Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) dribbles during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, on March 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. | Photo Credit: AP LeBron James is well on his way to rewriting every previous definition of basketball longevity, and the 40-year-old star is now racking up … Read more
Despite three Champions Trophy matches in the country getting abandoned due to rain, fans losing interest after the national team’s premature exit, excessive spending on revamping stadiums, a hybrid model and suffocating security measures, experts in Pakistan still believe the marquee event was a success and could open the doors for more international events. Pakistan … Read more
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has picked India as the favourites in Sunday’s Champions Trophy summit clash against New Zealand but pointed out that the advantage will be miniscule, given that the Black Caps are a formidable side. India, who have played all their matches here, stormed into the final with an all-win record, … Read more
Wicketkeeper K.L. Rahul of India looks on as Mitchell Santner of New Zealand bats during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between New Zealand and India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 2, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Fans are eagerly waiting for the D-Day of the ICC … Read more
File picture of former IPL chairman and Indian fugitive Lalit Modi | Photo Credit: Reuters Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi applied with the Indian High Commission in London to surrender his Indian passport, according to External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Responding to developments in the thorny case between the two countries, the … Read more
Sharath Kamal will be looking to a fruitful post-retirement stint. | Photo Credit: R. RAVINDRAN Having called it a day, Sharath Kamal, India’s top paddler, said he is really excited for the next phase of his career. Admitting that was an emotional moment, the 42-year-old, 10-time National champion said he’s looking forward to nurture young … Read more
Shubman Gill in action during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal between India and Australia, in Dubai, UAE, on March 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI Riding on his superb performance in the ODI series against England last month, ace India top-order batter Shubman Gill has been nominated along with Australia’s Steve Smith and New Zealand’s … Read more
Sharath Kamal flanked by Atulya Mishra, Sports Secretary Tamil Nadu, and Deepak Malik, co- founder and COO, Stupa Sports Analytics address the WTT Star Contender media briefing on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. | Photo Credit: R. Ravindran Indian table tennis star Sharath Kamal that a world-class table tennis tournament — like the WTT Star Contender to … Read more
Two World Cups. IPL titles with multiple teams. Franchise-cricket coach. And mental health advocate and expert. Shane Watson takes pride in every phase of his professional life on and around a cricket field. The burly all-rounder, currently representing Australia Masters in the International Masters League, opened up on various facets of cricket. Excerpts: Why does … Read more
Harleen Deol powered Gujarat Giants to a victory against Delhi Capitals in a WPL match in Lucknow on Friday. | Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA Harleen Deol hasn’t been in India’s scheme of things in the T20 format since July 2023. On the evidence of Friday’s fixture in the Women’s Premier League, the 26-year-old from Chandigarh … Read more
File picture of Indian table tennis players Sharath Kamal | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar One of India’s most celebrated table tennis players, Sharath Kamal, has announced his retirement from the sport. His last outing will be the WTT Star Contender to be held at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai from March 25 to … Read more
The spinners’ impressive performances have been crucial for the Indian team. | Photo Credit: AP India’s preparation for the Champions Trophy has been built around the mantra ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Two years ago, Rohit Sharma’s men enthralled the cricketing world by dominating the ODI World Cup, clinically breezing past its opponents. It took … Read more
Indians batting practice during a training session ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final cricket match, in Dubai, UAE, on March 7, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak was pleased that every batter contributed to the team’s cause in its run to the final and felt the side is well-prepared, … Read more
Farokh Engineer being presented the ‘Cricketing Excellence award,’ a cheque for ₹5 lakh, by Epson. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement True to his witty personality, Farokh Engineer entered the Madras Cricket Club (MCC) banquet hall, where he was being felicitated on Friday, with a wisecrack. Arriving on his mobility scooter, the 87-year-old said to the … Read more
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead feels that the mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy holds the key for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 finals in Dubai on March 9, 2025. | Photo Credit: Getty Images New Zealand is sweating on the fitness of its pace spearhead, Matt Henry, ahead of Sunday’s (March 9, 2025) Champions Trophy … Read more
Mumbai Indians’ Harmanpreet Kaur plays against UP Warriorz in the WPL match at Ekana Stadium, in Lucknow on March 6, 2025 | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was fined 10% of her match fee for breaching the Code of Conduct in the victory against UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League … Read more
A woman crosses herself in front of a picture of Pope Francis during the celebration of Ash Wednesday at the Basilica San Jose de Flores in Buenos Aires on March 5, 2025. | Photo Credit: AFP The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has apologised for a social media post that joked the hospitalised Pope … Read more
England’s Ben Stokes in action. File. | Photo Credit: Reuters England’s Test captain Ben Stokes is being considered as a potential replacement for Jos Buttler as the limited-overs skipper with ECB’s director of men’s cricket, Rob Key emphasising that it would be “stupid” not to explore the option, given his leadership qualities and the need … Read more
South Africa’s David Miller in action against New Zealand during the Champions Trophy semifinal in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 5, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters Frustrated with the scheduling of Champions Trophy’s second semifinal after to-and-fro flights between Pakistan and Dubai in a span of just 12 hours, South African batter David Miller is now … Read more
Sri Lanka will host a women’s ODI tri-series involving India and South Africa from April 27 to May 11, the country’s cricket board said on Thursday. The tri-series will be crucial in their build-up for the 50-overs World Cup slated to be held later this year in India. The three competing teams will play four … Read more
Australia’s Paul Reiffel and England’s Richard Illingworth will be the on-field umpires, while Sri Lanka’s Ranjan Madugalle will be the match referee for the Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand here on Sunday. Reiffel, 58, a former Australian fast bowler with more than 200 Test and ODI wickets, was one of the on-field … Read more
New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner in action during the Champions Trophy semifinal match against South Africa in Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan on March 5, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner on Thursday said a slower pitch in familiar territory for India in Dubai will make for a tight contest in the Champions … Read more
K.L. Rahul’s gigantic six off Glenn Maxwell on Tuesday night was significant for more reasons than one. Not only did it formalise India’s entry into the final of the Champions Trophy for the fifth time in the tournament’s history — and the third time on the bounce — it also thrust Rohit Sharma into the … Read more
Hayley Matthews en route her fifty. | Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA Hayley Matthews’ sparkling half-century and Amelia Kerr’s first five-for in the Women’s Premier League took Mumbai Indians to a six-wicket win against UP Warriorz at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Chasing 151, MI knocked off the target in 18.3 overs, hampering Warriorz’s hopes … Read more
Varun has been mighty impressive. | Photo Credit: PTI Varun Chakaravarthy’s career has been filled with bursts of highs and lows. Starting as a professional only at 26, he found instant success moving from the TNPL and IPL to the national team in a dizzy three-year spell before falling out of favour just as quickly … Read more
N. Thangaraja of Sri Lanka took the opening day’s honours with a seven-under 65 in the Rs. 1 crore Ahmedabad Open golf championship at the Kensville Golf and Country Club in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Michele Ortolani of Italy, fresh from being runner-up on the Asian Development Tour, was second with a four-under 68. The 43-year-old … Read more
Mohammed Shami throws the ball towards the sumps during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal cricket match between India and Australia at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP The national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, said on Thursday (March … Read more
New Delhi is likely to be the venue for this year’s chess World Cup. World chess governing body FIDE and the All India Chess Federation are soon expected to announce the host city of the tournament, which had been allotted to India. It is learnt that the central government is also backing the capital as … Read more
Momentary lapse: Khurasiya said Baby was batting exceptionally well on a difficult surface before his uncharacteristic slog-sweep straight to deep midwicket. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: Nirmal Harindran Amay Khurasiya has done for the Kerala cricket team what no coach before him could. He took Kerala to the Ranji Trophy final. And he recorded this … Read more
Pakistan batter Saud Shaki was timed out after he reportedly fell asleep while waiting for his turn to bat during the final of the President’s Cup first-class tournament. File | Photo Credit: PTI Pakistan batter Saud Shakil, who struck a half-century against India in the Champions Trophy recently, was timed out after he reportedly fell … Read more