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On National Sports Day, August 29, 2024, Sidharth Malhotra delighted his fans with a nostalgic post featuring an epic throwback video of him playing cricket with his Kapoor & Sons co-star, Fawad Khan. The video showcased the duo enjoying a friendly match, with Sidharth playfully boasting that his team was always better, leaving Fawad in fits of laughter.

Along with the video, Sidharth shared his enduring love for cricket and sports in general. In his Instagram caption, he reminisced about how sports have been a significant part of his life, from playing basketball, rugby, and football at the club level to indulging in gully cricket. He emphasized how sports have shaped him, building both his physical and mental strength, and revealed that even during film shoots, he seizes any opportunity for a quick cricket fix.

He captioned, “From Delhi streets to film sets, my love for cricket remains unchanged! Sports were always a...

In a amazing announcement, Bhushan Kumar along with Ravi Bhagchandka revealed that they joining together to bring Yuvraj Singh’s extraordinary life to the big screen with a biopic that honors the legendary cricketer and his remarkable achievements. This film promises to be a grand celebration of his unparalleled journey and contributions to cricket, capturing the essence of his legendary career, unforgettable six sixes in 2007 T20 World Cup, and his courageous off-field battles.

Celebrated for his flamboyant style and unwavering resilience, Singh has left an indelible mark on cricket. Since his international debut in 2000, Yuvraj won fans over with his aggressive left-handed batting and electrifying fielding. As the architect of India’s 2011 World Cup victory, his all-round brilliance was crucial to India’s most celebrated victory. His dominance continued in the Ipl, where his exceptional T20 performances further solidified his reputation as a powerhouse.

However, Yuvraj’s story extends beyond his cricketing feats.

The official announcement of Yuvraj Singh’s biopic has generated a buzz among fans and the cricketing community. The film, tentatively titled Six Sixes, was revealed on Tuesday through the official social media handles of T-Series Films. This biopic is set to chronicle the extraordinary life of Yuvraj Singh, from his iconic moments on the cricket field to his courageous battle against cancer.

The makers shared the exciting news on Instagram, inviting fans to “Relive the legend’s journey from the pitch to the heart of millions,” highlighting the film’s focus on Yuvraj’s inspiring story of perseverance and triumph. T-Series head Bhushan Kumar, renowned for producing hits like Animal and Kabir Singh, is collaborating with producer Ravi Bhagchandka, who previously produced the acclaimed Sachin Tendulkar documentary Sachin: A Billion Dreams, to bring this story to the big screen.

One of the most anticipated scenes in the biopic is...

Sanjay Leela Bhansali & Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has worked with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in three movies—Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, and Guzaarish. The filmmaker wrote three of the most memorable roles for the blue-eyed beauty. The characters Nandini, Paro, and Sofia are entirely different from each other. Slb not only makes Ash look breathtaking on the big screen but also brings out the best in her as an actress.

In the past, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has showered praise on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in many interviews. From her beauty to her talent to her dedication, Slb always had good things to say about her. Even when there were differences, the duo maintained grace and respected their bond. In one interview, Bhansali said that he would like to make ‘Taj Mahal‘ for the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil actress. In the same interview, Bhansali said that...

Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn, who is currently busy with his action film ‘Singham Again’, has strategically invested in the cricket World Championship Of Legends. Iconic cricketers like Yuvraj Singh, Brett Lee, Kevin Petersen, Suresh Raina and Shahid Afridi will be a part of World Championship Of Legends which is set to be held at the Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham in the UK. The star-studded event guarantees a nostalgic reunion of cricketing legends, injecting brilliance and experience into this global T20 spectacle.

Expressing his passion for the sport, Ajay Devgn said: “As a cricket lover, witnessing celebrated cricket legends back in action is a dream come true. The tournament not only brings forth cricketing nostalgia but also marks a unique collaboration between cinema and cricket, offering an extraordinary gift for fans worldwide.”

Harshit Tomar, the visionary founder of the World Championship Of Legends, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Indian Legend Mr.

Mumbai, Sep 23 (Ians) As the celebrations for actress Parineeti Chopra and Aap leader Raghav Chadha have begun, DJ Sumit Sethi will be seen making the bride-groom and their families groove to his tunes.

A video showed the popular DJ at the Udaipur airport. The paparazzi could be seen asking him: “Bhai play karoge kya?”

To which, he was seen replying: “Let’s party guys. Boom!”

This is not the first time the DJ is getting a big party started. He has previously played in Commonwealth Games to International Indian Film Academy Awards (Iifa), the weddings of cricketer Yuvraj Singh with Hazel Keech and Dia Mirza with Sahil Sangha in 2014.

Sethi entered the world of music and DJing at the age of 16. is trying to preserve the heritage of Punjabi folk music. His vision is to fuse electronic music with Bollywood sound.

Parineeti and Raghav will get married on September 24. The...

Mumbai, Sep 23 (Ians) As the celebrations for actress Parineeti Chopra and Aap leader Raghav Chadha have begun, DJ Sumit Sethi will be seen making the bride-groom and their families groove to his tunes.

A video showed the popular DJ at the Udaipur airport. The paparazzi could be seen asking him: “Bhai play karoge kya?”

To which, he was seen replying: “Let’s party guys. Boom!”

This is not the first time the DJ is getting a big party started. He has previously played in Commonwealth Games to International Indian Film Academy Awards (Iifa), the weddings of cricketer Yuvraj Singh with Hazel Keech and Dia Mirza with Sahil Sangha in 2014.

Sethi entered the world of music and DJing at the age of 16. is trying to preserve the heritage of Punjabi folk music. His vision is to fuse electronic music with Bollywood sound.

Parineeti and Raghav will get married on September 24. The...

New Delhi, Sept 1 (Ians) The Asian Games-bound golfer, Avani Prashanth, who is having a sensational season, will lead the Indian team for the Espirito Santo Trophy competition for women at the World Amateur Team Championship (Watc) in October.

The Indian Golf Union (Igu) has also selected Nishna Patel and Mannat Brar as the other two players for the prestigious amateur golf event to be held in Abu Dhabi from October 25 to 28.

Avani, winner of the Queen Sirikit Cup individual title earlier in the year, has been in great form, having won the title at a pro event on the Ladies European Tour’s Access Tour. She became the first Indian to win a title on the Let Access Tour.

Nishna was runner-up at the Apgc Juniors in Manila, where Avani had earlier achieved her Queen Sirikit success. Mannat has also been in good form and contended at even the pro...

New Delhi, Aug 19 (Ians) Former India wicketkeeper-batter Kiran More believes uncapped left-handed batter Rinku Singh has the potential to become a brilliant finisher, just like legendary batters Ms Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh.

Rinku excelled as a finisher for the Kolkata Knight Riders (Kkr) in Ipl 2023, with the most notable moment being him smacking Gujarat Titans pacer Yash Dayal for five sixes on the last five balls of the match in Ahmedabad to seal an improbable victory.

Overall, Rinku scored 474 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 149.53 in the tournament, where he was the designated finisher for Kkr. His strike-rate while batting in last five overs of the tournament shot up to 186.66, the best-ever for an Indian batter in the competition.

“I have been waiting for his opportunity in the Indian team. And that batting position, of No.5 and 6, he will perform well in that spot and can end up being a brilliant finisher.

New Delhi, Aug 18 (Ians) Former India cricketer Sandeep Patil stated that he would like to go with Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav if he was choosing the teams for the upcoming Asia Cup and Men’s Odi World Cup.

With question marks still high over Shreyas Iyer and Kl Rahul reaching full fitness in time for the two big events due to their back and thigh injuries, there has been an increase in clamour for the selection of Suryakumar and Tilak, who is yet to make his Odi debut.

“100 per cent (if India should hand a debut to Tilak Varma?) I will go with Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav. Who will be in the playing XI, can be decided after looking at the balance and the opposition. But Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav will both be in my team,” said Patil, a former chief selector, to Star Sports.

Former India...

Saiyami Kher mentions a lot of preparation – physical and mental – went into creating her character in her upcoming movie ‘Ghoomer’, where she is playing a cricketer, a para athlete who has lost one arm. One of the biggest inspirations was ace cricketer Yuvraj Singh. The explosive batsman helped her prepare mentally for the role.

Saiyami says, “For me Ghoomer is a film about triumph. And Yuvi’s career has been an inspiring triumph. A sports person does not just prepare physically but also mentally. I feel Yuvraj’s story has been a story that has inspired me and many like me. To be at the peak of his career and then go through cancer and come back from there speaks volumes about his mental tenacity. Yuvi has known my love for cricket, I can’t wait for him to see it.”

The movie is directed by R Balki and the story,...

Lauderhill, Florida, Aug 16 (Ians) The US Masters T10 League, which will witness the likes of Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh in action, will kick off with Atlanta Fire taking on Texas Chargers in the opening match at the Broward County Stadium, here on Friday.

A total of six teams – Atlanta Fire, California Knights, Morrisville Unity, New Jersey Tritons, New York Warriors and Texas Chargers – are all set to mesmerise cricket fans in the United States of America in the ten-day competition from August 18 to August 27.

The competition will consist of 21 round-robin games ahead of the Playoffs and the Final. A celebrity game will also be held on the day of the Finale.

Speaking about the announcement of the US Masters T10 League schedule, Shaji Ul Mulk, Chairman, T Ten Sports Management said, “We are absolutely delighted to announce the fixtures of the inaugural US Masters T10 League edition. The fans...

New Delhi, Aug 15 (Ians) As the nation is celebrating the 77th Independence Day, former, as well as current Indian sportspersons, extended their greetings for the occasion on Tuesday.

Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Mithali Raj, Pv Sindhu, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuvraj Singh, and numerous other athletes conveyed their well-wishes to fellow countrymen on the occasion of Independence Day on social media.

Sachin wrote: “I love my India. Wishing all my fellow Indians across the world a very happy Independence Day.”

Kohli took to his X ( previously Twitter) account and wrote: “Happy Independence Day to all. Jai Hind.

Two -time Olympic medallist, Sindhu shared her throwback picture from Rio Olympics silver-winning moment and wrote: On this Independence Day, I send warm wishes to all my fellow Indians. Raising the tricolor high on the podium multiple times has been my greatest honor.

“The sound of ‘Jana Gana Mana’ never fails to give me goosebumps,...

New Delhi, Aug 14 (Ians) Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan shared the new ball for India in all formats for many years. But their bonding goes even deeper as the senior pacer played an important role in the Odi and Test debuts of the junior bowler from Delhi.

Players have butterflies in their tummies just before making their international debut. Former India pacer Ishant Sharma was nervous and scared well before his debut match for he had to travel alone to join the team in Ireland for an Odi series on an Sos call-up as many players were sick and unavailable.

Ishant, who had played only a few Ranji Trophy matches till then and was selected for the subsequent Test series against England, was leaving Indian shores for the first time and had to travel alone to England and then to Ireland. And to compound his problems, he lost his luggage and kit bag in transit.

Mumbai, Aug 10 (Ians) Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has expressed concerns over unresolved issues with the No.4 spot in ODIs, stating that “after Yuvraj Singh, nobody has come and settled in”.

With less than two months to go before the Cricket World Cup, the no.4 position is a hot topic for debate and the reason is the growing list of injuries.

Due to the players getting injured, the Men In Blue have struggled to find the right fit throughout the year and are now left with no choice but to try different players.India have played 11 players at the No.4 position in ODIs since the end of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, with only Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant batting over 10 times.

However, Pant won’t be able to make it to the World Cup team this year considering his injuries after his car crash, while Iyer is yet to return after a back injury.

Barbados, Aug 8 (Ians) India captain Rohit Sharma has reflected on Odi World Cup memories and looked ahead optimistically to a home campaign beginning in October, saying that the team needs to play well the entire month, month and a half, and be consistent to win the mega event.

While India may not have advanced past the semi-final stage in the last two Men’s Cricket World Cups, the skipper believes his side can emulate the 2011 success of his compatriots.

On hand during the Barbados leg of the Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour, posing with the prize on offer come November 19, Rohit expressed the importance of measure and patience in India’s preparation.

“We are back home again this year, so hopefully we can turn things around. It’s still a long way to go and we know you can’t win the World Cup in one or two days, you...

New Delhi, July 22 (Ians) It has been a dream start in Test cricket for young left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. A magnificent 171 in the Dominica Test against West Indies has been followed up by an impressive 57 in the ongoing match at Port of Spain.

Apart from this, he’s also earned T20I call-up to India’s squad for upcoming T20Is in the Caribbean as well as for the Asian Games, to be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 28 to October 8.

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has expressed delight over Jaiswal’s stupendous start to his Test career and feels the youngster is on the right path on seeing the progress he has made in the last one-and-a-half years across formats.

“It has been a dream start for him, there’s no doubting that. Anybody who gets 170 in Test cricket on debut and follow-up with a fifty, that’s a...

Raleigh, North Carolina, July 12 (Ians) The T Ten Global Sports conducted the US Masters T10 League Player Draft in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Player Draft witnessed all six teams – Atlanta Fire, California Knights, Morrisville Unity, New Jersey Legends, New York Warriors and Texas Chargers – construct explosive line-ups for the tournament, set to be held later this year.

The New Jersey Legends will have three 2011 World Cup-winning players Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan enthralling the crowd along with Liam Plunkett, Albie Morkel, Naman Ojha, Jesse Ryder, Chris Barnwell, Stuart Binny, Rp Singh, Bipul Sharma, Craig Mcmillan, Tim Ambrose, Rajesh Bishnoi, Abhimanyu Mithun and Monty Panesar.

Swashbuckling batters Robin Uthappa and David Hussey will lead the charge for Atlanta Fire along with Lendl Simmons, Muhammad Irfan, Dwayne Smith, Farhad Raza, Hammad Azam, Chaturanga De Silva, Elias Sunny, Nasir Hossain, Kamrul Islam, Junaid Siddique, Grant Elliot, Amila Aponso, Hamilton Masakada and S Sreesanth.

New Delhi, July 11 (Ians) Former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh on Tuesday said that he is “not sure, to be honest” if India are going to win the 2023 World Cup at home.

In a freewheeling chat on a YouTube channel Cricket Basu, the cricketer pelted the sports presenter with candid views on the state of Indian cricket. And no, Yuvraj isn’t impressed.

So much so when he was asked about India’s 2023 World Cup chances, he said: “I am actually not sure to be honest if they are going to win the World Cup, I can say like a patriot that India will win. I see a lot of concerns in the Indian team in the middle-order because of injuries.

“It is frustrating seeing them (India) not to win a world Cup but it is what it is,” said a visibly agitated Yuvraj when asked about the Indian cricket team’s...

New Delhi, July 7 (Ians) Former India captain Ms Dhoni, who is universally regarded as the best finisher in the modern game, is celebrating his 42nd Birthday on Friday. On his special day, the cricket fraternity came up with heartwarming wishes on social media.

Dhoni began his career in international cricket in 2004. He has become one of the most revered sporting icons in the country and acts as an inspiration for millions.

The highlights of Dhoni’s illustrious 15-year career were leading India to remarkable achievements, including three prestigious Icc trophies — the T20 World Cup in 2007, the 50-over World Cup in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013. These accomplishments stand out as the defining moments of his career.

Since bidding farewell to international cricket in 2019, Dhoni has been delighting fans with his performances in the Indian Premier League (Ipl), where he has five titles to his name.

Here’s a look at...

Brampton, June 14 (Ians) Cricket enthusiasts in Canada can once again look forward to witnessing exhilarating matches in their own backyard, featuring renowned cricket icons as Global T20 Canada is back for a landmark third edition, after a three-year hiatus.

This year the cricketing bonanza will return to Brampton, Ontario with 6 franchises, including two new entrants, the Surrey Jaguars and the Mississauga Panthers. The marquee tournament will feature Toronto Nationals, Brampton Wolves, Montreal Tigers, Vancouver Knights along with the two new entrants this season – Surrey Jaguars and Mississauga Panthers.

The tournament, scheduled between July 20 and August 6, will see the 6 franchises play 25 matches over the course of 18 days. The player draft for the most-awaited T20 League in Canada will be held today where marquee players of international repute will also be revealed. The previous editions have seen stalwarts of the game featured as marquee players, including the likes of Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh,...

New Delhi, June 5 (Ians) Special Olympics Bharat on Monday announced that the National Send-Off ceremony for the So Bharat contingent for the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2023 Berlin Germany will take place on June 8 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

As many as 198 Athletes and Unified partners and 57 Coaches will participate in 16 Sports. The Special Olympics World Games are the world’s largest inclusive sporting event which will be a colourful celebration promoting recognition and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Berlin will welcome 7000 Athletes and Unified partners across 190 countries to participate in 26 sports.

The ceremony on Thursday will consist of two parts – The Torch Run and the Send-Off Ceremony. The Torch Run will begin at 5 Pm and will be conducted within the inner periphery of the stadium with Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Anurag Thakur, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports and Department of Information and Broadcasting as the Chief Guest.

New Delhi, May 11 (Ians) Cricket icon Virat Kohli admitted that breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 Odi centuries would be an emotional moment for him.

Kohli, who is just three short of equalling Tendulkar’s record of most Odi centuries in the world, when asked about his thoughts on reaching that milestone, he quickly says, “It will be a very emotional moment for me.”

“Sports teaches you some values of life, discipline and planning. It opens up your side, making you a productive person. No matter which profession you are in, the value of playing sport is immense. Don’t make them (students) just play sports, teach them. It is important to teach them small details of what it means to play a sport,” Kohli adds as he further recalls the incident that took off the pressure of studies from him when his school’s vice principal advised him to religiously follow cricket.

New Delhi, April 30 (Ians) Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh on Sunday posted a hilarious collage on Rohit Sharma’s 36th birthday.

Yuvi said that the Mumbai Indians skipper should be proud of how far he had come.

Rohit, who turned 36 on April 30, 2023, has been one of the key players in the Indian set-up for more than a decade.

“Happy birthday brothaman from being a youngster in the team when I first met you to now leading the team, you’ve done well & should feel proud of how far you’ve come. Hope you score tons of runs & get home loads of trophies this year! Lots of love,” the Odi World Cup winner wrote on Twitter.

–Ians

cs...

Sachin, who was a member of India’s 2011 Odi World Cup winning team, has given his fans numerous reasons to admire him, but not many know that the Master Blaster has keen interest in other sports besides cricket.

Despite his remarkable achievements in cricket, he has shown his passion for various sporting disciplines and has been actively involved in promoting sports in India.

Football: Sachin has expressed his love for football on numerous occasions, and is often seen attending football matches both at home and overseas. In December 2022, he had shared a video on Instagram of him playing football with the FIFA World Cup 2022 theme playing in the background, captioning it "Football on my mind!"

In the video, Sachin showcased his football skills, running and dodging the ball. He was also the co-owner of the Indian Super League (Isl) team Kerala Blasters Fc before parting ways with the club in...

What the greatest playwright of English meant was that some people are born great and don’t have to work for it; others have to work hard and find greatness while the third group comprises those who are blessed by fate and are allowed to be great in a surprising manner.

But there is one more category that is born great but nurtures their prodigious talent and by the sheer dint of their hard work enhance their greatness and become the greatest of them all. And then they even surpass that stage and become demigods.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar falls in this category — born with talent in abundance, he nurtured it through hard work and through the sheer application of his talent and sweat earned the sobriquet of ‘God of Cricket’.

As the greatest cricketer to grace the sport celebrates his 50th birthday on April 24, the world acknowledges him as the living God of Cricket.

New Delhi, April 18 (Ians) Former India cricketer Ravi Shastri has recalled the first day of the Indian Premier League (Ipl) in 2008 and said that the kind of people that came to support the league it looked like the entire nation was united to come there and watch the match.

Fifteen years ago, the world of cricket was transformed forever with the birth of the Ipl — a league that captured the hearts of fans across the globe with its incredible drama and unforgettable moments.

From Brendon McCullum’s historic 158 not out off 73 in the inaugural match, to the rise of young talents like Ravindra Jadeja, the Ipl has provided a platform for both established stars and up-and-coming players to showcase their skills on the biggest stage. As the Ipl marks its 15th anniversary, this league has had a profound impact on the sport of cricket.

It has not only revolutionised the...

Chandigarh, April 6 (Ians) Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev will be seen in action during the cricket tournament in his home pitch here on April 20 at the quarterfinal of Allengers Gully Cricket Tournament that began on Wednesday.

Former national selector Chetan Sharma will also encourage the players by performing in the final match, organiser Ut Cricket Association President Sanjay Tandon said.

He said former Ranji player and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, including high-officials of the Bcci, are likely to witness the grand finale on April 23.

The tournament is being organised by the Ut Cricket Association and Chandigarh Police. The tournament jersey was unveiled on Wednesday.

The tournament began at the iconic cricket stadium in Sector 16, the home pitch of Kapil Dev, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh.

The tournaments will be played in the morning and evening at 10 playgrounds in the city. The tournament will be of 10-10 over per inning with a...

London, April 6 (Ians) Former India captain M.S. Dhoni, his teammates Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh along with women internationals Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami were on Wednesday awarded the Honorary Life Membership of the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (McC).

M.S. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh were both integral parts of the India side which won the 2007 Icc Men’s World T20 and the 2011 Icc Men’s World Cup, and Suresh Raina scored over 5,500 Odi runs across a 13-year career.

The custodians of the game’s rules have also picked England’s World Cup-winning captain Eion Morgan and Kevin Pietersen, South African Dale Stein and New Zealand’s Ross Taylor among the honorary life members.

Pakistan’s former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez and Bangladesh’s Mashrafe Mortaza were also included in the list released by the McC on Wednesday.

“McC awards Honorary Life Membership of the Club to some of the world’s finest cricketers.

New Delhi, March 26 (Ians) Former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth met wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who is recovering from injuries sustained in a horrific car accident last year.

“Brotherhood is everything ..family is where our heart is..wishing our brother Rishabh Pant the very best and fast recovery,” tweeted Raina, the former India left-handed batter.

“Rishab Pant I love you, my brother, for who ur — keep believing and keep inspiring, You and I are children of one faith, for the diverse paths of religion are fingers of the loving hand of the one supreme being, a hand extended to all, offering completeness of spirit to all, eager to receive all. #togetherness #family #brotherhood #live #family #love #phoeinx #brother #cricket #india #bcci brotherhood is everything…one life one world,” wrote Sreesanth, the former fast bowler on Instagram.

“Trust And Know There Is Something Inside You That Is Greater...

Mumbai, March 17 (Ians) Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh took to the social media site Twitter to share that he had gone to meet wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who is currently on road to recovery after suffering multiple injuries in a horrific car accident last year.

Alongside a picture of him with Rishabh, Yuvraj tweeted, “On to baby steps!!! This champion is going to rise again (soon). Was good catching up and having a laugh. What a guy positive and funny always!! More power to you.”

On Wednesday, Pant shared a video on his social media accounts, where he was seen making slow walking steps in a swimming pool with the help of a walking stick in his left hand as a part of his recovery process.

“Grateful for small things, big things, And everything in between,” wrote Pant in the post on his social media accounts. The Bcci commented on Twitter,...

FarewellTennis star Sania Mirza hosted a star-studded farewell event in Hyderabad to mark her retirement from the sport after a 20-year-long prolific career.TwitterIndian tennis star Sania Mirza ended her 20-year-long sports career at the age of 36 on March 5. To mark the occasion, Sania hosted a red carpet farewell party, which was attended by several celebrities and politicians from the country. The long list of A-list guests included composer Ar Rahman, actors Huma Qureshi, Mahesh Babu and his wife Namrata Shirodkar, filmmaker Farah Khan, Telangana minister KT Rama Rao, and badminton player Saina Nehwal, among several others. Sania Mirza, who is a six-time Grand Slam winner, has won 44 Woman Tennis Association (Wta) titles in her career. Her last doubles triumph came at the Ostrava Open2021 in the Czech Republic, where she partnered with China's Zhang Shuai. Sania retired from the sport after the Australian Open earlier this year, where she...

Mumbai, March 6 (Ians) Actor-director Balraj Syal recently shot his directorial ‘Apne Ghar Begane’ in Canada, a film is also produced by him. He shared his experience shooting for the movie in extremely cold weather and how he felt about being behind the camera.

“We shot this in minus 30-35 in winters when people don’t even prefer going out. We were supposed to shoot in the summer but couldn’t because of visa issues. I thought we would get a different look which will be very good so decided to shoot in winter. I’ve always wanted to be a maker of films. I wrote the film and my producers liked it a lot so they also asked me to direct the film,” he said.

This film stars Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, Kulraj Randhawa, Roshan prince, Armaan Aujla and Rana Ranbir.

Ask him who his favourite director is,...

New Delhi, Feb 19 (Ians) Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who is currently a part of the Border-Gavaskar Commentary panel, on Sunday revealed that Rohit Sharma was the only captain who troubled him the most in the Indian Premier League (Ipl).

During the commentary stint in the second Test between India and Australia on Sunday, Gambhir was asked to pick any two players that he would have wanted in his Kkr squad at the time.

“It’s a difficult question, but the answer is very simple. If I have to pick two players, I have an easy answer. My first player would be Rohit Sharma, and the second would be Yuvraj Singh. I didn’t need any other player apart from these two. I’m not saying we would be having a perfect team, but we would’ve won more than two titles (if we had these two players),” Gambhir told Star Sports.

Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yograj Singh, has featured in the music video of the new song titled ‘Mujhe Poora Karde’. It also features singer-actor Raman Romona, who not only features opposite choreographer-actor Punit J. Pathak but also lent her voice to the song along with Sangram Hanjra.

The song is a romantic number and depicts the innocence and togetherness of the characters and tells a decade’s love story through flashbacks.

On being asked about the song, Punit J. Pathak said: “This is my first music video where I have been featured as an actor, so the connection with this song is bound to be intense. When I listened to the song for the first time, I immediately felt a rush of emotions and I knew through this song I wanted to tap into the beauty of an innocent romance of every decade.

“The song aptly captures...

New Delhi, Jan 26 (Ians) Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh extended his congratulatory wishes to tennis star Sania Mirza for reaching the Australian Open mixed doubles final in her last major.

Sania and partner Rohan Bopanna soared into the final of the Australian Open mixed doubles event on Wednesday, beating reigning Wimbledon champions third seed American-British pair Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski in the semifinals.

The tournament organisers shared the video on Instagram, in which Sania and Bopanna can be seen celebrating the win with their little ones. In the video, Sania was hugging her son Izhaan while Bopanna picked up his daughter Tridha on the tennis court.

Commenting on the post, Yuvraj said: “Well done champ. See you on the other side.”

Sania is playing her last major as the six-time Grand Slam champion and earlier this month announced that she will retire from professional tennis at Dubai Tennis Championships,...

Hyderabad, Jan 19 (Ians) It’s no secret that of late, Shubman Gill has been a class act while opening the batting in ODIs. But against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday, Gill’s star in ODIs ascended even further in front of 31,187 spectators when he smashed a sensational 208 off 149 balls, propelling India to 349/8, which proved to be a winning total.

Since being Player of the Tournament in India’s victorious run at the 2018 U19 Men’s World Cup in New Zealand, Gill had already been talked about as the next backbone and future star of the senior men’s team batting line-up.

Despite justifying the talk through a consistent 2022, his place in the Odi side was being questioned because Ishan Kishan, who himself hit 210 while opening the batting against Bangladesh in Chattogram, was moved down the order to accommodate Gill.

But under the skies of Hyderabad,...

The 32-year-old Suryakumar has been in sensational form and recently smashed his third T20I century during the series against Sri Lanka at Rajkot. He will be crucial for India’s success at the 2023 Odi World Cup.

"Surya is batting brilliantly at the moment and I hope he continues doing that for the Indian cricket team. But, there are others players also, who are also doing well for the team, so we should focus on them as well. We should not put too much pressure on Surya by constantly talking about him. We have seen that players come under pressure, where there is too much chatter about him.

Yes, we should praise his performance but others should be also complimented which will ease the pressure from Surya," Yusuf, who is playing for Dubai Capitals at ILT20 told Ians in an interview.

"If we keep things simple, it will help both...

New Delhi, Jan 6 (Ians) Former India opener and ex-chairman of selection committee Krishnamachari Srikkanth has signalled out talismanic batter Virat Kohli to help other players in the team excel in their roles for the 2023 Odi World Cup, to be held in the country in October and November.

“What role clarity do we need to give them? Look at Ishan Kishan for example, how he hits the ball, he has even scored a double century recently. Just tell these players to go out there and play your game, don’t restrict them.

“Just like Ishan Kishan, you need two or three more players who aren’t afraid to express themselves, that’s number one. All-rounders, batting all-rounders, bowling all-rounders are required in this line-up. There should be a combination of these players in the team. And what about Odi cricket? Just like Gautam Gambhir has played a major role of anchor in the past,...

New Delhi, Dec 23 (Ians) Xiaomi India on Friday announced its partnership with the YouWeCan Foundation to contribute towards education for 200 cancer warriors as a part of its #ShikshaHarHaath initiative.

Education has always been a facilitator of innovation and growth and with Shiksha Har Haath, Xiaomi India aims to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of today’s youth i.e. future of tomorrow, said the company.

“Through our partnership with YouWeCan Foundation, we are committed to equipping and nurturing the students to access the world of possibilities and charter a bright future for themselves,” Muralikrishnan B., President, Xiaomi India said in a statement.

“We are optimistic that this small step from Xiaomi India and YouWeCan foundation will encourage and help them shape their career trajectory in a positive direction,” he added.

As part of the initiative, Xiaomi India has launched the ‘Mi Scholarship’ to support the dreams of these cancer warriors...

Gill, 23, has done well in his Odi career so far, especially in this year. He had scores of 50, 45 not out and 13 in the recent Odi series in New Zealand. But in a lack of clarity call by the now-sacked selection committee, Gill was not picked for India’s ongoing ODIs against Bangladesh.

2022 has been a year where Gill has really showed he can be a useful batter for India in Odi cricket. In 12 matches, he has scored 638 runs at an average of 70.88 and strike-rate of 102.57, including a maiden Odi ton against Zimbabwe and four half-centuries. His strike rate is higher than veteran left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan too.

It has also been a year where Gill’s prowess in T20s came to the fore. In Gujarat Titans’ run to Ipl 2022 trophy, Gill scored 483 runs in 16 innings, averaging 34.5 and strike rate of 132.32.

In six matches for Punjab in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy,...

A confused Board, an even more out-of-sync coaching support staff, a selection committee which doesn’t know what to do (it has since been kicked out), an ageing lineup with 35-year-olds trying to keep pace with the dynamic changes in white ball cricket and, despite its availability, a diverse gene pool not being given adequate opportunities, and an ecosystem that encourages hyperbole covering up warts are responsible for the dismal state of affairs.

Innumerable experiments, chopping and changing players, keeping them on tenterhooks, have together accentuated this decline. Moreover, bowlers who are capable of delivering with the jagged edge of a katana and wakizashi, such as Kuldeep Yadav and Umran Malik, have been kept sheathed.

In this theatre of the absurd, also known as the strange world of Indian cricket, there is only disorder and chaos. In two successive T20 World Cups over two years all these failings have shown up.

Gurugram, Dec 5 (Ians) Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh on Monday said that young Shubman Gill is progressing very nicely in his career and should be a strong contender to open for ‘Men in Blue’ in the 2023 Odi World Cup at home.

The 23-year-old Gill has done well in his international career so far. He had scores of 50, 45 not out and 13 in the recent Odi series in New Zealand. However, the right-hander batter is not part of ongoing ODIs against Bangladesh.

“I think Shubman is doing very well and progressing very nicely in his career. I really feel that he should be a strong contender to open for India in the 2023 World Cup,” Yuvraj told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the 3rd T20 World Cup for the Blind.

After hanging his boots from all forms of the game in 2019, the two-time World Cup winner Yuvraj has served as...

New Delhi, Dec 1 (Ians) The third T20 World Cup Cricket Tournament for the Blind will be held from December 5 to 17 in India, the organisers announced here on Thursday.

The participating nations for World Cup 2022 are Australia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the host, India. Around 150 players will be participating from all the countries and the tournament, which has a total of 24 matches, will take place in nine cities in India.

The tournament is being organised to mark the World Disability Day celebrations universally. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

“I commend and appreciate the spirit of visually impaired cricketers for their passion for the game and determination to fight everyday challenges. It is a different world, but it is a world of cricket. Cricket has no boundaries,...

Melbourne, Nov 13 (Ians) Cricket legends from across the world on Sunday congratulated the England cricket team on its Icc Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 title win.

Left-arm pacer Sam Curran and leg-spinner Adil Rashid bowled brilliant spells to restrict Pakistan to 137/8 before an unbeaten fifty from Ben Stokes helped England crown themselves as winners of Men’s T20 World Cup with a five-wicket victory achieved with an over to spare in front of 80,462 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

With this, England’s men claimed the T20 crown for the second time in their history. As soon as Jos Buttler led the side became white ball champions, wishes poured in for them on social media.

“Congratulations to England for playing a strong entertaining brand of cricket. Well played Pakistan for never giving up! Cricket was the winner #T20WorldCupFinal,” tweeted Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya.

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar called...

Amazon miniTV announced its upcoming sports drama series – Sixer directed by Chaitanya Kumbhakonum, Sixer features actor Shivankit Singh Parihar of Bachelors and Aspirants fame in the lead role. The series is set to premiere exclusively on Amazon miniTV on 11th November for free. The trailer of the upcoming sports drama gives a glimpse into the life Nikunj Shukla aka ‘Nikku’, a young cricketer from Vijay Nagar, Indore. Played by Shivankit, this character is a hardcore cricket enthusiast and wants to represent the sport in its right spirit.

“It gives me immense pleasure to be associated with Amazon miniTV for its upcoming sports drama ‘Sixer.’ Jahan hai sixer aur cricket, wahaan hai Yuvi! The story is very endearing and memorable, and it reminded me of my early days when we used to play cricket using a tennis ball. I’m glad that Amazon miniTV is bringing such an awesome sports to audiences across India for free,...

Abu Dhabi, Oct 28 (Ians) Coached by the former English cricketer Carl Crowe, the New York Strikers’ squad in the Abu Dhabi T10 League has players such as Kieron Pollard and England’s Odi winning World Cup captain Eoin Morgan.

The team will be mentored by the Indian legend Yuvraj Singh, and are banking on their batting depth at the Abu Dhabi T10 this year.

Speaking ahead of the season, coach Carl Crowe said, “One of our goals during the draft was to pick a squad with huge depth batting wise so you can look at some of the names we bat all the way down the order to 8, 9, 10. Whichever combination we select, so we are happy with the depth rather than necessarily picking out one player.”

Come the season, the coach will have his task cut out in terms of planning and zeroing in on the playing combinations to make...

Melbourne, Oct 24 (Ians) Former India skipper Virat Kohli would certainly have left Pakistani fans in a daze and the Indian cricket aficionados celebrating Diwali a day earlier with his unbeaten 82-run knock at the packed Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

No words are enough to describe the feat and the cricketer himself indicated he was amazed by what he had achieved. Kohli has been one of the best chase masters across the five T20 World Cup campaigns he has been part of, scoring 541 runs at a strike rate of 135.92.

Dismissed only twice in his 10 knocks, the 33-year-old’s latest match-winning effort means his average has soared to a mindboggling 270.50. Outside of a 2 not out against Scotland coming in at the end of their winning chase in 2021, Kohli’s lowest score is 23 (27 balls) in Nagpur back in 2016.

The International Cricket Council (Icc) paid tribute to the charismatic cricketer by recounting his...

New Delhi, Oct 21 (Ians) The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (Cabi) on Friday announced former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh as their brand ambassador for the 3rd T20 World Cup for the Blind to be held in India in December.

I. Ajay Kumar Reddy B2 (Andhra Pradesh) will lead the Indian team while Venkateswara Rao Dunna – B2 (Andhra Pradesh) will be the vice-captain. The World Cup matches will be held from December 6 to 17.

The participating countries for the 3rd T20 World Cup for the Blind are India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The opening match will be played between defending champions India and Nepal on December 6 in Faridabad.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the 3rd T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind as the Brand Ambassador. I commend and appreciate the spirit of the visually impaired cricketers for their passion for cricket...

Mumbai, Oct 17 (Ians) Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has praised the confidence level of ex-skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, saying he was instrumental in the team winning the nerve-wracking group match against Pakistan in the 2007 T20 World Cup.

Uthappa said September 14, 2007 will remain etched in his memory forever after the arch-rivals played out a thriller in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in Durban. This was a match which was a sign of things to come, as the Dhoni era in Indian cricket began with this epic win in the tournament.

Put in to bat, India rode on Uthappa’s superb half-century and Dhoni’s 33 to post 141/9 in their 20 overs, with Mohammad Asif taking four wickets for Pakistan.

In the run chase, the match swung wildly. Even though Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals, Misbah-ul-Haq kept his side in the hunt. It came down to 12 runs needed off the last six deliveries,...