T20 WC star Samson named ICC Men's Player of the Month for March
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Dubai (PTI): India opener Sanju Samson was on Tuesday named ICC Men's Player of the Month for March, capping a stellar run that saw him play a defining role in the team's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign.
Samson did not get to play in the early part of the tournament but was the standout performer in the big games towards the end and helped India retain the title.
His latest honour also extends a unique streak, with players from different countries winning the award over the past five months including South Africa's Simon Harmer, Australia's Mitchell Starc, New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan.
"Winning the ICC Player of the Month award is an incredible feeling, especially as it comes during what has been the most unforgettable phase of my cricketing journey. Playing a part in India's triumph at the Men's T20 World Cup was truly a dream realised, and it took some time for the magnitude of that moment to fully sink in," Samson said.
"This is an exciting era for Indian cricket, with immense talent across the board. I feel grateful for the opportunities I've received, and for the trust and support from my team-mates and coaching staff that have allowed me to perform at my best."
Not a regular part of the playing XI in the initial stages of the tournament, Samson was eventually called up for India's must-win Super 8 fixtures. After starting off with 24 against Zimbabwe, he picked form and didn't look back.
The opener missed out on a century against the West Indies by just three runs, but his attacking 97 not out set up India's spot in the semifinal.
A blistering 89 against England at the Wankhede helped India to 253 for 7, and the target proved elusive for the English who missed out by seven runs on March 5.
An equally amazing 89 was churned out during India's successful title defence in Ahmedabad, securing a 96-run win.
In the three crucial T20Is he was a part of in March, Samson notched up 275 runs at an astonishing average of 137.50 and a stunning strike rate of 199.27.
This is the first time that Samson has secured an ICC Men's Player of the Month honour.
New Zealand captain Melie Kerr won the women's honour for the third time, after an outstanding series against Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Taking over the white-ball teams from Sophie Devine, Kerr's captaincy seemed to have brought out the best in her with both the ball and the bat. In the Zimbabwe ODI series, she managed to snap 16 wickets in just three matches, including her career-best figures of 7/34.
Additionally, she also contributed with the bat, being the third highest run-scorer in the ODIs, scoring 140 runs across three games with an average of 46.67 in the counting month.
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Nation's willpower as important as military strength for ensuring security, says NSA Doval
Gandhinagar (PTI): National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Tuesday described national security as a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, and stressed that the biggest mistake in assessing a nation's strength is ignoring the willpower of its people.
While factors such as military strength are critical, inherent strength of people often proves decisive in security matters, he insisted.
Addressing students at the fifth convocation ceremony of the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) in
Gandhinagar in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, Doval emphasised that national security is a collective responsibility shared by the entire nation.
"National security is a vast, complex, and multifaceted phenomenon. It comprises numerous components: a nation's military might, technological prowess, natural resources, diplomatic strength, and human capital," he said in his address to students passing-out of the government-run university, which has been designated as an institution of national importance.
However, what often happens and where errors most frequently occur when assessing this comprehensive national power is in the evaluation of the nation's willpower and the inherent strength of its people, said the NSA.
Explaining this, Doval cited global examples and said, "If Russia (then USSR) withdrew from Afghanistan (in 1988-89), or if the United States was compelled to withdraw from Vietnam (in 1970s) or if the US failed to achieve its objectives in Afghanistan - it was not for a lack of technology or military strength.
"Rather, the decisive factor was the spirit and commitment of the local people, what we refer to as nation's willpower."
He stressed that the sole objective of warfare is to break the morale of one's adversary, thereby compelling them to accept a treaty on your terms.
The NSA said the role of citizens is crucial in building this strength.
"In the cultivation of this willpower, the role of general public is of paramount importance, specifically the degree of awareness regarding their own security," he opined.
Doval noted India is witnessing a shift in this regard.
"Today, after a long time in our history, we are witnessing a new awakening. (That) national security is a collective responsibility shared by the entire nation. It is not the sole responsibility of the armed forces, police, or intelligence agencies -- it is the combined strength of all of you that ultimately constitutes our national morale," he told the gathering.
Highlighting the role of professionals in security ecosystem, including those in academia, research and operations, he said their knowledge, technical expertise and awareness significantly influence outcomes.
The NSA stressed the importance of character and discipline in the field, saying "mental power" and the ability to work as a team are essential qualities for excelling.
Calling commitment the "third indispensable element," Doval said the field of national security demands the highest level of dedication.
In a message to youngsters wishing to join the security domain, the NSA asserted, "This is a game in which there are no silver medals. You are either victorious, or you are vanquished. If you win, you make history; but if you lose, you become history. Your very existence will be at stake."
During the convocation ceremony, Doval was conferred an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree by President Murmu in recognition of his contributions to national security.
"With the utmost humility, I accept the Honorary Doctorate degree conferred upon me here today. I am deeply grateful for this honour," the NSA added.
