IND vs ENG 5th Test: India 473/8 at stumps on Day 2, lead by 255 runs
Dharamsala, Mar 8: England bowlers led by Shoaib Bashir inflicted regular blows in the third session but India reached 473 for eight in their first innings at the end of the second day of the fifth Test here on Friday.
Off-spinner Bashir (4/170) and left-arm spinner Tom Hartley (2/126) scythed through India's middle-late order, but the hosts found some late resistance from Kuldeep Yadav (27 batting) and Jasprit Bumrah (19 batting) to stretch the lead to 255 runs.
Before that India batsmen made a merry run as Rohit Sharma (103), Shubman Gill (110) made hundreds while Sarfaraz Khan (56) and debutant Devdutt Padikkal (65) ran England ragged.
The lone point of consolation for England was the sight of their skipper Ben Stokes bowling, a first since last year's Ashes.
Stokes got rid of his opposite number Rohit too to make the occasion memorable.
Brief scores:
England(1st Innings): 218 all out
India (1st Innings): 473/8 in 120 overs (Shubman Gill 110, Rohit Sharma 103, Devdutt Padikkal 65, Sarfaraz Khan 56; Shoaib Bashir 4/170, Tom Hartley 2/126).
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Russia confirms deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine war
Moscow: In a major development, Russia has officially acknowledged the deployment of North Korean troops fighting alongside its forces in the ongoing Ukraine war.
Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, confirmed the participation of North Korean fighters while briefing President Vladimir Putin on the "complete liberation" of the Kursk border region. According to Russian state media outlets TASS and Ria Novosti, Gerasimov specifically highlighted the "role of North Korean servicemen" in the conflict.
"I want specially to note the participation of servicemen of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in liberating border areas of the Kursk region ... in accordance with the Treaty on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our countries," Gerasimov said, referring to North Korea by its official name.
This marks the first time a Russian official has publicly acknowledged the involvement of North Korean troops in the war. North Korea, however, has not issued any official confirmation regarding the deployment.
Gerasimov further stated that North Korean soldiers have been "accomplishing combat objectives shoulder to shoulder" with Russian forces, demonstrating "high professionalism, endurance, courage, and heroism" during combat operations.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, also commented on the development, acknowledging the presence of North Korean troops. "Gerasimov reported that North Korean fighters, fighting shoulder to shoulder with Russian soldiers in the Kursk Region, demonstrated resilience and heroism. We will never forget our friends," she said in a Telegram post, as reported by Sputnik.
Meanwhile, South Korean and U.S. intelligence estimates suggest that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Ukraine’s front lines since October last year. Reports indicate that about 4,000 of these soldiers have been wounded, and an additional 3,000 troops may have been sent earlier this year.
The deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea were formalized during a summit last June, where President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a comprehensive partnership treaty. The agreement commits both nations to provide military support "without delay" if either comes under attack.
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