Former Indian cricket team’s star opener and present BJP MP Gautam Gambhir took to Twitter on Thursday to issue clarification over a tweet shared by him which raised concerns over Delhi’s Yamuna Sports Complex Archery ground. Gambhir had posted a video which raised concerns among top archers like Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari. 

“East Delhi ready for Pro Cricket!” Gambhir had earlier tweeted while posting a video of the cricket ground. Both Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari, who will be representing India in Tokyo Olympics, pleaded with Gambhir not to convert the archery ground into a cricket stadium, stating that it is “the best archery ground in Asia”.

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“To set the record straight. Yamuna Sports Ground has not been converted but only upgraded. Archery & other sports will continue like before,” Gambhir tweeted on Thursday.

“Being a sportsman myself, will never let anything hamper the growth of any sportsman!,” he added.

“I became Deepika in this ground in 2010 Commonwealth Games. Please do not make this Archery Ground to a Cricket Ground. This is the one of the best Archery Ground in Asia. International Archery tournaments can be happen here,” Deepika Kumari had tweeted, responding to Gambhir’s original tweet.

“Please do not make this Archery Ground to a Cricket Ground. We have very few good grounds and this is one of the best Archery ground in Asia. 2010 Commonwealth Games Happened here. Where Should We archers go?” Atanu Das, Kumari’s husband, had written.

In the recent Archery World Cup, Deepika Kumari won three gold medals, including one with Atanu Das in the recurve mixed team event.

After losing the World Test Championship title, there is a lot of discussion regarding the captaincy of the Indian cricket team.  Captain Virat Kohli had to face fierce criticism after the defeat in the WTC final as there were a few demands to remove him from his captaincy.

Under the leadership of Virat, India has not been able to win a single ICC title so far. However, under Kohli’s captaincy, the national squad has registered many memorable victories.

The big question is, who will be given the command of the Indian team when Virat’s international career gets over, like MS Dhoni.  On this, former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh has suggested the name of Rishabh Pant as the future captain of the Indian cricket team.

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“I also see Rishabh as a potential Indian captain in the future. Because he is jumpy, chirpy, and talks around. But I feel he surely has a smart brain as well because I saw him when he was captaining in the IPL for Delhi Capitals. He did an incredible job. So, people should look at him as the next captain of the Indian team in the coming years,” Yuvraj told TimesofIndia.com.

Rishabh Pant led Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 after Shreyas Iyer had to sit out due to injury. Under Pant’s captaincy Delhi won 6 out of 8 matches and remained at the top of the IPL 2021 Points Table until the tournament was postponed due to rising cases of Covid-19 inside IPL bubble.  

The extra responsibility of captaincy was not at all visible on Pant’s batting as he scored 213 runs including two fifties. BCCI had decided to postpone IPL 2021 on May 4 after several players tested Covid-19 positive.  The remaining 31 matches of the 14th season of the Indian Premier League are to be played in the UAE from September 19.

The passing away of Bollywood legend Dilip Kumar sent shockwaves across the country and tributes continue to pour in for the “Tragedy King”.

From Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli, the biggest names in the sports fraternity came ahead to condole the demise of the legendary actor, who passed away at the age of 98.

“Rest in Peace Dilip Kumar Ji! There will never be another like you. Your contribution to Indian cinema is unparalleled and you’ll be missed dearly. My heartfelt condolences to Saira Banu Ji & the family,” tweeted Tendulkar.

Rest in Peace Dilip Kumar ji!
There will never be another like you.

Your contribution to Indian cinema is unparalleled and you’ll be missed dearly. My heartfelt condolences to Saira Banu ji & the family.  pic.twitter.com/9yw80eTeg

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 7, 2021

Taking to Twitter, India skipper Virat Kohli wrote: “Today, an icon who was loved by generations passes away. Rest in peace Dilip Ji. My condolences to the family.”

Today, an icon who was loved by generations passes away. Rest in peace Dilip ji. My condolences to the family 

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 7, 2021

Badminton star Saina Nehwal also took to Twitter to express her condolences on the passing away of Dilip Kumar.

“The legend of Hindi cinema. May your soul rest in peace sir,” tweeted Nehwal.

The legend of Hindi cinema.. May your soul rest in peace sir .. #DilipKumar pic.twitter.com/4AIjrXnvrC

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) July 7, 2021

Taking to Twitter, former India batsman Virender Sehwag wrote: “Heartfelt condolences to #DilipKumar’s family. The gr8 man said, Taqdeerein badal jaati hain,zamana badal jaata hai, mulkon ki taarikh badal jaati hai,shahenshah badal jaate hain,magar iss badalti hui duniya mein mohabbat jis insaan ka daaman thaam leti hai,woh insaan nahi badalta.”

Heartfelt condolences to #DilipKumar’s family.The gr8 man said,
Taqdeerein badal jaati hain,zamana badal jaata hai, mulkon ki taarikh badal jaati hai,shahenshah badal jaate hain,magar iss badalti hui duniya mein mohabbat jis insaan ka daaman thaam leti hai,woh insaan nahi badalta pic.twitter.com/hpKg3iSHlm

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 7, 2021

The condolences messages came from across the border as well as former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi took to Twitter, saying: “Indeed to Allah we belong and to Allah we shall return. A huge loss for Yousuf Khan sahib’s fans from KPK to Mumbai and across the globe. He lives on in our hearts. Deepest condolences to Saira Banu Sahiba.”

Indeed to Allah we belong and to Allah we shall return.
A huge loss for Yousuf Khan sahib’s fans from KPK to Mumbai and across the globe. He lives on in our hearts. Deepest condolences to Saira Banu sahiba. #DilipKumar pic.twitter.com/T51NelBl6O

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) July 7, 2021

Boxer Vijender Singh also shared a photo of Dilip Kumar on Twitter and he captioned the post as: “Yusuf Saab rest in peace.”

Yusuf Saab rest in peace  #DilipKumar pic.twitter.com/NbVNiOGNG7

— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) July 7, 2021

Just two days ago, Saira Banu had tweeted about Dilip Kumar’s improving medical condition since her husband had been keeping unwell recently. But that was a short-lived glimmer of hope as he passed away on Wednesday morning at the P.D. Hinduja Hospital, where he had been admitted.

After learning about the demise of Dilip Kumar, several members from the Indian political and film fraternity paid their condolences.

The inaugural World Test Championship Final has fallen victim to inclement weather in Southampton with New Zealand at 101/2 in reply to Team India’s 217 all out after three days play at the Ageas Bowl. The forecast for Monday (June 21) is not looking too bright either with incessant rain predicted at Southampton on Day 4 of the WTC Final

The third day’s play, which saw close to 80 overs being bowled, India were bundled out for 217 after resuming at the overnight score of 146/3. The game started half an hour late due to a wet outfield caused by overnight rain and same should be expected on Day 4 as well as Sunday night also saw plenty of rain in the city.

Weather predictions for Monday state rain throughout the day with a high of 14 degrees and low of around 11 degrees in temperature.

If you thought the first three days were disappointing in terms of the weather at Southampton, Day 4 looks worse. The forecast suggests that rain is inevitable and that should be extremely disappointing for fans who have waited long to watch their favourites go head to head. The humidity would also be on the higher side which would make things uncomfortable for players – that is if play takes place.

In case the game does not end in five days, the match will enter the reserve day. Initially, the priority will be to finish the game within five days by adding some extra overs to the gameplay if the conditions are suitable. The reserve day will not take place in case of completion of overs and at the same time match will end in a draw. Both teams will be declared as co-winners in that case and the reward money will be distributed equally.

“In the event of time being lost during the match, the ICC match referee will regularly update the teams and media about the way in which the reserve day may be used. The final decision on whether the reserve day needs to be used will be announced at the scheduled start of the last hour on the fifth day,” an ICC statement said.