Hardik Pandya gives away his Man of the Series trophy to T Natarajan, says 'You deserve it bhai'
In a moment to remember for cricket fans and India pace sensation T Natarajan, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya handed over his Man of the Series trophy to the "deserving" 29-year-old.
Hardik Pandya after winning the Man of the Match award in the 2nd T20I had pointed out that Natarajan should have been recognised for his miserly spell of 2 for 20 in 4 overs. This time around Hardik Pandya took things in his control and made sure that his Man of the Series trophy goes into the 'right' hands.
Posting a social media picture with T Natarjan after India's 2-1 T20I series win Down Under, Hardik Pandya wrote a heart-warming message, which has now gone viral. The post has garnered over 7 thousand retweets and 52 thousand likes in just 1 hour.
"Natarajan, you were outstanding this series. To perform brilliantly in difficult conditions on your India debut speaks volumes of your talent and hard work. You deserve Man of the Series from my side bhai! Congratulations to #TeamIndia on the win Flag of IndiaTrophy."
Natarajan, you were outstanding this series. To perform brilliantly in difficult conditions on your India debut speaks volumes of your talent and hardwork ? You deserve Man of the Series from my side bhai! Congratulations to #TeamIndia on the win ??? pic.twitter.com/gguk4WIlQD
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) December 8, 2020
Natarajan story has been nothing short of a fairy-tale. In the last 2 months Tamil Nadu pacer T Natarajan has become a household name. T Natarajan, already a renowned pacer in domestic circuit, gained massive popularity because of his extremely profound art of bowling crisp yorkers for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2020.
An impressive run in the IPL saw him being picked as a net bowler for India's all-important tour of Australia. Luck favours the brave and that is what happened when another IPL sensation Varun Chakravarthy's injury came as a blessing in disguise for him. The left-arm pacer was first inducted in the T20I squad and later due to Navdeep Saini's back spasm, he was included in the ODI set up also.
Natarjan did not disappoint and grabbed the opportunity with both his hands to make his maiden international tour a memorable one. The Salem-born fast bowler showed that he is more than just a 'Yorker King' as he changed his bowling plans beautifully according to the conditions.
The SRH pacer finished with 6 wickets in the 3-match T20I series, the most by any bowler from both the sides. His economy rate for the 3 matches he played was just 6.91. In the one ODI match he played, Natarajan took 2 wickets.
Courtesy: www.indiatoday.in
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Saudi Arabia reopens Haj portal for Indian pilgrims after government intervention
New Delhi, April 16, 2025: In a significant development for Indian Hajj pilgrims, the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) on Tuesday announced that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has agreed to reopen the Haj (Nusuk) Portal for Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs). This will allow up to 10,000 additional pilgrims to proceed for Hajj 2025, based on the current availability of space in Mina.
The decision follows the Indian government’s urgent intervention after reports emerged that thousands of Indian pilgrims risked being excluded from this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. According to a press release from the Ministry of Minority Affairs, urgent instructions have been issued to the CHGOs to complete the necessary formalities without delay to secure arrangements for their respective pilgrims.
Earlier this month, it was reported that nearly 52,000 Indian pilgrims were left in limbo after the Saudi authorities cancelled several zones in Mina previously allocated to private tour operators. These zones are crucial as Mina, the tent city, is one of the key ritual sites during the five-day pilgrimage.
The Ministry said that a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims has been allotted to India by Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj season. According to the Hajj Policy for 2025, 70 per cent of this quota is managed by the Hajj Committee of India, while the remaining 30 per cent is distributed among private tour operators, including the CHGOs.
However, 26 CHGOs who were allotted the remaining quota failed to meet key deadlines set by Saudi authorities. They reportedly did not finalise contracts for essential arrangements such as Mina camps, accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, and transportation, despite repeated reminders from the Indian government.
Following these lapses, Secretary of the Ministry of Minority Affairs Chandra Shekhar Kumar, accompanied by Joint Secretary CPS Bakshi, visited Jeddah last week to assess the preparations for Indian pilgrims on the ground. Their meetings with Saudi officials reportedly played a critical role in persuading the Saudi Hajj Ministry to reopen the portal.
The Indian government’s involvement also included an earlier visit by Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who travelled to Saudi Arabia from January 11 to January 14, 2025. During his visit, Rijiju signed the bilateral agreement for Hajj 2025 and attended the opening session of the Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition. He also held discussions with senior Saudi officials on streamlining arrangements and ensuring the welfare of Indian pilgrims.
This latest move has come as a major relief for thousands of pilgrims whose travel plans were under threat due to administrative delays and coordination issues.
Hajj 2025 is expected to take place between June 4 and June 9, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Zil-Hajj. With the reopening of the Haj portal, officials hope the remaining CHGOs will act swiftly to secure the necessary arrangements and ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience for the affected pilgrims.
