IPL 2022: Maximum of 4 players can be retained, new teams can pick 3 players before mega auction

IPL 2022: The BCCI, in a letter to the franchises, confirmed that the existing 8 teams will be allowed to retain a maximum of 4 players between November 1 and November 25. The two new teams can pick a maximum of 3 players before the mega auction.

BCCI confirms IPL 2022 retention rules in a letter to franchises (Courtesy of BCCI)

HIGHLIGHTSA maximum of 4 players can be retained by exisiting franchises before mega auctionExisiting teams can retain players between November 1 and 30New teams allowed to pick maximum of 3 players before auction

Indian Premier League teams can retain up to 4 players in the lead up to the mega auction for IPL 2022, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has conveyed in a letter to the franchises. The two new teams who will be part of the next season will be allowed to pick 3 players before the auction.

A source close to the board confirmed the developments to India Today on Saturday. The existing 8 franchises will be allowed to retain their players between November 1 and 30 while the two new teams can pick 3 players from the released list of players or elsewhere from December 1. The deadline for picking the set of 3 players for the new teams is December 25.

The 8 existing teams can’t retain more than 3 Indian players (capped or uncapped) while they can’t retain more than 2 overseas players. Meanwhile, the two new teams can pick a maximum of 2 Indian players after the players are retained by the existing franchises. No more than one uncapped player can be picked by them.

Meanwhile, the maximum purse for all 8 teams has been fixed at Rs 90 crore each.

If a team retains 4 players, then a total of Rs 42 crore will be deducted from their purse with the top player getting Rs 15 crore.

If a team retains 3 players, then Rs 33 crore will be cut from its purse.

For 2 players, Rs 14 crore and Rs 10 crore have to be shelled out while teams retaining only one player have to pay Rs 14 crore to him.

Sanjiv Goenka-helmed RPSG Group came up with a winning bid of a whopping INR 7090 crore and picked Lucknow as its home base. CVC Capital, former owners of Formula One, came up with the second-highest bid of INR 5625 crore and opted for Ahmedabad during Monday’s bidding in Dubai. Notably, RPSG Group also owned the Rising Pune Supergiant franchise between 2016 and 2017.

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T20 World Cup: India look to bounce back from Pakistan setback in crunch test against nemesis New Zealand

India take on New Zealand in one of the most crucial Super 12 matches in Group 2 of T20 World Cup 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, October 31. Both the teams are heading into the crunch contest on the back of defeats to Pakistan who are running away at the top of the group with 3 wins from as many matches.

India captain Virat Kohli looked calm and composed when he was addressing the media on the eve of the big-ticket contest in Dubai. While he was condemning the online abuse of Mohammed Shami in strongly-worded statements, there were a few important statements that the skipper made that gave us a sneak peek of his mindset in the lead up to what is going to be a stiff test of his character.

The team that loses on Sunday is likely to find it difficult to progress to the semi-final stage. Quite a few have labeled India vs New Zealand as a virtual quarter-final but Afghanistan’s hammering of Scotland and their spirited performance against Pakistan have added an interesting flavor to Group 2, which isn’t as packed as the other one in the Super 12.

“Whether people portray it as India can’t afford to lose another game, that’s none of our business. We will play sport as we understand exactly how sport goes. How people think on the outside has no value whatsoever inside the group,” Kohli said on Saturday.

India need another memorable comeback in 2021

Virat Kohli’s captaincy reign in T20 World Cups did not get off to a good start. In fact, he became the first Indian skipper to lose a World Cup match to Pakistan in a World Cup. India were blown away by a spirited Pakistan side led by Babar Azam but ruling out the Men in Blue as early as after just one match is unwise, to say the least.

Be it the 36-all out in Adelaide or the Chennai Test hammering against England, India have made it a habit to come back stronger from setbacks in 2021. Virat Kohli’s men possess the firepower to test the best in the business in the T20 World Cup and there is no reason why this heavily-scrutinised bunch can’t step up once again.

Having had a week’s break, India must have had enough time to learn from their mistakes and work on them but such a big gap between two matches can also work against them, especially in a format as fickle as T20s.

India’s job is not getting any easier as they face New Zealand, who have been their nemesis in the recent past In fact, the Asian giants have not beaten the BlackCaps in an ICC event since 2003. Their recent exits from ICC events have come because of New Zealand — the 2019 World Cup semi-final and the ICC World Test Championship final earlier this year.

Team News – Will Hardik Pandya retain his place in the side?

Hardik Pandya has started bowling at the nets as India seem to have realized that having a 6th-bowling option is necessary after Pakistan cruised to a 152-run target without losing a wicket and 13 balls to spare last Sunday.

Virat Kohli made a U-turn as he stressed the need for a 6th bowling option, hinting Hardik will be able to bowl an over of two if needed.

“It’s very important to have a sixth bowling option — whether through me or Hardik (Pandya). He should have to be fit to be able to bowl one or two overs,” he said.

While the spotlight has been on Hardik’s bowling, India have lacked firepower in their pace bowling unit as the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami struggled to even look threatening against Pakistan. Kohli highlighted the importance of Shardul Thakur but remained tight-lipped about the team combination.

It will be interesting to see if India make changes to their bowling combination but it looks likely their batting will remain unchanged. With the likes of R Ashwin and Thakur available for selection, India will look to beef up their bowling department.

Martin Guptill fit for India clash on Sunday

On the other hand, New Zealand would want their skipper Kane Williamson to find top form. Struggling with an elbow niggle, Williamson hasn’t looked the part so far, be it in IPL 2021 or in their defeat to Pakistan. However, they can breathe easy as Martin Guptill is available for selection after an injury scare.

New Zealand have lost Lockie Ferguson but they have received a boost as pacer Adam Milne is available for selection. He can inject pace into the side if New Zealand decide to bring him in place of Tim Southee.

India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2021 Squads

India: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Rahul Chahar

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Mark Chapman, Adam Milne, Kyle Jamieson, Todd Astle.

T20 World Cup: Kieron Pollard retires himself out after 16-ball 8, returns to hit last-ball six vs Bangladesh

In a bizarre move, West Indies captain Kieron Pollard retired himself out after scoring a 16-ball 8 in an important T20 World Cup 2021 clash against Bangladesh.

T20 World Cup: Captain Kieron Pollard retires out in WI’s crucial clash vs Bangladesh (AP Photo)

HIGHLIGHTSKieron Pollard retired himself out during West Indies’ inningsPollard was batting not-out at a score of 8 in 16 balls when he retiredKieron Pollard walked back to the middle in the last over

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard decided to retire himself and walk back to the dressing room after playing a rather strange 8-run knock-off 16 deliveries against Bangladesh in a crucial T20 World Cup Super 12 encounter on Friday. Bangladesh opted to field after winning the toss and the bowlers responded with quick wickets, including Chris Gayle out for four in Sharjah.

West Indies vs Bangladesh ICC T20 World Cup 2021, Super 12 Group 1: Highlights

Pollard, who came in at No. 5, walked to the dressing room in the 13th over with West Indies’s score reading 3 for 62. While the WI team management has not revealed any official reason for it, fans have called it a ‘tactical move’ by the captain to give his side momentum with the bat in the second half of the innings.

And things just got stranger. Pollard retires #dreruss comes out and gets a diamond duck as a straight drive is touched onto the stumps #T20WorldCup #WIvsBAN

— Paul Johnson (@pjohnson_sports) October 29, 2021

When your luck is out it’s out….

Pollard retires (which may be tactical…)

Russell comes in then gets run out at non strikers end via the bowlers boot.

Sigh. It is what it is #T20WorldCup

— Caribbean Cricket Podcast (@CaribCricket) October 29, 2021

Andre Russell, who walked into replacing the skipper, was unfortunately run-out at the non-striker’s end the very next ball after having backed up too far outside the crease. However, Pollard returned to bat in the final over and slammed a six off the last ball to finish with 14 runs off 18 balls.

Nicholas Pooran smashed 40 off 22 balls to lift holders West Indies to 142-7 against Bangladesh with both teams looking for a first win in a make-or-break match. Mahedi, Shoriful Islam and Mustafizur Rahman took two wickets each.

Roston Chase scored 39 on his T20 debut and Pooran put on 57 runs for the fifth wicket to give the West Indies impetus in the final few overs. Bangladesh need 143 to win and keep their hopes alive of making the semi-finals from Group 1, led by unbeaten England and Australia.

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Cristiano Ronaldo ‘delighted to announce’ news of girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez’s pregnancy: We are expecting twins

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez took to social media to announce the latter’s pregnancy and even shared their twins’ ultrasounds.

Cristiano Ronaldo had admitted in an interview in 2017 that he wanted seven children (Ronaldo Instagram Photo)

HIGHLIGHTSCristiano Ronaldo will become a father for the sixth time after the twins are bornRonaldo already shares a 3-year-old daughter, Alana Martina, with Georgina RodriguezRonaldo and Rodriguez have been dating since 2016 after meeting at a Gucci store in Madrid

Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday confirmed on social media that his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez is pregnant with twins. The Manchester United winger took to Instagram to share the news with his fans and also posted pictures of their twins’ ultrasounds.

Ronaldo will become a father for the sixth time after the twins are born. He already shared a three-year-old daughter Alana Martina with Argentine model Rodriguez

36-year-old Ronaldo’s first son, Cristiano Junior, was born in 2010 but the identity of the mother is unknown. A surrogate mother then gave birth to a pair of Ronaldo’s twins, daughter Eva and son Mateo, in 2017.

“Delighted to announce we are expecting twins. Our hearts are full of love – we can’t wait to meet you,” Ronaldo and Rodriguez wrote in similar posts on their Instagram accounts.

Notably, Ronaldo’s oldest son Cristiano Jr is also aspiring to be a footballer like his superstar father and joined the Manchester United academy alongside Wayne Rooney’s son Kai in September this year.

Ronaldo had admitted in 2017 that he wanted seven children while Rodriguez last year said: “My desire for motherhood is stronger than anything. I hope to have more children.”

Ronaldo and Rodriguez have been dating since 2016 after meeting at a Gucci store in Madrid where she used to work as a shop assistant for £10 an hour. The Portugal captain was playing for Real Madrid at the time.

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French Open: Kidambi Srikanth bows out in 2nd round vs Kento Momota, good news for India in mixed doubles

Kidambi Srikanth played his heart out to match Kento Momota and also held two-point lead towards the end of the decider but ended up losing the men’s singles second round of the French Open on Wednesday.

Kidambi Srikanth won the first game but ran out of steam towards the end of the match to crash out of French Open (AFP Photo)

HIGHLIGHTSKento Momota beat Kidambi Srikanth 18-21 22-20 21-19 in a 79-minute matchSrikanth had lost to Momota last week also at Denmark Open but he produced a much better display hereSatwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa made it to the mixed doubles second round

Kidambi Srikanth suffered a heartbreaking defeat against top seed Kento Momota to make a second round exit but India’s mixed doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa advanced at the French Open Super 750 badminton tournament, in Paris on Wednesday.

The Rio quarterfinalist played his heart out to match the Japanese and also held two-point lead towards the end of the decider but ended up losing the men’s singles second round 18-21 22-20 21-19 in 79-minute match.

Srikanth had lost to Momota last week also at Denmark Open but he produced a much better display here and came agonisingly close to outwitting the two-time world champion only to fall short in the end.

Rankireddy and Ponappa, the world number 24 pair beat Denmark’s Mathias Thyrri and Mai Surrow 21-19 21-15 in 37 minutes. They are likely to face second seeded Indonesian pair of Praveen Jordan and Melati Daeva Oktavianti next.

Srikanth ran up a 4-0 lead but Momota clawed back to level the score. He again moved to a 8-5 advantage only to see the Japanese eke out a slender 11-10 lead at the break.

After the break, Momota kept his nose ahead despite Srikanth snapping at his heels and drawing parity at 18-18 at one stage. The second game was even more engrossing contest as lead exchanged hands many times before Momota managed to take a 11-9 advantage at the breather.

The Japanese held two game points but Srikanth staged a superb foughback and reeled off four straight points to roar back into the contest. The decider started with a similar intensity with Srikanth heading to 9-6 advantage but Momota made it 11-10 at the break.

The Indian moved to 19-17 but a couple of errors cost him the match. India’s doubles Olympic medallist P V Sindhu along with other Indians will compete later in the day.

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T20 World Cup: New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson ruled out of tournament with calf tear

T20 World Cup: New Zealand Cricket said in a statement that Lockie Ferguson felt tightness in his right calf following training on the eve of Tuesday’s match and a subsequent MRI scan on game-day revealed a grade two tear which would require “three to four weeks recovery”.

Ferguson could be replaced by Adam Milne. (Reuters Photo)

HIGHLIGHTSFerguson could be replaced by Adam Milne for the tournamentMilne is already in the UAE with the team having been selected in the squad as traveling injury coverWith an approval yet to be given by the ICC, Milne was not selected for the Pakistan game

New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a calf tear, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Tuesday. NZC made the announcement just before New Zealand’s tournament opener against Pakistan.

“Ferguson felt tightness in his right calf following training last night and a subsequent MRI scan on game-day revealed a grade two tear which would require three to four weeks recovery,” said NZC. It further said that New Zealand head coach decided that there was no choice but to rile Ferguson out considering the frequency of matches they will have to deal with.

“It’s a real shame for Lockie to have this happen on the eve of the tournament and the entire team is really feeling for him right now,” Stead said.

“He’s a massive part of our T20 side and has been in such good form – so to lose him at this time is a blow.

“However, we are fortunate to have a like for like replacement in the form of Adam who has been with the squad training for the past two weeks.”

Stead indicated Ferguson would be replaced in the 15-player tournament squad by Adam Milne subject to approval by the ICC Technical Committee.

Milne is already in the UAE with the team having been selected in the squad as traveling injury cover, but won’t be available to play until ICC approval has been received making him unavailable for today’s Group Two match against Pakistan in Sharjah.

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Varun Chakravarthy was no surprise, this kind of bowling is common in Pakistan’s street cricket: Salman Butt

India vs Pakistan: Former captain Salman Butt said that mystery spinners rarely succeed against Pakistan as their style of bowling is common in the country’s street cricket and the batsmen can predict their deliveries easily.

Chakravarthy and the rest of the Indian bowlers could not take a single wicket against Pakistan on Sunday. (Reuters Photo)

HIGHLIGHTSChakravarthy ended the match with figures of 0/33Butt said that Pakistan’s players would always be able to read mystery spinnersBabar and Rizwan dominated the middle overs in which Chakravarthy rotated largely with Jadeja

Varun Chakravarthy was a far cry from his dangerous self who starred for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season on Sunday against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. Chakravarthy ended the match with figures of 0/33 and former Pakistan captain Salman Butt said that his failure in the match was simply down to the fact that the batsmen from the country are used to playing this style of bowling.

“Varun will never be as effective against Pakistan as he is in the IPL. There are overseas players in IPL who were not able to pick him but Pakistan have no issues with mystery bowling,” Butt said on his Youtube channel. Butt took the example of former Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis and further said that Chakravarthy remains a good bowler but Pakistan batsmen have grown up playing against these kind of bowlers.

“Ajantha Mendis struggled a lot against us and in the end he was not selected against us. The type of bowling Varun uses as a variety is common here in street cricket. It’s not that he is not good, it’s just that we are used to it,” said Butt.

“Later, when he will analyse the match, in videos he will see that the batsmen were playing him easily regardless of whether he was bringing the ball in or taking it out. They will know this is not going to work, you need good pace and proper spinners,” he said.

Chakravarthy was KKR’s highest wicket taker with 18 scalps but against Pakistan, openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were able to pick him easily with both players hitting sixes in his final over. Pakistan eventually chased down a target of 152 without losing a wicket to record their first-ever World Cup win over India.

“There can’t be flight for finger spinners, the ball always come at a low trajectory. Basically, if you have never played finger spinners, you wouldn’t know what’s happening. But if you have played them then there is absolutely no issues, you just need to look at the bowler’s hand and you can predict what the delivery is going to be,” he said.

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India vs Pakistan: My back is fine but I won’t be bowling for now, says Hardik Pandya

India vs Pakistan: India all-rounder Hardik Pandya reassured the fans that he would soon be seen bowling in the latter stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup.

India vs Pakistan: Want to be able to bowl eventually, closer to T20 WC knockouts, says Hardik Pandya (Reuters Photo)

HIGHLIGHTSHardik did not bowl for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021I won’t be bowling for now: India all-round Hardik Pandya India start their T20 World Cup campaign against Babar Azam’s Pakistan

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya said that he wants to be able to bowl eventually, closer to T20 World Cup knockouts, while adding that he won’t be bowling for now. Pandya’s comments came ahead of the India-Pakistan clash, which is being played at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday evening.

Notably, Pandya bowled a bit during India’s tour of Sri Lanka but he represented Mumbai Indians as a specialist batsman in the entire UAE leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021).

“The back is fine, it was jittery, but I won’t be bowling for now. I want to be able to bowl eventually, closer to the knockouts. The professionals and I both have to take the call about when I can have a bowl,” Hardik Pandya told the broadcasters.

Pandya also opened up on the much-anticipated clash between the two arch-rivals, saying that as a player he likes to keep things professional.

“I don’t like to get too hyped by the situation, and my family make sure of that too. I stay away from social media because you do get excited and get the vibes.

“It’s simple, and we leave emotions out of the way, and keep things professional. We make sure we tick the right boxes, and do the processes right,” Pandya added.

India start their T20 World Cup campaign against Babar Azam’s Pakistan on Sunday. Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bowl first in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2021 match against India in Dubai on Sunday. Varun Chakravarthy makes his World Cup debut in the all-important match. India left out Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Rahul Chahar and Ishan Kishan.

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PhonePe will now charge upto Rs 2 per transaction for mobile recharges

PhonePe s charging processing fees for UPI-based transactions for value above Rs 50. If you don’t spend upto Rs 50, you will not be charged any amount by the digital app.

Courtesy: PhonePe

HIGHLIGHTSWalmart-owned digital payments app PhonePe will now charge processing fees for every transaction.The company has said that it would charge fees in the range of Re 1 to Rs 2 per transaction for mobile recharges PhonePe is the first payments’ app to have started charging for UPI-based transactions 

Walmart-owned digital payments app PhonePe will now charge processing fees for every transaction. This means that you will no longer be able to transfer money or recharge your phone without shelling out a little extra money for every transaction. The company has said that it would charge fees in the range of Re 1 to Rs 2 per transaction for mobile recharges for value above Rs 50. PhonePe is the first payments’ app to have started charging for transactions

“On recharges, we are running a very small-scale experiment where a few users are paying for mobile recharges. Recharges below Rs 50 are not charged, recharges between Rs 50 and Rs 100 are charged Re 1 and above Rs 100 are charged Rs 2. Essentially, as a part of the experiment, a majority of users are either not paying anything or paying Re 1,” a PhonePe spokesperson told PTI.

PhonePe s charging processing fees for UPI-based transactions for value above Rs 50. If you don’t spend upto Rs 50, you will not be charged any amount by the digital app. Like other payments apps, PhonePe will also begin charging processing fees for payments made through credit cards. PhonePe is one of the most popular, widely-used payments app in India along with Paytm and Google Pay. It has recorded over 165-crore UPI transactions on its platform in September, clocking over 40 per cent share among the app segment, the PTI report stated.

“We are not the only player or payment platform charging a fee. Charging a small fee on bill payments is now a standard industry practice and is done by other biller websites and payment platforms also. We charge a processing fee (called a convenience fee on other platforms) on payments with credit cards only,” the spokesperson added.

For the unversed, just like Paytm and Google Pay, PhonePe can be used to transfer money with BHIM UPI, manage multiple bank accounts, check account balance, save beneficiaries across multiple bank accounts like SBI, HDFC, ICICI & 140+ banks. Recharge prepaid mobile numbers like Jio, Vodafone, Idea, Airtel etc, recharge DTH like Tata Sky, Airtel Direct, Sun Direct, Videocon etc, pay various bills and more. You can also buy or renew insurance policies using PhonePe.

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Microsoft finally fixes Windows 11 performance bugs on AMD processors

If you have a Windows 11 PC with an AMD Ryzen processor, you should update it right away.

HIGHLIGHTSMicrosoft has released Windows 11 update for AMD Ryzen CPUs.AMD CPUs were facing at least two major performance issues with Windows 11.The new Windows 11 update is now available for download.

Windows 11 users with an AMD CPU need to take a sigh of relief. Microsoft has finally rolled out an update that fixes the performance issues Windows 11 was causing on several AMD Ryzen processors. The issues came to the knowledge of both Microsoft and AMD shortly after Windows 11 began rolling out, with as many as two major issues impacting users. Both companies had said a fix would arrive soon.

The Windows 11 Build 22000.282 update patches the two issues that AMD Ryzen processors were saddled with right from the beginning. The first one caused the L3 cache latency to triple, thereby causing performance dips of up to 15 per cent in games that utilise heavy resources. The second issue was with the shifting of threads over to the fastest core using AMD’s preferred core technology, and Microsoft has fixed this one, as well, for good. Because of this issue, games that needed the CPU’s maximum power to run could not do so. In fact, AMD has separately released a new chipset driver to fix this problem.

Microsoft’s update for Windows 11 also brings a host of other improvements and fixes. Some users reported that the Start menu will not open after a video driver upgrade, while some others flagged input delays for select Bluetooth-powered mice and keyboards. There was also a small set of users experiencing an issue where an interruption in the handling of certain processors caused devices to stop responding. The lock screen on some Windows 11 PCs would go dark if the slideshow was set up, and Microsoft has fixed this issue.

There is a long list of issues that Microsoft has fixed with the new update. You can go to Microsoft’s website to check if it has an issue that you may be facing on your AMD-powered Windows 11 PC. Mind you, the patches are being released for Windows Insiders on the Beta and Release Preview channels.

Windows 11 was rolled out earlier this month for Windows 10 PCs for free, given that they meet the minimum system requirements. Your PC needs to have the TPM 2.0 security module enabled, which is the biggest and most important requirement for Windows 11 to run. Because hundreds of PCs that perfectly run Windows 10 do not support TPM 2.0, Microsoft rules them out as eligible for Windows 11.

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IPL broadcasting rights expected to fetch BCCI up to USD 5 billion in next 5-year cycle

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set for a windfall of gigantic proportions as the IPL broadcast rights (TV and digital) could fetch the Board up to USD 5 billion for the next five-year cycle (2023-2027) while some high-profile interest is being seen in the bidding process for the two new teams.

The current five-year rights (TV and digital) for IPL from 2018 to 2022 are with Star India but, according to people who are in decision-making capacity, the valuation, which is at Rs 16,347.50 crore (USD 2.55 billion) right now, could more than double and reach USD 5 billion (around Rs 36,000 crore approx at current exchange rate).

“There is a well-known US based company which did send BCCI feelers some time back, expressing their serious interest in bidding for IPL media rights. With 10 teams playing IPL from 2022, the matches will go up to 74 and in any case, the valuation of the property increases,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

“But with two new teams about to fetch anything between Rs 7000 crore to 10,000 crore, the broadcast rights are certainly going to shoot through the roof. So expect the IPL broadcast rights to go for anything above USD 4 billion and may be up to USD 5 billion,” the official in the know of things said.

Any foreign company showing interest in buying IPL properties needs to have an Indian wing.

The last time around, there were only two major players in TV and digital media rights market with Star India handsomely outbidding Sony, who held the rights from 2008-2017.

Star had bid nearly Rs 5300 crore more as Sony’s final composite bid was Rs 11,050 crore (USD 1.47 billion). Star India is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company India.

The BCCI normally categorises various broadcast deals like TV, digital (streaming), radio, and social media but last time, it allowed separate as well as one composite bid.

Any company can also bid separately but if the valuation of the singular composite bid is more than the cumulative amount of singular bids, then that is considered by the Board.

The BCCI is set to release the Tender invitation in Dubai on October 25, the same day when two new IPL teams will also be announced.

The BCCI is expecting robust bidding from both Star India and also Sony, which would like to get the IPL property back in its bouquet.

Manchester United owners Glazer family picks up IPL team bid document

The senior official also confirmed that the Glazer family, which owns Manchester United, has picked up the bid document as October 20 was the last day.

“Yes, the Glazers have picked up the bid document. Obviously, IPL is now a globally acknowledged sports property and international firms will be interested.

“Whether they would bid at all or whether they would be later interested in buying stakes in an existing IPL team, we don’t know,” the senior official said.

The IPL bid document costs Rs 10 lakh and a lot of business houses and big corporate houses buy the bid document just to analyse the business prospects.

There has been a trend of private companies, which are flush with cash, showing interest but it remains to be seen how many put in the bids, which will be opened on October 25, a day after T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan.

The BCCI is expecting anything between Rs 7000 crore to 10,000 crore from the team bidding of IPL.

The official then gave the example of Red Bird Capitals, a US based investment firm which is one of the investors in English Premier League (EPL) giants Liverpool. They currently have 15 per cent stake in IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals.

As PTI had reported some time back, some of the major players who could bid for new IPL teams are the Adani Group, Kotak, pharma majors Aurobindo and Torrent group, and the RP-Sanjiv Goenka group.

The BCCI is allowing consortiums and companies with annual turnover of Rs 3000 crore to bid for teams. The base price for new IPL teams is pegged at INR 2000 crore.

Will a former India cricketer become a first time IPL team co-owner?

A very reputed former Indian cricketer and big star of India’s World Cup victories might join one of consortiums as a minority stakeholder with his investment.

“Yes, a very well known cricketer has shown active interest in being a part of the new franchises. Yes, he wants to invest his own money and be a part of the consortium.

“He wants to be a minority stake-holder but with his experience, he would want to take the cricketing decisions. Whether any of the new business houses will agree to such a proposal remains to be seen,” the source informed.

Abhay Sharma likely to replace R Sridhar as Team India’s fielding coach

Abhay Sharma is set to apply for the fielding coach role with the Indian cricket team with Sridhar leaving at the end of the T20 World Cup.

Abhay Sharma represented Delhi and Railways in Indian domestic cricket (Twitter Photo)

Abhay Sharma, who has worked with India A, India U-19 and more recently the national women’s side, has emerged as one of the candidates for the senior men’s team fielding coach’s position in place of the outgoing R Sridhar.

The 52-year-old is set to apply for the fielding coach role with the Indian cricket team with Sridhar leaving at the end of the T20 World Cup along with the majority of the support staff including head coach Ravi Shastri.

“He will be applying for the role soon,” a BCCI source confirmed.

The application deadline ends on November 3. Sharma, who has played 89 first-class games representing Delhi, Railways and Rajasthan, was the fielding coach of the Indian team which travelled to Zimbabwe in 2016.
He also travelled with the Indian team on the tour of USA and West Indies in the same year.

More recently, he was praised for his work by the Indian women cricketers including skipper Harmanpreet Kaur during the UK tour before he was replaced for the subsequent tour of Australia.

Sharma has travelled to three U-19 World Cups, most recently in South Africa in 2020. He has also been part of around 10 India A tours.

He is one of the coaches at the National Cricket Academy and has worked extensively with its chief Rahul Dravid, who is among the front-runners for the India head coach job.

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T20 World Cup: Don’t know how India get the ‘favourites’ tag in T20 cricket, says Michael Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said that he fails to understand ‘how India get the favourites tag’ in the ongoing T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman.

Don’t know how India get ‘favourites’ tag in T20 cricket: Michael Vaughan (Reuters Photo)

HIGHLIGHTSDon’t know how India get ‘favourites’ tag in T20 cricket: VaughanVaughan said England are the favourites to lift the T20 World CupWest Indies and Pakistan will be threats in T20 World Cup: Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan raised questions about India’s favourites tag in the ongoing T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman, saying the Virat Kohli-led side ‘has been a long way off in their last few tournaments. Vaughan further pointed out that England are the favourites to lift the T20 World Cup, which began on October 17 with the qualifying rounds.

Virat Kohli-led India will head into the T20 World Cup 2021 as one of the favourites for the title with significant firepower in their batting and bowling. India will open their campaign against Pakistan with a blockbuster clash at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24.

“England for me are the favourites. I don’t know how India get the ‘favourites’ tag in T20 cricket. I just think they’ve been a long way off in the last few tournaments,” Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special.

“West Indies and Pakistan will be threats. I wouldn’t write off Pakistan either. New Zealand have high-class players and you know they will come up with strategies to win games.

“I’ll say it now, I don’t give Australia much chance. In T20 cricket they’ve struggled. Glenn Maxwell’s exceptional so he will have to have an incredible tournament.

“But I don’t see the Aussies doing too much. England, India, West Indies, New Zealand, one of those four and maybe Pakistan because of the conditions,” Vaughan said.

The former England captain said the pitches will play a crucial role in the outcome of the tournament.

“The pitches will be interesting because they’ve been used and slow [during the Indian Premier League]. I think 150-160 might be defendable scores,” he said.

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T20 World Cup: India-Pakistan match cannot be cancelled, this is ICC commitment, says BCCI’s Rajeev Shukla

BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla said that India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match cannot be canceled because, under the ICC’s international commitments, you can’t refuse to play against anyone.

BCCI’s Rajeev Shukla on India-Pakistan WC match: Cannot be cancelled (AFP Photo)

HIGHLIGHTSIndia-Pakistan match cannot be cancelled, this is ICC commitment: Rajeev ShuklaThe match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place on October 24The demand for cancelling India vs Pakistan match at T20 World Cup 2021 is gathering pace

BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla has reacted to the demands for canceling the India vs Pakistan clash at the ICC T20 World Cup, saying that he condemns attacks on non-Kashmiri civilians in the valley but the board can’t pull out from ‘international commitment’.

There have been demands to cancel the upcoming India vs Pakistan match at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 with the likes of Union Minister Giriraj Singh asking for ‘reconsideration’ due to the tense relationship between the two countries. India will take on arch-rival Pakistan in their first match of the Super 12 stage on October 24 in Dubai.

Shukla said that in tournaments organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), countries could not back out of commitments that had been once made. Shukla further pointed out the need to hold terrorist organisations accountable and said that strict action needed to be taken against such outfits.

” We strongly condemn the killings(J&K). Strict action should be taken against terror organisations. As far as the match (T20 WC IND vs PAK) is concerned, under ICC’s international commitments you can’t refuse to play against anyone. You’ve to play in ICC tournaments:,” Rajeev Shukla said.

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Yuvraj Singh arrested and released on bail by Haryana police for using casteist slur against Yuzvendra Chahal

Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh was arrested and released on interim bail by Haryana Police for using a casteist slur against spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Yuvraj was reportedly arrested and questioned for over 3 hours before being released.

Advocate Rajat Kalsan fought a long struggle after registering an FIR under the SC ST Act in Hansi police station city. Yuvraj Singh has been released on formal bail on the orders of the court.

Hansi SP Nitika Gahlout informed here today that Singh joined the investigation as per the directions of the court with the investigation officer today.

A case was registered against Yuvraj in February this year by a Hansi-based resident over a ‘distasteful’ and ‘disrespectful’ comment against Dalit society during an Instagram discussion with Chahal from 2020.

The case was registered against Yuvraj Singh on Sunday in the Hansi police station of Hisar. Police have registered the FIR under Sections 153, 153A, 295, 505 of IPC, besides sections 3 (1) (r) and 3 (1) (s) of SC/ST Act. The FIR comes 8 months after an advocate from Hisar filed a police complaint against the cricketer for his ‘casteist comments’.

Yuvraj allegedly made the ‘casteist remark’ during an Instagram live session with India opener Rohit Sharma in June 2020. The World Cup-winning former all-rounder had issued an apology, saying he never believed in disparity.

Yuvraj had taken to Twitter and apologised for “unintentionally hurting sentiments” of a particular society of people.

“This is to clarify I have never believed in any kind of disparity, be it on the basis of caste, colour, creed or gender. I have given and continue to spend my life for the welfare of people. I believe in the dignity of life and respect each individual without exception,” Yuvraj Singh said in his post.

“I understand that while I was having a conversation with my friends, I was misunderstood, which was unwarranted. However, as a responsible Indian I want to say that if I have unintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments or feelings, I would like to express regret for the same.”

Yuvraj had made the remark when talking about India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s TikTok videos, Yuvraj had said: “Yeh b***gi log ko kaam nahi hai yeh Yuzi aur isko (Kuldeep).”

“Yuzi ko dekha kya video daala hai apni family ke saath. Maine usko wahi bola ki apne baap ko nacha raha hai, pagal toh nahi hai tu,” Rohit replied.

India crowned SAFF champions for 8th time as Sunil Chhetri leads Blue Tigers to 3-0 win over Nepal

SAFF Championships: Sunil Chhetri led from the front once again as India defeated Nepal 3-0 to win a record-extending 8th title. Coach Igor Stimac won his first trophy with the senior national team after taking over in 2019.

Chhetri, Suresh and Sahal scored for India as they defeated Nepal 3-0 on Saturday (Photo Courtesy: Indian Football Team Twitter)

HIGHLIGHTSSunil Chhetri top scored with goals as India won SAFF Championships 2021 in MaldivesChhetri, Suresh and Sahal scored for India as they defeated Nepal 3-0 on SaturdayThis was also coach Igor Stimac’s first trophy with the senior national team

Sunil Chhetri led from the front once again as India overcame an ordinary first-half to defeat Nepal 3-0 in the final and win the SAFF Championships for a record-extending 8th time. Goals from Chhetri, Suresh Singh Wangjam and Sahal Abdul Samad gave the Blue Tigers a convincing victory at the National Stadium in Male, Maldives.

Head coach Igor Stimac was not on the sidelines due to a suspension but he will breathe easy after winning his first trophy with the Indian team. Stimac, who took charge of India’s senior national team in 2019, also became the sixth coach to win the SAFF Championships title and third foreigner after Jiri Pesek (1993) and Stephen Constantine (2015).

Sunil Chhetri, who probably played his last SAFF Championship match on Saturday, delivered the goods as he inspired the team that lacked decisiveness in the final third in the first half. It took only 4 minutes in the second half for the legend to put India 1-0 ahead.

Suresh Singh doubled the lead soon after following which India kept creating chances. It all paid off as Sahal, who came on from the bench, put the match to the bed with a stoppage-time strike.

“It feels good to come here as the dominant side and win. It was not easy but I am happy that a lot of youngsters came good,” said Chhetri after the victorious run in Male.

Sunil Chhetri ended the SAFF Championships 2021 with the most number of goals — 5, including the brace that he scored against hosts Maldives in a crunch group-stage encounter earlier this week.

FULL-TIME

C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S.

3-0

https://t.co/Krscpgs4nu#INDNEP #SAFFChampionship2021 #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/bcZwgDxGHn

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021

India drew against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in their first two matches which had put them in danger of missing the final but the win against Nepal in the group stages brought them back into the tournament after which they hammered the Maldives.

Nonetheless, Nepal will leave the Maldives with their heads held high as the side ranked 61 places below India at 168th reached their first final and gave a good account of themselves in the first half of the big final.

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Realme Q3s, Watch T1 launch expected alongside GT Neo 2T debut on October 19

Realme will make at least five announcements on October 19, including two phones. HIGHLIGHTSRealme has confirmed it will launch the Q3s smartphone on October 19.The October 19 is going to be primarily about the GT Neo 2T phone.Realme will also launch the Watch T1 smartwatch on October 19.Realme has scheduled a launch event for its next GT series phone and it is called the GT Neo 2T. But this phone is not going to arrive alone. Realme has confirmed it will launch another phone and a new smartwatch, among other things. The company will launch Realme Q3s phone and Realme Watch T1. The Realme Q3s is going to be a part of the Q-series that sells only in China, but some of its phones have arrived in other markets with different names.

The details of the Realme Q3s have emerged through Realme’s posters that it shared on Weibo. The Realme Q3s is tipped to come with a 6.59-inch Full-HD+ LTPS display with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. This also means there will be a fingerprint sensor on the power button. The Realme Q3s may use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor. The phone may have a triple camera setup on the back and it will include a 64-megapixel sensor, a 2-megapixel sensor, and a 2-megapixel sensor. The Realme Q3s may feature a 5000mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging, and of course, it will have the Android 11 operating system.The Realme Q3s comes across as a good mid-range phone, so it is going to be an amazing buy for people. But, unfortunately, this phone is going to be available in China, so if Indian buyers are waiting for it, they are in bad luck. Realme Watch T1’s details have also emerged alongside some renders. The smartwatch has a round dial and a rubber strap. The interface of the Realme Watch T1 has round icons, but the operating system in it is the company’s own. If this rumour turns out true, it will be another smartwatch by Realme without Google’s Wear OS, which recently got the third update. The smartwatch also supports voice calling, according to the leaked renders.Realme has confirmed only so many details about the Q3s so far, but the full reveal will take place on October 19. The details of the Realme Watch T1, however, are not official. We will find out more about the Q3s and Watch T1 at the upcoming event.Click here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

Amazon Great Indian Festival: Philips TAT1225 truly wireless earbuds available with massive discount

Wireless earbuds render clear audio without the irksome wire. Check out this great deal on Philips TAT1225 wireless earbuds as part of Amazon’s Great Indian Festival sale. HIGHLIGHTSThe Philips TAT1225 truly wireless earbuds are currently available for sale on Amazon for Rs. 1,499.These truly wireless earbuds have a built-in microphone with echo cancellation.They are equipped with Bluetooth 5.1 for quick and easy pairing.Earphones have increasingly become a part of our daily lives, be it to enjoy music or movies while on the go or the ease of picking up calls without having to pull the phone out of your pockets. Even while driving wireless earbuds offer a way to pick up calls without being distracted. All of us have had to face the gruesome challenge of untangling the wires of the earphones. With wireless earbuds, you not only eliminate the pesky wire but also enjoy superior audio quality both for music as well as calls. The Bluetooth connectivity grants you the freedom to move around without being attached to your phone with a wire.

Amazon is currently hosting its Great Indian Festival sale offering great deals and steep discounts on products across categories including wireless earbuds. Philips TAT1225 truly wireless earbuds are a great choice if you are looking for a great deal for those looking to get good quality earbuds at a bargain.The Philips TAT1225 truly wireless earbuds are currently available for sale on Amazon for Rs. 1,499, down from its earlier price of Rs. 4,999. These truly wireless earbuds have a built-in microphone with echo cancellation that keeps sound clear when you do take a call. You get great sound from the 6 mm neodymium drivers and you can rock your tunes in real comfort thanks to the snug, lightweight design. Soft, interchangeable ear-tip covers help you find a comfortable in-ear fitYou can wake your phone’s voice assistant without touching your phone. Ask Siri or the Google Assistant to play some music, call or send messages to friends, check the weather, and more. Additionally, you get up to 6 hours of playtime from a single charge, plus 12 extra hours from a fully charged case.The Philips TAT1225 truly wireless earbuds are rated IPX4 splash and waterproof, making them sweat resistant as well. They are equipped with Bluetooth 5.1 for quick and easy pairing. The earbuds are extremely comfortable to wear even for long hours and lightweight, weighing just 60 grams.Amazon’s Great Indian Festival sale kicked off on October 3.Click here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

iPhone 13 production to take a hit as Apple faces chip shortage

A new report indicates that Apple has cut down its expectations on the iPhone 13 production this year due to the ongoing chip shortage. Sources indicate that the company has conveyed the same to its manufacturing partners as well. iPhone 13 Pro Max (Image: India Today Tech)HIGHLIGHTSApple hoped to produce 90 million iPhone 13 units by this year’s end.It is likely that it will not meet this target with the ongoing chip shortage.The supply shortage is being experienced from two major suppliers of Apple.It seems like the ongoing chip shortage is going to have a major impact on the iPhone 13 production this year. While Apple had expected to produce 90 million new iPhone models in the last three months of the year, it might have to cut this projection down by as many as 10 million units.

Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reports that Apple is the latest victim of the supply constraints on chipsets used in smartphones. The sources suggest that the projected iPhone production will not be met because Broadcom Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc. are struggling to deliver the required units. Broadcom Inc. supplies wireless components for iPhones while the latter provides various chipset components and displays to Apple.A similar component shortage from other suppliers also dampens Apple’s plans. The report mentions that Apple has addressed the issue in front of its other manufacturing partners and informed them of the lower-than-expected iPhone production this year.The issue will build upon the already delayed run of the iPhone 13 Pro models. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max units that have already been ordered through the Apple website are expected to be delivered by next month. Shipment delays are also affecting the availability of the models in offline stores.It is not that Apple was clueless about this impending impact of chip shortage on its iPhone 13 sales. Apple CEO Tim Cook had predicted this back in July during a call with investors, stating that the chip shortage around the world will affect the production of iPhones in the coming months. By then, iMacs and iPads were already seeing a delayed shipment due to the supply constraint.The tech major tried to dissolve this effect by redirecting its available resources to the latest iPhones. For this, Apple discontinued iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max right after the launch of the iPhone 13 series. Though that certainly can’t make up for the huge drop in supply that is being experienced across the industry.Apple’s struggle with chip supply is a stark reminder of how acute the problem is. With the technology behemoth unable to secure enough chip supplies for its products, it can only be imagined what the not-so-big players in the industry would be facing at this point. Analysts predict that the chip supply will continue to be dismal throughout next year.Click here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s official: Apple set to launch new MacBook Pro with M1X chipset at October 18 event

Apple has sent out invites for the October 18 event, which is likely to see the launch of the MacBook Pro with M1X. The invite doesn’t say much, but the tagline reads, “Unleashed”, hinting at the company’s all-new chipset, which is likely to be the successor to the M1 chip.

Apple is expected to launch all-new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models at the special launch event on October 18. However, the most important thing to look out for will be the M1X processor, which will be the successor to the M1 chip that debuted last year.The new MacBook Pro is likely to feature a mini-LED display and come with an HDMI port as well as an SD card slot. Apple is expected to remove the touch bar and bring back the traditional function keys. The new MacBook Pro models are not likely to see a major design overhaul, but we will have our fingers crossed. Apart from the MacBook Pro, Apple is also likely to announce the macOS Monterey release date.While there aren’t too many hints but Apple may also debut the AirPods 3 at the same event, but we are too optimistic about this one.Greg Joswiak, Apple’s SVP Marketing, has shared a video that further hints about the upcoming MacBook Pro with system speed teased. The October 18 launch event is a Monday, which is not typically Apple’s typical day for launches, but it seems that we are up for a surprise.Unleashed! These next six days are going to speed by. #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/0ops2bVPvl— Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) October 12, 2021
To recall, Apple launched the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini with the M1 chip last year in November. The last year’s Mac event was called the “One More Thing” event and was the last keynote event after the Apple Watch and iPad launch in September, followed by the iPhone launch event in October.The M1-based MacBook Air price in India started at Rs 92,900 for the 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU model, while the 512GB model with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU variant was set at Rs 1,17,900. The 13-inch MacBook Pro price in India started at Rs 1,22,900.

IPL 2021: MI can be proud of fabulous run over last 5-6 years, says Rohit Sharma after title defence ends

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma said he felt a little disappointed that the 5-time champions were not able to qualify for the play-offs of IPL 2021 but said the franchise can hold their heads high for their performances over the last 5-6 years in the cash-rich T20 league.

Mumbai Indians gave it their all to make the most of an outside chance to reach the play-offs in their final league stage match on Friday in Abu Dhabi. MI headed into the match, knowing they had a mountain to climb as they needed to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 171 runs.SRH vs MI, IPL 2021: Highlights | ReportIshan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav sent the Sunrisers Hyderabad on a leather hunt as they hitting 84 and 82, respectively in quick time as Mumbai Indians posted 235, their highest total in the history of the tournament. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad came up with an impressive chase, hitting 193 and falling short of the total by only 42 runs, ending Mumbai’s hopes of a miracle.With the defeat, Mumbai Indians’ title defence came to an end. They had won the titles in 2019 and 2020 and were hoping for a hat-trick but an inconsistent run in IPL 2021 cost them an opportunity to create history.”We have had on and off season this time around. We have had a fabulous run as a franchise. It was wonderful to be part of this set-up, we can be very proud of that. We were getting momentum in Delhi and there was a break, that didn’t help the team. It was a collective failure of group,” Rohit Sharma said.Fans have always been supportive: Rohit thanks MI familyRohit thanked the Mumbai Indians fans for backing them through their highs and lows and expressed disappointment at not being able to fulfil their expectations this season.”Very happy with win today, we gave everything, I am sure it was entertaining for the fans as well. They have always been supportive, they have always stood by us. Little disappointed we didn’t go through,” he added.Mumbai Indians have won 4 titles in the last 6 years (2015, 2017, 2019, 2020) but they might have to give up on their envious core group as IPL 2022 will have 10 teams and will be preceded by a mega auction. It remains to be seen if MI can continue their dominance in the T20 league if they are rebuild their core.Rohit though said he doesn’t see the expectations on Mumbai Indians as pressure but a reflection of the faith on the quality of the team over the years.”When you play for a franchise like Mumbai, you are always expected to go out and perform. I wouldn’t call that as pressure. More than anything, it’s expectations.”Chennai Super Kings take on table-toppers Delhi Capitals in the Qualifier 1 on Sunday while Kolkata Knight Riders will face Royal Challenges Bangalore in Eliminator on Monday, October 11.

IPL 2021: We cannot take our foot off the pedal, says Delhi Capitals’ fast bowler Kagiso Rabada

Delhi Capitals fast bowler Kagiso Rabada on Friday said that he cannot take his foot off the pedal in the business end of the tournament. The Delhi Capitals will take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Friday. Shimron Hetmyer and Kagiso Rabada of Delhi Capitals during match 50 of the Indian Premier League (Image Courtesy: PTI)HIGHLIGHTSWe cannot take our foot off the pedal, says Kagiso RabadaDelhi Capitals will take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore on FridayWe’ve done really great work so far, says Kagiso RabadaThe Delhi Capitals will be looking to end the league phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 season on a high when they take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Friday.

Delhi Capitals’ fast bowler Kagiso Rabada expressed that the team shouldn’t take their foot off the pedal even though they have confirmed a top-two finish.”It’s been a great season. We’ve given ourselves another chance to play for a spot in the final, so we are thrilled by that. Even though the match against RCB doesn’t hold a lot of significance for us, we should not take our foot off the pedal. We should just keep playing the way we have been playing,” said Rabada.When asked if the Delhi Capitals would be thinking about their loss against the RCB in the first half of the tournament, Rabada said: “Our loss against RCB in the first half of the tournament is definitely a thing of the past. However, we know how threatening they can be. They have some really destructive batters and Harshal Patel has been doing extremely well. We need to believe in our strengths. The result in our last match against RCB is a thing of the past, but we still need to learn from that result.”The fast bowler added that the team will look to play its best cricket in the business end of the tournament.”We’ve done really great work so far. We have earned the right to be in this position and we have been in this position before, which helps. We are going to give it our all in the upcoming matches and look to play our best cricket in the business end of the tournament,” he said.Rabada found himself in a rather unusual situation in Delhi Capitals’ last match against the Chennai Super Kings when he needed to close out the match with the bat.The fast bowler spoke about the thoughts that ran through his mind before he took the team home through a boundary.”It wasn’t the most ideal situation, but I backed myself to put the team in a winning position when we needed 2 runs from 3 balls, by at least getting Hetmyer on strike. I tried to watch the ball and anticipate where Bravo was going to bowl. I just wanted to get bat on ball and that worked for us,” he signed off.Click here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

Today IPL LIVE Streaming: How to Watch Live Telecast of CSK vs PBKS Cricket Match on Website, App and Television

CSK vs PBKS IPL 2021 Live Streaming: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are looking to finish the league stage at the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL) table while Punjab Kings (PBKS) face an uphill struggle in trying to seal a spot in the play-offs. Today IPL LIVE Streaming: When and where to watch Live Telecast of CSK vs PBKS. (Courtesy of BCCI)Eyeing a top-two finish, Chennai Super Kings will be the firm favourites when they lock horns with Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League here on Thursday. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team, despite two straight defeats prior to the final round-robin match, will have its nose ahead against an inconsistent Punjab outfit that is all but out of the play-offs race.

The Super Kings batsmen are in superb nick, especially the stylish Ruturaj Gaikwad, and they will be eager to continue the good work. Gaikwad and veteran South African Faf du Plessis have been good at the top while Ambati Rayudu has shown in the middle-order. Moeen Ali has done what has been asked of him but the struggles of Suresh Raina (who missed the Delhi Capitals game) and skipper Dhoni are worrying signs for CSK heading into the next stage.Inconsistency has been the bane of the K L Rahul-led Punjab team that lies sixth in the table with 10 points. The skipper leads the season’s charts with 528 runs while his Karnataka state-mate Mayank Agarwal has 429, but the others haven’t contributed much which is one of the reasons for Punjab Kings’ woes. On the bowling front, Mohammed Shami (18 wickets from 13 matches) and Arshdeep Singh (16 wickets) have been the stars while Ravi Bishnoi, who had been surprisingly benched on occasions, had had his moments.Where can I watch the 52nd game of IPL 2021 between Royal Challengers Bangalore and SunRisers Hyderabad live on TV?Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 1 Hindi will provide live telecasts of the IPL 2021 match in India.Where can I watch the 53rd game of IPL 2021 between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings live online?Disney+Hotstar VIP will provide live streaming of the 53rd game of IPL 2021 between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings.Where and where will the 53rd game of IPL 2021 between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings be played?The 53rd game of IPL 2021 between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Thursday at 3:30 PM IST and 2:00 PM UAE time.Where can I check the online live updates of the 53rd game of IPL 2021 between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings?You can follow our coverage for IPL 2021 here- https://www. our site.in/sportsAlso Read | IPL 2021: Kumar Sangakkara blames RR’s failure to adapt after loss to MI, ‘Fault in us than in Sharjah pitch’Also Read | Australia players support CA’s stance on Afghanistan Test match, says limited-overs captain Aaron FinchClick here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

IPL 2021: There were tears of joy when Umran Malik was picked in SRH playing XI, says father Abdul

Umran Malik, a young cricketer from Jammu city has become an overnight sensation after making his debut in the IPL. The 21-year-old cricketer, who comes from a very humble background played his first IPL match on Sunday for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Son of a vegetable and fruit vendor, Umran Malik caught everyone’s attention after he bowled a delivery of 150 kmph speed. The speedster became an overnight hero in Jammu city with people thronging his residence to congratulate his parents.

The joy of Umran’s parents knows no bounds these days. His father Abdul Mallik who is a vegetable & fruit vendor got very emotional while speaking to India Today.”My son got inclined to cricket when he was just 3 years old. He always dreamt of becoming a professional cricketer. We were so happy when he was picked up in the playing XI by Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday. We were glued to TV and there were tears of joy in my and my wife’s eyes. My son has worked very hard. We always supported him. We hope that one day he plays for Team India,” said Abdul Malik, the speedster’s proud father while speaking to India Today.Since Umran Mallik made his IPL debut on Sunday, people can be seen visiting his father near Shaheedi Chowk in Jammu where he sells vegetables. People were even seen distributing sweets to celebrate the young cricketer’s feat.”It is not an ordinary achievement for us. We are from a poor family. I sell vegetables and fruits to make a living. My son has made me proud. Our joy knows no bounds. Even Lt Governor Sahib has congratulated us. I pray to Almighty that my son continues to excel in his career”, added Abdul Malik.The other family members too are on cloud nine. Expressing joy on Umran’s achievement, they exuded confidence that he would one day make it to Team India and make the nation proud.”We can’t even explain how happy we are. Umran has made all of us so proud. We have been flooded with congratulatory messages from people. Umran Mallik is a very hard working and disciplined boy. We now wish to see him playing for India. His IPL achievement will also inspire and encourage other youngsters to excel in sports”, said Nazir Ahmed Malik, Umran’s uncle.J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has also congratulated the young cricketer from Jammu.”Heartiest congratulations to Umran Malik on IPL debut today from the Sunrisers Hyderabad Team. You have made the entire Jammu Kashmir proud. You are the inspiration for many young cricketers. Best wishes for your cricket career ahead”, Office of J&K Lt Governor said in its tweet.”Umran Malik is a very talented cricketer. I have seen him practicing on the ground. He is a very hard working cricketer. We are very happy that he has made his debut in the IPL & impressed everyone by his bowling skills. He will definitely scale more heights in his career, if he continues to work with same dedication & zeal. We will continue to support him and work on honing his skills,” said Brig (Retd) Anil Gupta, Incharge, Administration, J&K Cricket Association.

Sagar Rana murder case: Delhi court denies bail to Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar

A Delhi court on Tuesday dismissed the bail application of Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar, accused in the murder of a co-wrestler Sagar Rana at the Chattrasal stadium. Wrestler Sushil Kumar in action (Image Courtesy: Reuters)HIGHLIGHTSDelhi court denies bail to Olympic wrestler Sushil KumarSushil Kumar was arrested on May 23 and is lodged in jail since June 2, 2021Sushil Kumar allegedly assaulted Sagar Rana at the Chhatrasal StadiumThere is no end to trouble for Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar, who is accused in the murder of wrestler Sagar Rana at the Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi.

A Delhi court on Tuesday denied bail to Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar in the Chhatrasal Stadium murder case.Additional Sessions Judge Shivaji Anand refused to grant relief to Kumar after hearing the arguments of both the prosecution and defense at length.Kumar had sought relief from the court asserting that police built a false case against him and presented a “guilty image” of him.The 38-year-old wrestler was arrested on May 23 and is lodged in jail since June 2, 2021.Kumar, along with others, allegedly assaulted former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar and his friends at the stadium in May over an alleged property dispute.Dhankar succumbed to the injuries later. According to the post-mortem report, he died due to the “cerebral damage resulting from blunt object impact”.Two of Sagar’s friends were injured in the brawl at the stadium that took place on the intervening night of May 4-5 over a dispute related to the property in Delhi’s Model Town area.The accused were identified as Bhupender (38), Mohit (22), Gulab (24), residents of Haryana’s Jhajjar district and Manjeet (29), a native of Rohtak district, they said.They are active members of the Kala Asauda and Neeraj Bawana gangs and were arrested from Delhi’s Kanjhawala area on Tuesday night.Click here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

SAFF Championship: India begin quest for 8th title with disappointing 1-1 draw vs 10-man Bangladesh

Bangladesh held India to a 1-1 draw to take the lead in the standings of the SAFF Championship 2021 being played in the Maldives. Sunil Chhetri scored his 76th goal for India in the match against Bangladesh (AFP Photo)The Indian football team opened its campaign in the SAFF Championship with a disappointing draw against 10-man Bangladesh at the Maldives National Stadium in Male on Sunday. India are chasing their 8th SAFF title in this edition, which was postponed twice due to the coronavirus crisis.

Sunil Chhetri scored for the Blue Tigers in the 26th minute to give India the lead but it was cancelled out by Yeasin Arafat in the 74th minute despite Bangladesh being reduced to 10 men after Bishwanath Ghosh was sent off in the 54th minute.Bangladesh, who had defeated Sri Lanka 1-0 in their opening match, now lead the standings with 4 points followed by Nepal (3), India (1), Maldives (0) and Sri Lanka (0).There are just 5 participants in the tournament this year after Pakistan got suspended by the FIFA for violation of FIFA Statutes while Bhutan pulled out due to the Covid-19 pandemic.More to follow…Click here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

SAFF Championships: 7 time champions India to start campaign against plucky Bangladesh

A day prior to India’s opening fixture against Bangladesh in the SAFF Championship, and with the morning practice session done, the boys had already moved into the match zone.

Bangladesh have been a tough customer for India customer who had needed a late equaliser in the first leg of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers match in Kolkata to draw 1-1. The Blue Tigers had though, won the second leg 2-0.Head coach Igor Stimac is taking the SAFF Championships, as the last opportunity for the players to play international matches before the start of the third round of 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in February next year.He has not minced words in declaring that India are the favourites to win the tournament, saying ‘we will justify ourselves.’”The first game is always the most difficult game. Bangladesh are a known opponent, but we respect them immensely. In fact, we respect each and every team playing out here, and they have an equal chance to win the tournament,” the coach said.Stimac made no secret that he will be making the most out of the ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC players, having played in Maldives earlier in the AFC Cup.”We rely on Bengaluru FC and ATKMB players because not only they played here a few weeks back, but they started work with their respective clubs. And they had enough training sessions, and games in their legs. So their engines are good for such a tournament,” he said.”We need to be careful as to how many minutes we give to each player corresponding to what they can do at the moment with regards to endurance capacities.”Sunil Chhetri said the message from our coaching staff and head coach is very clear that the players have to minimise mistakes.””It is more and much more about how we play. We have to make sure that in every game no matter what, we give 100 percent. We cannot be complacent,” he said.Chhetri, a veteran of 16 years in international football, said he doesn’t want to lose any game for the country.”When you are young you play for a lot of things. As you get older, a lot of them diminishes. I’ve played over 100 games for India, I don’t have another 100 and I want to make the most of all the games I have left.”I want to win a game if I am playing for my country. Both the games against Bangladesh have been extremely difficult ones. I don’t want to lose any game for my country,” he said.

IPL 2021, MI vs DC: Shreyas Iyer says was confident of leading chase, ‘Knew I would win game for the team’

IPL 2021: Shreyas Iyer’s run-a-ball 33 helped Delhi Capitals square off a tricky chase against Mumbai Indians in Sharjah after they lost their top order within the powerplay, Shreyas Iyer scored a run-a-ball 33 to lead DC to victory. (Courtesy of Delhi Capitals)HIGHLIGHTSShreyas Iyer said that he backed himself to deliver in the end for DCHe said Ashwin wanted to take singles after he came onIyer said that Ashwin decided to go after the bowlers in the last two oversShreyas Iyer said that he was confident of being able to lead the Delhi Capitals (DC) to victory against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday if he can take the chase deep. DC had only 130 to chase in Sharjah but were set back when they lost their top order within the powerplay overs.

“I felt really amazing to bat through and take my team through. It was a low-scoring game. I backed myself and my instincts. I knew I would win the game for the team,” said Iyer after the match.Wickets fell around but Iyer stayed calm and finally found a steady partner in Ravichandran Ashwin. “He came in and was really positive. He wanted to take singles, and that went to the last two overs. He decided he would take the bowlers on during the last two overs,” said Iyer.IPL: RR vs CSK Live | MI vs DC HighlightsThe pair put up an unbeaten 39-run stand off 36 balls for the seventh wicket, with Iyer ending the game on 33 off as many balls and Ashwin on 20 off 21. With four runs needed in the last over, Ashwin hit the first ball for six to take DC over the line.”The transition in the last two years has happened. Since 2019, we have shifted that towards our team. We try to implement that within the dressing room. We try to be humble, and we try to ensure whoever’s day it is, he makes sure the team wins the game,” he said.Iyer, who led DC to a runners-up position last season, said that the team is determined to finish within the top two so that they have a better shot at reaching a final again. “Once we are in these close games, we have to finish them. Every two points matter. If we finish in the top two, we have that opportunity to play that one game and make the final,” he said.Click here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

Amazon Great Indian Festival: Top offers on truly wireless earphones under Rs 3000

Amazon Great Indian Festival is all set to kickstart on October 3. Amazon had said that the sale would include 1,000 new product launches from top brands such as Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Sony, Apple, Boat, Lenovo, HP, Asus, Fossil and many others. Apart from the new launches, Amazon will offer scores of deals and discounts across categories including smartphones, smartwatches, laptops, home appliances and more.

Amazon is also offering special deals and discounts on earphones, TWS earbuds. So if you are planning to buy TWS earbuds, you should do it when the Amazon sale goes live. So here is our list of TWS earbuds under Rs 3000 available on Amazon.Realme Buds Q2 Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in-Ear TWS EarphonesThe Realme Buds Q2 is the cheapest earbuds to come with active noise cancellation. The earbuds are being sold for Rs 1999 on Amazon. The earbuds are equipped with a 10mm Bass Boost Driver & Large Liquid Crystal Polymer diaphragm along with a Bass Boost+ algorithm that delivers powerful bass and a crystal clear stereo sound. In terms of battery, the company claims that the earbuds offer a battery life of 28 hours. It also supports fast charging that gives up to 3 hours of battery life with just 10 min of charging time. It can be purchased in blue or white colours.boAt Airdopes 621 TWS EarbudsThe boAt Airdopes 621 TWS Earbuds can be purchased from Amazon for Rs 1999. However, in order to get it for Rs 1999, you can pre-book the device by paying Rs 1 and the rest of the amount when the sale goes live. The earbuds come with mammoth battery. The company claims that it can go on for 150 hours on a single charge. That is because its charging case houses a massive 2600mAh battery under its hood. There is a battery indicator as well on the case that will show you the percentage of your device’s battery.Noise Air Buds+Noise Air Buds+ TWS earbuds is being sold on Amazon for Rs 1599. The earbuds feature the same design as the Apple AirPods Pro. The Air Buds+ come with fast charging technology which means that you can charge the device only for 8 mins and that would give you a playtime of 80 mins. On a single charge, the device offers you a playtime of 4 hours. a total of up to 20 hours with the charging case. It is IPX4 water-resistant which means you can wear it during your workout session.boAt Airdopes 121 earbuds The Boat Airdopes 121v2 is being sold on Amazon for Rs 1299. The earbuds feature a pebble-shaped design and the best bit about the earbuds is that it comes with a battery percentage display on the box. So you will get to know when to refill the juice when you run out of it.