1983 World Cup win was a HUGE moment, changed entire belief system, s…

India vs Sri Lanka 2026 1st Test: Shubman Gill’s Team India will begin the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka on a special day – the country’s 80th Independence Day on Saturday. Since India got Independence in 1983, the country has seen plenty of landmark moments on the cricket field – from 2011 ODI World Cup win to 2007, 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup triumphs. palladian.co.za

It is always a difficult proposition to pick one path-breaking triumph since Independence Day. Former India left-arm spinner Murali Kartik spoke to India.com and shared the one cricket success which changed India cricket’s eco-system.

Ahead of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at Galle, Kartik spoke to a select group of media, including India.com. Asked about Indian cricket’s biggest moment since gaining Independence in 1947, Kartik said it was the 1983 ODI World Cup win under captain Kapil Dev.

“The 1983 World Cup win was a huge, huge moment, because that inspired a lot of young people to take up the game. You think of one moment, and I’m thinking for other sports in India as well,” Kartik told India.com.

“Imagine somebody doing something similar in other sports – winning a major in golf or doing something spectacular in tennis. It actually inspires us. How did we all start playing the game? It is because we were inspired by somebody. That is the reason why you have somebody trying to copy Jasprit Bumrah or a Harbajan Singh or a Anil Kumble or Ravichandran Ashwin.

“If you can even inspire 1 per cent of the population, I think you’ve done a great job. So, from that point of view, I think 1983 was a huge moment, because things changed around, the belief system changed that we can also do it at the highest stage,” Kartik said.

Kapil Dev’s Team India defeated two-time champions West Indies to win their ODI World Cup title in 1983 at Lord’s in London. India had to wait another 28 years for their next ODI World Cup titles, which came under the captaincy of MS Dhoni in 2011.

In T20 cricket, India have won three World Cups – the first one again under Dhoni in 2007. Rohit Sharma helped India become T20 World Cup champions for the second time in 2024 in West Indies and Suryakumar Yadav’s side became the first team to defend the title – winning in 2026 earlier this year in March.

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Kartik turned out in 8 Tests and 37 ODIs for Team India in his career, claiming 24 and 37 wickets respectively. The 49-year-old left-arm spinner also snared 644 wickets in first-class cricket.

The former Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings star, however, refused to name a single player who can be called the ‘greatest Indian cricketers’ since Independence.

“Again, from a single point of view, as I said, I’m not going to name anyone, because all of them have played a huge part in where we are. It’s an exclusive club,” Kartik said.

“It’s not a club where you can pay and get into. People work really hard to wear that India cap, and what, 705 players have played for India or 706 have played for India, if I’ve got my stats right across all three formats. So that’s a very exclusive club and I’m pretty sure everybody has played a big part in getting India where it is,” he added.

Kartik believes that it will be an injustice to name only one cricketer as an inspiration for the sport. “We are in a better position because of what someone else did for us. So, from that point of view, think of what the first Indian team and what they had to endure, and what they had to do and from that, if you take the history of India to where it is right now, we are one of the powerhouses of world cricket,” he felt.

(Watch Sri Lanka vs. India 1st Test Day 1 on August 15, 2026, from 10 AM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD & Sony LIV)

Colombo [Sri Lanka], August 14 (ANI): Sri Lanka have named a 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup in Dubai, where they will look to defend their title.

Chamari Athapaththu will continue to captain the side, with Harshitha Samarawickrama serving as her deputy, according to the ICC.

Right-arm pacer Mithali Ayodhya has returned to the squad after an impressive showing at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Despite making her international debut only in April, Ayodhya picked up four wickets at the tournament and finished as Sri Lanka’s second-highest wicket-taker.

Leg-spinner and all-rounder Dewmi Vihanga has received her maiden T20I call-up. She has previously represented Sri Lanka in 12 ODIs.

Sri Lanka have also brought back Chethana Vimukthi to strengthen their bowling attack.

Athapaththu and Samarawickrama will anchor the batting line-up, with Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne and Nilakshika Silva among the other batting options.

The squad also features 17-year-old Sanjana Kavindi, who made her T20I debut in the recent series against Pakistan. Imesha Dulani has retained her place after becoming only the second Sri Lankan woman to score a T20I century during the same series.

Sri Lanka have been placed in Group B alongside Bangladesh, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. The defending champions will open their campaign against the UAE on August 29.

Sri Lanka squad for Asia Cup: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Mithali Ayodhya, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kawya Kavindi, Sanjana Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Hasini Perera, Chamudi Praboda, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika Silva, Dewmi Vihanga, Chethana Vimukthi. (ANI)

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New Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], August 14 (ANI): Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Nehal Wadhera has highlighted the importance of the franchise’s pre-season camp in New Chandigarh, saying the initiative has provided players with an ideal platform to prepare for the upcoming domestic season as well as the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Speaking to ANI, the 25-year-old left-handed batter described the camp as an important initiative, highlighting the gap between the IPL and the domestic calendar and the need for high-quality, competitive practice.

PBKS commenced a five-day off-season training camp in New Chandigarh on August 11, with the programme set to run until August 15. The current batch includes six players — Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Pyla Avinash, Praveen Dubey, and Nehal Wadhera.

“I think, first of all, it’s a very great initiative by Punjab Kings because the timeline between IPL and the domestic season is like two to three months. So I think we get good preparation because if we are in our hometowns, we don’t get that much competition or competitive, I would say, practice," Wadhera said.

According to Wadhera, training alongside teammates and coaches in a professional environment creates a significant difference in a player’s preparation.

The pre-season camp is being conducted under the supervision of the franchise’s coaching group, with Trevor Gonsalves leading the programme at the venue.

“We do practice there as well, but once you’re in that zone, once you’re among those people, obviously it feels really good. We always have something to learn from the other players and also the coaches. We are surrounded by the best. So that environment makes a lot of difference before entering into our domestic seasons, before entering into the IPL," he said.

The PBKS batter added that the camp allows players to prepare for various match situations and address potential weaknesses before the season begins.

“So I think every aspect of the game, the scenarios which we might anticipate which will happen in the games, will be covered during the pre-season camp," he added.

Reflecting on Punjab Kings’ disappointing IPL 2026 campaign, Wadhera admitted that the team was unable to maintain the momentum it had built during the early stages of the tournament.

PBKS endured a disappointing end to their IPL 2026 campaign, finishing fifth in the standings after registering seven victories in 14 matches.

Led by captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, the franchise enjoyed an impressive start and spent a significant period at the top of the table before a slump in the latter half of the season saw them narrowly miss out on a playoff berth.

“I mean, yes, we initially started really well, but later on, we didn’t capitalise on it that well. And the whole squad, all the coaches, were on the same page that we knew that we were not doing well," Wadhera said.

He further revealed that the players and support staff regularly analysed their shortcomings and attempted to rectify them during the competition, but the results did not always go in their favour.

“We were trying to learn from our mistakes. But when we had to execute that, we were trying to execute what we could do better, but it was still not turning out our way," he said.

The left-handed batter also acknowledged his own struggles during the season, saying that despite giving his best, things did not unfold as he had hoped.

“I was trying to put my best foot forward, but unfortunately those things weren’t happening the way I was expecting them to happen. So it doesn’t work sometimes," Wadhera said.

Despite the disappointment, the PBKS batter believes the team has gained valuable lessons that could help them avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

“We were really disappointed with where we were standing at the points table to where we ended at the 2026 standings. We all were really disheartened. But I’m happy that all of us could learn something out of it," he concluded.

Wadhera added that Punjab Kings will look to address the areas in which they fell short during the previous season and ensure that they begin their next campaign with greater consistency and intensity.

“So that the next year when we come, we already know that these were the areas which we lacked last year. We need to bring our A-game from the first game," Wadhera said. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], August 14 (ANI): Shillong Lajong FC booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 135th Durand Cup as they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Langsning FC in a Group E fixture, played here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday.

The result was enough to see Shillong Lajong finish top of the group with seven points, despite a spirited performance from Langsning FC, who ended their campaign second in Group E on five points, according to a release.

Joao Vitor de Paula Morais (Jota) struck twice for Shillong Lajong, on either side of the half-hour mark, before Everbrighton Sana added a third late on. Langsning FC, who fought back valiantly, found the net through Kyrmenskhem Mukhim, Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem and Syed Ahmed, the last of those arriving deep into second-half stoppage time.

The result also confirmed East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC’s place in the quarter-finals as the two best second-placed teams across the tournament, courtesy of a superior goal difference record.

Shillong Lajong signalled their intent inside the opening thirty seconds, winning an early free kick that Phrangki Buam whipped dangerously into the box, only for Langsning to scramble the danger clear, the release said.

The chances continued to arrive at both ends. Jota tested Langsning goalkeeper Rajat Paul Lyngdoh from outside the box in the fifth minute, the effort straight enough for Lyngdoh to hold after an initial spill. Langsning responded through a goalmouth scramble in the eighth minute, Chusrang Sangma’s long throw cannoning off the crossbar before Shillong Lajong cleared their lines.

There was real tempo to proceedings from the outset, both sides committed to open, transitional football despite the significant stakes on offer. Shillong Lajong came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 13th minute, Sana squaring the ball across an unguarded goal for Abhay Gurung, who could not quite make the contact required.

Langsning had opportunities of their own. Sangma’s low strike was well blocked by Joedson Dos Santos in the 18th minute, and a second effort from distance five minutes later was comfortably held by Shillong Lajong goalkeeper Ranit Sarkar, the release said.

The deadlock broke in the 26th minute, born of a defensive mix-up. Joedson’s attempted line-breaking pass towards Jota was intercepted by Langsning captain Atlanson Kharmaw, only for the ball to squirm loose and fall straight into Jota’s path. With space opening up ahead of him, Jota drove into the box and slotted home calmly.

Shillong Lajong doubled their advantage four minutes later, and the second goal carried real quality. Sana produced an inventive backheel under pressure to release Jota, who danced past his marker with a couple of stepovers before finding the far corner.

To their credit, Langsning did not retreat. Their approach remained committed even at two goals down, understanding that only victory would secure their own passage to the quarter-finals. Syed Ahmed forced a smart save from Sarkar in the 37th minute, and Mukhim headed over from close range four minutes later after Sangma’s long throw had picked him out unmarked.

Shillong Lajong nearly extended their lead early in the second half, but Buam’s low effort was saved by Lyngdoh before Tremiki Lamurong’s follow-up lacked the conviction to trouble the goalkeeper further.

Langsning’s response arrived within two minutes. Sangma’s delivery from the left found Mukhim unmarked, and the forward headed home from close range to halve the deficit in the 49th minute.

The goal visibly unsettled the momentum of the contest, Langsning surging forward in search of an equaliser while Shillong Lajong found themselves increasingly camped in their own half. That pressure told in the 63rd minute, Mukhim showing composure to leave a crossfield pass for Denelson Pyngrope, whose cross was met by Wadajied’s towering header to level the scores.

Shillong Lajong searched for a response of their own, Buam beating his marker to work an opening in the box in the 69th minute, only for Lyngdoh to block his attempted cutback. Both sides continued to trade chances through an increasingly open contest, each committed to finding a winner rather than settling for the point that would, in Shillong Lajong’s case, have been enough regardless.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 83rd minute, and it was a fine team goal. Captain Kenstar Kharshong’s cross from the left found Sana unmarked at the far post, his header beating Lyngdoh at the near post to restore Shillong Lajong’s lead.

Langsning refused to yield. In the first minute of second-half stoppage time, a short corner routine led to a cross from the right that Shillong Lajong failed to clear, and Ahmed rose at the back post to head home the equaliser and complete a memorable fightback.

There was no further twist to come. Shillong Lajong held firm through the closing stages to see out the point that confirmed their place at the top of Group E, while Langsning’s brave pursuit of a winning goal ultimately went unrewarded. (ANI)

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Ravichandran Ashwin believes Rohit Sharma could join the Mumbai Indians franchise after his playing career concludes. He suggests Virat Kohli might prefer a break from cricket before considering coaching roles. The former spinner sees growing franchise cricket creating specialist positions for retired players. Roles like mentor and director of cricket will become increasingly common for successful cricketers. Ashwin feels Rohit's tactical acumen makes him invaluable for Mumbai Indians post-retirement.