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KKR all set for title defence (IPL team profile)
Kolkata: KKR at present are the title defenders of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and this time round also after the auction they have one of the most balanced squads for the tournament.
The defending champions may not look the best side on paper but they sure carry the potential to defend and again hold aloft the coveted trophy.
The Gautam Gambhir-led side has a quality mix of youth and experience and have come through tough situations holding their nerves. The vociferous skipper will leave no stone unturned to seek what they achieved in the last edition.
The skipper has new armoury to bank on, but he would still want his old guns to fire.
Though the Knights have not made many changes to their squad, they have brought in former Pakistan cricketer Azhar Mahmood and South African off-spinner Johan Botha as replacements for New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham and Australian middle-order bat Chris Lynn.
KKR’s most extravagant buy this season is Bengaluru off-spinner K.C. Cariyappa, who stuck a jackpot commanding a price of Rs 2.4 crore at the auction. Termed as a “mystery spinner” the 17-year-old has not even featured in a first-class game.
The team’s spin spearhead West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, though cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his suspect bowling action, has been barred by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
He has to go through bio-mechanical tests in Chennai before he is allowed to play in the tournament. The management has threatened to pull-out if the champion right-arm spinner is not allowed to take part.
This time too, all eyes will be on top-order batsman Robin Uthappa, who was a revelation for his side last year amassing 660 runs from 16 matches at an astonishing average of 44.00, took home the Orange Cap for being the highest run-getter in the tournament.
Giving the spinning department might will be veteran Australian chinaman Brad Hogg who picked 10 wickets from nine matches in 2012, when he turned up for the Rajasthan Royals.
Sheldon Jackson, the Saurashtra batsman, also has been roped as the second choice wicket-keeper.
Leading the pace attack will be South African spearhead Morne Morkel, Australia’s Pat Cummins, and India’s most successful bowler in the World Cup Umesh Yadav.
As defending champions the men in purple will go out all guns blazing to defend their title, it is the general-in-chief Gambhir who has to mix the aggression with required calmness and see to it that his team does not falter.
The KKR squad:
(Indians)
Gautam Gambhir (captain), Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa (wicketkeeper), Piyush Chawla, Yusuf Pathan, Umesh Yadav, Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav Veer, Pratap Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sumit Narwal, Sheldon Jackson, Aditya Garhwal, KC Cariappa, Vaibhav Rawal, Manish Pandey.
(Foreigners)
Shakib Al Hasan, Morne Morkel, Pat Cummins, Ryan ten Doeschate, Andre Russell, Brad Hogg, Azhar Mahmood, Johan Botha.
Team Schedule – Home: vs Mumbai Indians (April 8), Royal Challengers Bangalore (April 11), Rajasthan Royals (April 26), Chennai Super Kings (April 30), Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 4), Delhi Daredevils (May 7), Kings XI Punjab (May 9)
Away: Kings XI Punjab (April 18), Delhi Daredevils (April 20), Sunrisers Hyderabad (April 22), Chennai Super Kings (April 28), Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 2), Mumbai Indians (May 14), Rajasthan Royals (May 16)
IPL record: 2008-6th, 2009-8th, 2010-6th, 2011-4th, 2012-1st, 2013-7th, 2014-1st
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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.