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Hindi Film Review

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Sanju Is An Entertaining Saga That Blends Emotions, Humor & Drama

Banner: Rajkumar Hirani Films & Vinod Chopra Films

Producer: Rajkumar Hirani & Vinod Chopra

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Starcast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Manisha Koirala, Paresh Rawal, Dia Mirza, Jim Sarbh, Anushka Sharma, Vicky Kaushal

Music: A. R. Rahman, Rohan Rohan, Vikram Montrose, Sanjay Wandrekar & Atul Raninga

Sure enough the blockbuster director Rajkumar Hirani needs no special introduction. And his latest offering Sanju promises to be different and shows the highs as well as lows & dark periods of actor Sanjay Dutt. That it’s directed by Rajkumar Hirani, who has a cent per cent track record and features popular actor Ranbir Kapoor, has added to the excitement considerably.

Biopics are quite in vogue in Bollywood and in recent times, many of them have even tasted massive commercial success. But often, these biopics are criticized as they become quite hagiographic and tend to glorify the person in question. In such a scenario, Sanju lives up to its hype and turns out to be a yet another feather in Rajkumar Hirani’s directorial cap. Actually speaking Sanju is the biopic of the most controversial actor Sanjay Dutt, in the history of Bollywood, and some of the dramatic & the most significant episodes of his life.

Sanjay Dutt (Ranbir Kapoor) is the son of the famous actor Sunil Dutt (Paresh Rawal) & yesteryear actress Nargis (Manisha Koirala). He is about to get launched in a film by his father titled Rocky. Upset with his father, he tries drugs for the 1st time ever courtesy his friend Zubin Mistry (Jim Sarbh). At this point, he finds out that Nargis is suffering from cancer and has few days to live. She is taken to New York for treatment. Sanju is unable to control his drug habit even when his mother is struggling for life. While in New York, he befriends Kamlesh Kapasi (Vicky Kaushal) and they both form a wonderful bond. Sadly due to his drug addiction, his relationship with his girlfriend Ruby (Sonam Kapoor) gets affected and ends on a dismal note. Nargis dies just 3 days before the release of Rocky. An overwhelmed Sanju agrees to go for rehab in USA. Once he overcomes this addiction, he gets into a bigger problem. He gets arrested for illegal possession of arms. He’s also accused of aiding the terrorists in carrying out the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai in the year 1993. How Sanjay Dutt fights this dreadful charge forms the rest of the crux of the film.

Director Rajkumar Hirani & Abhijat Joshi’s story is interesting but one can sense that they have tried to play safe. But they have balanced it out by not glorifying Sanjay Dutt and showing his bad & dark side too. Also, it’s impressive how Rajkumar & Abhijat haven’t focused on his film career and have focused on his personal life & turmoil’s. Rajkumar Hirani & Abhijat Joshi’s screenplay is terrific and despite the minuses, can be used as a guide on how to write films. With so much happening in the film, the writers ensure that the narrative doesn’t go all over the place. Everything is neatly put together. For instance, when the sequence where the Dutt’s are returning back to India, Nargis’ remarks about Ruby. This is done organically & neatly links to the next sequence which is related to Ruby. Rajkumar Hirani & Abhijat Joshi’s dialogues as always are entertaining, sharp & massy. Few dialogues related to sex will bring the house down in single screens and in the hinterland. A section of the audience however would also be put off by such jokes & dark humor at places.

Rajkumar Hirani’s direction as expected is highly effective. This is no easy film to make but he executes & presents the plot in a simple & crisp manner. His magic comes to the fore in several sequences and is bound to leave the viewers smiling & even teary eyed. However, the climax could have been better & more powerful.

The biggest strength of Sanju is that the film never drops. The screenplay is riveting and keeps you hooked, even if you might not agree with the goings on. And that’s a feat for a film which is 160 minutes long. The back & forth narrative works very well and keeps viewers intrigued. The 1st ever half is excellent and boasts of some fine emotional, funny & dramatic sequences. The intermission point comes as a bolt from the blue. The madness continues in the 2nd half but the plot gets a bit shaky here. The film goes on a high in the 1st half but the same doesn’t happen in the 2nd half. The film should have ended with a punch or on a rocking note, as it has happened in the previous Rajkumar Hirani films. However, the film leaves a strong emotional impact overall, which works very well.

Songs are not that great but work well in the film. “Kar Har Maidaan Fateh” is the best of the lot. “Main Badhiya Tu Bhi Badhiya” is very well picturised & imagined. “Ruby Ruby” (by A R Rahman) is relegated to the background. Sanjay Wandrekar & Atul Raninga’s background score is much better & exhilarating. S Ravivarman’s cinematography is splendid and has captured some of the locales beautifully. In fact, he impresses right from the 1st shot itself, a bird’s eye view of Bandra. Shashank Tere’s production design is appealing & rich. Eka Lakhani’s costumes are authentic. Vikram Gaikwad’s make-up design, Clover Wootton’s prosthetics & VFX by NY VFXWaala deserves the highest praise for making Ranbir look like Sanjay Dutt through the ages. Rajkumar Hirani’s editing is crisp.

Performance wise it is Ranbir Kapoor who owns the film, in fact he is the life & soul of the film and delivers a terrific & power packed performance. Nowhere does his performance seem like a caricature and he gives his best shot in ensuring that he looks & behaves like Sanjay Dutt. Watch out for him in the emotional sequences, particularly when his mother passes away and he confesses to his father that he needs to get better. Also he’ll leave viewers moist eyed in the scene where he fails to read his speech to his father and later the inevitable happens. Sanju surely ranks as one of the most or arguably the most accomplished performance by this young actor and is bound to win him accolades, admiration & awards galore! Paresh Rawal is also quite impressive and plays the important part of Sunil Dutt with perfection. Sanju, in fact, is a father-son story and he compliments Ranbir very well in taking some scenes to greater heights. Vicky Kaushal is the surprise package of the film. Right from his entry, he makes a mark and brings the house down at several places. Also, he’s rocking in the emotional sequences like when he meets Ruby or when he tells Sunil Dutt that they need to help Sanjay Dutt. Even in the 2nd half, watch out for him when he meets Sanjay Dutt in the hospital and in the pre-climax when he listens to the radio. Manisha Koirala has a supporting part but is an important pillar in the film and charms with her performance. Anushka Sharma (as Winnie Dias) delivers a splendid performance. Again, her screen time is limited. Jim Sarbh makes an impact with his role. Sonam Kapoor (as Ruby) is decent in the cameo. Boman Irani (as Homi) contributes to the fun quotient. Sayaji Shinde (as Bandu Dada) looks every inch a gangster. Dia Mirza (as Maanayata Dutt) gets overpowered. Aditi Seiya (as Priya Dutt) looks quite like Priya but doesn’t have much to do in the film. Karishma Tanna (as Pinky) is quite sizzling and makes a mark, despite being there for just a scene. Mahesh Manjrekar (himself), Piyush Mishra (D Tripathi), Ashwin Mushran (security officer), Bharat Dabholkar (lawyer) & Aanjjan Srivastav (minister) are good.

Tail Piece: On the whole, Sanju is an entertaining saga that blends emotions, humor & drama in adequate doses. It is powerful, engaging, emotional as well as compelling. The combination of Rajkumar Hirani & Ranbir Kapoor works like a dream. At the box-office turnstiles, despite not being a “typical Rajkumar Hirani family entertainer’, Sanju will score tremendously and emerge as a Monstrous Hit! Don’t miss it!

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi throws open challenge to PM Narendra Modi and Congress to contest in Hyderbad and win that seat.

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Hyderabad MP and leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi has lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party BJP over a host of issues, including mob lynching, surgical strikes and the upcoming elections.

The AIMIM leader also threw an open challenge to PM Modi, his party and BJP and its chief Amit Shah to contest from Hyderabad and win that seat.

Everyone want s to snatch the Hyderabad seat from us. I challenge anyone to fight All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen from Hyderabad. I challenge PM Modi or Amit Shah to contest a seat from here.”

The firebrand AIMIM leader also challenged Rahul Gandhi-led Congress to contest from the Hyderabad seat.

”I also challenge Congress to contest from Hyderabad. Even if both these parties contest together, they still won’t be able to defeat us.” Asaduddin Owaisi roared while addressing a massive rally of his supporters in Hyderabad.

Challenge anyone to fight All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen(AIMIM) from Hyderabad. I challenge PM Modi or Amit Shah to contest a seat from here. I also challenge Congress. Even if both these parties contest together, they still won’t be able to defeat us: Asaduddin Owaisi

A video of his speech during which he can be seen challenging the ruling BJP dispensation over a host of issues has also resurfaced on the social media.

Owaisi, who is extremely critical about the Modi government’s functioning, had sometimes back compared the Prime Minister to legendary magician PC Sorcar.

”Soon he (PM Modi) will come on TV and remove a rabbit from his hat. His magic shows on TV would also get good TRPs,” he said taking a dig at the PM.

Owaisi had attacked the BJP, which recently observed a Black Day on June 25 – the day when Emergency was imposed in the country – and said that people should not forget that many earth-shaking events like Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, Babri Masjid demolition, Gujarat riots and anti-Sikh riots all took place in independent India.

The AIMIM leader also dared the PM and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to invite the kith and kin of those (minority community members) killed in several mob lynching incidents across the country to their residence and console them.

The hardline AIMIMM leader also accused the ruling BJP of executing the RSS’ agenda and its alleged discriminatory attitude towards the minority community members.

The Hyderabad MP had earlier attacked the PM for the fast that BJP parliamentarians undertook on April 12.

He asked why the PM didn’t fast for ‘his false promises, atrocities being committed against Dalits or not being able to provide employment.’

“Why doesn’t the Prime Minister sit on a fast to atone for his false promises? Will he sit on fast for farmers who lost their lives, for atrocities on Dalits and for not being able to provide employment?” he had asked.

Vijay Mallya’s Response After Probe Agency Dismisses His “Plea Bargain”

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Fugitive business tycoon Vijay Mallya today dismissed the statement made by an Enforcement Directorate official claiming that he is attempting a “plea bargain”. The official had said that Vijay Mallya’s recent offer, to pay all his dues if his seized assets were freed, is not an option.
Refuting the Enforcement Directorate official, Mr Mallya tweeted, “Media reports quote an ED official stating that I am attempting a plea bargain. Would respectfully suggest that the official read the ED charge sheet first.”

According to the Economic Times, the ED official had dismissed Mr Mallya’s offer calling it “an attempt at plea bargaining and a bid to bolster his case against extradition to India from Britain.”

In his tweet this morning, Mr Mallya also wrote “I would invite the ED to advance the same plea bargain theory in Court in front of whom I have placed my assets.”

Media reports quote an ED official stating that I am attempting a plea bargain. Would respectfully suggest that the official read the ED charge sheet first. I would invite the ED to advance the same plea bargain theory in Court in front of whom I have placed my assets.

According to the report, Mr Mallya, in an e-mail to the Economic Times, claimed that some of the assets that had been seized by the investigating agency predated the establishment of his now-defunct company Kingfisher Airlines.

“The ED allegations and attachment of assets are solely based on funds loaned to Kingfisher Airlines by PSU banks…The assets attached were acquired well before Kingfisher Airlines even started and cannot be considered proceeds of crime to legally justify the attachments,” Mr Mallya stated in his e-mail.

To this, the Enforcement Directorate official said, “All the assets of an accused are seized in such cases, regardless of their provenance.” He went on to say that the notion of plea bargaining – a deal made by the accused in exchange for concessions by the prosecution – did not apply.

According to the report, the ED official said, “Vijay Mallya is offering a plea bargain, which will not work in our country, by trying to say he intends to repay banks and that he should be allowed to sell his assets…As an absconder, he can no longer dictate terms in India, and the assets are no longer in his name to sell.”

Mr Mallya had released a statement recently that he had sought approvals from a court in Karnataka to sell assets worth Rs. 13,900 crore to repay creditors including banks. He also released a letter to PM Modi in an attempt “to put things in the right perspective.”

The official claimed that the Enforcement Directorate had not received any copy of the affidavit filed by Mr Mallya before the Karnataka High Court last week, contrary to the businessman’s claims.

Less than a week ago, Mr Mallya broke his silence over the controversy surrounding him of defaulting on bank loans to the tune of Rs. 9,000 crores. The fugitive liquor baron, in a series of tweets, claimed that he had been falsely framed as the “poster boy of Bank default and a lightning rod of public anger”.

He also reiterated that he is making every effort, in good faith to settle dues with the banks, “but if politically-motivated factors interfere, there is nothing he can do.”

Syria opposition ‘in talks with Russia’ over Deraa peace deal

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Syrian opposition figures have begun negotiations with Russian officers about an agreement to restore state sovereignty over rebel-held parts of the southern Deraa province, rebel negotiators said.

Insurgent negotiators and a spokesman said on Saturday a six-member civilian and military committee of the southern rebels held a preliminary meeting along the administrative borders of neighboring Sweida province.

The government’s offensive this month in southwest Syria has taken much of the eastern part of Deraa province from rebels, backed by a bombardment that the United Nations says has pushed 160,000 people out of their homes.

“The committee held its first meeting with Russian officers who presented their demands,” said Ibrahim Jabawi, a spokesman of the central operations room set up by the main Free Syrian Army groups in southern Syria.

A second round of talks is expected later on Saturday.

The deal being discussed does not include rebel territory in adjacent Quneitra province, bordering the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the spokesman said.

Jordan, which borders Deraa province, has been facilitating talks between rebel factions and Moscow over a deal that would end the violence in exchange for the return of state rule there.

Russian negotiators have demanded rebels accept terms like those agreed for eastern Ghouta, where insurgents either left for opposition territory in the northwest along with their families or accepted the return of state rule, Jabawi said.

The southwest rebels did not accept this, and were instead proposing the return of civilian state institutions in the opposition areas and the entry of Russian military police rather than Syrian government forces.

However, the army has already captured large parts of the eastern zone of rebel-held territory in Deraa province in less than two weeks of fighting, and several more towns still held by the insurgents have reportedly agreed to settle with Assad.

On Saturday, state television said the town of al-Ghariya al-Sharqiya had accepted a “reconciliation” agreement with the government, and the national flag had been raised there.

It said on Friday that four other towns nearby had agreed to surrender their arms and accept state rule. The army had gained control over the towns of al-Harak, Ibta and Rakham, it said, and a rebel said opposition lines in one area had collapsed.

UN condemnation
On Friday, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the UN’s high Commissioner for human rights, said in a statement that there was a “grave risk that intensified fighting will see many civilians trapped”, condemning “[how] civilians in Syria continue to be used as pawns by the various parties”.

Launched on June 19, the Syrian government’s military push is intended to recapture the southern provinces of Deraa, Quneitra and parts of Sweida, still mostly held by opposition fighters.

UN warns of ‘catastrophe’ as 160,000 flee southern Syria push
With backing by Russian air support, forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have retaken territory and continue to progress southwards where the last pockets of opposition remain.

Earlier on Friday, a temporary truce in Deraa between government forces and the rebel group Free Syrian Army (FSA), brokered by Russia and Jordan, ended at noon local time.

Later in the day, a Jordanian official told Reuters news agency that a new ceasefire had been agreed upon by the Syrian government and rebels, but did not offer further details.

However, a US Department of State official said Washington could neither confirm nor deny the truce report and described the situation in southern Syria as “grim”, with Syrian government forces and Russia continuing to bomb the area.

Golan Heights
Also on Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a new call for “an immediate cessation” to military operations in southwest Syria.

Guterres was “deeply alarmed by the military offensive in southwestern Syria and its devastating toll on civilians,” according to a statement from his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

“The secretary-general recalls that the southwest area of Syria is part of a de-escalation agreement agreed between Jordan, Russia and the United States,” the statement said.

Guterres “calls on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law, protect civilians and facilitate safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access”.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council on Friday unanimously renewed for six months its mission to observe the ceasefire in the Golan Heights, calling for armed groups to leave the area separating Syrian and Israeli forces.

UNDOF, which comprises nearly a thousand personnel, was created in 1974 after an agreement on the departure of Israeli and Syrian forces from Golan.

In 1981, Israel annexed part of Golan in a move unrecognized by the international community, while a smaller part of the area is under Syrian control.

“There should be no military forces in the area of separation other than those of UNDOF,” reads the resolution drafted by the US and Russia.

The text condemns “the continued fighting in the area of separation” and calls on “all parties to the Syrian domestic conflict to cease military actions in the UNDOF area of operations”.

It “stresses the obligation on both parties to scrupulously and fully respect the terms of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement”.

“There should be no military activity of any kind in the area of separation,” either by the Syrian military or opposition forces, it said.

 

Aljazeera

Several leaders from JD(S) and Congress willing to join BJP says B S Yediyurappa

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Amid discontent among some of the ruling coalition members in Karnataka, state BJP President BS Yeddyurappa today claimed several leaders from both Congress and JDS were ready to join his party.

Addressing the BJP state executive meet in Bengaluru, the leader of opposition in the assembly also termed the JDS-Congress partnership an “unholy coalition” and the budget scheduled to be presented by it on July 5 as a “minority budget”.

He asked his party men to work towards ensuring the BJP wins 25 of the state’s 28 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 national elections.

“Several Congress and JDS leaders are ready to join the BJP in the current political situation. I appeal to leaders to work towards strengthening the party by bringing in honest and capable people without thinking that new inductees would affect their own chances,” he said.

“Those who are ready to come to the BJP, we have to go to them personally, to their houses and talk to them and bring them to the party fold and strengthen the party for Lok Sabha polls,” he said.

Earlier too, when there was widespread dissatisfaction in both Congress and JDS following the cabinet expansion, Mr Yeddyurappa had claimed that several “disgruntled” leaders from the ruling coalition were eager to join his party.

Mr Yeddyurappa’s recent Ahmedabad trip to meet party national president Amit Shah had fuelled speculation that several dissatisfied Congress MLAs were in touch with him and ready to switch over, which might again try its hand to form a government in the state.

However, he himself had sought to end the speculation, saying he had gone to invite Mr Shah for today’s state unit executive meeting.

Mr Yeddyurappa had resigned as chief minister without facing a vote of confidence in the assembly last month as the BJP lacked the numbers for a majority.

The BJP today held its first state executive meeting after the assembly elections in the state in May this year.

It was attended by party General Secretary Muralidhar Rao, Union Ministers Ananth Kumar, Ramesh Jigajinagi, and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, among others.

Explaining the circumstances under which he had to resign as Chief Minister that led to the formation of Congress-JDS coalition government, Mr Yeddyurappa said although legislators from different political parties were ready to join BJP, “because of paucity of time, we had to face the setback”.

He accused Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy of making “false” promises in the JDS manifesto.

Listing out pre-poll promises of the JDS, including the farm loan waiver among others, he called on BJP leaders and workers to go to people with Congress and JDS manifestos and inform them that both parties have not walked the talk.

Terming the the budget to be presented on July 5 as “budget of 37 MLAs” and “minority budget”, Mr Yeddyurappa pointed out that the Congress Legislature Party Leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah has opposed the budget.

“There is confusion between Congress and JDS, so the budget they will present will not have any sanctity,” he claimed.

He said, “This is the budget with the support of just 37 (JDS) MLAs. There is no Congress support to it…there is no sanctity to it. Let’s wait and watch what stand the Congress takes in the assembly,” he added.

Discordant voices have emerged from the Congress and the JDS on a host of issues, including presentation of the budget, as Siddaramaiah, who held finance portfolio in the previous government, had recently said there was no need for a fresh budget and insisted that a supplementary budget would suffice.

Speaking about differences between the Congress and JDS, Mr Yeddyurappa told his partymen that the two parties were fighting among themselves and their government was likely to fall.

“…(Hence) let us not take sides. There are no signs of this unholy coalition government continuing. So as a responsible opposition both inside and outside the assembly, we will have to continue our fight for the cause of people,” he said.

He also termed as “irresponsible” Mr Kumaraswamy’s statement that he was not at the mercy of people of Karnataka, but of the Congress party.

Noting that BJP and its workers had worked with confidence of winning 130-135 seats in the May 12 assembly elections, Mr Yeddyurappa said, “Even when there was pro-BJP wave across the state, because of our own mistakes, we could not win 130-135 seats. This is a painful matter.”

7 ministers face criminal cases including CM kumarswamy

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The Two election watchdogs in a report here on Friday said that Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, including seven ministers face criminal charges on different cases, said

The other six ministers include Venkatrao Nadagouda, B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, D.K. Shivakumar, D.C. Thammanna, N. Mahesh and Ramesh L. Jarkiholi.

The report by the Karnataka Election Watch and Delhi-based Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) was based only analysis of the poll affidavits belonging to 26 of 27 cabinet ministers, save Women and Child Development Minister Jayamala, the lone woman minister, whose affidavit was not available, ADR said.

It has been reported that seven out of the 26 ministers including Kumaraswamy have declared criminal cases against them, while four ministers, including him, face serious criminal charges.

Kumaraswamy faces several criminal charges, including forgery for the purpose of cheating, causing the disappearance of evidence and other charges relating to criminal breach of trust.

Twenty-five of the 26 ministers are crorepatis, as per the asset declarations in their poll affidavits, with Shivakumar being the richest with total assets worth Rs 840 crore.

World Cup: Struggling Argentina, France meet in mouth watering tie

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Both Argentina and France will need to improve their respective forms when they meet in a Round-of-16 clash at the 2018 FIFA World Cup at the Kazan Arena here on Saturday.

Despite boasting a squad overflowing with attacking talent, Argentina have struggled in their group matches. After being held 1-1 by Iceland in their campaign opener, the two-time World Cup winners were thrashed 0-3 by Croatia.

Facing a must win contest against Nigeria in their last group match, Argentina were in real danger of being eliminated before Marcus Rojo scored a late winner to send them through.

Part of Argentina’s woes have been FC Barcelona megastar Lionel Messi’s inability to reproduce his club form for his country.

The dimunitive genius has struggled to carry the pressure and weight of expectations that comes along with the Argentine jersey. With coach Jorge Sampaoli seeming to build his strategies around him, Messi’s struggles have hurt the entire team.

Messi had however, delivered against Nigeria when he exploited some extra space allowed to him by the Africans’ defence to score a brilliant opening goal. Argentina fans will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday.

The Argentine defence have also let the team down and had committed several glaring errors, specially against Iceland and Croatia. The poor form of the veteran Javier Mascherano must be giving sleepless nights to Sampaoli.

As a team, Argentina will have to do much better against France, who have, on paper at least, one of the most talented squads at this World Cup.

France have not fared any better. Placed in a relatively easy group, they struggled to beat Australia and Peru by narrow margins before being held to a goalless stalemate by Denmark.

They will face their first big test against Argentina. Thanks to a profusion of African origin players in their squad, France have pace and power in attack.

If N’golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi and Paul Pogba manage to impose themselves in the midfield, then things will get extremely tough for Argentina.

France coach Didier Deschamps however, feels that Messi could prove to be the desicive factor.

“Messi is Messi. Just you have to look at his statistics: 65 goals in 127 appearances with his national team. The intention is to neutralize him,” the 1998 World Cup winning captain was quoted as saying by Efe on Friday.

“We do not have a specific plan for him. A ‘plan’ is a big word, the idea is to limit his influence,” the 49-year-old added.

Rahul, Raina, Pandya propel India to 213/4 vs Ireland in second T20I/

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Suresh Raina, left, and Virat Kohli celebrate as India reach 100 during the Second International Twenty20 cricket match against Ireland at Malahide, Dublin, Friday, June 29, 2018. (Donall Farmer/PA via AP)


India rode brilliant half centuries from Lokesh Rahul and Suresh Raina, and an explosive cameo from Hardik Pandya to post a massive 213/4 against Ireland in the second and final T20 International here on Friday.

Coming back to the side after missing Wednesday’s opener, Rahul grabbed his chance with both hands, striking a quickfire 36-ball 70, comprising three fours and six sixes to set the tone with a 102-run second wicket stand with veteran Raina, who also made the most of his chance with a 45-ball 69, including five fours and three sixes.

Pandya (32 off 9 balls; 4×1, 6×4) then applied the finishing touches to the innings, milking 39 runs off the final two overs to push India’s total past the 200 run mark for the second consecutive time.

Already 1-0 up in the two-match T20I series, the visitors tested their bench, making four changes to the playing XI which also saw a change in the batting order.

Put into bat, India overcame the early loss of skipper Virat Kohli (9), thanks to a positive approach by the left-right combination of Raina and Rahul.

Kohli’s ploy of promoting himself to open the batting did not materialise as the right-hander once again fell to pacer Peter Chase’s short delivery, comfortably latched on by George Dockrell at deep square leg.

Kohli’s dismissal brought in Raina, who started off in vintage fashion welcoming medium pacer Stuart Thompson for two massive sixes before settling down as India raced off to 50 in just five overs.

Rahul, on the other hand took on the off-spinner Simi Singh, clobbering him for two sixes and a boundary before sending Boyd Rankin to the cleaners en-route his 26-ball half century even as India reached the 100-run mark midway through the innings.

With the visitors comfortably placed at 128/1, Rahul and Raina continued their dominance over the bowlers until veteran Kevin O’ Brien managed to break the partnership with the wicket of the right-hander off his very first ball.

One ball later, O’ Brien struck again with the wicket of new man Rohit Sharma for a duck which brought Manish Pandey (21 off 20; 4×1) to the middle.

The right-hander played a steady knock even as Raina continued his belligerence at the other end to bring up his fifth T20I half century before quickly falling prey to O’ Brien’s slower delivery in the 18th over.

The departure of Raina brought in the dangerous Pandya, who found the stage perfect to launch an all-out attack on the Irish bowlers, which saw India’s total swelling over the 200-run mark.

Brief Scores: India 213/4 (Lokesh Rahul 70, Suresh Raina 69, Hardik Pandya 32 not out; Kevin O Brien 3/40) vs Ireland.

India thrash South Korea, to face Iran in Kabaddi Masters final

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India skipper Ajay Thakur led from the front to thrash South Korea 36-20 while a second string Iran outplayed Pakistan 40-21 in the semi-finals of the Kabaddi Masters at the Al Wasl Sports Club here on Friday.

For the first time in the tournament, India were put under pressure and it forced the coach Srinivas Reddy to come out with a different strategy. On the other hand, Iran, who came into this tournament without the services of some star players, displayed some attacking game to outplay Pakistan.

Iran will now face India in the summit clash on Saturday here.

In the second semi-final of the day, South Korea straightaway put pressure on the Indian defenders with some good raiding. After eight minutes, the scoreboard read 7-3 in favour of South Korea, thanks to their star raider Jang Kun Lee.

The Indian raiders and defenders tried hard to match the pace of the Koreans but failed which forced Indian coach to make substitute in the initial minutes, bringing in raider Monu Goyat.

And just when thing seemed lost in the middle for India, Thakur, after couple of empty raids, narrowed the point difference through a brilliant raid and then defender Mohit Chillar equalized with a great catch to make it 7-7 in the 11th minute.

The much-awaited moment came when Goyat touched one player to hand India a crucial lead, which India did not tasted in first 15 minutes of the game followed by Thakur making an all-out to make it 13-8.

The last five minutes of the first half game saw Goyat and Thakur taking some points to end the first half, taking seven points lead.

Never looked back moment came for India in the second half when young defender Girish Maruthi single-handedly grabbed Jang Kun Lee to break the backbone of the South Korea’s attack.

Thakur then forced his opponents to play with two players and then defenders inflicted an all-out in 24th minute to make scoreboard read 24-11.

After that, Korea tried to make a come back when they force India to play with only three players Chillar, Maruthi and Thakur. But Thakur’s experience helped India to maintain their lead and also sent back Jang to almost seal the match.

With less than five minutes of game remaining, India played calmly and did not allowed South Korea to take points in numbers and in the last, wrapped up the issue comfortably.

Rakitic backs Neymar to regain peak form at World Cup

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Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic believes Brazil talisman Neymar is on the verge of recapturing his best form after an inauspicious start to the World Cup in Russia.

Neymar has scored just once in Brazil’s first three matches: a stoppage-time strike in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica, reports Xinhua news agency.

The 26-year-old missed three months with a fractured bone in his foot before the tournament and Rakitic believes his former Barcelona teammate is improving every day.

“He is among the best in the world and he is getting better during this tournament,” Rakitic told a press conference.

“You can tell he is thinking less and less about the injury and I am sure we are all going to enjoy his football during this tournament.” In addition to his lacklustre form, Neymar has been accused by sections of Brazil’s media of “playing for himself” and of seeking attention by crying on the pitch after the match against Costa Rica.

Rakitic defended Neymar and said the Paris Saint-Germain forward should not change the way he plays to please critics. “Neymar is among my favourite players in the world,” he said.

“I would always want to have him in my team. He has a special way of playing which doesn’t necessarily suit everybody, but that’s him. That’s his style and he is enjoying playing football, so he takes a lot of risks.”

Croatia will meet Denmark in the round of 16 on Sunday after topping Group D with three wins from as many matches. Victory against the Danes would set up a potential quarterfinal against Spain, who Rakitic rates as the World Cup favourites.

“To be honest, I see Spain above everyone else,” he said.

“I think they are the main favourites of this tournament. It’s tough, they had three difficult games in the group, (but) the confidence they are playing with is one level above everyone else.

“I know them very well, I wish them all the best. But hopefully the quarter-finals will be enough for them. Then they are a little bit tired and can use some rest, especially if they are playing against Croatia,” he added.

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