The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have secured the services of versatile all-rounder Nitish Rana for INR 4.2 crores at the IPL 2025 auction. Rana, who has previously played for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, is known for his aggressive left-handed batting and handy off-spin. He was highly sought after by three teams but RR emerged victorious in a last-minute battle with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Rana's addition to the team adds depth and versatility to their middle-order, giving them a strong batting line-up for the upcoming season.
The young Afghan spinner, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, caused a bidding war between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore before being snatched up by the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians, for a hefty price tag of Rs 4.80 Crore. Despite a strong performance in recent matches, KKR eventually backed out of the bidding, giving the blue-shirted Paltans their newest acquisition. With a remarkable ODI debut and impressive performances against South Africa and Bangladesh, Ghazanfar is poised to make a big impact for the defending champions in the upcoming IPL season.
With the IPL mega auction just around the corner, teams will be vying for top overseas players such as Jos Buttler, Mitchell Starc, Marco Jansen, Mitchell Marsh, and Liam Livingstone. Buttler's batting prowess and leadership qualities make him a hot commodity, while Starc's thunderbolts and left-arm angle could fetch him a big bid. Youngsters like Jansen and Livingstone also have a chance to land lucrative deals with their impressive T20 performances. It remains to be seen which team will come out on top in the bidding war for these players.
As winter sets in, North India is facing a hazardous rise in air pollution, with several cities recording ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ air quality. Delhi, the nation’s capital, is currently covered in thick smog, causing the Air Quality Index (AQI) to reach dangerous levels. In response, the Delhi administration has implemented anti-pollution measures and advised vulnerable populations to limit outdoor activities. While some cities, such as Patna and Lucknow, also faced ‘very poor’ air quality, others like Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad saw ‘moderate’ or even ‘satisfactory’ levels.
After a dominant performance by Seamer Spencer Johnson, Australia defeated Pakistan by 13 runs to claim the three-match T20I series 2-0. Pakistan struggled to chase down a target of 148 as Johnson claimed five wickets, including three in the top order. Despite a late counter-attack by Irfan Khan, Pakistan fell short and were dismissed for 134. Earlier, Australia had a strong start with their opening batsmen hitting boundaries and sixes, but Pakistan's Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi restricted them to 147-9. Ultimately, Australia's strong bowling performance proved to be the difference as they clinched the series.
After being released from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction, Shreyas Iyer delivered a stunning unbeaten 152 off 164 balls for Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy 2024-25 game against Odisha. With fellow batsman Siddhesh Lad also remaining unbeaten on 116, Iyer and Lad's partnership of 231* runs for the fourth wicket was a highlight of the day. This performance by Iyer has raised questions about his exclusion from the KKR squad, with mixed reports about his absence from a previous game.
The big news in the world of cricket is that Indian wicket-keepers Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul have been released by their respective teams ahead of the 2025 IPL auction. Along with them, a list of other big names such as Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, and Mohammed Siraj have also been released. Chennai Super Kings are reportedly interested in signing Pant, while Royal Challengers Bangalore might bring back local boy Rahul. It will be interesting to see which team lands these star players at the mega auction.
Defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders have made a bold decision to not retain skipper Shreyas Iyer ahead of the mega auction. The franchise and the batter could not come to a mutual agreement and Iyer, who was bought for a whopping 12.25 crores, will now be available in the auction. The team is also not planning to retain all-rounder Andre Russell and most expensive player Mitchell Starc, instead opting to grab them in the auction. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians are looking to retain young batsman Varma, who has been a crucial performer for the team despite their recent poor performances.
As women across India prepare to observe the tough fast of Karwa Chauth, knowing the exact time of moonrise becomes crucial. According to the Hindu calendar, the moon will rise at 7:55 pm in the year 2024. This fast is believed to strengthen the bond between husband and wife, and seeing the husband's face after moon sighting is said to increase his age. Along with Karwa Mata, worshiping Lord Shiva, Mata Parvati, and Ganesh ji during the auspicious time of 5:40 to 7:02 pm brings happiness and prosperity in married life. Major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata will see moonrise at 08:09 pm, 08:48 pm, 08:43 pm, and 08:46 pm respectively on that day.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has returned to Mumbai after attending the IPL 2024 final match in Chennai where his team Kolkata Knight Riders emerged victorious. He was accompanied by his wife Gauri and son Aaryan. Despite repeated requests from paparazzi, SRK avoided posing for pictures and hid behind an umbrella.