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India favourites to win 2019 World Cup: Sehwag
Kolkata, April 20 (IANS) Celebrated former opening batsman Virender Sehwag on Friday said India are favourites to lift the 2019 ICC World Cup to be held in England.
“We are favourites to win the 2019 World Cup,” Sehwag said during the launch of Boria Majumdar’s book ‘Eleven Gods and A Billion Indians’ at the Fannatic Sports Museum here.
Sehwag said this Indian team under Virat Kohli has the potential to win a Test series abroad despite their 1-2 defeat in South Africa in the recently concluded test series.
“This team has the capability to win Test series outside India. We could have won the first or second Test if we played one session well with the bat,” said Sehwag who is Kings XI Punjab’s mentor in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Punjab take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Saturday.
Asked if this bowling attack is the best till date, Sehwag said, “In our days, we had (Javagal) Srinath , Zaheer (Khan), (Ajit) Agarkar and Ashish (Nehra). But they rarely got to play together and when they did we reached the final in the 2003 World Cup.
“This lot is really good. They can deliver in any conditions.”
India will tour Australia later this year but the hosts will be without the star power of skipper Steve Smith and opener David Warner who have been suspended for a year for the ball tampering incident. Quizzed if that would help Kohli and Co, Sehwag said, “It doesn’t matter if they are there or not.”
Sehwag, who won two World Cups with India, the 2007 inaugural T20 World Cup and the 2011 50-over World Cup, added that winning the 2007 World Cup was more special as India had a young team under then just-appointed skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and there were no expectations.
“I think 2007 World Cup win is the best. We won there with a young team and a new captain. Nobody expected us to win,” he recalled.
On Punjab’s West Indian opener Chris Gayle, who smashed a whirlwind 63-ball 104 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday, Sehwag said there is no bigger entertainer than the effervescent 38-year-old who is T20 cricket’s most successful batsman.
“Nobody is a greater entertainer than him,” Sehwag said.
Gayle was not picked in the IPL auctions initially before Punjab decided to take T20 cricket’s most successful batsman for his base price of Rs.2 crore.
Dropped for the first two games, Gayle helped Punjab beat Chennai Super Kings by notching up a 33-ball 63 before the hundred.
“That was a strategy because we had to buy other players also. He would have cost more if he was taken up in the first phase,” Sehwag explained.
“He was injured last season and it is difficult to score runs. Ask any cricketer, with a back injury, it’s difficult to score runs and that’s what he told us also. He missed a lot of games because he had pain in his back.
“Kohli dropped him also (from Royal Challengers Bangalore). I was expecting nobody will pick him, he’s of my age. If we pick him, he’s good guy to do the marketing. He’s fabulous with all the marketing guys, everyone loves Chris Gayle. He fits in our group also.
“We bought him for Rs 2 crore and if he wins two games, I recovered my money. Still more games to go and if he wins two more time he wins four games. He’s a big asset for KXIP now,” Sehwag added.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.