries—an elegant extra-cover drive off Ben Stokes, a ramp over slips off Woakes, and flicks through mid-wicket and fine leg. He remained unbeaten on 53 at close. Shubman Gill struggled for fluency and eventually edged Woakes to debutant keeper Jamie Smith for 16. The tactic of keeping the wicketkeeper up to the stumps paid off as Gill, cramped for space, was forced into the mistake. Pant, walking in at No. 5, wasted no time. He danced into his innings with trademark aggression, slamming Bashir for three boundaries in quick succession: a sweep, a back-foot cut, and a forceful slog over mid-wicket. He ended the day on 19* off 33 balls. India survived a couple of reviews during the innings—Nair successfully overturned a leg-side caught-behind decision and Rahul was correctly given not out on an LBW call after England's appeal was struck down. With Rahul anchoring and Pant looking dangerous, India will look to consolidate on Day 3 and reduce the deficit further on what is still a responsive Lord's pitch. Brief score: At stumps, Day 2: England 387 all out (Joe Root 104, Brydon Carse 56; Jasprit Bumrah 5/74, Mohammed Siraj 2/85); India 145/3 in 43.0 overs (KL Rahul 53*, Rishabh Pant 19*, Karun Nair 40) UNI BDN ARN

IPL is the new county stint: Where Jaiswal learns from Root, Akash Deep seeks out Hazlewood and Nitish Kumar Reddy picks Cummins's brains
IPL is the new county stint: Where Jaiswal learns from Root, Akash Deep seeks out Hazlewood and Nitish Kumar Reddy picks Cummins's brains

Indian Express

time26 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

IPL is the new county stint: Where Jaiswal learns from Root, Akash Deep seeks out Hazlewood and Nitish Kumar Reddy picks Cummins's brains

At Rajasthan Royals, Yashasvi Jaiswal would spend so much time with his teammate and England captain Joe Root that they would start calling him 'Joeswal'. Akash Deep, when at RCB, would relentlessly stalk his team's main pacer, the Aussie star Josh Hazelwood for advice. Nitish Reddy would ask his captain at SRH, Aussie stalwart Pat Cummins, the secret of getting wickets in England. Delhi Capitals this year had Kevin Pietersen as the team mentor. Kuldeep Yadav didn't let the opportunity go to waste. He got a lowdown on every English batsman he was to bowl to with the red-ball in the coming months. Reports about the impending death of Test cricket and the alleged disinterest of present-day players were highly exaggerated. The sights and sounds around the present series come with the refreshing realisation that the present generation retains the willingness to learn and the drive to excel at the game's toughest format. Watching Jaiswal and the Indian captain Shubman Gill train at nets – be it optional or compulsory – gives an idea about their commitment to Tests. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, conscious of their workload, try and save their best for the Tests. Or take the example of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep, he hasn't played so far in the series but at every session, he is among the last to leave. At the start of this week, it was clear that he wasn't going to play the Lord's Test – the pitch was said to favour the pacers and most of the winning combination was to be retained. There was no way Kuldeep would have replaced the spinner who can bat – Washington Sundar – in the playing XI but he continued to log maximum training hours. As those close to him say, 'He knows he will get a game at some point and he wants to be ready for it.' Credit has to be given where it's due – this is a new-look team but it has old values. Test cricket for them is as valued as it was to past cricketers. Only thing now is that the longest format has been devalued by those who run the game. All-format players like Kuldeep are juggling their time to balance their white and red ball performances. He says that even during the IPL, he would carry a red ball and train with it. With KP around, the man who knows English conditions like the back of his hand, the spinner would jot down notes – 'what to bowl to whom'. 'We went through each batsman, one by one,' Kuldeep would say. It is not what the players who are proclaiming their mindfulness about Tests during the IPL say, even others are endorsing their commitment. Kumar Sangakkara is the boss at Rajasthan Royals, and has seen Jaiswal evolve. The franchise has had a big role in his development. But not more than the efforts put in by Jaiswal himself. 'We had Root at Rajasthan Royals and we used to call Jaiswal, Joeswal, because he never left Joe's side soaking up everything. And they weren't talking just T20, they were talking about everything cricket and life, and he would sit right next to Joe for about 4 hours every night and just pester him with questions or was just wide-mouthed listening to Root,' the Sri Lankan legend would tell Sky Sports. 'Root was absolutely brilliant in our environment and he's learned so much and that's another aspect of Jaiswal, he's a fast learner and he wants to learn.' The 'fast learner' is something common to most cricketers in the Test team. The two pacers Akash Deep and Reddy wanted expert opinions about their bowling. Not having played too many Tests, the boy from Bihar wanted to know what it takes to get wickets with the red ball. Hazelwood didn't complicate matters for the raw Indian Test pacer. 'Stick to your strength and wait for the batsmen to commit a mistake' – was the simple mantra. That's what has worked for a generation of Aussie greats. At the time of his retirement the great Glenm McGrath was asked about the secret of his success and he said 'all one has to do is aim at the top of off-stump,' all the time. McGrath would add that he would often tell this to young pacers and they would not take it seriously thinking that the advice was way too rudimentary. Akash Deep didn't think so and it worked for him. Reddy too did the same since Cummins also had a generic sounding tip to bowl in England. 'In England, it is all about understanding the conditions. You need to figure out the conditions in warm-up games and repeat the same in the main game,' – Cummins had said. At Lord's, when Reddy got to bowl with the semi new-ball, he kept it up and moved the ball just that tiny bit. That's what worked in England historically. It did again. There was a time when players were counselled to play the county circuit to do well abroad. That's advice that still works. But what about those who are busy with IPL, earning a living and like everybody aspiring to have a better life? What county was then, IPL is now. The world and its wisdom has come to India and players aren't turning their back to the knowledge available at arm's length. You can lead a horse to the water but can't make it drink. Here the water has come to the IPL and players are drinking to their heart's content.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store