Danijones

T20 World Cup 2024: Australia faces Namibia with an eye on Super Eight; Sri Lanka in must-win situation against Nepal

Danijones7 months ago06 mins

Living up to the favourites tag with two consecutive wins, a confident Australia will aim to secure a Super Eight berth when they face lower-ranked Namibia in their Group B T20 World Cup clash in North Sound on June 12. Australia fired in unison to become the first team in this edition of the tournament to score 200-plus runs in a one-sided 36-run win over arch-rivals England in their last group league match. It was their second win from as many matches, having started off with a 39-run triumph over Oman. Beating Nambia will be enough for them to make the cut before they take on Scotland in their concluding Group B league fixture. Scotland lead the table with five points and along with Australia, are firmly ahead in the race to make the Super Eight at the expense of defending champions England who have one point from two matches. Their opening game against Scotland was a washout. Australia defeated Namibia by seven wickets after restricting their opponents to 119/9 in their only T20 meeting, albeit in a warm-up game two weeks back. Playing his last World Cup for Australia, David Warner has been in splendid form with one half century and it was his 16-ball 39 that set the tone for their 201/7 against England. Warner incidentally scored a fifty in the warm-up against Namibia as well. He has 97 runs in the tournament at a fine strike rate of 141.79. Warner’s opening partner Travis Head has also been at his explosive best and the duo will look to give the team a fiery start. Namibia will expect their veteran all-rounder David Wiese to step up after he starred in their Super-Over win against Oman. The globe-trotting all-rounder has the experience of facing Australia four times in T20Is during his stint with South Africa. Left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz, who has been tidy conceding just one four and one six in his eight overs, will also look to make an impact. Teams (from) Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner and Adam Zampa. Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Zane Green, Michael Van Lingen, Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo, Tangeni Lungameni, Niko Davin, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, JP Kotze, David Wiese, Bernard Scholtz, Malan Kruger and PD Blignaut. Match starts: 6am IST. Sri Lanka in must win clash against Nepal Former champion Sri Lanka’s campaign has gone terribly haywire after defeats to South Africa and they are now faced with a do-or-die clash against Nepal in a group D fixture in Lauderhill, Florida. Sri Lanka campaign has gone terribly haywire and they now face with a do-or-die clash against Nepal. | Photo Credit: AFP Nepal, on the other hand, lost to the Netherlands by six wickets in their only match so far. South Africa have already qualified to Super Eight following their nervy win over Bangladesh. A win for the Wanindu Hasaranga-led side will further heat up the race for the second spot with Bangladesh, Netherlands, and Nepal also in the reckoning. For that to happen, the onus will be on the batters. A loss, on the other hand, would mean curtains for Sri Lanka. Teams (from): Nepal: Rohit Paudel (c), Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC, Sundeep Jora, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal and Kamal Singh Airee Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka. Match starts: 5am IST.

T20 World Cup: South Africa trump Bangladesh by 4 runs in yet another low-scoring thriller

Danijones7 months ago07 mins

Keshav Maharaj of South Africa celebrate with teammates after dismissing Litton Das of Bangladesh during the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on June 10, 2024 in New York | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP Spinner Keshav Maharaj was lucky to defend 11 runs in the final over as South Africa held their nerves to beat Bangladesh by a mere four runs in yet another low-scoring thriller in the T20 World Cup in New York on Monday. In a contest where fortunes swung from one side to another, Bangladesh fought valiantly until the end riding on gritty knocks from Mahmudullah (20) and Towhid Hridoy (37), but could not land the killer punch in the 20th over chasing a modest 114. ALSO READ | Oceans apart: Bumrah’s searing spell takes Pakistan by storm With six needed off last two balls, Mahmudullah was caught near the ropes excellently by Aiden Markram off Keshav Maharaj (3/27), who was South Africa’s most successful bowler. The left-arm spinner bowled three full tosses in the final over but the Bangladesh batters were not able to put them away to end at 109 for seven. Anrich Nortje (2/17) continued to make the most of his form and Kagiso Rabada (2/19) and Marco Jansen (0/17) provided strong support. South Africa had recovered to post 113 for six after opting to bat on what has proved to be a challenging surface. Tanzid Hasan (9) perished early in the run chase after hitting a couple of fours while neither their skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (14 off 23) nor Litton Das (9 off 13) could convert starts. Shakib Al Hasan (3) too was beaten by Nortje’s pace when the right-armer bowled one short and the Bangladesh all-rounder mishit to lob one high in the sky. Struggling at 50 for four, Bangladesh found an excellent partnership between Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah, who put on 44 for the fifth wicket to take their side close to the finish line. Hridoy, who began with a six, did well to absorb the pressure in the company of Mahmudullah. The pair kept shaving off the target with smart rotation of strike as well as picking up the odd boundary, signalling that the wicket really has rewards for those who were able to alter their approach. Bangladesh seemed to be cruising towards the target until Hridoy’s dismissal — leg-before off Rabada in the 18th over — changed the complexion of the game. Earlier in the first half, pacers Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Taskin Ahmed excelled in favourable conditions to help Bangladesh restrict South Africa to a below-par total. Tanzim (3/18) ran through the Proteas top order in company of Taskin (2/19) while Mustafizur (0/18) too played his part well as Bangladesh produced a collective show despite strong resistance from Heinrich Klaasen (46) and David Miller (29). Klaasen and Miller looked to revive South Africa from a shaky start with a 79-run stand for the fifth wicket, but the pair could never really accelerate on a two-paced wicket on which the Bangladesh spinners also displayed control. Tanzim struck thrice in his opening burst to leave South Africa reeling at 23 for four inside the first five overs. After Quinton de Kock (18) showed aggressive intent by hitting the right-arm bowler for a six and a four in the initial exchanges, Tanzim made immediate amends to his line and length and hit Reeza Hendricks in front of the stumps for a golden duck. In fact, it was his simple yet effective tactics of bowling at the wickets paid high dividends as Tanzim cleaned up South Africa captain Aiden Markram (4), who missed a straight one with his bat coming down a bit awkwardly. Tristan Stubbs (0) had done a fine job of rebuilding the innings for South Africa in their last outing against the Netherlands, but the right-hander too had a soft dismissal to endure. Klaasen hit a couple of sixes upfront against Bangladesh spinners to push them back while Miller was content in rotating the strike. However, he was cleaned up by Taskin late in the innings after a 44-ball knock, studded with two fours and three sixes. Klaasen and Miller did find run-scoring difficult on the Nassau County pitch since they were forced to curb their attacking instinct.

Kamran Akmal apologises for distasteful religious comment on Arshdeep after being pulled up by Harbhajan Singh – India TV

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Image Source : GETTY Kamran Akmal after being pulled up for his distasteful comment on Arshdeep Singh, has apologised for hurting Sikh sentiments after the Ind vs Pak match Former Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Kamran Akmal has apologised for his distasteful comment on Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh on Live TV during the India vs Pakistan match in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Akmal faced backlash for his comments as former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh pulled him up on social media for hurting Sikh sentiments before the ex-Pakistan cricketer admitted that he was disrespectful and his words were inappopriate. “I deeply regret my recent comments and sincerely apologize to Harbhajan Singh and the Sikh community. My words were inappropriate and disrespectful. I have the utmost respect for Sikhs all over the world and never intended to hurt anyone. I am truly sorry. #Respect #Apology,” Akmal wrote on Twitter (now X), tagging the former India cricketer. During the 19th over of the innings, Kamran Akmal on ARY News went to the extent of saying, “Kuch bhi ho sakta hai… Dekhe last over karna Arshdeep Singh ne hai. Waise uska rhythm nahi laga. 12 baj gaye hai (Anything can happen. The last over will be bowled by Arshdeep Singh; he hasn’t looked in a great rhythm. And It is already 12).” Many users on X pointed out that it was in a reference to the Nasir Shah invasion of India, which has led to several 12 o’ clock theories and jokes. As soon as the video went viral on social media, Harbhajan Singh quoted the same while shutting Akmal down and explaining a bit on the invasion story. “Lakh di laanat tere Kamraan Akhmal.. You should know the history of sikhs before you open your filthy mouth. We Sikhs saved your mothers and sisters when they were abducted by invaders, the time invariably was 12 o’clock . Shame on you…Have some Gratitude,” he wrote. Arshdeep, who was coming off taking a crucial catch in the 19th over to send back Iftikhar Ahmed, defended 18 runs in the final over and also dismissed Imad Wasim to get his side home. Arshdeep has been brilliant with the ball for India in T20 World Cup once again as he showed his new ball skills in the first game against Ireland and in the death overs against Pakistan as the Men in Green remain winless after two games.

Pakistan targets right T20 combination against understrength New Zealand | Cricket

“Two more metres further and…”: SA captain Markram reflects on completing Mahmudullah’s catch in final over

Danijones7 months ago05 mins

New York [US], : South Africa captain Aiden Markram opened up about the game-changing moment of their 4-run win over Bangladesh and stated that two meters could have led to a completely different result. “Two more metres further and…”: SA captain Markram reflects on completing Mahmudullah’s catch in final over In a low-scoring chase of 114, Markram had gambled on experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj to save 11 runs off the final over. Date mein Crickit, late mein Crickit! Catch the game anytime, anywhere on Crickit. Find out how Two balls were left, Mahmudullah was on strike and Bangladesh needed six runs to seal the game. The ball slipped out of Maharaj’s hands and it became a full toss. Looking at the opportunity, Mahmudullah’s eyes sparkled and he made a full swing but Markram took a sharp catch just a couple of meters away from the boundary line. The leaping effort from the skipper put South Africa in firm control and they went on to take away an unlikely win. Markram talked about playing the game on a knife’s edge which made the entire affair in an entertaining clash. “You’re always pretty nervous in the final over in a game like that. It was always on a knife’s edge, it can make you mentally tired. Sometimes you get on the right side, sometimes not, but it’s very entertaining,” Markram said in the post-match presentation. “19.5 could’ve gone anywhere, could’ve gone two more metres further and we’d have had a different conversation. Like I mentioned, a few things went our way today, very fortunate on that to get on the right side,” he added. While defending a low score, Markram revealed that their game plan was to take the game to the final over on a surface that aided the pacers. “Depending on the situation, you want to drag the game as long as you can, so you use quicks to attack. Today was one of those days where the seamers were bowling well, we wanted to drag it to the end where anything could happen in the last over,” he added. After another woeful performance with the bat, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen forged a 79-run stand to propel the Proteas to 113/6. “We’re putting Klaasen and Miller under pressure but they’ve been exceptional. They’ve gone back-to-back with crucial partnerships, and got us to a score that’s lucky enough to win but still one we could defend. Fantastic for Klaasy to get back in form,” he concluded. South Africa have now registered three consecutive wins in the ongoing campaign. They are just one step away from moving into the Super 8 phase of the tournament. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

T20 World Cup 2024 | The plan was to bat as long as possible, says Axar

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

Showing his mettle: Axar, promoted to No. 4, chipped in with a useful contribution. | Photo Credit: DEEPAK KR On the seam-friendly pitches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, Axar Patel’s left-arm spin plays second fiddle to the pacers. Axar, however, has added great value as a batter. The southpaw, promoted to No. 4 in the Pakistan outing on Sunday, held the Indian innings together with an 18-ball 20. Axar was tasked with negotiating the PowerPlay safely. If Axar could hang around long enough to take the sting out of the new ball, the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube to come would have it easier. “Rohit (Sharma) bhai has been clear that the only batting spots which are fixed are those of the openers. Everything below that is flexible. “I got a brief — I don’t have to slog wildly. The plan was to bat as long as possible and make the new ball a bit older. This would make it easier for batters coming after me,” Axar said in a media interaction here. A 39-run third-wicket with Rishabh Pant proved to be crucial in the low-scoring affair. “The partnership with Rishabh was crucial. We got to a good position after 10 overs. We knew that batting second on this pitch would not be easy, so we remained positive even though we scored only 119,” Axar said. The left-arm spinner has only bowled three overs in India’s two matches. However, the 30-year-old did make an impact, trapping Usman Khan leg-before off the first ball he bowled. He later tightened the screws on Pakistan by conceding just two runs in the 16th over. Left-hander Imad Wasim, expected to have it easy against a left-arm spinner, ended up being beaten three times in a row. “Some pressure built up because I bowled a tidy over. There is not much in the wicket for the spinners. I did not want to let them free their arms and go for big shots,” Axar said.

T20 World Cup 2024 IND vs PAK | We made some poor decisions, feels Kirsten

Danijones7 months ago02 mins

Losing the plot: Fakhar’s decision to step down the track, with Pakistan in the driver’s seat, proved counterproductive. | Photo Credit: DEEPAK KR Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss. “Run a ball, eight wickets in hand — the decision making at that point… that’s international cricket for you. You make mistakes like that, you are going to pay. I thought we made some poor decisions at important phases of the game,” Kirsten said. “We had that game for 35 of the 40 overs,” Kirsten, who took charge only a couple of weeks ago, added. After two losses in as many matches, Pakistan is on the brink of elimination. Kirsten believes that the 2009 World Twenty20 champion can mount a comeback. “We still have a chance. We are hopeful that things play into our hands. Obviously we have to play a lot better than we are now,” the former South Africa international said.

Sandeep Lamichhane To Join Nepal T20 World Cup Squad In West Indies

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Sandeep Lamichhane will join Nepal’s T20 World Cup squad in the West Indies after missing matches in the United States because his visa was denied, the cricket association said Monday. Nepal had originally wanted to select former skipper Lamichhane, who had an eight-year sentence for rape quashed on appeal, but his US visa was denied twice despite intense lobbying. The T20 World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States and West Indies. “Nepali player Sandeep Lamichhane will leave for the West Indies for the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup and join the Nepali national cricket team,” association secretary Paras Khadka said in a statement. Spin bowler Lamichhane, 23, was once the poster boy for cricket in Nepal, but was convicted for raping a young woman in a Kathmandu hotel in 2022. That was quashed last month. “I am now joining the national team for the last two matches in the West Indies and looking forward to fulfilling my dreams and the dream of all cricket lovers,” Lamichhane posted on X, formerly Twitter. “To all our cricket fans and people back home everywhere who prayed for me, I will forever be grateful for your blessings.” His social media posts with the announcement were welcomed by fans and filled with congratulatory messages. Nepal lost to the Netherlands by six wickets in their World Cup opener. They play Sri Lanka on Wednesday in Florida, before group matches in the West Indies against South Africa and Bangladesh. Before his rape trial, Lamichhane’s success as a leg-spinner had dramatically boosted the sport’s profile in the Himalayan republic. In 2022, when an arrest warrant was first issued, Lamichhane initially failed to return from Jamaica, where he was playing in the Caribbean Premier League. He was dismissed as national captain and arrested, but Nepal lifted his playing ban when he was freed on bail. It allowed him to keep playing, including at last year’s Asia Cup in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, until he was convicted in January. The conviction was quashed in mid-May. Cricket does not enjoy the same attention in Nepal as it does elsewhere in South Asia. But the sport has been growing in popularity, with Nepal given one-day international status by world governing body the ICC in 2018. Lamichhane was a major part of the rise as the most sought-after Nepali cricketer in lucrative T20 leagues around the world. The bowler’s big break came when he was snapped up for the Indian Premier League, the world’s richest cricket tournament, in 2018. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

IND vs PAK, T20 World Cup 2024: Jasprit Bumrah Shines As India Pip Pakistan In Low-Scoring Thriller

Danijones7 months ago08 mins

The latest chapter of the “greatest rivalry” wasn’t high on quality but still provided edge of the seat action as a gritty India, guided by the redoubtable Jasprit Bumrah, went past an imploding Pakistan by six runs in a low-scoring T20 World Cup contest in New York on Sunday. The Rohit Sharma-led side suffered a mid-innings collapse on a two-paced track to be all out for an underwhelming 119 in 19 overs despite a gutsy effort from Rishabh Pant (42 off 31 balls) after being put in to bat under overcast conditions. Pakistan, who can oscillate between the sublime and ridiculous, seemed to have the game in the bag needing 48 runs off as many balls with eight wickets in hand. However, the pace combination of the ever-effective Bumrah (3/14) and Hardik Pandya (2/24) brought India back from the dead with incisive spells that saw Pakistan lose wickets in a heap to end at 113 for seven in 20 overs. The equation came down to 18 off the last six balls and Arshdeep Singh held his nerve to defend it and ensure another famous win for India over Pakistan on the world stage. While Hardik used the short ball well, Bumrah got rid of a well-set Rizwan in the 15th over before dismissing Iftikhar Ahmed in the 19th over that went for just three runs. Having said that, India made plenty of errors in the game including the dropped catches of Rizwan (31 off 34) and Babar Azam (13 off 10) early in the Pakistan chase. It was India’s second win in as many games while Pakistan succumbed to another loss after a shock defeat against the USA in their opener. Earlier, India’s new number three Pant rode his luck en route a chancy knock but other batters in the star-studded line-up could not apply themselves on a challenging surface. Pakistan dismissed India with an over to spare courtesy an all-round bowling effort with Naseem Shah (3/21) and Mohammed Amir (2/23) being the most impressive. India lost seven wickets for just 28 runs after being 89 for three in the 12th over. Intermittent rain delayed the toss and subsequently the start of the game by 50 minutes. Under overcast skies, Babar expectedly put the opposition India in to bat. After the opening over from Shaheen Afrdi, in which Rohit played a sublime pick up shot for six over deep square leg, rain returned to halt the game gain by roughly 30 minutes. Virat Kohli (4 off 3), who has an exemplary record against Pakistan, hit a glorious cover drive off Naseem Shah on the first ball of his innings post the resumption before getting caught at point off a wide and short ball two balls later. Pakistan had India under the pump when Rohit (13 off 12) departed in the following over by Afridi. The India captain went for another pick up shot but this time mistimed it to be holed out at deep square leg. The drop-in pitch, which made headlines for the wrong reasons prior to the game, had enough for pacers as well as the spinners but there was not as much uneven bounce as seen in the previous games. With India feeling the heat at 19 for two, they decided to promote Axar Patel (20 off 18) to number four to shield Suryakumar Yadav, a surprising move considering India bat deep. However, to Axar’s credit, the southpaw did play some bold strokes, including a six over third man off Afridi, in his brief stay. New number three Pant and Axar shared a 39-run stand off 30 balls to ensure the runs kept coming after the loss of openers. Pant, who got two streaky fours off Mohammad Amir at the start of his innings, rode his luck to a play pivotal knock. The gutsy left-hander was also dropped on eight before he gained in confidence to come up with a series of fearless fours. Three of them came in the opening over from Haris Rauf before he unleashed the reverse slap off spinner Imad Wasim. A 31-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav (7 off 8) took India to a promising 81 for three in the 10 overs. However, Pakistan fought back between overs 11-15 with as many as four wickets while conceding only 15 runs to leave India struggling at 96 for seven. Dube’s was a rather soft dismissal as he hit one straight back to Shah while Suryakumar tried to dispatch Rauf through the line but was caught at mid-off. Seeing the wickets fall at the other end, Pant did not hold back and went for a straight aerial drive to give Amir his first wicket. He got rid of Ravindra Jadeja the next ball through a regulation catch at cover. Hardik (7 off 12) had to bat around the tail but he did not last long. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

‘Khuda ka waasta’: Shoaib Akhtar urges Pakistan team to ‘play out of your skin’ & not chase ‘individual records’ vs India | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: As India and Pakistan gear up for the high-octane T20 World Cup clash in New York, former speedster Shoaib Akhtar has urged his team to play out of their skin and not chase personal milestones. India have a 6-1 record against Pakistan in T20 World Cups.Akhtar said that the entire country is rooting for them and Babar Azam and Co. and they have got to step up as an entire unit against the rampant Indian side.“Pakistan, play out of your skin.Play for Pakistan. Don’t play for individual records,” said Akhtar in a video posted on X. While India registered a comfortable win over Ireland in their Group A opener, Pakistan were stunned by minnows USA in their first T20 World Cup game in Dallas earlier in the week.And after Pakistan’s shock loss, the cricketing fraternity teared into the team, labelling the defeat as a ‘black day’.Playing in their maiden T20 World Cup, newcomers USA prevailed in the Super Over to stun former champions Pakistan.Points Table | ScheduleIndia currently sit at the second spot in Group A which is led by USA with two wins in 2 matches. Pakistan currently sit at the fourth spot in the group.

Skipping IPL 2024 was key to T20 World Cup success: Adam Zampa | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago05 mins

NEW DELHI: Australia spinner Adam Zampa believes that opting out of IPL 2024 was the best decision he could have made ahead of the T20 World Cup. This move allowed him to focus on his preparations, spend time with his family, and address some nagging injuries.Zampa was instrumental in Australia’s 36-run victory over arch-rivals England at the Kensington Oval on Saturday.The leg-spinner dismissed both openers, Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, in quick succession after they had given England a solid 73-run start in their chase of 201/7.Reflecting on his decision, Zampa said at the post-match press conference, “I made that decision a little while ago to pull out of the IPL and I thought it was the best thing for me moving forward into this World Cup. I was tired, I had some niggles and I’m a family man as well, so trying to put them first over work sometimes is pretty important.”The break allowed Zampa to focus on his conditioning and fine-tune his skills. “I actually am a bit of a slow starter and I put in a little bit of extra work. My body feels great and I just did that bit of extra work. Maybe a bit more bowling than I usually would before a tournament like this. And then the practice games and everything just feels nice at the moment,” he added.With the win, Australia moved to the top of Group B with four points, while England dropped to fourth. Following Zampa’s stellar performances, comparisons with the legendary Shane Warne have emerged, particularly after his significant contributions to Australia’s title-winning run at the 2021 T20 World Cup and during the ODI World Cup last year.However, Zampa modestly dismissed such comparisons, focusing instead on his contributions to the team. “Never really thought of it that way, to be honest. I had to fight for my position in the team for a long time. And then I was lucky enough to have captains that backed me. Finch really backed me in, and it’s the same with Cummins and Marsh as well.”He emphasized the support from the team’s leadership and his growth over the years. “Under this coaching management, my role is clear. I’ve done the work over time to build up that skill level. But in terms of my role in the team, I get backed to take wickets and try and win the game for us, and I absolutely feel that with our leadership.”Zampa highlighted his development through consistent hard work. “I reckon I did the work when I was young. I went through some rough patches for sure, I got dropped, I was in and out of the team a little bit, and then I was probably in the team and not bowling that well. But in the last few years, that skill is definitely better than it was eight years ago when I started. And the leadership helps me feel at home.”(With inputs from PTI)