SPORTS

The Indian cricket team led by Virat Kohli sported black armbands on Thursday -- opening day of the fourth Test against England -- as a mark of respect for legendary coach Vasudev Paranjape.

Paranjape, 82, passed away at his Mumbai residence on Monday. While he played 29 first-class games for Mumbai and Baroda from 1956/57-1969/70, making 785 runs with two centuries and two half-centuries, Paranjape left a lasting impression in his role as coach and mentor.

With his excellent grasp of the game, he shaped the careers of several Mumbai and India stalwarts. Equipped with technical nuances, he used his man-management skills to great effect.

As red-ball cricket action continues, England hosts India in the fourth Test at the Kennington Oval, London from September 2 to September 6. England bounced back from the Lord’s defeat to hand India a massive loss in Leeds, hammering the visitors by an innings and 76 runs. The Joe Root led England side were phenomenal in all departments while India were left reeling. The hosts bowled out India for 78 in the first innings and went on to post a challenging 432, with skipper Root scoring his third century of the series. India were unable to conquer the mammoth test as Ollie Robinson claimed an impressive fifer to help England bundle out India for 278. Moving forward to the fourth Test, the Kennington Oval is known to be a batsman’s paradise unless weather plays spoilsport.

With a couple of changes being made in both XIs for the upcoming Test, the weather and pitch will play an important role. While Chris Woakes makes his return to Test cricket, Sam Billings is filling in for Jos Buttler, who is expecting the birth of his second child. Jonny Bairstow will take responsibility as the wicketkeeper for the fourth Test.

Sunil Gavaskar's advice to Virat Kohli.

Gavaskar also shared a piece of advice for a struggling Kohli and felt that the Indian skipper should talk to Sachin Tendulkar over the phone. "He should give a quick call to SRT (Tendulkar) and ask what should I do? He should do what Sachin Tendulkar did at Sydney. Say to himself that I am not going to play the cover drive," Gavaskar was quoted as saying in multiple media reports. 

Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison believes that veteran pacer James Anderson could retire at the end of England's Test series against India.

Anderson, currently 39, is one of only two England bowlers - the other being Stuart Broad - to have taken more than 300 wickets at home in Test matches. Fred Trueman is third in the list of highest wicket-takers in England, with 229 wickets.

Among the leading wicket-takers at home, Anil Kumble is third, with 350, followed by Broad (341 wickets), and Shane Warne (319 wickets). The 39-year-old has been in top form in the series, having already taken 13 wickets at 16.25 and a strike-rate of 47.7. This year, he has taken 30 wickets at 19.79, including two five-wicket hauls.

Urging people to transform his mantra of ‘Sabka Prayas’ (collective endeavour) into reality, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said India can attain the heights in sports it deserves through everyone’s contribution.

The Prime Minister had first used the slogan ‘Sabka Prayas’ during his Independence Day speech this year.

During the 80th edition of his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme on Sunday, the Prime Minister said, “This is the period of 75 years of Independence. This year, we have to make a new resolve, think new every day, and increase our zest to do something new. When India will complete the centenary of Independence, then these resolutions will reflect in the foundation of its successes. So, we cannot let this opportunity go. We have to contribute our maximum efforts to this.”