England favourites against formidable India, feels Steyn
Mumbai, July 26: South African paceman Dale Steyn feels that the Virat Kohli-led Indian team is "capable of anything" but England bowlers' experience will be the difference between the two sides when the five-match Test rubber kicks-off on August 1 in Birmingham.
The 35-year-old pacer also opined that the upcoming high-octane series will be full of runs due to present dry conditions in England.
Speaking to media persons at a promotional event here, Steyn said: "I don't like any predictions. The advantage probably lies with England, obviously being at home and with such a long tour. It tends to become very long."
"They (India) have been there for ODIs and are a very good touring team now. (But) if I put my money, I will probably put it on England," he added.
Praising the Indian skipper, the pacer said: "Led by Virat this Indian team is capable of anything. I know Virat pretty well; he's quite a determined character. Five Test matches are going to be good for one team and if one team gets on a roll the other team will be blown away.
"(But) it's going to be a hard-fought Test series. The England bowlers are a little bit more skilled and that's where the difference will be, that will be the tipping point," the 35-year-old explained.
Steyn however, did not rule out India's chances in the series and said that the English bowlers might struggle against the Indian batsmen if the wicket remains dry.
"If the ball swings they (England seamers) are going to play a massive role but if it doesn't swing then how are they going to get someone like Kohli or Shikhar (Dhawan), who opens the batting, and K L Rahul (out)?," Steyn asked.
"They played well in South Africa, which I consider is the hardest place to play cricket. They came to South Africa and just got better. It could be true in England too." he added.
Commenting on the English bowlers, Steyn said: "It's going to be a high-scoring series but England's bowlers are probably just a little bit better than the Indians."
"I think it's (weather in England) massively dry. It's going to be a lot of runs. But they are conditions that England are used to. Home series generally goes away with home sides," he opined.
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Delhi court extends gangster Anmol Bishnoi's NIA custody by 7 days
New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi court on Friday extended the NIA custody of deported gangster Anmol Bishnoi by seven more days.
Special Judge Prashant Sharma ordered the extension during a hearing conducted at the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) headquarters here amid high security.
The hearing was not conducted at the designated court in the Patiala House courts as the NIA cited a high security risk to Bishnoi because of threats given by Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti.
Sources said the agency sought the extension of Anmol's custody by seven more days on the ground of conducting further probe, which the judge allowed.
Wanted in connection with the killing of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, firing at actor Salman Khan's residence in April 2024, the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, among other crimes, Anmol was "removed" from the United States on November 18.
He was detained in the US in November last year.
After being produced before a special judge in the Patiala House courts on November 18, he was sent to the NIA's custody for 11 days.
On November 29, Anmol, the brother and a close aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, was sent for further custodial interrogation till December 5.
Absconding since 2022, US-based Anmol is the 19th accused to be arrested for involvement in the terror-gangster syndicate led by his jailed brother.
