Time For Me To Score A Big One: Dilshan

Royal Challengers' batsmen Tillakaratne Dilshan, who is yet to come out with a big one, said it is high time for him to play a big inning.

"I have been getting 20s and 30s. I want to score a big one and make it easy for the middle order batsmen," Dilshan told IPLT20.com.

On Tuesday, Dilshan was a mere spectator as Chris Gayle blasted a record 175 not out from 66 deliveries. Dilshan contributed just 33 in the 167-run opening partnership with Gayle.

Dilshan was all praise for Gayle and was happy that he was part of a special innings.

"I batted with him in the last Indian Premier League (IPL) too and he scored a couple of hundreds. But this was something special. In my career this was the first time I saw someone hit the ball so cleanly. I was just standing at the other end and enjoying every bit of it," he said.

When asked had Gayle said anything before or during the knock, Dilshan said: "We don't talk much. Both of us believe in hitting the ball and that's what we look to do. We just look to enjoy every single ball."

The Sri Lankan also said that he enjoys batting with Gayle.

"I took over the hitting in the last match but today he was completely in charge and that is mostly the case. Every bowler in the world is scared to bowl to Chris; there's no doubt about that," he added.

"He doesn't take too many chances for the first couple of overs. Once when he starts seeing the ball well, he takes the charge on. Once he reaches that stage where he knows he can clear any boundary.

"I try to give him more strike in the first six overs because I know that he can clear the 30-yard circle more cleanly than I can. Not only the circle, he can clear the ground easily," he added.

Dishan feels since the most dangerous batsmen in the world - Gayle, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and himself - are in the same team, they can go a long way in the tournament.

Passport office to tie up with e-governance centres

Passport mela on February 2nd and 23rdPassport offices seek online access to govt databaseNo one pays online: RPOPhantom image to check fake passportsPassport seeker pays heavy price for speaking out

To do away with the tout menace, the regional passport office has decided to collaborate with e-governance centres like Bangalore 'One' across the state. 

The tie-up is expected to take off within the next 10-14 days, said L Madana Kumar Reddy, acting passport officer, on Tuesday. Reddy, who was with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) before taking up the assignment, took over the duties of his predecessor KJ Srinivasa on Monday. 

"By paying a fee of Rs 25, citizens who come under special categories like the aged, children and physically challenged will be able to generate their applicant reference numbers (ARN) at these centres. They can also get advice on the documents required for obtaining passports," he said. 

This facility can also be used by those who have queries regarding the police clearance certificate. "Our main aim is to reduce citizens' dependency on touts, who charge huge sums for passport-related works," Reddy said. 

CCTVs AT KENDRAS 

Live videos from passport seva kendras (PSKs) across the state, streaming seamlessly from CCTVs installed at the branches, will be a reality soon. 

The proposal to include this facility at passport offices was recently submitted to the ministry of external affairs, said Reddy. "We also hope that all the 77 PSKs in the country will be equipped with this feature soon," he said. The plan is to have a centre in New Delhi from where officials will monitor activities at PSKs across the country, Reddy said. 

However, activities across passport offices in the state will be monitored by the regional passport officer and his team in Bangalore. "This may take some time since we will have to tie-up with internet service providers and get the necessary infrastructure in place. But we intend to make it happen soon," he said.