Monank Patel has been appointed captain of the USA cricket team for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka. Ten key players from the team’s debut 2024 campaign, which featured a notable Super 8 stage finish and a win over Pakistan, will return for this edition.

Alongside Patel, the squad includes Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Ali Khan. The experience of players like Harmeet, Milind, and Saurabh, who have played age-group or state cricket in India, is expected to provide the team with a strategic advantage.

Wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous led the USA in runs during the 2024 edition with 219 runs from six innings at an average of 43.80, including two fifties, while Saurabh Netravalkar topped the team’s wicket-taking chart with six wickets at an average of 20.83.

New faces in the squad may include Shubham Ranjane, who could make his T20I debut, and Mohammad Mohsin and Shehan Jayasuriya, who may earn their first international caps. Shubham, born in Pune, previously played four ODIs for the USA and featured in the SA20 tournament for Johannesburg Super Kings, scoring 101 runs in five innings, including a half-century.

USA will play in Group A alongside India, Pakistan, the Netherlands, and Namibia. Their campaign begins on February 7 against India in Mumbai, followed by matches against Pakistan in Colombo on February 10, the Netherlands in Chennai on February 13, and Namibia in Chennai on February 15.

Squad: Monank Patel (C), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane.

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From the Shadows to the Spotlight

Not long ago, Indian women’s cricket existed in near anonymity. Matches were played in second-tier venues, press conferences attracted only a handful of reporters, and even international games often went untelevised. In 2018, when India toured South Africa, there was no live broadcast of their ODIs—the only updates came via scorecards on social media. When journalists protested, a live stream was hurriedly arranged, but the message was clear: women’s cricket was still an afterthought.

Back then, Snehal Pradhan, a former cricketer and now ICC manager for women’s cricket, famously tweeted an appeal asking for 22 more followers to help the BCCI Women’s Twitter account reach 1,000 followers. That account now boasts over a million—a reflection of how far the game has come. And nothing symbolizes that transformation more powerfully than what happened on November 2, 2025.

The Final: A Tale of Grit and Grace

The final was more than a cricket match; it was an emotional rollercoaster that kept 39,555 fans at the stadium and millions watching across the globe on the edge of their seats. India’s 298 for 7 against South Africa was the second-highest total ever scored in a Women’s World Cup final. Shafali Verma, just 21 years old, lit up the night with a blistering 87 off 78 balls, while Deepti Sharma delivered an all-round masterclass—a run-a-ball fifty followed by five wickets for 39 runs.

Deepti’s feat was historic: she became the first player, male or female, to score a fifty and take a five-wicket haul in a World Cup knockout match. Her 22 wickets in the tournament placed her among the greatest all-rounders in women’s cricket history.

When South Africa began their chase, led by their prolific captain Laura Wolvaardt, tension filled the air. Wolvaardt’s majestic 101 nearly threatened to rewrite the script, but once she fell to Deepti’s clever variation, India’s destiny seemed written. The roar that followed the final wicket—caught by Harmanpreet herself—was not just for a game won, but for a generation redeemed.

The Captain Who Dreamed Beyond Limits

As the crowd erupted, Harmanpreet Kaur—India’s captain, trailblazer, and emotional anchor—stood motionless for a moment, absorbing the surreal sight. In the post-match press conference, she confessed, “I’m numb. I can’t even express what I’m feeling. There were so many ups and downs, but through everything, we had self-belief.”

Self-belief—that was the word she repeated over and over, because it was this quiet conviction that had carried the team through the storms of the past month. After early losses to Australia, South Africa, and England, India’s campaign seemed doomed. But a turning point came after their defeat to England. That night, the team huddled together and decided to change their approach—through visualization, meditation, and unshakable faith in each other. “We started seeing the trophy every day,” Harmanpreet said. “We played this tournament in our minds before we stepped onto the field.”

It showed. The semifinal win against Australia, inspired by Harmanpreet’s calm leadership and the collective fire of her players, was emotional enough to move even the stoic captain to tears. But the final brought pure, unfiltered joy. “I’ve played many World Cups with Smriti [Mandhana],” she said later. “Every time we lost, we went home heartbroken. This time, we said to ourselves, “From ball one, we’ll play like champions.”

Heroes of the Night

If Harmanpreet embodied belief, Shafali Verma represented fearless youth. Barely out of her teens, she became the youngest player ever to win the Player of the Match award in a World Cup final. Her 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana laid the foundation for India’s triumph. Mandhana, India’s vice-captain and emotional heart of the team, described the victory as “bigger than a trophy—it’s a revolution for women in sports.”

Deepti Sharma’s match-defining spell was the stuff of legend. Her accuracy, composure, and control under pressure reminded many of India’s greats. “She’s in a league of her own,” said coach Amol Muzumdar. “Every time we needed something special, Deepti delivered.”

And yet, it was the unity and humility of the team that won hearts. The sight of Jemimah Rodrigues and Radha Yadav hugging South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp after the match went viral. “Sabki victory hai—this is everyone’s victory,” smiled Mandhana as she congratulated journalists who had supported the team for years. It was a rare kind of sportsmanship—one that turned rivals into friends and fans into family.

Celebration with Dignity

As the players danced, laughed, and took selfies with the trophy, they made sure to share their moment with those who had paved the way. Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, and Anjum Chopra—pioneers of Indian women’s cricket—were invited to the stage to lift the trophy alongside the team. Goswami, tears streaming down her face, hugged Harmanpreet tightly. “Jhulan di was my biggest support,” the captain said. “She was my leader when I was new to the team. To share this with her is beyond words.”

In the stands, fathers, mothers, and young girls waved the tricolor with pride. Outside the stadium, celebrations spilled into the streets. For once, India’s women athletes were not being compared to the men—they were being celebrated for who they were.

Messages from Legends

Congratulatory messages poured in from across the world. Virat Kohli called the team an “inspiration for generations to come.” Sachin Tendulkar drew a poignant parallel to 1983: “That victory inspired an entire generation. Today, our women’s team has done the same. They’ve shown millions of young girls that dreams do come true.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the players the next day, praising their resilience and poise: “You have rewritten India’s cricketing story. You’ve not just won a cup; you’ve won the heart of a nation.”

A Journey Written in Struggle

The victory meant more because of where they started. For years, India’s women cricketers played without media attention, training facilities, or fair pay. Even the 2013 Women’s World Cup in India was held in small club grounds, overshadowed by domestic men’s matches. Players like Mithali and Jhulan often had to buy their own gear and play in front of near-empty stands.

Equal pay was once a distant dream. Until 2022, women cricketers earned only a fraction of what their male counterparts made—both in match fees and annual contracts. Though recent reforms have introduced parity in match fees, a clear gap still remains in contracts. The highest women’s annual contract, valued at around $60,000, is still below the men’s lowest contract grade of $120,000. Yet these remarkable players continued to give their all—not for financial gain, but for the love of the game, their passion, and the pride of representing their nation.

The Role of the Women’s Premier League

The launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023 changed everything. For years, officials dismissed the idea, claiming there wasn’t enough talent or financial viability. But the WPL’s massive success proved them wrong. Young stars like Shafali, Richa Ghosh, and Amanjot Kaur honed their skills in that high-pressure environment, learning how to handle expectations and the spotlight—experience that paid off handsomely in the World Cup.

As Harmanpreet said, “WPL gave us exposure and confidence. We learned to play fearless cricket because we played with and against the best.”

A Victory for Every Indian Woman

The final whistle at Navi Mumbai was more than the end of a match—it was the dawn of a new era. For decades, Indian women had fought stereotypes about what they could or could not do. This team—daughters, sisters, students, and athletes—shattered those ceilings with their bats and smiles.

The image of Harmanpreet dancing bhangra with her father after lifting the trophy, or of Smriti waving to fans shouting her name, captured a larger truth: these women had given the country not just a win, but a vision of equality and joy.

A Shared Celebration

What made the victory even more remarkable was its inclusiveness. From the players to the journalists, from fans to former pioneers—everyone felt part of the journey. “They didn’t just win for themselves,” one reporter wrote. “They made us feel like we were part of their story.”

That generosity—seen when Indian players consoled their South African counterparts—was emblematic of this team’s character. In an age where sporting rivalries often breed toxicity, India’s women showed that greatness can coexist with grace.

Legacy Beyond the Trophy

This win isn’t just about silverware—it’s a movement. With record-breaking performances, rising stars, and the Women’s Premier League shaping fearless cricketers, India’s women have redefined the nation’s sporting legacy.

As fireworks lit the Navi Mumbai sky, one truth stood out: this was not just the night India won the World Cup. It was the night Indian women’s cricket truly came home.

The Final Word

When the celebrations died down in the early hours, Harmanpreet and her teammates gathered on the field for one last photo. The trophy glistened in the floodlights, reflecting the faces of women who had carried the dreams of millions. “We’ve waited all our lives for this,” said Harmanpreet softly. “And it was worth every second.”

From forgotten fixtures to full stadiums, from unequal pay to unbreakable pride—the Indian women’s cricket team’s journey has been one of grit, grace, and glory. As fireworks lit up the Navi Mumbai sky, one truth became clear: this was not just the night India won the World Cup. It was the night Indian women’s cricket truly came home.

On 28 September 2025, India etched another glorious chapter in its cricketing history by clinching its **ninth Asia Cup** title, defeating Pakistan by 5 wickets in a tense final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This victory not only extended India’s record as the most successful team in Asia Cup history, but it also underscored its dominance over regional rivals. 

The Final & India’s Road to the Title

In the final, Pakistan posted 146 in 19.1 overs. India’s chase was far from smooth: at one point the top order had crumbled to 20/3. But Tilak Varma’s calm, unbeaten 69 off 53 balls held the innings together, and a vital 60-run partnership with Shivam Dube pushed India ahead. ([The Kuldeep Yadav’s 4 wickets (4 / 30) helped dismantle Pakistan’s batting lineup. ([The Economic Times][5]) Rinku Singh, remarkably, struck the winning boundary off the only ball he faced in the entire tournament. 

Prior to the final, India had been consistent throughout the tournament. In the group and Super Four stages, India defeated Pakistan in all their three meetings, asserting their supremacy in the India–Pakistan rivalry in this edition. In one of the key Super Four matches, India edged Sri Lanka in a Super Over encounter after both sides tied in the regular 20 overs. 

In the tournament as a whole:

• The 2025 Asia Cup was held in the UAE from 9 to 28 September, in T20 format. 
• Eight teams participated (the five full Asia cricketing nations plus UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong) 
• India’s Abhishek Sharma was the Player of the Series and scored the most runs (314). 
• Kuldeep Yadav claimed the most wickets (17). 

The High-Octane Final

The build-up was electric: India vs Pakistan for the third time in the tournament, this time for the title. Dubai’s stadium was a sea of blue and green, the tension almost unbearable.

Pakistan Batting Collapse: Restrained to 146 runs, Pakistan’s middle-order was undone by India’s spin trio.

India’s Chase: At 50/3, nerves crept in, but Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 69 steadied the innings. With Suryakumar Yadav guiding the team, India crossed the line with 5 wickets in hand, clinching their ninth Asia Cup crown. 

It was not just a victory, it was a statement — a triumph carved out of grit and nerve, sending millions of Indian fans into raptures. The night in Dubai will be etched in memory as one where cricket rose above sport, becoming a surge of national pride and unshakable dominance over the arch-rivals

Operation Sindoor: Politics Meets Cricket

But this wasn’t just sport. The shadow of Operation Sindoor—India’s military action after the Pahalgam incident—loomed over the tournament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly tied the cricket victory to military success, declaring: “Operation Sindoor on the games field. The outcome is the same—India wins!”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the win in a striking post on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“#OperationSindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins! Congrats to our cricketers.” 

By invoking “Operation Sindoor,” a reference to India’s earlier military action following tensions with Pakistan earlier in the year, Modi framed the Asia Cup triumph as piggybacking on national resolve and strength. His congratulatory message quickly went viral, with widespread social media traction.

Prime Minister Modi’s congratulatory message on social media not only celebrated India’s victory but also referenced Operation Sindoor, prompting a response from Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav.

“It feels good when the country’s leader himself bats on the front foot; it felt like he took the strike and scored runs. It was great to see, and when the sir is standing in front, then definitely the players will play freely. The most important thing is that the whole country is celebrating. When we go back (to India), it will feel good, and we will get more inspiration and motivation to do well,” Surya expressed while speaking to ANI.

For many, this transformed the Asia Cup final into a symbolic extension of geopolitical rivalry. Every six, every wicket carried a weight far beyond runs and scorecards.

Trophy Controversy: When India Said “No”

Just when fans thought the story was over, the post-match ceremony turned explosive.

India refused to accept the trophy from Interior Minister of Pakistan Mohsin Naqvi who also happened to be ACC president citing his anti-India social media posts and provocative remarks following the Pahalgam attack. The Indian team had already avoided handshakes with Pakistan’s players throughout the tournament, and this was the ultimate snub.

Naqvi refused to hand over duties to a neutral official, resulting in a one-hour standoff. Finally, the trophy and medals were taken away, leaving India to celebrate without hardware. It was a surreal image—champions without a trophy.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav lashed out at Naqvi, while the BCCI promised a strong protest at the upcoming ICC summit. The incident dominated headlines, sparking debates on whether sport could ever be separated from politics in the subcontinent.

Stars of the Tournament

Abhishek Sharma (Opener) 

• Scored 314 runs, the highest in the tournament. 
  
• Named Player of the Series for his consistent attacking starts.

Tilak Varma (Middle-order batsman) 

• Anchored India’s chase in the final with an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls. 
  
• Provided composure under pressure, emerging as India’s new finisher.

Kuldeep Yadav (Spinner) 

• Tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets. 
  
• Produced a match-winning spell of 4/30 in the final against Pakistan.

Suryakumar Yadav (Captain) 

• Led the side with bold field placements and batting depth choices. 
  
• Credited for inspiring confidence in younger players like Tilak and Abhishek.

Rinku Singh (Finisher) 

• Played only one ball in the entire tournament but hit the winning boundary in the final.
• Became a symbol of India’s calm finishing under pressure.

Significance & Legacy

This ninth Asia Cup title further cements India’s dominance in continental cricket. No other country has matched that many Asia Cup wins. That consistency across both ODI and T20 editions is a hallmark of India’s depth, adaptability, and talent pipeline.

The 2025 edition will be remembered not only for the cricketing thrill in close finishes, Super Overs, and shining individual performances, but also for how politics and sport intermingled in high-stakes contests. The India–Pakistan rivalry, always loaded, carried fresh tensions into every meeting. 

Tilak Varma’s composed batting, Kuldeep’s decisive spells, India’s unbroken run against Pakistan, and the sheer nerve to chase even after early collapse all add to the narrative of a championship side. The decision to refuse the trophy from Naqvi introduced controversy, but also underscored how geopolitical undercurrents can influence sporting pageantry.

In sum, India’s 9th Asia Cup win is not just a record in the ledger — it’s a testament to consistency, mental strength under pressure, and the intertwined nature of sport, identity, and politics in the subcontinent.

Cricket is experiencing a dramatic rise in stature in our country, which has only accelerated at a blitzkrieg pace in the latter half of the last decade. The World Cup of the T20 format of cricket is going to be co-hosted between the USA and the West Indies in 2024, and the USA is participating! A professional Minor League Cricket (MiLC) format had its first successful year in 2021 and is poised to take off on its second stint later this year. International cricket franchises are buying teams in the USA to get ready for the inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) season here in the USA – positioned to replicate the Indian Premier League (IPL). A national level MLC Junior championship that many look upon as a pipeline builder of young cricketing talent for the MLC is in its second successful year. There is no better time to participate in and witness the stellar growth of the game of cricket in the United States.

There are at least four official South Florida cricket leagues that engage more than 40 teams to play competitive cricket all year round. Interestingly enough, we do not see much, if any, of our youth playing cricket. The distinct lack of youth participation in cricket in South Florida is stark, especially during current times when the future of cricket in the USA is at its brightest. Contrary to South Florida, other states and cities have steadily grown their infrastructure and opportunities for youth cricket. Places like Houston, Dallas, Raleigh, Seattle, and the Bay area counties, are replete with youth academies where the standard of the infrastructure and quality of coaches coupled with the richness of the training programs have attracted youths in hundreds. Cricket is taught seven days a week in state-of-the-art indoor facilities by top-ranked coaches in the country. Such academies have started earning dividends as they have already started winning top spots in the national championships. While it is true that South Floridians may have woken up to a late apocalypse, the best we can do for our next generation is to act with a sense of urgency instead of indulging in myriad levels of procrastination.

Young Genius Cricketer’s Academy (YGCA) is a youth cricket academy right in the heart of South Florida. YGCA is born out of the distinct need for us to foster the development of cricket as a mainstream sport for our next generation. Formed in June 2021, the vision and mission of YGCA is to provide state-of-the art infrastructure, professional coaches, and consistency in high cricketing standards to our youth so that they can not only learn and enjoy the game of cricket, but they can also perform in national tournaments and get the experience and exposure to compete with and become the very best in the country. YGCA operates from our CBRP cricket stadium. Every Saturday morning, you will get to see boys and girls, primarily between the ages  of 8 and 15 years old, put on their YGCA jerseys and train the entire morning. For students with advanced skills, the academy has a high-performance coaching (HPC) program that focuses on more targeted and advanced skill development. The academy is growing steadily as the word is spreading across our community. The current count of students is around thirty. The academy categorizes the students not only by their age groups, which currently supports children under 11 (U11), under 13 (U13), and under 15 (U15), but also by their skill levels. While our students are thoroughly enjoying the learning process and the exposure that they are getting in national tournaments, they are also making friends and building social groups through which they keep the local buzz of cricket ringing loud and clear.

Recently, YGCA organized its first tournament in South Florida. The tournament invited a team from New Jersey, Criclanes, to play a three-match series between April 20th and 23rd. The tournament was a great success. YGCA not only won the series 2–0 and were crowned the champions, but they also ensured that the rolling trophy was kept at home for this year. The tournament was played in the U15 category. The “Best Batsman” and the “Best Bowler” of the tournament went to Ishaan Doipodhe and Yash Gohel from Criclanes. Although the “Man of the Match” for the first game was won by Om Soni from Criclanes, Pranav Narayan and Aaditya Mitra, both from YGCA, won the “Man of Match” awards for the second and final game, respectively.

Jeff Miller, the COO of both the Jamaica Tallawahs cricket team and the Fort Lauderdale Lions MiLC team, and one of the most prominent cricketing figures in South Florida, was the chief guest in the awards distribution ceremony. Wayne Tobey, Director of Sports & Recreation for the City of Coconut Creek, was the guest of honor. YGCA was privileged to receive the support of Miller and Tobey while their inspiring words for our youth indeed gave these students the added impetus to pursue their passion for the game. This year, YGCA is participating in the MLC Jr. Championship in the age categories of U13 and U15.

Our teams will be traveling nationally to play a minimum of 17 games between the months of May through September. YGCA will also be participating in the National Youth Cricket League (NYCL) during the month of July. There is more cricket to look forward to than we may be able to comprehend.

There are not many places in the country where you can experience the sound of the willow or smell of the red cherry (cricket ball) on a beautiful mid-December Sunday as we can here in South Florida. We have the distinct privilege of being able to play cricket in all four seasons. The day will be a dream come true when we will get to hear the cracking sound of the willow or witness the bowling wizardry from some of our own youths from South Florida and see them at the national and the international stages.

If there is one thing that we can request from our local community, it would be to help spread the word about YGCA and ensure that the information is shared in the deepest pockets of our community.

Getting in touch with YGCA is either just a phone call away to Tilak (954-263-9050) or Anirudh (561-221-3881), or an email to ygcapanam@gmail.com. Let us do our bit to bring cricket to the local limelight!

About Author

Tilak Mitra is a resident of South Florida where he has been living with his wife and son for more than two decades. Tilak has been playing first division cricket in South Florida since 2003 and is the captain of a top-performing cricket team in the league. He is the co-founder of YGCA and is the brain behind the initiative of fostering youth cricket in South Florida. Tilak works at Amazon as a Digital Transformation Officer. He is the author of multiple books in his field of systems architectures and methodologies.

The post Youth Cricket in South Florida first appeared on Desh-Videsh Media reaches 1.5 Millions+ Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshi, and Indo-Caribbeans..]]> https://www.deshvidesh.com/the-international-cricket-council-icc-board-and-committee-meetings-have-concluded-following-a-series-of-virtual-conference-calls/ Sat, 03 Apr 2021 11:40:28 +0000 https://www.deshvidesh.com/?p=54813 Decisions taken by the ICC Board include: Cricket The ICC Cricket Committee, led by former Indian captain Anil Kumble, considered the current issues in the international game, and presented its recommendations which were approved. One of the issues discussed was the current approach to Umpire’s Call. Kumble said: “The Cricket Committee had an excellent discussion around Umpire’s Call and analysed its use ...

Formula 1 was treated to an epic race to raise the curtain for the 2021 season, with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton going toe-to-toe for victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Formula 1 Managing Director, Motorsport, Ross Brawn discusses the key talking points…

Driver of the Day – Lewis Hamilton

This was a race that featured a host of sensational drives, but Hamilton most deserves this accolade after a scintillating drive that was among the very best of his career.

He simply drove brilliantly, pacing his tyres really well and posing a quiet threat throughout the race, despite not having the fastest car in the field.

There were one or two little moments, where he faltered under pressure from Verstappen, but each time he held on remarkably and held firm in mighty impressive fashion.

Bahrain GP sets the tone for 2021

What is really encouraging for the season ahead is that on first measure, there is nothing between Mercedes and Red Bull, and Hamilton and Verstappen.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was all about strategy and having the track position advantage – and Mercedes came out on top this time with their more aggressive approach.

Both Verstappen and Hamilton were worthy winners, but ultimately, it was Hamilton who drove the better race. Verstappen got a bit ragged at the end.

But make no mistake, this was a fantastic race, the kind where the win was decided on the very finest of margins.

The rule changes over the winter appear to have closed the field up. With teams set to focus fairly soon on next year’s car, it may be that nobody pulls away to any degree and we have an epic season in front of us.

When Verstappen caught Hamilton, he couldn’t stay behind and stay in the sweet spot for long enough to launch attack after attack because the tyres were overheating. That’s what we are trying to cure with the 2022 regulations, so the future is bright.

It’s not just about Verstappen and Hamilton

I left Bahrain feeling very optimistic. It was unfortunate that Sergio Perez’s car shut down on the formation lap, but once again showed his supreme ability to cut through the field as he rescued a fifth-place finish.

He’s not up to speed at Red Bull just yet, but he’s learning quickly – and we know what a fine driver he is. Once he’s settled, the Mexican has the potential to be part of the action at the front.

The same can be said of his Mercedes counterpart Valtteri Bottas, who showed impressive pace throughout the race but was undone with a poor pit stop.

It’s relatively close at the front, compared to what we’ve had in previous years, and based on this race, it certainly doesn’t feel like it will be another year of Mercedes pulling away at the front.

Mercedes bounce back

I wasn’t particularly surprised that Mercedes failed to shine at pre-season testing. When I was at the team, we always had a set of priorities which didn’t involve setting the fastest lap times.

Analysis of data is so good these days, you can work out where you are. So you don’t need to shine in testing. And in a way having that little deficit drives the team harder.

I must say, the car looked a lot a better in the race, it had definitely settled down. It’s clear they had made impressive progress in the days between the test and the first race.

Red Bull did the right thing

I think Red Bull made the right call to tell Verstappen to give the position back to Hamilton, after he ran wide on passing the defending champion.

If Verstappen had pulled out sufficient gap after an infringement and won the race, that would have left a nasty taste. We don’t want to see races won in that manner.

Regarding their strategy, and not responding immediately when Hamilton pitted early, I can only assume they thought Mercedes might be doing a three-stop.

Tsunoda lights up the opening race

I’m really impressed with Yuki Tsunoda. I met him at the weekend for the first time and he’s a really impressive character. He is quite amusing and his language in the car can be a bit fruity!

He showed some brilliant spells in the race, which is encouraging considering it was his first F1 race. He is the best rookie F1 has had for years, having been fairly stunning in whatever series he has competed in.

His promotion by Red Bull looks like a brilliant move. We can all remember the glorious days of full grandstands at Suzuka and the passion of the Japanese fans. I think we are going to have that again, which is incredibly exciting.

Mixed feelings for Alonso and Vettel

We saw bits of the old Fernando Alonso out there in Bahrain, the Spaniard showing some of the flair which yielded him two world championships.

When Alpine get car sorted out a bit more, Alonso should keep us entertained in future. His return is great for Formula 1 – and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.

Sebastian Vettel did not have the finest debut for Aston Martin. In the heat of the moment, he blamed Esteban Ocon for their accident, but I don’t think anyone saw it that way.

It was not a great weekend – and I hope he can get it together because he’s a four-time world champion who can the potential to deliver yet more great drives.