Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made their first buy in the IPL 2022 mega auction with Robin Uthappa set to join the franchise after being bought for his base price of INR 2 crore.

Uthappa will return to the squad after being part of the franchise in the previous year, where CSK won their fourth title. Uthappa played a major role in the title victory, scoring 115 runs in four games including a 63 in the knockout stages.

The 36-year-old is one of the most experienced in the league, having played 193 matches in the IPL. He has played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders, before joining CSK last season.

In 193 matches, he has scored 4722 runs at an average of 27.94 and a strike rate of 130.15. He was a huge factor when KKR won the IPL 2014 title under Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy. CSK will be keen he can replicate his performance from the previous season.

source: http://www.cricketaddictor.com / Cricket Addictor / Home> IPL 2022 News & Updates> IPL News / by Ca Jr. Staff / February 12th, 2022

Bopanna is set to compete at the Tata Open Maharashtra with compatriot Ramkumar Ramanathan.

Veteran Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna says the presence of singles players in the doubles draws, in a way, is good for the sport as they draw more fans into the stadiums and that goes a long way in promoting the doubles format.

The sport lives on the superior, physically and mentally demanding singles style but at the same time the doubles format is also getting tougher by the day because when the top singles player unleash their high-quality game, it makes the doubles matches more interesting, tough and tricky.

When only the doubles rankings were considered for entries, the format was even for its exponents. But acceptance of singles rankings has brought top players and established stars in the fray, making it difficult for doubles player to sustain.

Bopanna said it can’t be said in certain terms if it’s good or bad but presence of singles players does have an advantage.

“That’s a catch 22 situation, talking about it,” Bopanna said when he was asked if it wasn’t better if only doubles specialists play this format.

“Lot of singles player?s do play doubles to improve their game. (Denis) Shapovalov (Bopanna’s partner) is somebody who enjoys playing doubles and simultaneously he is also learning so much, whether it’s his accuracy on returns, his volleys, or returns, which helps him so much in the singles.

“Today, I know cut offs of all the tournament get tougher and tougher because a lot of (singles) guys are playing doubles.

“It will be great for doubles players if the rules go back in the day when it was only the doubles ranking but that’s not really going to change. That’s why sustaining the ranking by playing at the highest level is very important, otherwise it is tough get into 500s and 1000s.

“In a way, having singles players you have lot of people watching (the game). At the end of the day, doubles is also getting promoted, so this is catch 22 situation, not sure whether you have them there, or have only doubles players with doubles rankings.”

Bopanna is set to compete at the Tata Open Maharashtra with compatriot Ramkumar Ramanathan.

There have been debates in past on this issue when doubles players felt that singles players are eating into their share. For singles players, playing doubles gives them good practice and match sharpness but the doubles players’ survival depends only on this format.

Recently, India’s Arjun Kadhe said he has decided to focus more on doubles and top singles player Yuki Bhambari also said he would actively compete in the doubles format.

Bopanna, 41, said the key for them would be to keep their rankings high.

“Even if you are taking the doubles route, it is extremely difficult. There is no guarantee it is easier route.

“Having played for so many years, (I know) it’s about sustaining for years and years and that’s the key. In the men’s doubles, I was the only one playing at the Grand Slams, we have so many wonderful players. Keeping ranking high, day in and day out is the key.

“It’s a good opportunity for Yuki and Arjun, if they are taking that route to try and do well in the circuit, but it’s not just about playing.”

Bopanna hoped that some young players will take the baton from the current generation.

“I know there’s a gap from the guys who playing like Ram or Sumit, Praj. Having said that there are more Challengers (in India). It will take a few years but there are talented youngsters in India who need to get chance in India and get their ranking high enough.”

Bopanna, the winner of a mixed doubled Grand Slam Trophy, said India does need an ATP 250 event on its circuit along with Challengers and ITF Futures.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Sports> Tennis / by PTI / February 01st, 2022

Sports enthusiasts have expressed their joy as ‘bhumi puja’ was performed on the 12.70 acres of land dedicated to the stadium.

The dream of having an international cricket stadium in Kodagu will be fulfilled, as the bottleneck regarding the crematorium land has been solved.

Sports enthusiasts have expressed their joy as ‘bhumi puja’ was performed on the 12.70 acres of land dedicated to the stadium in Palemadu near Hoddur.

Even as Kodagu has been acclaimed as the sports district, there has always been a dearth of facilities for sports, such as the state-of-the-art stadiums. Even though there are stadiums, there are no facilities.

Budding sports persons and sports lovers often complain about the lack of amenities at the turf hockey ground.

The State Cricket Association has initiated work towards the construction of the cricket stadium. Association district convener Prithvi Devaiah said that the stadium, equipped with modern facilities, will encourage the budding cricketers in the district.

The association had planned to construct the stadium in 2015. However, the villagers of Palemadu posed objection as the proposed land was the crematorium. The villagers said that the tombs of their ancestors lie in the land and the stadium cannot be constructed on that.

Despite holding several meetings, the stakeholders were unable to arrive at a common conclusion, and the work remained stagnant after levelling of the land.

However, the issue was resolved amicably during mediation talks initiated by Deputy Commissioner Dr B C Sateesha.

The district administration has assured that a one-acre land from the existing crematorium and another acre land near Palemadu village, a total of two acres, will be sanctioned to the villagers. Also, the State Cricket Association has assured of adopting a village for the development. Only local labourers will be deployed for the construction work of the stadium.

Nirnanappa, who has been representing Palemadu villagers in their fights towards the crematorium land, said that some officials who had come to conduct the survey of the land, have created confusion by stating that the villagers are entitled to get only one-acre land while it was told during the mediation talks that a villager will be getting two acres of land for the crematorium.

Severe fights will be carried out if the assurance is not fulfilled, he said.

The Bhumi Puja, towards the cricket stadium, was held in the presence of the DC, Superintendent of Police Kshama Mishra, Assistant Commissioner Ishwar Kumar Kandoo, State Cricket Association Managing Committee member Shanti Swaroop and district convener Prithvi Devaiah.

The budget for building the stadium is Rs 50 crore and will comprise an indoor stadium, restaurant, swimming pool, gymnasium and air conditioned rooms and gallery.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Karnataka Districts / by Adithya K A, DHNS, Madikeri / January 11th, 2022