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SPORTS OCTOBER 13, 2023 | The Indian Eye 48

self as India’s opening batter during World Cup 2023 against England.
the Asia Cup, where he ended as the While on a junior cricket tour of
top scorer with 302 runs at an aver- India four years ago, Ravindra was
age of 75.50. However, it was report- hooked to a TV, watching his nation
ed that he was unwell and had den- suffer the narrowest of losses to En-
gue fever. gland in the ICC Cricket World Cup
But earlier on Friday it was re- final. Kiwis had lost the trophy on
ported that Shubman was unwell and boundary count after the match and
suffering from dengue fever. Rahul super over ended in a tie.
Dravid provided an update on his Four years later, Ravindra made
current situation and said the med- his World Cup debut in India and the
ical team has not ruled him out of up-and-coming all-rounder stole the
their World Cup opener against Aus- show, thrashing England with an in-
tralia on Sunday. credible century, which is the fastest
“He’s feeling better today than by a Kiwi batter in the tournament’s
he was yesterday so that is a positive history.
and the medical team is monitoring It was a special moment for
on a day-to-day basis. We will see Rachin, born to Indian parents, to
whatever decision the medical team announce himself on the world stage
takes and we’ll see how he feels the on a platform as big as a 50-over
day after tomorrow. The medical World Cup and avenge the loss that
team hadn’t ruled him out yet,” Dra- he saw live on TV.
vid said in the pre-match press con- “I think a hundred is always spe-
ference. cial, but I guess in terms of being able
If Shubman misses out on the to perform in India, it is cool to have
opener Ishan Kishan will be the ideal the Indian roots. It was nice to have
choice to replace Gill and start the my parents there watching - they flew
innings with skipper Rohit Sharma. over from New Zealand,” Ravindra
Kishan was initially a part of the said as quoted by ICC.
middle-order set-up but with him “It is cool to have that moment
possibly shifting to the opening or- and obviously it is always nice coming
der, the in-form batter Suryakumar to India. I have a sense of family con-
Yadav will enter the discussion of nection whenever I am in Bangalore,
making his place in the playing XI. being able to see my grandparents
and stuff, it is pretty cool,” he added.
Morgan on England’s The all-rounder’s first name is
batting against NZ really familiar to cricket lovers across
the world, especially the large mass
ngland’s World Cup 2019 win- of India fans as he was named by his
ning skipper Eoin Morgan cricket-loving parents after two Indi-
Esaid that the Three Lions bat- an batting legends, Rahul Dravid and
ters got starts but it felt they did not Sachin Tendulkar.
hit enough blows throughout the in- “I think those two (Dravid and
nings. He also added that there is still Tendulkar) are pretty special crick-
“complete faith” in him that England eters. I have heard a lot of stories
will lift the trophy once again. Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam and Netherlands’ Paul van Meekeren greet eachother after and watched a lot of footage and
Defending champions England I guess the influence from my par-
slipped to a crushing nine wick- their match in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium ents and my dad and the old-school
et loss in the tournament opener in Hyderabad on Friday (ANI) Indian cricketers was pretty cool,”
against New Zealand in Ahmedabad Ravindra said.
on Thursday. England made 282/9 the batters threw their wickets away. Now this defeat he said, empha- “Obviously, I idolised Sachin
powered by knocks from Joe Root “Enough England batters got sises the way England needs to play Tendulkar. I think a lot of people
(77) and skipper Jos Buttler (43). starts but it never felt like they struck further in the tournament. did. I think the way he batted and his
But centuries from Devon Conway many blows throughout the innings. “Their strongest suit going for- technique was beautiful to watch. I
(152*) and Rachin Ravindra (123*) In many ways, New Zealand didn’t ward is to be more aggressive and I guess being a lefty, there are guys you
completely demolished England’s get them out, they got themselves think that will be Jos’ message - ‘we look at: I love Lara, I love Sangak-
three pronged pace and spin attacks out. But credit has to go to Dev- need to go harder’,” he said. kara, just the usual gun left-handers;
to clinch a superb win. on Conway and Rachin Ravindra but Tendulkar was definitely the
“I do not think anyone could played. Conway put England under “Cool to have Indian idol,” added the all-rounder.
have foreseen the ICC Men’s Cricket pressure from the very first ball and roots....”: NZ’s Rachin Ravindra’s explosive 123* came
World Cup 2023 opener playing out for Ravindra to play like that on his Ravindra from just 96 deliveries, consisting of
quite like that,” said Morgan in his World Cup debut was exceptional. five sixes and 11 fours, and broke the
exclusive column as quoted by ICC. He was pure class,” added Morgan. achin Ravindra, a 23-year-old back and spirit of England’s strug-
Morgan pointed out that even if Morgan said that fans have come all-rounder for New Zealand gling bowling attack. It was also the
England manahed to score 30 more to expect an attacking approach from Rcricket, emerged as a new star first time he played in top order in
runs to get to a par score, they still Buttler-led English side but that ap- for his side, lighting up the Narendra a full ODI for Kiwis, after impress-
did not bowl well enough to defend it. proach was not visible in a strong Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad during ing as a stand-in opener in warm-up
The former skipper also opined that way. the opening match of the ICC Cricket matches. He batted at number three.

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