Category: Sports

New Delhi: Pakistan is set to host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. However, the Indian government’s choice to refrain from sending the Indian cricket team to Pakistan means that all of India’s matches will take place in Dubai. Should India advance to the knockout stage, both the semi-finals and the final will also be relocated to Dubai. Originally, the opening ceremony and the captains’ photoshoot were scheduled to occur in Pakistan, but recent updates indicate that these events have been canceled.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma will not be attending the opening ceremony or photo shoot in Pakistan. The stadiums assigned for the events are still under construction. Furthermore, international media reports indicate that the postponement of the opening events was affected by the late arrival of teams such as England and Australia to Pakistan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) previously announced that Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore would be transferred to the ICC by February 11. However, today was originally designated as the final deadline for the stadium handovers, highlighting the PCB’s last-minute actions.

Additionally, the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, which is set to host the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand, is also yet to be fully ready. PCB claims that only final touch-up work remains in Lahore, while also three stadiums are undergoing round-the-clock renovations in different shifts.

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New Delhi: Following the departure of Faf du Plessis, who captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the previous three seasons of the Indian Premier League, RCB will have a new captain for IPL 2025. There is speculation among fans and analysts that Virat Kohli, who resigned from the captaincy in 2021, may return to lead the team in the upcoming season. The Bengaluru franchise, still in pursuit of its first IPL championship, has not yet released any official statements regarding this matter.

In a recent conversation with Sports Tak, Rajesh Menon, the COO of RCB, was questioned about whether Kohli would lead the team in the 2025 IPL season. He responded to the inquiry, “Currently we have not decided anything. We have multiple leaders in the team. 4-5 leaders are there. We have not deliberated what we need to do. We will deliberate, and we will come to a conclusion.”

Virat Kohli has led the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 143 matches during the IPL from 2011 to 2023, achieving victory in 66 of those games. Under his captaincy, the team faced defeat 70 times. He guided the franchise to the IPL final in the 2016 season, where he notably accumulated 973 runs.

During the IPL 2025 mega auction, RCB secured several notable players, including Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Tim David, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jitesh Sharma, Devdutt Padikkal, Josh Hazlewood, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, and Suyash Sharma, among others.

Menon commented on the team that RCB has put together for IPL 2025 when questioned about it, “We were very clear in terms of what kind of gaps we have and what all we need to fulfill and what is the Indian core that we require to build, and if you want to play in M Chinnaswamy (Stadium), what kind of bowling attack we require. And that is what we did.”

“If you see Day 1, it was low-key for us. People thought we were not participating in the auction, but at the end of Day 2, everybody, right from fans to experts, felt saying what we have done is the best because we have covered all the gaps, and I think we have got one of the best teams.”

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New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan is commemorating nine years of marriage with his spouse, Safa Baig. To celebrate this special milestone, he shared a glimpse of their anniversary festivities, which included a surprise appearance by Bollywood star Aamir Khan. This touching moment brought joy to fans and enhanced the celebration of the occasion.

Irfan Pathan and Safa shared a touching video on Instagram from their ninth wedding anniversary celebration, featuring Irfan cutting a cake with his wife, Safa Baig, while their family and friends cheered them on. Aamir Khan was present next to the couple, smiling and applauding in support. The post included a caption, “There were ppl in this room I use to admire from far but now call them friends thank you for making our wedding anniversary memorable Aamir bhai.”

Aamir Khan played a key role in organizing the anniversary celebration for Irfan Pathan and Safa Baig, as mentioned in the caption of the post, highlighting the importance of the event.

The video featured various prominent attendees, such as Aamir Khan’s former spouse Kiran Rao, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar accompanied by his wife Anjali Tendulkar, and ex-cricketer Zaheer Khan with his wife, actress Sagarika Ghatge. The presence of these celebrities added to the significance of the event for the couple.

Earlier today, Irfan Pathan posted a meaningful photo with his wife, Safa Baig, on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by a sincere anniversary message. He wrote, “YOU ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ANSWER TO ALL MY PRAYERS. happy 9th my love.”

Safa Baig, a model from Jeddah and the executive editor of a public relations firm, married Irfan Pathan in a private ceremony in Mecca on February 3, 2016. The wedding was a small gathering, attended solely by close family and friends, which made it a memorable and significant event for the couple.

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Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history and holds numerous accolades in the sport. Currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, he has been a dominant figure in football for over ten years, often competing with Lionel Messi for prestigious awards. The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi has sparked extensive discussions among fans regarding who is the superior player. In a notable admission, Ronaldo has acknowledged that some may favor Messi or other legendary players like Pele and Maradona.

Ronaldo acknowledges that some individuals may favor Messi over him; however, he disagrees with the notion that he is not a ‘complete footballer.’

“I think I’m the most complete football player that has ever existed. People could like Messi, Maradona or Pele, and I respect it, but I’m the most complete.

“I’m the best player in football history. I haven’t seen anyone better than me in football history and I’m saying truth from my heart,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Spanish media outlet LaSexta TV.

In the interview, Ronaldo stated that he and Messi have maintained a positive relationship throughout the past 15 years, during which they established a dominant presence in football.

“I’ve never had a bad relationship with Messi. We’ve shared 15 years of awards, and we’ve always gotten along well. I remember that I used to translate English for him, and it was very funny,” says Cristiano.

“He defended his club and I mine, and his national team and I mine. I think we gave each other feedback. There were years when he wanted to play everything, and so did I. It was a healthy fight,” the Portuguese stalwart added.

When questioned about whether he considers himself the greatest player of all time, Ronaldo responded in his usual manner, emphasizing his ability to score goals.

” There are some things that don’t make sense . What does a goalscorer mean? It’s someone who puts the ball in the goal,” the Al-Nassr player began.

” I think I’m the most complete player that has ever existed . I do everything in football. I play well with my head, I take good free kicks, I have a left foot, a right foot, I’m strong, I go out…”

Ronaldo addressed the significant question by stating that he has not encountered anyone he considers superior to himself in the realm of football.

“I think so, I have not seen anyone better than me . I tell you this from the heart.”

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New Delhi: The in-form mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, has been named in the Indian ODI squad following his standout performances in the recent T20I series against England. The team management is keen to have the KKR spinner maintain his momentum. There’s a strong possibility that Chakravarthy could replace one of the four specialist spinners in the Champions Trophy squad, with Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar potentially making way for him before the final squad is confirmed. His performance in the upcoming ODIs will play a crucial role in determining his place.

Chakravarthy, who claimed 14 wickets in five T20Is against England and was named the ‘Player of the Series’, has not been selected for the three ODIs against England or the Champions Trophy later this month.

Chakravarthy was seen training and bowling in the nets on Tuesday

“Yes, Varun Chakravarthy is part of the squad,” India vice-captain Shubman Gill confirmed during a media interaction after the team’s training session.

It is understood that head coach Gautam Gambhir wants Chakravarthy to stay in rhythm by bowling to key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant.

With the deadline for squad changes for the Champions Trophy set for February 12, Varun Chakravarthy remains a strong contender for selection. However, it’s unlikely he will be added to the squad without having played a single ODI.

India currently has three finger spinners in the squad: two left-armers, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, and one right-arm off-spinner, Washington Sundar. Kuldeep Yadav, returning from sports hernia surgery in October 2024, is the only wrist spinner in the squad.

“As of now, the team management wanted Varun to bowl in the ODI squad nets ahead of the England series. Varun doesn’t play red-ball cricket,” a senior BCCI source told PTI, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

“With the domestic white-ball season already concluded, he has no assignments until the start of the IPL at the end of March. He is in good rhythm, and they want him to maintain that,” the source added.

When asked about the possibility of Chakravarthy being selected for the ODI series and the subsequent Champions Trophy based on his current form, the source explained: “The selectors have already picked four spinners, and you only have three ODI games.”

“But if the team management wants Varun, it will certainly have to speak to the chairman of the selection committee. Whether they intend to or not is still not known.”

The Men in Blue are currently without a second wrist spinner, and Varun Chakravarthy’s strong form could work in his favor. The last time he played on the flatter tracks in Dubai during the 2021 T20 World Cup, Chakravarthy struggled to make a significant impact. However, he has made notable improvements since then, refining his variations with a greater focus on over-spin.

The England team has had difficulty reading him, and in the Champions Trophy, one of the opposition teams will be Bangladesh, who were bamboozled by him in the October T20I series. He could also be an unknown entity for most teams like New Zealand and Pakistan.

Chakravarthy has consistently performed on batting-friendly surfaces, finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the recent T20I series against England, with an impressive average of 9.85. Since India is set to play all their league matches in Dubai, his form could prove crucial.

Additionally, he has picked up 18 wickets for Tamil Nadu in the National One Day Championship, further boosting his case for selection.

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New Delhi: MS Dhoni‘s words served as a powerful reminder that no dream is too big, regardless of one’s background. He shared his personal journey of determination to inspire and motivate the youth.

MS Dhoni, the iconic former Indian cricket captain, addressed more than 350,000 students at Mumbai’s SVP Stadium Dome, where he shared his inspiring journey from a small town to achieving global recognition.

Inspiring students preparing for India’s toughest competitive exams at ALLEN Career Institute’s nationwide student summit, ‘Sangam,’ MS Dhoni shared his remarkable journey from Ranchi to becoming the captain of the Indian cricket team.

He emphasized, “Small-town dreams can conquer the world—success is not dependent on a pin code anymore. If a boy from Ranchi can achieve it, then with the right guidance, dedication, and mindset, anyone can,” said the 42-year-old.

MS Dhoni On Handling Pressure
When asked about dealing with pressure, MS Dhoni emphasized the significance of preparation over results and the process over the outcome. He said, “Focus on the preparation that happens behind the scenes; this is what leads to composure on the big stage and the results that follow. Live in the present and enjoy every moment—I never thought about playing for India; I only focused on giving my best in every match I played while growing up.”

MS Dhoni’s Lessons from Sports
Dhoni also shared valuable insights on mental resilience and the lessons he’s learned through sports. On mental fortitude, he highlighted, “Success and failure are part of life. The key is to learn from failures and keep moving forward. Respect for leaders, embracing challenges, and hard work are irreplaceable values that define success.”

Dhoni’s words served as a powerful reminder that no dream is too big, no matter where an individual comes from. He shared his own journey of determination to inspire and motivate young minds.

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New Delhi: Legendary Australian cricketer and former captain Ricky Ponting has chosen Jacques Kallis as the “best cricketer to ever play,” leaving out Indian batting icons Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Kallis, who also represented Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, was Ponting’s pick when asked about the “greatest to ever play cricket” on The Howie Games podcast.

Ricky Ponting praised Jacques Kallis as the greatest cricketer to ever play, stating, “Jacques Kallis is the best cricketer that’s ever played. I don’t care. I don’t care about all the others. Full stop. 13,000 runs. 44 or 45 Test hundreds. And 300 wickets. Either one of those careers is outstanding. You can take 300 Test wickets every day of the week, and you take 45 Test hundreds. He’s got them both. He was just a born cricketer. Unorthodox in the slips, didn’t drop anything in the slips, had a sort of funny technique, caught everything. I think he’s the best and the most underrated because he’s not talked about very much at all. Probably because of his personality and his character. He’s not out there. He’s low-key, yeah. Hasn’t done much media work. So, he’s sort of one of those forgotten-about ones a little bit.”

Jacques Kallis had a remarkable 19-year international career, playing for South Africa from 1995 to 2014. Over the course of 166 Tests, 328 ODIs, and 25 T20Is, he accumulated a total of 13,289 runs in Tests, 11,579 runs in ODIs, and 666 runs in T20Is. In addition to his batting feats, Kallis was also a formidable bowler, taking 292 wickets in Tests, 273 wickets in ODIs, and 12 wickets in T20Is. He remains the third-leading run scorer in Test cricket and ranks eighth in the list of all-time highest run scorers in ODIs.

As an exceptional outfielder, Jacques Kallis completed 338 catches in his 519 international matches, ranking fourth for most catches by any player. He is also one of only four players to have taken 200 catches in Test cricket.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kallis represented Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) from 2008 to 2010 and then played for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) from 2011 to 2014. During his time with KKR, he won two IPL titles under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir. Kallis ended his IPL career with impressive stats, scoring 2,427 runs and taking 65 wickets in 98 matches.

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New Delhi: Ankita Raina is thrilled to be back at the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125 Series, taking place at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai. The former India number one showcased her skill with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory over fellow Indian Vaishnavi Adkar, securing her spot in the Round of 16. Raina will now face second seed, Rebecca Marino of Canada, in the upcoming round.

The 32-year-old, with years of experience on the international circuit, shared her thoughts on returning to the prestigious tournament. “I’m really happy to be back in Mumbai for the Mumbai Open. I think this is my fourth or fifth year playing here. I would like to thank the MSLTA team and the tournament directors, Mr. Sunder Iyer and Mr. Prashant Sutar, for granting me the wildcard. This event is an excellent platform for Indian players to compete against some of the world’s best.”

Reflecting on her performance against Vaishnavi, Raina added, “I haven’t faced her before, but we’ve practiced together recently. I started strong and knew she was an aggressive player, so I had a good idea of what to expect. I’m happy with my performance.”

Raina, who is currently working with former ATP player Harsh Mankad, spoke about their partnership. “He’s been helping me out, providing his insights, especially given his experience at this level. We’re trying out some new strategies together. Harsh is based in the United States, but it’s been great to have his support.”

On her professional journey, Raina reflected, “I’ve been in this position for over 10 years now, and even after all this time, I feel the same way I did when I first started. I see myself as my own competition, and I’d say that to all the upcoming players—keep striving to be better than yesterday. Ultimately, we all aim for the Grand Slams, and that’s where you want to be.”

The L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125 Series is being live-streamed on the MSLTA, Prasar Bharati Sports, the MSLTA website, and Sportzworkz’s YouTube channels.

About the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125 Series: The L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125 Series enters its fourth year, returning to Mumbai after a six-year gap. The 2024 edition was won by Latvia’s Darja Semeņistaja, while previous champions include 2024 Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka (2017) and Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum (2018).

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Former Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne is set to retire from international cricket after playing his 100th Test, which will be the second and final match against Australia starting in Galle on Thursday. The 36-year-old, one of the most prolific batters for Sri Lanka, has scored 7,172 runs at an average of just under 40, with 16 centuries and 34 half-centuries in 99 Tests over nearly 14 years. He has also featured in 50 ODIs, scoring 1,316 runs with one century and 11 fifties.

“It is difficult for a Test player to keep himself motivated to play 4 Tests for a year and maintain his form,” Karunaratne, who made his Test debut in 2012, was quoted as saying by ‘Daily FT’.

“In the last two-three years after the WTC (World Test Championship) was introduced, we have been having very little bilateral series. My current form is another reason; completing my 100 Tests, the end of the WTC cycle (2023-25), I thought is the right time to retire.”

Karunaratne plans to relocate to Australia with his family next month. Having made his first-class debut for Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in 2008, he will play his final match for them against NCC in the SLC Major Club three -Day Tournament from February 14-16.

“I have some personal plans of my own. I’ve decided to retire after speaking to other senior players like Angie (Angelo Mathews) and Chandi (Dinesh Chandimal),” he said.

“Rather than the three of us retiring at the same time, it will be better for us to go one by one. I thought I will retire first because I know I cannot go for my next target – 10,000 runs – with the lesser number of Tests being played. I am happy with what I have achieved so far. I want to announce my retirement with a happy moment like playing in my 100th Test.”

Karunaratne has been struggling for form of late, managing scores of 7 and 0 in the first Test against Australia in which Sri Lanka slumped to an innings and 242 run defeat to go 0-1 down in the two-Test series.

“Any cricketer’s dream is to play 100 Tests and score 10,000 runs. It’s a big achievement. When you start playing cricket, you don’t think of those targets, but when you continue playing, you come across different targets,” he said.

“But as Sri Lanka are playing less Test matches for a year, getting to 10,000 runs seems far away. Appearing in 100 Tests I feel is an achievement,” he added.

He would look back at his career as a satisfied man due to its sheer longevity. “Several players play Test cricket but only a handful are able to go and play 100 Tests. To become a member of that exclusive club I am very happy. To become Sri Lanka’s seventh cricketer to play in 100 Tests is also a happy moment,” he signed off.

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Team India will begin the road to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with a three-match ODI series against former world champions England beginning in Nagpur on Thursday. With the five-match T20I series coming to an end earlier this week, Indian stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be back in the mix and will be critical to the nation’s chances in the Champions Trophy.

Both Rohit and Kohli had a forgettable time in the five-match Test series against Australia, with the Indian skipper managing only 31 runs in three Tests and was forced to drop himself from the side for the fifth and final Test in Sydney last month.

But Rohit was in scintillating form in the last ICC event in the 50-over format – the 2023 ODI World Cup – guiding India to the final at home. Rohit was the 2nd highest run-getter for India with 597 runs in 11 matches at an average of 54.27 with a strike-rate of 125.94.

Of course, the leading run-scorer for India in that campaign was former captain Kohli, who scored 765 runs in 11 games at an average of 95.62 with 3 hundreds and 6 fifties. Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Suresh Raina believes that Rohit and Virat ‘complement’ each other and will critical to India’s fortunes in Champions Trophy.

“Rohit Sharma’s strike rate has improved significantly after the ODI World Cup in 2023. Since then, he has scored runs at a strike rate of 119-120, making him one of India’s best ODI batsmen. For Rohit and Virat, I would say that when you have a strong record of past performances, it gives you a lot of confidence. They complement each other well, and both have the skill to score big runs. If they perform well, India’s ICC Men’s Champions Trophy campaign will benefit immensely,” Raina was quoted as saying on Star Sports show ‘Game Plan’.

Although Rohit is struggling to find form with the bat, Raina believes that the best course for the Indian skipper will be to be ‘aggressive’. “I think Rohit should play aggressively. You saw how he batted in the ODI World Cup—he was attacking even in the final. So, I believe his approach will remain the same. The key question is who will open alongside him—will it be Shubman? I remember, whenever they play together, they maintain an aggressive intent,” Raina said.

On Rohit Sharma as a captain, Raina felt, “Rohit Sharma is an attacking captain. The way he utilizes his bowlers is commendable—bringing in Mohammad Shami at crucial moments and relying on spinners strategically. When Rohit scores runs, it also reflects in his captaincy. This could be his last ICC trophy as captain, and if he wins, he will become the first Indian player to win four ICC trophies. He has already won the T20 World Cup, and securing the Champions Trophy would be a remarkable achievement. He will be motivated to make it happen, but scoring runs will be crucial for him.”

Meanwhile, Kohli needs 94 more in the ODI series against England to become the fastest batter to score 14,000 runs in ODIs – going past legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. “When it comes to white-ball cricket, Virat knows how to switch on and switch off. He has scored the most runs against England, so his energy will be at a different level automatically. The three ODIs will be played in Nagpur, Ahmedabad, and Cuttack—all of which are high-scoring venues,” Raina said about Kohli.

About the spin department and Indian team combination, Raina said, “I think (Ravindra) Jadeja will definitely play because of his effectiveness in ODIs. Kuldeep (Yadav) has not played a match since his injury, but we also have Axar Patel, who has been consistently performing well. The pitches in Dubai will offer some seam movement, but spin will also play a role. That’s why Kuldeep, Axar, and Jadeja need to be in top form. Rohit’s choice of team combination will be crucial.”

Team India will begin their campaign in the Champions Trophy with a clash against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20 while the all-important India vs Pakistan clash is scheduled to take place on February 23 at the same venue.

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