The second day of the cash-rich Indian Premier League auction saw South African cricketer Faf du Plessis being bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs. 2 crores. The Royal Challengers Bangalore squad did not use their RTM card for Du Plessis, who has had a successful stint with Chennai Super Kings before. Meanwhile, Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant made headlines on the first day of the auction after being picked by Lucknow Super Giants for a record-breaking Rs. 27 crores.
Recently appointed captain Suryakumar Yadav has spoken out about the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad in the Indian squad for their upcoming T20I against South Africa. Despite Gaikwad's stellar performance in the domestic circuit and his strong showings in the T20I series against Zimbabwe earlier this year, he has not been included in the national team. While Yadav praised Gaikwad's skills and consistency, he reminded everyone that the team follows a specific selection process and that other players in good form also deserve their chance. With Yadav's leadership and Gaikwad's impressive record, fans are left wondering when will Gaikwad's "time" finally come on the national team stage.
The IPL franchises have announced their list of retained players for the upcoming auction, with hefty sums being shelled out to keep top stars on each team. Sunrisers Hyderabad retained South African batsman Heinrich Klaasen for a record-breaking 23 Crore Indian Rupees, closely followed by RCB's Virat Kohli and Lucknow Super Giants' Nicholas Pooran. While each team was allowed to retain up to six players, Chennai Super Kings made an unexpected move by retaining MS Dhoni as an "uncapped" player for a base value of 4 Crore Indian Rupees. Stay tuned to see who else will make the cut for the 2025 season.
In a bold move, cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his belief that Chennai Super Kings should not retain MS Dhoni as an uncapped player for the IPL 2025 mega auction, but instead opt to retain him as a capped player and choose a different uncapped retention. He proposed Sameer Rizvi's name, citing his impressive form in the UP T20 League and comparing him to other talented young players in that bracket. Ashwin's suggestion sparked a debate with former South Africa performance analyst Prasanna Raman, who disagreed with Rizvi's potential retention.
In a thrilling opening Test match between England and Pakistan at the Multan Cricket Ground, Harry Brook of England hit the headlines by scoring the second-fastest Test triple century. The talented batsman reached the milestone in just 310 balls, with a total of 28 fours and three sixes. This record-breaking performance puts Brook in second place behind India's Virender Sehwag, who holds the record for the fastest triple century achieved in 278 balls against South Africa in 2008 in Chennai.
Indian cricket fans were treated to an interesting conversation between Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and Kapil Sharma on the 'The Great Indian Kapil Show'. While Rohit shared the nail-biting moments of the epic T20 World Cup final against South Africa, Shivam Dube had a tough time choosing between the two legendary captains. However, the all-rounder found a clever way to not pick any sides between his Chennai Super Kings captain Dhoni and India's high-flying opener Rohit.
FlixBus, the Germany-based travel aggregator, is launching its services in South India starting September 10. With connections to major cities like Chennai and Hyderabad, and plans for further expansion, FlixBus aims to offer over 200 connections throughout South India. As part of their launch, the company is currently offering promotional fares starting at just Rs 99 on select routes. Customers can book tickets conveniently through various methods including online, mobile app, Flix Lounge, or authorised resellers. With its entry into the South Indian market, FlixBus is set to provide a hassle-free and budget-friendly travel experience to millions of passengers.
Actor Bijili Ramesh, best known for his popular YouTube videos and roles in South Indian films, including Natpe Thunai and Comali, has passed away at the age of 46 in Chennai. The actor had earlier revealed his battle with liver ailments due to excessive alcohol consumption and had appealed to his industry colleagues for help. Despite receiving some financial aid, Ramesh's health continued to deteriorate and he breathed his last on Monday night. His comedic Rajinikanth imitations and viral prank videos had gained him a strong following on social media before he transitioned to mainstream cinema.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt lift the trophy after India triumphs over South Africa in the women's T20 series in Chennai. Pooja Vastrakar and Radha Yadav bowled brilliantly to bundle out South Africa for 84 runs, while Smriti Mandhana's half-century and Shafali Varma's quickfire 27 helped India easily chase down the target with 9.1 overs to spare. With this win, the series is now levelled at 1-1.
In a thrilling Women's Test match between India and South Africa, bowler Sneh Rana made history by becoming only the second Indian to take eight wickets in an innings. Rana's impressive performance helped India gain an upper hand against South Africa at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai. The 30-year-old's feat also saw her join the elite list of players who have achieved this record in Women's Test cricket, with Neetu David being the first to do so in 1995.