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This is an archive article published on December 29, 1998

Modest start by Gujarat

AHMEDABAD, Dec 28: Life for a hardcore Gujarat cricket fan could be pretty demanding. He should learn to take humiliation in his stride a...

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AHMEDABAD, Dec 28: Life for a hardcore Gujarat cricket fan could be pretty demanding. He should learn to take humiliation in his stride and in case of a minor disaster, it should be a thing to celebrate. At stumps on the opening day for their four-day West Zone Ranji Trophy match here against Saurashtra, as Gujarat made a modest 231- 8 their fans should be sporting a smile.

After the defeat in the one-dayer on Sunday, when Gujarat skipper Mukund Parmar won the toss and decided to bat on the lifeless track, the hosts expected a new lease of life. In a way it was a new beginning as Amrish Kotecha walked in with Nilesh Modi, who was called in for the longer version.

After the world record of seven straight fours at Mumbai recently, Kotecha is recognised for his turbo starts. He was out of the blocks fast but was caught in a trap. Kotecha hooked two of paceman Narendra Rana8217;s rising balls to the square leg boundary.

SCOREBOARD

GUJARAT 1ST INNINGS: Amrish Kotecha c Merchant b Rana 22;Nilesh Modi c amp; b Parsana 17; Mihir Sheth c Parmar b Parsana 48; Mukund Parmar run out 7; Kirat Damani c Bhambhania b Dhamecha ; Keyur Padia lbw Bhambhania 0; Pathik Patel lbw Bhambhania 10; Vijay Patel not out 16; Bhavin Mehta c Bhatt b Parsana 10; Rakesh Patel not out 15.

Extras: 11 4b, 11lb, 6nb

Total: 231 for eight in 90 overs.

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-58, 3-69, 4-187, 5-187, 6-193, 7-208, 8-223.

Bowling: Garsondia 9-1-23-0, Rana 20-4-68-2 6nb, Parsana 29-9-63-3, Bhambhania 18-6-30-1, Dhamecha 6-0-22-1, Kotak 8-1-30-0.

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

 

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