South Africa fight back as India slump to 138/4 at lunch; Gill retires hurt
Kolkata (PTI): South Africa’s spinners clawed their way back into the contest with a stirring fightback in the second hour, as India slipped from a position of control to reach 138 for 4 at lunch on day two of the opening Test at the Eden Gardens, here on Saturday.
Resuming at 37 for 1, India appeared solid through a resolute stand between KL Rahul and Washington Sundar, who survived a demanding first hour against pacer Marco Jansen’s hostility and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj’s probing accuracy.
The pair added 57 for the second wicket, raising their fifty stand off 152 balls, compact in defence and composed against the odd ball that kicked or turned.
The visitors, defending a paltry first innings 159, found a way back through the sustained pressure from Maharaj and off-spinner Simon Harmer, who combined for control, bite and key breakthroughs to drag their side firmly into the contest.
The complexion of the session flipped dramatically after the drinks break, courtesy veteran off-spinner Simon Harmer, who opened the floodgates in a defining 35th over.
First, Harmer removed a well-set Sundar for 29 off 82 balls (2x4, 1x6) with a classical off-spinner’s dismissal -- drifting the ball in and turning it away from the left-hander to draw the outside edge, pouched by Aiden Markram at slip.
Three balls later, Shubman Gill retired hurt for a three-ball four following a slog-sweeping Harmer for a boundary.
The India captain appeared to suffer a whiplash in the follow-through, clutching the nape of his neck before walking off grimacing. The BCCI is yet to issue an update on the severity of his injury.
Maharaj, bowling a marathon 16-over spell, then struck to remove Rahul, who had just tried to up the tempo.
The opener, overnight 13, reached 4000 Test runs in the morning but fell for 39 off 119 balls (4x4, 1x6), guiding one softly to Markram at slip as the ball turned and stayed low. The third umpire confirmed the catch.
Just as India hoped to steady through Rishabh Pant's counterpunch -- the left-hander smashing Maharaj for a straight six, another over long-on and unfurling a reverse sweep on his way to 27 off 24 balls (2x4, 2x6) -- rookie pacer Corbin Bosch delivered a crucial strike moments before lunch.
Pant fell to a well-directed bouncer from Corbin Bosch, giving South Africa a bonus wicket to close the session.
At the break, India were officially 138/4, but effectively five down with Gill's return not clear. Ravindra Jadeja also completed 4000 runs in Test cricket. He is only fifth cricketer in Test history with a double of 4000 runs and 300 plus wickets.
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Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol unveil ‘DDLJ’ sculpture at London’s Leicester Square
London (PTI): Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol huddled under an umbrella on a rainy Thursday in London to unveil their bronze likeness from an iconic ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ scene.
The sculpture of the duo joins Leicester Square’s ‘Scenes in the Square’ trail depicting memorable shots from some of the world’s most famous films, with ‘DDLJ’ marking a Bollywood first and the 30th anniversary of the 1995 box-office hit. It is in this popular London square that SRK as Raj and Kajol as Simran first cross paths unknowingly.
“DDLJ was made with a pure heart. We wanted to tell a story about love, how it can bridge barriers and how the world would be a better place if it had a lot of love in it, and I think this is why 'DDLJ' has had a lasting impact for over 30 years now," said Khan.
“Personally, 'DDLJ' is part of my identity, and it is humbling to see film, and Kajol and me, receiving so much love since it was released,” he said.
He expressed his gratitude to the Heart of London Business Alliance, behind the cinematic trail at Leicester Square, for celebrating ‘DDLJ’ and “immortalising” its lead stars.
“Seeing ‘DDLJ’ become the first Indian film to be honoured in the iconic Scenes in the Square trail is an emotional moment and has brought back so many memories.
"I feel immense pride knowing the film has been embraced around the world, and I want to share this moment with the entire cast and crew of ‘DDLJ’, my friend and director Aditya Chopra and the Yash Raj Films family. This is a moment I will never forget,” added Khan.
Kajol, joined by her daughter Nysa and son Yug, posed with Khan in front of the statue as she braved the rain in a green saree.
“It’s incredible to see ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ continue to receive so much love, even 30 years later. Watching the statue being unveiled in London felt like reliving a piece of our history - a story that has truly travelled across generations,” said Kajol.
“Seeing it find its rightful place in Leicester Square, a location of such enormous significance to ‘DDLJ’, makes this moment even more special. For the film to be honoured in this way in the UK – the first Indian film to receive such recognition – is something that will forever stay in the hearts and minds of all the ‘DDLJ’ fans across the world,” she said.
Their statue, captured in a dancing pose from the hit song ‘Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna’, joins the likes of Harry Potter, Bridget Jones, Mary Poppins, and Batman in what is dubbed as an ever-growing celebration of movie magic in a square packed with multiplex cinema screens.
“When ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, DDLJ, was released 30 years ago, the film became a defining moment for Indian cinema and changed the face of the industry, capturing the hearts of everyone who saw it all over the globe," said Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films.
“We’re thrilled to be the first Indian film to be represented in ‘Scenes in the Square’. It also marks 30 years of DDLJ, a film that has spread love and joy globally, and shows the cultural impact it has had in UK.
“We are honoured that our superstars and our film are being recognised on the world stage alongside the Hollywood elite, from Gene Kelly to Laurel & Hardy to Harry Potter. This statue will be a great way to express the international appeal of Indian movies and build bridges amongst communities through cinema,” he said.
Since its release in 1995, ‘DDLJ’ has become the longest-running film in Hindi cinema history.
Ros Morgan, Chief Executive at Heart of London Business Alliance, said: “We’re proud to welcome global megastars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol to our Scenes in the Square trail.
"Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is a cinematic phenomenon that has shaped generations, and London’s first tribute to Indian cinema honours a story whose magic continues to captivate audiences worldwide.”
It is a particularly special year for the film, with a musical based on the romance playing to packed houses at Manchester’s Opera House earlier this year. Aditya Chopra reprised his role as director of the English language stage production, ‘Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical’, which revolved around the love story of Simran and Roger.
The script was a nod to the original as it followed Simran as a young British Indian woman who finds herself engaged to a family friend in India in an arranged marriage. However, the plot thickens when she falls in love with a British man named Roger.
