Category: Sports

Noida golfer Sukhman Singh launched early Christmas celebrations by winning the prestigious 124th Amateur Golf Championship of India, organized by the Indian Golf Union (IGU) at the Tollygunge Club on Sunday.

### Strong Performance

Sukhman delivered a remarkable performance, defeating Harman Sachdeva from Haryana in the 36-hole final. He built an insurmountable 7-up lead by the 29th hole, showcasing his skill in the world’s oldest amateur matchplay event.

With a confident putter and a powerful long game, Sukhman targeted the flags consistently from the start of the final. The match remained all square until the sixth hole, but he surged to a 4-up lead after 12 holes and maintained a 2-up advantage after the first 18 holes. His father, Simarjeet Singh, is a former India No. 1 amateur, having won the Sri Lankan Amateur three times and the IGU Mid-Amateur championship.

### Key Moments

Although Harman narrowed the gap to three strokes by the 23rd hole, Sukhman quickly regained control. He sank several birdies to extend his lead to 6-up by the 25th hole. When he reached 7-up after 29 holes, the tournament director officially declared him the winner, as his lead was unassailable.

### Celebrating a Dream

“It still feels like a dream; one has to pinch me even though in reality I have won. I have been working my whole life to get there, but finally being able to do it feels amazing. It is a proud moment for me as well as my family. My father is the one who kept pushing me and kept relying on me when I myself didn’t. So, it is a time for me and my family to rejoice,” Sukhman shared.

### Final Round Strategy

Discussing his strategy for the final round, he said, “I always knew this was not an 18-hole match, and I have to sustain it for 36 holes. So, even if I lost out on a couple of holes, I had a lot of holes to make a comeback. Also, I didn’t want Harman in the final as he is a tough competitor. So, I kept attacking to get ahead, and the tactic paid off in the right dividends at the end. My driving and putting were both good today, and that helped.”

### An Impressive Season

Sukhman has had an impressive season, winning the IGU Rajasthan Amateur and finishing as the runner-up in the Andhra Pradesh Amateur. Additionally, he placed fourth at the South African Amateur stroke play event earlier this year.

He expressed gratitude to the Indian Golf Union for providing valuable exposure and many opportunities to succeed internationally after competing in the South African and Japan Amateur tournaments.

“The IGU revived the national squad system and conducted national camps that helped strengthen friendship and camaraderie among team members. Also, playing in international events helps amateurs like me to evaluate and make improvements in our game.”

Sameer Minhas smashed a blistering 113-ball 172, powering Pakistan to a thumping 191-run win over an out-of-sorts India to clinch the U19 Men’s Asia Cup title at the ICC Academy Ground on Sunday.

This victory marked India’s heaviest defeat in terms of runs in Youth ODIs, interrupting their unbeaten campaign so far. Pakistan captured the U19 Men’s Asia Cup trophy for the first time, having previously shared the title with India in the 2012 edition when the final ended in a tie.

Pakistan’s Dominance

Asked to bat first on a pitch conducive to great strokeplay, Pakistan clinically posted an imposing total of 347/8. Minhas, one of the standout batters in the competition, led the charge by hitting 17 fours and nine sixes. He shared partnerships of 92 with Usman Khan (35) and 137 with Ahmed Hussain (56), leaving the Indian bowling line-up, apart from spinner Khilan Patel, with a performance they would prefer to forget.

India managed to pull things back in the last 10 overs, ensuring Pakistan finished three runs short of the 350 mark.

India’s Faltering Chase

In response to the massive target, India started brightly, racing to 32 runs in the first two overs. However, the chase swiftly unraveled after skipper Ayush Mhatre fell cheaply in the third over.

Once Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dismissed for a quick 26 off 10 balls, the rest of the Indian batting line-up collapsed without showing any resolve. They stumbled to 68/5 by the end of the power-play, with batters succumbing to rash strokes on short balls. Despite Deepesh Devendran top-scoring with 36, India was bowled out for 156 in 26.2 overs, with Pakistan pacer Ali Raza taking impressive figures of 4-42.

Brief Scores:

• Pakistan U19: 347/8 in 50 overs (Sameer Minhas 172, Ahmed Hussain 56; Deepesh Devendran 3-83, Khilan Patel 2-44)
• Beat
• India U19: 156 all out in 26.2 overs (Deepesh Devendran 36, Vaibhav Suryavanshi 26; Ali Raza 4-42, Huzaifa Ahsan 2-12)
• By 191 runs.

Indian cricketer Pratika Rawal shared an update on her injury, stating that she has been recovering well and appreciates the messages she received from her well-wishers. Rawal sustained injuries to her right ankle and knee during the washed-out Women’s World Cup league stage match against Bangladesh at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in October, leading to her exclusion from the tournament’s knockout games.

“Just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for the overwhelming good wishes over the last few days. I’m recovering well, grateful for the fantastic medical support, and looking forward to being back on the field soon,” she wrote on X.

Before her injury, the 24-year-old was one of India’s standout performers, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer for the team with 308 runs, which included a century and a half-century.

Pratika could hardly contain her emotions after watching her team lift the coveted trophy with a 52-run win over South Africa in the final on November 2. Celebrating from the sidelines in a wheelchair, she said, “I can’t even express it. There are no words. This flag on my shoulder means so much. To be here with my team — it’s surreal. Injuries are part of the game, but I’m just so happy I could still be part of this team. I love this team. I can’t express what I feel — we actually did it! We’re the first Indian team to win the World Cup in so long. The whole of India deserves this. Honestly, it was harder to watch than to play. Every wicket, every boundary — it gave me goosebumps. The energy, the crowd, the emotion — it was incredible.”

Meanwhile, the Women in Blue have shifted their focus to the shortest format and begun their preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to start in England in June. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will host Sri Lanka for five T20Is, starting Sunday, as both teams gear up for the global event.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, provided a brief overview of the year’s achievements: “Over 2 lakh locations, more than 20 lakh people. One Mission – Fit India. Celebrating 1 year of #SundaysOnCycle,” he shared on X on Sunday morning.

Over 1,500 cyclists from various backgrounds, including school students, NaMo Cycling Clubs, and Puducherry University students, turned the picturesque Rock Beach in Puducherry into a vibrant fitness festival. This event highlights cycling’s increasing national significance and popularity.

Padma Bhushan and Khel Ratna awardees P R Sreejesh and Sharath Kamal joined the youth on the ride, inspiring participants to embrace sports and fitness.

Anniversary Celebrations

The first anniversary of Fit India Sundays on Cycle in Puducherry became a colorful fitness festival, featuring fun games and activities such as Zumba, carrom, chess, mallakhamb, silambam, yoga, and rope skipping. Coinciding with World Meditation Day on December 21, the event underscored that fitness is essentially “Meditation in Motion.”

The Sunday morning event gathered notable figures, including Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, Legislative Assembly Speaker R. Selvam, Puducherry Home Minister A. Namassivayam, and other officials, along with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who launched the first event in New Delhi a year ago.

Mandaviya addressed the crowd, sharing how Fit India Sunday on Cycle has evolved from a modest beginning into a nationwide movement.

“When we started this initiative a year ago, it was organised at just five locations with about 500 participants. Today, more than 10,000 locations across the country participate every Sunday, with over 10 lakh citizens joining regularly. It has become a passion, a culture and a powerful solution for pollution. Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also helped in turning this movement into a nationwide fight against obesity,” he stated.

Significant Messages from Leaders

Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan described the initiative as a timely message for society. “Mandaviya’s own village in Bhavnagar Gujarat has only 4000 residents, and everyone there commutes by cycle—no other two-wheelers or four-wheelers. As citizens, we often don’t realize how small lifestyle changes can collectively make a big difference for the environment, especially in terms of reducing the carbon footprint,” he remarked.

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy praised the Fit India Movement’s role in promoting accessible fitness for all. “Cycling is one of the easiest and most effective ways to stay healthy. Only when our body is fit can we achieve our goals in life. I truly appreciate the Prime Minister’s vision behind the entire Fit India movement,” he noted.

Nationwide Participation and Activities

Today, more than 10,000 locations across the country hosted events organised by the Sports Authority of India and Khelo India centres. Events took place in Hazaribagh, Kargil, Patiala, Lucknow, Golaghat, Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, Hisar, Tinsukia, Visakhapatnam, Kashipur in Uttarakhand, Cuttack, among others, with various banks serving as special partners.

The gathering also included Arjuna Award-winning archers Jyothi Surekha and Abhishek Verma from SAI Sonipat. NaMo Fit India Cycling Clubs and My Bharat volunteers played a crucial role in enhancing Sundays on Cycle.

Innovative Initiatives Launched

The event in Puducherry featured the launch of the much-anticipated Fit India Mobile App Carbon Credit Incentivization, aimed at encouraging cycling enthusiasts. Three cyclists who achieved the highest carbon credits—Bharatbhai Parmar, Shashikant Veerkar, and Govind Singh—were honoured during the event.

Citizens have the option to cycle and earn carbon credits, which they can redeem later. “From now on, every month, cyclists from every State and Union Territory will be mapped through the Fit India mobile app, and the top three performers will be incentivised. This is to encourage and reward citizens for adopting cycling as a daily habit,” Mandaviya added.

Fit India Ambassadors and Influencers actively supporting the ‘Sundays on Cycle’ initiative were also recognized, including Nidhi Nigam, Aishwarya Raj (Champion), along with ambassadors Dr. Shikha Gupta, Yukti Arya, mountaineer Divya Arul, and Tamil Nadu Cycling State champion Siva Senthil.

Cycling as a National Movement

Indian hockey’s Sreejesh, known as the ‘wall,’ provided insight into the cycling movement. “Being fit is not about training for medals alone; it is about building discipline and balance in everyday life. Cycling is a simple habit, but when adopted collectively, it builds a healthier society and a stronger nation. I’m happy that Union Sports Minister’s Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative has transformed fitness into a people’s movement where families, youngsters, and professionals participate with equal enthusiasm,” said the Padma Bhushan awardee.

As cyclists set off along Puducherry’s scenic coastline, the anniversary edition clearly demonstrated that Sundays on Cycle has evolved from an event into a nationwide movement promoting fitness, sustainability, and community involvement across India.

It’s already been more than 24 hours since BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced India’s squad for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, reaffirming Axar Patel as the side’s vice-captain. This move also confirmed Shubman Gill’s removal from the T20I team, with less than 50 days to go before the mega event begins.

Gill’s omission capped weeks of speculation regarding his return, which seemed to unsettle the established opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Despite scoring just 291 runs in 15 innings at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137.26, many believed Gill’s spot in the squad was secure until the surprising decision was made.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation indicated that the choice to exclude Gill, who was expected to be India’s all-format leader, was ‘tough, but necessary’ for the team’s ambitions in a competition where the Suryakumar Yadav-led side enters as defending champions.

“Leaving out Gill was a tough but necessary decision. It was taken in the interest of the team. The management had realized that their strategy with Gill in it wasn’t working. The question was about when to make a change, and this course correction occurred on selection day,” the sources elaborated.

It is also understood that there was a strong sentiment within the team’s think tank to reinstate Samson in the opening slot and bring back Rinku Singh following a T20I against South Africa in Lucknow, a day after Gill sustained a toe injury while batting in practice.

The decision to drop Gill, who now misses out on participating in the T20 World Cup, has received a largely positive response, but it sends a clear message: no player is exempt from poor performance, and those in charge will favor combinations believed to offer the best chance of winning a global trophy.

Like Gill, captain Suryakumar Yadav has faced a lean patch, having scored only 244 runs in his last 22 innings, without hitting a single fifty. However, sources confirmed that changing a captain so close to the mega event was never considered. “Nobody was going to drop a captain in a World Cup selection meeting. That would have made for a foolish look,” the sources stated.

More than a day later, the announcement of Patel’s elevation as vice-captain and Gill’s exclusion continues to draw attention. It’s important to note that in the last three ICC men’s events, India lost just one game, clinching two titles – the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. As the 2026 tournament approaches, all eyes will be on how Yadav and his team plan to defend their T20 World Cup title.

Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Abhishek Nayar has defended the franchise’s record-breaking move for Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, describing him as a long-term investment to take the three-time IPL champions forward following the retirement of Andre Russell.

Record-Breaking Signing

Green was the headline signing of the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi, as KKR secured him for a staggering Rs 25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history and the third-costliest buy overall after Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer.

Aggressive Auction Strategy

Explaining KKR’s bold approach at the auction, Nayar stated that the franchise was determined to land Green and was unfazed by the price tag. He remarked, “I can’t say how high we were willing to go for him, but we wanted to go all out. If we have the money, we spend it. There was no point in saving the money. The idea was to do whatever we could to get Green because he is a very important player for us. With Andre Russell gone, we need someone to take the franchise forward. So, we decided we must have Cameron Green.”

Top-Order Expectations

Nayar also highlighted that KKR sees Green as a pivotal top-order batter who can deliver consistently throughout the season. “We see Cameron Green batting in the top three. He is a player who can score 500 runs for us. That is why we were so desperate to get him. We know he has that ability. He has scored over 500 runs in the IPL before, so he can do well in the top order. He solves different problems for us,” he added.

The head coach noted that top-order contributions have been crucial to KKR’s past successes. “Over the past few years, our success came when our top three players scored more than 400 runs. The hope is that he can score big runs for us.”

Missed Opportunity with Venkatesh Iyer

Nayar also addressed KKR’s unsuccessful attempt to bring back Venkatesh Iyer, who was snapped up by Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the auction. “Venkatesh Iyer has been a franchise player for us from the start. We tried to get him back. We felt other teams were saving money for different players, so we thought we could get him at a lower price. He is experienced and fits our setup, giving us flexibility.”

However, he recognized the challenge posed by rival franchises during the bidding process. “We tried, but RCB always seems to go after our players. This year they got him. Venkatesh has been phenomenal for us over the years, and I wish him all the best in his new IPL journey.”

Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has pointed out a significant bowling issue for Sunrisers Hyderabad, indicating that a lack of young bowlers could adversely affect the franchise in IPL 2026.

Strong Core Squad Retained

The Hyderabad-based franchise has retained a robust core squad for IPL 2025, featuring key players like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Pat Cummins, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Heinrich Klaasen. Additionally, they made notable signings by acquiring seasoned players such as Salil Arora, Jack Edwards, and Liam Livingstone for ₹13 crore, alongside several promising stars in the mini-auction ahead of IPL 2026.

Bowling Concerns Raised

However, Uthappa expressed doubts about the addition of Livingstone and his potential role in the playing eleven, along with concerns about the overall bowling attack.

“Nothing has really changed. SRH have taken a clear stand; they want to win the championship by relying heavily on their batting. If you examine this auction and their strategy, they’ve remained true to that narrative. They haven’t pursued an Indian bowler to support Pat Cummins, Harshal Patel, or Jaydev Unadkat. We know Harshal can take wickets, but he can also be expensive. The same applies to Unadkat. Pat Cummins is the only bowler who can consistently hold one end. Nitish Reddy is still developing as an all-rounder; how much responsibility will he take on? SRH seems to be batting with the aim of scoring 300 runs every game,” said Uthappa on JioStar.

“But the question is — where does Liam Livingstone fit into this line-up? You already have Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Eshan Malinga in the overseas slots. Are they planning to chase every game? Or are they acknowledging that their bowling lacks depth, especially with some bowlers nearing the end of their careers? The youthful aspect in the bowling unit is simply missing right now,” he added.

Kumble’s Take on Bowling Dynamics

Former India cricketer Anil Kumble also weighed in on Liam Livingstone’s acquisition for ₹13 crore, questioning the bowling options available for SRH, along with skipper Cummins.

“I think Liam Livingstone, as a purchase, certainly makes sense in a T20 setup, regardless of his performances last season with RCB. He’s a player who can turn a game around in just a few overs with his batting. Additionally, he’s quite versatile — he can open, bat at No. 3, or play in the middle order. That said, spending ₹13 crore raises an interesting point when you already have a bowling captain in Pat Cummins, who bats lower down the order, alongside Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen — three overseas slots that seem nearly fixed.”

England head coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged that the team’s preparation for the Ashes series was insufficient and is bracing for the subsequent scrutiny after suffering an 82-run defeat at Adelaide Oval. Following losses in Perth and Brisbane, this marked England’s third consecutive defeat as Australia secured an unassailable 3-0 lead and retained the Ashes title.

McCullum’s Assessment

Admitting that their opponents had “outplayed them in all aspects,” McCullum highlighted that this Australian side displayed the most “precise,” “formidable,” and “consistent” performance he had seen in years.

“We’re obviously disappointed,” McCullum stated. “We came here with high hopes, high ambitions and lofty goals, and we’ve been outplayed across three Test matches. You’ve got to cop a sweep when you don’t quite achieve what you’re hoping to.”

He noted, “I do feel like the last day-and-a-half, two days, we’ve probably played our best cricket, and that’s because we’ve just played.”

Challenges in Key Moments

McCullum later added, “We knew coming down here that Australia is a very strong team in their own conditions. We thought we would be competitive, and that we would be able to seize some pressure moments, and we haven’t been able to do it. With the ball, we’ve not quite been relentless enough with our accuracy and challenging on the surface in the areas we need to. With the bat, we haven’t scored enough runs and haven’t quite found the tempo we need to operate at either. And in the field, we have let opportunities go.”

On the final day, England’s lower order, featuring wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith and all-rounder Brydon Carse, displayed some resistance. Their efforts raised hopes of a miracle, but a disciplined bowling attack from Australia maintained control, allowing them to retain the urn.

Smith scored 60 runs, supported by Will Jacks with 47 and Brydon Carse, who remained unbeaten on 38. Despite reaching 207-6, Australia’s Mitchell Starc (3-62) edged the hosts closer to victory before Scott Boland dismissed Josh Tongue, concluding England’s innings at 352 in pursuit of a record 435 to win.

Lessons Learned

“I do feel like the last day-and-a-half, two days, we’ve probably played our best cricket, and that’s because we’ve just played,” McCullum reiterated. “I feel like for the previous nine days, we were so caught up and so driven to achieve something, and succeed, that we almost got in our own way, and we stymied our talent and our skill and our ability.”

He emphasized, “It’s only been the last two days that we’ve let go and just played, and actually competed, and probably had our best two days of the tour. So there’s a lesson in that, not just for the players. There’s a lesson for the coach, and the coaching staff as well. How do you free guys up when the pressure is at its highest, rather than waiting for these last two days?”

Despite nine scores of thirty or more across their two innings, England’s performance in Adelaide was flawed, with no batter reaching a century. However, McCullum felt encouraged by the glimpses of character his team displayed, which should have been pivotal throughout the series.

“I know that that’ll be something that’s questioned,” McCullum commented. “When you’ve lost 3-0, you’ve got to put your hand up and say, ‘maybe I didn’t get that preparation right’. Ultimately, you are responsible for how you get your side ready and how you prepare them. I had conviction, we had conviction in our methods of preparation, not just leading into the first Test but also in between Tests. I look back now and think, did we need more leading into the first and did we need less leading into the second? Those are the changes you look back on and ask, would I do it differently?”

Future Prospects

With England yet to win a Test in Australia since the victorious tour of 2010–11, McCullum believes there remains a significant opportunity ahead. “We do have a great opportunity in the next two Tests,” he said. “That’s the message to the boys, right? We need to find something out of this tour. We need to salvage some pride and play for all the people who have come down to Australia and supported this team, and play for all the people back home in England, supporting this team as well. If we can do that, then we walk away with a bit of pride.”

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer expressed his preference for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jitesh Sharma to be included in the squad for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, suggesting they should replace Ishan Kishan and Washington Sundar.

Jaffer’s comments followed the decision to drop Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill from the squad for India’s T20 World Cup title defense, as well as a five-match preparatory series against New Zealand. All-rounder Axar Patel has been appointed as vice-captain, while wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan made the cut due to his outstanding performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Rinku Singh has returned to the team in place of Jitesh, especially with India now having two keeper-batters who can open the innings.

“Why not Jaiswal & Jitesh? I would have them in place of Ishan & Washi. Axar is VC so he’s sure to play and you can’t play Washi ahead of Varun and Kuldeep. Jitesh hasn’t done anything wrong to be dropped and Yashasvi, don’t need any explaining why he shouldn’t be there in first place,” Jaffer wrote on his ‘X’ account.

Jaiswal last featured for India in T20Is during their tour of Sri Lanka in July 2024, not participating consistently due to his commitments in Test matches. The upcoming 10th edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, with 20 teams participating.

India enters the tournament as the defending champions, having secured a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in the final held in Barbados in June 2024. In this edition, India is drawn in Group A alongside Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, and Namibia.

India will kick off their campaign against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7, followed by a match against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 12. The highly anticipated clash against Pakistan is scheduled for February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, concluding the league stage with a game against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 18.

Australia captain Pat Cummins is unlikely to feature in the Boxing Day Test against England, scheduled to take place from December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

After a five-and-a-half-month injury break, the Australian captain took six wickets in the third Test and played a key role in their 82-run win at the Adelaide Oval. Following victories in Perth and Brisbane, the hosts continued their strong performance and clinched the series 3-0, successfully retaining the Ashes. Cummins expressed joy over the “amazing” series victory but indicated he would reconsider injury risks for the upcoming matches.

“I’m feeling really good, but as for the rest of the series, we’ll wait and see. We had a pretty aggressive build-up knowing that it’s the Ashes there to be won and we thought that was worth it. Now that the series has been won, there might be a sense of job’s done and let’s reassess the risk,” he shared with broadcasters after the game.

“We’ll work it out over the next couple of days, I doubt I’ll be playing in Melbourne, and then we’ll have a chat about Sydney. But certainly before the series, it was, while the series was live, let’s take on the risk and have a crack at it. Now it’s done, I think we’ll need to have a chat about it,” Cummins added.

England’s Jamie Smith and Will Jacks posed a challenge to the hosts with a counterattack for a period, but pacer Mitchell Starc took three of the last four wickets, including those of Smith and Jacks. Scott Boland finished the innings by claiming the wicket of Josh Tongue, securing a well-earned victory for Australia.

“It feels pretty awesome. Yeah, amazing. It’s a series we’ve been thinking about for a long time. It wasn’t easy today, but we got it done. It’s a pretty excited changing room in there,” Cummins said regarding the win.

On maintaining pressure on England, he stated, “I think that’s when we’re at our best, this cricket team. You can’t really rush things here in Australia. I think you kind of will it to happen, but it doesn’t really work that way. It’s good old-fashioned grind a lot of the time. I loved the toil from all the guys today. It got a little bit closer than I would have liked, but I’m pretty happy.”

Nathan Lyon, who took three wickets on day four, was sidelined due to a hamstring injury while fielding. Nonetheless, the captain praised the team’s efforts on the field.

“I think that’s one of the things I’m most proud about in this group. Nothing ever really happens perfectly; there’s always something that gets thrown up.

“Over the last few years, this group has shown it can just crack on. Even I missed the first couple of games, Steve stepped right in and it was smooth and seamless. There’s always things that crop up; Nathan Lyon doing his hammy with a couple of hours left today.

“The boys just go, okay, that’s happened. Let’s crack on. What’s next? I think that’s one of the big reasons why we’ve had our success over the last couple of years,” he concluded.