MBSG edge past spirited United SC to face East Bengal in the season’s third Derby in the Shield final
Pratyusha Jana: After a celebration-less win, a derby awaits in the finals on Saturday! Mohun Bagan Super Giants (MBSG) swiftly advanced towards the IFA Shield Finals, edging past spirited United Sports Club with 2-0, amidst the shooting sun and burning backlash from the fans. While the advancement was surely a happy event but the celebration was yet to find the team. The green and maroon brigade found their first net at the 45th minute of the match. Petratos took a free-kick. Subrata managed to punch it away. Robson collected the loose ball on the left. He played a quick pass to Cummings. Cummings cut it back to Petratos in the centre. Seila Toure rushed in to block him. But Petratos stayed calm. The Australian slipped the ball past Toure and Subrata to score the opener late in the first half. The second net came from the same side goal from Ankan Bhattacharjee in the 49th minute of the match. After Robson Robinho took the free-kick, he directed it towards Cummings. Subrata made the initial save, but the rebound ball in the ensuing scramble, the ball deflected off Ankan and rolled into the net. The first half of the match saw an astonishing performance by USC players as Christopher took the first shot at just the 14th minute into the match. However, their continuous attempt towards the goals remained unsuccessful throughout 90+4’ in Kishore Bharati Kridangan, on Wednesday, drawing a finishing line for their IFA Shield campaign. While talking about the match, Lal Kamal Bhowmick, the United SC coach, stated, “We have played good football today. The opponent was Mohun Bagan, one of the best teams in India, so surely we need more expertise.” In the first half of the match, USC gave an outstanding performance; however, after conceding the first goal, the power visually decreased. While talking about it, the coach stated, “Yes! After the first goal, it was evident but it’s not like we lost hope. We created many chances and openings for goals in the second half. Our players have played well. I am satisfied with their performance, but we need more practice.”
Dronacharya Bimal Ghosh advises for a ‘better scouting’ of footballers
Dronacharya awardee coach Bimal Ghosh advises for a ‘better scouting’ of footballers for the senior national team. Ghosh, speaking to Parallel Sports on Wednesday after the senior national team’s exit from the Asian Cup qualifiers with a 2-1 defeat against Singapore at home on Tuesday, explained, “Despite having delivered an inspiring performance for the first 30 minutes, India could not increase the scoreline due to poor conversion. India could have taken the lead by at least 2-0 during the phase.” He continued, “So, I feel that before the selection of the national team, the selectors have to spot those footballers who are proficient scoring goals. Not only ISL, the selectors have to scout footballers from the I-League, the Senior National championship, even from the Second Division I-League. There can be a pool of 50 footballers, and then you put them into rigorous training. Looking forward to the future, you do not have any other option.” He added, “Today, teams should not depend only on the strikers. You can have a wing-half who is flawless in converting chances. You can have a midfielder whose shooting ability is accurate. So, the selectors have to scout those footballers across different competitions whose striking ability is precise. Then only national team can get rid of poor conversion in their crucial international engagement and it will need time.” The 69-year old coach admitted India’s defensive organization was not up to the mark, especially the defenders faltered in positioning at the time of Singapore’s second goal. “In the case of Singapore’s equalizer also, I would blame the lack of defensive organization.” When asked whether the team could benefit by playing Sunil Chhetri in the match, Ghosh opined, “I feel Sunil should have been fielded in the latter half of the match.
BCCI scorers mix up Musheer Khan with brother Sarfaraz on the opening day of Ranji Trophy!
The opening day of the Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Jammu & Kashmir at Srinagar took off with an uncertain start as the BCCI scorers had reportedly mixed up the names of Mumbai batsmen and brothers Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan. The scorers apparently mistook Musheer for Sarfaraz and recorded his score as 0 at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, 15th October. According to social media posts, the official scorecard on the BCCI website initially showed Sarfaraz Khan opening the batting for Mumbai and being dismissed for a duck by Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi. However, it later emerged that it was actually Musheer who had opened the batting and was dismissed as early as the third delivery on the opening day of the contest. The BCCI quickly realised the error and corrected the scorecard, replacing Sarfaraz’s name with Musheer’s. Nevertheless, the slip-up led many on social media to wonder why Mumbai would send Sarfaraz to open the batting when the talented batter is seeking a return to the Indian Test team as a middle-order player. While Musheer fell early, young Ayush Mhatre and former captain Ajinkya Rahane steadied the innings with a 61-run stand. However, their partnership did not flourish further, as Yudhvir Singh dismissed Mhatre in the 19th over before striking again in the 23rd to remove Rahane for 27. Eventually, Sarfaraz walked out to bat at No. 5 and struck three boundaries early in his innings, transferring the pressure back onto Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir will be looking to make an impact in the Ranji Trophy season opener, buoyed by their victory over Mumbai late last season. J&K had defeated a star-studded Mumbai side at the BKC ground in a match that saw Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal feature for the Ranji powerhouses. Mumbai, however, will be aiming to regain their lost glory this season. Having released opener Prithvi Shaw to Maharashtra, the 42-time champions are being led by all-rounder Shardul Thakur.
‘Retirement of Ro-Ro will totally depend on their decision’: Rajiv Shukla
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla dismissed speculation that the upcoming ODI series against Australia would be the last One-Day international appearance of India’s last two iconic batsmen, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. While speaking to ANI after India registered a Test series victory against West Indies, Shukla said, “As far as this being their last series is concerned, it is nothing like that. We should never get involved in these things. It is up to the players when they will retire. To say this would be their last series is absolutely wrong.” Rohit and Virat have been selected for the Australia tour with the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup in mind. However, the promotion of Shubman Gill to ODI captaincy and the recent performances of new players like Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, and Tilak Verma in the India-A series against Australia have prompted discussions about the future roles of Rohit and Virat. The emergence of these players raises questions about how team selection dynamics could change as Rohit and Virat, who will be 40 and 39 respectively by the 2027 tournament, approach the later stages of their careers. Shukla added, “Inclusion of Rohit and Virat in the team is always an advantage as both of them are great batsmen, and in the presence of both of them, I think we will be successful in defeating Australia.” Rohit is India’s fourth-highest ODI run-scorer, with over 11,000 runs, an average of nearly 49, and 32 centuries. In eight ODIs this year, he has one century and one fifty. Virat ranks second for India in ODI runs, with over 14,000 runs, averaging nearly 58, and 51 centuries. This year, he has scored one century and two fifties in seven ODIs. Both will be in action during the ODIs in Australia, starting from 19th October, having retired from Tests and T20Is and now being exclusively ODI players.
