Ratan Tata, the revered industrialist, philanthropist, and former Chairman of Tata Sons, passed away on Wedne??sday (October 9) at the age of 86. Known for his business acumen and extraordinary leadership that shaped the global success of the Tata Group, Tata was equally admired for his philanthropic contributions that transformed lives across India. Beyond business and charity, Tata had a deep and enduring love for sports, particularly cricket, a passion that saw him play a key role in supporting Indian cricket.

A lifelong passion of Ratan Tata for the game

While Ratan Tata’s accomplishments in the world of business are well-documented, his affection for cricket and his commitment to supporting the sport is less widely known but just as significant. Tata’s love for cricket went beyond being a mere spectator. His deep understanding of the game, coupled with a desire to uplift Indian talent, led the Tata Group to support numerous cricketers at the national and international levels. Under his guidance, the conglomerate became instrumental in nurturing Indian cricketers and providing opportunities that helped shape the careers of several cricketing legends.

The Tata Group, under Ratan Tata’s leadership, has long been a supporter of Indian cricket, with various companies under its umbrella playing pivotal roles in the careers of many cricketers. This connection stretches back decades and has seen both veterans and modern-day players benefit from the conglomerate’s extensive support network. Tata’s love for cricket and his visionary leadership made sure that his companies actively contributed to Indian cricket, helping players find stable employment while focusing on their game.

Also READ: From Sachin Tendulkar to Rohit Sharma: Cri??cket fraternity mourns the demise of Ratan Tata

The Tata Group’s profound connection with Indian cricket

Several cricketers owe part of their success to Tata Group-associated companies, particularly Air India, which played a significant role in supporting Indian cricketing talent. Legendary batter VVS Laxman, wicketkeeper-batsman Robin Uthappa, and former all-rounder Mohinder Amarnath were all associated with Air India. Similarly, former cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar also found support through the airline. These players benefited not only financially but also gained the flexibility to fo?cus on their sporting careers while working for a company that un??derstood the value of cricket.

Another Tata-linked entity, Indian Airlines, provided opportunities to some of India’s most celebrated cricketers. All-rounder Yuvraj Singh, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, and former middle-order batter Mohammad Kaif were among the notable names associated with Indian Airlines. Javagal Srinath, former fast bowler and now an ICC match referee, was also supported by this Tata-linked organization. Indian Airlines played a crucial role in providing cricketers with the financial backing and time they needed ??to?? hone their skills and compete at the highest level.

A legacy of supporting Indian cricket

The legacy of Tata Group’s involvement with cricket extends to other companies within the conglomerate as well. Former wicketkeeper-batter Farokh Engineer was supported by Tata Motors, while modern-day players such as bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur?? found backing through Tata Power. Tata Group’s commitment to supporting sports has allowed cricketers like t??hese to excel in their careers, both on and off the field, providing them with a stable foundation.

Ajit Agarkar, a former cricketer and now the chief selector of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was employed by Tata Steel, another arm of the Tata Group. His association with the conglomerate is a testament to Tata’s enduring commitment to Indian cricket. Additionally, former left-arm medium-fast bowler Rusi Framroze Surti was connected with the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL??), another Tata Group enterprise. These associations highlight how deeply rooted the Tata Group has been in supportin??g Indian cricketers across generations.

Ratan Tata’s commitment to cricket was not just limited to business decisions but was part of his broader vision to support Indian sports. His passion for the game and the Tata Group’s long-standing involvement in cricket have left an indelible mark on the sport in India. From providing jobs to offering crucial financial backing, Tata’s legacy in cricket extends beyond his business empire, making a lasting contribution to the success of Indian cricket and the lives of many legendary players.

Also READ: Twitter Reacti??ons: Nitish Reddy and Rinku Singh power India?? to a 2-0 series lead over Bangladesh in the T20Is

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India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah‘s recovery and availability for the Indian team is the most important concern of the Indian selectors and fans across the world. Although Bumrah underwent surgery in New Zealand, his fitne?ss details are still kept secret from the world and even selectors.

According to a report by The Indian Express, the details of Bumrah’s recovery process are only known to India’s former legendary batter and National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman. Notably, the 29-year-old Indian pacer sustained a back injury in September last year and was being treated at the NCA headquarters in Bengaluru. Bumrah ever since didn’t feature in any of the international matches.

All set to make a comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 for Mumbai Indians (MI), Bumrah had to pull out of the marquee event just before its commenc?ement as a pre??cautionary measure to not worsen his injury any further. Later, the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) made all the arrangements to get him treated in New Zealand, where he underwent surgery. Following the operation, BCCI has directed Laxman to look after Bumrah and check upon the Gujarat cricketer’s recovery.

“Not many in the BCCI are aware of his injury. Only VVS Laxman (NCA director) has been assigned to speak to him and the physios. Even the selection committee has been told that they will be informed about Bumrah’s actual injury and his rehab details in due course,” a BCCI source told The Indian Express.

“His back is in a fragile state right now. Besides, last time Bumrah’s return was hastened. Since he hadn’t fully recovered, he had discomfort while bowling on his return. This time, we are more conservative as a wrong call might even result in a career-threatening injury,” added the source.

With ODI World Cup lined up later this year in India, Bumrah’s recovery is critical for the Indian side, and the management is trying all it can to help the latter regain full fitness. Earlier, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma had also openly talked about the need for Bumrah in the host’s squad for the ICC event. Apart from the MI cricketer, Indian pacers Mukesh Choudhary and Prasidh Krishna are also under the observation of NCA.

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After Team India’s embarrassing loss in the third Test against England at Headingley in Leeds, many experts of the fascinatin??g game have opined that the visitors should make some changes in their playing XI for t??he upcoming fourth Test.

The fourth match of the ongoing five-match series is scheduled to begin on Thursday (September 02) at Kennington Oval in London. Ahead of the Oval Test, former India batter VVS Laxman has suggested two changes that Virat Kohli should make in the playing XI of the Indian team??.

Laxman reckoned that India should add another specialist batsman as the middle-order has been tested and not performed up to the desired expectation. The cricketer-turned-commentator believed Team India is overly dependent on the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, and the touring party should include an extra batsman? to strengthen the ba??tting unit.

“If there is one department which has not played to its potential or performed to its potential is the batting department because, in all the three Test matches, I felt that the middle-order was tested. They are overly dependent on Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul to get runs, so I definitely feel that playing an extra batsman will be something I am sure Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri will be thinking about,” Laxman told ESPNcricinfo.

Laxman said that he would want to see Hanuma Vihari in the playing XI as the number sixth batter. He mentioned that wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant should come to bat at the number seven position.

“I would like Hanuma Vihari to be batting at number six, and that will just strengthen the middle-order and Rishabh Pant batting at number seven,” added Laxman.

Another change that Laxman mentioned is to include off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI. The 46-year-old observe??d the visiting team should go with three seamers and one spinner as the ideal bowling combination.

“I would still go for Ravichandran Ashwin, keeping in mind that pitch at the Oval. Whenever I played at the Oval, as the match progresses, the wicket tends to become dryer which will definitely get in Ashwin into action. England have got three left-handers in their middle-order, so I think Ashwin will be someone who I will be really looking forward to playing in this Test match,” explained Laxman.

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The first Test between England and India was drawn due to rain on the final day of the match. Both sides are now focusing o??n the second Test?, scheduled to start on August 12 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. After the end of the series opener, Indian captain Virat Kohli gave clear hints regarding the playing combination, especially th??e bowling attack.

Kohli said that the 4-1 template (4 pacers and one spinner) is likely to remain for all the games unless there is a change in conditions and the pace of the wick??et.

“Most likely, it will be a template going ahead [4-1 combination], but we’ve always been adaptable as well, to the conditions and pace of the wicket. The conditions and the pace on the wicket need to be seen, but this team will be our template,” Kohli said on Sunday.

However, many experts are of the opinion that Team India should come up with one change for the upcoming Lord’s Test. Former India batsman VVS Laxman has suggested that India should include senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI.

The absence of Ashwin in the Trent Bridge Test raised many eyebrows as h??e has been the pick of the bowler for India irrespective of the conditions. Ashwin finished th?e first phase of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) as the highest wicket-taker (71).

Despite that, the Tamil Nadu spinner was left out in the first Test, and Shardul Thakur was given a chance, who impressed one and all with his four-wicket performance in the g??ame. But Thakur failed to contribute with the bat and was dismissed for a duck in the first? innings.

Laxman believed that Ashwin has all?? the potential and skills to perform irrespective of what the pitch offers.

“I would definitely draft in R Ashwin into the playing XI. It will add depth to the Indian bowling and also versatility and different options to the captain,” Laxman told ESPNcricinfo.

“Irrespective of what the weather forecast or the conditions, R Ashwin is a more than capable bowler. He is skillful enough to perform, not only perform but to put in a match-winning performance and put pressure on the English batters,” he added.

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Team India is battling it out against New Zealand in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Southampton. India were positioned at 182/5 when vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and left-handed batter Ravindra Jadeja were at the crease.

Rahane, bearing the onus of the recovery work after the fall of skipper Virat Kohli and wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant,?? was stationed at 49 and about to make the first half-century of the contest.

However, Kiwi pacer Neil Wagner and captain Kane Williamson had other plans. Wagner pitched in a back off a length delivery which Rahane half-heartedly pulled and ended up giving a catch to square leg fielder Tom Latham.

Taking cognizance of the same, former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman pointed out that the Black Caps had ended Rahane’s time at the crease in a way similar to what they had done during the first innings of the Christchurch Test in 2020.

“This is something that has become a pattern with Ajinkya Rahane’s batting. It was the same game plan that New Zealand used against him in Christchurch. This is something he requires to understand,” Laxman told Star Sports at lunch on day three.

The 46-year-old further stated that ther??e was no fielder at square leg or backward short-leg before that delivery, making Rahane play a hesi??tant pull.

“There was no fielder there on the fifth delivery, the one before he got out. And then a fielder was placed there and also near the backward short-leg. It forced Ajinkya Rahane to play a half-hearted pull shot. There was no conviction in that pull shot and this would be something Ajinkya Rahane will be disappointed with,” Laxman divulged.

The Hyderabad-born also enunciated the importance of ducking or defending back off a length ball. Else the opposition might take advantage of one’s attacking mindset.

“Because if the opposition comes to know that you are a compulsive pull shot or hook shot player, they will bowl a barrage of bouncers at you and have the field set to make you play that shot. And it is always going to be a low percentage shot,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, India were all bundled out for 217 runs in 92.1 overs. In response, New Zealand got off to a formidable start and punched 101/2 at the end of third day’s play.

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Team India will compete with New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Southampton from June 18 to 22. While India have been dominant in the WTC cycle, losing just one away series to the Blackcaps, New Zealand have also been consistent. They recently defeated England to topple Virat Kohli & Co. from the top position in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Rankings.

Thus, New Zealand have adjusted to the swinging conditions of the United Kingdom (UK). India, too, have played a three-day intra-squad match in which all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja smashed an unbeaten half-century.

Both the teams are looking in top-notch form, and the finale of the grand tournament is expected to be a??n equally balanced contest.

Experts speculate that India would play with two spinners, but there are still apprehensions o?ver who could be the first choice tweaker.

Talking about the same, former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman has opined that the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin would be his go-to spinner due to talismanic bowling during the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2020/21.

“Ashwin would be my first-choice spinner. The way he bowled in Australia, dominated the opposition’s best batsman in Steve Smith and consistently got him out, it was one of the main reasons why India went on to win that Test series,” Laxman was quoted as saying to Star Sports.

Wh?ile Jadeja has performed well with the ball, Ashwin has taken over 200 wickets of left-handed batsmen. Therefore, it makes him more favourable to bowling to the Kiwis since they have many left-hand batters in their line-up.

Moreover, Ashwin was the second-highest wicket-taker for his side (12) in the 2020/21 Australia tour, whereas he bagged the highest wickets (32) in the home series against England.

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Currently, Team India doesn’t lack quality players. So much so that when the Test side will be touring England to play the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final followed by a five-match series against the hosts, another Indian team will tussle with Sri Lanka in their backyards.

Senior players Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah form the golden trio for the national side in Tests. On top of that, the Border Gavaskar trophy 2020/21 saw the emergence of young guns who dismantled the mighty A??ussies in their backyard.

One such speedster that caught everyone’s eye was Mohammed Siraj. The Hyderabad-born was the highest wicket-taker for his side, scalping 13 wickets in three games.

Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman has opined that Siraj can be the ne??xt cricketing great provided he continues to wo?rk hard over the next few years.

“Provided he continues to work hard over the next few years, Siraj can be a really big name in international cricket. He certainly has the qualities and the potential to do so,” Laxman was quoted as saying by siasat.com.

Lauding the 27-year-old, Laxman added that Indian skipper Virat Kohli should use Siraj for longer spells. The veteran cricketer also recalled Siraj’s role in getting sealing the Australian Tests.

“Now in India, we are fortunate to have a battery of good fast bowlers. I feel that skipper Virat Kohli should use Siraj for the longer spells while giving the others short and sharp bursts. I feel that Siraj is only going to improve over time. We have seen him in action in Australia where he played a very important role in our attack and he will become even better with experience,” the 46-year-old asserted.

However, Laxman cautioned that the youngster should avoid injuries as fast bowlers frequently cut shor?t their careers due to work overload.

“However, one of the important things that he has to be careful about is stress-related injuries resulting from work overload. Fast bowlers are often hampered by injury problems. So this is one aspect on which Siraj must focus. He must stay fit and take care to remain injury-free. Then only will he be able to fulfil his potential,” the cricketer-turned-commentator concluded.

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Ever since MS Dhoni announced his retirement from white-ball cricket, the wicketkeeping position has been up for grabs, with quite a few options. Players like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan are all the ideal contenders ??to hold the wicketkeeper-batsman place in the Indian team, especially in the s??hortest format of the game.

Before the epic Australia tour, India’s preferred choice of wicketkeeper was Rahul, but after the tour down under, Pant has regained his place as the regular wicketkeeper. Apart from these two, Sanju and Ishan have also played T20I fixtures for Team India but haven’t yet kept the wickets.

So, who should be India’s wicketkeeper-batsman in the T20Is, considering the T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in India later this year. Well, former India cricketer, VVS Laxman, has revealed his choice.

The cricketer-turned-commentator has picked Pant ahead of Rahul, Sanju and Ishan for the wicketkeeper-batsman role in the T20I format. While speaking on the launch of ‘1971: The Beginning of India’s Cricketing Greatness’ by sports journalists Boria Majumdar and Gautam Bhattacharya, Laxman said that India are ‘spoiled for choices’, but Pant has improved his game and impressed everyone with his wicketkeeping skills in the recent few months.

The 46-year-old spoke about India’s historic triumph in Australia and termed it the ‘best he has seen in Indian cricket’. Laxman agreed that the Indian team has quite a few options for the role of wicketkeeper, but Pant has attracted praise through his superb performances and evolved himself as a mature batsman in the middle-order.

“I just feel that India again is blessed. Aakash just mentioned about the 2021 win in Australia, probably the best I have seen in Indian cricket. I think India is spoiled for choices. They can make Sanju Samon the captain for Rajasthan Royals. Then there is Ishan Kishan. KL Rahul has done well whenever he has donned the gloves and batted at the top and middle-order,” said Laxman as quoted by India Today.

“But somehow, I just feel that Rishabh Pant is that player I would choose for the wicketkeeper-batsman’s slot. He has really improved and impressed everyone with his wicketkeeping abilities. Not just that, as a left-hander, coming in the middle overs, he is someone who can just take away the game from any opposition. I would definitely go with Rishabh,” he added.

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All teams are currently playing maximum T20 matche??s and trying out the best possible combination in order to find the suitable mixture of players for the upcoming World Cup. The Virat Kohli-led India have also given a chanc?e to quite a few individuals. Fortunately for them, every cricketer has grabbed the opportunity with both hands to make an immediate impact.

Considering the recent inclusion of some players, former India cricketer VVS Laxman has picked two players that he wou??ld include in his 15-man ??squad for the 2021 T20 World Cup.

The cricketer-turned-commentator named Surya Kumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, who have been super-impressive in the recently concluded T20I series against England. While Kishan smashed a sensational half-century on his debut game, Surya? Kumar also shined with the bat in the second T20I of h??is career by scoring a remarkable fifty.

“Well, it’s a very tough question because what we have seen in this series is that lot of youngsters have capitalized on their opportunities. But the way Ishan Kishan played in his debut innings and then also the way Suryakumar Yadav played,” said Laxman on Cricket Connected show.

“I think both of them will definitely be in my squad of 15. It’s a tough choice, but I think both of them deserve to play in the Indian squad come to the World Cup,” he added.

Apart from Surya and Kishan, senior bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who made his comeback i??n the series after recovering from injury, also impressed everyone with to??p-quality bowling.

Sharing his views on Bhuvneshwar’s performance, former Team India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, who was also a part of the chat show featuring Laxman, said Bhuvi had sealed his spot in Team India’s squad for the marque event.

“Without a doubt, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, if he is fit and is in formâ€?because this team has displayed that it is obviously going to go on a form. There is a lot of time remaining from now to the start of the World Cup. In between, there is an IPL tournament as well. So, taking into account how the decisions have been made, I believe that there are still many spots that are up for grabs. Players who were been sidelined have still have a big season lined up between the World Cup selection. So, I would not like to count anybody out of the World Cup contention as yet,” said Bangar.

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