Danijones

Norway Chess: R Praggnanandhaa scores first-ever classical win over Magnus Carlsen

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

18-year-old Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa registered his first-ever classical win over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the third round of the Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger on Wednesday, May 29. The Indian Grandmaster took the sole lead in the open section of the prestigious six-player tournament after the momentous victory at Carlsen’s home turf. Playing with white pieces, last year’s FIDE World Cup runner-up, battled against the odds to beat Carlsen. R Praggnanandhaa took his tally to 5.5 out of 9 points at the end of the third round in the Norway Chess tournament. American Grandmaster Fabio Caruana, meanwhile, took the second spot after taking three full points following his win over GM Ding Liren on Wednesday. Incidentally, R Praggnanandhaa’s sister R Vaishali retained her sole lead position in the women’s section of Norway Chess. Magnus Carlsen, who paid the price for a daring opening move against Praggnanandhaa, slipped to fifth in the six-man standings in the open section of Norway Chess. Praggnanandhaa did not let the opening surprise him as he kept his calm and got the job done. Despite trailing on the clock for the most part of the game, Praggnanandhaa managed to beat Carlsen with white pieces and seal three crucial points. It was a big boost for Praggnanandhaa, who had lost the World Cup last year to Magnus Carlsen. Incidentally, Praggnanandhaa is only the fourth Indian to beat Carlsen in classical chess. In another match, GM Hikaru Nakamura defeated GM Alireza Firouzja in Armageddon to retain the third spot on the table. Ding Liren, who will take on GM D Gukesh for the World Championship title later in the year, was reeling at the last spot after 3 rounds with 2.5 points out of 9 on Wednesday. R VAISHALI SOLE LEADER IN WOMEN’S SECTION Norway Chess offers USD 160,000 in prize funds for the Open and the Women’s section. Six players will compete against each other twice in classical chess from May 27 to June 7. Norway Chess: R Praggnanandha scores first-ever classical win over Magnus Carlsen Vaishali came up with a stupendous effort to beat compatriot Koneru Humpy and jump into sole lead on Tuesday. GM Vaishali held GM Anna Muzychuk to a draw with black pieces on Wednesday to retain the sole lead position after three rounds in the women’s section. STANDINGS IN NORWAY CHESS AFTER THREE ROUNDS OPEN: 1. R Praggnanandhaa – 5.5, 2. Fabio Caruana – 5, 3. Hikaru Nakamura – 4, 4. Alireza Firouzja – 3.5, 5. Magnus Carlsen – 3, 6. Ding Liren – 2.5. WOMEN: 1. R Vaishali – 5.5, 2. Ju Wenjun 4.5, 3. Lei Tingjie 4, 4. Pia Cramling – 3, 4. Koneru Humpy – 3, 4. Anna Muzychuk – 3. Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: May 30, 2024

Iga Swiatek Saves Match Point To Beat Naomi Osaka At French Open

Danijones5 months ago01 mins

Defending champion Iga Swiatek saved a match point to outlast Naomi Osaka.© AFP Defending champion Iga Swiatek saved a match point to outlast fellow four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 7-5 in a breathtaking second-round clash at the French Open on Wednesday. World number one Swiatek trailed 5-2 in the final set but the Pole won the last five games of the match to keep her bid for a third successive Roland Garros title on track. She is attempting to become only the fourth woman in the Open era to lift four Roland Garros titles and just the second — after Serena Williams — to complete the clay-court treble of Madrid, Rome and French Opens in the same season. More to follow… Topics mentioned in this article

T20 World Cup 2024 Group C preview | Three-way race beckons West Indies, New Zealand, and Afghanistan

Danijones5 months ago09 mins

In The Hindu’s countdown to the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which commences in the West Indies and USA on June 2, we take a look at the teams in Group C. WEST INDIES: The co-host enters the tournament in great form, having won four of its last five T20I series. In Andre Russell (all-rounder), Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, and Shimron Hetmyer (batters), and Romario Shepherd and Alzarri Joseph (pacers), WI is packed with match-winners. The two-time T20 World Cup champion will miss the services of experienced all-rounder Jason Holder, who is out with an injury. WI is expected to do better than its showing in the previous T20 WC, where it crashed out in the group stage. Key player: Andre Russell: An integral part of Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2024 title-run, the all-rounder has enjoyed a career resurrection. Russell, 36, shone bright in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad with a crucial three-wicket haul. The squad: Rovman Powell (Capt.), Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd. The West Indies have made a late change to their squad for next month’s #T20WorldCup 👀 Details 👇https://t.co/PfffyP8znd — T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) May 27, 2024 NEW ZEALAND: The Kiwis rely on the old guard in their search for a first T20 World Cup trophy. Kane Williamson leads the side for a fourth time in a T20 WC, while pacers Tim Southee and Trent Boult make their seventh and fifth tournament appearances respectively. The likes of Daryl Mitchell (CSK), Rachin Ravindra (CSK), and Boult (RR) hit the ground running after hectic IPL 2024 campaigns, while most other players return to familiar settings having featured in the 2023 Caribbean Premier League. From the squad announcement press conference to the departure check-in desk ✈️ Join Angus and Matilda on @T20WorldCup Departure Day 🎤 #T20WorldCup#CricketNation#Cricketpic.twitter.com/qIMjDClPfp — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) May 28, 2024 Fast bowler Matt Henry and Ravindra are the only players in the squad who have not played in a T20 WC. This mega event could well be the last dance for a generation of talent. Key player: Trent Boult: The left-arm pacer’s spell of 3-0-6-1 took Royal Challengers Bengaluru out of contention in the IPL Eliminator last week. Boult’s dangerous shape and curl with the new ball can swing the early momentum towards New Zealand. The squad: Kane Williamson (Capt.), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, and Tim Southee. AFGHANISTAN: The 2023 50-over Cricket World Cup saw Afghanistan rise from minnow to contender. A dream semifinal spot was cruelly denied by a hobbling Glenn Maxwell, who smashed an all-time great ODI knock. The T20 style is perhaps a better fit for the Afghans. Najibullah Zadran, wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Gulbadin Naib, and Mohammad Nabi can hit the long ball, while Rashid Khan, Nabi, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, and Noor Ahmad form a well-rounded spin attack. Several of the Afghanistan players were involved in IPL 2024 — the machine is greased and ready. Gurbaz, in fact, came good in the final for KKR with a 32-ball 39. Key player: Naveen-ul-Haq: With 14 wickets, pacer Naveen-ul-Haq finished as LSG’s highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024. The 24-year-old’s slower-ball variations are tough to pick. The squad: Rashid Khan (Capt.), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Fareed Ahmad Malik. UGANDA: This nation makes its debut at a World Cup, though it was part of the combined East Africa side which competed in the 1975 WC. To find a spot here is an achievement in itself, as Uganda overcame fancied Zimbabwe and Kenya in the Africa leg of the qualifiers. The celebrations led by @OgwangOyuku are everything 😁 Uganda are heading to the T20 World Cup ✈️ pic.twitter.com/yyRL6w6Px2 — Sportstar (@sportstarweb) November 30, 2023 An upset win over strong favourites West Indies, New Zealand or Afghanistan will go a long way in boosting the profile of cricket in Uganda. Key player: Frank Nsubuga: At 43, Nsubuga is be the oldest player in the tournament. The all-rounder first played international cricket 27 years ago. The squad: Brian Masaba (Capt.), Riazat Ali Shah, Kenneth Waiswa, Dinesh Nakrani, Frank Nsubuga, Ronak Patel, Roger Mukasa, Cosmas Kyewuta, Bilal Hassun, Fred Achelam, Robinson Obuya, Simon Ssesazi, Henry Ssenyondo, Alpesh Ramjani, Juma Miyaji. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: The island country had a fairly easy route to the main draw, cruising past Vanuatu, Japan, and Philippines in the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier held last year. PNG appeared in the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where it lost all three of its Group B first-round matches (to Scotland, Bangladesh, and Oman). The PNG team is all geared up to leave their mark in the #T20WorldCup 🇵🇬😍 pic.twitter.com/8y9cAFu4Ae — T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) May 29, 2024 Former Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu is the head coach of PNG. Key player: Tony Ura: With 1618 runs in 56 T20Is, Ura is the nation’s most successful batter. The squad: Assadollah Vala (Capt.), C.J. Amini, Alei Nao, Chad Soper, Hila Vare, Hiri Hiri, Jack Gardner, John Kariko, Kabua Vagi Morea, Kipling Doriga, Lega Siaka, Norman Vanua, Sema Kamea, Sese Bau, Tony Ura.

French Open: Iga Swiatek saves match point to beat Naomi Osaka in 2nd-round thriller

Danijones5 months ago06 mins

Former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka produced one of her finest performances on the red dirt, but it was not enough to beat defending champion Iga Swiatek in the second round of Roland Garros 2024. Osaka was at her fiery best, playing lights-out tennis but she fluffed a match point and allowed Swiatek to recover from a 2-5 deficit in the final round. Swiatek kept her winning run in the French Open going, taking the second-round match 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 in 2 hours and 57 minutes. Noami Osaka was close to producing the biggest upset of the ongoing tournament, but Iga Swiatek was resolute, winning the last 5 games on the trot to wriggle out of trouble and reach the third round of the women’s singles competition. “For sure this match was really intense. Much more intense for a 2nd round than I ever expected. Naomi played amazing tennis with loose hands. Sometimes risking a lot but playing in. She played really great tennis, I am happy she back and playing great tennis again,” Swiatek said, heaping praise on Osaka, who has still not managed to go past the third round at Roland Garros. Naomi Osaka was at her absolute best, falling just short of her second successive win in a Grand Slam match since returning from her maternity break. Osaka lost in the first round of the Australian Open, but she has been on a resurgent run in Paris, beating World No. 67 Lucia Bronzetti in three sets in the first round. Even in the first-round win, Osaka did not look like she had it in her to stop Swiatek’s love affair with the clay courts of Roland Garros. 3-time champion Swiatek did not throw in the towel despite nearly getting bageled in the second set and going down 2-5 in the third set. The World No. 1 and a 3-time champion saved a match point while trailing 3-5 before mounting an incredible comeback and avoid a final set tie-breaker. Osaka showed signs of returning to her vintage self, moving freely across the court and hitting those forehand and backhand winners at will. Osaka’s down-the-line backhand winners had Swiatek in trouble as the World No. 1 had very few answers to the Japanese star’s groundstrokes at the Philippe-Chatrier for most of the last two sets. It was Iga Swiatek’s character and grit that helped her sail through the third set against Osaka, who was firing on all cylinders. Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek started the opening set, matching each other’s energy and skill on clay. Osaka served for the first set when she was leading 4-5 on Swiatek’s serve. However, the Polish superstar found a way to wriggle out of trouble and drag the four-time Grand Slam champion to a tie-breaker. Swiatek raised her game in the tie-breaker, winning it 7-1. However, Osaka did wonderfully well to not let the heartbreak of the first-set tie-breaker affect her. Osaka, in fact, increased her level as he backhand-down-the-line winners were coming out, one after the other as she took a 4-0 lead. Swiatek, who is used to bageling her opponents, was in danger of losing the second set 6-0, but she managed to take a game. It required incredible resolve and determination for Swiatek to bounce back from 2-5 down in the second set. However, the Polish superstar extended her winning run in French Open to 16 matches, producing one of her greatest comebacks in a Grand Slam match. Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: May 30, 2024

Italy great Leonardo Bonucci retires from professional football

Danijones5 months ago05 mins

World Cup-winner Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci retired from professional football at the age of 37 on Wednesday. The defender, who joined Fenerbahçe in the January transfer window following an ill-fated transfer to Union Berlin last summer, played his last match against Istanbulspor, which his team won 6-0. “It was a pleasure for me to be a part of this wonderful family. I tried to show my best on and off the field, but most importantly, we will fight our last battle tomorrow. I want to finish my career with a cup, and we have a chance to become champions tomorrow,” Bonucci told Fenerbahce in its official statement. He concluded his words by saying, “I thank everyone.” “I have personally seen in him many times what a leader should be like. I thank him very much for always being there for the team on and off the field, said Hakan Yandas, one of Fenerbahce’s captains. BONUCCI’s GLORIOUS CAREER Bonucci began his professional journey with Inter Milan in 2005. Despite limited appearances for the Nerazzurri, he demonstrated significant potential, leading to loan spells at Treviso and Pisa, where he honed his skills. It was his move to Bari in 2009 that truly marked the beginning of his rise. Partnering with Andrea Ranocchia, Bonucci’s performances under the tutelage of coach Gian Piero Ventura caught the attention of Juventus, who secured his services in 2010. ðèð®ð¹ Leonardo Bonucci retires from professional football, decision made. Former Juventus and Italian NT defender leaves after last season at Fenerbahçe. “Bonucci and Chiellini… they could go to Harvard University to give classes about how to be a CB”, Mourinho said in 2018. pic.twitter.com/e6g1IVFo6B — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 29, 2024 Bonucci’s tenure at Juventus stands as the cornerstone of his career. Over 12 seasons with the Bianconeri, he made over 400 appearances and won a staggering array of titles, including nine Serie A championships, four Coppa Italia trophies, and five Supercoppa Italiana titles. His partnership with Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli in Juventus’ defense, famously known as the “BBC,” became legendary, forming one of the most formidable defensive units in football history. His time at Juventus was briefly interrupted by a high-profile transfer to AC Milan in 2017, where he was appointed captain. However, Bonucci returned to Juventus just a year later, reaffirming his commitment to the club where he achieved his greatest successes. Bonucci’s contributions to the Italian national team are equally noteworthy. Earning his first cap in 2010, he amassed over 100 appearances for the Azzurri. He played a crucial role in Italy’s journey to the UEFA Euro 2012 final and was instrumental in their triumph at UEFA Euro 2020. His performance in the Euro 2020 final, including a crucial equalizing goal and a successful penalty in the shootout against England, exemplified his tenacity and composure under pressure. Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: May 30, 2024

T20 World Cup, India’s USA dairies: Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid run in rain to reach car

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

Team India arrived in the USA ahead of the T20 World Cup as they gear up for their quest to win an ICC trophy. The first batch of the Indian players landed in the Americas as they looked to get ease into the weather as well as the different time zones. The players are also making the most of their time in the city as they were spotted taking strolls on the streets of Times Square and clicking pictures with the fans. The local fans manage to click snippets of the Indian players in the USA as the Indian supporters get a sneak-peak as to what the players have been up to in the lead-up to the marquee tournament. Recently, a video has been widely circulated on the internet where Indian team’s captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid were snapped. The fan was eagerly waiting to get a picture with Rohit and Dravid, but it was raining like cats and dogs in New York. Rohit and Dravid, patiently waiting, signalled the car driver and as soon as the cab arrived, Rohit and Dravid sprinted and rushed into the car amid heavy rain. Watch the video here- India’s training session begins The Indian team had their first training session before they play warm-up game against Bangladesh on June 1 in New York. It was a bright sunny day during the practice session as Hardik Pandya also joined the Indian team from London. Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik shared pictures from their first training session in the USA. So far, only the first batch of Indian players have arrived as the remaining of the players, including Virat Kohli, will reach the Americas in a couple of days. Kohli could not accompany the first batch of Indian players due to some paperwork issue. After the training session, the Indian team also had their photo-shoot session featuring the brand-new T20I jersey. Rishabh Pant shared some behind-the-scenes pictures from the shoot as the players looked all smiles ahead of the marquee tournament. India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Published By: Diya Kakkar Published On: May 30, 2024

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Honest Revelation On Captaining MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja In IPL 2024

Danijones5 months ago03 mins

Ruturaj Gaikwad with MS Dhoni in IPL 2024© BCCI/Sportzpics It could become difficult for a young player to lead a team that has veterans like MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ajinkya Rahane. Yet Ruturaj Gaikad impressed many with his leadership qualities as he led the Chennai Super Kings squad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. It was right before the start of the tournament that CSK announced a captaincy change, with Dhoni passing on the baton to Gaikwad. When the CSK skipper was asked about the difficulty in leading such players, he gave an honest response. “I felt good right from the start (of the tournament). I am very approachable for all teammates whenever needed and they always support the team in whatever way the team requires,” Gaikwad said of the captaincy challenge, to Times of India. “I wouldn’t say it’s difficult as all of them are very understanding. All the senior players that are a part of the team are great to be with. Their experience always helps with match situations,” he added. Gaikwad also displayed a similar calm and composure on the field that people have seen from MS Dhoni for years. The CSK captain revealed that ‘being neutral’ is something he learned from Dhoni, and now he doesn’t get too excited about wins, or too low about losses. “Being neutral is something that I have learnt from Mahi bhai. Not getting too excited about anything or being down by anything is the right approach that I have picked up,” Ruturaj said. “While batting irrespective of being captain or not, my approach is always the same. Doesn’t really change a lot. You cannot plan to become leaders so being good team players and putting the team first will always stand a good chance to be one,” the CSK skipper explained. Topics mentioned in this article

Carlos Alcaraz Survives Scare At French Open

Danijones5 months ago03 mins

Carlos Alcaraz survived a huge scare at the hands of 176th-ranked Jesper de Jong.© AFP World number three Carlos Alcaraz survived a huge scare at the hands of 176th-ranked Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong to reach the third round after a four-set triumph on Wednesday. Wimbledon champion Alcaraz, who made the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year, scrambled to a 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 second round victory over a player taking part in only his second Grand Slam main draw. The 21-year-old Spaniard was broken five times and hit 47 unforced errors before De Jong, playing his fifth match at the tournament, eventually wilted under the roof of Court Phillipe Chatrier. “Every player can cause you trouble,” said Alcaraz. “You have to be focussed in every round, have to play at your best, it doesn’t matter what the ranking is. Jesper has the work and level to break into the top 100.” Alcaraz goes on to face either American 27th seed Sebastian Korda or South Korea’s Kwon Soon-woo for a place in the last 16. Despite being broken in the second game of the opening set, Alcaraz broke three times himself to grab the advantage. The battling Dutchman then saved eight break points over the course of the second set before the Spaniard found the killer blow. However, Alcaraz, who arrived at the tournament under an injury cloud after sitting out the Rome Open with a right arm problem, went off the boil in the third set. He committed 15 unforced errors to the Dutchman’s five as the qualifier cut the deficit. Alcaraz then twice had to come back from breaks early in the fourth set before running away with the last four games to triumph. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article Carlos Alcaraz Sebastian Korda French Open 2024 Tennis

Bayern Munich Appoint Vincent Kompany To End Long Search For New Coach

Danijones5 months ago06 mins

Bayern Munich’s long search to fill their vacant head coaching position is over with the German giants naming Vincent Kompany as manager in a shock move on Wednesday. The 38-year-old Belgian, a surprise choice with his Burnley side relegated from the Premier League this season, has penned a three-year deal at the Allianz Arena. Normally in contention for the biggest names in the business, Bayern have been searching for months but have been knocked back by several candidates after their first trophyless season for 12 years. After failed attempts to lure Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann and Austria’s Ralf Rangnick, Bayern tried to hold onto Thomas Tuchel, who had agreed in February to leave in the summer. Tuchel however announced in May he “couldn’t agree on terms” to stay with the club and would “stick to the agreement we had in February”. Instead, Bayern have decided for Kompany, taking a risk on an inexperienced yet promising candidate in one of the biggest jobs in football. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of FC Bayern. It’s a great honour to be able to work for this club – FC Bayern is an institution in international football,” said Kompany in a club statement. “I’m now looking forward to the basics: working with the players, building a team. Once the basis is right, success will follow.” Burnley will reportedly receive £10 million ($13 million) in compensation for allowing their manager to leave. “We understand the allure and prestige of a club like Bayern Munich and respect Vincent’s ambition to explore new opportunities,” Burnley said in a statement. Alonso 2.0? After a successful playing career where he captained Manchester City and the Belgian national team, Kompany returned to his first club Anderlecht to begin his managerial career. He moved to Burnley in 2022 and took them to the Premier League as second-division champions, before crashing back to earth over the past 12 months. Yet, he crucially retained the support of his old coach at City Pep Guardiola, who advised his former club to go for Kompany due to his leadership qualities and determination to play an attacking brand of football. “As a coach, you have to stand for what you are as a character,” added Kompany. “I love having the ball, being creative – but we also have to be aggressive and courageous on the pitch.” Coaching instability has been a feature at Bayern over the past decade and a half, despite their consistent on-field success. Guardiola, whose three-year spell in Bavaria ended in 2016, was the last Bayern coach to complete at least two full seasons. Used to poaching the best talent from their Bundesliga rivals, Bayern were shunned by Alonso, as he decided to take Leverkusen into the Champions League next season. However, recreating the Spaniard’s success in Germany looks to have been on the minds of the Bayern board. Like Alonso, Kompany is a disciple of Guardiola and speaks German thanks to his spell at Hamburg as a player. But his transition into coaching has not been as smooth as the Leverkusen boss. He finished third and fourth in his two full seasons at Anderlecht before overseeing Burnley’s lowest ever points tally in the English top-flight to finish second bottom of the Premier League this season. Kompany, who is the same age as Bayern captain Manuel Neuer, now has a mammoth task ahead of him in reviving Bayern’s on-field fortunes, not to mention navigating the club’s complex backroom politics, which have derailed more experienced coaches. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Riyan Parag confident of making international debut in near future – India TV

Danijones5 months ago03 mins

Image Source : BCCI/IPL Riyan Parag during the RR vs SRH IPL 2024 game in Hyderabad on May 24, 2024 Riyan Parag targets an international debut in the near future after a memorable performance in the recent IPL 2024. The young batting all-rounder produced his career-best performance with Rajasthan Royals but failed to make India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. The 22-year-old Riyan played a crucial role in leading Sanju Samson’s Royals to Qualifier 2 in the 17th edition of the tournament. Parag’s name emerged in talks ahead of the squad selection for the World Cup but the Guwahati-born batter had to wait for his chance. Parag is not a stranger to Indian cricket having made headlines with his performances in U19 World Cup 2018 and in domestic tournaments for Assam. He enjoyed his best season in the IPL by scoring 573 runs at a strike rate of almost 150. Speaking at a sporting event in Mumbai, Parag talked about his belief in making India debut in the near future. He stated that he will make his debut one day for sure and it’s only a matter of time. “At some point, you’ll have to take me, right? So that is my belief, I’m going to play for India,” Riyan Parag told PTI. “I don’t really care when. That is me believing in myself. That is not me being arrogant. That is what my plan was with my dad (former Railways and Assam player Parag Das), when I started playing cricket when I was like 10-years-old. We (a joint project) were going to play for India regardless of anything. “Whether it’s the next tour, whether it’s a tour in six months, whether it’s a tour in one year. I don’t really put my thought behind when I should play. That is the selector’s job, that is other people’s job.” Parag is expected to make his India debut along with Abhishek Sharma during India’s next bilateral T20I series against Zimbabwe after the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.