MS Dhoni underwent surgery on his left knee in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday.
Dhoni, who led Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title, had flown to Mumbai from Ahmedabad after the final on Monday and consulted renowned sports orthopaedic surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who is also on the BCCI medical panel and has performed surgeries on a number of top Indian cricketers, including Rishabh Pant.
“Yes, Dhoni has had a successful knee surgery at the Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai on Thursday,” a CSK source was quoted as saying by PTI. “He is doing fine and will be released in a day or two. He would be resting for a few days before his extensive rehabilitation starts. It is now expected that he would have enough time to get fit to play in the next IPL.”
Dhoni had played the entire IPL season with a heavily strapped left knee and although he looked absolutely okay while keeping, more often than not he batted as late as No. 8 and didn’t look swift while running between the wickets. After leading the side to their fifth IPL title, though, Dhoni had said he would return for “at least” one more season for the fans, if his body allowed it.
“If you circumstantially see, it’s the best time to announce retirement.” Dhoni had said. “The easy thing for me to say is thank you and retire. But the hard thing to do is to work hard for nine months and try to play one more IPL season. The body has to hold up. But the amount of love I have received from CSK fans, it would be a gift for them to play one more season.
“The way they’ve shown their love and emotion, it’s something I need to do for them. It’s the last part of my career. It started over here and full house was chanting my name. It was same thing in Chennai, but it will be good to come back and play whatever I can. The kind of cricket I play, they feel they can play that cricket. There’s nothing orthodox about it and I like to keep it simple.”
On Wednesday, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan had said that it was “completely Dhoni’s call” when asked if the captain will decide against playing next season and thus free up a purse of INR 15 crore for the mini-auction.
“Frankly, we are not even thinking along those lines as we haven’t reached that stage,” Viswanathan had said. “It will be completely Dhoni’s call. But I can tell you, in CSK, we haven’t entertained those thoughts.”
MS Dhoni, CSK captain, undergoes knee surgery in Mumbai
As part of a new revenue-distribution model, India are set to take home 38.5% of the $600m earnings over the next four-year commercial cycle. The ECB are the next highest earners in the proposed model, potentially earning $41.33 million (6.89%) with Cricket Australia next highest with $37.53 million (6.25%).
The PCB is projected to make over $34.51 million (5.75%) leaving the remaining eight Full Members with below 5% of the earnings. Of the $600 million projected pool, the 12 Full Members will get $532.84 million (88.81%), with the remaining $67.16 million (11.19%) going to the Associate Members.
“When you see where that value is created, I think it’s understandable,” Gould said on the latest episode of The Final Word podcast. “There may be tweaks in the margins here or there, but the dominant position India is in is based on India’s ability to drive revenues and drive the sport forward. One point four billion people, one sport, ten [IPL] teams, one international team.
“I get it (the financial inequality). But I also understand how important India is, because without them we wouldn’t have the kind of revenues that are coming into the game.”
Richard Gould
“What I’m also fascinated by is India’s determination also to assist the world game. You look at the percentages and go ‘Well, that’s not fair it should be split equally’. But we’ve got to look at the size of the market. India play as many international fixtures as any other team in the world. And they do that because they know when they tour as an international team, they bring interest and revenue to that home side. I think it’s important to see things in the round, in that regard.
“I get it (the financial inequality). But I also understand how important India is, because without them we wouldn’t have the kind of revenues that are coming into the game. And I do think India make huge efforts to be responsible partners in this when I see the amount they travel around the world, taking India everywhere. I do think it is a balance.
“I think there is collective decision-making, both in India and within the ICC, and I think there is a real determination and understanding we need [for] cricket to be expanding and we need it to be healthy around the world.”
Gould suggested that the money could be better shared around the game if boards pay touring sides, a shift from the current situation where host boards retain all revenue generated. Over the last few years, that situation has served to highlight inequalities throughout the game’s various markets, particularly when it comes to Test cricket.
Full members like West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand are in the process of backtracking from red-ball cricket given the costs incurred to host Tests are not worthwhile as far as their own domestic deals are concerned, particularly at the expense of limited-overs fixtures. Gould sees no reason why that should be the case and feels countries like England, where Test cricket thrives, must do more.
“When somebody tours England, we don’t pay them a fee, we don’t pay their players,” Gould said. “The way that it’s done in bilateral cricket at the moment is you retain your own home domestic revenues. And when you travel away, they received their domestic revenue. That’s where the disparity of markets comes in. That’s something we will want to and will need to look at in terms of encouraging people not just to play Test but make sure they can pay their players, and pay them well, so that they want to play Test cricket again.”
More cricket being played around the world a ‘good thing’
On the subject of franchise cricket, the former Surrey chief executive regards the increase in T20 competitions around the world as an example of cricket’s growth. Moreover, he is of the belief the upcoming Major League T20 in the United States can help the game reach new, high-yield markets.
“You look at the T20 franchises and all these leagues that are being created – there is more cricket being played around the world now than there ever has been before. That has got to be a good thing.
“And then there are mother markets in play. The States is an interesting market. What happens if we get cricket in the Olympics, which is in the States (Los Angeles, 2028)? There’s another key, pivotal moment for it. There will be some bumpy patches along the way in terms of what direction we take, but never mind that. Let’s look at the overall big picture – the game is growing.”
Regarding the Hundred, the ECB’s own short-form competition, Gould held firm on previous comments that the competition is here to stay. He also doubled down on talk of a change from 100 balls to T20, saying the unique format helps the competition stand out among the crowd and in turn heightens the debate around the English game, allowing it to stay relevant. Now in its third year, and tied to a bumper broadcast deal that expires in 2028, Gould was unequivocal that English cricket needs the Hundred to compete effectively with the rest of the world.
“You could argue it gives us a point of difference, in a very crowded market,” he said. “It is a point of difference.
“You see the competition that we’re in globally now. Every country needs to have a super, primetime white ball domestic comp. We have invested very heavily in the Hundred over a number of years, both emotionally and financially. We need to make it bigger and better. We also have the Blast which we need to make bigger and better.
“We are not going to take the Hundred out. We are going to make it bigger and better. We are going to make the whole of cricket, bigger and better. That is our aim. We want to do it in a really collaborative fashion where everyone feels they have a role, they have purpose and they have something to gain from this.
“The format is not something that is on my agenda, in this regard, because Sky have been really supportive in driving it forward. It’s given us that point of difference. Everybody around the world, in the cricketing world, has heard of the Hundred. That’s a good thing. That’s a good thing – we like debate. When you look at sport, more than 50% of the coverage that we get is about the politics and the machinations of the sport rather than the sport itself. That’s a good thing too – as long as people are talking about the game, I’m pretty happy.”
Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
ECB CEO backs India to be responsible partners amid revenue-disparity concerns
Josh Tongue was quick to talk up Worcestershire’s role in him winning his first Test cap for England against Ireland at Lord’s this week, but it remains to be seen if he will still be at the county in 2024.
Tongue is the first Worcestershire player to make a men’s Test debut for England since Moeen Ali in 2014, and said on Tuesday that his debut would be “a massive thing” for the club. “There are a lot of people at Worcester who have influenced my career,” he added.
But Tongue is among a number of Worcestershire players whose deals with the county are due to end this year and June 1, the day of his debut, also marks the date when county cricketers whose contracts expire at the end of a season are free to talk to other clubs.
Jack Haynes, the 22-year-old batter, is also out of contract this season, and losing either player would be a significant blow for Worcestershire. Both Haynes and Tongue are graduates of the club’s academy, and were part of England Lions’ tour to Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Worcestershire have enjoyed a strong start to the 2023 season on the pitch: they are joint-third in Division Two of the County Championship with two wins from six and have won all three of their T20 Blast games to date.
But off it, they are in a state of flux. The club reported an annual loss of just over £200,000 for 2022 and their financial health is dependent on ECB distributions, which account for around 60% of their annual income.
The club announced an intention to appoint a director of cricket in July 2022 but the position remains vacant, with Paul Pridgeon – the head of their ‘cricket steering group’, an unpaid role – in charge of contract negotiations with players and their representatives.
Elsewhere, a number of players who have been part of recent England squads are out of contract. James Bracey and David Payne’s deals with Gloucestershire are up at the end of the year, while Dan Lawrence – who was today released from the England Test squad for T20 Blast duty – is in the final year of his Essex deal and Jordan Cox is in the same situation at Kent.
Matt Parkinson, who made his Test debut a year ago this week, dropped out of Lancashire’s Championship side earlier this year and is also in the final year of his contract. He is now free to speak to other counties as he weighs up his future.
Parkinson played one game on loan at Durham earlier this year, but they are understood to have lined up his twin brother Callum as their main spin-bowling target, having relied on overseas spinners in the Championship this season.
The opening of county cricket’s ‘transfer window’ comes at a time when player contracts are up for discussion, with directors of cricket recently calling for an “urgent” review into the standard 12-month contract due to the proliferation of English players involved in franchise tournaments around the world.
County news – Can Worcestershire keep Tongue tied down?
England won the toss and chose to bowl under overcast skies in their one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s.
Josh Tongue, the Worcestershire seamer originally drafted into the squad as injury cover, was presented with England cap No. 711 by James Anderson, whose Ashes preparations are being carefully managed along with those of Ollie Robinson after the duo recently suffered groin and ankle issues respectively.
Jonny Bairstow makes his return to international cricket after nine months, having recovered from a horrific leg fracture sustained in a freak fall while playing golf. His stellar performance during 2022 was a hallmark of England’s Bazball resurgence.
Ben Stokes, England’s captain, said: “It looks pretty good conditions to bowl in, we’re looking forward to getting out there as a group. I’m excited to see him [Tongue] go out and see what he’s got to offer, he’s obviously a good enough player to be here in the first place. It’s a great opportunity for us to see him.”
Ireland, playing just their seventh Test, have handed a debut to Fionn Hand as their third seam bowler, with Craig Young missing out. Hand, 24, played a key role in Ireland’s T20 World Cup victory over England in Melbourne last year, claiming Stokes’ wicket with a fine delivery that bowled him through the gate.
The last time these sides played a Test at this ground, the hosts received a scare, bowled out for 85 in the first innings before running through Ireland for just 38 in the fourth innings to win by 143 runs.
Andy Balbirnie, Ireland’s skipper, said Hand was “fired up” about making his debut. “He’s a great character, he’s earned that debut and hopefully he can enjoy himself. The wicket looks pretty good. If we can get through that tricky first hour hopefully we’ll have a good day with the bat.”
England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Matthew Potts, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 Jack Leach
Ireland: 1 James McCollum, 2 PJ Moor, 3 Andy Balbirnie (capt), 4 Harry Tector, 5 Paul Stirling, 6 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7 Curtis Campher, 8 Andy McBrine, 9 Mark Adair, 10 Fionn Hand, 11 Graham Hume.
Recent Match Report – Ireland vs England Only Test 2023
Rashid Khan has been ruled out of the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka with a lower-back injury. The Afghanistan Cricket Board stated that “he will remain under full medical observation, and is expected to return for the final ODI on June 7”.
The three-match series begins on June 2, with the second game to be played two days later at the same ground. Just seven days after the ODI series, Afghanistan are scheduled to play a one-off Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram.
Noor also had a successful IPL stint for Titans, grabbing 16 wickets from 13 games at an economy of 7.82. However, he has played only one ODI and one T20I for Afghanistan.
Last month, Afghanistan announced a strong 15-member squad, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, for the Sri Lanka ODIs.
Having sealed direct qualification for the upcoming ODI World Cup, Afghanistan will be looking at this series to get their preparations going for the marquee event. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will treat it as a build-up for the Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe, starting on June 18.
Rashid Khan out of first two ODIs against Sri Lanka with lower-back injury
Southern Vipers 115 for 6 (McCaughan 42, Adams 36) beat Thunder 111 by four wickets
Ella McCaughan capitalised on Southern Vipers’ England exodus to score 42 to help her side to a four-wicket victory over Thunder in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.
Batter McCaughan hadn’t featured in Vipers’ opening three matches but made the most of Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt’s England call-ups with five boundaries on her way to her highest T20 score for Vipers.
Vipers’ chase of 111 – after a good bowling performance led by Linsey Smith‘s 2 for 16 – never looked in much doubt, with Georgia Adams joining McCaughan in a 52-run stand in front of almost 3,500 fans.
“It was nice to get an opportunity at the top of the order,” McCaughan said. “I’ve been working hard behind the scenes to be ready for the chance and I’m really pleased with the way I contributed.
“We have a strong side and depth here so it is really hard to get into the team. I’ve been working hard to get in and it was nice to get out there today.”
The bonus-point victory put Vipers in command of third place after their defeat of The Blaze, while Thunder remain fourth.
Thunder chose to bat first with both sides shorn of their England contract players, with Lauren Bell, Wyatt, Charlie Dean, Bouchier, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, and Emma Lamb all called up for red-ball training ahead of the Ashes Test.
Thunder’s batters collectively struggled to make the most of starts, with Liberty Heap, Deandra Dottin, Ellie Threlkeld and Danni Collins all scoring between 15 and 24 but none could turn them into innings-defining scores.
They were throttled by accurate bowling from the experienced Vipers bowlers Anya Shrubsole, Smith, Adams and, on her birthday, Georgia Elwiss – none of which went for more than 6.25 runs per over.
But Thunder self-sabotaged with four run-outs of varying degrees of barbecuing and mix-ups, which accounted for the wickets of Fi Morris, Seren Smale, Steph Butler and Olivia Bell.
A used pitch made flowing shot-making difficult although they totted up 47 for 2 in the powerplay, aided by Heap’s quartet of boundaries.
West Indian Dottin showed some flair with a vicious cut and flail over cover combo off Mary Taylor before slog-sweeping Adams for six.
But the belt tightened, Elwiss went for 14 off her for overs while Shrubsole, Smith and Adams picked up two wickets each as the last seven wickets fell for just 30 runs.
In reply, Vipers’ new-look opening pair of Nicole Faltum and McCaughan effortlessly put on 33 together before the Australian cut to point and Taylor joined the run out party.
Left-arm all-rounder Naomi Dattani had pilfered the first wicket, and the first two overs with impeccable figures of 2-2-0-1.
But Adams and McCaughan took control. Adams started slowly with 15 coming from her first 17 balls before tearing into former team-mate Tara Norris with three successive fours before bring up the fifty stand by carting Bell into the stands.
She departed two balls later attempting another big shot before Freya Kemp and McCaughan were bowled by Bell.
Nancy Harman became the sixth run out victim but Elwiss whacked a six back over Bell’s head to win it with 23 balls to spare.
It’s not often you get to the eve of the Test summer and an England captain likens himself to a Chelsea footballer. But such are the demands on a modern cricketer like Ben Stokes, the comparison made sense.
“I played a little bit of a John Terry role winning the IPL,” the allrounder joked during press commitments at Lord’s a couple of days after Chennai Super Kings won a thrilling final in Ahmedabad. Terry famously lifted the Champions League trophy in 2012 dressed in his full Chelsea kit despite ...
Josh Little’s appearance in front of over 100,000 Indian fans in the IPL final on Monday night will be every bit as important to the development of cricket in Ireland as the Test team’s opportunity to play at Lord’s, according to their captain, Andrew Balbirnie.
Speaking at Lord’s on the eve of his team’s one-off encounter with England, Balbirnie acknowledged the immensity of the challenge that awaits Ireland this week – not simply in facing down an opposition that has won 10 of its last 12 Tests ...
Former South Africa allrounder Lance Klusener has signed as consultant with the Tripura Cricket Association for India’s upcoming domestic season.
Klusener, 51, is contracted to work with them for 100 days in a year. Besides working with the Ranji side, he will help the state’s eight teams in both men’s and women’s sections in various age groups.
Tripura Cricket Association vice-president Timir Chanda said Klusener would arrive in the state capital, Agartala, on Saturday to work with the state cricketers for overall development. In the first phase, Klusener will stay in Agartala for 20 days and will watch and guide the cricketers.
“We hope the cricketers will benefit from his vast international experience,” Chanda said. “Our cricketers are also excited to work with Klusener.”
Klusener, who played 49 Tests and 171 ODIs for South Africa, was also Delhi’s consultant coach for the 2018-19 season. He is currently the coach of the Durban Super Giants in the SA20 tournament. He has previously worked as batting coach of South Africa and Zimbabwe, and was the head coach of Afghanistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Earlier this year, he withdrew his application to become South Africa’s next white-ball coach. He was among the six candidates interviewed by Cricket South Africa but chose to pull out of the process and concentrate on T20 franchise roles instead.
Lance Klusener joins Tripura as consultant ahead of India’s domestic season
Western Storm 150 for 3 (Gibson 62, Wilson 58*) beat Sunrisers 149 for 6 (Gardner 37*, Macleod 34) by seven wickets
Dani Gibson struck a blistering 62 off just 46 balls as Western Storm chased down 150 to beat Sunrisers by seven wickets and record their second win in this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup.
Storm lost two early wickets, but vice-captain Gibson blazed seven fours and a six to keep Storm well ahead of the run rate throughout a 115-run partnership in 13 overs with former England batter ...
Big picture: Searching for the pinnacle
“So Ben, what does the Ashes rivalry mean to you?”
No disrespect was intended to England’s actual opponents in tomorrow’s one-off Test against Ireland, but nor was there any point in playing the question – which came in the opening seconds of Ben Stokes‘ first press conference of the summer – straight back whence it came.
The Bazball Ashes, to give its inevitable monicker, gets underway in barely a fortnight’s time. And if that is the year’s “Pinnacle ...
Ben Stokes says his fitness levels are back to their 2019 best and hopes to come good on a promise to his team-mates to fulfil his role as an allrounder this summer.
A chronic left knee injury has left England’s Test captain managing his bowling output in recent years, in turn dulling the balance he brings to an XI. That came to a head at the end of the winter in New Zealand when Stokes admitted to feeling “incredibly frustrated” at being unable to operate as a fourth seamer, sending down just ...
MS Dhoni will be seeking expert opinion from sports orthopaedics in Mumbai on the state of his dodgy left knee before taking a call on his treatment, Chennai Super Kings’ CEO Kasi Viswanathan said on Wednesday.
Dhoni had played the entire IPL season with a heavily strapped left knee and although he looked absolutely okay while keeping, more often than not he batted as late as No. 8 and didn’t look swift while running between the wickets. After leading the side to their fifth IPL title, though, Dhoni had said he would return for “at least” one more season for the fans, if his body allowed it.
“Yes, it is true that Dhoni will be taking medical advice for his left knee injury and accordingly decide,” Viswanathan told PTI. “If surgery is advised, it can only be ascertained after reports come out, it will be completely his call.”
Is there a possibility that Dhoni will decide against playing next season and thus free up a purse of INR 15 crore for the mini-auction? “Frankly, we are not even thinking along those lines as we haven’t reached that stage,” Viswanathan said. “It will be completely Dhoni’s call. But I can tell you, in CSK, we haven’t entertained those thoughts.”
Asked if the franchise owner N Srinivasan addressed the players after the fifth IPL trophy and if celebrations were in the offing.
“He is very happy but there were no celebrations,” Viswanathan replied. “The players dispersed for their respective destinations from Ahmedabad only. Also if you have seen CSK, we are never big on celebrations.”
Talking about the team’s fifth title, which came despite a spate of injuries to its top players, Viswanathan said: “It’s all about team spirit and every player knowing his role which is very well defined in our set-up.
“Even a player of Ben Stokes‘ stature, his nature was brilliant around the group and the youngsters looked up to him. This has been possible because of our captain.”
What has been CSK’s hallmark over the years which enabled them to reach the final in ten of the 14 editions that they have been a part of?
“I have been associated with CSK since season one and we have never deviated from our process. The key has been to keep things simple and explain to every player what is expected of them. In our franchise, the skipper keeps everything uncomplicated.”
‘MS Dhoni will take medical advice for knee injury’ – CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan
Anil Kumble and Robin Uthappa are among just a handful of cricketers who have expressed their anguish at prominent Indian wrestlers being “manhandled” by the police in Delhi, India’s national capital.
Tweeting on Tuesday, two days after disturbing images of Vinesh Phogat, among other wrestlers, being dragged away from the site of their protest in central Delhi emerged, Kumble said, “Dismayed to hear about what transpired on the 28th of May with our wrestlers being manhandled. Anything can be resolved through proper dialogue. Hoping for a resolution at the earliest.”
A day later, on Wednesday, Uthappa said he was “saddened” by the developments, and that he was “certain there is a better way to have this addressed in a peaceful manner”.
Delhi Police acted against the wrestlers when they breached the security barriers and started to march towards the new parliament building, which was being inaugurated by Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, at the time. The protesters were pushed into buses and taken away, and police personnel cleared the protest site – not far from the parliament building not long after.
Apart from Kumble and Uthappa, there was a message from Irfan Pathan, who tweeted “I’m so sad to see the visuals of our Athletes” on Sunday night itself. And from Manoj Tiwary, now a Member of the Legislative Assembly in West Bengal, who offered his support to the wrestlers.
Dismayed to hear about what transpired on the 28th of May with our wrestlers being manhandled. Anything can be resolved through proper dialogue. Hoping for a resolution at the earliest.
Saddened to hear about what’s happening with our wrestling heroes. I’m certain there is a better way to have this addressed in a peaceful manner. I pray it happens soon.
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) May 31, 2023
I’m so sad to see the visuals of our Athletes…. Please solve this ASAP
The tweets from Kumble, Irfan and Tiwary came around the time of the IPL 2023 final, which Chennai Super Kings won off the last ball against Gujarat Titans.
The morning after the final was completed – after rain in Ahmedabad caused long delays over two days – Sakshi Malik had even tweeted out a jibe of sorts directed at the Indian cricket community.
Congratulations MS Dhoni ji and CSK. We are happy that at least some sportspersons are getting respect and love they deserve. For us, the fight for justice is still on
Not long after that, Malik, Phogat and Bajrang Punia made public statements saying that they would be immersing their medals, earned at competitions around the world including the Olympic Games and the World Championships, into the River Ganga, something they have since opted against.
The wrestlers’ protest started in January.
They have alleged that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Indian wrestling federation chief, sexually abused and exploited women wrestlers – including a minor – over the past decade. That was after Delhi Police agreed to investigate the charges against Singh a week after the complaint was first filed and only after the wrestlers moved the Supreme Court for action. But the wrestlers’ larger mission has been to remove Singh from his position, and to draw attention to the charges against him.
“Will they ever get justice,” Kapil had asked at the time in an Instagram post with a photograph of Phogat, Punia and Malik – the latter two Olympic medalists – who have been the faces of the protest. They were part of a group of 30-odd wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in January, too, when they made public the allegations against Singh, a member of parliament from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
“You do come forward to congratulate us when we win something. Even the cricketers tweet when that happens. Abhi kya ho gaya [What has happened now]? Are you so afraid of the system? Or maybe there’s something fishy going on there too?”
Vinesh Phogat, on April 28
Following that, the union sports ministry, of which former BCCI president Anurag Thakur is the man in charge, tasked its oversight committee to investigate the matter and submit the findings by February. The committee included, among others, boxer MC Mary Kom and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, both Olympic Games medallists (Mary Kom is also a former member of parliament). Reports say that the findings of the oversight committee have not been made available to the wrestlers.
Support for the wrestlers from the cricket community had been extremely limited all along, and Phogat had even issued a plea of sorts to the Indian cricket community, asking why they had been silent on the plight of their fellow sportspersons.
“The entire country worships cricket but not even a single cricketer has spoken up,” the Indian Express quoted Phogat as saying. “We aren’t saying that you speak in our favour, but at least put up a neutral message and say there should be justice for whichever party. This is what pains me… Be it cricketers, badminton players, athletics, boxing…
“It’s not like we don’t have big athletes in our country. There are cricketers… During the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, they showed their support. Don’t we deserve even that much?
“You do come forward to congratulate us when we win something. Even the cricketers tweet when that happens. Abhi kya ho gaya [What has happened now]? Are you so afraid of the system? Or maybe there’s something fishy going on there too?”
Wrestlers’ protest – Anil Kumble, Robin Uthappa, Irfan Pathan, Manoj Tiwary ask for quick resolution
