Latest news with #GT
Indian Express
19 minutes ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Day 1, Old Trafford: How Rishabh Pant's toe injury gave England a leg in the door
As Rishabh Pant sat on the golf-cart turned ambulance with a swollen right foot, a question loomed over Old Trafford, along with the dark clouds. How will India tread through the final hour of play on Day 1? The score at that point was 213/3, the honours were even. But with the most consistent Indian batsman on the tour gone, England captain Ben Stokes saw this as an opportunity to get his leg in the door. He did very soon. Six overs later the last of India's specialist, Sai Sudharsan pulled a short ball from Stokes into the hands of fine-leg. The cat and mouse contest for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy continues. India had a foot ahead till Pant was hit flush on his right toe by England's hero of the day Chris Woakes. At stumps, India would finish at 264/4. On crease were the two all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur. Both were on 19, both looking comfortable against the tired England attack. This was a hard day's work for both the batsmen and bowlers. Once again the most-repeated 'end of the day' summation on this series—the first hour tomorrow would be crucial—echoed around the storied ground. This game too has the opening of a gripping drama. The pitch is no sleeping beauty, this is no batting paradise, the spinners are getting turn, pacers the bounce. The 'Theatre of Dreams', the home of footballers that has the same name, is round the corner. But cricket's Old Trafford too might throw up a game of gravitas. On the very first day, a fairytale almost unfolded. Sudharsan getting into the playing XI here wasn't a popular decision. Experts have believed that he shouldn't have replaced Karun Nair, who should have been given one more game. But those in the know say that it was captain Shubman Gill who backed Sudharsan. No one has seen India's new No.3 as closely as Shubman. They are opening partners at Gujarat Titans. The two have spent long hours on the field and months together during the IPL. Familiarity doesn't always breed contempt, it also can generate awe. Once during the IPL, Shubman had spoken about Sudharsan's special talent. 'It's easy to swing freely on good cement wickets, but real skill lies in reading conditions, assessing the situation.' The coaches at GT also talk about the potential of the star batsman who plays even IPL like Tests. Assistant coach Nadeem Amin, talking to this paper about Shubman, had diverted the topic towards the other GT opener. That was during the Lord's Test. 'He may be out now but look out for the boy, his appetite for runs is as much as Shubman. Just wait till he gets a game.' So when he got the game, the initiation was relatively easy. Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal had put on 94 runs and the English pace bowlers had lost the first hour to India. Sudharsan too looked like he was going to make this opportunity count. In the first innings of the only Test he had played in England at Headingley, Sudharsan got out edging an angled ball on the leg-stump to the wicket-keeper. Stokes doesn't usually forget such weak spots in his rivals. So he immediately went round-the-wicket to the left-hander and bowl from the corner of the crease. The ploy almost worked, Sudharsan edged a ball but the wicket-keeper Jamie Smith failed to grab it. This was the lucky break the batsman returning to the team wanted. A big part of Sudharsan's batting is his wrists. There is a tiny bit of Virat Kohli in his drives. He rolls his wrists over the ball, like a competent table-tennis player hitting a top-spinner. He is also quick to jump on balls that are marginally short as he crouches and slaps them to square leg. This too isn't a straight tight slap but more of a subtle pat, again with the help of his wrists. Sudharsan's county stint also prepared him to negotiate the English conditions, the kind India encountered for the first time on this tour. In the few games he played for Surrey, the left-hander learned to relax and give importance to the technical aspects of the game. 'As a batsman, when you are juggling between formats, I believe only the mindset should change, not your game … There is a big shift tactically. When I go to England, I have to leave a lot more balls than I usually do,' he had told The Indian Express. It is the wrists that manipulate the ball into the gaps, making it difficult for the captain to set a field. When he was in the company of Pant, another batsman with a knack of hitting the ball in unguarded areas, it seemed England were in trouble. The two were toying with the bowlers, India seemed set for a long partnership. England were losing the grip and then came the twist. Pant got carried away and to a smartly bowled slow yorker, he attempted a predetermined reverse sweep. He was beaten by the pace and trajectory. He missed the ball and it hit him on the toe. There were worried faces in the Indian dressing room as the pain on Pant's face hinted at the seriousness of the injury. By late evening the word from the Indian camp was that Pant had gone for scans and the BCCI medical team was 'monitoring his progress'. India's key player's left finger hadn't yet fully healed and now he gets a blow on his right foot. A bigger question looms: How will India limp on the last leg of this tough tour if Pant is ruled out of the series?
The Print
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
Defence, tech, education—Modi's visit will boost India-UK ties
Indian companies have made significant investments in the UK. Grant Thornton (GT) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) research in 2024 highlighted a record number of 971 Indian companies in the UK with a combined turnover of over £68 billion. The report India Meets Britain Tracker 2024 found that Indian companies in the UK are thriving, with 100 companies having a revenue growth of at least 10 per cent. The Britain meets India Tracker 2024 identified 667 British companies in India with a turnover of approximately £47.5 billion. The UK is the sixth-largest contributor of FDI to India. Cumulative FDI from the UK to India is around $36 billion between 2000 to March 2025. India's investment in the UK during this period is close to $20 billion. Following the UK's exit from the European Union, economic and trade relations between the two countries acquired a new salience. India-UK bilateral trade set a new record when it crossed $55 billion (£42.6 billion) in 2024, registering an increase of around 10 per cent over the previous year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his fourth visit to the UK. He will hold wide-ranging discussions with PM Keir Starmer on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations, and exchange views on issues of regional and global importance. He is also expected to call on King Charles III. During the visit, the two sides will also review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education, and people-to-people ties. The Indian diaspora in the UK is also a major presence in the UK's economic scenario. The 2020 GT report, done with the High Commission of India, London, and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), identified 654 diaspora-owned companies with a turnover of at least £100,000, generating a cumulative annual turnover of £36.84 billion. The wealth generated by Indian diaspora-owned businesses in the UK was estimated to be around £75 billion by this report. The 1.8 million Indian diaspora forms about 2.7 per cent of the UK's population. During PM Modi's visit, the signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected. The forward-looking agreement complements India's growth aspirations. The FTA has been described as both historic and ambitious. It is expected to boost jobs, exports, and growth, benefitting 99 per cent of Indian exports from zero per cent duty, opening export opportunities for labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, marine products, leather footwear, sports goods and toys, gems and jewellery, and others such as engineering goods and organic chemicals. Trade in services is also expected to receive a significant fillip. Enhanced global mobility for aspirational young Indians and a three-year exemption from social security payments come as a major relief for Indian employees and companies based in the UK. Despite the record bilateral trade, the UK's trade with India accounts for around 2.5 per cent of its total trade. With both sides seeking trade diversification and supply-chain resilience, an India-UK FTA will hopefully create the doorway for businesses to drive the economic relationship forward. Also read: Strategic partner one day, tactical nightmare the next: India's learning Trumplomacy the hard way Partnership in defence sector Given the immediate challenges on India's borders, cooperation in the defence sector with partners such as the UK has achieved greater importance. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to the UK in January 2024 provided fresh impetus to the defence pillar of the relationship. In 2023, ties were elevated to a 2+2 mechanism. The British defence sector could emerge as a key collaborator in technology transfers, the development of advanced capabilities, and supporting the Make in India effort by attracting more British FDI into the defence sector. Several defence cooperation agreements—covering production of Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) and Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM), the establishment of an Advanced Short-Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM) assembly and test facility in India and a Statement of Intent to design and develop an Integrated Full Electric Propulsion system for Indian Navy ships—signal good times ahead for India's defence sector. India's focus on indigenous development does present challenges for the British industry, with fears that it could potentially make cooperation in certain sectors commercially unviable. Intellectual-property (IP) issues also need to be resolved. These issues can hopefully be addressed through the robust defence engagement mechanism that now exists between the two countries. Moreover, the UK–India military cooperation has grown in recent times. The Royal Navy made six ship visits to India in 2023, while its Littoral Response Group (South) conducted exercises with the Indian Navy in March 2024. In August 2024, the UK's Royal Air Force participated in exercise Tarang Shakti in India. An Indian naval officer, Lieutenant Commander N Dinesh Anand, has joined Britannia Royal Naval College as Divisional Training Officer for the first time. Tech ties India and the UK are making a serious effort to build technology partnerships. The new bilateral Technology Security Initiative (TSI), formally launched during UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy's visit, aims to catalyse collaboration on critical and emerging technologies in seven key sectors: telecoms, critical minerals, semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence, quantum, biotechnology and health technology, and advanced materials. Tech collaboration between India and the UK also extends to sectors including financial services, innovation in health, climate, renewables, and startups. The participation of stakeholders from government, industry, and academia would be important for taking the Technology Security Initiative forward. Both countries are global hubs of innovation, science, technology, and research. India is one of the world's largest startup ecosystems and has over 100 unicorn companies. The increasing focus on these areas is welcome. Education is an important pillar of India-UK relations. The University of Southampton opened its campus in Gurugram on 16 July 2025, becoming the first foreign university campus under the New Education Policy (NEP). The UK remains one of the preferred destinations for Indian students, with around 1,70,000 students studying in the UK in the academic year 2023-2024. PM Modi's visit will hopefully set the stage for more robust and deeper bilateral relations between the two countries. The author was India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2018-20. She tweets @RuchiGhanashyam. Views are personal. (Edited by Ratan Priya)
The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Work on Glasgow street to start soon and last two years
The changes will see the work that has already been done to the southern stretch of the street continue northwards. It will include the continuation of the segregated cycle lanes, creating a link from Great Western Road at the Botanic Gardens to Dumbarton Road, which then links to the wider city cycle routes and the National Cycle Network. Read More: (Image: GT) Pavements will be widened to create more space for pedestrians in street that is busy with cafes, bars, restaurants and shops. It will also shorten crossing points to make it easier for people to get from one side to the other and step step-free crossings at the side streets. There will be work at key corners along the street with seating put in place, similar to work done further down the street. The project is being mostly funded though the Glasgow City Region City Deal, which also funds the city centre Avenues Project. Glasgow City Council said the work on the southern half of [[Byres Road]] and Church Street has been a success which has led to fewer empty retail units. (Image: Newsquest) Work will start next month and take two years, with a completion date of August 2027. Angus Millar, Convener for Transport and Climate at [[Glasgow City Council]], said: 'The first phase of the public realm improvement works at [[Byres Road]] has been a great success, creating a more attractive environment for residents, businesses and visitors. 'The second phase of these works will extend the transformation of this key street, upgrading pavements and improving the pedestrian experience as well as introducing safer cycle infrastructure and greater greenery to the area.'
Glasgow Times
8 hours ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Work on West End street to start soon and last two years
From the junction at University Avenue/Highburgh Road to Great Western Road, the famous West End street will undergo a redevelopment. The changes will see the work that has already been done to the southern stretch of the street continue northwards. It will include the continuation of the segregated cycle lanes, creating a link from Great Western Road at the Botanic Gardens to Dumbarton Road, which then links to the wider city cycle routes and the National Cycle Network. READ NEXT:All the latest changes to Glasgow city centre streets explained (Image: GT) Pavements will be widened to create more space for pedestrians in street that is busy with cafes, bars, restaurants and shops. It will also shorten crossing points to make it easier for people to get from one side to the other and step step-free crossings at the side streets. There will be work at key corners along the street with seating put in place, similar to work done further down the street. READ NEXT:These are the official top 5 things to do in Glasgow city centre The project is being mostly funded though the Glasgow City Region City Deal, which also funds the city centre Avenues Project. Glasgow City Council said the work on the southern half of Byres Road and Church Street has been a success which has led to fewer empty retail units. (Image: Newsquest) Work will start next month and take two years, with a completion date of August 2027. Angus Millar, Convener for Transport and Climate at [[Glasgow City Council]], said: 'The first phase of the public realm improvement works at Byres Road has been a great success, creating a more attractive environment for residents, businesses and visitors. 'The second phase of these works will extend the transformation of this key street, upgrading pavements and improving the pedestrian experience as well as introducing safer cycle infrastructure and greater greenery to the area.'
Top Gear
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Driving, Engines & Performance
Driving What is it like to drive? As you might expect with 824bhp from a twin-turbo V12, the driving experience is mostly dominated by that engine. We described full throttle in the Vanquish coupe as 'like falling horizontally towards the view', and although the Volante sacrifices a tenth of a second in the 0-62mph stakes, once you've got the roof down and can feel the wind tearing your hair out, it feels like it's even faster than its tin-topped sibling. Advertisement - Page continues below Like the coupe, the convertible gets Aston's clever new 'Boost Reserve' function to help the turbos react as quickly as possible, and while you can catch it out by burying the throttle in too high a gear, if you drop a couple of quick cogs using the wheel-mounted paddles you'll feel exactly when the turbos are fed with that stored pressure. There's serious, almost-instant shove. Excellent grip from the special Pirelli tyres too, although it's still a wild ride and is accompanied by a brutal 12-cylinder soundtrack. The drop-top Volante is all the better for hearing said sound, too. What about when you get to a corner? Okay, perhaps there's not quite as much feedback through the steering wheel as we might like, but this is a giant GT that still gets a sharp front end and changes direction very neatly. The extra weight mostly sits towards the rear of the car, so the weight distribution is closer to 50:50 than you'll find in the coupe. The steering has a decent weight to it and doesn't feel overly assisted either, while the e-diff shuffles power to keep the rear in check through bends. You get a hefty brake pedal too and awesome stopping power from the standard carbon ceramic brakes, plus there's Aston's multi-stage traction control to up the ante and remove assistance in carefully judged stages. Advertisement - Page continues below Can it still do the job of a GT? While Sport and Sport+ modes deliver noise and thunder that make the Vanquish Volante feel like a maniacal supercar, in the standard GT mode the torque curve is carefully shaped in the first four gears for slightly more relaxing acceleration that builds to a crescendo higher in the rev range. The adaptive Bilstein dampers are softened to allow for a little bit of body roll too and – when closed – the fabric roof deploys its 'multi-layered insulation' to keep road and wind noise from filling the cabin. It's a remarkably quiet cruiser, with noise cancelling tech in its tyres and that monstrous engine ticking over at 1,500rpm at motorway speeds. Probably worth noting here that you also get a 'Wet' mode, and while we didn't drive the Vanquish Volante in any rain, we'd imagine we would be quite thankful that it limits torque to just under 300lb ft. What's the ride like? The Volante's rear spring rate is up seven per cent over the coupe and the front anti roll bar is seven per cent stiffer too, but it's the same basic chassis as the hard-top and Aston says it developed them side-by-side to ensure that no compromises were made when chopping off the roof. The ride is on the firmer side particularly if you step out of GT mode, but it still copes admirably with bigger bumps in the road and there's seemingly no flex in the chassis. We're told it's around 75 per cent stiffer than the previous DBS Superleggera Volante. Of course, there's also an Individual drive mode that allows you to benefit from the softer suspension setup of GT mode and the barnstorming throttle map of Sport mode.
