IPL 2025: We Did Not Bat Well Enough, Says Ponting After Loss Against RCB
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting admitted that his side didn't bat well on a surface which had a lot potential than the total posted by the home team against Royal Challengers Bengaluru to lose the game by seven wickets at the new PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh. After being asked to bat, openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh gave PBKS a brisk start. But the middle-order failed to capitalise and the hosts posted a modest total of 157/6 in 20 overs. With Virat Kohli playing an unbeaten 73-run knock off 54 balls, RCB managed to chase down the total with seven balls to spare and won the match by seven wickets. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ponting admitted his side was not good enough with the bat. We did not bat well enough. That is the bottom line in this game. I think the wicket was a whole lot better than 157. We had a lot of batsmen got off to a good start, but they were unable to make those big scores. That's crucial in T20 cricket. And that's what made the difference, Ponting said. Ponting further said that losing multiple wickets hurt his side in the match. I think at the end of the powerplay we were 1 for 62. So straight away, there you are looking at a score of 180 plus, even pushing on to 200 if your middle order bats well, but we lost wickets in clumps again tonight, he said. Always being one to have a positive mindset, Ponting further said that his side will focus on their next challenge against Kolkata Knight Riders after a small break, and he further added that the upcoming matches will be crucial for his side. We have got a nice little break. After three games in about five days, the boys need that little bit of time to freshen up and time to get away and forget about this result. We will make sure we focus on our next challenge against KKR which will be a big game for us, he said. Ponting further added, Look, we are past the halfway mark now, we have got the five wins that we need to push on and make sure that we win a fair share of our games coming up. Meanwhile, this was Punjab Kings final home game at the New PCA Stadium, and the franchise will play their remaining home matches in Dharamsala this season. Despite the loss, the players and the coaches took a lap around the stadium to thank the fans who made their voices heard throughout all the games at the stadium this year. Speaking on the prospect of playing the future home games in Dharamsala, Ponting said, First and foremost, it's a beautiful place to play. We had a four or five day training camp up there right at the start of the tournament. Normally, it's a good wicket there, the ball comes onto the bat nicely. There is a bit more pace and bounce which will suit our team. It's not a big ground, so we can expect pretty high scoring games. It's a little bit different this year for us. Normally it's been just the two games in Dharamsala, this year it's three. We have to make sure that it is a home ground where we win games. I am looking forward to getting up there, he signed off. Speaking on the prospect of playing the future home games in Dharamsala, Ponting said, First and foremost, it's a beautiful place to play. We had a four or five day training camp up there right at the start of the tournament. Normally, it's a good wicket there, the ball comes onto the bat nicely. There is a bit more pace and bounce which will suit our team. It's not a big ground, so we can expect pretty high scoring games. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS
The Immigration & Foreigners Bill, 2025 was passed by Lok Sabha. Before the bill was passed in the lower house, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said India is not a 'Dharamshala' and those who pose a threat to the national security will not be allowed. He slammed TMC over infiltration of Bangladeshis.
IPL 2025 To Kick Off On March 22 With Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Dharamsala will be the second home venue of Punjab Kings after Mullanpur, while Rajasthan Royals will set up their base in the Northeastern City apart from regular venue Jaipur.
Dalai Lama Charitable Trust gets FCRA nod
Trust not directly linked to the Dalai Lama, but associated with the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, says Trust official; fresh FCRA registration granted for religious purposes, among others
Yes, that was Virat bhaiya's bat: Akash Deep on follow-on saving knock in Oz
New Delhi: Who wouldn't want it, Bhaiyya?. It was all that a shy Akash Deep could blurt out when Virat Kohli asked if he would like to own one of his bats that ultimately scripted a rare happy memory in an otherwise devastating tour of Australia for Team India. The newest pace bowling workhorse in the Indian dressing room bowled nearly 88 overs (87.5 overs) for his five wickets across the two Tests that he played in the five-match rubber. But it was his follow-on and eventually match-saving 31 at the Gabba that garnered attention. India, however, lost the series 1-3 to surrender the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Yes, that was Virat bhaiya's bat, the one with MRF logo, everyone knows, Akash Deep said, breaking into a chuckle during an exclusive interaction with PTI. When asked about the sequence of events which led to that moment, the Bengal speedster fondly said, Bhaiyya (Kohli) ne khud mujhse pucha 'Tumko bat chahiye?' (Virat bhaiyya asked me, do you need a bat?). Maine bola 'Haan bhaiyya, aapka bat kaun nahi lena chahega duniya mein?' Then he presented it to me, Akash Deep recalled. The 28-year-old admitted that it was impossible for him to be upfront with a senior player of Kohli's stature and ask for his most precious equipment. I have been there with bhaiyya (Kohli) for some time now (they are teammates in Royal Challengers Bengaluru). But you always have that thing at the back of your mind, whether it is the right thing to ask for a bat from someone of Virat bhaiyya's stature. Especially during match time, when he is focussed and in his zone, you don't want to disturb him but bhaiyya, on his own, gave me the bat, he was a trifle chuffed about that bit. Asked to revisit his last-wicket stand of 47 with Jasprit Bumrah in the drawn Brisbane Test, the Sasaram-born cricketer said he was very clear with his plans. That day, my mindset was that I was ready to get hit and take any number of body blows but won't get out. I needed to score runs...I had to bat as long as possible. It wasn't as if (saving) follow-on was on my mind, Akash Deep explained his thought-process. In my mind, I knew the longer I would bat, our batters would have to bat for reduced amount of time in the second essay. That particular day, I was watching the ball well, he said. His effort was expectedly lauded by the entire team but what made Akash Deep more happy was the reaction of Indian fans. ...I would remember it forever. I didn't envisage that just because of that batting effort, how many millions felt relieved and happy that day. That evening, I got to know from social media how happy people were. The dressing room was obviously happy, he said. If I don't get wickets, I try to contain runs He might not have got more than five wickets but nearly 30 overs (29.5) in the first innings at the Gabba and another 26 overs in the first innings in Melbourne have earned him the workhorse tag. Akash Deep was unlucky that crucial catches ended up being dropped off some of his lethal deliveries. Rohit bhaiyya had a lot of trust in me that I can take wickets anytime, 'Woh bolte hai hai ki mujhko lagta hai tum har ball pe wicket le sakte ho' (You can take wickets with every delivery), he proudly said. The brief given to him by the skipper and team management was simple -- he would bowl one line consistently and let the pitch and batters do the rest. I would be given a brief that in case I am not getting wickets, I should do the holding job at one end, slow down the game and run-flow so that things are under control, he revealed. My endeavour was to maintain discipline, bowl in good areas and wait for the batter to make a mistake...doesn't matter if the ball is new, semi-new or old, said Akash Deep, who has 15 wickets from seven Tests in his nascent career. Watching world's best fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah operating at his peak at the other end was certainly a learning experience for him. ...you can learn a lot from what he is doing and what I should be doing from the other end. There are little things that he (Bumrah) kept on telling me and it became easier for me to operate. Labuschagne's dropped catch hurt Dropped catches are part and parcel of cricket but Akash Deep said he found it difficult to reconcile when Marnus Labuschagne was dropped off his bowling in the lost Melbourne Test when Australia were on the mat at 91 for 6. Labuschagne, who eventually scored a half century, had edged to slip where Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped a regulation catch. ...no one drops catches intentionally and these things do happen but I did feel a little bad that if that catch would have been held and they could have been dismissed for 130 odd, may be we would have won in Melbourne. Coming into Sydney, we would have been 2-1 up and Australia would have been under pressure. I don't think that apart from India, other teams have been able to give them a decent fight consistently in recent years. Australia series has helped me grow He made his debut in Dharamsala but bowling on Australian tracks was a big learning curve for Akash Deep. Before Australia, I had played only in India and in India, fast bowlers don't have that kind of pressure as we know that we have world-class spinners in operation, who will get the opposition out, he said. But when you bowl for lengthy periods in overseas conditions, you tend to learn more about your own bowling, you understand how the pitch is behaving and what you need to do in specific situations. As a fast bowler, I feel that I have improved having bowled in these conditions. Waiting for NCA's instructions to start bowling Akash Deep was ruled out of the final Test in Sydney due to a stiff back and he is waiting for National Cricket Academy's green light to once again start bowling. Asked how is he feeling now, he replied, All good. My recovery is on course and since I had been playing non-stop cricket for a considerable period of time, I was advised to off-load (complete rest) for 15 days. I am following the advice of NCA and once they instruct me to start bowling, I will do so. Want to be the best version of myself His cricketing journey has just about started on the international stage and Akash Deep said he has been lucky to have a good support system. Asked if he could name a few people who have made contributions in his voyage from Sasaram to MCG, he replied: ...it is very unfair to take one or two names in particular. My brother who took me to Durgapur, my club coaches in Kolkata, my Bengal U-23 coach and my Ranji Trophy coaches, lot of people in Bengal cricket, who kept on supporting me, so everyone has had their contribution in my growth. What are the immediate and long-term goals he has set for himself? I would like to be the best version of myself and keep on adding skills as quickly as possible, he concluded.
Himachal seeks free land transfer, grant-in-aid for cantonment areas
CHANDIGARH: The process of bringing six cantonment areas in Himachal Pradesh under municipalities has hit a roadblock. The state government has requested the Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) to transfer civilian area land along with its title rights free of cost to the state during the proposed excision of these cantonment boards. Additionally, it has demanded a special grant-in-aid from the Centre to cover establishment expenses. The move follows a new condition introduced by the ministry, stipulating that the land ownership rights would remain with the Union government even after transferring assets and liabilities from the army to the state governments. Sources revealed that Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Devesh Kumar, wrote to the Director, Defence Estates, Western Command, Yogesh Kumar, on November 27. The letter pointed out that the central government is only transferring the proprietary rights of the land to the state government for providing civic amenities and municipal services in the excised areas without transferring title rights. A copy of the letter, accessed by this newspaper, stated, In this context, on perusal of the guiding principles for excision of civil areas from cantonments and their merger with adjoining state municipalities issued by the Government of India, it seems that the Government of India is only transferring the proprietary rights to the state government over the assets for providing civic amenities and municipal services in the excised area without transferring the title rights over the land to the state government. You would agree that land is a basic factor for the socio-economic development of any area and, in the case concerned, due to rapid urbanisation in and around the cantonment boards, the ownership of land with MoD (GoI) may impede the development of social infrastructure (such as schools, anganwadis, hospitals). In addition, the laying of systems for better sanitation, drinking water, roads, and paths would also make the implementation process cumbersome. The letter further emphasised the need for full implementation of central and state-sponsored schemes for the welfare of civilians residing in these cantonments. It stated, The cantonment boards in the present scenario need the full-throttle application of the central and state-sponsored schemes for the welfare of the civilians residing in these cantonment boards, which requires the transferring of ownership over the built-up (except military stations) and vacant land to the state government, free of cost, on the analogy of cantonment board-khas Yol (Dharamsala) in the year 2023. Additionally, the state government highlighted the need for a special grant-in-aid from the Union Government to manage the establishment expenses, as the liabilities of the cantonment boards amount to Rs 30 crore annuallysix times higher than their revenue generation of Rs 5 crore. The letter also stressed the necessity of assessing the geotechnical feasibility before finalising timelines for separating assets. It stated that providing accessibility to military stations, alternate access to civilian areas, and joint civic amenitiesespecially in Jutogh and Dalhousie cantonmentsneeded careful planning. This correspondence was in response to a letter sent by the MoD to the Himachal Chief Secretary on July 5, asking for feedback on the proposed excision. Earlier, on June 25, the ministry had introduced the condition that land ownership rights would remain with the Union government even after transferring assets and liabilities to the state governments. This marked a shift from the ministrys earlier stance, under which proprietary rights over all assets in excised areas were to be transferred to state governments and municipalities free of cost. Himachal Pradesh has six cantonment boardsKasauli, Dagshai, and Subathu in Solan district; Jutogh in Shimla district; and Bakloh and Dalhousie in Chamba district. The separation of civil and army areas within these cantonments has been a longstanding demand of locals, as they lack ownership rights and are excluded from state-sponsored welfare schemes. Notably, on April 28 last year, Khas Yol Cantonment Board in Kangra district became the first in the country to be de-notified. Its civil area was excised from the cantonment and merged with the local panchayat body.
Defence Ministry recommends MoRTH approval for Bhubhu Jot tunnel in Himachal
CHANDIGARH: The Union Ministry of Defence has recommended the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for approval of the Bhubhu Jot tunnel in Himachal Pradesh as an alternative route to Leh-Ladakh to be designated as a project of strategic importance. The Ministry of Defence highlighted the critical role the highway and tunnel would play, significantly enhancing the operational readiness of the armed forces in forward areas. Apart from its strategic significance, the tunnel was expected to bring substantial socio-economic benefits to the region and budgetary provisions for the project will now be made accordingly. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the he path for the construction of the much-awaited Bhubu Jot Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh has been cleared and he reaffirmed the state governments unwavering commitment to the Bhubu Jot Tunnel project. I personally met the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on October 25 to request prioritization of this project while considering its strategic importance. The issue was also raised with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. The construction of this tunnel would be a milestone for the development of the state, he said. The proposed Bhubu Jot Tunnel would reduce the distance between Kangra and Kullu by 55 kilometers once it is completed, the distance between Kullu and Dharamsala or Pathankot will be reduced. The road will begin from Kullu and join the Mandi-Pathankot National Highway at Ghatasni via Lag Valley, Bhubu Jot and Shilh-Badhwaniand and will deliver immense benefits to the local population and boosting tourism in the region thereby strengthening the economy of the people. The state government was prioritizing tunnel construction to enhance road connectivity, promote sustainable development and minimize environmental impact. The construction of the Bhubu Jot Tunnel would be a transformative step for the development of Himachal Pradesh. This project would not only strengthen strategic infrastructure but also catalyze socio-economic growth in the region, Sukhu added. Bhubu Jot remains covered with heavy snow during winter and the proposed tunnel will provide all-weather road connectivity. The tunnel is strategically important as it will reduce the distance from Pathankot to Manali by around 63 km and lessen the travel time by two hours. Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal had announced its construction in 2009.
