Regaling tales
India skipper Virat Kohli might call it just another game to calm the nerves of his players ahead of Sunday's blockbuster meeting between India and Pakistan at the World Cup, but everyone knows that a clash between the arch-rivals on the cricket field is nothing short of a carnival. Emotions run high, players look to seize the moment and make a statement and even the fans want boasting rights till the two teams face-off next time. And who better to speak on what it means to take on Pakistan in a World Cup game than Sachin Tendulkar. The legend has been a part of five India-Pakistan games in the showpiece event and his scores read 54 in 1992, 31 in 1996, 45 in 1999, 98 in 2003 and 85 in 2011. In fact, apart from winning the coveted trophy in 2011, the little master rates the 2003 game against Pakistan in Centurion as one of his favourite memories from playing in six World Cups for India. This in itself speaks volumes of what an India-Pakistan encounter means, not just to the fans, but also for the 22 bravehearts fighting it out in the middle. “The best memory apart from lifting the World Cup has to be the 2003 match against Pakistan in Centurion. The kind of build-up that was there for that match and the way we played and the way we won. Also, the way we celebrated after the game and the way we progressed in the tournament after that was spectacular. Without any doubt, that has to be a special memory,” he told IANS.
RAP FOR CARLOS
West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite has received an official reprimand and received one demerit point for breaching the Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the England-West Indies game in the ongoing World Cup at the Hampshire Bowl on Friday. He was found to have breached Article 2.8 of the code of conduct for players and player support personnel, which relates to showing dissent to an umpire's decision. The incident occurred in the 43rd over of the West Indies innings when Brathwaite made his displeasure at being given out clear to the umpires. Brathwaite admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee David Boon. There was no need for a formal hearing.
NUMBERS SPEAK
A Kerala-based numerologist who predicted India's victory at the 2011 World Cup, on Saturday said India would do it again this time. MK Damodaran, a retired government official based in the Kannur district, has correctly predicted several events in the sporting and political arena through numerology. Damodaran had told IANS in 2011, numbers 2, 6 and 7 played a prominent role in the scheme of things of MS Dhoni, whose “fate number is 33.” “Indian captain Virat Kohli's birth number is 5 and occult number also 5. Interestingly, Dhoni and Kohli are numerological birds of the same feather. The fate number of Kohli also is 33. Dhoni and Kohli have an amazing chemistry," said Damodaran. He said Kohli's date of birth is 5/11/1988 and Sun sign Scorpio, which is related to number 9. Hence, numbers 3, 6 & 9 are lucky for him. Kohli's fate number is 33 and the age the luckiest 30 (3+0=3). "These factors indicate Kohli and Dhoni will lift the 3rd World Cup for India," said Damodaran. Drawing a parallel to Kapil Dev, he said, numbers 3, 6 & 9 were lucky for him, whose birth number is 6 and occult number 30 (3+0=3).
