The Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy, the premier football tournament in Goa, has returned for its second edition with an exciting line-up of teams, including international powerhouses Brisbane Roar FC and Club Defensa y Justicia. The tournament, set to kick off on Saturday, will see defending champions FC Goa battle GPL qualifiers Sporting Clube de Goa in the first match, followed by Australian team Brisbane Roar FC taking on I-League giants Dempo SC. The inclusion of these top-tier teams adds a new level of competition to the event, which is set to be held at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. The tournament is split into two groups, with high-quality teams like Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, and Churchill Brothers FC also in the mix.
After a two-year absence due to a horrific accident, Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant is back in action with the Duleep Trophy 2024 tournament. The IPL and T20 World Cup champion is excited to complete his miraculous journey back to the sport, and his participation in the Duleep Trophy is just the first step towards that goal. Fans can follow his comeback match between India C and India D through live scores and updates.
UEFA has revealed a new format for the Champions League, with the group stage being replaced by a single league phase consisting of 36 teams. Manchester City are set to face Inter Milan, the team they beat to win the trophy in 2023, while Liverpool will host defending champions Real Madrid. The revamped format aims to make the early stages of the competition more exciting by increasing the number of games for each team and introducing a playoff round for eight remaining spots in the knockout stage.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has directed the renovation of three major stadiums ahead of the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy in the country, at a whopping cost of Rs 12.8 billion. The chairman of PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, emphasized the need to bring international standards to their stadiums and provide basic facilities for players and spectators. While the dates for the tournament may shift, the PCB is determined to host the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and make it a success.
Despite the challenging batting conditions at the Chepauk track, Rajasthan bowler Rituraj Singh claimed four wickets, helping wrap up Tamil Nadu's innings for 295 in the ongoing Ranji Trophy final. In his post-match media interaction, Singh credited his success to captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar and bowling partner Pankaj Singh. He also mentioned his off-season training at the MRF Pace Foundation as a key factor in his success. With Rajasthan on the verge of becoming two-time Ranji Trophy champions, Singh's contributions have been crucial in their journey.
As the countdown begins for the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, let's take a look at Pakistan's preparation for the tournament. The defending champions have a challenging schedule ahead with tours to Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa as well as a triangular series at home against New Zealand and South Africa. With only 11 or 12 ODIs to prepare, Pakistan will have to make the most of their limited opportunities to retain their title.
After a successful career spanning nearly 20 years, Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from international cricket. Known for his explosive batting and consistency in the opening position, Dhawan will be remembered for his stellar performances in ICC tournaments, including the 2013 Champions Trophy where he was named Player of the Tournament. With over 6700 runs in ODIs, Dhawan ranks third on the list of highest run-getters for India, cementing his place as one of the country's all-time greats.
Veteran Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has officially announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket, bringing an end to a stellar 13-year career. Known for his explosive batting, Dhawan amassed over 10,000 runs for India in all formats, including two centuries during the historic Champions Trophy triumph in 2013. His impressive IPL record of 6,769 runs also cements his legacy as one of the tournament's top batsmen. Fans have taken to social media to express their gratitude and sadness over the departure of one of the best top-order batsmen of our generation.
After a successful career that saw him represent the Indian national team in countless tournaments and lead the side in the absence of a regular skipper, flamboyant opener Shikhar Dhawan announces retirement. In an emotional video posted on X, Dhawan expresses his gratitude to his coaches, family, and teammates as he looks back on his journey and looks forward to a new chapter in his life. The former Punjab Kings captain also reflects on his time with the Indian team, including their 2013 Champions Trophy victory under MS Dhoni's leadership.
India's captain Rohit Sharma received the 'Men's International Cricketer of the Year' award and former coach Rahul Dravid was honored with the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards 2023-24. Other winners include Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and R. Ashwin. BCCI secretary Jay Shah expressed confidence in the Indian team's ability to win more trophies in the future, mentioning upcoming tournaments like the Champions Trophy, World Test Championship final, and the Women's T20 World Cup. Additionally, Tamil Nadu captain R Sai Kishore was named the 'Domestic cricketer of the Year', and international players Tim Southee and Phil Salt also received awards for their performances in T20 cricket.