Kumble Not Strict; Shastri More Involved in New Stint: Saha

Agencies
August 19, 2017

Kolkata, Aug 19: Some of his teammates may have considered Anil Kumble "strict" but India's Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha never felt that about the former coach, who quit after a bitter fallout with skipper Virat Kohli.

Kumble was forced to resign in June this year, after difference of opinion with Kohli. Kumble, a former captain, had gone to the extent of calling his relationship with Kohli "untenable"

Saha was asked about the perception of Kumble being strict but he had a different take to offer.

"I did not feel that (strict) way. As a coach, he had to be strict in some way or the other. Some have felt he is strict, some have not. I have never felt that way under Anil bhai," Saha told reporters today on his return from Sri Lanka, where he was a part of the team that won 3-0 in the recently-concluded series.

He then compared Ravi Shastri's style of coaching with that of Anil Kumble.

"Anil bhai always wanted us to score big - 400,500 and 600 and felt that the opponent can be bowled out within 150-200. That's not always possible," he smiled and said.

"Ravi bhai, on the other hand, always tells us to go for the kill. Go out there and hit the opponent out of the park. This is the only difference I could see. Rest, both spoke positive stuff. When Ravi bhai was director, he was aggressive. In his new stint, he seems to have become more involved," said the 32-year-old.

Saha, on his part, also praised skipper Kohli, who remains involved with the players even off the field.

"He is improving with time and his association with players has increased. We dine together and go for outings together. He is always mingling with us, which I see as a plus point in him," the Bengal stumper said.

Saha admitted that Sri Lankan team's temperament was weak.

"Their temperament was weak from the batting point of view, which helped us. One session they held fort but we knew they would run out of patience in the next session, that helped," he said.

He is not ready to look too far ahead and skirted queries on the home Test series against Sri Lanka, where he would again don the India whites.

"That is still three months away. They will prepare well and we have to hold on to our form."

The 'caught Saha b Mohammed Shami' has been an oft-repeated dismissal in recent Test matches. The soft-spoken keeper attributes the fine collaboration to their
understanding, having played considerable amount of first- class cricket for Bengal.

"It's great that Shami is continuing to be aggressive after coming back from injury. It is good for him and the team. He always creates a wicket-taking opportunity.

"He swings the ball and gets the outside edge and I take the catch. We have been doing that for Bengal too," said Saha, who wants to finish his career with at least 200 first-class matches.
 

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News Network
March 22,2024

IPL.jpg

The start of the world’s most lucrative cricket tournament in India is presenting investors with another big opportunity to cash in on the sport, months after the world’s most populous nation hosted the Cricket World Cup.

The eight-week long Indian Premier League begins March 22 for its 17th season. Since its inception, the fast-paced cricket tournament has become a corporate juggernaut to rival the National Football League in the US and the English Premier League in value.

Just as October’s Cricket World Cup boosted consumption in India for months, fans are expected to flock to restaurants, pubs and food delivery platforms over the duration of the tournament. This year’s IPL also coincides with general elections that will last for six weeks starting April 19, a period when companies are expecting higher food and drink sales as people flock to rallies and other events.

“There’s going to be a lot of spending,” said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Bank of Baroda. “IPL, as well as the election, gives a three-month corridor with enhanced economic activity.”

Stocks in India such as McDonald’s franchise operator Westlife Foodworld Ltd. and peer Sapphire Foods India Ltd. gained ahead of the first match on Friday, as well as hotels and beverage makers. Packaged-food companies could also stand to benefit from the IPL craze, said Sachil Bobade, an analyst at investment firm Dolat Capital Market.

The IPL ecosystem was valued at $11 billion (Rs 91,721 crores) in 2023, including the value of media rights and sponsorships, according to Indian valuation consulting firm D&P Advisory.

The league is also attracting record sums of money from sponsors and broadcasters. Conglomerate Tata Group won the title sponsorship rights of the tournament in January for a record 25 billion rupees ($300 million). Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s media venture secured the digital streaming rights in 2022 for five years for $2.7 billion, while Walt Disney Co. paid roughly the same for TV rights.

“There was a serious amount of bidding even this year,” said Vinit Karnik, head of entertainment, esports and sports at media agency GroupM South Asia. “I see growth in IPL in double digits year-on-year,” he adds.

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