Category: Sports

On Saturday, 18-year-old spinner Allah Ghazanfar made headlines by taking five wickets in a One Day International (ODI) match against Zimbabwe in Harare. After winning the toss, Afghanistan chose to field first, and Ghazanfar didn’t let his team down. Zimbabwe struggled and found themselves at just 120 runs for 9 wickets in 28 overs. The talented bowler finished with impressive figures of 10 overs, 33 runs, and 5 wickets.

This was Ghazanfar’s second five-wicket haul in only 11 ODIs! Afghanistan is leading the three-match ODI series 1-0 after the first match was canceled due to rain.

Ghazanfar caught everyone’s attention when he was bought by the Mumbai Indians for Rs 4.8 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. He originally started his journey as a fast bowler, but former Afghanistan captain Dawlat Ahmadzai helped him become a mystery spinner. He shone brightly during the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, where he took 8 wickets in just 4 matches.

His impressive performances led to his senior team debut against Ireland. Ghazanfar also earned the Player of the Match award in the Emerging Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka A, where Afghanistan won the title.

While he was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team that won the IPL 2024 championship, he didn’t play any matches as he replaced Mujeeb Ur Rahman. KKR wanted to bring him back but in a bidding battle, the Mumbai Indians secured him instead.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have started an exciting program called the ‘Made of Bold Sports Development Programme.’ This initiative aims to find and develop young sports talents from different parts of India.

In a recent announcement, RCB shared their goal: to help young athletes grow and to create a strong sports culture in India. Rajesh Menon, RCB’s Vice President, said, “We believe that when communities come together through sports, everyone benefits. This program is designed to support young talent while also helping local communities.”

RCB’s star player Shreyanka Patil also expressed her excitement, saying, “This program will help athletes and their communities succeed. India has a lot of untapped sports talent, and this program is a good step forward.”

The journey of the ‘Made of Bold Sports Development Programme’ starts in Mundgod, a small town in the Uttara Kannada district. Here, talented young athletes from the Siddi Community admire Olympic champions like Usain Bolt. RCB hopes that Mundgod can become India’s “sprint capital.”

This program is developed in partnership with the GoSports Foundation and Bridges of Sports Foundation. It provides support that includes education, training, and nutrition to help these children thrive in sports.

What Will the Program Do?
The program will focus on supporting 25 young athletes who train with Bridges of Sports Foundation. Initially, over 400 children will take part in a fun 2-tier league. Out of these, 25 top performers will receive special training in 300 sessions to prepare for state and national competitions. Two outstanding athletes will even get advanced training from top coaches and therapists who have helped Olympic winners.

Deepthi Bopaiah, CEO of GoSports Foundation, shared her excitement about working with RCB. She said, “We know that having strong support at every level is key to an athlete’s success. We believe this program will give talented young athletes a chance to shine.”

Nitish Chiniwar, founder of the Bridges of Sports Foundation, noted that the program represents a major opportunity to help young athletes in Karnataka and throughout India. He said, “For athletes to succeed, they need ongoing support. We believe this program will help the talented athletes in Mundgod become champions.”

RCB also aims to discuss ways to improve sports in India and inspire more people to contribute to the sports community.

On Wednesday, rain helped India draw the third Test match against Australia in Brisbane. But the biggest surprise came when star player Ravichandran Ashwin, aged 38, announced his retirement from international cricket right after the match.

Ashwin revealed this shocking news during a press conference alongside captain Rohit Sharma, despite two more matches left in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He had been left out of the first Test, which India won, and played in the second Test, which India lost. He was again dropped for the Brisbane Test that ended in a draw.

As the news spread on social media, fans, players, and experts shared their love and respect for Ashwin. Former Indian cricketer Abhinav Mukund also wrote a heartfelt tribute about Ashwin on ESPNCricinfo, recalling their childhood cricket days in Chennai.

Mukund shared a funny story about how both players played in an under-12 tournament. He remembered scoring his first-ever century while Ashwin was injured and acting as the scorer. “I celebrated after reaching 90 runs and then heard applause later. I realized the scorer had made a mistake with the numbers!” Mukund said.

He reflected, “At the time, I thought Ashwin was done with cricket due to his injury and would focus on studies. Little did I know he’d become a cricket legend!”

Ashwin’s retirement marks the end of an amazing career. Many consider him one of the greatest cricketers ever. He played a key role in India’s victories in the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. After starting cricket at just nine years old, Ashwin was coached by Chandrasekar Rao in his early days. He has already left Australia and returned to Chennai, planning to play in the IPL 2025 for CSK next

It’s tough to outsmart Ravichandran Ashwin, both on the cricket field and with words. Recently, Virat Kohli shared how Ashwin’s retirement made him emotional, thinking about their 14 years of playing together for India. Kohli wrote a heartfelt message, saying, “I’ve enjoyed every bit of my journey with you, Ash. Your skills and contributions to Indian cricket are unmatched. You will always be remembered as a legend. I wish you all the best in life!” Kohli concluded this touching note with love and gratitude.

In response, Ashwin thanked Kohli, saying, “I’ll be walking out to bat with you at the MCG.” Ashwin is now back in Chennai, promising to support Kohli during the Boxing Day Test against Australia, starting on December 26.

The emotional moment between Kohli and Ashwin sparked retirement rumors. During a rain break on Day 5 of the third Test, they were seen hugging and chatting in the dressing room. Ashwin later announced his retirement, visibly emotional, alongside captain Rohit Sharma.

Ashwin reflected on his career, stating, “I don’t want to talk only about myself. I had a lot of fun. I made many memories with Rohit and my teammates, even as we’ve lost some over the years.” He proudly mentioned that they are the last of the “originals.”

In red-ball cricket, Ashwin played 106 Tests, took 537 wickets (including 37 five-wicket hauls), and scored 3,503 runs. His contributions to Indian cricket go beyond just impressive statistics, making him one of India’s all-time greats.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the star Indian cricketer, surprised everyone by announcing his retirement after the third Test match against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. Known for being India’s second-highest wicket-taker in all formats, Ashwin revealed he still has energy left but feels it’s time to step away from international cricket. He ends his career with an impressive total of 765 wickets, including 537 in Test matches.

From the very start, Ashwin showed he was dedicated to learning and improving his game. WV Raman, who was Ashwin’s coach in Tamil Nadu when he first played professionally, shared how Ashwin always aimed to grow as a player. He said it was unexpected for Ashwin to retire, as players can’t really predict when they’re done.

Though people often think Ashwin became famous through the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Chennai Super Kings, he had actually been working hard for many years before that. Raman mentioned that it’s tough to foresee how well a player will do, but he recognized Ashwin’s talent early on.

Some critics believe Ashwin’s success is mostly because he plays on turning pitches in India, but Raman disagrees. He believes if we celebrate batters scoring runs on good pitches, we should also appreciate bowlers taking wickets on turning ones. Ashwin’s career speaks for itself, as he joins the ranks of cricket’s all-time greats.

Throughout his career, Ashwin always wanted to learn more and improve his skills. Raman praised him for overcoming challenges and maximizing his potential. There were times when Ashwin asked questions to understand the game better, which Raman appreciated.

Even though some think Ashwin could have played longer to beat Anil Kumble’s record, Raman explained that it’s really up to the player to feel when it’s time to hang up their boots. If cricket stops being fun, that’s often when players decide to retire.

Ashwin has openly shared his desire to win the Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu, a title that has eluded him so far. Raman believes Ashwin will give his all to achieve this goal, and if he succeeds, it would complete his cricket journey beautifully.

Ashwin’s legacy will be remembered for always wanting to learn, facing challenges head-on, and living and breathing cricket—similar to legends like Sachin Tendulkar.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have kept key players Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal for the IPL 2024 season. However, they let go of popular names like Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell.

During the auction in Jeddah, RCB spent ₹2 crores each on several new players, including Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and English batsman Phil Salt. They also picked up Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and all-rounder Krunal Pandya for the same price. Additionally, they brought in Tim David and former player Devdutt Padikkal.

RCB invested ₹1 crore on players like Jitesh Sharma and Lungisani Ngidi, and they paid ₹1.5 crores for Romario Shepherd and ₹1.25 crores for Jacob Bethell. Other players like Swapnil Singh and Mohit Rathee were also signed.

As they head into IPL 2025, Virat Kohli will be the most important player for RCB, especially after releasing Du Plessis. Kohli is expected to return as the team’s captain.

In IPL 2024, Kohli changed his batting style, playing more aggressively during the powerplay. With the new power hitters in the team, fans are curious about how Kohli will bat next season.

Mo Bobat, RCB’s Director of Cricket, expressed confidence in Kohli’s ability. He said, “Virat has a lot of experience and skill. He knows what to do on the field. Last year, he showed great intent and scored many runs, even when the team wasn’t winning.”

Kohli finished IPL 2024 as the top scorer with 741 runs, significantly more than the second-highest scorer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had 583 runs. RCB reached the playoffs but lost to the Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator

Cricket star Ravichandran Ashwin arrived home in Chennai on Thursday after announcing he is retiring from international cricket. His surprise decision came right after the third Test game against Australia, with the series tied at 1-1.

The 38-year-old bowler revealed his feelings, saying, “This is emotional for many, but for me, it’s a big relief.” He shared that the idea of retiring had been on his mind for some time, and he decided to make it official after the fourth day of the Test match.

Ashwin ends his incredible career with a total of 765 international wickets. In Tests, he took 537 wickets, making him India’s second-highest wicket-taker, just behind Anil Kumble. He has also achieved 37 five-wicket hauls, which is an impressive record.

When asked about not leading the Indian team, he confidently said, “I have zero regrets.” Upon returning home, Ashwin received a warm welcome from his parents and friends, which surprised him. “I just wanted some peace at home, but this made my day,” he said.

Ashwin has played a significant role in great events like the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. In his white-ball career, he played 116 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 65 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).

He shared that memories from the last two years had faded, leading to his decision to retire. However, Ashwin confirmed he would continue playing club cricket. He plans to play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL and likely the Dindigul Dragons in the Tamil Nadu Premier League next year.

“I still have the passion to play,” he said. “It’s just Ashwin the Indian cricketer who is done, not Ashwin the cricketer.”