Category: Sports

Many wondered how much winning the Conference League would mean to Chelsea – but there were few doubts at the final whistle.

Nearly all season the Blues have walked over their opposition in Uefa’s third-rated tournament, but they were really tested by Real Betis in Wroclaw, especially in the first half.

However, four second-half goals were all wildly celebrated – and the players then partied after the 4-1 win as much as if they had won any other major trophy.

Cole Palmer, the man of the match, set up goals for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson, with Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo also netting.

“Winning this trophy is massive,” said former Blues keeper Mark Schwarzer, a BBC Radio 5 Live summariser for the game.

“You can see what it means to them and how important it is to win it.

“This is what it’s about. It’s about creating that bond and that experience of winning a trophy.”

It was Chelsea’s first trophy since the Fifa Club World Cup in February 2022 and their first considered a major prize since the 2021 Champions League.

The club’s former midfielder Joe Cole, watching for TNT Sports, said: “People turn their noses up at it but look at all the smiling faces among the players, the staff, the fans. This is what it is all about.”

Fellow pundit Lucy Ward added: “People mock this trophy but this will mean a lot to this set of Chelsea players because it is a platform to move on into the Champions League this season.”

BBC Sport takes a look at the story of Chelsea’s Conference League campaign.

Virat Kohli has made history for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025. Playing against Lucknow Super Giants, Virat Kohli reached 9000 runs for RCB when he reached the score of 24. The former Indian cricket team captain is the first player to do so. He also slammed a half-century in 27 balls. Kohli achieved another big feat. Kohi is now the first batter to cross 600 five times in IPL. Virat is RCB’s highest-ever run-getter in history, combining statistics from IPL and now-defunct Champions League T20. Kohli ultimately fell on 54.

Most runs for a team in Men’s T20s
9004 – Virat Kohli for RCB
6060 – Rohit Sharma for MI
5934 – James Vince for Hampshire
5528 – Suresh Raina for CSK
5314 – MS Dhoni for CSK

600-plus aggregate in an IPL edition most often
5 – Virat Kohli (2013, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025)
4 – KL Rahul (2018, 2020, 2021, 2022)
3 – Chris Gayle (2011, 2012, 2013)
3 – David Warner (2016, 2017, 2019)

Before Tuesday’s match, in 279 matches and 270 innings, he has scored 8,970 runs at an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 133.49. He has scored eight centuries and 64 fifties. His best score is 113*.

He is the highest run-getter in IPL history, with 8,552 runs in 264 matches and 256 innings at an average of 39.59, with eight centuries and 62 fifties. His best score is 113*.

In 15 matches for RCB in CLT20, he has made 424 runs at an average of 38.54 and a strike rate of 150.35, with two half-centuries. His best score is 84*. He is the franchise’s top run-getter in the competition.

Virat has been sensational this season, top-scoring for the franchise with 548 runs in 12 innings at an average of 60.88 and a strike rate of 145.35. He has scored seven fifties, with the best score of 73*. He is the sixth-highest run-getter in the tournament currently.

Rishabh Pant produced his best batting of the season in the last league match, scoring a scintillating unbeaten century to propel Lucknow Super Giants to 226/3 in 20 overs in Match 70 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Ekana Stadium here on Tuesday. Pant, who has struggled throughout the season, moving up and down the order but managing only one half-century, found his mojo in the last match and put up a brilliant display of power-hitting as he hammered his second century in IPL history to help LSG set the biggest chase ever at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The previous highest chase here is 206 and RCB will not have to set a new record for the venue if they have to win this match.

Pant remained unbeaten on 118 off 61 balls while Mitchell Marsh continued with his superb form for the season with 67 off 37 balls as LSG reached a massive total.

RCB, who need to win this match to finish among the top two and secure a place in Qualifier 1, faltered with their team selection, leaving out skipper Rajat Patidar on the bench.

Asked to bat first, Lucknow Super Giants were off to a poor start as debutant Matthew Breetzke (14 off 12, 1×4, 1×6), who was struck on his head by Nuwan Thushara, departed with 25 runs on the board, Thushara castling him with a beauty. However, skipper Rishabh Pant showed a welcome return to form in their last match of the season as he joined Mitchell Marsh in raising 142 runs for the second wicket, propelling the side towards a huge total.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), needing to win the match to finish among the top two, looked a bit off-colour on the field as their bowlers proved a bit ineffective against Pant and Marsh.

Pant looked in his element as he started with a 2,6,2,4,0,4 blitz against Yash Dayal in the fourth over and went from strength to strength from there as LSG reached 55/1 in the power-play.

Pant continued to flourish with a six and four off successive balls against Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the fifth over, a six followed by two fours in the 10th off Suyash Sharma, and a four and six off successive balls against the same bowler in the 10th as he raced to his half-century in 29 balls.

Marsh, who has been the top scorer for LSG this season, was equally good at the other end as he raced past the 600-run mark for the season, scoring his half-century in 31 balls as they reached the 150-run mark in their partnership in 85 balls.

Desperate to stem the run flow, RCB skipper Jitesh Sharma brought Bhuvneshwar Kumar into the attack but Marsh treated his return with sixes off successive balls — the first over the bowler’s head, while the second was a loft off a fullish delivery bowled wide, went high into the sky but landed way beyond the long-off boundary. However, the bowler had the last laugh as he induced an outside edge on a scrambled seam delivery that landed full on sixth stump. Marsh attempted a loft again but edged it behind. He was out for 67 off 37 balls studded with four fours and five sixes.

Pant continued to thrive and reached his second century in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in seven years as he blasted boundaries at will, reaching the three-figure mark off 54 balls.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/virat-kohli-reaches-historic-high-becomes-1st-ever-batter-in-ipl-history-to-8522923

The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) will see a closing ceremony before the final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are planning a special tribute to the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) to honour their work during Operation Sindoor. Top chiefs of the IAF have been invited for the summit clash.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will give a special tribute to the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) and honour their extraordinary services to the national during the 2025 Indian Premier League’s (IPL) Closing ceremony which will be held before the tournament’s final starts on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia revealed that the Indian cricket governing body has invited the chief of the defense staff as well the chief of the army, navy, and air staff.
“The Board salutes the bravery, courage, and selfless service of our armed forces, whose heroic efforts under Operation Sindoor continue to protect and inspire the nation. As a tribute, we have decided to dedicate the closing ceremony to the armed forces,” said BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia in an interaction with Sportstar.

The same publication also reported that the event will feature a performance by the military band before a musical ceremony is held.

For those unversed, India launched a counter-strike on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) on the intervening night of May 6 and 7, following the barbaric Terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam.
Later, the IAF retaliated strongly to the offensive action by Pakistan before a ceasefire was announced on May 10.
The 2025 IPL was suspended for a week before the tournament resumed on May 17. The league’s final was originally scheduled to be played on May 25 in Kolkata. However, it was moved to Ahmedabad in the revised schedule due to concerns over weather and a major rain threat with the early onset of monsoon in various parts of the country.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/bcci-plan-special-tribute-to-operation-sindoor-in-ipl-2025-closing-ceremony-iaf-chiefs-invited-article-151726097

Even as the spotlight was firmly on the match between India’s teenage world champion Gukesh and world No.1 Magnus Carlsen, Erigaisi, ranked No.4 in the world, was the first to take the opening points by beating China’s No.1 player Wei in Armageddon after the two had agreed to a draw after 54 moves.

Stavanger, Norway: Magnus Carlsen showed why he is the best player in the world in all formats of the game, beating world champion D Gukesh of India in the opening round of Norway Chess to take three full points here on Monday.

It was a day when Carlsen tried to unnerve Gukesh, playing his first Classical game against the Norwegian since winning the world title last year in Singapore, by employing the Jobava London, a rarely-used opening move.

But Gukesh, playing with black pieces, did not fall into the trap and instead neutralised the white’s advantage by the 11th move and had Carlsen in a bit of a trouble.

But the Norwegian, a five-time world champion, who has since moved to shorter formats, such as Rapid and Blitz and more recently Freestyle chess, showed he has not lost his touch with the Classical format, winning a contest which lasted for over four hours and 56 moves.

Earlier, Arjun Erigaisi, the other Indian in the six-player round-robin Open category, impressed in the first round beating his Chinese opponent Wei Yi in Armageddon after the two had agreed to a draw.

Even as the spotlight was firmly on the match between India’s teenage world champion Gukesh and world No.1 Magnus Carlsen, Erigaisi, ranked No.4 in the world, was the first to take the opening points by beating China’s No.1 player Wei in Armageddon after the two had agreed to a draw after 54 moves.

Erigaisi, playing black, played aggressively to take the match to a draw and then beat his opponent on time in Armageddon.

In Armageddon, the white gets 10 minutes, while the black gets only seven, still Erigasi overcame the disadvantage to beat Wei.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/carlsen-beats-gukesh-in-nerve-wracking-opening-round-of-norway-chess-3558375

Former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly’s brother Snehasish Ganguly and his wife Arpita had a narrow escape in Odisha on Sunday after their speedboat capsized in the sea. The couple was on a holiday in Puri and were enjoying water sports activity when the incident happened. Snehasish Ganguly is a former Bengal cricketer and current president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Both Snehashish and Arpita are safe and have returned to Kolkata.

“I thank Lord Jagannath. This is sort of a second life for us,” Snehashish told Cricbuzz on Monday. “It was a life-threatening accident. Our boat capsized inside the sea and we were saved by the local people and lifeguards.”

Snehasish added that visiting Puri has been sort of a tradition for them.

“I visit Puri every year – it has been a tradition for the past 31 years. I perform puja at the Jagannath Temple annually. On Saturday, we suddenly decided to go into the sea. I don’t know why I chose to do it – it was a last-minute decision,” he said.

“It was around 5:30 in the evening when we boarded the boat along with another couple. There were lifeguards on board. Suddenly, a powerful wave struck the boat, and it capsized instantly, turning [it] upside down. We were trapped beneath the capsized boat, inside the water.

“Before we could even realise what had happened, another wave struck, and the boat flipped upright. That gave us a chance to wriggle free from the trapped situation. Around that time, some lifeguards also reached and rescued us. I can’t express the relief – I just thank Lord Jagannath.”

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/sourav-gangulys-brother-snehashish-recalls-near-death-experience-in-puri-at-sea-trapped-beneath-8513672

Gukesh and Carlsen will be playing the classical format for the first time after the Indian became the world champion late last year and the opening match will be crucial for both going deeper into the tournament.

Stavanger, Norway: World champion D Gukesh acknowledged that starting with black pieces is a tricky proposition against Magnus Carlsen after he was drawn against the World No.1 in the Norway Chess tournament beginning on Monday.

Gukesh and Carlsen will be playing the classical format for the first time after the Indian became the world champion late last year and the opening match will be crucial for both going deeper into the tournament.

“For sure, it’s (match against Carlsen) a special game to start the tournament with. But also, I mean, you play all the players with both colours, so it really doesn’t make a difference,” said Gukesh when asked how he felt starting with black pieces against the five-time world champion in his backyard.

“Since it’s the start of the tournament, I guess we’ll both try to be as sharp as possible and get into the tournament as quickly as possible as it’s the first round.

“It’s always kind of tricky to get your best shape in the first round, so, it’ll be a fun challenge,” added Gukesh, whose form has slumped following the world title triumph last year.

Carlsen too kept his cards close to his chest, saying he wasn’t “quite sure what to expect” in the opening round, as he had played very little classical chess of late.

“Honestly, I haven’t really played a proper classical tournament since last year. Classical chess that I have played, it’s mostly been against somewhat lower-rated players. So, whether it’s against Gukesh or somebody else, I’m not really quite sure what to expect,” he said.

“I think, I certainly want to do well in those games and he (Gukesh) does as well. I mean, I cannot speak for him, but I wouldn’t imagine otherwise,” added Carlsen, the six-time Norway Chess champion who is defending his title here.

The 18-year-old Gukesh said he has been trying to work his back to top form ahead of the event.

“I guess after the world championship, I mean, all of the tournaments that I played, Wijik Aan Zee was really good, after that none of the tournaments have been actually good.

“I am back to working, I am back to playing, training apps, so it’s just that if I continue to do it, continue doing the right things and stay consistent, then the results will improve. So, this (Norway Chess) will be one opportunity to bring back (my form),” he added.

The Indian prodigy said he has started training more seriously now, following the world championship triumph against Ding Liren of China.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/its-tricky-to-get-your-best-shape-in-first-round-with-black-pieces-gukesh-3556859

Rafa Nadal said the presence of his friends and rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray during a celebration of his glorious career at the French Open made an emotional Sunday evening all the more special.
Thousands of fans including defending men’s and women’s champions Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek wore brick-red ‘Merci Rafa’ shirts before 14-times Roland Garros champion Nadal was immortalised on Court Philippe Chatrier with a plaque.

The loudest cheers, however, came when Federer, Djokovic and Murray stepped onto the hallowed clay court to share a few words and laughs with Nadal after the Spaniard had welled up watching a video of his greatest moments.
“I didn’t know, but I imagined they would come. The agendas of people sometimes are difficult. But of course, they knew that they were going to make the day very special,” Nadal told a packed press conference.
“Novak is playing here, so it’s easier. But Andy and Roger coming meant a lot to me because they represent a very important part of my tennis career. In some ways we pushed each other to the limits. That’s the truth.

“We were four of the best rivals. In some way when you’re only two, you can lose a bit the motivation because the other starts losing or gets injured. Here, you never had to imagine, because always one of the four was winning the tournament.

“We achieved our dreams. And probably because of that kind of rivalry we raised the numbers of the history of tennis to the next level. That helps to the next generation to try to improve them. I’m sure that’s going to happen.”
Nadal, who ended his career after representing Spain in the Davis Cup in November, said he had “infinite gratitude” for the people who ensured his name was permanently etched on the main showcourt at Roland Garros.
“I never thought about becoming one of the best players of all time or winning Grand Slams. I just worried about trying to improve every single day,” he added.

“I felt that way during all my career. Probably step by step, that’s why I was able to build my career, this successful career. Because I always had doubts, and I never considered myself that good.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/nadal-touched-by-presence-great-rivals-during-french-open-tribute-2025-05-25/

The Ferrari driven to victory by Formula One legend Michael Schumacher at the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix has been sold for 15.98m euros (£13.43m) at auction.

He also raced in the F2001 to win the Hungarian Grand Prix and clinch the fourth of his seven world titles in that year.

The car was sold by RM Sotheby’s before qualifying for this year’s Monaco Grand Prix and became the most expensive car driven by the German, 56, to be sold at auction.

It was also the fourth most expensive F1 car ever sold – the world record was set in February when a Mercedes ‘streamliner’ raced by Sir Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio went for £42.75m.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/cz0dyj3993po

The BCCI on Saturday (May 24) announced the Test squad for the five-match series against England. Barring Arshdeep Singh’s selection, there were no surprises in the Test team. Shubman Gill was appointed the new Test captain of Team India.

The Indian selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, announced the Test squad for the England tour on Saturday (May 24). Shubman Gill, who was the frontrunner for the top job, was appointed the Test captain while Rishabh Pant was made his deputy. The selectors showed faith in many players who were part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Arshdeep Singh and Sai Sudharsan are only two new faces in the Test format. Arshdeep’s selection comes as a surprise as he wasn’t named in the India A squad while Sudharsan seemed to be an automatic selection following Rohit Sharma’s retirement.
The selectors have named as many as 9 players in Team India and India A squads for the England tour. Here’s a look at them –

Shubman Gill: The India Test captain will join the India A team before the second unofficial Test match. He could take over the charge from Abhimanyu Easwaran for the second game.

Red-and-white streamers exploded into the air as Arsenal lifted its second Women’s Champions League trophy after stunning defending champion Barcelona 1-0 in the final on Saturday.

Tough defense and a goal by Stina Blackstenius in the 75th minute from a pass by fellow second-half substitute Beth Mead powered Arsenal to glory at Estádio José Alvalade.

Arsenal’s title came 18 years after it became the first — and still the only — English club to win the top club title in women’s soccer.

Arsenal’s players embraced on the final whistle and ran to celebrate in front of the corner of the stands where their supporters reveled in the shock result.

“We had to be basically perfect to beat Barcelona,” Arsenal captain Kim Little said. “Our players who came on today had an incredible impact.”

Little and Leah Williamson raised the trophy and streamers and glittering confetti shot over the podium. Meanwhile, Arsenal forward Mariona Caldentey, who played for Barcelona until this season, consoled Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatí before she stepped up to collect her fourth Champions League winner’s medal.

Barcelona was the heavy favorite. It was aiming for a fourth title in five years and to become the only team other than Lyon to win three consecutive titles. The team led by two-time Ballon d’Or winners Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas won nine straight in the competition and blew out Wolfsburg and English champion Chelsea in the knockout rounds.

But Arsenal locked down in defense — except for early in the second half — and created the best chances. Only two superb saves by Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll to deny Frida Maanum and Blackstenius kept it scoreless until Blackstenius finally beat her.

Defense wins championships

The victory marks an incredible finish to a rocky season for Arsenal, which included coach Jonas Eidevall resigning and being replaced by assistant Renée Seglers.

Since taking over, Seglers steered the team through a spectacular European campaign. Arsenal built its confidence from come-from-behind wins over Real Madrid and eight-time champion Lyon in the knockout rounds before laying low the almighty Barcelona.

Seglers delivered a masterful coaching performance in the final, getting her substitutions right and devising a way to stop the highest scoring team in the tournament.

“What we did so well was using all possible tools to speed the game up, to disrupt it, but to stay true to who we are. This was key to why we won today,” Seglers said. “Barcelona are so good, but we tried to exploit weaknesses where we could. We said beforehand that the midfield of Barcelona was the engine. So we wanted to stop them.”

Arsenal defender Katie McCabe said it was all about the work rate the entire side put in. That started up front, where England striker Alessia Russo was a rock for Arsenal, using her size to win balls and keep the attack going.

“We respect them but we can’t give them too much respect either,” McCabe told The Associated Press. “We needed to put pressure on them and we know we are a really good pressing team and our frontline and the midfield really worked their socks off today.”

Barcelona falls short on biggest stage

The loss was a huge disappointment for the more than 15,000 Barcelona fans who filled the stadium that is home to Sporting Lisbon. Blue-and-burgundy shirts and flags outnumbered the red-and-white section, but their calls of “Yes we can!” in the final minutes weren’t enough to inspire a comeback by the Catalan club.

The closest Barcelona came to a goal was a shot by Claudia Pina that hit the crossbar just after halftime when the Spanish team had its best period. Otherwise, the game was to Arsenal’s liking.

Source :https://apnews.com/article/barcelona-arsenal-womens-champions-league-final-54f013e34c2c546d4240149beac2178a

It has been a fascinating 18th edition at the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a lot of drama, both, on and off the field. The tournament resumed again on the 17th of May after a 10-day hiatus due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. While the season has witnessed some memorable performances, there have been a few big players who haven’t lived up to their reputation and failed miserably this year. From Rishabh Pant to Glenn Maxwell to Jake Fraser-McGurk, from Mohammed Shami to Rachin Ravindra – we look at five stars who haven’t quite twinkled in this edition.

1. Glenn Maxwell (Punjab Kings)

Glenn Maxwell’s IPL stock took a big hit and continued to spiral down for a second successive season after the Australian T20 superstar could muster just 48 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 97.95 before a finger injury ruled him out of the tournament. Maxwell registered four single-digit scores and looked all at sea against the spinners this season – he scored just 30 runs off 29 deliveries getting dismissed 5 out of 6 times by the slower bowlers.

Maxwell had a horrendous run in IPL 2024 too, scoring just 52 runs in nine innings at a paltry average of 5.77 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. A change in franchise did not change the fortunes of the Australian all-rounder.

2. Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants)

Rishabh Pant was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for a whopping INR 27 crore making him the most expensive player in IPL Auction history! The LSG skipper, however, has failed to deliver and been a patch of the T20 batter he was between 2017-2019 – his peak in the IPL. Pant has managed to score just 128 runs in 11 matches at a shocking strike rate of 99.22 – it is the lowest strike rate amongst the 67 batters who have scored a minimum of 100 runs in the season!

Pant has registered 6 single-digit scores this season while also failing in two other outings. He has produced just one substantial knock (63 off 49 balls) – that too in a losing cause against Chennai Super Kings. Pant’s sluggish rate of scoring has put enormous pressure on the LSG middle-order and is one of the prime reasons for their reversal of fortunes after a blistering start to the season.

3. Mohammed Shami (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Mohammed Shami has been an IPL great and one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the last five editions of the tournament. In fact, Shami was the highest wicket-taker in the IPL between 2019 and 2023 and bagged a total of 106 wickets in 75 outings at a sensational strike rate of 16.2 in these five seasons.

Shami’s dramatic drop in form in IPL 2025 has been one of the major reasons for the poor showing by his new franchise – Sunrisers Hyderabad – the finalists from last season. The veteran Indian pacer has just picked 6 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 56.17 in the competition while also being very expensive – Shami has been hit around the park and has an economy rate of 11.23 runs per over. The pacer has been so under-par that he was dropped from the SRH playing XI for a couple of matches.

4. Jake Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals)

Jake Fraser McGurk was one of the shining lights of the revolutionary IPL season last year when he blasted 330 runs in just nine innings at a startling strike rate of 234.04 – it was the highest strike rate in the tournament amongst all batters who scored a minimum of 100 runs!

However, cricket is a great leveller and Fraser-McGurk has learnt that the hard way in IPL 2025. He mustered just 55 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 105.76 for the Delhi Capitals before being dropped from the XI. Interestingly, the young Australian sensation struggled against pace this season with fast bowlers accounting for five of his six dismissals.

5. Rachin Ravindra (Chennai Super Kings)

IPL 2025 was supposed to be the big breakthrough season for Rachin Ravindra – the T20 batter. Unfortunately, the New Zealand star would need to wait a little longer after a disappointing season with the bat for Chennai Super Kings. Ravindra had an aggregate of just 191 runs in 8 innings with just one fifty-plus score to his credit. With the exception of his unbeaten 65 off 45 deliveries in CSK’s opening encounter against Mumbai Indians at Chepauk, the left-hander had nothing much to write home about.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/big-name-no-game-the-five-biggest-flops-of-ipl-2025-8492121

Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was not at his best but managed a second-place finish behind Julian Weber of Germany at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet on Friday.

Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was not at his best but managed a second-place finish behind Julian Weber of Germany at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet on Friday. The 27-year-old Chopra was at third place till the penultimate round but sent his spear to a distance of 84.14m in his sixth and final attempt to move to second. He had 81.28m and 81.80m in his second and fifth throws respectively. The other three were foul attempts. The competition was held under overcast conditions after rain at the Silesian Stadium earlier in the day..

German Julian Weber, who beat Chopra for the top spot in the Doha Diamond League on May 16 in a 90m duel, again emerged victorious with his second round throw of 86.12m.

Two-time world champions Anderson Peters of Grenada was third with a best throw of 83.24m. He was third in Doha also.

This was the first time Chopra had recorded a best throw of less than 85m in an event after the 82.27m while winning gold at the 2024 Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/athletics/neeraj-chopra-finishes-2nd-in-poland-event-behind-julian-weber-8491634

But Wrestlenomics claim the extravaganza is ready to depart from New Orleans.

And wrestling fans across the UK have gone wild with excitement at the possibility of a switch across the pond.

WWE enthusiasts are already at fever pitch – as a cryptic post from John Cena suggested the legend might NOT retire this year.

The undisputed champ and Hollywood star shared a Leonardo DiCaprio picture from The Wolf of Wall Street on Instagram – showing the movie’s famous “I’m not leaving” scene.

There’s even talk now that Cena could peak his feud with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson by taking on his biggest rival once more.

SunSport revealed earlier this month that London was hoping to hold WrestleMania within the next decade.

It’s been held every March or April since 1985, with the top performers from RAW and SmackDown on stage in front of millions.

Most of the greatest names ever in wrestling have taken part – like Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, The Undertaker, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK

WrestleMania 42 was in Las Vegas last month, attracting 125,000 fans to the Allegiant Stadium.

Caesars Superdome in New Orleans is booked for April 11-12 next year – although that now seems to be in doubt.

Indianapolis has also been lined up to host it at some point too.

But as speculation grows that London might have a future role, British fans are drooling.

One posted: “If Wrestlemania comes to London I will do laps around my house bro.”

Another WWE follower’s response to that was “After your laps you’re gonna have to sell your house to afford the tickets.”

But the first fan replied: “I will sell my KIDNEYS.”

Another enthusiast wrote: “WrestleMania needs to be in the UK, I’d love that.”

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/sport/14303183/wrestlemania-wwe-london-cena-cryptic-post/

Delhi Capitals hit a historical low after failing to make the playoffs in the 2025 Indian Premier League. The Capitals were beaten by the Mumbai Indians by 59 runs in a virtual knockout at the Wankhede Stadium. DC have achieved an embarrassing feat which no team in IPL’s history has managed before

The Delhi Capitals (DC) hit a historic low after losing to the Mumbai Indians (MI) by 59 runs on Wednesday (May 21) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The result ended their hopes of reaching the playoffs. MI confirmed the spot in the second round and joined Gujarat Titans (GT), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Punjab Kings (PBKS).
DC had a dramatic decline as they started the season as the trend-setters by winning their first four matches in the ongoing campaign in what were Axar Patel’s first four games as captain. Later, they won two of their next games and found themselves in a comfortable position with six victories in eight matches.
However, the Capitals are now winless in their last five matches, with four defeats and one washout. It is with pointing that they shared points against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a game they found themselves in a losing position in.

The IPL 2025’s new venues for playoffs and final have been announced. Hyderabad and Kolkata were initially supposed to host the last four games before the one week suspension of the tournament. Now, Mullanpur and Ahmedabad will be hosting the playoff stage matches. “After 70 action-packed league-stage matches filled with energy, drama, thrill, and entertainment; the spotlight will shift to the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh as it gears up to host the much-awaited Qualifier 1 – featuring the top-two ranked sides on Thursday, May 29th followed by an engrossing Eliminator clash on Friday, 30th May,” the BCCI said in a press stament.

“The excitement will elevate further as Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium in the world will host an electrifying Qualifier 2 and the grand Final. The Qualifier 2, to be played between the loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator, will take place on Sunday, June 1st. The highly-anticipated summit clash, which will crown the winner of the 18th Season of TATA IPL, is set to be played on Tuesday, June 3rd.”

The BCCI also divulged the reason behind changing the IPL playoff venues. “The new venues for the Playoffs were decided by the IPL Governing Council keeping in mind the weather conditions and other parameters,” it said.

There was another shift in venue in one of the IPL 2025 matches. “The TATA IPL Match No. 65 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has been relocated to the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, due to unfavourable weather conditions in Bengaluru,” the BCCI statement said.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/bcci-breaks-silence-on-moving-ipl-2025-final-from-kolkata-to-ahmedabad-keeping-in-mind-8462595

The 29-year-old, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics, is learnt to have returned positive for a banned substance when his urine sample taken out of competition earlier this year was tested

Olympian javelin thrower Shivpal Singh has failed a dope test for the second time in his career, a development which may see him being banned for a maximum period of eight years if found guilty. The 29-year-old, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics, is learnt to have returned positive for a banned substance when his urine sample taken out of competition earlier this year was tested. He was training at the NIS Patiala then. He has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

“Yes, he has tested positive for a banned substance. It’s his second dope offence,” a source privy to the development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

If proven guilty and handed a lengthy ban, Shivpal’s career will be as good as over.

Under the NADA and WADA rules, an athlete can be banned for a maximum eight years for a second doping offence.

Shivpal’s best achievement in his career is the silver medal he had won at the 2019 Asian Championships in Doha, where he had thrown his personal best of 86.23m.

Earlier in 2021, Shivpal’s dope sample had tested positive for a steroid in an out-of-competition test. The Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of NADA, in August 2022, had handed him a four-year ban beginning from 2021, holding him guilty of committing a doping offence.

He was to serve the ban till 2025 but was able to argue successfully before the Appeal Panel of the NADA that “contaminated supplements” were behind his flunked dope test.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/indias-star-javelin-thrower-at-tokyo-olympics-shivpal-singh-fails-dope-test-stares-at-8-year-ban-8462128

Vaibhav Suryavanshi touched MS Dhoni’s feet after the Rajasthan Royals’ victory over Chennai Super Kings in a moment that quickly went viral on social media. The 14-year-old was RR’s top scorer as they registered a six-wicket victory in their final match of the season. Suryavanshi is the youngest player in IPL’s history.

In a moment that won the hearts of cricket fan around the world, Vaibhav Suryavanshi took MS Dhoni’s blessing with the ultimate gesture of respect by touching the feet of the Indian cricket legend after Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday (May 20).
The 14-year-old was the star of the show for the Royals in their six-wicket victory over the five-time champions. Suryavanshi hit a 33-ball 57 as he hit his second 50+ score in the IPL and shattered the record books once again.

For those unversed, in many cultures, especially in India, touching the feet of elders is considered a gesture of respect as well as a means of taking their blessing.

Suryavanshi (aged 14) and Dhoni (aged 43) are the youngest and oldest players in the 2025 IPL. The Royals’ batter is the youngest player in the league’s history, while Dhoni is the third-oldest player to feature since the league’s inception in 2008.

Talking about the match, RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and chose to bowl first in their final game of the season. CSK put up a score of 186 on the board with mid-season signings Ayush Mhatre (43 of 20) and Dewald Brevis (42 of 25) finishing as the top scorers. Akash Madhwal was the pick of the bowlers for RR with a three-wicket haul in which he gave away just 29 runs.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/vaibhav-suryavanshi-takes-ms-dhonis-blessing-touches-feet-of-csk-skipper-in-heartwarming-moment-watch-article-151684264

BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla was seen intervening between Lucknow Super Giants’ spinner Digvesh Rathi and SunRisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma as the fallout from the heated exchange continued. In a video surfaced on social media, Shukla seemingly tried to calm both Rathi and Abhishek from stretching the matter further.

The heated exchange between Rathi and Abhishek came after the leg-spinner dismissed the opener in the eighth over. With the wicket coming at a crucial juncture for the Super Giants, the leg-spinner gestured the left-handed batter to go back to the pavilion along with performing the notebook celebration. Although Abhishek was walking back to the pavilion, he returned to exchange some words with Rathi and the umpires had to intervene to break the fight up.

Meanwhile, below is the video of Rajiv Shukla intervening to break up the argument between the two cricketers:

Abhishek Sharma’s 20-ball 59 helps SunRisers Hyderabad knock out Lucknow Super Giants

Nevertheless, Abhishek had done nearly half the job for the SunRisers by the time he had lost his wicket. The 82-run partnership off 35 deliveries with Ishan Kishan helped the SunRisers march ahead in the run-chase of 206 massively. Ishan Kishan (35), Heinrich Klaasen (35) and Kamindu Mendis (32*) also chipped in with useful contributions to help the Orange Army register a six-wicket victory.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/ipl-2025-bcci-vp-rajiv-shukla-tries-to-settle-argument-between-digvesh-rathi-abhishek-sharma-after-lsg-vs-srh-match-video

The recent hostilities between India and Pakistan on the border areas are set to have a long and lasting impact on the cricketing relations between the two countries. While India and Pakistan were already against playing bilateral cricket, the worsened political relations between the two nations have jeopardized multi-team events between the two teams too. With a Pakistan minister heading the Asian Cricket Council – the body governing cricketing affairs in the continent – the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to pull out of this year’s Asia Cup, in a bid to further isolate the neighbouring country.

The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be held in India, but with a match against Pakistan all but out of the picture, the contest doesn’t hold much significance from a financial standpoint. While countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan also earn revenues from the tournament, the biggest attraction unarguably remains an India vs Pakistan clash.

However, considering the current political climate, the BCCI doesn’t seem to be keen on continuing with the Asia Cup plan. Such a scenario would hurt the financials of the Asian body, led by Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Naqvi assumed the role after Jay Shah, former secretary of the BCCI, vacated the role after being named the chairman of the International Cricket Council.

“The Indian team can’t play in a tournament that is organised by the ACC, whose chief is a Pakistani minister. That’s the sentiment of the nation. We have verbally communicated to ACC about our withdrawal from the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and our future participation in their events too is on hold. We are in constant touch with the Indian government,” Indian Express quoted a BCCI source as saying.

With most of the sponsors for the Asia Cup coming from India, the current anti-Pakistan sentiment in the country makes it quite tricky for the BCCI to go ahead with the tournament’s plans.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/bcci-adopts-bold-move-to-isolate-pakistan-set-to-pull-out-of-asia-cup-report-8449794

Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh struck fluent half-centuries, while left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar picked up three crucial wickets as Punjab Kings defeated Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs on Sunday to seal a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs. The win took Punjab to 17 points — level with Royal Challengers Bengaluru — but RCB retained second place thanks to a better net run rate.

Leading PBKS in his debut season with the franchise, Shreyas Iyer etched his name in the IPL record books by becoming the first player to captain three different teams into the playoffs. He had earlier led Delhi Capitals in 2019 and 2020, and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, before repeating the feat with Punjab this season.

Overall, Iyer is only the fifth player to lead three different IPL franchises, joining the likes of Steve Smith (Rajasthan Royals, Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Supergiant), Kumar Sangakkara (Punjab Kings, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad), Mahela Jayawardene (Punjab Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Delhi Capitals), and Ajinkya Rahane (Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, Kolkata Knight Riders).

Among them, only Iyer and Sangakkara have led all three sides on a full-time basis.

Batting first, Punjab piled up a daunting 219 for 5, powered by Wadhera’s blistering 70 off 37 balls, Shashank’s unbeaten 59, and a handy 30 from captain Iyer.

Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/top-stories/shreyas-iyer-creates-ipl-history-no-captain-has-ever-done-this-before/articleshow/121256497.cms

Due to the abandoned match, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) can reach a maximum of 14 points, which would not be enough for qualification.

Reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have crashed out of the playoffs race in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 after their game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was washed out due to rain. Not a single ball was bowled in the first game following the resumption of IPL 2025, as heavy and persistent rain kept the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium under covers throughout Saturday evening. As a result, both RCB and KKR get one point each. This means that KKR can reach a maximum of 14 points, which won’t be enough to secure them a playoffs spot.

With fourth-placed Mumbai Indians (MI) and fifth-placed Delhi Capitals (DC) facing each other later in the season, it ensures that at least one of those two teams will definitely finish above KKR.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru, meanwhile, edge closer to a playoffs spot. The no result takes RCB to 17 points and provisionally on top of the IPL 2025 table. However, a mathematical miracle could still see them eliminated.

If RCB lose their remaining two matches, DC win two matches, PBKS win one and MI win both, it would leave three teams on 17 points, and qualification would come down to net-run-rate.

KKR have endured a disappointing season. After romping to a dominant title win in 2024, the men in purple lost three crucial cogs at the mega auction, in the form of captain Shreyas Iyer, pacer Mitchell Starc and opener Phil Salt. KKR have suffered from inconsistency throughout the season. They lost five of their first eight matches under new captain Ajinkya Rahane.

An abandoned home match against Punjab Kings dealt a huge blow to KKR earlier in the season, and now it is yet another abandoned match that has seen them get knocked out.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/ipl-2025-playoffs-scenario-kkr-crash-out-fail-to-defend-title-rcb-not-yet-through-8440220

Coach Ajith Markose suggests that Afsal’s quality of being ‘a hybrid runner’ is what makes him distinct from the other Indian athletes in the event.

At 29, Mohammed Afsal Pulikkalakath realises the clock is ticking. This doesn’t, in any way, suggest that the clam middle distance runner from Palakkad in Kerala is panicking. If anything, Afsal has now reached a time zone in his life where erasing seconds off his runs feels exciting.

This positive emotion arises from correcting years of mistakes in training methods and better understanding of injecting tactics. Knowing when to chase or when to accelerate and when to push or when to relax, has taken Afsal to a place he has long desired.

A big star in school athletics, someone who went through his share of troughs, had his second biggest moment after winning silver at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games when he shattered Jinson Johnson’s 7-year-old national record in the 800m last weekend. Afsal clinched silver after clocking 1 minute 45.61 seconds at the UAE Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai to erase Johnson’s 1:45.65 that was set in 2018 at the National Inter-State Championships in Guwahati.

“He (Johnson) was one of the first persons to congratulate me. I have always looked up to him and it feels great to have broken his record,” expressed Afsal, a Junior Warrant Officer in the Indian Air Force.

“Since there were athletes from Kenya and South Africa, I knew it was going to be a fast race. I was feeling good before the start and I stuck to the strategy until the end.”

Trailing at the back of the pack at the end of the first lap (400m), Afsal hit the speed button at the 550m mark before overtaking competitors ahead of him at the final bend. The Indian’s final kick came 30 metres from the finish line that helped Afsal surpass South Africa’s Christopher Swart (1:45.84), who took bronze, but ended a tad bit short of Kenya’s Nicholas Kiplagat (1:45.38) who won the gold.

While Johnson has been India’s flag-bearer of middle-distance events for years, Afsal has now added his name by finding his footing in the two-lapped 800m race. And coach Ajith Markose suggests that Afsal’s quality of being ‘a hybrid runner’ is what makes him distinct from the other Indian athletes in the event.

“800m athletes are classified based on endurance and speed. Usually one aspect will be more dominant than the other. But Afsal is what we call a hybrid,” said Markose, the middle and long distance coach at the Reliance Foundation, who has been training Afsal since 2021.

“He responds well to and tolerates both endurance and speed training. This is the best kind of a combination in an 800m runner.”

The high in Dubai came after the setback at the Federation Cup in Kochi in April. After clocking 1:46.70 in heat 2, Afsal failed to bring out his best in the final where he finished fourth with a time of 1:48.33. The under-performance saw the Kerala man missing an opportunity to book a ticket to the Asian Athletics Championships starting on May 27 in Gumi, South Korea.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/making-the-two-lapped-race-his-own-the-afsal-way-3544486

Head coach Gautam Gambhir’s presence in Mumbai, for offering puja at the Siddhivinayak Temple on Thursday, had the rumour mills working overtime

The India captaincy was his for the taking, but since that fateful January 4 morning in Sydney, the peerless Jasprit Bumrah has gradually fallen behind in the race, and it will be difficult for him to avoid the feeling of being shortchanged. The leadership role was meant for him until he quietly left the Sydney Cricket Ground for a scan while holding his back few months ago. In Bumrah’s absence, any hopes of India winning the final Test against Australia went up in smoke, but that particular injury also dealt a telling blow to his chances of becoming India’s long-term Test captain.

“I am shocked that we are looking at option other than Bumrah as Test captain. Worried about his injuries? Then choose your vice-captain carefully,” former India Test player and noted pundit Sanjay Manjrekar wrote on his official ‘X’ handle.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir’s presence in Mumbai, for offering puja at the Siddhivinayak Temple, had the rumour mills working overtime that Shubman Gill is still not a done deal for the leadership role.

With the new captain-in-waiting having an extended meeting with the head coach in the national capital few days back, there is little chance for the selectors or Gambhir to retract from their original stand.

There were rumours that influential people running Indian cricket aren’t exactly happy with Gill’s sudden elevation but it would be completely foolhardy to believe that those powerful men weren’t taken into confidence before the Punjab batter was zeroed in as the next Test leader.

That leaves Bumrah, now 31, in a situation where permanent India captaincy might just look like a distant dream and, based on informed opinion, it will be difficult for him to play five Tests on the trot.

In the past, Ravi Shastri was bypassed during his best days, first by contemporary Kris Srikkanth and then by a younger Mohammed Azharuddin.

Down Under, the late Shane Warne was the best captain never to have led Australia, but that had a lot to do with the legendary leg-spinner’s off-field antics.

In case of Bumrah, the selectors had a very sharp, intuitive hands-on leader, but their worry is also understandable. What happens in case of a breakdown?

Freak on-field injuries can’t be controlled, but stress fractures (back), side strain, knee, and hamstring-related troubles that fast bowlers face are part of fitness-related issues.

One injury on a January morning in Sydney, and Bumrah was out for three months. Before that, he missed 11 months of action due to an on-field breakdown just before the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022.

Going ahead, how the dressing room atmosphere will be depends on how Bumrah eventually takes this decision in his stride.

Needless to say, it will require a lot of man management from young skipper Gill and the seasoned dressing room figurehead Gambhir to ensure that Bumrah is accorded the respect and space he deserves.

It is an open secret that Gambhir is not a fan of star culture and believes that in a team environment, everyone is equal. But, even if that notion holds true, there would always be someone who is more than equal, and that person would need a bit of extra leeway going forward.

If one looks at the current Indian Test team, there are only two genuine match winners across conditions — Bumrah and Rishabh Pant.

Champions are a rare species, and they need to be mollycoddled at times to get the best out of them.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/indias-new-captain-has-extended-meeting-with-gautam-gambhir-both-need-to-tackle-jasprit-bumrah-question-report-8424849

A report states that Gautam Gambhir has conveyed to the team management that he wants full control in the dressing room as he does not want a repeat of the 0-3 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand. Choosing Shubman Gill as the captain might just be a step in that direction.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket within the span of a week, leading to a tectonic shift in the Indian team. This comes with just a month to go before Team India begin their World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign with a five-match Test series in England. Many, including Ravichandran Ashwin, have predicted it to be the start of the Gautam Gambhir era in Test cricket. It looks like the Team India head coach might now want a big change in the dressing room post the retirements.
Gautam Gambhir has conveyed to the team management that he wants full control in the dressing room as he does not want a repeat of the 0-3 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand. Choosing Shubman Gill as the captain might just be a step in that direction.
According to a report by Dainik Jagran, Gautam Gambhir has conveyed to the team management that he wants full control in the dressing room as he does not want a repeat of the 0-3 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand. Choosing Shubman Gill as the captain might just be a step in that direction. This is because Gill is a fairly young captain and might not have the authority to question any of Gambhir’s decisions.

Jasprit Bumrah was the only player in the dressing room whose stature allowed him to question Gambhir, the report states. However, the fast bowler’s questionable injury record might be a deterrent to him becoming the next captain of the Indian team.

Mohammad Kaif claimed Virat Kohli had his plans intact for the England series, but lacked support from the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee

Virat Kohli’s Instagram post on Monday (May 12), which garnered close to 18 million engagements in the last 48 hours, did not provide any information on why he suddenly decided to retire from Test cricket. The BCCI and its selectors, too, are numb. Hence, the announcement, which happened just days before the scheduled selection meeting for the England Test tour, sparked a plethora of speculations.

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif reckoned Kohli had his plans intact for the England series, which will begin on June 20, and his claim was based on Kohli’s commitment to play in the Ranji Trophy after returning from the Australia tour. However, he felt that Kohli lacked support from the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, who expressed concerns around his recent form and questioned his place in the Test line-up.

“I think he wanted to continue in the format. There must have been some internal talks with the BCCI, the selectors may have cited his form in the past 5-6 years and told him his spot in the team may no longer be there. We will never find out what happened, it is very difficult to guess what actually took place behind the scenes.”

“But given the last minute decision, having played the Ranji trophy, I definitely think he wanted to come back in the upcoming Tests. The developments in the last few weeks, he may have not gotten the support he thought he will get from BCCI and selectors which he may not have gotten,” Kaif was quoted by NDTV.

‘Kohli looked in a hurry to score runs in Australia’

The 36-year-old did experience a dip in form in the last five years, managing just 2028 runs in 68 innings with three centuries. The struggle even saw his career average drop to 46. Kohli showed signs of a comeback in the tour of Australia, where he scored a smashing ton in the Perth opener last November, but managed just 90 runs more in the rest of the tour as India lost 1-3.

Kaif felt Kohli’s uncharacteristic approach in Australia was a sure indication that he was done with the format.

“In the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, he looked in a hurry to score runs. You have to stay out for hours and grind in Test cricket, which he has done in the past but the constant edging of the ball moving away from him while attempting to drive, made me feel his patience was a bit less,” he added.

“Maybe he was thinking ‘I am in the last phase of my career what’s the point of scoring a gritty century, there used to be a different level of patience on display from him before, he used to leave the balls, take his time, tire the bowlers and then took them down but I did not see that from him in Australia’.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/virat-kohli-got-no-support-from-bcci-selectors-was-told-his-spot-is-no-longer-there-they-cited-his-form-in-last-5-years-101747238375497.html

While Rohit took his game to another level since being recalibrated into an opener from the 2019 series against South Africa, Kohli made the coveted No. 4 slot his own, bringing the same sense of security and confidence his predecessor, the great Sachin Tendulkar, brought to the Indian team.

The back to back retirement of two Indian legends — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — from Test cricket just ahead of the all-important five-game series against England has left a massive void that is certain to force the selectors and team management into deep thought on how to fill it.

While Rohit took his game to another level since being recalibrated into an opener from the 2019 series against South Africa, Kohli made the coveted No. 4 slot his own, bringing the same sense of security and confidence his predecessor, the great Sachin Tendulkar, brought to the Indian team. Now with both gone in quick succession, DH takes a look at the possible contenders for the two key slots as well as the middle order.

KL Rahul

The immensely-gifted but under-achieving Rahul is the odds-on favourite to partner Yashasvi Jaiswal. A natural opener since age-group cricket for Karnataka, the elegant and technically sound 33-year-old was shunted down to No. 6 since the away series against South Africa in December where he doubled up as a wicket-keeper too. The pattern continued even after Rishabh Pant returned as the management felt Rahul could add solidity down the order. Rahul, however, has made no bones about the fact that his intention is to play as an opener and he got to do that job during the previous away series against Australia, where he made a decent impression with two half-centuries.

Shubman Gill

Gill, the front-runner to take the Test captain’s role, started his career as an opener but the 25-year-old has always maintained that he’s a natural fit at No. 3. He got his wish fulfilled when veteran Cheteshwar Pujara, who occupied that position for a long time, was ignored before the series against West Indies last July. He has averaged 37.74 in 30 innings in his chosen position — almost 2.5 more than his career average — but can the 25-year-old take one for the team and drop a slot below to No. 4? It’s a position he has never batted in top-flight cricket, always occupying the top three slots. But with Kohli gone, India needs someone with similar talent and mindset to take over and who better than Gill, considered the heir to the King’s throne since his age-group days.

B Sai Sudharsan

There is no denying the fact that Sudharsan is one of the most talented batters in the country now. The 23-year-old has been one of the standout players in the IPL over the last three seasons, often getting Gujarat Titans to blazing starts with his easy-on-the-eye stroke play. The stylish southpaw, in fact, has been making waves since age-group cricket and the retirement of two legends could finally pave the way for his entry. Sudharsan, again, is a natural opener which means either Rahul or Jaiswal may have to drop down. If Sudharsan is handed a debut, then Rahul could bat at No. 4 considering he’s more experienced at handling various challenges. That would also ensure Gill bats at No. 3.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer, who returned from a year-long exile due to form and disciplinary issues during the three-match ODI series against England in February, could potentially be recalled for the England series. The 30-year-old Iyer, a gifted stroke-maker who was marked for bigger things as a youngster but couldn’t achieve them, could be an ideal fit for the No. 4 slot. Having struggled to find a permanent place in the Indian team owing to the presence of some stalwarts, this could be the door that Iyer has been waiting all his life. Although he’s highly vulnerable against short-pitched bowling, there’s no harm in handing him a lifeline.

Karun Nair

Not very long ago, Nair seemed lost to cricket itself that forced him to go on social media and plead for a second chance. The cricketing gods answered his call when he was signed up by Vidarbha from the 2023-24 season onwards and since then Nair has been a man on a mission. He’s batted better than he has ever, he has looked fitter than he has ever been and that fire and determination to prove that he is still got it is burning ever so passionately. Nair will mostly get picked for the India A series and if he performs there, then there’s every chance he could return to the national fold. If he does, it would be a natural justice for India’s only other triple-centurion considering England is where he was left a tad humiliated when India summoned Hanuma Vihari and played him instead during the 2018 series. And what better if he bats at No. 4, a slot that he’s comfortable at.

Devdutt Padikkal

Padikkal is another of those young turks hoping to make a name if selected. A tall elegant batter, the 24-year-old Padikkal has featured in two Tests where he has made a reasonable impression. Padikkal can play as an opener or slot himself in the middle order too.

Sarfaraz Khan

In the 6 Tests he’s played so far, Sarfaraz has given an indication of what he’s capable of and what he’s vulnerable against. A high-risk high-reward type of batter, Sarfaraz can demolish any attack on his day but that ploy, while highly successful for him in domestic cricket, can backfire in international cricket. England, where the ball talks a lot, could be a tough place for such a type of batter but given how pitches have changed since Bazball, Sarfaraz could be the crack addition to the line-up.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/who-can-fill-the-big-shoes-of-kohli-rohit-kl-rahul-test-cricket-team-india-karun-nair-3538821

The Indian cricket team will be looking for a new Test captain after the retirement of Rohit Sharma. Former skipper Virat Kohli has also bid adieu to the longest format of the game. With the national team looking for a new red-ball captain, here is a look at who the fans favour –

After the retirements of current and former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India will head into the marquee five-match Test series against England as well as the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a new captain.
Unlike in the past, when Kohli took over MS Dhoni or Rohit replaced Kohli, the Indian team does not have a clear-cut transition plan so far. Ajit Agarkar, Gautam Gambhir, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) face a tough choice to name a replacement, and a unanimous choice is unlikely.

Virat Kohli, who ends his Test career as one of the modern greats with over 9000 runs and 30 centuries, has often spoken of drawing inspiration from athletes across disciplines — and Djokovic stands high among them. Likewise, Djokovic has previously expressed admiration for Kohli’s mental toughness and fitness standards, making this tribute all the more meaningful.

As the cricketing world reflects on the legacy of Virat Kohli following his retirement from Test cricket, tributes have poured in from across sports — including from tennis legend Novak Djokovic. The Serbian star took to Instagram to honor Kohli, sharing a photo of the Indian cricket icon with a simple yet powerful caption: “Incredible Innings.”

The Instagram Story, posted shortly after Kohli made his retirement from Test cricket official, has gone viral across both tennis and cricket communities. Djokovic’s gesture reflects the immense global respect Kohli commands, not only within cricket but among the broader fraternity of elite athletes.

Kohli, who ends his Test career as one of the modern greats with over 9000 runs and 30 centuries, has often spoken of drawing inspiration from athletes across disciplines — and Djokovic stands high among them. Likewise, Djokovic has previously expressed admiration for Kohli’s mental toughness and fitness standards, making this tribute all the more meaningful.

Novak Djokovic’s tribute highlights the mutual admiration between two of the fiercest competitors in their respective sports, and serves as a reminder of how sporting greatness transcends boundaries.

Jay Shah Commends Virat Kohli’s Stellar Test Career After Retirement

The IPL was halted on May 8 after the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals were called off after Pakistan tried to invade Indian air space near Chandigarh, forcing a blackout in the stadium.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Monday decided on resume the IPL season across six venues from May17 with the final scheduled to be held on June 3.

The IPL was halted on May 8 after the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals were called off after Pakistan tried to invade Indian air space near Chandigarh, forcing a blackout in the stadium.

“BCCI is pleased to announce the resumption of the TATA IPL 2025. After extensive consultations with government and security agencies, and with all the key stakeholders, the Board has decided to proceed with the remainder of the season,” the board said in a statement.

The first match upon the resumption of the league will be between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru on May 17.

The six venues for league matches as per revised schedule will be: Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2025-to-resume-on-may-17-3537199

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif urged Virat Kohli to not retire from Tests and board the plane for the upcoming Test series against England.

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif urged Virat Kohli to not retire from Tests and board the plane for the upcoming Test series against England. The rumours mills are rife that Kohli has decided to bring the curtain down on his Test career as he no longer wants to play the longest format. However, as per reports, the BCCI top brass are constantly in touch with the maverick batter, asking him to reconsider his decision and make the trip to the UK for the five-match series, beginning June 20.

The 36-year-old has been having a torrid time in Tests. In the last five years, the right-hander has scored just four centuries. In the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the former India captain managed 190 runs in nine innings.

His numbers would have looked all the more horrible had he not scored a century in the series opener in Perth. Kohli kept on chasing deliveries bowled well outside off and all of his eight dismissals happened in identical fashion.

“Virat Kohli, India’s Babbar Sher wants to relax. He is thinking about retirement. I think he should go to England, prove his point and end his career on a high note. Because of the work he did in the T20 World Cup, he should end his career on a good note. Is he thinking about retirement out of helplessness? Because there is one kind of delivery that has been troubling him for many years. The ball bowled outside the off stump,” Kaif said in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter).

“When the ball was bowled in the fourth-stump channel, he got out many times. It was such a trouble that he couldn’t get over it. In his career, he went to England and got out there. In Australia, he got out here. At home, against New Zealand, he got out to spin. He tried a lot,” he added.

‘Kohli tried very hard’

Kaif said that Kohli has been trying his best, but he has been unable to get the better of his weakness – the deliveries bowled outside the off stump. However, he reckons the talisman should make a trip to the UK and look to end his career on a high.

“He tried very hard. His effort was 200 per cent. He always comes to play every match. But it didn’t happen. I saw for the first time that Virat Kohli was out of form after scoring 100 in Australia. This has never happened,” said Kaif.

He scores in every match if he gets a century in the series opener. He keeps scoring. You won’t be able to dismiss him. He has been such a hero of India. Go to England, play well and end your career on a high note. This is my prayer for him. His fans will also pray for him,” he added.

The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) will resume next week after what is likely to be a week’s break. The tournament is set to be extended with the date for the final likely to be changed. The summit clash, which was originally scheduled to take place on May 25 could also be shited out of Kolkata.

The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to resume next week following the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The league will re-start with a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which was originally set to take place on Friday (May 9).
As things stand, the playoffs and venue are scheduled to take place in the same venues with Hyderabad hosting the qualifier 1 and eliminator, while the second qualifier and final will take place in Kolkata. However, the venue of the summit clash could be shifted to Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium if there is a rain threat at the Eden Gardens.
The final is now set to take place either on May 30 (Friday) or June 1 (Sunday).

For those unversed, the league was brought to a stop on Thursday (May 8) as the game between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) was brought to a halt after 10.1 overs in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor as the Indian armed forces launched a counter-strike on multiple terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in the aftermath of the barbaric terror attacks in Pahalgam, India on April 22.

So far, PBKS and DC have not been handed one point each, hinting that the match will be played again between both teams, although more details on that are still awaited.
At the stoppage of the league, the 2025 IPL playoff race was heading towards a heated ending. Gujarat Titans (GT) and RCB are currently in the top spot ,with both teams having 16 points each, while PBKS are third with 15 points. Mumbai Indians (MI) currently occupy the 4th spot with 14 points, while Delhi Capitals (DC) are fifth with 13 points.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2025-set-to-re-start-rcb-vs-lsg-match-new-date-for-final-final-could-be-shifted-from-kolkata-to-ahmedabad-article-151610493

Afsal had won a silver in 800m at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games with a time of 1:48.43s.

Asian Games silver medallist Mohammed Afsal on Friday broke the seven-year-old 800m national record while finishing second at the UAE Athletics Grand Prix event here.

The 29-year-old Afsal clocked 1 minute and 45.61 seconds to erase the earlier national record of 1:45.65s set by Jinson Johnson in 2018.

Afsal finished behind Kenya’s Nicholas Kiplagat, who clocked 1:45.38s to win the race in the World Athletics Continental Tour bronze-level competition held at Dubai Police Stadium.

He, however, could not breach the 2025 World Championships automatic qualification time of 1.44.50s.

Afsal had won a silver in 800m at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games with a time of 1:48.43s.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/mohammed-afsal-breaks-800m-national-record-in-uae-event-3533726

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has reportedly offered to host the remainder of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Notably, the season has been suspended for a week as the tensions between India and Pakistan escalate. The contest between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals on Thursday, that happened to be the 58th match of IPL 2025, was called off midway due to security reasons and the crowd at the venue was evacuated. The following day saw the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) postponing IPL 2025. The tournament has 16 more matches to be played, including the playoffs.

As uncertainity looms over the future of IPL 2025, The Guardian has reported that ECB chief executive Richard Gould has already contacted his equivalents at the BCCI regarding the proposal of ECB hosting the remainder of the season.

“Should India be unable to restart the IPL after this week-long hiatus, one suggestion is for England to host the remaining fixtures later in the year,” the report said.

“A senior ECB source has confirmed this could be possible in September, albeit adding that no ‘active discussions’ are currently taking place,” it added.

The report further said that a similar offer was made by the ECB when IPL 2021 was postponed due to the threat of COVID-19. At that time, the tournament was suspended following multiple bio-bubble breaches and rising COVID cases among players and staff in India. However, the season was resumed and completed in the United Arab Emirates around four months later.

Less than a day after deciding to relocate the Pakistan Super League to Dubai in the wake of the conflict with India, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a U-turn and decided to postpone the 10th edition of the franchise-based T20 league for an indefinite period.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announces the postponement of the remaining eight matches of the HBL PSL X,” said PCB in a statement on Friday.

The PCB made the announcement in a press release on its official website and said it has taken the decision because of increased aerial attacks by India and following advice received from the Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.

“The last 24 hours have seen a worsening of the situation on the LOC, increased incursion of 78 drones, and the firing of surface-to-surface missiles from India.

“The decision to postpone has been taken pursuant to advice received from the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif who has kept in view the reckless aggression from India that has escalated to a point where national attention and sentiments are rightly focused on the courageous efforts of the Armed Forces of Pakistan who are vociferously upholding the sovereignty of our beloved Pakistan,” the PCB said in its statement.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/ecb-makes-huge-offer-to-bcci-after-ipl-2025-postponement-report-8374725

The Emirates Cricket Board is likely to reject PCB’s request to host PSL 2025 matches in UAE because it doesn’t want to be perceived as an ‘ally’ of the Pakistani board.

UAE’s cricketing body, Emirates Cricket Board, is likely to reject Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s request to host Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 matches in the country. If it materialises, it’d be a major blow to the PCB, which has already announced that the second half of its T20 league will be hosted in the West-Asian nation.

According to a report in PTI, the UAE board has cited ‘security concerns potentially emanating from the rising tension between India and Pakistan’ as the reason. The report said the Emirates Cricket Board is ‘wary of being perceived as an ally of PCB’, which it believes hosting the PSL may suggest.

“The Emirates Cricket Board has enjoyed a strong relationship with BCCI in recent years having hosted the ‘India’ edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, editions of the IPL as well as India matches during ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” the mentioned source further stated in the report. “The UAE has a diverse South Asian population which enjoys cricket. Hosting a tournament like the PSL in the midst of such tense circumstances could vitiate harmony, pose security risks and stir unnecessary friction between communities,” the quoted source added.

The remaining matches in PSL 2025 include four league-stage games and playoffs, scheduled to be held in Rawalpindi, Multan and Lahore. According to top intelligence sources, the decision was taken after India unleashed a drone attack on Pakistan on Thursday, in retaliation for its targeting of military bases on the border, one of which struck the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

“The PCB has always stood by the position that politics and sports need to be kept apart,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Interior Minister in the Pakistan government, said in a statement.

“As a responsible organisation that has overcome adversities repeatedly and ensured that the game of cricket flourishes, it was important for us to ensure the mental well-being of all players participating in the HBL PSL. I regret that our domestic audience and cricket lovers will not be able to watch these matches in Pakistan’s stadiums,” he added.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cricket/embarrassment-for-pakistan-uae-to-decline-request-to-hold-psl-matches-because-ws-l-9330521.html

A STAR student has tragically died after a freak accident while playing lacrosse.

Dylan Veselic, 16, was taken to hospital in a critical condition after being struck by a ball in the back of his head.

Veselic, a sophomore at Bay Village High School in Ohio, died yesterday, two days after a shot from an opponent struck the back of his head underneath his helmet, reported Fox News.

His family confirmed the teen’s death in a statement on Thursday, which said, “With heavy hearts, the Veselic family shares the news that Dylan has passed away from injuries suffered during a lacrosse game.

“We are deeply touched by the overwhelming support and kindness shown by our community and beyond.

“We ask that you continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

The Bay High School team had been playing Olmsted Falls High School at Olmsted Falls when Dylan was hurt, said Cleveland 19.

Dylan had reportedly been rushed to hospital by ambulance on Tuesday night.

He was then transferred by air ambulance to another hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.

With heavy hearts, the Veselic family shares the news that Dylan has passed away from injuries suffered during a lacrosse game

The Daily Mail reported that he had remained in a critical condition throughout Wednesday before his family confirmed his death.

Fr. Dan Schlegel of St. Raphael’s in Bay Village where the Veselic family belongs told Cleveland 19, “Dylan was a great kid.”

He anointed Dylan in hospital on Wednesday before he died.

Schlegel added, “He was a teammate and that was really important for us to note that he wasn’t about himself – he was really a team player.

“Our important part right now is to support and comfort with his family in the days ahead and figure out the way that each of us can honor Dylan in our own lives so that his memory stays in our hearts and stays in our thoughts forever.”

Jason Martin, the principal of Bay High School, also paid tribute to Dylan.

He said, “Dylan was a well-liked and respected young man who touched the lives of many with his kindness, character and spirit.”

Only 10.1 overs were possible during the game in Dharamsala as a floodlight failure occurred and only one of them was functioning at the venue.

A cheerleader at the Dharamsala Stadium expressed her fear amid the escalating situation between India and Pakistan in the border as it affected the IPL 2025 match between the Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings on Thursday. In a video surfaced on social media, her voice kept breaking as she was terrified of the situation that occurred suddenly in the stadium.

Only 10.1 overs were possible during the game in Dharamsala as a floodlight failure occurred and only one of them was functioning at the venue. After a prolonged wait, the officials decided to call off the contest, with the spectators and officials quickly evacuating the stadium. With India launching Operation Sindoor on May 7, Wednesday, to take down several terrorist camps, Pakistan have also retaliated and things escalated massively on Thursday.

Speaking in a video that surfaced on social media, the cheerleader said:

“So basically the whole stadium in the middle of the match was evacuated and it was very scary. Everyone was just screaming and it was very scary, it’s still very very scary. We want to really go out of Dharamsala and I hope the IPL people will look after us. So yeah, this is very very scary. I don’t know why I’m not crying. I think I’m still in shock.”

The toss also happened after a lengthy delay in Dharamsala

The IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Dharamshala was called off on Thursday after air raid alerts in neighbouring states due to Pakistan’s unprovoked attack.

The 58th league of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Dharamshala was called off on Thursday after 10.1 overs of play following air raid alerts in neighbouring Indian cities of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

A video went viral showing one of the IPL cheerleaders describing the panic and chaos at the stadium as the players and spectators were being evacuated. “The whole stadium was evacuated in the middle of the game. It was very scary. Everyone was screaming that the bombs are coming,” she said in the video.

“It is still very, very scary. We want to really go out of Dharamshala. I hope the IPL people are gonna look after us. It was very, very scary. I do not know why I’m not crying, I think I’m just in shock,” she said in the video as the stadium went dark.

Punjab was cruising at 122 for the loss of one wicket with Priyansh Arya scoring 70 from 34 balls and Prabhsimran Singh scoring 50 off 28. However, as skipper Shreyas Iyer, the lights went off, and a floodlight failure was reported.

However, the team and the assembled fans at the 23,000-capacity stadium in Dharamshala were eventually evacuated from the stadium under tight security as Pakistan launched drone strikes at Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. The teams will be brought to Delhi aboard a special flight from Pathankot, which is 85 km away from Dharamshala.

The cancellation of the match has now also put the entire league at the risk of being called off as India’s military standoff with Pakistan escalates. Foreign players participating in the IPL have expressed a desire to head home at the earliest, sources told news agency PTI.

PL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal, while speaking to reporters, said the situation was being reviewed. “It is an evolving situation. We haven’t received any directive from the government. Obviously the decision will be taken keeping all the logistics in mind,” he said.

India Strikes Islamabad, Lahore In Retaliation

India struck Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, as well as Lahore and Sialkot, late on Thursday after thwarting multiple attacks on Indian cities, including Jammu, Jaisalmer and Pathankot, which reported intense artillery shelling. India also downed a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in Rajasthan

Following the unprovoked and unsuccessful attack by Pakistan on Indian cities, blackouts were imposed in Srinagar, Jammu and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, Amritsar and Jalandhar in Punjab, Bhuj in Gujarat and other cities key areas along the border.

This came after India foiled Pakistan military’s attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country using missiles and drones as tensions between the two neighbours mounted amid fears of a wider conflict.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cricket/ipl-cheerleader-recalls-panic-as-pbks-dc-match-called-off-dharamshala-pakistan-attack-ws-kl-9329394.html

Cristiano’s Ronaldo’s eldest son has been called up to the Portugal Under-15s squad for the first time.

The 14-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo Jr is at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia with his father, who signed for the Pro League club in December 2022.

Portugal great Ronaldo, 40, posted a picture on social media of his son’s name on the national team squad list along with the message, “Proud of you, son”.

Ronaldo Jr has been called up for a youth tournament, external in Croatia between 13-18 May, with Portugal scheduled to play Japan, Greece and England.

Gautam Gambhir minced no words and hit back at former Indian cricketers, who are currently doing commentary, as he responded to the contestant criticism he has faced since taking charge of the Indian team as head coach last year. Gambhir pointed out that he was criticised by a renowned name over the prize money he received post India’s Champions Trophy win.

Two months after India won the 2025 Champions Trophy, Gautam Gambhir lashed out at former cricketers and cricket commentators over criticism against him over various issues, including the prize money he received after the triumph from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Gambhir replaced Dravid in the top job last year, and his tenure got off to a rocky start as India lost a home Test series for the first time in 12 years after an unprecedented 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand. Later, Australia beat India 3-0 to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) after a decade before a dramatic turnaround to win the Champions Trophy.
Speaking on the ABP India 2047 summit, Gamhir claimed that he was fine with criticism against him if the team is not producing results, but slammed the commentators for treating the Indian team as their family fiefdom. The Indian head coach did not takes names but slammed the former Indian cricketers over becoming Non-Resident Indians (NRI) to avoid taxes.

“It has only been eight months since I took over. I am fine with criticism. It is people’s job to do that. However, there are some people who are sitting in the commentatory box for 25 years. They question everything I do. They think Indian cricket is their personal property. Indian cricket is the identity of 140 crore Indian,”

“They questioned my coaching, records, concussion as well as the prize money I got for winning Champions Trophy. I do not need to tell this country where I left money and where I put it. This country needs to know that these people have been NRI for so many years. They work and earn money from the country but take it outside. I am an Indian and will be an Indian till my last breath. I will not become an NRI to save tax,” said Gambhir.
“I will not take names. It is your job. You search and tell people who is an NRI for how many years. Those whose houses are not even made of glass but of leaves should think a lakh times before throwing stones at someone else’s houses,” Gambhir added.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/tax-bachane-ke-liye-nri-bane-hui-hai-gautam-gambhir-hits-back-at-ex-indian-cricketers-in-unfiltered-rant-article-151575724

Zhao Xintong was hailed as snooker’s “new superstar” after winning the World Championship with an 18-12 victory against Mark Williams that heralded a Chinese revolution in the sport.

Zhao’s fairytale triumph at Sheffield’s Crucible on Monday (May 5) was a watershed moment for snooker – becoming the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship.

The sport’s popularity in China has grown exponentially over the past two decades, helped by the success of Ding Junhui, who served as an inspiration for Zhao.

Ding lost the 2016 World Championship final to Mark Selby, but Zhao ended the wait for a first Asian male world snooker champion with a sublime display against three-time winner Williams.

The country now has reigning male and female champions after Bai Yulu won the 2024 World Women’s Snooker Championship.

Zhao is just the third qualifier to win the title since the World Championship moved to the Crucible in 1977.

He is the youngest world champion since Shaun Murphy, who won at the age of 22 in 2005.

He is the first amateur player to win the world title, having lost his tour card in January 2023 for his part in a match-fixing scandal.

That controversy threatened to derail Zhao’s promising career when he was hit with a 20-month ban.

Zhao accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself in a controversy that led to 10 Chinese players being punished, with life bans for Liang Wenbo and Li Hang.

But his road to redemption reached an emotional climax at the Crucible, just a 10-minute walk from his home in Sheffield.

Williams first won the tournament 25 years ago and was bidding to become snooker’s oldest world champion, aged 50.

With that wealth of experience, he is better placed than most to rank Zhao against the current generation, and he believes the left-hander could be set to dominate for years to come.

“There’s a new superstar of the game. He just strolls around the table and pots balls from anywhere as if he doesn’t have a care in the world,” Williams said.

“Xintong is going to be a national hero now. He’ll be on the front page of every news outlet going and I’m sure there are Chinese companies ready to throw zillions at him.

“It’s great for our sport to have someone at the top who is so attacking and so young.”

“IT’S LIKE A DREAM”

Nicknamed “The Cyclone”, Zhao had been touted as Ding’s heir apparent since winning the UK Championship in 2021, with Ronnie O’Sullivan and Jimmy White singling him out as a future star.

He has come of age in spectacular style.

Zhao crushed O’Sullivan in the semi-finals and his win over Williams was his 47th in 49 matches since he returned from suspension in the inauspicious surroundings of a Q Tour event in Sofia in September.

“It’s like a dream. I can’t believe it,” Zhao said.

“There was big pressure and I was a bit nervous because I knew I couldn’t miss.

“I knew he could come back so quickly so I had to concentrate and be very careful.”

Zhao will start next season at number 11 in the world rankings.

He has joined nine other Chinese players in the world’s top 32, with England the only nation with more ranked in the top echelons.

John Parrott, who won the world title in 1991, believes Zhao’s win will serve as the spark for a golden era for Chinese snooker.

China already has a national snooker academy in Beijing, training the country’s best young players.

Millions of Chinese fans were said to have tuned into the final to witness Zhao’s coronation.

“You think about how many snooker clubs they’ve got in China, clubs with hundreds of tables, and the population in general. He’s going to inspire another wave of players in China and all over Asia,” Parrott said.

“There will be more to come. Whether they will be as talented as him, I don’t know, because this boy is very talented.”

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/zhao-xintong-china-first-world-snooker-champion-5109916

Punjab Kings (PBKS) bolstered their chances of making it to the IPL 2025 playoffs with a 37-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Dharamsala on Sunday (May 4). The Shreyas Iyer-led side was at the fourth spot before the start of the fixture. They now have 15 points in their account at an NRR of +0.376. PBKS have 7 wins in their account from 11 matches.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) bolstered their chances of making it to the IPL 2025 playoffs with a 37-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Dharamsala on Sunday (May 4). The Shreyas Iyer-led side was at the fourth spot before the start of the fixture. They now have 15 points in their account at an NRR of +0.376. PBKS have 7 wins in their account from 11 matches.
Rishabh Pant-led LSG suffered their sixth defeat of the season and they sit at the seventh spot. They aren’t officially out of the tournament yet but have bleak chances. They only have 10 points in their account at a below-par NRR of -0.469.
LSG failed to chase a big target of 237. Rishabh’s decision to bowl first cost them and their bowlers leaked a big score. The captain managed to score 18 off 17 balls in the huge chase.

IPL 2025, RCB vs CSK: MS Dhoni took the blame as Chennai Super Kings suffered a heartbreaking loss against RCB.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni took the blame on himself after the five-time champions suffered a narrow two-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. CSK failed to chase down 214 despite being 172/2 at one stage. Dhoni scored 12 runs off 8 balls but he was not able to get the job done.

Ayush Mhatre and Ravindra Jadeja played knocks of 94 and 77* but CSK were unable to chase down 15 runs off the final as MS Dhoni lost his wicket on the third ball of the over. Shivam Dube hit a six off the no-ball but this wasn’t enough as CSK fell two runs short.

Dhoni’s innings included one six, but he was unable to get his timing right, and in the end, CSK turned out on the wrong end of the result.

“When I went into that with the kind of deliveries and the runs needed, I felt I should have converted maybe a couple of more shots, and that would have eased the pressure. So, I would take the blame for it. Other than that, I thought they got off to a good start in between, but we pulled it back,” MS Dhoni told the host broadcaster.

“Romario Shephard in the death over was brilliant. Whatever our bowlers were bowling, he was able to get maximum runs. And that was crucial, you know, that final onslaught from him,” he added.

‘Need to practice more yorkers’

Batting first, RCB posted 213/5 in the allotted twenty overs owing to half-centuries by Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell and Romario Shephard.

Shephard smashed 53 runs off 14 balls, including 4 fours and 6 sixes, as RCB passed the 200-run mark. Dhoni saidhis bowlers need to practice bowling more yorkers to keep the batters in check.

“You need to practise more yorkers, you know, because if you see more often than not, when the batman starts to connect then you have to rely on yorkers and the margin of error. So, if you’re looking for a perfect yorker, if that doesn’t happen, a low full toss is the next best thing because it’s one of the most difficult balls to hit,” said Dhoni.

“I think that’s where we need to improve. And somebody like a Pathirana, if the yorkers are not happening, he has got pace, he can bowl a bouncer at the same time. Because at times, if he’s looking for yorker, batsman try to line the map and if he misses, the batsman has a chance of hitting,” he added.

Dhoni also reserved high praise for right-handed batter Ayush Mhatre, who missed out on a well-deserved century. “He batted really well and it’s one of those games, where we batted really well as a unit, It was very good when it comes to the batting department. Bowling, we know, even if we go for runs, we can pull it back. One way or the other, somebody will have a good day, we’ll pull it back.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/ms-dhoni-takes-the-blame-as-csk-suffer-heartbreaking-loss-against-rcb-when-i-went-into-bat-101746288390633.html

In a power-packed encounter at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat Titans outclassed Sunrisers Hyderabad by 38 runs on May 2, 2025, continuing their strong campaign in IPL 2025. A fiery opening partnership and clinical bowling helped the Titans secure a comprehensive win in front of a roaring home crowd.

Gujarat Titans posted a formidable total of 224/6 in 20 overs, riding on stellar knocks from their top-order batters. Skipper Shubman Gill led from the front, smashing a blistering 76 off 38 balls, laced with 10 boundaries and 2 sixes. He found excellent support in Jos Buttler, who played with flair and aggression, scoring 64 off 37 balls, which included 3 fours and 4 towering sixes.

Despite the onslaught, Jaydev Unadkat stood out for Sunrisers Hyderabad with a remarkable bowling effort. He returned figures of 3/35 in 4 overs. His performance helped stem the flow of runs in the death overs and prevented GT from pushing past the 230 mark.

In reply, Sunrisers Hyderabad could manage only 186/6 in 20 overs, falling short by 38 runs. Abhishek Sharma played a valiant knock at the top, hammering 74 off 41 balls with 4 boundaries and 6 sixes, keeping SRH in the hunt during the first half of the chase. However, the lack of substantial partnerships and disciplined bowling from GT derailed their momentum. Heinrich Klaasen added 23 off 18 balls, but the mounting required run rate proved too much for the SRH middle order to overcome.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/ipl-2025-gujarat-titans-trump-sunrisers-hyderabad-by-38-runs-in-high-scoring-thriller-at-ahmedabad 

Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians Highlights, IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians crushed Rajasthan Royals by 100 runs to end the home team’s playoffs hopes in the IPL in Jaipur on Thursday. Batting first, MI scored 217/2. In reply, RR were all out for 117 in 16.1 overs as MI closed in on securing a playoffs berth. MI rode on brisk half-centuries from Rohit Sharma (53) and Ryan Rickelton (61) to post a formidable total. Skipper Hardik Pandya (48*) and Suryakumar Yadav (48*) gave finishing touches to MI’s innings with their whirlwind knocks. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah (2/15) and Trent Boult (3/28) then rattled the RR batting before leg-spinner Karn Sharma (3/23) wrapped up a big win for the visitors.

Here are the Highlights of IPL 2025 match between RR and MI –

RR vs MI: Mumbai Indians win by 100 runs
AND THEY HAVE DONE IT!!!! Mumbai Indians (217/2) defeated Rajasthan Royals (117 all out) by 100 runs. For MI, Trent Boult and Karn Sharma scalped three wickets each. Apart from them, Jasprit Bumrah also scalped two wickets each. Earlier, Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma scored 61 and 53 runs respectively. With this win, MI have climbed to the top of the points table while RR have been knocked out of the Playoffs race.

RR vs MI : 13 runs off the over
On the verge of a big defeat, Jofra Archer gives a slight ray of hope to Rajasthan Royals as he hits two sixes in the previous over of Corbin Bosch.

The FA’s policy had allowed transgender women to participate in the women’s game, but this will change from June 1.

Transgender women will no longer be allowed to compete in women’s soccer in England after a policy change prompted by a UK Supreme Court ruling on the matter, the FA said on Thursday.

Britain’s highest court ruled on April 16 that only biological and not trans women meet the definition of a woman under equality laws, a landmark decision greeted with concern by trans supporters but welcomed by the government as bringing clarity.

The FA’s policy had allowed transgender women to participate in the women’s game but this will change from June 1.

“The Supreme Court’s ruling on the 16th April means that we will be changing our policy,” the soccer governing body said in a statement.

“Transgender women will no longer be able to play in women’s football in England, and this policy will be implemented from 1 June 2025.”

The FA said the policy allowing transgender women to play was rooted in making the sport accessible to as many people as possible, “supported by expert legal advice” and aligned with international rules set by UEFA and FIFA.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/transgender-women-cant-play-womens-football-in-the-uk-after-top-court-ruling-3520122

Khushi Chand (46kg) edged past Mongolia’s Altanzul Altangadas in a hard-fought 3:2 win, while Ahaana Sharma (50 kg) and Jannat (54kg) delivered dominant 5:0 victories over opponents from Uzbekistan.

Amman (Jordan): Indian boxers wrapped up their campaign at the inaugural Asian U-15 & U-17 Championships in style, adding four gold medals on the final day to finish second overall.

India’s tally included 15 gold, 6 silver, and 22 bronze medals, placing them behind table-toppers Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan finished third.

The final day of the tournament saw the Indian U-17 contingent bag four more gold medals — all from the girls’ division.

Khushi Chand (46kg) edged past Mongolia’s Altanzul Altangadas in a hard-fought 3:2 win, while Ahaana Sharma (50 kg) and Jannat (54kg) delivered dominant 5:0 victories over opponents from Uzbekistan.

The final gold came through Anshika (80+kg), who ended her bout against Jordan’s Jana Alalawneh with a first-round RSC to seal India’s 15th title of the championships.

“A proud and satisfying performance by our young boxers at the continental stage! These young boxers are the future of Indian boxing. With this foundation, I have no doubt we’ll see many of them on the Olympic stage in the years to come,” Indian Boxing’s Interim Committee Chairman Ajay Singh said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/indian-boxers-add-4-more-gold-medals-finish-2nd-in-asian-under-15-under-17-championships-3519936

His rapid rise to fame has been overshadowed by a troubling wave of online harassment

At just 14 years old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has become the talk of the nation following a stunning, record-breaking performance for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. While his fearless gameplay has drawn admiration from cricket enthusiasts and analysts alike, his rapid rise to fame has been overshadowed by online harassment the young boy faced.

Inappropriate comments spark nationwide outrage

What began as celebration soon gave way to concern, as social media platforms were flooded with objectifying and indecent remarks targeting the young cricketer. Shockingly, a most of the offensive posts came from female users, initiating massive backlash from online users.

Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) season went from bad to worse after a defeat to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. With eight defeats in 10 matches, both the franchise and MS Dhoni have hit never-seen-before lows. Here is a look at a few numbers that shed light on their poor campaign –

Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) became the first team to be officially knocked out of the qualification race as their miserable run in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) continued as they lost their eighth match in 10 outings after a four-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday (April 30).
The result means that the Super Kings have now won just two matches this season and seem headed towards a wooden spoon finish. The MS Dhoni-led side have lost each of their last five matches at Chepauk.
Although CSK still have four more matches left, the five-time champions and MS Dhoni have hit an unprecedented all-time low.

Yuzvendra Chahal produced a performance for the ages in the IPL 2025 as he became the first bowler this edition to pick a hat-trick. The Punjab Kings spinner finished with figures of 4/32 against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on Wednesday. In fact, he is the first bowler since IPL 2023 to pick a hat-trick. After conceding 23 runs in his first two overs, Chahal was brought into the attack by PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer in the 19th over. Though he was hit for six off the first ball, he picked MS Dhoni’s wicket on the second ball. He went on to scalp Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj and Noor Ahmad to complete his second hat-trick in the IPL.

Chahal is now the first player in history to take a hat-trick against CSK in the IPL. This is also the first instance of a bowler taking a hat-trick at Chepauk since 2008. That year CSK’s Laximipathy Balaji became the first to achieve the feat against Kings XI Punjab (now PBKS).

The first-ever hat-trick against #CSK in IPL history!

Hooda
Kamboj
Noor#YuzvendraChahal tops it up with his meme celebration. A moment for the ages in this epic clash!

Watch the LIVE action https://t.co/KXCjo6ka9g #IPLonJioStar #CSKvPBKS | LIVE NOW on… pic.twitter.com/ianjmSXjjF

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 30, 2025

Sam Curran braved testing conditions to produce an imperious 88 but a late four-wicket burst from Yuzvendra Chahal, including a hat-trick, kept Chennai Super Kings to 190 all out against Punjab Kings in their Indian Premier League match here on Wednesday.

Curran’s first fifty of the season (88 off 47 balls, 9×4 4×6) as he anchored the recovery process of his side from a precarious 48 for three in the power play.

With their backs against the wall, Curran teamed up with Dewald Brevis (32) to carefully plot CSK’s way back into the contest with a robust 78-run fourth-wicket stand and turned on the heat on PBKS bowling.

Until the 16th over, CSK coasted well at nearly nine runs an over when the England all-rounder picked Suryansh Shedge to attack.

The first two balls were struck for sixes over long-off and deep square leg, and on the third legitimate delivery it took a splendid diving effort from Shreyas Iyer to save a certain third six in the over.

But Curran wasn’t done yet as he pierced gaps on the next two deliveries to get as many boundaries, eventually collecting 26 off the PBKS novice.

Curran’s onslaught forced PBKS’ strike bowler Arshdeep to resort to wide full tosses, which resulted in a tidy over for four runs but for which he had to bowl eight deliveries as two were wide deliveries.

Curran eventually fell in the 18th over, getting an edge while attempting to duck under a Marco Jansen bouncer, but not before producing a knock of spunk and substance from any batter in the famed yellow jersey this season.

Chahal, who was wicketless until the penultimate over, was hit for a six by MS Dhoni (11) but the bowler had him caught at long off on the second delivery.

On the fourth, Deepak Hooda (2) played one meekly towards backward point while on the fifth, impact substitute Anshul Kamboj (0) was cleaned up.

Noor Ahmad (0) tried to put one away but ended up miscuing his shot and Jansen came in from long-on to complete the hat-trick, which was the lef-spinner’s second in the IPL.

It was once again a disappointing start to the innings for CSK in which their openers Shaik Rasheed (11) and Ayush Mhatre (7) fell without making a dent.

Rasheed hit a couple of attractive strokes before mistiming one and Shashank Singh collected an easy grab off Arshdeep in the third over.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/yuzvendra-chahal-picks-1st-hat-trick-of-ipl-2025-scalps-4-in-1-over-including-ms-dhoni-becomes-1st-bowler-to-8298112

The 42-year-old Olympic medallist’s legal representatives issued a legal notice to dispel grapevine talk of a relationship with a businessman, Hitesh Choudhary.

Legendary Indian boxer MC Mary Kom issued a legal notice following speculation surrounding her personal life as she confirmed her divorce from her former husband, Onkholer Kom, while also refuting rumours of a relationship with a businessman, Hitesh Choudhary, with whom she has a strictly professional relationship.

The 42-year-old Olympic medallist’s legal representatives’ notice was “issued in response to the Article published in the Hindustan Times EFL, on April 7, 2025 and subsequently engaging various media outlets in unwarranted speculation and unfounded claims regarding the personal life of Ms. M.C. Mary Kom.”

“Specifically, the following matters are addressed: Speculations regarding her divorce and separation from her husband, Mr. Onkholer (Onler) Kom, along with related news about him and his current state of affairs. And Claims suggesting that she is currently dating Mr. Hitesh Choudhary, who is identified as a business partner and chairman of the Ms. Mary Kom Boxing Foundation.”

The notice went on to assert that Mary and Onkholer had brought their marriage to an end with a divorce under Kom laws, and urged the public to refrain from discussing the same in order to afford privacy to the iconic pugilist.

“In the light of these speculative and incorrect media reports, I wish to issue the following clarifications: Ms. M.C. Mary Kom and Mr. Onkholer (Onler) Kom are no longer married and they have finalized their divorce by mutual consent under KOM CUSTOMARY LAW on December 20 2023, in the presence of both family members and leaders of the clan as the adjudicating authorities.”

“As for the details of their past marriage, my client states that the aforesaid speculations, assertions are denied being wrong and incorrect. Any further than this, my client does not wish to state or comment, as this is a matter of the past. She has since moved on with her life positively, in accordance with the mutual agreement signed thereof.”

The notice went on to clarify the strictly business relationship between the boxer and Choudhary and refuted claims of the 42-year-old being involved romantically with another boxer’s spouse.

“The rumours regarding my client’s relationship involvement with Mr. Hitesh Choudhary or being in a relationship with another boxer’s husband, are categorically denied and should not be propagated by any media platform.”

“It is further stated that Mr. Hitesh Choudhary is working with my client, Mary Kom strictly under business collaboration relationship and any & all speculations beyond it, are specifically denied.”

“Over the past two years, my client has been going through a deeply challenging time in her personal life, especially with her ex-husband. During this difficult hour, my client requests her friends, fans, and well-wishers to kindly give her the space and privacy she needs to navigate this difficult time. This notice serves as a formal request for all media entities, in all forms, to refrain from making baseless speculations about my client,” the directive continued.

Source : https://www.news18.com/sports/mc-mary-kom-legal-notice-speculation-personal-life-divorce-rumour-relationship-onkholer-kom-hitesh-choudhary-9318823.html

Rahul Dravid, secured his services in the IPL auction, reportedly at Laxman’s suggestion. The rest, as they say, is history

During the 2023-24 season of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, BCCI junior selection committee chairman Thilak Naidu was in Chandigarh to watch young talent. However, Naidu’s plans were disrupted when the match he was assigned to watch was delayed due to a wet outfield following overnight rain. As he chatted with local match officials while waiting, a name kept cropping up — a gifted youngster from Bihar who, they said, was worth keeping an eye on.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/how-suryavanshi-came-into-national-reckoning-3516660

The left-handed Suryavanshi brought up his triple figure mark off 35 balls against Gujarat Titans here as injured head coach Rahul Dravid literally forgot his crutches in excitement and stood without ay support cheered the teenager vociferously.

Jaipur: Rajasthan Royals’ history-making boy wonder Vaibhav Suryavanshi, on Monday, said he only watches the ball and not the one delivering it after stroking his way to a record 38-ball-101 to become IPL’s youngest centurion at 14 years and 32 days.

The left-handed Suryavanshi brought up his triple figure mark off 35 balls against Gujarat Titans here as injured head coach Rahul Dravid literally forgot his crutches in excitement and stood without ay support cheered the teenager vociferously.

Suryavanshi smacked 11 sixes and seven fours in his stunning onslaught against an array of international bowlers including India’s Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and Karim Janat.

“I don’t see the name (of the bowler) much, I just see the ball and play,” he told the broadcaster after the match.

“It is a very good feeling, it is my first 100 in the IPL and in the third innings. It is a very good feeling, I had been practising for the IPL for the last three-four months and the results are now showing up.” “It was my dream to score a century in the IPL, as I said before I had been working hard for many days and the results were visible on the ground,” the soft-spoken Suryavanshi added.

Suryavanshi, who put on 166 runs inside 12 overs with Yashasvi Jaiswal (70 not out) credited the India player for his calming presence in the middle.

“I enjoy batting with him as he keeps talking positive things and keeps telling me what to do, so batting becomes easier,” he said.

RR’s stand-in skipper Riyan Parag said his side was able to execute with the bat better after felling short of targets in the last few games.

“It was incredible. We spent two months with him and seen what we can do and to do it against world-class bowlers against GT, words can’t express,” he said.

“We changed it from the last game, we were thinking how can we finish this a little earlier, bat with real intent. We practised a lot and we implemented it today (and) it came off.” “You can learn everyday watching the IPL. Learn how RCB do things, how Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) bhai does his stuff. (It is) a big one, we were searching for this win,” Riyan added.

Jaiswal termed Suryavanshi’s knock as “one of the best” he has ever seen.

“(It was an) incredible innings, one of the best I have seen. Hope he will do it for us for a long time. I was telling him to just keep going, incredible today,” he said.

“He just played amazing shots, he practises well, works hard in the hits. He has the game and temperament, wish him all the luck.” Talking about the game, Jaiswal said, “We were talking that somebody needs to stay and finish the game after the last three games, I was there luckily today and tried my best.” Gujarat Titans’ skipper Shubman Gill, who made a 50-ball 84 in the first half of the match said it was a day which belonged to Suryavanshi.

“It was Suryavanshi’s day, his hitting was tremendous and he made full use of it. I think they took the game away from us in the powerplay, credit to them for that,” Gill said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2025-i-just-saw-the-ball-not-bowlers-suryavanshi-on-his-record-breaking-ton-3515101

In a high-scoring spectacle at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Rajasthan Royals (RR) produced a stunning run chase to defeat Gujarat Titans (GT) by 8 wickets in their IPL 2025 clash. The Royals, led by a breathtaking century from Vaibhav Suryavanshi, overhauled a massive target with remarkable ease.

Gujarat Titans posted an imposing total of 209/4 in their 20 overs. Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a commanding innings, scoring 84 runs off 50 balls, laced with five boundaries and four sixes. Jos Buttler, playing a key supporting role, contributed a quickfire 50 off just 26 balls, striking three boundaries and four maximums.

However, Rajasthan Royals’ bowlers kept their nerves intact. Mahesh Theekshana emerged as the standout performer, finishing with figures of 2 for 35 in his four overs, ensuring the Titans didn’t run away with an even bigger total.

Chasing 210, Rajasthan Royals made their intentions clear from the outset. Young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi stole the show with a sensational knock of 101 runs off just 38 deliveries. His innings, studded with seven boundaries and an astonishing eleven sixes, left the Gujarat bowlers helpless. He found an able partner in Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was equally aggressive, hammering 70 runs off 40 balls, including nine boundaries and two sixes.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/rr-vs-gt-ipl-2025-match-47-vaibhav-suryavanshis-blazing-century-powers-rajasthan-royals-to-record-chase-against-gujarat-titans

A SINGLE regular Cheeto is usually worth pennies, but a rare one shaped like Michael Jordan has fetched a massive amount in an auction.

The rare Flamin’ Hot Cheeto that resembles Jordan’s legendary Jumpman logo has been sold.

Any memorabilia of the Chicago Bulls icon Jordan has a track record of receiving jaw-dropping amounts at auction.

But special Cheetos can receive bids too, as one shaped like a Pokémon character recently went for $87,840.

While it might seem like a stretch to call a Cheeto a piece of memorabilia, an item combining the corn-cheese puff and MJ’s brand got major interest.

The small replica of the six-time NBA Finals MVP’s logo was put up for auction at Goldin Auctions.

The Air Jordan Jumpman Hot Cheeto’ final price was $8,113 on March 29.

There were 32 bids as the price jumped from a start of $250 to the final $8,113 in two weeks.

The final bidder will receive the so-called Jumpan Cheeto, which is three inches long.

The bite-sized item can’t be bitten, though, as it comes inside a small case to protect it.

Flip the case, and one will see Jordan’s main basketball stats and career highlights from his rookie season.

The Cheeto resembles Jordan leaping in the air with his legs spread apart as he tries to dunk a basketball into a hoop.

Nike has used the 1980s image of Jordan going for a dunk as a logo for its Air Jordan athletic wear.

While the Air Jordan Jumpman Cheeto fetched $8,113, that number is nothing for Jordan himself.

The NBA great reportedly has a net worth of close to $3.5 billion.

Among his lavish purchases is a heavily customized Gulfstream 650ER private jet for $70 million.

And his Jumpman logo is on the aircraft in the rear.

Other than the Jordan-shaped Cheeto, the basketball icon has a track record of fetching crazy amounts at auction.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/sport/14097947/michael-jordan-cheeto-jumpan-logo/

J.B. Bickerstaff and the Pistons were apoplectic over a non-call on the final play of their crushing Game 4 loss Sunday to the Knicks.

Josh Hart appeared to make contact with Tim Hardaway Jr. while closing out on the former Knicks’ last-second 3-point heave from the left corner.

But no foul was called and the Knicks held on for a 94-93 victory for their second straight win in Detroit and a 3-1 series lead.

After the game, crew chief David Guthrie told a pool reporter that a foul should have been called on Hart.

“During live play, it was judged that Josh Hart made a legal defensive play,” the statement read. “After postgame review, we observed that Hart makes body contact that is more than marginal to Hardaway Jr. and a foul should have been called.”

After the buzzer sounded, Bickerstaff was livid and stormed onto the court to plead with the referees, who let a physical play go on both sides throughout the game, for a foul call.

Game 5 is Tuesday at the Garden.

Pistons guard Cade Cunningham came up short on a mid-range jump shot with 7.1 seconds left with a chance to take the lead, before the ball found its way to Hardaway in the corner following a loose-ball scramble beneath the basket.

A closing Hart appeared to bump Hardaway on the hip as he hoisted his double-clutch attempt.

Hart also looked like he was fouled under the basket while going for the initial rebound in that sequence.

Source : https://nypost.com/2025/04/27/sports/pistons-livid-over-no-call-as-ref-admits-knicks-fouled-on-final-game-4-shot/

Arnaldi beat fourth seed Djokovic 6-3 6-4 to reach the third round. The result condemned the 37-year-old, who received a bye in the opening round, to his third consecutive defeat.

Three-time champion Novak Djokovic may have played at the Madrid Open for the last time after crashing out in the second round to Italian Matteo Arnaldi on Saturday, with the Serbian admitting he did not know if he would return.

Arnaldi beat fourth seed Djokovic 6-3 6-4 to reach the third round. The result condemned the 37-year-old, who received a bye in the opening round, to his third consecutive defeat.

Djokovic, who has been chasing a 100th tour-level title, was handed a shock defeat in Miami Open final in late March before his second-round Monte Carlo exit earlier this month.

All three defeats came in straight sets.

“Obviously after you lose a match you don’t feel good, but I’ve had a few of these this year where I lose in the first round, unfortunately,” Djokovic told a press conference.

“I think the positive thing is that I really enjoyed myself more than I have in the Monte-Carlo or some other tournament, so that’s a good thing.

“But obviously still level of tennis is not where I would like it to be. But it is what it is. I lost to a better player.”

Djokovic, who made his Madrid debut in 2006 and won the tournament in 2011, 2016 and 2019, was looking for his first win on clay since defeating Carlos Alcaraz to win gold at the Paris Olympics.

Asked whether he just played his last match in Madrid, Djokovic said: “It could be. It could be. I’m not sure if I will come back. So, I don’t know, I don’t know what to say.

“I mean, I’ll come back, maybe not as a player. I hope it’s not, but it could be.”

Djokovic won three out of the four major titles in 2023 but has not been able to reproduce that kind of form since, being shut out of the game’s biggest tournaments last year as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz claimed took majors apiece.

“(It’s) kind of new reality for me, I have to say. You know, trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament,” Djokovic added.

“It’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis, so it’s kind of a challenge for me mentally to really face these kind of sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in the tournaments.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/djokovic-hints-at-madrid-farewell-after-crashing-out-in-second-round-3512683

The Delhi Police has arrested a 21-year-old engineering student with alleged mental health issues for sending threat mails to the head coach of men’s cricket team and former BJP MP Gautam Gambhir, an official said on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Jigneshsinh Parmar from Gujarat, was arrested on Friday.

Police said Parmar sent threat mails to Gambhir on April 22 — the day terrorists gunned down 26 people in Kashmir’s Pahalgam — from a suspicious Gmail account.

In a statement, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) M Harsha Vardhan said, “Parmar is an engineering student. His family claims that he is suffering from mental health issues. Further investigation is in progress.” The police had earlier stated that they have been informed about an alleged threat mail received on an email ID associated with Gautam Gambhir.

An email complaint was filed with Rajinder Nagar police station along with screenshots of the threat mails.

Gambhir received two threat mails reading “I Kill You” from a sender identifying as “ISIS Kashmir”, police sources said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/21-year-old-engineering-student-held-for-sending-threat-mails-to-gautam-gambhir-3512585

MS Dhoni, captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), expressed concerns about the team’s inability to adapt to the MA Chidambaram Stadium’s pitch conditions since its relaying in 2010. He clarified that his comments about the pitch do not solely indicate a preference for slower surfaces. In a recent match, CSK struggled with a total of 154 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, with Dewald Brevis contributing significantly. Harshal Patel’s impressive bowling for SRH helped secure their victory in this crucial match.

MS Dhoni, captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), candidly admitted that the franchise has not been able to read the wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium properly ever since the wicket was relayed in 2010. Stating that his team always wants the behaviour of pitches in Chennai, Dhoni added that his comment does not mean that CSK only wanted slower pitches.
“I’ve said that since 2010. Most people think that when I say I’m not sure about the wicket over here, we want a slower track, and we keep saying it. But that has been the case. Once the wicket was relayed after 2010, we returned to the Champions League, and it has not been the same. They’re trying their level best, but we are never sure this is how the wicket is,” Dhoni said during the toss.
“Sometimes batting first is a very good thing. Sometimes, batting second. So, the groundsmen are trying their best, but it’s a different science altogether. So I feel the old red soil wicket was very good. It suited the environment away,” he added.

Teams are often coined winners and losers after the 2025 NFL Draft, but what about the media personalities who covered the event?

Well, there seems to have been a clear-cut winner and loser from Thursday night’s draft coverage.

Many have raved about Peter Schrager, the former NFL Network star who was just hired by ESPN in the last month, for his analysis and coverage on Pat McAfee’s 2025 Draft Spectacular.

Meanwhile, on ESPN’s main stage, Mel Kiper Jr. ticked off just about every viewer aside from Shedeur Sanders and his friends and family.

“[Sanders is] my number one quarterback,” Kiper said before the draft.

Just before the Titans selected quarterback Cam Ward with the first pick, Kiper added, “Everything you want an NFL quarterback to be, [Sanders] has.”

He then went on to relentlessly compare Sanders to numerous legendary quarterbacks who had other quarterbacks, who turned out far less legendary, drafted ahead of them.

Sanders is set to be the next Tom Brady, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Lamar Jackson, Johnny Unitas, Kurt Warner, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre or Matt Ryan — if Kiper’s prediction holds true that the Colorado star is the next iconic quarterback who got wrongfully passed over.

The culmination of Kiper’s campaigning for Sanders came when tasked with analyzing quarterback Jaxson Dart after he was selected by the Giants with the 25th overall pick instead of Sanders.

Kiper’s first note on Dart heading to New York: “Well, I’m surprised he went ahead of Shedeur.”

He then added, “I like Jaxson Dart, I love Shedeur,” before continuing his parade of great quarterbacks who were passed in favor of others who turned out worse — insinuating this would wind up being the case with Dart and Sanders.

Source: https://nypost.com/2025/04/25/sports/nfl-media-had-its-own-winner-and-loser-on-day-1-of-the-draft/

New Zealand Cricket will invest in a new franchise that will join Major League Cricket in the United States from 2027.

Chief executive Scott Weenink on Thursday said NZC will partner with U.S.-based True North Sports Ventures to form the new team, which could be based in Toronto or Atlanta.

The partnership is the first of its kind between a full member nation of the International Cricket Council and a franchise in a leading professional cricket league, Weenink said.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India governs the lucrative Indian Premier League, which features players from all over the world, including stars from New Zealand, but the franchises are all independently owned.

New Zealand Cricket will provide financial equity and high-performance and operational support to the new MLC team, including coaching, management and support staff.

“It’s a reasonable investment but it’s fair to say we are still minority investors,” Weenink said. “Hopefully, we will also see a growth in capital but also dividends which will start to be spun out of that equity investment.

“We still see India as untapped from a New Zealand Cricket perspective so we are putting a significant amount of energy and resource into growing New Zealand Cricket and New Zealand cricket players’ brand in India and we see the same in the US. We see America as such a huge market from a sports perspective.”

Weenink said NZC sees cricket “really taking off” in the United States on the back of the T20 Cricket World Cup, which the U.S. co-hosted last year, as well as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“So we really want to tap into and jump on board the huge growth opportunity that Major League Cricket offers,” he said. “As franchise cricket grows globally, NZC needs to adapt to seize strategic opportunities that ensure the sustainability of our cricket network.

“This helps diversify our revenue streams, expands our global brand and fan base and creates new talent development and retention pathways for both our players and coaches.”

Several leading New Zealand players already have played in MLC and NZC hopes an association with the U.S. tournament will provide a new pathway for young and senior players.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/new-zealand-cricket-mlc-60279dfc49a178aa163a2cff4145fbc4

Ishan Kishan’s dismissal sparked controversy during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI). Kishan’s poor run of form continued after being dismissed for a knock of one against MI as SRH’s top order collapsed. Kishan walked off despite no appeal from the MI players.

Ishan Kishan left the cricketing fraternity perplexed with a rather bizarre sequence of events in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on Thursday (April 23) in Hyderabad.
Kishan’s poor run of form continued as he was dismissed for a single-digit score for the second time in a row against his former side. However, his dismissal sparked controversy as the left-handed batter departed despite no appeal from the MI.
For those unversed, Kishan was dismissed after seemingly edging a delivery by Deepak Chahar after making one run in four balls. However, there was no appeal from Mumbai players apart from a slight enquiry with each other, after which the umpire declared him not out. However, Kishan walked off on his own and did not wait to see if MI took a review, which indicated that he had edged the delivery.

MI player rushed to Ishan to hail for his sporting gesture, but the replays shocked everyone around the ground as ultra-edge did not show a spike of Kishan’s bat.

This left many to question Kishan for his decision to walk off, especially during a tough phase on a personal front, while his team is also struggling for results.
Talking about the match, SRH made a disastrous start as Trent Boult dismissed Travis Head for a duck in the second over of the game. SRH found themselves at 14-4 after Kishan’s dismissal was followed by Abhishek Sharma (8) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2) with Boult and Chahar getting two wickets each.
At the half-way, SRH had 52 runs after losing five wickets as Hardik Pandya dismissed Aniket Verma (12). Heinrich Klaasen is the only hope of the 2024 runners-up to get a respectable total on the board.
SRH are playing for survival in the tournament with just two wins in seven matches so far. Last week, MI beat the Pat Cummins-led side by four wickets at the Wankhede Stadium.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/ishan-kishan-sparks-major-controversy-walks-off-despite-no-appeal-ultra-edge-shows-he-was-not-out-watch-article-151480990

After the dismissal, which took place on the final ball of the innings at the Ekana Stadium on Tuesday, Rishabh Pant was subject to criticism on social media.

Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant did not have a favourable reunion with his former team, Delhi Capitals, as he was dismissed for a two-ball duck, thus adding to his woes in the ongoing IPL 2025 season. After the dismissal, which took place on the final ball of the innings at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday, Pant was subject to criticism on social media.

Amid his poor season, in which he managed just 106 runs in nine innings at 13.25, Pant delayed his batting against Delhi as he walked out at No. 7. This was the first time in nine years that Pant batted at No. 7 or lower in his T20 career, the last being in IPL 2016, when he had done it twice.

Pant was dismissed on the second ball of his knock when he went for an audacious switch hit against Mukesh Kumar, but the pacer followed him and dished out a fuller delivery around the leg stump. The ball deflected off his pads and hit the stumps.

Besides the failure, Pant was shown no mercy on social media as fans accused him of “hiding” behind uncapped players Abdul Samad and Ayush Badoni. However, a dugout picture showed that his right hand was heavily taped, indicating a concern for injury. It was also seen at the time of the toss.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/rishabh-pant-return-27-crore-duck-lsg-vs-dc-fans-accuse-hiding-dugout-pic-hints-at-reason-for-batting-at-no-7-101745337670694.html

Many promotions and demotions took place as the BCCI announced annual central contracts for the 2024-25 season.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the annual retainership contracts across 4 categories for Indian players on Monday. India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma and batting talisman Virat Kohli retained their place in the A+ bracket, while the previously axed duo of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan returned to the fold in the list, consisting of a total of 34 players across categories. The A grade, which commands an annual retainership fee of Rs 7 crore, also features Ravindra Jadeja and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, much like the last few years.

India’s Champions Trophy hero Iyer has been a notable comeback in the list, inducted in group B, which comes with an annual remuneration of Rs 3 crore.

Iyer was dropped last season for allegedly ignoring domestic cricket for the  IPL. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan. dropped for the same reason, also made a comeback in category C, which is worth Rs 1 crore annually.

Players Promoted or Handed First-Time Contract:

1. Rishabh Pant (Grade B to Grade A)
2. Shreyas Iyer (None to Grade B, but was part of BCCI contracts before the 2023-24 season)
3. Ishan Kishan (None to Grade C, but was part of BCCI contracts before the 2023-24 season)
4. Sarfaraz Khan (None to Grade C)
5. Nitish Kumar Reddy (None to Grade C)
6. Abhishek Sharma (None to Grade C)
7. Akash Deep (None to Grade C)
8. Varun Chakaravarthy (None to Grade C)
9. Harshit Rana (None to Grade C)

Players Demoted or Axed:

1. Shardul Thakur (From Grade C to None)
2. Jitesh Sharma (From Grade C to None)
3. KS Bharat (From Grade C to None)
4. Avesh Khan (From Grade C to None)

Rishabh Pant, who was demoted to group B during the 2023-24 season as he didn’t due to his recovery from a life-threatening accident, is back in the A category in place of the retired Ravichandran Ashwin. Category A comes with a retainer of Rs 5 crore annually.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/bcci-central-contracts-2024-25-full-list-of-players-promoted-and-demoted-8215865

For the sport to grow in the country, an entire ecosystem has to be created and this is the first step towards that

When Neeraj Chopra speaks about his Olympic medals, and giving back to the sport through Neeraj Chopra Classic, the big-ticket international event coming to India in Bengaluru next month, he speaks with a similar level of excitement and that is when you know how much the new project means to him. It is presumably as close to his heart as his two Olympic medal or the world title that made him a global athletics star.

Neeraj’s path-breaking moments on the field have put Indian athletics on the world map but he knows that for the sport to grow, an entire ecosystem has to be created and sustained. Bringing top-tier athletics events in India is the first step in that direction.

On May 24, he will be pumped up to compete in front of Indian fans at the Kanteerava Stadium and a full house to watch him and other international stars in action will be expected. There would be no shortage of stardust.

Two-time world champion Anderson Peters, American Curtis Thompson, the season leader (87.76m), 2016 Olympic champion Thomas Rohler of Germany, Rio Olympic silver medallist and 2015 world champion Julius Yego of Kenya, have all confirmed their participation. More big names are expected to be added in a few days. There will be more Indian names as well — four to five — who will get an opportunity to compete alongside global stars.

Undoubtedly, the biggest name in the elite field will be Neeraj Chopra himself. “Yes, count me in as well,” Neeraj said with a wide smile, having rattled off names of the participants with great pride.

An invitation has also gone out to Arshad Nadeem, the Paris Olympics champion from Pakistan, but he is yet to confirm participation. “I have spoken to Arshad and invited him as well, like other top throwers. He is in discussion with his coach. It will involve government (permission). Once it is confirmed, we will announce the final list,” said Neeraj during a video conference from his base in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

“I want parents to bring their children along to watch the world’s top athletes, see what it takes, how it feels to be there and see the world’s best stars competing. That experience is amazing. They need to have such experiences, only then athletics will grow in India,” he said. “There will be tickets but it will be kept to a minimum so that people can come and watch and have fun.”

Neeraj’s rising stature means World Athletics (WA) was prompt to mark it as a Gold level event and make it a qualifier for the world championships in September. The competition was earlier scheduled to take place in Neeraj’s home turf of Panchkula, Haryana, but had to shifted to Bengaluru due to some technical issue at the venue. WA recommended a change in venue.

“Though I wanted it to happen in Panchkula because it’s my native place, but the most important thing is that it’s happening in India. I have great memories of Bengaluru and it’s a very good venue to start this international competition. I am very excited to be part of this event and doing my bit (JSW and AFI are part of organisers) to bring a world class track and field event in India. It’s a dream come true for me,” said Neeraj.

Neeraj’s association with the project is at a personal level. He has reached out to the throwers, and convinced them to visit India. These days, he is on his toes. Not only during his training as he prepares for the Doha Diamond League (May 16), but he is in constant touch with his team taking every small detail to ensure smooth conduct of the tournament and to see that international athletes return with an experience to savour. He loves the city, having spent lot of time there training and competing in domestic meets. That makes his job easier.

“We are looking after everything — from the track to change rooms, seating arrangements. It should be a top-class facility and the participants should return with amazing experiences from here. We would want them to land in the new airport.”

“It is a new experience for me. Earlier it was all about getting up in the morning, going to train and then back to room. Now I have a responsibility, there is so much to look forward to and I am enjoying it.”

“I now know so many things need to fall in place and what it takes to organise an event. As competitors, we don’t get to know about these things”

At every step in his career, Neeraj has been a student. He has a vision for Indian athletics, much like he had for his career. There are several such events like Mondo Classic — after pole vault star Mondo Duplantis — at his home turf in Uppsala, Sweden — which allows international track and field stars to bring home big stars and top-quality action and popularise the sport in their country. Neeraj saw this when he was competing on the circuit and the idea stayed in his head.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/neeraj-chopra-classic-a-vision-for-indian-athletics-101745257316224.html

Mumbai Indians created history by defeating Chennai Super Kings by nine wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the 2025 indian Premier League (IPL). The five-time champions won the game with 26 balls to spare and, as a result, shattered multiple records as they ended a four-match losing streak over their arch-rivals.

Mumbai Indians continued their upward curve in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) after thrashing arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by nine wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to register their third win in a row after a poor start to the season.
This victory marked MI’s first win over CSK since 2022, ending a four-match losing streak. The result means that the MS Dhoni-led side have only two victories in eight matches and their chances of reaching the playoffs are now hanging by a thread.

Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants Highlights, IPL 2025: Avesh Khan weaved his magic with the ball as LSG edged past RR by 2 runs in a last-ball thriller at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on Saturday. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 74 off 52 for RR in the chase of 181 but Avesh’s 3 for 37 overshadowed it. Earlier, Aiden Markram scored 66 runs off 45 balls while Ayush Badoni hit 50 off 34 as LSG posted 180 for 5 after their captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bat first. Abdul Samad’s late blitzkrieg (30 not out off 10 balls) that included four sixes in the final over bowled by Sandeep Sharma also helped LSG’s cause. For RR, Wanindu Hasaranga was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 2 for 31 in his quota of four overs. This was RR’s fourth consecutive defeat in IPL 2025. (Scorecard)

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/rajasthan-royals-vs-lucknow-super-giants-live-score-ipl-2025-rr-vs-lsg-live-updates-sanju-samson-rishabh-pant-8203280

Delhi Capitals secured their fifth victory in IPL 2025, defeating Rajasthan Royals in a thrilling match that ended in a Super Over for the first time this season. This win allowed DC to set a record, achieving four Super Over victories, surpassing Punjab Kings.

Delhi Capitals went top of the table with their fifth win in the IPL 2025 against Rajasthan Royals. The match was one of the most thrilling encounters this season as it marked the first time in IPL 2025 that a game was decided by Super Overs. With this momentous vitory at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, DC have managed to create history by achieving a unique record.
Delhi Capitals have now won four games via Super Over in the IPL. This is the most number of times that Super Overs that a team has won in the competition’s history. They thus overtake Punjab Kings, who have three Super Over victories in IPL history. The Capitals are also the first team to play five tied matches in the history of the IPL.

Olympic surfing is ready to grab the spotlight at the 2028 LA Olympics with a pristine venue in the heart of modern surf culture after thriving in a far-flung location for the Paris Games.

Paris earned rave reviews for its Olympic surfing venue halfway around the world in 2024, with Teahupo’o, Tahiti, praised for its days of perfect surf in the sport’s ancestral home of Polynesia.

But the 2028 venue announced on Tuesday, Trestles Beach, could give competitors a greater experience of being an Olympian, just a stone’s throw from their fellow athletes in Los Angeles.

“Tahiti was great because the waves were great but we were removed from ‘ground zero’ of the Paris Games,” said Fernando Aguerre, the president of the International Surfing Association.

Aguerre told Reuters he was delighted with the selection of Trestles Beach, which beat out the other finalist Huntington Beach, with its consistent, quality waves and point break.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/surfing-olympians-ready-take-sports-epicenter-southern-california-5068261

MS Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 26 runs from 11 balls in an innings studded with 4 fours and 1 six. He stood tall at the end, stitching an unbeaten 58-run partnership with Shivam Dube, as they chased down 166 in the final over of the match. Dhoni earned the Player of the Match for his short but impactful knock.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finally ended their disastrous five-match losing streak on Monday (April 14) as they secured a win against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium. Captain MS Dhoni was the star of the run chase as he turned back the clock, showing everyone why he is regarded as one of the greatest finishers in the history of the game. With his whirlwind knock, he managed to break a massive IPL record that was 11 years old.
MS Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 26 runs from 11 balls in an innings studded with 4 fours and 1 six. He stood tall at the end, stitching an unbeaten 58-run partnership with Shivam Dube, as they chased down 166 in the final over of the match. Dhoni earned the Player of the Match for his short but impactful knock.

The CSK captain now becomes the oldest player to pick up a Player of the Match award in IPL history at 43 years and 280 days. He broke the record of Pravin Tambe who won the Player of the Match award in IPL 2014 vs KKR at an age of 42 years and 208 days.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2025-ms-dhoni-breaks-11-year-old-world-record-becomes-first-player-in-the-world-to-win-player-of-the-match-award-after-turning-43-article-151424407

Abhishek Sharma created history for Sunrisers Hyderabad and etched his name in history books en route to his century against Punjab Kings. Abhishek and Travis Head added 171 runs for the first wicket in the chase to the target of 246.

Abhishek Sharma slammed a magnificent 141 off just 55 balls as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) chased down a huge target of 246 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their sixth game of the season. Abhishek and Travis Head provided a dream start to SRH and added 171 runs for the first wicket in just 12.2 overs. Head departed for 66 off 37 balls while Abhishek continued to bat.
Abhishek, who hadn’t even hit one six in his first 5 outings of the ongoing season, cleared the ropes 10 times against PBKS. He batted with a strike rate of 256.36 and completed his century off just 40 balls.
Abhishek Sharma created history and etched his name in history books as he breached the 100-run mark. He now holds the record for being the quickest Indian centurion for SRH. He is followed by Ishan Kishan, who took 45 balls to score a century in his debut game for SRH earlier in the season.

Overall, the record belongs to Head, Abhishek’s opening partner. He slammed a 39-ball ton against Royal Challengers Bengaluru during IPL 2024. David Warner sits at the third spot. SRH’s only IPL-winning captain so far, Warner scored his fastest century for them during IPL 2017.

Abhishek returned to form at the right time and SRH will hope that he performs regularly. Courtesy of this win, SRH finally left the last spot in the points table and moved to the 8th position. They are followed by Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, respectively. With 4 wins from as many matches, Delhi Capitals sit at the top spot.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/abhishek-sharma-creates-history-for-sunrisers-hyderabad-becomes-fastest-indian-to-score-century-for-them-article-151407090

MS Dhoni has said that CSK need “a bit more partnerships, a bit more runs” and “a bit more application” to get turn around a dwindling season.

MS Dhoni’s return as captain couldn’t break Chennai Super Kings out of their nosedive as they suffered an eight-wicket hiding at home to Kolkata Knight Riders and thus fell to a fifth consecutive defeat in the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Never before have CSK lost these many matches in a row and the defeat on Friday also made it the first time the five-time champions lost three consecutive games at home.

Dhoni in his post-match comments urged his teammates to “look deep down inside”.

“I think it’s quite a few nights haven’t gone our way,” Dhoni told the broadcaster after the loss. “What’s important is to look deep down inside. I feel the challenge was there, but it’s important to accept that challenge, figure out ways how you’ll tackle the difficult deliveries and then look to get runs on the board. Today I felt we didn’t really have enough runs on the board.”

Dhoni didn’t have too many problems with the conditions on offer at the Chepauk Stadium and said that it is the lack of partnerships that hurt them. “Yes it did [stop] but it has been the case over here,” Dhoni said about the surface. “Whenever we bowled first, even in the second innings it stopped a bit. But today in the first innings also it was stopping. But also if you lose too many wickets, it looks very different because it puts pressure on the batsman who is going in, and with quality spinners it becomes slightly difficult and we never really got any kind of partnerships going. So that also makes it tough. I feel overall a bit more partnerships, a bit more runs, a bit more application and we’ll be on track.”

‘If we target 60 in powerplay, it gets tough’
CSK have been easily the worst team this season in terms of batting in the powerplay. On Friday, they were limping at 18/2 at the start of the sixth over. Dhoni stated that CSK will still be trying to score as many runs as they think is required and possible according to the conditions on offer.

“[Powerplay batting] It is important to see the conditions. A couple of conditions where we have done well. We don’t want to match somebody else or some other team. We have quality openers and it is important not to get desperate seeing the scoreboard. A few boundaries and the score keeps moving, if we target 60, it gets tough. If we lose wickets, the middle order needs do heavy-lifting and the slog never comes,” said Dhoni.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/ms-dhoni-urges-csk-teammates-to-look-deep-down-inside-in-urgent-call-to-action-after-kkr-drubbing-101744398479363.html

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson, was fined INR 24 lakh for slow over-rate offense against the Gujarat Titans. This was RR’s second offense, with the previous instance coming against the CSK when stand-in captain Riyan Parag was fined.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) suffered a crushing 58-run defeat to the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 23rd match of the IPL 2025. This was the team’s third defeat this season, as they slipped to seventh on the points table. Not a lot went right for RR in the match as the team ended up conceding 217-6 in 20 overs before getting bowled out for a mere 159.
To make matters worse, the team failed to finish their overs in time, and captain Sanju Samson was fined INR 24 lakh for slow over-rate. This was the second instance of RR being penalised for slow over-rate. Earlier, RR failed to finish their overs in time against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and their stand-in captain Riyan Parag was fined INR 12 lakh. Parag led the team in the first three games as Samson played as an impact player due to injury. The IPL media release confirmed that the remaining members of the playing XI will be fined 25 percent of their match fee or six lakh, whichever is less.
“The rest of the members of the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, will be fined either INR six lakhs or 25 percent of their respective match fees, whichever is lesser,” an IPL media release read.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/sanju-samson-guilty-of-breaching-ipl-code-of-conduct-loses-24-lakh-after-bcci-takes-strong-action-article-151382096

Shubman Gill set a massive record in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) after leading the Gujarat Titans (GT) to a seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The 25-year-old hit his 25th 50+ score in IPL history with a knock of 61 in 43 balls. Gill has made four centuries to his name in his career in the cash-rich league.

Shubman Gill was the star of the show as the Gujarat Titans (GT) continued their brilliant start to the 2025 Indian Premier League with a seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday (April 6) at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.
The 25-year-old made an unbeaten knock of 61 in 43 balls with nine boundaries at a strike-rate of 141.86. Gill put up valuable partnerships with Washington Sundar (49 of 29) and Sherfane Rutherford (35 in 16) to ensure the Titans chased down the target with 21 balls to spare.
This was Gill’s first half-century of the season, after some bright starts. The GT Skipper has 146 runs in four innings at an average of 48.66.

Both Kohli and Rohit have always spoken highly of each other, showing mutual respect for their cricketing skills and maintaining a strong professional relationship.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have always shared a strong bond. Over the years, they’ve formed successful partnerships for the Indian cricket team. There were occasionally rumors about a possible rift between them, often fueled by on-field decisions, team dynamics, and media reports.

However, both Kohli and Rohit have repeatedly denied these rumors, emphasizing that there is no truth to the claims. They have always spoken highly of each other, showing mutual respect for their cricketing skills and maintaining a strong professional relationship.

Virat Kohli on his bond with Rohit Sharma

Ahead of the IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians, Kohli spoke about his equation with Rohit Sharma, and how they’ve bonded over the years and created some wonderful memories.

Speaking on RCB channel he said, “Playing alongside someone for such a long time naturally leads to a strong bond, especially when you share so much of your understanding of the game. In the early years, we were constantly learning from each other and growing in our careers simultaneously. We often exchanged ideas, asked questions, and discussed various aspects of the game. Over time, we also worked closely together in leadership roles, where we regularly discussed strategies and ideas.”

He added,” More often than not, we found ourselves on the same page regarding the best approach to a particular situation or match. The trust we’ve built over the years is invaluable, knowing that we can rely on each other to get the job done for the team. Reflecting on our long careers, we are both grateful and proud of the journey we’ve shared. It wasn’t always certain that we would play for India for 15 years, but the consistency and memories we’ve built together have been incredibly fulfilling. It’s been a privilege to share these moments and continue to do so.”

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/ipl-2025-virat-kohli-talks-about-his-equation-with-rohit-sharma-ahead-of-mi-vs-rcb-match-video

The Gujarat Titans etched their name in the history books and broke a long-standing record set by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 2011 season under Shane Warne’s captaincy. The Titans defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by eight wickets in their first away game of the 2025 IPL season. GT has won two and lost one match so far this season.

The Gujarat Titans etched their name in the history books after defeating Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday (April 2). The Shubman Gill-led side registered a thumping eight-wicket victory with eight balls to spare.
Talking about the match, GT won the toss and chose to bowl first. The decision was immediately justified as RCB lost four wickets in the powerplay. A half-century from Liam Livingstone, alongside useful cameos from Jitesh Sharma and Tim David, helped the hosts put a respectable total of 169 on the board. Mohammed Siraj was the star of the show against his former side with a three-wicket haul.
Despite Shubman Gill’s early departure, Jos Buttler’s unbeaten knock of 73 and a solid 49 by Sai Sudharsan helped GT register a comfortable win.

Gujarat Titans Create History
The Titans registered their 30th win in IPL history in just their 48th game. The 2022 champions hold the record for the having the best win/loss ratio in the league’s history (1.666). Hardik Pandya led the team in the first two seasons when they won the title and finished runners-up. Shubman Gill took charge of the team last season and has guided them to seven victories so far.

GT broke a long-standing record of the Rajasthan Royals, who set the record in the 2011 season under Shane Warne’s captaincy. Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru also completed the milestone in the fourth season of the league.

Interestingly, if RR’s Super-Over win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2009 is not counted, they fall to fourth place in the list as their 30th outright victory came in their 56th match in the world’s richest cricket league.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/gujarat-titans-creates-history-break-shane-warne-led-rrs-14-year-old-record-become-first-team-to-30-ipl-wins-in-less-than-50-matches-article-151337771

IPL 2025: Arshad Warsi faced the ‘wrath’ of Virat Kohli fans after Gujarat Titans’ bowler Arshad Khan picked up the pricy wicket of Royal Challengers Bangalore batter.

Royal Challengers Bangalore registered their first loss in the IPL 2025 after Gujarat Titans cruised to victory inside 18 overs and with 8 wickets in hand. Chasing a modest total of 169/8 put up by RCB, Shubman Gill’s side had no problems whatsoever as opening batter Sai Sudharsan (49) along with Jos Buttler’s brisk 73 off 39 meant the visitors at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru could secure an easy win on Wednesday. Mohammed Siraj, former RCB bowler, was the star performer of the night for Gujarat Titans as his three-wicket-haul at an impressive economy rate of 4.75 restricted RCB batters from scoring big in front of their home crowd. But their victory came at a price. Hundreds of “irked” Virat Kohli fans flocked to Instagram to give GT’s Arshad a mouthful for picking their star batter’s wicket. There was, however, a slight issue.

Arshad Khan Picks Up Virat Kohli

The 27-year-old left-arm pacer Arshad Khan took the blockbuster wicket of RCB veteran Virat Kohli in his first over of the contest. Bowling his third delivery of the over, Khan found success when Kohli pulled him towards the deep square leg region. Prasidh Krishna who was stationed there completed a routine catch. Kohli departed for 7 in 6 balls and RCB fans were stumped.

Arshad Warsi Blamed

Circuit of Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. Arshad Warsi’s Instagram was swiftly spammed with comments blaming the Bollywood actor for picking up Kohli’s wicket. Yep. Marching to his latest Instagram post with Ajay Devgn, the “angered” fans gave Warsi a piece of their mind.

“Kohli ko out kyun kiya! (Why did you dismiss Kohli?)”

“Ee circuit tu Kohli ka wicket kyu liya re (Circuit, why did you pick up Kohli’s wicket?)”

“Tera Kohli ne kya bigada tha (What did Kohli even do to you?)”

“Yeh lockdown kids yahan bhi aa gaye (These lockdown kids are here too).”

There were nearly 7000 comments like these.

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill shared a cryptic post on X after GT registered a commanding 8-wicket victory over RCB at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Is there tension between Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli? Did Gill take a swipe at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans? In the world of social media updates, it doesn’t take much time to create narratives; fan wars are a daily affair and nameless trolls form a large pool. All they need is a spark. And it came from Gill’s first post on X in IPL 2025 on April 2 (Wednesday). That it came after his side, Gujarat Titans, defeated RCB at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, perhaps carried an underlining message, with its coded nature being the real eye-catcher.

Gill broke his X hiatus with a cryptic or coded post after GT beat RCB by 8 wickets. “Eyes on the game, not the noise,” The GT captain wrote.

It was just a seven-word post from a captain whose team had just registered a dominating victory against an undefeated side on a roll in the tournament, right? Perhaps not, at least according to the fans. To be honest, the last three words of the post do have a cryptic tone. What noise was Gill talking about? Was it to silence the vociferous RCB crowd at the Chinnaswamy? Or a reply to Kohli’s animated celebration?

Needless to say, it did not take much time for the fans to draw conclusions, find inner meaning, and whatnot. It was not a surprise that the majority of the conclusions were related to Kohli.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/shubman-gills-coded-post-after-gt-crush-rcb-targets-virat-kohli-and-is-a-reply-to-sisters-online-abuse-claim-fans-101743645058260.html

The Lucknow Super Giants captain failed to make an impact, scoring just 2 runs off 5 balls in a match against Punjab Kings.

Rishabh Pant has become the target of relentless trolling on social media after another underwhelming performance in IPL 2025. The Lucknow Super Giants captain failed to make an impact, scoring just 2 runs off 5 balls in a match against Punjab Kings.

His poor run of form has sparked a flood of memes and harsh criticism online, with fans mocking his struggles and questioning his value, especially given his status as the most expensive player in IPL history.

Bought for a staggering INR 27 crore at the IPL mega auction, Pant was expected to lead LSG to success. However, his performance has fallen short of expectations, managing just 17 runs in three matches. The mounting pressure of his hefty price tag, combined with his inability to deliver on the field, has fueled the scrutiny surrounding him.

The trolling has extended beyond his batting, with questions raised about his leadership abilities as LSG’s captain. To make matters worse, old comments made by Pant about Punjab Kings resurfaced, where he had admitted to being nervous about their record auction purse, as he only wanted to be picked by LSG. These remarks have only added to the memes mocking his current struggles.

Here’s what fans had to say about Pant’s flop show

Mumbai Indians crushed defending champions the Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets to finally post a win in the Indian Premier League on Monday.

Five-time champion Mumbai lost its first two games and turned its fortunes around thanks to debutant Ashwani Kumar, a left-arm pacer.

Kumar grabbed the best IPL bowling figures on debut — 4-24 — as Kolkata was routed for 116 runs in 16.2 overs.

Opener Ryan Rickelton then scored 62 not out off 41 balls to lead Mumbai to 121-2 in 12.5 overs with 7.1 overs to spare.

Kolkata suffered a second loss in three games.

Made to bat, Kolkata’s top order was dismantled by Mumbai’s pacers. Deepak Chahar, who picked up 2-19 in two overs, first sent back Quinton de Kock for 1. At the other end, Trent Boult bowled Sunil Narine for a two-ball duck.

Kumar’s first wicket was Kolkata skipper and Mumbai local Ajinkya Rahane for 11. When Chahar dismissed Venkatesh Iyer for 3, Kolkata was 41-4 in 5.4 overs.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi tried to stem the rot with 26 off 16 balls but Kumar simply broke through the middle order.

Rinku Singh was caught in the deep for 17, and Manish Pandey was sent in as an impact substitute but Kumar sent him back for 19. Any chance of a Kolkata revival vanished when Kumar bowled Andre Russell for 5.

Allrounder Ramandeep Singh’s 22 off 12 pushed Kolkata past 100 but it was still a dismal total.

Star batter Rohit Sharma entered as an impact substitute for Mumbai but suffered another embarrassing stay at the crease. He scored only 13 off 12. Sharma has crossed 20 only once in his last 10 IPL innings.

Rickelton, though, was in fine form as he hit five sixes and four boundaries to steam to 50 off 33 balls, his maiden IPL half-century. He added 46 off 34 balls for the first wicket before Sharma was caught off Russell.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/mumbai-kolkata-ipl-56b51b8e7edf84413233c7af40d5f530

They were rivals in Guwahati on Sunday, but as the match ended, the packed Barsapara Stadium witnessed a legendary reunion as MS Dhoni checked on an injured Rahul Dravid after the latter made his way into the field on crutches. Rajasthan Royals won their first game in IPL 2025 on Sunday after beating Chennai Super Kings by six runs.

After the end of a tense clash, where Dhoni failed to get his team over the line despite walking out early, at No. 7, contrary to the much-criticised move in the previous game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he walked over to check on Dravid, who had injured his leg playing a cricket match in Bengaluru before the start of the IPL 2025.

The two shared a small chat before he quickly asked Chennai’s young crop of players to greet Dravid. The heartfelt reunion caught the attention of fans as it went viral on social media.

Riyan Parag secures first win as Rajasthan Royals captain

After a concerning start to the season under stand-in skipper Riyan Parag, Rajasthan secured their first win in the season after surviving a thriller against Chennai in their final game in Guwahati. Despite putting up 182/9 on the board, Parag felt his team fell short with the bat but made up for it with an excellent bowling and fielding display.

With 45 needed off the last three overs, where Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja were on duty for Chennai, a stunning over from former CSK bowler Maheesh Theekshana helped Rajasthan stay on top as the spinner conceded only six runs. Dhoni threatened to steal the game with a six and a four in the next over, but was dismissed by Sandeep Sharma in the final over.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/ms-dhoni-checks-on-injured-rahul-dravid-as-rr-coach-enters-field-on-crutches-tells-csk-youngsters-to-greet-legend-101743381617435.html

Riyan Parag finally justified Rajasthan Royals’ decision to appoint him as stand-in captain for Sanju Samson, leading them to their first win of the ongoing IPL 2025 season. Parag, who is Assamese, skippered RR in his hometown Guwahati, as they sealed a thrilling six-run win vs Chennai Super Kings. The match was action-packed as RR set a target of 183 runs for CSK, and Ruturaj Gaikwad played a captain’s knock. The CSK skipper smacked 63 runs off 44 balls, but lost his wicket to Wanindu Hasaranga in the fifth delivery of the 16th over, with his side at 129/5. In came MS Dhoni, much to the excitement of fans, and Ravindra Jadeja (13*) was at the non-striker’s end. The pair took some time to get going, and waited until the 19th over, and managed only six runs in the 18th over against Maheesh Theekshana. Fans were expecting Parag to send Jofra Archer, as RR looked to take the match away from CSK. But the all-rounder sent ex-CSK player Tushar Deshpande, and it looked like his plan backfired initially.

Dhoni took on his former teammate and smacked a four and two sixes as Deshpande leaked 19 runs, with CSK reaching 163/5, and needing 20 runs in the final over. To make it better for fans, Dhoni was on strike in the first all of the final over, and once again everyone expected Archer. But to everyone’s shock Parag decided to go with Sandeep Sharma. The veteran Indian bowler began with a wide and it looked Parag and RR were going to crumble to their third straight defeat. But then he struck gold in the next ball, removing Dhoni, courtesy of a sensational catch from Shimron Hetmyer. Dhoni departed for 16 off 11 balls, but CSK still had a chance.

Against new batter Jamie Overton, Sandeep began with a yorker, which was sent to long-off for a single, and then Jadeja took another single with CSK needing 3 sixes to win. It looked like they had it, as Overton smacked Sandeep for a six, with two balls remaining. But then the former India international came up with the perfect response, sending a slow bouncer as Overton could only take a double. The match ended with Sandeep sending a legal delivery as Overton once again took a double, with CSK reaching 176/6 in 20 overs.

Riyan Parag on not using Jofra Archer in death overs vs MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja

Explaining his death over planning against Dhoni, Jadeja, and not going for Archer, Parag credited his gut feeling to go with Deshpande and then Sandeep.

Speaking after the match, he said, “Luckily had a few options in this game, me and Nitish were also there. Just did what felt instinctive as a captain today. Fielding makes up for the 20 runs that we were short. We have been working with Dishant Yagnik, our fielding coach. So it shows.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/rahul-dravid-inspects-guwahati-pitch-despite-being-on-wheelchair-manjrekar-stunned-fans-recall-ms-dhonis-iconic-words-101743349886663.html

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe struck twice to help his side come from behind to claim a hard-fought 3-2 home win over relegation-threatened Leganes on Saturday to move the second-placed reigning champions level on points with leaders Barcelona.
Real have 63 points from 29 matches along with Barca, who host Girona on Sunday. Third-placed Atletico Madrid dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Espanyol earlier on Saturday and are now six points off the pace with 57.

“It was difficult match. After the international break it’s always difficult,” Mbappe told RMTV.
The hosts made a dominant start and opened the scoring after 32 minutes when Mbappe coolly chipped in a penalty, awarded after Oscar Rodriguez brought down Arda Guler.
However, Leganes responded almost immediately as Diego Garcia tapped in a loose ball at the far post to equalise in the following minute before Rodriguez set up Dani Raba to slot past goalkeeper Andriy Lunin in the 41st.
Real midfielder Jude Bellingham brought the scores level two minutes after the break, sliding the ball into the net after a rebound off the crossbar. Mbappe then bagged the winner with a brilliant curled free kick in the 76th minute for his second.

“We know what we always have to do: win. We started well, in the opposition half, and we scored a goal. Then we didn’t play well for 20 minutes and conceded two goals,” said Mbappe.
“But we know that if we play well we’ll score and in the second half we scored two goals. We won the game and we’re very happy.
“We worked on (the set piece) a few weeks ago with the staff. I knew I could shoot this way, I saw the space. I asked the others to let me shoot and it worked out well.”
Leganes pushed for an equaliser but fell to a third consecutive defeat to sit 18th on 27 points, level with Alaves who are one place higher in the safety zone on goal difference.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/mbappe-bags-brace-real-beat-lowly-leganes-3-2-2025-03-29/

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered a 50-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) game at home. Chasing a target of 197, CSK could only score 146-8 in 20 overs and suffered a massive defeat. CSK lost the top order early and needed a special effort from the middle order to sail them through. Unfortunately, the team didn’t get any momentum and lost the game.
This was one game where MS Dhoni could have played a pivotal role with the bat for the team. Dhoni, who bats only a handful of balls and tries to tonk as many sixes as possible, could have promoted himself and got the innings back on track with a fast cameo. However, Dhoni came out to bat at number nine, even after R Ashwin. He scored 32 runs in 16 balls, with two sixes and three fours, but the game was already done and dusted.
The former CSK captain had earlier revealed why he bats so low in the batting order. In an interview with JioHotstar ahead of the IPL 2025, Dhoni revealed that he is not competing for a place in the national team so he wants to give other players a chance before him.

“So, if you see, there was a problem in my knee, but it was more manageable than anything else last year. Also, there was a selection for the T20 World Cup. If you look at our team, who were the contenders? Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) was among the contenders, and Shivam Dube was among the contenders, so you obviously want to give them a chance. I don’t want to get selected. I am not competing for that place,” said Dhoni.

Dhoni backed his decision to bat low in the order saying the players who are batting ahead of him are also doing well and the franchise is not getting harmed by his decision.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/ms-dhoni-lifts-lid-on-decision-to-bat-so-low-for-csk-there-was-a-problem-in-my-knee-article-119684603

In a high-octane match between the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and the fiery Sunrisers Hyderabad, pacer Shardul Thakur wreaked havoc by removing opener Abhishek Sharma and the in-form Ishan Kishan in two successive balls to put SRH on the backfoot.

In the very first bowl of the third over, Shardul Thakur removed Abhishek Sharma after the latter tried to go big but found Nicholas Pooran on the square-leg. Sharma looked set with Travis Head after scoring a boundary but went back to the pavilion with only 6 runs.

Ishan Kishan, who scored a majestic 106 not out in the last match against Rajasthan Royals that helped SRH post a record total of 286-6, was out for a golden duck after edging the ball to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant on the next delivery.

Although Nitish Kumar Reddy survived the hat-trick ball, Thakur had done the damage, earning praise from netizens. #Lord Shardul Thakur began trending on social media as the bowler punctured the in-form SRH’s innings with the two early wickets.

Notably, Shardul Thakur was named as a replacement for left-arm fast bowler Mohsin Khan, who has been ruled out of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to injury. he went unsold at the mega auction last year.

Thakur ended up picking four wickets and conceding 34 runs in his four overs as LSG managed to restrict the Pat Cummins-led side to 190-9 in 20 overs, with Travis Head top scoring with a quick-fire 47 and Aniket Verma dominating bowlers with 36 from 13 balls. Cummins also hit three consecutive sixes before being caught on the next ball.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/ipl-2025-lsg-vs-srh-lord-shardul-thakur-breaks-internet-after-pacer-wreaks-havoc-with-two-wickets-ishan-kishan-abhishek-sharma-9277614.html

Novak Djokovic is two wins away from capturing a 100th career title after beating Sebastian Korda 6-3 7-6(4), and world number one Aryna Sabalenka cruised into her first Miami Open final with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Jasmine Paolini on Thursday.
Djokovic let out a triumphant roar after sending down an ace on match point as his former rival and now coach Andy Murray jumped out of his seat to do the same.

The Serbian 24-times Grand Slam champion trailed Korda 5-2 in the second set but broke the American as he served at 5-3 and his precise and powerful serving carried him to the finish.
“I’ve been serving great the entire tournament but particularly today I needed it in the second to try to come back,” Djokovic told Tennis Channel.
“In the tiebreak, a couple of points really decided the winner, 5-4 service winner, ace at 6-4 to finish off the match. So I’ll take that as the highlight.”
The match was originally scheduled for Wednesday but postponed under ATP rules aimed at avoiding matches dragging on into the early hours of the morning.

Fourth seed Djokovic, gunning for a record seventh Miami Open title and 100th overall, will face 14th-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-finals on Friday.
Unseeded Czech Jakub Mensik was a 7-6(5) 6-1 winner over 17th-seeded Frenchman Arthur Fils and will meet American Taylor Fritz in the semis after he outlasted Italian 29th seed Matteo Berrettini 7-5 6-7(7) 7-5.
Third seeded Fritz saw six match points come and go in the second set but converted on his seventh opportunity in the decider to put away Berrettini.
“There’s two options, get frustrated about it, lose and then be even more frustrated about all the chances I blew, or regroup and get the win,” Fritz said.

“Now I can sleep tonight.”
On the women’s side, Sabalenka won 77% of her first-serve points, fired down six aces, saved all four break points she faced and converted four of her five break point chances against Italian sixth seed Paolini during the 71-minute match.
The Belarusian top seed, who resides in South Florida and arrived in Miami fresh off a runner-up finish at Indian Wells, has not dropped a set in her five matches.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/sabalenka-breezes-past-paolini-book-miami-final-spot-2025-03-27/

Five-time major champion Iga Swiatek was on the end of a monumental shock as Filipina teenager Alexandra Eala continued her dream run to reach the Miami Open semi-finals.

Second seed Swiatek, playing with increased security in Miami after being verbally abused by an “aggressive and taunting” fan, was completely out of sorts as she lost 6-2 7-5 to the world number 140.

The 23-year-old’s serve was broken eight times as she continually struggled to hold serve, while her baseline game was shaky and led to a host of forehand errors.

Eala, 19, remained composed and focused as she completed the biggest win of her career.

“It might be one of the biggest upsets I’ve been on the side of the court for,” said former British number one Tim Henman, who was watching in his role as a Sky Sports analyst.

Poland’s Swiatek recently spoke out about the emotional toll she has faced in recent months, having served a one-month ban for a doping offence and not wanting to “step on the court” as a result.

This defeat means she has not reached a final since winning the French Open in June.

Eala, who was given a wildcard to play in Miami, will face Britain’s Emma Raducanu or American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.

Next week she will break into the world’s top 100 for the first time.

“My mind is really blank, I don’t think I’ve processed what I’ve just done,” Eala told Sky Sports afterwards.

“In the end I’m still the same player I was two weeks ago.”

Ahmedabad: Shreyas Iyer shone with an unbeaten 97 as Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 11 runs in their Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.

Chasing 244 to win, Gujarat Titans fought hard to make 232 for 5 but the target proved to be beyond their batters despite Sai Sudharsan making 74, Shubman Gill hitting a quick 33 and Jos Buttler scoring 54.

Sherfane Rutherford also played a quick knock of 46 but his effort was not enough.Earlier in the first innings, Shreyas Iyer missed out on a maiden IPL century but his 97 not out off 42 balls (9 sixes, 5 fours) and Shashank Singh’s 44 not out off 16 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) helped Punjab Kings post 243 for 5.

Sai Kishore was the pick of the bowlers for Gujarat Titans with 3/40 but the home team bowlers generally struggled to keep the run flow in check.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2025-punjab-kings-beat-gujarat-giants-by-11-runs-in-high-scoring-ipl-match-3462580

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were stunned by Delhi Capitals (DC) in an unbelievable comeback in the fourth game of the IPL 2025. LSG were in a dominant position while batting first as they raced to 161-3 in the 14th over, however, they lost control of the innings and could only make 211-9 in 20 overs.
LSG were again in the driving seat after DC lost six wickets for 113 in the 13th over, however, a magnificent innings of 66 in 31 by Ashutosh Sharma and 39 of 15 by Vipraj Nigam took DC over the line by one wicket.
Rishabh Pant was captaining DC for the first time, however, he did not have a great game. He was dismissed for a six-ball duck in the first innings while he missed a crucial stumping in the final over that could have sealed the game for LSG. With Mohit Sharma at strike, and DC nine wicket down, Pant missed a stumping on the first ball of the 20th over. Sharma was able to rotate the strike on the second ball and Ahustosh Sharma hit a six on the third ball to win the game for Delhi Capitals.

After the defeat, pictures of LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka having a chat with Rishabh Pant went viral. The fans were quick to link the discussion with his animated chat with KL Rahul last year. For the unversed, Goenka had a tense chat with then-skipper KL Rahul after LSG’s defeat to SRH. Many feel Goenka’s behaviour towards Rahul was one of the reasons why KL decided to part ways with the franchise.

Reflecting on the defeat, Rishabh Pant credited Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam for DC’s comeback.
“I think our top-order batters played really well and I think it was a pretty good score on this wicket. As a team we are looking to take positives from every match and as a team we are looking to learn from it (every match.) The more basics we do right, the more it is going to be better for us in the future. We got early wickets, but we knew it was a good wicket to bat on. We had to keep doing the basics right more often than not. I think they had a couple of good partnerships. One with Stubbs, with Ashutosh and one with one other guy (Vipraj Nigam.) I think he (Nigam) did a pretty good job and took the game away from us,” Pant said at post match presentation.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/rishabh-pant-sanjiv-goenkas-intense-chat-after-lsgs-shock-defeat-to-dc-reminds-fans-of-kl-rahul-controversy-article-119450973

Never before have this many supporters attended a women’s football club match in Germany. A record-breaking 57,000 fans watched visitors Bremen beat Hamburg to seal a ticket to the women’s German Cup final.

“These are the games that make you start playing football as a child,” said Bremen captain Lina Hausicke. “I don’t know how many years’ worth of emotions I’ve felt today.”

The match rose to the occasion in the second half. Despite having Saskia Matheis sent off, Bremen managed to snatch an opener, as Sophie Weidauer pounced on a mistake by the home side’s goalkeeper. But the underdogs rewarded their home crowd with drama, with Sarah Stöckmann grabbing a late equalizer to send the game into extra time. However, last-gasp goals from Weidauer and Verena Wieder sealed a 3-1 victory for the visitors.

Even though Hamburg missed out on the final, their captain Sarah Stöckmann will remember this match fondly.

“It fills me with pride that we were the first in Germany to play in front of a crowd of this size. It won’t be the last time, and it was amazing what we were able to experience here today. It was a football festival for Germany.”

Surge in ticket sales for the final

The match at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion was already guaranteed to draw a bigger crowd than Bremen’s final against Bayern, which will be held at a smaller stadium in Cologne. That was the venue of the previous record crowd, set during the 2023 cup final with 44,808 in attendance.

Hamburg’s women’s team usually plays its home matches at a training ground within the stadium’s complex called “Platz 6” (literally: pitch six). Up to 630 fans can stand on the sidelines there, with the Volksparkstadion looming in the background. Meters away from the venue but miles away from today’s big stage energy.

Asked what it would be like to play on their usual ground again, Stöckmann told DW, “It’s the reality, I think we all know how to contextualize this. We’ll still be drawing inspiration from this when we’re back on Platz 6.”

For many of the 57,000 in attendance, it was the first taste of the women’s professional game. The Volksparkstadion is usually the setting for the men’s Bundesliga 2 matches and has only hosted the women’s team once before, when 16,529 attended their quarterfinal victory in February this year.

The astonishing surge of ticket sales for this match can be partly explained by the men’s international break, which means no professional men’s club sides were in action this weekend. With tickets starting at €9, the stadium was sold out over two weeks before kickoff.

A local grudge match

Another factor is the regional rivalry between the clubs and cities of hosts Hamburg and visitors Bremen. The Nordderby between HSV and Werder is one of the oldest derbies in German football, also colored by the historic rivalry between the cities dating back to the Middle Ages.

“What’s really positive today is that it’s not dangerous at all,” says Hamburg supporter Alexandra, who regularly attends men’s matches. “Usually when Bremen faces Hamburg there’s lots of police. This is much nicer. It’s peaceful and festive today.”

Johannes, a Werder Bremen supporter, arrived with his wife and son in tow. “It’s my first ever women’s football match. To come to a Nordderby with my family is a dream. And to show the women they can do it too. I think it’s great.”

With the teams for both gender categories currently not playing in the same league divisions, fans have been starved of competitive clashes. While there was a familial feeling outside the ground, the atmosphere inside the stadium was that of a fiercely contested derby, with both sets of fans raucously urging on their charges.

Bremen’s Larissa Mühlhaus, who was born in Hamburg and grew up watching games at the Volksparkstadion, even said she and other teammates were experiencing earache.

Moving to the big stage

Moving to the big stage In the past few years, clubs have routinely used big matches to stage games at their main stadium. The world record attendance of a women’s football match stands at 91,648, set during a UEFA Women’s Champions League match between Barcelona Femení and Wolfsburg at the Camp Nou in April 2022.

“The atmosphere makes all the difference,” says Hamburg supporter Moritz. “If the women’s team played here more often, then I’d be well up for going. I don’t think it’d be my thing watching it with 300 people because I like going to the stadium for the atmosphere and to be part of a crowd.”

Decisions to hoist women’s matches onto a bigger stage have largely been vindicated but still remain the exception to the rule. The cup competition’s other semifinal was held at the FC Bayern Campus, in front of a sell-out crowd of just 2,500, despite the fact that the men’s Allianz Arena was vacant on the day.

The state of the women’s game

So does this milestone rank as a one-off or sign of things to come?

Since the start of the decade, women’s football has surged in popularity. Euro 2022 in England saw over half a million fans stream to stadiums, doubling the previous tournament’s numbers. Almost two million fans attended the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, an increase of more than 600,000 from the previous record.

Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga is expanding, stocking up from 12 to 14 teams in the 2025/26 season, which could well see HSV join the top flight.

And yet, the game’s finances still lag far behind those of their male counterparts. Through a survey including 669 clubs from around the world, FIFA found the average salary for players is $10,900, meaning the vast majority of players cannot rely solely on their income from football. Average global attendances have risen to 1,713 but matchday revenues remain low, also due to an average ticket price of $9.30 for adults.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/new-record-as-57000-fans-attend-womens-german-cup-semifinal/a-71999409

Ajinkya Rahane, who has transformed his T20 game, dazzled on his Kolkata Knight Riders captaincy debut with a 25-ball fifty, but it was Krunal’s 3/29 that ensured that the defending champions fell well short of the 200-mark, managing a below-par 174/8. Kohli and Phil Salt then scored half-centuries as they scored a win by 7 wickets.

‘Chase master’ Virat Kohli once again showcased his class with a sublime unbeaten half-century as Royal Challengers Bengaluru, backed by Krunal Pandya’s game-changing triple strike crushed defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in the IPL opener on Saturday.
Ajinkya Rahane, who has transformed his T20 game, dazzled on his Kolkata Knight Riders captaincy debut with a 25-ball fifty, but it was Krunal’s 3/29 that ensured that the defending champions fell well short of the 200-mark, managing a below-par 174/8.
During chase, Phil Salt, rubbing salt into his former franchise’s wounds, gave RCB an explosive start with a 31-ball 56 laced with nine fours and two sixes. His whirlwind knock, in a 95-run opening stand with Kohli, set the tone for the chase.

Kohli then raced to a 30-ball fifty, raising his bat to deafening chants of his name in a signature 36-ball knock studded with three sixes and four fours as they sealed the chase in just 16.2 overs.

Moments after he reached fifty, the frenzy peaked when a pitch invader ran onto the field and fell at Kohli’s feet, summing up the adulation he commands across all venues.
Earlier Salt came out swinging against India’s in-form spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who was fresh from his Champions Trophy heroics.
He smashed him for 4-6-4-4 in succession in a brutal 21-run over- first over mid-off, then a six tonked over the same region, followed by a powerful drive over mid-on, before finishing with a slog-swept boundary to deep square leg.
Kohli soon joined the six-fest, taking on Spencer Johnson with effortless strokeplay.A length ball outside off saw Kohli shuffle across and launch it straight over the bowl was an action replay, only this time the ball soared 75 meters into the stands.
RCB raced to 80/0 in the powerplay, firmly in command.
KKR finally found a breakthrough in the ninth over when Salt, was dismissed by Varun.
But Kohli was in no mood to relent. In the much-anticipated matchup against Chakravarthy, he showcased his class, slog-sweeping the leg-spinner over long-on before raising his bat to the dugout and pumping his fists. In the process, Kohli also surpassed 1,000 IPL runs against KKR.
With the chase well under control, skipper Rajat Patidar (34 from 16 balls; 5×4, 1×6) joined Kohli and ensured there were no hiccups.
He took Rana apart in the 15th over, smashing four boundaries in five balls, virtually sealing the contest as RCB required just 18 runs from the final 30 balls.
The 36-year-old veteran, who last played a T20I for India in 2016 and replaced Shreyas Iyer at the helm, played a fearless knock of 56 off 31 balls.
Sunil Narine contributed 44 off 26, in a 103-run third wicket partnership off 55 balls to lay a solid platform scoring at 10 plus an over.
But their efforts were undone by left-arm spinner Krunal’s brilliant 3/29 in the middle overs where he dismissed a well-set Rahane, and the two KKR heavyweights duo of Venkatesh Iyer (6) and Rinku Singh (12) in successive overs.
The inability of KKR’s lower middle order featuring their most expensive INR 23.75 crore signing Venkatesh, a horribly out of form Rinku Singh, and Russell to fire cost them dearly as they managed just 23 runs and lost two wickets in the last four overs.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/chase-master-virat-kohli-stands-tall-as-rcb-crush-kkr-by-7-wickets-in-ipl-2025-opening-match-article-119352191

Lewis Hamilton has won his first race for Ferrari, securing Saturday’s Sprint victory from pole position following an early duel Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen at the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Hamilton got a great start to take the lead into turn one, and managed the gap to Verstappen, until the Dutchman was passed for second on lap 15 by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri into the back straight’s hairpin.

Ferrari’s new recruit was then able to stretch his legs all the way to his maiden Sprint win, with the Brit coming home almost 6.9 seconds ahead of Piastri – for eight points (nine overall) and a three-place jump to seventh in the standings.

“The last like five laps or something I was in a really pretty comfortable position. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like,” Hamilton said.

“Obviously it’s a Sprint race, is not the main race, but even just think to get that – it’s just a good stepping stone to where I’m working towards.”

Hamilton is still enjoying every new moment with the Scuderia, despite having secured a record-equaling seven titles and 104 wins, with the Chinese Sprint – and his romp to the win – all about managing the tire wear.

“I got in the car extra early because I just wanted to be present and enjoy it, because I hadn’t been there for a while,” he said.

“(I got a) good start and challenging race. It is generally really close between all of us. But the tire degradation today was pretty huge I think for everybody, so I think for me it was just try to manage that early on.”

Hamilton arrived in Shanghai after a disappointing season-opening race last weekend in Australia, where he finished 10th in his debut race for Ferrari.

Piastri was happy to jump Verstappen and take second, but disappointed to not be the one to take the win from pole position – given McLaren’s pace advantage.

“(It was) Tough,” Piastri said. “(It was) probably one of the more difficult ones in terms of tire degradation, so I knew I had to try and be patient.”

McLaren eyeing strong qualifying pace

The pressure is now on McLaren to recover in Saturday afternoon’s qualifying to what it hopes is its rightful place at the front of the grid.

“The difference between qualifying and the race, in terms of what you want from the car and what the tires need, seems to be quite big,” Piastri said.

“I think the pace we had in the car yesterday was good. I think we just in hindsight would have done a few things a bit differently in qualifying. But I think the pace is there and there’s plenty of conference going this afternoon.”

Verstappen was again happy to finish in the top three, with the reigning World Champion picking up seven points to take his total haul to 24 – two behind leader, McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had a scrappy race to finish eighth.

“Midway, (I) really started to feel that the deg(radation) was kicking in,” Verstappen said. “It just seemed a little bit more aggressive for us than maybe the cars around us. But I think that just comes from maybe not having the base pace, you try to hang in there, and you naturally just destroy your tires a bit more.

“To be in the top-three I think is still a good result for us. And maybe we started a bit more ahead than I think we should have anyway so pretty pleased.”

During the meeting, representatives from all 10 IPL teams provided feedback and opinions on various aspects of the playing conditions

A day before the start of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced modifications in the playing conditions for IPL 2025. There were four new rules in place after captains, coaches and managers meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on March 20.
During the meeting, representatives from all 10 IPL teams provided feedback and opinions on various aspects of the playing conditions. Based on a common consensus, the following updates were incorporated.

1) Use of saliva to shine the ball
Effective from the IPL 2025 season, bowlers will be permitted to use saliva to shine the ball. This decision follows consultations with all 10 teams and marks a return to traditional ball maintenance practices. The ban on the use of saliva, which was originally imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, has now been lifted.

2) Replacement of wet ball to counter dew
To address challenges posed by dew during evening matches, the team bowling second will now have the option to request a ball change once after the 10th over.

· The bowling captain can make this request, regardless of whether there is visible dew or not. Once the request is made, the umpires will mandatorily replace the ball with another one of similar wear and tear. The bowling team will not have the liberty to choose the replacement ball.

· Additionally, the umpires retain the authority to change the ball at any time before the 10th over if it is deemed too wet, out of shape, lost, or damaged. If a captain requests a ball change in the 11th over due to it being out of shape, the umpires will evaluate the request and approve it if deemed necessary.

· If a subsequent request is made after a few overs solely due to dew, the umpires will be required to replace the ball mandatorily as stated earlier.

3) New Code of Conduct
Effective this season, a new Code of Conduct will be implemented from the TATA IPL 2025 season, introducing a demerit points system and suspension points which will remain valid for 36 months.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/bcci-announces-four-new-rules-in-ipl-2025-full-details-of-saliva-usage-new-ball-in-mid-innings-and-drs-expansion-101742574368960.html

England’s kabaddi captain Hardeep Singh believes his team can reach the final of the sport’s world cup and even compete with India, the red-hot favourites.

Kabaddi, where seven-player teams earn points by crossing into their opponent’s territory to tag them and return safely, all the while chanting “kabaddi”, is the second most watched sport in India behind cricket and often pulls in TV audiences of over 200 million.

Unsurprisingly India has dominated every international tournament to date, and their men’s team are set to extend that run.

But Singh and his colleagues have home advantage, as this year’s tournament is taking place in the West Midlands and he believes they have a chance of making history – and bringing new fans to the sport at the same time.

Singh, who is from Wolverhampton, which, along with Birmingham, Coventry, and Walsall, is one of the venues for the first world cup held outside Asia, said his squad thinks “we can get to the final and give India a good game”.

“They [India] are seen as invincible because it’s their national sport and they have so much heritage. But we will be ready to have that fight.

“When I started playing kabaddi I never thought it would get this far, and hosting a world cup in my hometown makes it particularly special,” he added.

Some in the UK will remember the fast, intense, and often very loud sport from Trans World Sport, Channel Four’s popular mid-1990s Saturday morning show.

For anyone new to it, Singh says kabaddi is “crazy” and has “got everything”.

He sees the tournament as a huge opportunity, as he believes there’s “so much potential for kabaddi in this country, provided there is enough support and funding at grass-roots level”.

England, who play in the British Kabaddi League, which was founded in 2022, thumped Hungary by a record-breaking 101-25 on the tournament’s opening day.

England’s women’s team also made a winning start in the initial round-robin phase on Tuesday, beating Hungary 85-15. Men’s and women’s teams from Scotland and Wales are also taking part.

The BCCI’s decision to limit the presence of family on tours has created a ripple effect on Indian cricketers. When the news first broke after India’s disastrous tour of Australia, players were genuinely worried. Even captain Rohit Sharma, while announcing India’s squad for the Champions Trophy, accidentally spilled confidential information on the same when he said ‘ I will have to sit down with the secretary to discuss a few things. About the family and other stuff.”

As per the new protocols, a cricketer’s family is no longer allowed to travel with them on tours that are less than 15 days. Hence, for the Champions Trophy, certain family members, such as Virat Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma, was in town to witness India’s matches against Pakistan, Australia and of course, New Zealand. While players have remained tight-lipped about BCCI’s fresh set of protocols, Kohli took a swipe at the board for not allowing family on tours. Kohli’s point of view was simple: It’s difficult to explain the impact of having family around when the going gets tough. While players are obviously around to help each other, family’s love and support during difficult times are unmatched.

India’s legendary World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has weighed in on the ongoing debate, advocating for a balanced approach that caters to both personal well-being and team responsibilities.

“Well, I don’t know, that’s individual. I think it’s the cricket board’s call,” Kapil Dev said on the sidelines of the ‘Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational’ event.

“My view is, yes, you need family. But you also need a team, all the time.”

Kapil, who steered India to their first World Cup victory in 1983, reflected on his playing days and how cricketers of his era managed the balance between professional commitments and personal lives.

“In our time, we used to say to ourselves – not by the cricket board – that the first half of the tour should be cricket, and in the second half, the family should come and enjoy it too. It should be a blend,” said Kapil.

The debate

The family diktat has divided opinions within the Indian cricketing fraternity, particularly after Virat Kohli was vocal in supporting family presence on tours. Kohli emphasised the role of loved ones in maintaining a sense of normalcy and emotional stability amid the rigors of international cricket.

During the recently concluded Champions Trophy, Kohli, along with Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami, had their families with them in Dubai. However, they opted not to stay at the team hotel, covering their accommodation expenses personally.

Kohli spoke in great detail about the importance of families, stating that the value of family presence is often undermined.

“It is very difficult to explain to people how grounding it is to just come back to your family every time you have something intense, which happens on the outside,” he said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/kapil-dev-reacts-after-virat-kohli-takes-a-dig-at-bcci-over-no-family-rule-we-didnt-wait-for-board-to-tell-us-101742345761662.html

Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil over the next eight days because of an injury to his adductor.

The 37-year-old Messi was not included in the 25-man squad announced on Monday by coach Lionel Scaloni. Later Monday, Inter Miami said Messi — the reigning Major League Soccer MVP — underwent an MRI “to assess the extent of the discomfort in his adductor region,” an injury that the team said occurred in Sunday’s win over Atlanta United.

“The examination’s findings confirmed the presence of a low-grade injury in the adductor muscle,” Inter Miami said. “His clinical progress and response to treatment will determine his availability for competition.”

Argentine media initially reported Messi suffered a sore left thigh on Sunday during Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory.

Argentina, which leads South America, will visit second-placed Uruguay on Friday and host fifth-placed Brazil four days later at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

Messi was not the only absentee for the two matches that could seal Argentina’s qualification. Also ruled out were Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Montiel and Giovani Lo Celso.

Scaloni also dropped Alejandro Garnacho and Claudio Echeverri from the larger squad announced on March 2.

Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner who captained and led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title, has been sidelined several times by Inter Miami this season because of injury concerns.

This month, Messi missed three games but returned on Thursday for the second leg of the round-of-16 CONCACAF Champions Cup tie against Cavalier SC.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/messi-out-argentina-world-cup-qualifying-49454e97d6d241ed97758039abd88190