Sebastian Vettel denies rift with Ferrari chief Maurizio Arrivabene
INDORE: India’s dominance over New Zealand is apparent in the ongoing three-Test series. But it is not to say that the visitors have not put up a fight. There have been multiple occasions over the course of the last two Tests that India have been pushed onto the back foot. Invariably, in these situations, it has been the lower order that has propelled the hosts back into the driver’s seat.
It is not just the fact that the lower order has clicked, but the consistency which has only made their effort remarkable. Led by wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha, the lower order, also consisting Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin, shone in both games coming into bat in position six, seven and eight.
In Kanpur, India were placed precariously at 209 for five. Rohit Sharma had not quite found his rhythm when Ashwin’s entry changed the scenario. The duo added 61. Later, it was Jadeja who came to the party and took India past 300, a difficult task considering Kiwi bowlers, Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner were at their best. In the second essay, Jadeja once again came to the fore with a half century, adding some valuable runs to take the game out of New Zealand’s reach. A similar story unfolded in the second Test SUZUKA, JAPAN: Sebastian Vettel insisted Saturday that there was no bad blood between him and Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene after the Italian called on him to fight for his place beyond 2017.
Vettel’s form has dipped this season after winning three races in 2015, his first year with the storied Formula One team after joining from Red Bull. But the German shrugged off remarks made by Arrivabene before qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.
“I know there is nothing between us, nothing we need to sort out,” Vettel told reporters.
“If there is something I don’t like, I tell him and equally the other way around. We generally enjoy a very straightforward and honest relationship. “Both of our focus is on trying to achieve the same thing,” he added. “We’re trying to win races and get stronger, especially in the future and that is where the main focus goes.”
Vettel’s last podium came at Baku in June, since when he has been outscored by Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen by 79 points to 57. Arrivabene told Italian media: “Sebastian has a contract (until the end of 2017). Then we’ll see. Each of us has goals so it is only right that anyone, no matter who it is, earns their place and their salary.” Vettel claimed he had no knowledge of Arrivabene’s comments. “As much as the team wants to perform, I want to perform,” he said. “I have had races this year where I didn’t do so and I wasn’t happy with myself because there was more on the table.
“It’s been an up and down year,” admitted Vettel, who was so crushingly dominant in capturing four straight world titles with Red Bull from 2010 to 2013 that he would often get booed on the podium.
“The results have not always been fair and rewarding, given the pace that we showed on different weekends, but the focus as a team is to try and make progress.”