Mohammed Siraj becomes world number one bowler in ODIs
DUBAI(PTI): India pacer Mohammed Siraj on Wednesday became number one in the ICC rankings for ODI bowlers, a testament to his rapid rise in international cricket. Siraj went past New Zealand's Trent Boult and Australia seamer Josh Hazlewood to become the top-ranked ODI bowler for the very first time.
Not only has Siraj's form over the last 12 months been imperious, but his effort in the ODI series at home earlier this month against Sri Lanka and New Zealand has shown just how much the right-armer has improved in recent times.
India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey challenged Siraj to work on certain aspects of his game last year and the extra training the energetic quick has put in has paid off.
Siraj took nine wickets against Sri Lanka to be the leading wicket-taker for the three-game series and backed that up by claiming a four-wicket haul in the opening match of the recently-completed series against New Zealand.
It means Siraj jumps to the top of the ODI bowler rankings with 729 rating points, albeit narrowly, with his lead at the top over Hazlewood just two rating points higher than the Australian.
India captain Rohit Sharma was full of praise for Siraj when asked about the emerging pacer following the series whitewash over New Zealand.
"He has done really well, he understands what the team is expecting from him," Rohit said.
"To come and take the new ball, swing the ball, get early wickets. In the middle overs too, he's got so much skill. The more he plays, the better he gets," said the skipper.
Fellow India pacer Mohammed Shami has jumped 11 places to 32nd overall on the updated list for ODI bowlers, while there is plenty of movement at the top of the batter rankings following the completion of India's home series against the Kiwis.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam still enjoys a healthy lead at the top of the ODI batter rankings, but there is now a total of three India players inside the top 10 and chasing the highest accolade.
In-form opener Shubman Gill is the eye-catcher as the right-hander jumps a whopping 20 places to sixth overall following a brilliant double hundred and a century against New Zealand at home.
Gill rises in front of veteran Virat Kohli, who slipped to seventh following a quiet series against New Zealand, while Rohit jumped two places to equal eighth after his quickfire hundred against the Kiwis in Indore.
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Bengaluru engineer’s organ donation saves multiple lives after his tragic demise
Bengaluru (PTI): A grieving single mother’s decision to donate the organs of her son, who tragically lost his life following a road accident on March 15, helped save six lives.
Rekha Rao, a resident of Rajaji Nagar, said her 33-year-old son, Rakesh Kumar S, wanted to meet his friend on that fateful day, but his two-wheeler skidded and fell, the severity of head and facial injuries rendering him unconscious immediately. Passersby took him to a local hospital, she added.
Rao, who had lost her husband 25 years ago, said despite her numbing grief, she wanted to do the right thing by Rakesh. “I find some comfort knowing that the decision to donate his organs will give others a chance to live,” Rao told PTI.
She said after being denied a bed in ICU in Nimhans, where she was advised to take her son, she had finally got him shifted to Apollo Hospital in Seshadripuram.
“But I was told that his brain eventually gave up on him,” she added.
His attending neurosurgeons from Apollo -- Dr B Ravi Mohan Rao and Dr Karthikeyan Y R -- said the severe head and face injuries increased pressure on his brain, causing significant complications, including a shift in part of his brain, and resulting in an extremely low level of consciousness, indicating a critical condition.
Despite prompt medical intervention and the dedicated efforts of the hospital's medical team, his condition deteriorated.
After confirming the patient’s brain death through multiple apnea tests, Rao was given the option of organ donation, said the doctors.
“We are honoured to have played a role in this life-saving process. Each of these generous donations will make a profound difference for patients in need of critical organ transplants, offering new hope and life-saving treatments,” said Dr Rao.
He also pointed out that according to the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) report, there are more than 4,000 patients in Bengaluru who are waiting for organ transplants.
"Donation will significantly contribute to saving lives and addressing the critical shortage of available organs for those in need,” he added.
As for Rakesh, his liver and two kidneys were transplanted at Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, providing life-saving treatments to patients with liver and kidney failure, said Dr Karthikeyan.
His corneas were donated to restore sight to individuals suffering from blindness or severe vision impairment and his heart valves have already been used in heart valve replacement surgery and his skin was donated to Victoria Hospital, where it has been used in the treatment of burn victims and patients requiring skin grafts to aid in their recovery, he added.
Incidentally, Rakesh, worked as an engineer in the next-gen health care field.
