Month: January 2025

New Delhi: Virat Kohli’s return to domestic cricket after 12 years has prompted a range of actions from the authorities and broadcasters. The state association has decided to offer free entry to the public, with the condition that fans present their Aadhaar cards. Meanwhile, Jio Cinema, which was not initially set to broadcast the match live, is now making arrangements for a live telecast.

Bring Aadhaar card:
The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) secretary Ashok Kumar Sharma is expecting a crowd of at least 10,000 on the first day. “The Gautam Gambhir Stand will be open for the spectators. The fans can enter from Gate No 16 and 17. Gate No 6 will also be open for the DDCA members and guests. We are expecting a 10,000 crowd for the first day,” Sharma told The Indian Express.

“It’s a free entry. The fans just need to bring their original copy of their Aadhaar card and its photocopy as well. The arrangements for the fans has been made. It will be like any international or an IPL match,” Sharma added.Delhi vs Railways

Live telecast:
The producers from Jio Cinema were fixing their equipment for the match on Wednesday.

“The kind of interest we had for the Mumbai vs J&K match, where Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal played was insane. With Virat Kohli playing in Delhi, we are expecting the same amount of attraction from this match as well. This is completely our prerogative. We took the call the moment Virat made himself available for the match,” a Jio official tells The Indian Express.

“This is not a normal Ranji Trophy match. Apna Cheeku (Kohli’s nickname) khel raha hai (Our Cheeku is playing). We have requested the Delhi Police to help us with more extra police force for the next four days. We’ll also have our own private security as well,” he said.

When inquired about whether the DDCA plans to honor Kohli before the match, the secretary responded: “This is not his last match. There is no such plan.”

The most convenient way to get to the stadium is by metro. The closest metro station to Arun Jaitley Stadium is Delhi Gate (Violet line). Gate No. 5 is just under 100 meters from Gates No. 16 and 17, which will be accessible for spectators.

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New Delhi: Fans are going wild over MS Dhoni’s striking look in the promotional ad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, which has taken the internet by storm. Dhoni is preparing to back India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as shown in a fun-filled promotional video. The tournament is set to begin on February 19, and with just over 20 days to go, Dhoni’s appearance in the promo has certainly built excitement for the event.

MS Dhoni’s Champions Trophy promo ad goes viral:
In the video, Dhoni humorously expresses how challenging it will be to stay calm as a fan during the Champions Trophy, a stark contrast to his previous role as captain. Recalling India’s triumph in the 2013 Champions Trophy, he discussed the high stakes of the tournament, emphasizing that a single loss could result in elimination. To manage the anticipated pressure and excitement, the iconic captain is shown using the fictional “Dhoni Refrigeration System” to stay cool throughout the event.

“When I was the captain, it was easy to remain cool but it won’t be easy to watch Champions Trophy as a fan. Our team might be strong but if we lose one game, then we’re almost out of the tournament. The temperature has risen so much due to constant tension,” said Dhoni in the promo shared by Star Sports. “When I was the captain, it was easy to remain cool but it won’t be easy to watch Champions Trophy as a fan. Our team might be strong but if we lose one game, then we’re almost out of the tournament. The temperature has risen so much due to constant tension,” said Dhoni in the promo shared by Star Sports.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW:

MS Dhoni notably led India in two Champions Trophy tournaments, in 2009 and 2013. Under his captaincy in 2013, a relatively young Indian squad went on an undefeated streak, winning five matches in a row and clinching the championship title.

After their 2013 victory, India made it to the final of the next Champions Trophy in 2017, where they played against Pakistan. Unfortunately, they were defeated by a huge margin of 180 runs, allowing Pakistan to claim their first Champions Trophy title. India will be looking to make up for this 2017 defeat when they start their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by a much-awaited clash with Pakistan in Dubai on February 23.

India’s Champions Trophy squad:
Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vice-capt), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja

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New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin was highly impressed by England’s Adil Rashid after his stunning delivery in Rajkot. The 37-year-old leg-spinner played a key role in England’s 26-run victory over India at Niranjan Shah Stadium on January 28. Rashid took the wicket of Tilak Varma in the eighth over of India’s chase with a brilliant delivery that hit the stumps. Ashwin, captivated by the incredible wrist spin, couldn’t contain his excitement and shared his reaction on X (formerly Twitter). “Absolute seed. Scrambled seam and serious side spin. Top bowling Adil Rashid,” Ashwin wrote.

Adil Rashid claimed a crucial wicket on the last ball of the eighth over, deceiving Tilak Varma with a sharp turning delivery that swung back into the batter. Varma, waiting on the backfoot to play, misread the ball and was bowled out. This wicket marked a remarkable comeback for Rashid in the series, especially after being hit for 27 runs in Kolkata. Though he couldn’t prevent India’s progress in Chennai, the experienced spinner played a key role in England’s defense, keeping the five-match series competitive.

Ravichandran Ashwin wasn’t the only one captivated by Rashid’s stunning delivery. India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, also praised the England spinner’s brilliance during the post-match presentation. Yadav mentioned that India had the match under control with Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel at the crease.

“I felt there would be little dew later in the day. I feel we had the game in our hands when Hardik and Axar were batting,” he said, as per multiple outlets. According to Suryakumar, Adil’s spell played an important role in turning the game in England’s favour. “Credit goes to Adil Rashid, he bowled well. That’s why he is a world-class bowler. He didn’t allow us to rotate the strike,” the Indian skipper concluded.

In the third T20I between India and England, the visitors batted first at Niranjan Shah Stadium and posted a target of 172. India’s chase got off to a rough start as both openers, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, were dismissed during the powerplay. After Suryakumar Yadav’s wicket, India’s innings struggled, with Adil Rashid making it difficult for the batters to score. In his four overs, the English spinner gave away just 15 runs, helping secure a crucial win for Jos Buttler’s team.

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