Sports

Srinagar, Sep 30 (IANS) Unburdened by recent non-selection in India white-ball teams, Rest of India (RoI) skipper Rishabh Pant on Wednesday said his intent to make the most of every opportunity coming his way as he fine-tunes his red-ball rhythm ahead of the Irani Cup clash against Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir starting on Thursday.

Pant has been training relentlessly and has been at his jovial best at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in the run-up to the high-profile clash. Having missed out on the ongoing white-ball series against the West Indies, the game in Srinagar offers Pant an ideal platform to build rhythm ahead of the Ranji Trophy and India's upcoming Test assignment in New Zealand.

"For me, it's very simple. Whatever is in front of me, I will give my best. That's how I play cricket, and I keep it very simple. So whatever opportunity I get, I try to make the best out of it. For me, every game is an opportunity. I want to give my best, and I keep it very simple," said Pant during the pre-match press conference in Srinagar.

Returning to action after a rare three-week break following the 1-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka, Pant insisted he remains unburdened by selection chatter, especially with him now being reduced to a one-format player for India. "I try to give my best every time I take on the field, and that has been the key for me over a period of time. Yes, there will be ups and downs.

“When you want to have an international career for 15-20 years, you have to go through all these things. So it's that kind of mindset, and it's very simple - have the right people to guide you and just keep giving your best each and every time you take on the field."

Reflecting on how his perspective evolved during his prolonged 18-month rehabilitation following a severe life-threatening car crash in December 2022, Pant credited the arduous journey for teaching him to keep things simple.

"See, when you have gone through so much in your life, you understand, you know, keeping it simple is the key. Obviously, when you're playing for your country, working hard is not optional. You have to work hard, you have to be mentally strong, and you've got to keep on learning and keep on improving. And that's the mindset you want to keep."

"Especially when you're going through a long rehab, it's always frustrating. But developing that mindset [not overthinking] is obviously challenging, but at the same time, you know, if you're playing international cricket, you have to go through challenges," he added.

--IANS

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Kakamigahara, Sep 30 (IANS) India assured themselves a medal in women’s hockey at the Asian Games 2026 after defeating South Korea 2-0 in the semifinal in Kakamigahara, Japan, on Wednesday, with goals from Ishika and an own goal helping the unbeaten side book a place in the final.

India, who are chasing their first Asian Games gold in women’s hockey since 1982, will face China in the title clash after maintaining their perfect record in the tournament. The Salima Tete-led side dominated possession and territory for large periods but had to wait until the third quarter for the breakthrough after South Korea’s disciplined defence repeatedly denied them.

India earned multiple penalty corners in the opening quarter but could not convert any of them. They also came close from open play, with Lalremsiami Hmarzote unable to finish after receiving a fine pass from Navneet Kaur.

South Korea also attempted to test the Indian defence through attacks from both flanks, but India remained organised at the back as the opening quarter ended goalless.

India continued to press in the second quarter and came close again from a penalty corner when Navneet produced a powerful strike, only for the South Korean goalkeeper to make an excellent save while stretching across the goal.

Despite sustained Indian pressure, South Korea held firm, and the teams went into half-time locked at 0-0.

India continued to control possession after the change of ends, patiently building attacks through the midfield and looking for openings on either flank. South Korea’s defence, however, continued to frustrate the Indian forwards.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 44th minute when Ishika found the back of the net with a superb finish, giving India a 1-0 lead at the end of the third quarter.

India then doubled their advantage early in the final quarter after a fine move initiated by captain Salima Tete. The skipper carried the ball into the shooting circle from the right and cut it back from the baseline, with the ball taking a deflection off a Korean defender’s stick before ending up in the net.

South Korea attempted to fight back, but India remained composed and continued to create pressure. The Koreans defended another Indian penalty corner with determination, keeping the scoreline at 2-0.

The result keeps alive India’s bid to end a 44-year wait for a second women’s hockey gold at the Asian Games.

India had entered the semifinal unbeaten after sweeping aside Uzbekistan 19-0, Indonesia 17-1 and Thailand 20-1 before overcoming hosts Japan 3-1 and Singapore 7-0 in the pool stage.

South Korea, who finished second in Pool A, had won four of their five matches before Wednesday’s semifinal, with their only defeat coming against China.

The Indian team will now aim to complete their campaign by winning gold when they face China in the final on Friday.

--IANS

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Aichi-Nagoya, Sep 30 (IANS) India’s Saptak Talwar made a promising start to his campaign at the Asian Games 2026 as he finished Round 1 tied third in the men’s individual event after shooting a four-under 66 at the Par-70 Kasugai Country Club East Course in Aichi-Nagoya.

Veer Ahlawat and Yuvraj Sandhu, the other two Indians in the fray, carded scores of one-over 71 to be placed tied 23rd.

After round one, the leaders in the individual event were Chinese Taipei’s Wei-hsuan Wang and Japan’s Kazuki Higa as both fired scores of five-under 65.

In the men’s team event, the Indians were placed tied fifth with a total of three-under 137 as the scores of the top two players counted toward the team score. Japan were the leaders in the team event with a score of nine-under 131.

Saptak Talwar, currently leading the PGTI Order of Merit, made five birdies and a bogey during his opening round.

Former PGTI Order of Merit champion Veer Ahlawat made an eagle, three birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey in his first round. Yuvraj Sandhu, the 2025 PGTI Order of Merit winner, made four birdies and five bogeys in his first round.

The men’s golf competition features 66 players and will be played over 72 holes from September 30 to October 3. The team medals will be decided on the aggregate scores of the best two players from each country in each round.

The Indian men’s trio brings considerable experience and strong recent form into the competition. Talwar and Ahlawat finished tied third at the Bengaluru Open 2026 immediately before the Asian Games, while Sandhu recently recorded a notable tied 13th finish at the DP World Tour’s FedEx Open de France.

In the women’s individual event, Pranavi Urs was placed second at four-under 66, three shots behind the lead. Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok were tied 18th with scores of one-over 71.

In the women’s team event, the Indian team was tied sixth at three-under 137, five shots off the lead.

--IANS

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Cape Town, Sep 30 (IANS) The countdown to cricket’s biggest event on African soil in 23 years will officially begin on Thursday when the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveils the schedule for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup during a grand launch event in Cape Town on Thursday.

Set to be broadcast live on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network from 8:30 pm IST in India, the high-profile launch ceremony at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) will mark the exact one-year landmark for the 14-team mega event, which runs from October 2 to November 21, 2027, in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Alongside the schedule release, the ICC will also open the global ticket ballot, giving fans worldwide a fair opportunity to secure their tickets across 12 host venues hosting 57 matches. Ten of the 14 participating nations will have secured direct qualification based on the September 30 cut-off date.

Hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe receive automatic entry, and are joined by top-ranked ODI nations India, Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. The remaining four slots will be decided through a multi-team global qualifier to be played early next year, with two-time champion West Indies set to feature in it and aim to qualify for the mega event.

For Indian batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the 2027 ODI World Cup represents a final opportunity to cap off stellar international careers with championship glory. Speaking to JioStar, Rohit recalled the overwhelming emotion of leading India to the 2024 T20 World Cup and expressed his deep craving to replicate that feeling on the 50-over stage.

"It'll be great to win the upcoming ODI World Cup. I wouldn't think about full circle and all that now. Winning a World Cup for India is a special feeling. I have experienced that twice in the T20 format. In 2007, I was just a young kid of 20 years. Of course, it's a big tournament; you've won a World Cup in your first year, it's great.

“Then we won the Champions Trophy in 2013, and after that there was a long period, almost for 11 years, where we couldn't win an ICC title. So that's why, when we won the T20 World Cup in 2024, there was a realisation of how important it was. So that feeling is still inside to a great extent. I know what winning a World Cup feels like.

“So that's why I want that feeling back. The fun we had, you can’t describe what that feeling is, because you can't match that. That's why winning that World Cup is very important to me, because I want to have that feeling again, which we felt recently," Rohit said.

Kohli, who lifted the 2011 ODI World Cup trophy early in his career at home, declared that his final World Cup appearance provides all the motivation he needs to leave everything on the field. "I'm not in a place where I feel like, if it didn't happen earlier, I have to do it now. But for me, it's the last World Cup I'm going to play for India. And that is my motivation.

“Like, to leave everything out there. And of course, the goal is absolutely to win the World Cup. And whatever it takes, I'm absolutely ready. My goal is to win as many games as I can for the team, and my dream is to play a match-winning knock in the finals while chasing a score; that would be ideal. If it happens, great.

“If it doesn't happen and we win the World Cup, I'll be just as happy because, eventually, you understand that, as much as that competitive nature is there, it's the last time you're getting to play in a World Cup. So, winning that trophy is the most important thing," he stated.

Meanwhile, the free ticket ballot will remain open from October 1 until November 21, 2026. Fans can request up to four tickets per match across all categories, with a randomised draw determining allocations wherever demand exceeds stadium capacity.

Watch the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule announcement tomorrow, from 8:30 PM onwards, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

--IANS

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Nagoya, Sep 30 (IANS) India’s Sumit Nagal continued his progress in the men’s singles competition at the Asian Games 2026, defeating Uzbekistan’s Sergey Fomin in straight sets to enter the quarterfinals, while Dhakshineswar Suresh’s campaign came to an end after a third-round defeat here on Wednesday.

Seventh-seeded Nagal produced a controlled display against Fomin, securing a 6-3, 6-2 victory to book his place in the last eight.

The Indian, ranked 249th in the world, maintained his composure throughout the contest and converted his opportunities to close out the match without being pushed into a deciding set.

Nagal will face a significantly tougher challenge in the quarterfinals when he takes on third seed Wu Yibing of China. The Chinese player, ranked 111th in the world, has previously defeated Nagal in their only meeting.

Nagal had entered the third round after overcoming South Korea’s Seongchan Hong 6-4, 6-0 in the second round. Their match had been interrupted by weather on Monday, with Nagal leading 3-2 in the opening set, before play resumed on Tuesday.

Hong initially took control after the restart, winning the first eight points and moving 4-3 ahead. Nagal, however, responded strongly and won nine consecutive games to take command of the contest and complete a straight-set victory.

The Indian had earlier lost to Hong in the qualifying competition at the 2024 Indian Wells Masters. He had also endured a difficult Davis Cup outing against South Korea before the Asian Games, suffering defeats against Hyeon Chung and Soonwoo Kwon.

Meanwhile, Dhakshineswar, who had advanced to the third round after beating Indonesia’s Gunawan Trismuwantara in straight sets, was unable to overcome sixth seed Chun-Hsin Tseng of Chinese Taipei.

The Indian lost 3-6, 4-6, bringing his men’s singles campaign to a close.

Dhakshineswar had secured a hard-fought victory over Gunawan in the second round, winning 7-5, 7-6 (2), in what was his Asian Games debut.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu congratulated India’s compound archery and trap mixed team gold medallists at the Asian Games 2026, lauding Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru, Kushal Dalal, Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai for their precision, consistency and teamwork.

She also hailed Indian archery’s clean sweep of gold medals across all three compound team events.

“Heartiest congratulations to Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru and Kushal Dalal on winning the Gold Medal in the Compound Men’s Team event at the Asian Games 2026! Completing a clean sweep of Gold across all three Compound Team events, Indian archery has achieved a remarkable feat. Your precision, consistency and teamwork have made this a memorable campaign for India. My best wishes to you for many more achievements ahead,” the President posted on X.

India completed a hat-trick of compound gold medals after the men's team registered a 238-237 comeback win over China in the final.

Earlier in the day, the women's team of Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam beat China 238-234 to successfully defend the gold medal, followed by a mixed team gold by Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil, which also secured an LA 2028 Olympic quota place for India.

In the men's team final, China scored a perfect 60 from their first six arrows, while India posted 58, trailing by two points heading into the second end.

Both teams shot perfect 10s on the six arrows in the End-2. Notably, China appeared to have dropped a point when one arrow was initially marked nine, but after an umpire check while the arrows were being pulled, it was upgraded to 10. China therefore remained perfect with 120, while India trailed 118-120 after two ends.

China finally dropped a point in the third end, while India shot perfect 10s to reduce the deficit to one point after three ends, 178-179.

End 4 saw a dramatic turnaround as China hit eight on the first shot, followed by two 10s, while India shot perfect 10s on their first three shots to take an unassailable one-point lead, as China lost despite hitting perfect 10s on their last three arrows.

“I extend my warmest congratulations to Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai on winning the Gold Medal in the Trap Mixed Team event at the Asian Games 2026. Your remarkable precision and teamwork have made every target count, delivering a memorable triumph for India. My best wishes to both of you for many more successes,” the President posted on X.

India secured gold in the trap mixed team event as Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai got the better of top-seeded Qatar in a tense summit clash, adding another medal to what has been a landmark Asian Games for Indian shooting.

Neeru and Kynan squeezed into the four-team final in fourth place, posting 136 in qualification behind China, Qatar, and Iran. It was far from the dominant form Neeru had shown in her individual events on Tuesday, but the pair's composure under pressure in the knockout stages more than made up for a modest start.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Sep 30 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday congratulated Telangana archer Chikitha Taniparthi for bringing global acclaim to the state by winning two gold medals in a single day at the Asian Games.

He said that Chikitha’s name would be etched in the history of Telangana sports, having won a gold medal in the compound women's team event and another in the mixed team event alongside Sahil Jadhav.

He stated that these victors achieved through Chikitha's relentless practice, perseverance, and determination, serve as a great inspiration to other athletes.

He conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to Chikitha, along with her teammates Vennam Jyothi Surekha and Prithika Pradeep, on their remarkable achievement of winning the Gold Medal in the Women’s Compound Archery Team Event.

He stated that their outstanding performance and exceptional talent have brought immense pride to India and Telangana, showcasing the nation’s sporting excellence on the global stage. He said their inspiring achievement will motivate countless young athletes to pursue their dreams with dedication, determination and a true spirit of sportsmanship.

The Chief Minister also congratulated Chikitha and Sahil Jadhav for winning a gold medal in mixed compound archery.

He noted that Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav not only won a gold medal in mixed compound archery but also qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Indian pair held their nerve in a dramatic shoot-off to defeat South Korea and win the compound mixed team gold. They edged past South Korea's Park Jungyoon and Choi Yonghee after the final ended level at 157-157.

With this victory, India also secured a quota place for the compound mixed team event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where the discipline is set to make its Olympic debut.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy lauded Chikitha, saying she has become a source of pride for the state.

The Chief Minister also congratulated the parents and coaches of Chikitha, a native of Peddapalli, for recognizing her talent and providing her with constant encouragement.

He extended his best wishes to the champions for many more victories in the years ahead and for bringing greater honour to the country and further glory to Telangana.

The Chief Minister also conveyed his warm wishes to all Indian athletes participating in the Asian Games 2026, and congratulated those who have won medals across various sporting disciplines, bringing laurels to the nation on the international stage.

He expressed hope that the achievements of India’s athletes will inspire the youth and encourage more aspiring sportspersons to take up sports, strive for excellence and represent the country with pride.

State Minister for Sports and Youth Services, Vakiti Srihari, also congratulated Chikitha for winning two gold medals. He expressed the hope that Chikitha would stand as a source of pride and an inspiration for all athletes in Telangana.

Vakiti Srihari also spoke with Chikitha's father, Srinivas Rao, over the phone to offer his congratulations.

--IANS

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Srinagar, Sep 30 (IANS) Set to host a red-ball fixture of a very high-profile stature after nearly four decades, the picturesque Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium will form a beautiful backdrop as Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir prepare for a historic Irani Cup encounter against a formidable Rishabh Pant-led Rest of India side starting on Thursday.

With passes being granted to the general public, fans are expected to rally behind the hosts as they step onto the field without injured fast bowler Yudhvir Singh and star pacer Auqib Nabi, who made his ODI debut for India in the clash against the West Indies in Guwahati and will be with the side till the series ends in New Chandigarh on October 3.

For skipper Paras Dogra, entering his remarkable 25th first-class season, and his 15-member squad, which includes the likes of Abdul Samad, Shubham Khajuria, and Abid Mushtaq, the game serves as a major stage to prove that their maiden Ranji Trophy triumph achieved earlier this year was no flash in the pan and that the region possesses ample talent capable of making the step up to challenge the big teams consistently.

Standing in their path is a Rest of India (ROI) squad boasting several international stars and domestic heavyweights. Leading the side, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will look to get valuable red-ball game time under his belt to remain in top form ahead of the Ranji Trophy and upcoming Tests against New Zealand.

All eyes will also be on fast bowler Akash Deep, who makes his competitive comeback after a seven-month injury layoff due to a lower-back stress fracture. After last featuring in the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Jammu & Kashmir in February, Akash Deep faces a crucial fitness and rhythm test, with at least two national selectors set to watch him closely as he aims to regain his place in the Test team.

For vice-captain Sarfaraz Khan, a local favourite in the valley via his in-laws' side, a strong outing will further solidify his standing for the upcoming India ‘A’ tour of New Zealand. At the same time, left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and off-spinner Saransh Jain will target a strong show to push their case for consistent chances in the Test team.

For fringe players like Sanat Sangwan, Ayush Doseja, Smaran Ravichandran and Anukul Roy, a good showing here will push their case for a direct doorway into the India 'A' framework. In all, intensity will remain high on both sides when play begins on Thursday.

When: Thursday, October 1, 9:30 IST

Where: Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar

Where to watch: The match will be shown live on the Star Sports Network and live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website.

Squads:

Jammu & Kashmir: Shubham Khajuria, Qamran Iqbal, Yawer Hassan, Shubham Pundir, Abdul Samad, Paras Dogra (captain), Kawalpreet Singh, Kanhaiya Wadhawan (wk), Abid Mushtaq, Sahil Lotra, Vanshaj Sharma, Sunil Kumar, Umar Nasir, Lone Nasir Muzaffar and Rohit Sharma

Rest of India: Rishabh Pant (captain & wk), Sanat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan, Sudip Gharami, Sarfaraz Khan (vc), Smaran Ravichandran, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Choudhary, Aryan Juyal (wk), Aryan Pandey, Anukul Roy, and Ayush Doseja.

--IANS

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Nagoya, Sep 30 (IANS) Sunil Kumar produced a dominant display to secure bronze in the men’s 87kg Greco-Roman wrestling event at the Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday, overpowering the Philippines’ Callum Johnston Roberts 9-0 by technical superiority.

The victory not only earned Sunil a second consecutive Asian Games bronze but also etched his name in the record books. The 27-year-old became the first Indian wrestler to win two Greco-Roman wrestling medals at the Asian Games.

Returning to the podium after taking bronze in the same category at Hangzhou 2022, Sunil needed barely one round to settle the contest at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center.

He immediately took control, throwing Roberts over twice in the opening exchanges to collect four points. A further point for passivity soon followed, leaving the Indian with a 5-0 advantage barely 90 seconds into the bout.

Sunil showed no signs of easing off. He capitalised on another passivity sequence to take his opponent down and stretch the lead to 7-0, leaving Roberts struggling to find an answer to the Indian’s relentless attacks.

The end came shortly afterwards. Sunil executed another scoring move to add two more points and reach the nine-point winning margin required for technical superiority, bringing the contest to an emphatic conclusion.

The bronze adds another chapter to a career that already includes six Asian Championships medals and now makes Sunil the first Indian to claim multiple Greco-Roman medals at the continental Games.

His latest podium finish also continues India’s presence in the Greco-Roman wrestling medal standings, with Sunil becoming the latest Indian athlete to deliver on the Asian Games stage after a commanding performance in the bronze-medal bout.

--IANS

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Nisshin, Sep 30 (IANS) Forced to practice indoors by persistent rain ahead of their crucial Asian Games semi-final against Sri Lanka, India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson said the team utilised the weather-enforced downtime to hone strategies, bond through gym sessions, and stay mentally switched on for the semi-final clash against Sri Lanka, set to happen on Thursday.

With pleasant, sunny conditions replacing recent weather disruptions, India and Sri Lanka will look for a full, fair contest to seal a spot in the Asian Games final. According to the local forecast, a warm and clear day is expected at the venue, offering relief to both teams following rain washing out all the quarter-final clashes.

“It rained well and it was really good to witness some good rain here in Nagoya. So, we had some good time. We have been doing some team activities. We were trying to do some practice for the team every day. But we were doing training and conditioning in the gym.

“So, we were spending time together. We have been talking cricket, combinations and having constant meetings to switch on the players when it is required. These are the times where we need to be a bit more aware that we need to switch on and suddenly play a big semi-final. So, we all are aware of that and luckily, we have got a good sunny day today to practice and experience whatever we have to do tomorrow,” Samson told reporters on the eve of the clash.

However, in the event of another weather-related washout, India will automatically advance to the gold-medal match by virtue of being the higher-ranked team in the tournament seedings. With India defending its gold medal in women’s cricket, men’s and women’s kabaddi events, the same is expected from the Shreyas Iyer-led side.

“Yes, we will try our best in cricket as well. We will try our best for India as much as we can. We will see the pitch today. As I said, it is a sunny day. The covers are removed from the ground today. So, we will get a chance to see the wicket today and we will decide,” added Samson.

Drawing inspiration from India's stellar show in track and field events, Samson said their success bodes well for the rest of the days in the continental event. “It is a very good thing that we did well in athletics yesterday. It was a very good day for India and I am very happy and I am sure that we will continue the good form,” he said.

Reflecting on the restless energy in the camp to get out onto the field after remaining and practising indoors, Samson revealed that the players are itching for competitive action. “Yesterday we were having a chat in the gym, where we had our training session. We are saying that yes we need to get out and play some game of cricket. So, we all are very much excited to come and play a proper game of cricket. Hopefully, everything works out well tomorrow."

Refusing to take Sri Lanka lightly, Samson warned against complacency. “No, every game is very crucial in this format, especially in T20 format, you cannot actually say a team is weaker or strong. So, the conditions play a huge role and the shorter the format is, I think any team can dominate.

“I think it is still a very small margin of error and anyone can dominate at any point of the game. So, we have to give each and every team equal respect and play with a great aggressive nature and that is what we have been known for and that is what we will be doing. So, we will be focusing on the process, how we can play against them tomorrow and the results will take care of itself,” he added.

With both teams stepping onto unfamiliar territory at the Korogi Sports Park, Samson felt the unknown conditions level the playing field. “I think yes, conditions are a bit different. I think we have never played a game here in Nagoya. Most of us are playing here for the first time.

“So, there might be a lot of unknown factors and it goes for the other team as well. So, both of the teams are coming here fresh and we don't know the conditions until we go out there and play a proper game of cricket. That is where the fun is - any team can compete against any team. So, we are very much excited to play a really good game of cricket here,” Samson concluded.

--IANS

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