"10 Years Of Lots And Lots Of Failures": Samson's Outburst Ahead of T20 WC

Despite being focused on leading his team in the IPL, the thought of the impending World Cup selections was at the back of his mind and he has come "most prepared", said Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. The Rajasthan Royals skipper had another successful IPL season where he scored 531 runs including five half-centuries and he finally got his due when he was selected in the 15-member India squad for the T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies.

India play their opening match against Ireland on Wednesday.

"This is the most prepared or experienced Sanju Samson has come into this World Cup, actually," said Samson in video posted by the BCCI on Monday.

"Ten years of lots and lots of failures, few successes here and there. Life in cricket has taught me everything I needed to know before we come to this crucial tournament." 

A highly underrated wicketkeeper-batter, Samson despite his prolific run with the bat in the IPL, has played just 16 ODIs and 25 T20Is.

"The IPL covered all my mind space, I think. There was a lot to do, there was a lot to think being the captain of the side. I think my mind was always occupied, but somewhere at the back of the mind it was there, the World Cup selections are also around." The 29-year-old added that getting the call-up to represent the country in the World Cup was like a dream come true.

"It was a huge thing, actually. It was like one of the best things which could have happened to my career and those thoughts keep on playing." The Kerala cricketer said that despite having a remarkable season, where his side led the IPL table for most part, he knew securing a place in the India side was not a surety.

"I knew I've had a reasonable good season in the IPL where I do have my chances to get in. But, at the same time, I knew how tough it is. It can be either both sides because it depends on what the team wants, the exact combination our team management or the selectors are looking for," said Samson.

"So the moment I got convinced that 'Sanju you are ready', I think the life and cricket gave it back to me. So, that's how I like to look at it. So, it was a great moment." 

Samson said failures and successes in his career have taught him to always look at things in positive light.

"I always look at things in a more positive manner, even if it's a failure or a setback that's when you actually learn about it. When you are young and you are having lots and lots of success, you actually skip a few lessons actually.

"I think I've been blessed to get some insane talent with my batting skills, that come very naturally to me, I don't do anything specific but I don't know how actually it comes. It just actually comes." The cricketer said the moment he landed in New York, the IPL was completely off his mind and he was living in the moment.

"Right from the moment I landed here, IPL has been like completely off and it's been a completely different stage and I'm telling myself 'Sanju you are somewhere (else). I think lots and lots of people dream about and then its like 'Ok boss, what else I need to do.

"I didn't have to motivate myself; it was like automatically, things were supposed to happen and it was happening and and when you get into that atmosphere when you meet Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, you look at them and then you get inspired.

"Then you get motivated and then there is no looking back. You are only looking in front. How can a Sanju Samson help the team win more games," he added. 

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French Open: Djokovic 3 A.M. Finish Sparks Health Fears In Tennis

Novak Djokovic believes "things could have been handled differently" after winning his French Open third round match at 3:07 a.m. (0107 GMT) Sunday as US star Coco Gauff warned that players' health was being put at risk. Defending champion and 24-time Grand Slam title winner Djokovic came from two sets to one down to defeat Lorenzo Musetti 7-5, 6-7 (6/8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a clash which only started just before 10:45 p.m. (2045 GMT) on Saturday. It was easily the latest finish to a French Open tie and came after organisers squeezed in extra matches onto the two main show courts, which both have retractable roofs, to counter the scheduling chaos caused by a seventh day of rain in Paris.

"I don't want to get into this debate," said Djokovic initially before adding: "I think certain things could have been handled differently.

"There is a certain beauty in winning the match at three in the morning if it was the last of the tournament, but this isn't the case."

Djokovic's four-hour 29-minute victory allowed the 37-year-old world number one to equal Roger Federer's record of 369 Grand Slam match wins.

"Physically, I really went to my limits to win this match. When you play rallies of more than 20 shots, at two in the morning... Who plays at two in the morning?" he added. "We play few matches in our life at this time. The conditions were very heavy, it was very cold. You didn't have many free points behind your serve."

Djokovic must now recover to face Argentinian 23rd seed Francisco Cerundolo in the round of 16 on Monday after avoiding what would have been his earliest exit at the French Open in 15 years.

"I definitely think it's not healthy," said women's world number three and US Open champion Gauff.

'Not fair'

"It may be not fair for those who have to play late because it does ruin your schedule.

"I definitely think for the health and safety of the players it would be in the sport's best interest to try to avoid those matches starting after a certain time."

Gauff explained that a 3:00 a.m. finish didn't mean the end of a player's commitment for the day as a match is usually followed by physical recuperation and media duties.

"So that's probably not going to bed until 5:00 at the earliest, maybe 6:00, and even 7:00," said the American.

Women's world number one Iga Swiatek said night sessions need to start earlier for the sake of the public as well as players.

"I don't know if the fans are watching these matches if they have to go to work next day or something when the matches are finishing at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m.," said the defending champion.

"It's not up to us. We need to accept anything that is going to come to us."

In stark contrast to Djokovic's marathon efforts, Swiatek reached the quarter-finals on Sunday with a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Anastasia Potapova in just 40 minutes on the same Court Philippe Chatrier.

Despite his reluctance to play late into the night, Djokovic's stamina and tenacity were widely praised.

"Djokovic is like LeBron James at 39, he fights until the end, he gives everything and he loves it, it's incredible to see," John McEnroe told NBC.

"I'm not kidding, this guy looked better physically than he did at the start of the match."

The Australian Open in Melbourne holds the Grand Slam record for the latest finish -- in 2008, Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis played a match until 4:34 a.m.

At the US Open in New York, the record is 2:50 a.m. in 2022 when Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner.

Wimbledon operates a strict 11 p.m. curfew with the 2012 clash between Andy Murray and Baghdatis ending at a more gentle 11:02 p.m.

Alcaraz said he prefers to finish his matches by the evening, not the early hours.

"I don't like night sessions, we end so late, press conference, physio, ice bath," said the world number three and Wimbledon champion after making the quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon.

"For me it's much better to finish at 6:00. Everything is better if you finish early."

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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After Verdict, Trump Revels in Embrace of His Most Avid Base: Male Fans

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Jaismine Inches Closer To Paris Olympics Quota, Sachin To Play Box-Off

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jaismine Lamboria moved within touching distance of a Paris Olympic quota after she registered a dominant victory over Ana Marija Milisic of Switzerland to enter the 57kg quarterfinals of the World Olympic Boxing Qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand. The 22-year-old, who dropped down from 60kg, out-punched Milisic through an unanimous decision (5-0) in the round of 16. With the qualifying tournament offering four quota places in the women's 57kg weight class, Jaismine will have to win her quarterfinal on Sunday to seal her passage to Paris Games and reclaim the 57kg quota for India.

Parveen Hooda had secured the 57kg quota at the 2023 Asian Games but was suspended for whereabout failure last month, forcing India to surrender the quota.

Jaismine, who had competed in the Asian Games and the first World qualifiers in 60kg, was allowed to compete in the 57kg event as she was listed as reserve for the tournament.

The bout began on a tentative note with both boxers trying to assess each other. Jaismine then showcased her technical superiority as she jabbed Milisic repeatedly.

The Swiss tried to retaliate but Jaismine used her long reach to maintain distance.

Jaismine used a combination of punches on a helpless Milisic as the Swiss was given a standing count. The bout resumed but it was clear which way the decision was going to go.

Sachin goes down in semis, to play Box-Off

In the men's 57kg, former youth world champion Sachin Siwach gave a good account of himself before going down 0-5 to Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Carlo Paalam of Philippines in the 57kg semifinal.

Sachin will, however, get another chance at securing an Olympic berth as the 57kg has three quotas on offer.

The two losing semifinalists will box-off with each other for the quota on Sunday.

Nishant Dev (71kg, Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) have already secured their passage to Paris.

Sachin tried hard but was no match for the Filipino boxer who was more aggressive and did not let the Indian settle down.

With Paalam on the offensive from the first second, Sachin was forced to defend.

The Filipino landed several power punches and Sachin lowering his guard did not help his cause as he was pummeled by Paalam.

The Indian was, however, able to land some scoring shots toward the end of the opening round to convince two judges.

Sachin went after Paalam a couple of times as the Filipino boxer slowed down. But after conserving energy he was back to striking the Indian. PTI APA UNG

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T20 World Cup: Lack Of Buzz Leads To A Lukewarm Build-Up In The USA

The year 1994 played a crucial role in shaping the USA's connection with football (called soccer in America) when it hosted the FIFA World Cup. The event served as a major catalyst for the sport's penetration into American culture. Now, after three decades, the USA is once again the chosen venue for the Men's T20 World Cup, making it the first time a major cricket event is being held in the country. The co-hosts will kick-start the tournament by facing Canada at the Grand Prairie Stadium, with the USA set to host 16 matches of the competition.

The stakeholders have long wished for cricket to gain popularity in the US, where sports like basketball, baseball, track and field events, football, and swimming dominate. But many see the Men's T20 World Cup helping cricket break into the lucrative US market.

Last year, the Major League Cricket (MLC) was launched, which is gearing up for a second season in July. Then there's cricket's inclusion into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which means the signs are there for the sport to crack the American market.

“When the USA was announced as a co-host of the T20 World Cup (in 2021), I was very excited and felt, that finally, we could get to host a World Cup, because there have been slight developments in USA Cricket through Major and Minor Leagues, plus U11, U13, U15 category tournaments are happening all over the country,” Prasanna Balakrishnan, an ardent cricket fan who works as a software developer in Dallas, told IANS on Saturday.

“There have been so many games and I have even umpired in some of them. To see that excitement levels for the game has been amazing,” he said.

As the competition approaches, its ads are visible in New York's famed Times Square arena while the Rockefeller Centre Building in New York has been lit up by tournament graffiti. There's been an NBA Finals collaboration with Rohit Sharma and Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and an appearance of tournament ambassador Yuvraj Singh on the ‘Good Morning America' show.

Outside of it, there's little buzz in the country for the tournament. The USA-Canada opening game has not completely sold out and there are still tickets available for the highly expected India-Pakistan game on June 9 in New York, particularly for the Diamond Club, Corner Clubs, and Premium Club Lounge (North) sections.

“I don't think there is enough buzz for the World Cup here as compared to India, because it hasn't been marketed as much. I feel they could have done a lot more in terms of build-up. But I am hoping that as the tournament progresses, it will gain more interest. When you travel through areas or via airports, there's not much buzz or hoardings.” said Prasanna Balakrishnan.

“When you go through an airport in a country hosting a major event like a World Cup, you get to see hoardings or other signs there for it. But I have seen from people travelling for the tournament through their X (formerly Twitter) posts that there hasn't been much on this front,” he said. “Tournament promotions in the USA have been here and there. It has been decent, but not as much because other than the Asian population over here and in other places, I am not sure if it has reached much.”

“Time will tell about it as there are a few good games in Dallas, New York, and Florida, including matches of USA, Canada, and Nepal as well, and how they are received,” adds Prasanna, who will be present in the stadium to see all of India's league matches in New York and Florida.

What has also been astonishing is a release from USA Cricket earlier this week saying fans can now secure tickets for the co-hosts' three home matches (barring the one against India) at a remarkable 25% discount. The move hints at a lack of buzz for the tournament leading to empty seats in stadiums for the matches.

“When the first batch of ticket sales opened, they didn't allow us to choose seats. Like, they allowed us to choose certain categories like standard, premium, VIP, etc. Only after that, they opened us few seats. We thought they were sold out but were not so.”

“The ticketing was a bit of a mismatch as you don't want to fool the public by saying tickets are sold out. But when tickets don't actually get sold out, then you open them later at a lower price, which doesn't provide a good image,” opined Prasanna.

With the aim of expanding cricket's presence in the USA, the tournament needs to captivate the interest of the non-cricket following local population. Nevertheless, the underwhelming buzz surrounding the T20 World Cup in the USA is certainly not contributing to its success.

“There are people curious about cricket in the USA like some local people came to see Major League Cricket (MLC) games in Dallas last year and were interested in knowing and learning about the game. In one of the stands, I was seated at for MLC games last year, people were willingly asking about if this is a wide or a no-ball and asking formats, etc.”

“There is enough information for some of them about the game, but there hasn't been enough promotion to get the cities up on their feet. Like, some places have banners saying ‘T20 World Cup is coming, and get your tickets on the official website'. But me being an Indian team fan, I am 100% excited and let's go India,” concluded Prasanna.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Champions League Final Live: Real Madrid, Dortmund Starting Line-ups Out

UEFA Champions League Final Live Updates: The Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund UEFA Champions League final is here. That starting line-ups of the teams are out! The Spanish champions are going for their 15th European crown and sixth in the past 11 seasons against a Dortmund side hoping to win the competition for just the second time. Real Madrid are absolute favourites to be crowned European champions against a Dortmund team that have beaten the odds just to make it to the English capital. Madrid have lost just twice in 54 games in all competitions this season, storming to the title in La Liga by 10 points and thrashing Barcelona 4-1 to lift the Spanish Super Cup along the way. (Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund: LIVE SCORE | LIVE STREAMING)

Here are the LIVE Updates of Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund UEFA Champions League final from London's Wembley Stadium

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