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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Jaspal Rana taught India to aim higher

Indian sport lost one of its finest champions on June 12, 2026, with the untimely passing of shooting legend and coach Jaspal Rana at the age of 49. His death has left a void that will be difficult to fill, not only in Indian shooting but in the hearts of countless athletes, admirers and young dreamers who looked up to him as a symbol of excellence, discipline and perseverance. Born in the hills of Uttarakhand, Rana emerged as a prodigious talent at an age when most children are still...

Jaspal Rana taught India to aim higher

Indian sport lost one of its finest champions on June 12, 2026, with the untimely passing of shooting legend and coach Jaspal Rana at the age of 49. His death has left a void that will be difficult to fill, not only in Indian shooting but in the hearts of countless athletes, admirers and young dreamers who looked up to him as a symbol of excellence, discipline and perseverance. Born in the hills of Uttarakhand, Rana emerged as a prodigious talent at an age when most children are still discovering their interests. By his teens, he had already announced himself on the national stage and over the years he would go on to become one of India’s most decorated shooters. His remarkable achievements at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Championships and international competitions transformed him into a household name and brought unprecedented attention to shooting in India. Yet medals alone do not define Jaspal Rana’s legacy. What truly set him apart was his unwavering commitment to the sport long after his competitive career ended. As a coach, mentor and guide, he devoted himself to nurturing the next generation of Indian shooters. His influence can be seen in the success of numerous athletes, most notably Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, whose achievements carried the unmistakable imprint of Rana’s guidance and belief. He possessed the rare ability to identify talent, instill confidence and demand excellence without losing sight of the human being behind the athlete. To his students, he was more than a coach. He was a teacher, protector and source of strength during moments of doubt. To colleagues, he was a respected professional whose passion for Indian sport was evident in every conversation and every training session. To fans, he represented an era when dedication and hard work could elevate a niche sport into the national spotlight. His sudden departure is a painful reminder of life’s fragility. But while Jaspal Rana is no longer with us, the values he championed — discipline, courage, humility and relentless pursuit of excellence — will continue to inspire generations. India mourns a champion. The shooting fraternity mourns a mentor. His family mourns a beloved husband and father. And the nation bids farewell to a man who spent his life helping others find their aim. Jaspal Rana’s final shot may have been fired, but his legacy will echo through Indian sport for decades to come.

Test Renaissance

For a format often dismissed as cricket’s quaint relic, the recently concluded five-Test series between India and England defied every dull stereotype. It ended, fittingly, in the most thrilling fashion. At The Oval, England needed just 35 runs on the final morning with four wickets in hand. While probability favoured England, Mohammed Siraj tore through the tail, bowling India to a sensational six-run win. It was India’s narrowest Test victory ever and a jolting reminder that the longest format of cricket can still deliver the tightest finishes.

 

But the nail-biting drama was not just confined to the finale. Over two months, the series produced generally decisive results. There were collapses, comebacks, centuries carved under pressure and spells of fast bowling that bent matches out of shape. In an era awash with T20 riches and attention spans trained on spectacle, England and India produced a reaffirmation of Test cricket’s unique, episodic theatre.

 

The Oval win, and with it the series draw at 2-2, signalled the arrival of a new Indian Test side. For the first time in over a decade, India played a major series without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma or R. Ashwin. Yet it was not a team in transition but a team transformed, and leading from the front was Shubman Gill.

 

Still only 26, Gill amassed 754 runs in the series at an astonishing average of 75.40 - more than any Indian or English batsman has ever scored in a bilateral series between the two countries. Only Don Bradman has made more as captain in a single series. Gill’s poise, fluency and appetite for runs silenced doubters and underscored a generational shift. India has not merely found a new captain but a new blueprint.

 

The other players rose to the occasion. Siraj, awarded Player of the Match at The Oval, took nine wickets, including a blistering spell on the final morning. Prasidh Krishna provided vital support. All this was achieved without Jasprit Bumrah, the leader of India’s pace pack. The players responded with performances that combined maturity with fearlessness.

 

For global cricket, the series was more than entertainment. It was proof of Test cricket’s viability that if supported and staged with purpose, the long form can be more engrossing than T20 or even limited overs. England’s ‘Bazball’, too, has changed the way the game is played.

 

But it is Gill’s India that may shape how it will be sustained. India now sits third in the World Test Championship, well placed to challenge again for the crown. The broader takeaway was that for a series meant to be a mismatch, India’s youngest Test side in decades pulled off a resurrection worthy of sporting folklore. It announced the rebirth of Indian cricket in its grittiest, most classical form. More importantly, the series revives the derided long-form while rebuking the notion that Test cricket is dying. If this is what the future of the five-day game looks like, then long live the renaissance.

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