Sports

Varun Receives ODI Call-Up for Upcoming Series Against England

Published

4 months ago

February 5, 2025

The BCCI’s senior selection committee announced on Tuesday that mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been added to the ODI squad ahead of the three-match series against England.

Speculation regarding his inclusion grew after Varun was seen training with the Indian squad at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Tuesday, preparing for the upcoming series

Lead by Rohit Sharma and featuring star batsman Virat Kohli, the team arrived in Nagpur on Monday, following the conclusion of the T20I series in Mumbai. Although Varun was absent from the squad visuals at the Nagpur airport, his participation in the training session on Tuesday afternoon sparked further speculation regarding his inclusion

According to a BCCI media release, “The Men’s Selection Committee has added Varun Chakaravarthy to India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against England.”

While he has not yet been officially included in India’s ICC Champions Trophy lineup, Varun’s addition to the ODI side may enhance his chances of being selected for the major tournament, where all matches will be played in Dubai.

Initially, Varun was not included in the provisional squad for the Champions Trophy announced by the BCCI’s senior selection committee. However, with changes permitted until February 12, his performance in the ODI series could influence his selection for the tournament.

The Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19, and there are concerns regarding star pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness. Bumrah has not played competitively since the Sydney Test and is currently being closely monitored by the board’s medical staff at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

In the event that Bumrah is unable to participate, it is reported that Harshit Rana may be considered as a potential replacement. Furthermore, as Kuldeep Yadav returns from injury and is expected to be the primary spinner, the team management will be eager to assess Varun’s capabilities in the 50-over format.

Varun’s selection comes shortly after former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin suggested the possibility of him making it to the Champions Trophy squad. The Tamil Nadu spinner had a remarkable performance in the recent T20I series where India triumphed 4-1, earning the Player of the Series title by taking 14 wickets, including a five-wicket haul.

“I suspect Varun will get a chance to play in the ODI series against England. However, I don’t believe it’s easy to bring him directly into the Champions Trophy squad as he hasn’t played ODIs. I think they’ll give him a shot in this series,” Ashwin commented on his YouTube channel.

“If they don’t provide him this opportunity, it could complicate matters. But, regardless, I congratulate Varun on winning his first player of the tournament award. He’s currently the standout spinner in T20I cricket, and I wish him continued growth,” he added.

India’s updated squad for the ODI series against England: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.

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Sports

Fleming Applauds Anshul Kamboj’s Development in IPL 2025

Published

2 hours ago

May 22, 2025

Namma Kudla Editorial

Stephen Fleming, the head coach of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has commended rookie seamer Anshul Kamboj for his impressive contributions during the current Indian Premier League (IPL) season. In his seven appearances, the right-arm fast bowler has taken five wickets and consistently showcased his pace and control.

Fleming noted Kamboj’s development, highlighting his commendable traits, particularly his deceptive speed and ability to generate movement off the pitch.

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“Yes, Kamboj is impressive,” Fleming mentioned in a press conference following Tuesday night’s game.

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“He can reach deceptive speeds of 138–139 kmph. His length is a significant strength, causing the ball to wobble. He has great promise with both the white and red balls, and we are pleased with his growth and the opportunity he has embraced this season,” he added.

Kamboj’s notable performance included figures of 1/16 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), showcasing his ability to bowl with discipline and contain runs. Despite his commendable performance, CSK faced a six-wicket loss against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Delhi.

Taking on responsibility, Kamboj delivers strong yorkers and exhibits some seam movement, even if swing is not prevalent. “The ball hits harder than the speed gun suggests. We need to be cautious during the powerplay to limit runs in the first six overs,” MS Dhoni commented. Kamboj bowled three overs in this critical phase.

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Sports

Khelo India Beach Games: A Boon for Nagaland’s Sepak Takraw Girls

Published

3 hours ago

May 22, 2025

Namma Kudla Editorial

During the inauguration of the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG), Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the transformative role of sports, declaring the KIBG a significant milestone in India’s sporting journey. This sentiment is shared by Puleno Neikha, the coach of Nagaland’s women’s sepak takraw team.

Puleno noted the positive impact of sports in Nagaland over recent years, emphasizing that this initiative by the central government will create new opportunities for girls in the state.

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Sepak takraw, introduced in Nagaland in 1995 as a recreational sport by physical education teacher Holse Khario with support from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), has become a popular choice among youth. Many boys and girls are now registered in the sport.

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The state government has facilitated sepak takraw training in Dimapur since 2004. Coach Puleno, a former national player and coach at the 2018 Asian Games, currently trains local girls at the academy.

Presently, six girls from her team are part of the Nagaland Police, with three having secured jobs due to their accomplishments in sepak takraw.

“Our girls consistently earn medals. We secured bronze at the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games, followed by achievements at the Goa National Games and the recent senior nationals. Additionally, our teams have garnered multiple medals at the Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar,” Puleno shared with SAI Media.

Puleno expressed optimism that the launch of the Beach Games will create new opportunities for their athletes, noting the sport’s recognition in Nagaland and the government’s promotion efforts that have led to the emergence of many exceptional international players.

“The government is actively working to enhance sepak takraw, rewarding our medalists with cash prizes. Its regular inclusion in Khelo India events, including the inaugural Beach Games, showcases the sport’s rising popularity nationwide, which will surely benefit our players,” Puleno remarked.

Kethosituo Sekhose, the head of the Nagaland delegation in Diu and Sports Director in Kohima, mentioned that a grassroots talent hunt for sepak takraw is underway.

“We hold coaching camps in rural areas, where most of our athletes originate. The girls competing in Diu largely come from these backgrounds. We bring them into our academy between ages 10 to 14, allowing them to gain essential experience. Training on open grounds helps them adapt to playing on sand,” Sekhose stated, adding, “Naga girls are highly committed, and their natural ability in sepak takraw comes from our hilly region.”

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Sports

Jr Shooting World Championship: Kanak Shocks Double Olympian to Secure India’s First Gold

Published

3 hours ago

May 22, 2025

Namma Kudla Editorial

Certainly! Here’s a rewritten version of your content:

<div class="entry-main-content dropcap wow fadeIn animated">
    <p>Kanak, a rising star from Haryana, secured India’s first gold medal at the ongoing International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany. She finished the 10m air pistol final with a score of 239.0, surpassing Moldova's Anna Dulce, a two-time Olympian and current European Champion, by 1.7 points. Chen Yen-Ching from Chinese Taipei claimed the bronze medal.</p>

    <p>Earlier in the competition, India had two shooters advance to the junior women’s air pistol final, with Prachi qualifying closely behind Kanak in fifth place, having scored 571 and 572, respectively.</p>

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    <p>Kanak, who previously won a silver medal at the junior world championship in Lima last year, showcased her skill by delivering powerful 10s at crucial moments during the final, securing her victory comfortably.</p>

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    <p>“I felt a bit nervous at the start, but I’m glad I managed to finish strong,” she remarked in the post-match interview.</p>

    <p>Initially, Prachi showed promise, being in the top three throughout the final, and seemed well-positioned for a medal. However, everything changed after her 15th shot, where she scored an 8.6, allowing Kanak to take the lead with an impressive 10.5.</p>

    <p>As Prachi struggled, Kanak maintained her momentum, shooting three high 10s, one lower 10.1, and three high 9s (9.7, 9.8, 9.9) in her next nine shots, distancing herself from the competition as the others found it difficult to be consistent.</p>

    <p>She concluded the final with a 9.4, which may not have satisfied her coaches, but by that point, victory was virtually assured.</p>

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Let me know if you need any further adjustments!