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Teams that win the championships play great defence: Payton
Mumbai: For a seventh consecutive season, the NBA will see a different champion as the Indiana Pacers compete with Oklahoma City Thunder in the seven-game Finals series, starting on Friday. The Pacers have never won the marquee basketball title in their history, while the Thunder won the 1979 season, then as the Seattle SuperSonics. Gary Payton explained that both teams in the final — Indiana Pacers compete with Oklahoma City Thunder — have a defensive style. (Reuters) For Gary Payton, the two teams with the most attractive style of play have made it to the final. Payton, the 2006 NBA champion with Miami Heat and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer explained that both teams play a defensive style. “I would rather see a lot of defence than offence,” Payton said. “The two teams that have reached the final, (they are there) because they play defence, they make big stops. “I think all the time in the playoffs, the teams that win the championships are the teams that play great defence. They both play defence, they both play great. They have five guys on the floor at all times that can go at each other. This is going to be a great series, I really think it is going to go to seven games. The Pacers got to the finals for the first time since they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000, after beating the New York Knicks in the Western Conference Finals. Meanwhile, Thunder reached this far by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Eastern finals. They last reached the NBA final in 2012, when they lost to Miami. The staunch defence from both teams reminds Payton of the style that was dominant during his playing days. “In my era, we were only averaging about 85 points a game, in the 1990s. That’s what it was about. And if you can do that, you win games. If you are struggling with offence, but you hold them to 68 points, you are always in that match,” said Payton, who is in Mumbai to launch the NBA House. “I don’t want to go to a game and see a team score 130 points – one player has 50 points and another has 55. I want to see somebody stop somebody. I want to see someone take accountability and take someone, who is valuable to a team, out of the game.” Defensive discipline was a specialty for Payton, who was the first point guard (a typically attacking position) to be named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, when he won the accolade in 1996. Marcus Smart in 2022 has been the only other point guard to win the award so far. “I didn’t care about scoring, I cared about stopping the best opponent. If I stopped him, that means I stopped the (opposition) – because they cannot function without him,” Payton said when asked about what kind of legacy he hoped he left behind. “I want to be remembered as the first two-way player to play at both ends of the floor. But really, my legacy started as just being a complete basketball player, both ends of the floor. If I’m struggling with my offence, I don’t worry about it and just focus on the defence and stopping the other team. That’s my legacy, I don’t want anything else.”
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Shubman Gill shows first sign of bold captaincy in addressing Kohli, Rohit’s Test exit: ‘No different pressure’
Jun 05, 2025 11:06 PM IST Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket last month While the world will still have to wait for another fortnight to get a true glimpse of Shubman Gill’s captaincy in Test cricket, with the India star set to become the youngest leader of the team in this century, come the Test series against England, the 25-year-old gave the first sign of his bold leadership when he addressed the sudden retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma before the tour. Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill addresses a pre-departure presser at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters in Mumbai on June 5, 2025, ahead of India’s tour of England for Test series(AFP) Less than a month before the Indian team’s departure for the tour of England, Rohit announced his retirement from Test cricket via Instagram. Just five days later, Kohli did the same. The back-to-back announcements left an air of uncertainty around the strength of the Indian team, especially before the crucial series against England. However, Gill boldly dismissed questions about any pressure on the young Indian team in the absence of the two stalwarts, saying it was just like any tough situation they had faced before. “Pressure is always there in every tour. Definitely, two very experienced players who played for such a long time and won so many times, very difficult to fill their space. But it is not a different kind of pressure, all of us players are used to it,” he said in the pre-tour presser on Wednesday. India will have experienced players in KL Rahul, returning Karun Nair, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and of course, Jasprit Bumrah. Gill also opened up about the kind of captain he wanted to be, saying that he wanted to make players feel secure during his tenure through communication. “No particular style that I want to follow. I like communication with the players, making them feel secure. Making a bond with the players is very important for me as a captain. It is only when players are secure that they will give you their 100 percent,” he said. The England series will begin on June 20 at the Headingley. News / Cricket News / Shubman Gill shows first sign of bold captaincy in addressing Kohli, Rohit’s Test exit: ‘No different pressure’ See Less
IND vs ENG: Will Jasprit Bumrah play all five Tests? Gautam Gambhir drops major hint ahead of England tour | Cricket News
Gautam Gambhir (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: How many matches will Jasprit Bumrah play in the India vs England Test series? Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Thursday provided a key update on Bumrah’s availability ahead of the much-anticipated five-match Test series in England, which begins on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds.“We haven’t taken the call on which 3 games he will play. We will have a discussion with him and depending on the series and results and how the series is heading. I am sure he is very well aware of as well,” Gambhir said.“It is difficult to replace someone like Bumrah but we have enough quality. Like I said in the Champions Trophy, it gives an opportunity to another player to put their hands up,” he added.India enter the series under the leadership of new Test captain Shubman Gill, who has taken over the reins following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from red-ball cricket.The England tour marks the beginning of India’s campaign in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle. The five-Test series will be played at historic venues — Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval — between June and August. ‘A particularly special feeling’: Andy Flower hails Virat Kohli, RCB after historic title win This series not only marks a major overseas assignment but also the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket. As Shubman Gill embarks on his captaincy journey, he carries the legacy of past greats, along with the expectations and hopes of a promising future.India Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep YadavEngland Squad: Ben Stokes (C), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris WoakesTest series schedule:1st Test: June 20–24, 2025 – Headingley, Leeds2nd Test: July 2–6, 2025 – Edgbaston, Birmingham3rd Test: July 10–14, 2025 – Lord’s, London4th Test: July 23–27, 2025 – Old Trafford, Manchester5th Test: July 31–August 4, 2025 – The Oval, London
India vs England: Gautam Gambhir drops massive playing XI hint, backs experienced batter in English conditions | Cricket News
Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: India head coach Gautam Gambhir has dropped a significant hint about the playing XI for the upcoming England Test series, voicing strong support for experienced batter Karun Nair. “When someone has scored heaps of runs, we won’t judge them by 1-2 tests. If someone has scored heaps of runs, we have to give him opportunities,” Gambhir said during a press conference attended by the head coach and Team India’s test skipper Shubman Gill on Thursday. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Karun Nair’s experience and form will come in handy in England.”Nair’s Test journey has been a rollercoaster. After a dazzling 303 not out against England in 2016, he found himself out of favour within months. A disappointing series against Australia and being benched during the 2018 England tour stalled his rise. But Nair never gave up.His comeback was forged through persistence. A prolific 2023 stint in county cricket, followed by a dominant 2024-25 domestic season, including 863 Ranji Trophy runs, showcased a batter reborn. Shubman Gill returns to the city where it all started for him as a youngster His recent double century for India A against England Lions further strengthened his claim.Mentally stronger, technically refined, and hungry for redemption, Nair has done more than just knock; he’s broken the door down. With Gambhir now backing him publicly, a place in the playing XI at Headingley on June 20 looks increasingly likely.India Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep YadavEngland Squad: Ben Stokes (C), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris WoakesTest Series Schedule: 1st Test: England v India, 20-24 June 2025, Headingley, Leeds 2nd Test: England v India, 2-6 July 2025, Edgbaston, Birmingham 3rd Test: England v India, 10-14 July 2025, Lord’s, London 4th Test: England v India, 23-27 July 2025, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 5th Test: England v India, 31 July-4 August 2025, Kia Oval, London
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‘Cannot lose 11 people’: Gautam Gambhir makes a strong statement on Bengaluru stampede, RCB celebrations | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir made a strong statement on the tragic stampede in Bengaluru that occurred during RCB’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations. The incident resulted in the loss of several lives and left many others injured. Gambhir, along with newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill, addressed the media in Mumbai ahead of the team’s departure for England for a five-match Test series.“I was never a believer of road shows. I had the same statement to make even after winning in 2007, we should never have roadshows. Maybe in the future we can do something in a stadium. My heart goes to the families of those who lost their lives,” Gambhir said.“All I can say is, we need to be responsible. Every life matters. If we are not ready to hold a road show, we should not do that. You cannot at any point of time lose 11 people,” he added.Shubman Gill was named the new captain of the Indian Test team, a decision officially announced by the BCCI during the squad unveiling for the upcoming England tour, set to begin on June 20. RCB Victory Parade: At least 8 Dead, Several Injured In Stampede Outside Bengaluru Stadium India’s tour of England also marks the start of their ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 campaign, with the five-Test series scheduled at iconic venues: Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.This series represents more than just another overseas assignment—it signals the dawn of a new era in Indian cricket. As Gill takes charge, he not only inherits the legacy left behind by stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and R. Ashwin but also carries the promise of a fresh chapter for the team. Gautam Gambhir sends stern message after Bengaluru tragedy India Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep YadavEngland Squad: Ben Stokes (C), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris WoakesTest series schedule:1st Test: England v India, 20-24 June 2025, Headingley, Leeds2nd Test: England v India, 2-6 July 2025, Edgbaston, Birmingham3rd Test: England v India, 10-14 July 2025, Lord’s, London4th Test: England v India, 23-27 July 2025, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester5th Test: England v India, 31 July-4 August 2025, Kia Oval, London
Gautam Gambhir breaks silence on 11 deaths in Bengaluru during RCB’s IPL celebration: ‘I’ve never believed in roadshows’
Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the tragedy of Wednesday in Bengaluru, where a stampede led to the loss of 11 lives and injured multiple individuals outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Gambhir was blunt in his assessment, saying that he is not a fan of roadshows, urging the authority to be a lot more responsible. The former India batter mentioned that no matter how big the occasion is, such over-the-top celebrations should be curbed to ensure the safety of people. Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill (L) and head coach Gautam Gambhir address a pre-departure presser(AFP) The Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who won their maiden IPL trophy by beating Punjab Kings in the final, were in for a festive day, with felicitations and a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium ready to welcome and cherish their feat. But the tragedy that unfolded left players, authorities and the franchise shocked. The police lost control of the sea of humanity outside the stadium, eventually leading to multiple deaths. Gambhir stressed that there is nothing more important than the lives of people, and if that is put in jeopardy, some serious soul-searching is required. “I was never a believer that we need to have roadshows. Even when I was playing, I had the same statement to make. After winning in 2007 [T20 World Cup], I felt that we should not have roadshows. The lives of the people are far more important, and I will continue to say that. Even in future, I think we can be a little bit aware and not hold these roadshows,” Gambhir said ahead of the Indian team’s departure for England in Mumbai on Thursday. Also Read: ‘Can’t believe Virat Kohli knew people were dying outside and…’; RCB’s ‘over-the-top’ hype blamed for Bengaluru stampede “Have it under closed doors, or a low-profile affair inside a stadium. But it is very tragic what happened yesterday, and my heart goes out to the families of people who lost their loved ones. I hope that in future, nothing like this happens because we are all responsible citizens.” ‘Might as well cancel these roadshows’, says Gautam Gambhir As Gambhir pointed out, he has been part of two open-bus victory parades during his career: once with the Indian team in Mumbai, after they won the 2007 T20 World Cup, and once with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012. However, things in Mumbai were managed so spotlessly that not a single disturbing piece of news came of it. In fact, just last year, after winning the T20 World Cup in the West Indies, the players were part of another road show, again conducted seamlessly in the same city. RCB have copped plenty of flak for continuing with the celebrations inside the stadium even as people died outside, with the franchise getting named in an FIR that was launched earlier in the day. Gambhir reiterated his point that if the infrastructure is not ready to handle an event of such magnitude, pulling off the plug is the best option. “It does not matter how big or small the fanbase is. It does not matter who I hold responsible. Like I said, even when I was playing, I wasn’t a believer in such road shows. I stand by it today and in future too. Yes, winning is important, and celebrations are important, but more important are the lives of people. So, if you are not ready or suited to handle that kind of crowd, then you might as well cancel these roadshows,” the head coach further added.