The Indian cricket team landed in Dubai on Saturday evening ahead of the 50-over Champions Trophy.
While not as high profile as a World Cup, the tournament remains a major ICC event involving the top eight teams in the world. And given the precarious state Indian cricket finds itself in, it could prove make or break for a number of senior figures in the team.
For the last six months or so, the Indian team witnessed a steep fall in performance and results in red and, to a lesser extent, white-ball cricket, suffering chastening ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka, home Test whitewash by New Zealand and a crushing Test series loss in Australia.
Defeat in the Border Gavaskar Trophy speeded up the transition process in Indian cricket, made the board enforce strict parameters for training and player conduct, and served as a writing on the wall for senior members of the team.
Captain Rohit Sharma saw his grip over captaincy of the team weaken towards the end of the Australia tour, with his position in the Test playing XI untenable.
All senior players were forced to return to first-class cricket and work on their game, while even star batter Virat Kohli faced scrutiny over his dwindling returns.
There was also a big question mark over the future of India coach Gautam Gambhir, who has now overseen unprecedented defeats in Indian cricket.
The recent T20 and ODI series against England at home, however, has provided some relief for the time being. A 4-1 win in the T20s and a 3-0 victory in ODIs has provided belief that the Indian team is not all bad.
However, the results need to be taken with a pinch of salt as the England team looked largely underprepared for the series and reportedly did not train at all towards the end of the trip. Still, a win is a win.
The ODI series also saw a welcome return to form for Rohit and Kohli, whose lack of runs were major concerns for India.
The team has already been weakened by the back injury sustained by pace ace Bumrah during the Australia tour, while veteran quick Mohammad Shami has not quite fired upon return and Mohammad Siraj has fallen down the pecking order.
It has forced the Indian team to strengthen their batting line-up with all-rounders and rely mainly on spinners for the Champions Trophy.
That means there will be little wriggle room in batting if Rohit and Kohli do not fire and leave a gaping hole in the top three.
The tournament is also one of the final few chances for both to extend their careers for the immediate future. For the Indian team, the Champions Trophy is last major assignment of this cycle. After this, it will be time for the Indian Premier League. Then, a new cycle will start with the Test tour of England.
Perform well and win the Champions Trophy, then both Rohit and Kohli will be accorded more room for negotiations regarding their prospects in ODIs and also Tests.
Failure would mean their futures, and that of coach Gambhir, will be completely at the mercy of the cricket board and selectors.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
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Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
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Sector: E-commerce
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Funding: approximately $6m
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Test
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Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
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The 12 breakaway clubs
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Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
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Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
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PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
