Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Shastri praises current Indian pace attack as best ever

Ravi Shastri said India now had its most potent pace attack of all time following a crushing 203-run victory over England in the third Test at Trent Bridge.

India's pacemen took 19 out of 20 England wickets in Nottingham before Ravichandran Ashwin, an off-spinner, ended the match just 10 minutes into Wednesday's fifth and final day by dismissing No 11 James Anderson.


Because the dry and dusty pitches often found in India traditionally favour spinners, their Test attacks were once dominated by slow bowlers.

But it was a very different story as the pacemen held sway at Trent Bridge, with all-rounder Hardik Pandya taking five for 28 in England's first innings 161 and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah five for 85 in the hosts' second innings 317.

Moreover, India also have the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav waiting in the wings.

Team coach Shastri, asked if India now had their best pace attack of all time, told reporters: "By a mile, by a mile. No (other India) team comes even close."

- Bumrah surprise -

Bumrah bowled a marathon 26 overs during Tuesday's play, a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact this was his first competitive match since suffering a thumb injury in a Twenty20 international against Ireland in Dublin on June 27.

"He is different, he is like when (Lasith) Malinga came on the scene or a Mitchell Johnson," said Shastri of the 24-year-old Bumrah, who only played the first of his four career Test against South Africa in Cape Town in January.

"He has that element of surprise... With that long spell he surprised us as well -- almost 30 overs in that one innings, for someone who has not played for a month and a half is commendable."

India may be the world's top-ranked Test side but in the past five years they have won just one of their six previous series outside of Asia, against a struggling West Indies.

But Shastri who has been involved in India's backroom set-up since 2014, initially as team director, was adamant they could be a force abroad.

"In the four years I've been doing this job, I think if you look at a clinical performance overseas, I think this has to be the best.

"When you look at all three departments, they stood up. As a batting unit, as a catching unit and as a bowling unit, so you can't ask for more.

"The endeavour of this team is to be the best travelling team in the world," former spin-bowling all-rounder Shastri, a member of the India side that won 2-1 in England in 1986, added.

"And I believe they're almost there. In India, we know what we can do. Especially if we play in conditions that suit us, very few teams will have a sniff.

"But to go to South Africa, England, Australia and try and win there, that's the endeavour of this team and they have it in them," the 56-year-old insisted.

- 'Champion Kohli' -

India's comprehensive win in Nottingham -- just their seventh Test-match victory in England -- followed a huge innings and 159-run defeat by England at Lord's after a narrow loss in the series opener at Edgbaston.

"All I asked the boys was to give me some accountability and they were simply magnificent," said Shastri, who attributed the vastly improved performance to "mental rest".

Trent Bridge also proved a triumph for Virat Kohli, the India captain's innings of 97 and 103 seeing the star batsman named man-of-the-match.

"What can you say about him?," said Shastri. "All you can say is 'well played', there is nothing else to say.

"He is a champion player."

India are bidding to become just the second team in Test history to win a five-match series from 2-0, with a Don Bradman-inspired Australia the only side to have achieved that feat when they defeated England back in 1936/37.

But Shastri brushed aside the comparison ahead of the fourth Test in Southampton, which starts on August 30.

"One match at a time, we live in the present," he said. "We move to Southampton and start afresh, take a fresh guard."

More For You

Maya Henry says Liam Payne shared private images of her without consent

Maya Henry reflects on her past with Liam Payne, sharing untold truths about love, addiction, and heartbreak.

Getty Images

Maya Henry says Liam Payne shared private images of her without consent

Maya Henry has spoken out for the first time since the passing of her ex-fiancé, Liam Payne, revealing shocking details about their relationship. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the model accused the late singer of sharing private images of her without consent, a discovery she made after his death.

Liam, best known for his time in One Direction, died in October last year at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. At the time, he was in a relationship with Kate Cassidy, but he had previously been engaged to Maya, with whom he had an on-and-off relationship from 2018 to 2022.

Maya described their time together as deeply troubled, citing Liam’s struggles with substance abuse as a major factor in their breakup. She explained that while she cared for him, his addiction issues made their relationship difficult and often unsafe. “On drugs, he became someone I didn’t recognise,” she revealed, adding that she had tried to support him but eventually realised she could not change him.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anthony Mackie wants Shah Rukh Khan as the next Avenger: ‘He’s the best!’

Anthony Mackie names Shah Rukh Khan as his top pick for the next Avenger, sparking excitement among fans

Getty Images

Anthony Mackie wants Shah Rukh Khan as the next Avenger: ‘He’s the best!’

Hollywood star Anthony Mackie, who steps into the iconic role of Captain America in Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World, has his sights set on Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan joining the Avengers. During a recent chat with influencer Kevin Zingkhai, Mackie didn’t hesitate when asked which Bollywood actor he’d pick for the superhero squad. “Shah Rukh Khan, no doubt. He’s the best!” Mackie declared, sparking excitement among fans of both Marvel and Bollywood.

Shah Rukh Khan’s global appeal has already found its way into the Marvel universe. A song from his film Swades was featured in Deadpool 2, and in 2018, Marvel executive Stephen Wacker stated that if the studio ever created Indian content, SRK would be a must-have. More recently, The Marvels director Nia DaCosta also praised Khan, calling him a “legend” and expressing her desire to work with him.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah, named the 2024 International Cricketer of the Year, has been sidelined since sustaining a lower back injury during the Sydney Test in January. (Photo: BCCI)

Bumrah ruled out of India's Champions Trophy squad, Harshit Rana named replacement

INDIA's Champions Trophy campaign suffered a setback as fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the tournament due to an ongoing injury.

Bumrah, named the 2024 International Cricketer of the Year, has been sidelined since sustaining a lower back injury during the Sydney Test in January. The injury also kept him out of the white-ball series against England.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chiranjeevi faces backlash over sexist comment about 'grandson and family legacy'

Chiranjeevi shares a moment with Ram Charan in a recent Instagram post

Instagram/alwaysramcharan

Chiranjeevi faces backlash over sexist comment about 'grandson and family legacy'

Megastar Chiranjeevi has found himself in hot water after making comments that many have labelled as sexist during a recent public appearance. Speaking at the pre-release event of Brahma Anandam, the actor expressed his desire for a grandson, sparking a wave of criticism online for what some called outdated and regressive views on gender.

Chiranjeevi joked that his home feels like a "ladies' hostel," with him playing the role of the warden, surrounded by granddaughters. He revealed that he often urges his son, actor Ram Charan, to have a boy to carry on the family legacy. "I keep telling Charan, at least this time, have a boy so our legacy continues," he said, adding, "I’m scared he might have another girl." Ram Charan and his wife, Upasana, welcomed their daughter, Klin Kaara, in June 2023.


The actor’s remarks didn’t sit well with many, who took to social media to call out the underlying gender bias. One user pointed out that such comments reflect a persistent societal mindset that prioritises male heirs over female children. "It’s disappointing to see someone of his stature perpetuate these outdated ideas," the user wrote. Another criticised Chiranjeevi for not using his influence to challenge stereotypes, saying, "Every child, regardless of gender, is a blessing and can carry forward a legacy."

Keep ReadingShow less
BP-Reuters

Fourth-quarter profit dropped 61 per cent compared to the previous year, marking BP’s weakest results since Q4 2020, when the pandemic reduced global oil demand. (Photo: Reuters)

BP reports lowest quarterly profit in four years, plans strategy reset

BP reported a quarterly profit of £943 million on Tuesday, falling short of expectations and marking its lowest in four years.

The company said it plans a "fundamental reset" of its strategy, days after reports that Elliott Management had taken a stake in the oil major.

Keep ReadingShow less