Rohit joins upbeat Indian team in Melbourne
Melbourne: Star batsman Rohit Sharma on Wednesday joined the Indian team here after completing his two-week quarantine in Sydney, bolstering the tourists who are on a high after scripting an incredible comeback in the ongoing four-match Test series against Australia.
Days after recording their lowest Test total of 36 in the series-opener in Adelaide, the Indian team staged a remarkable turnaround to humble Australia by eight wickets and level the rubber at the MCG.
Rohit's inclusion will strengthen the team that was going through one of its worst phases last week.
"So how was your quarantine, my friend," chief coach Ravi Shastri was heard asking Rohit in a video posted by BCCI.
The batsman was heard saying he is feeling younger.
Rohit exchanged greetings with the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, and batting coach Vikram Rathour.
Shastri said the medical team will look at how the player is physically after completing his quarantine before a call is taken on his inclusion in the playing XI for the third Test against Australia in Sydney.
The third Test is scheduled to be played from January 7.
"We will have a chat with him to see where he is placed physically because he has been in quarantine for the last couple of weeks. We'll also see how he feels before we take the call," Shastri had said in the post-match press conference after India's win on Tuesday.
On December 11, the BCCI had announced that the opener cleared the eagerly-watched fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, paving the way for his departure for Australia ahead of the four-Test series.
Rohit had sustained a hamstring injury during the IPL, which led to him missing the white-ball leg and the first two Tests of the ongoing tour.
It remains to be seen who makes way for Rohit from the side that trounced Australia in the second Test.
Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has backed the swashbuckling Mumbaikar to open the batting with the young Shubman Gill in Sydney.
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.
Bengaluru to Ernakulam; Vande Bharat carries over 55,000 passengers in first month
Bengaluru: The Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Bengaluru to Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express, launched on November 11 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has received a huge response in its first month, carrying more than 55,000 passengers and recording over 100% bookings in both directions.
According to a report published by The New India Express, the train is the first inter-state semi high-speed premium train connecting the southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. According to South Western Railway (SWR) data, the Bengaluru to Ernakulam leg carried 11,447 passengers in November with an average booking of 127%. In December, the number increased to 16,129 passengers, with 117% average booking.
ALSO READ: Four rescued tiger cubs die at Mysuru centre; viral infection suspected
The Ernakulam to Bengaluru service reportedly carried 12,786 passengers in November, with an average booking of 141%. In December, the number rose to 14,742, with 106% average booking, the data showed.
The Railways calculates occupancy by including the total number of bookings. As per the report, if a train has 100 seats and 27 people are on the waiting list, occupancy is counted as 127%.
Railway officials reportedly said, they expect ticket demand to rise further in December due to Christmas and New Year holidays, along with the Sabarimala pilgrimage. The train is a popular choice among daily commuters, business travellers, students and tourists.
