Cricket

Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble and ex-Australian all-rounder Shane Watson have heaped praise on Virat Kohli for his exceptional performances in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. They expressed confidence in his ability to maintain his prime form during the upcoming T20 World Cup.Kohli's scintillating knock of 92 off 47 balls, coupled with a collective bowling effort, propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a resounding 60-run victory over Punjab Kings. Kumble commended Kohli's relentless pursuit of excellence, highlighting his remarkable contribution of 634 runs in the tournament."He's been in outstanding form. He had a break coming into this IPL, and since then, he's been relentless in his pursuit of excellence," Kumble remarked. He emphasized the importance of Kohli's performance in the T20 World Cup, saying, "For India's sake, you'd want his form to continue in the World Cup as well."Watson lauded Kohli's all-round impact and his ability to elevate the performance of his teammates. He acknowledged the significance of the opportunities presented to Kohli early on, allowing him to capitalize and showcase his batting prowess effectively."They got some opportunities early as Virat Kohli was dropped twice. This allowed him to get going in his innings and he batted so beautifully once he capitalized on those chances," Watson remarked.Furthermore, Watson highlighted Kohli's contribution in the field, particularly his electrifying run-out to dismiss Shahshank Singh. "In the field, they made a couple of little errors, but you could see the intensity crank up in the field when they needed it to. Some great catches and a great run-out from Virat Kohli to get Shashank out," Watson concluded.Kohli's exceptional performances have not only boosted RCB's chances of success but have also raised expectations for Team India in the upcoming T20 World Cup. His ability to maintain his prime form and lead his team to victory will be crucial for India's hopes of lifting the coveted trophy.

Former Indian cricket captain and current head coach Rahul Dravid exercised his democratic right by casting his vote in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Bengaluru on Friday. Dravid, known for his humility and dedication, stood in line like any other citizen before casting his ballot at a polling booth in the Malleswaram constituency.After casting his vote, Dravid urged fellow citizens to participate in the electoral process. "Everyone must come out and vote. It is an opportunity we get in a democracy," he said to the media. Dravid's former teammate and legendary spinner Anil Kumble also cast his vote in Bengaluru, emphasizing the importance of exercising one's franchise.Karnataka, where Dravid and Kumble reside, is voting in two phases for the Lok Sabha elections. The second phase, held on Friday, saw polling in 14 constituencies, including Udupi Chikamagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, and Bangalore South. The BJP, which won 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka in the 2019 elections, is contesting in 25 seats this time, while its ally JDS is contesting in the remaining three.The first phase of the seven-phased Lok Sabha election was held on April 19, with over 62% voter turnout. The third phase will take place on May 7. The Election Commission has implemented strict measures to ensure free and fair elections, including the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs).Dravid's participation in the electoral process serves as an inspiration to all citizens to fulfill their democratic duty. His message of urging people to vote highlights the importance of active participation in shaping the future of the nation.

Anil Kumble, the legendary spinner who scaled unprecedented heights in international cricket, recently shared his memories of being acquired by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in 2008.Despite being the captain of the Indian Test team at the time, Kumble was not included in the initial list of icon players. However, former RCB owner Vijay Mallya intervened at the auction, declaring that "nobody" was to bid on Kumble, as he was "my Bangalore boy."Kumble, who holds the record for taking all ten wickets in a single Test innings, was subsequently picked up by RCB at his base price. He recalled the moment, saying, "Mr. Vijay Mallya just stood up and said he's my Bangalore boy. Nobody is touching him."During his three-year stint with RCB, Kumble made 42 appearances, claiming 45 wickets at an average of 23.51 and an economy of 6.58. The transition from Test cricket to the shorter T20 format posed a challenge for Kumble, who was accustomed to bowling long spells."For me, it was quite a challenge to get my mind around to bowl just four overs," he said. "I needed four overs to warm up. But it became very evident that the best way to approach my four overs would be try and choose the most challenging ones."In the second season of the IPL, RCB reached the final but lost to the Deccan Chargers. Kumble's experience with RCB was a memorable one, and he remains grateful for the opportunity to have played for the franchise.