Rohit Sharma issues stern warning after T20 World Cup triumph, credits 'three pillars' for success
Mumbai: Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, fresh off leading the team to victory in the T20 World Cup in June, has sent a strong message to the cricketing world, asserting his unyielding determination to secure more titles. Speaking at the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Wednesday, where he was named the Men’s International Cricketer of the Year, Rohit credited three key figures—former head coach Rahul Dravid, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, and Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar—for India’s recent triumph.
Rohit, who became the first Indian captain since MS Dhoni to win a T20 World Cup, emphasised the importance of these "three pillars" in the team's successful comeback after a disappointing loss in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. "It was my dream to transform this team and not worry too much about the stats or the results, but to create an environment where players could perform freely," Rohit said. He highlighted the crucial support he received from Dravid, Shah, and Agarkar in achieving this vision.
As India shifts focus to the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the World Test Championship (WTC) final in 2025, Rohit expressed his relentless drive to add more trophies to his collection. "There is a reason I won five IPL trophies. I'm not going to stop because once you get the taste of winning, you don't want to stop," Rohit stated, highlighting his commitment to continuing India's winning streak.
India’s preparation for the Champions Trophy hit a rough patch with a 0-2 series loss to Sri Lanka earlier this year, marking Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment as the new head coach. The team will have one final ODI series against England in February 2025 before the ICC tournament.
In Tests, India faces a packed schedule, starting with five matches at home against Bangladesh and New Zealand, followed by the Border-Gavaskar series in Australia. If India maintains their dominance, particularly at home, they are likely to secure a spot in the WTC final, regardless of their performance in Australia.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Chamoli hydropower tunnel train collision: 88 injured, magisterial probe ordered
Gopeshwar/Dehradun (PTI): Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar on Wednesday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the collision between two loco trains inside the Pipalkoti tunnel of the under-construction Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydropower project, which left 88 people injured.
Earlier in the day, Kumar said that the accident occurred around 8.30 pm on Tuesday at the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) site inside the tunnel being built by THDC (India).
A loco train carrying workers for tunnel excavation during the night shift was about two kilometres inside the tunnel when another loco train coming from the opposite direction lost control and collided with it.
One of the trains had workers and officials on board, while the other carried material.
Upon receiving information about the collision, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered proper treatment for the injured. He spoke to the DM over the phone and instructed him to ensure that all the injured receive the best possible medical facilities.
DM Kumar and Superintendent of Police Surjit Singh Panwar met the injured at the Gopeshwar District Hospital.
Kumar said 109 people were on board the loco train at the time of the accident, most of them labourers. None of the injured was serious, he said.
He said that 88 of them were injured, although none of them are in serious condition. They said that 84 workers were discharged after receiving first aid, while four are still hospitalized.
DM Kumar and SP Panwar also inspected the project site and sought detailed information about the incident from the project officials.
They instructed them to strictly implement all necessary safety standards to prevent a recurrence of such an incident in the future.
After inspection, the DM issued orders for a magisterial inquiry into the accident caused by the collision of the loco trains.
Meanwhile, the Railways said the trains involved in the collision had no connection with it.
"It is clarified that this unfortunate incident occurred in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, involving a trolley used in the local transportation system during the construction of a hydroelectric project tunnel. The train referred to in the news reports is not an Indian Railways train, but a transportation system being used locally by the project team," the government entity said in a statement.
According to officials, rail-like vehicles are used to transport workers, employees, and materials for construction work inside the tunnel.
The project, being built between Helang and Pipalkoti on the Alaknanda River, will generate 444 megawatts of electricity through four turbines. The project is targeted for completion by next year.
