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Dravid expects India to easily make it to the last four
Mumbai: ‘The Wall’ Rahul Dravid believes India are most likely to make the semi-finals of the upcoming World Twenty20, to be played on home-soil, but added that the knockouts will be all about which team does better on match day.
“India would make the top four, but after that, it’s just a question of who has a better day in the semi-final and final. The good thing about this Indian team is they have good all around depth at the moment. Players like Hardik Pandya and Pawan Negi — it just shows that they have got batting right down to No.8 and 9,” said Dravid, who retired from the sport in 2012.
“This is a pretty formidable side at the moment and the all around ability of this team is what excites me. There are a lot of good, young, exciting players coming through. In Twenty20 cricket, the nature of the game is such, and with the small format, you can have a bad half-an-hour and you can lose the game very, very easily.”
The 43-year-old, who is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, was speaking while visiting one of the most impoverished slums here to meet young people from the Laureus Sport for Good supported organisation – Magic Bus – operating in Mankhurd.
The former skipper also praised the Indian bowling unit for having a large pool to select from.
“India have got six or seven bowlers to call upon in Indian conditions that they can use. It gives them sort of a good range of all-around ability. And then with Ashish Nehra bowling well up front and Jasprit Bumrah bowling well at the depth, they have actually got the two areas, which India were struggling in, covered,” said the former right-handed batsman.
The World Twenty20 will be played from March 15 to April 3 across seven Indian cities with the final to be held at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Dravid, who played 164 Tests and 344 One-Day Internationals (ODI), further said that he expects teams like Australia, South Africa and the West Indies to do well in the tournament.
“Most teams have some very, very good players, good match-winners. Teams like Australia have got good depth in their side. A lot of players have played in subcontinent conditions through the Indian Premier League (IPL) so they have that experience of playing in India. Playing T20 cricket in India for a lot of teams and players is not new to them. They have played on all of these grounds. They know the conditions very, very well,” said Dravid.
“South Africa with the likes of AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla — they are always going to be a dangerous team. The West Indies as well, match-winners, power hitters, all the way through. And then the subcontinent teams, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will probably have the quality spinners and if conditions suit them, they can be a handful as well.”
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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.