Like all iconic stories that blur the lines between myth and reality, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has a fascinating origin that began with an ambitious prediction on the front page of a Rajasthan newspaper. On December 4, 2003, Rajasthan residents woke up to a bold forecast in two major Hindi dailies: 'BJP 120-plus; bye-bye Ashok Gehlot.' By the evening of the same day, that prediction had come true. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 120 seats in the Rajasthan assembly elec

In a spectacular display of cricketing excellence, India Masters claimed the inaugural International Masters League (IML) 2025 title by defeating West Indies Masters by six wickets in the grand finale held at the SVNS International Stadium. The thrilling match, played before a roaring crowd of nearly 50,000 fans, saw Sachin Tendulkar lead his side to a memorable victory. The IML final was a nostalgic treat for cricket lovers as it revived the magic of cricket's golden era. India Masters d

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly suffered an estimated Rs 869 crore (USD 85 million) loss after hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, resulting in severe budget cuts across various sectors of Pakistani cricket. This substantial financial setback has prompted drastic cost-cutting measures, including reductions in match fees and player accommodations. The financial blow stems from heavy investments in stadium upgrades and event preparations. According to a report by The Telegrap

India has strongly rejected Pakistan's recent accusations of "sponsoring terrorism," following Islamabad's attempt to blame New Delhi for backing terror activities. The statement came in response to Pakistan's allegations linked to the recent Balochistan train attack, which claimed the lives of 21 passengers. However, Pakistan stopped short of directly linking India to the attack, instead shifting blame toward Afghanistan. In a firm response, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperso

Rohit Sharma, India's celebrated cricket captain, has cleared the air regarding his future in international cricket. Following the Champions Trophy 2025, where speculation about his retirement intensified, Rohit firmly addressed the rumors by confirming that he is not retiring from ODI cricket. His statement, delivered in his signature calm and composed manner, reassured fans and silenced gossip surrounding his career. Speaking after the Champions Trophy 2025 final, Rohit stated, "I

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have long been one of the most popular teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), yet the coveted trophy has continued to elude them. Despite fielding cricket superstars like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle in previous seasons, RCB have faced heartbreak multiple times, including painful losses in the 2009, 2011, and 2016 IPL finals. However, IPL 2025 has brought renewed optimism for RCB fans. With this being Season 18, supporters are drawing symbo

Following India's Champions Trophy 2025 victory, Indian cricket head coach Gautam Gambhir is preparing for a fresh assignment as he gears up to join the India 'A' team ahead of the senior side's tour of England in June. According to reports, Gambhir will become the first-ever Team India head coach to accompany the India 'A' side for an overseas tour, breaking away from the conventional coaching trend. In recent years, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ha

The excitement surrounding India's 2025 Champions Trophy victory continues to resonate with fans and players alike. Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer shared his overwhelming emotions after helping India secure its third ICC 50-over trophy in history. India triumphed over New Zealand by four wickets in the final on Sunday, becoming the most successful team in the Champions Trophy's history. Reflecting on the victory, Iyer expressed his joy in a video shared by the Indian cricket

Over 150 hostages have been successfully rescued after a train hijacking incident in Pakistan's Balochistan region, where armed rebels intercepted the Jaffar Express. The train, carrying over 400 passengers, was ambushed by militants linked to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in a remote mountainous area. The incident, which occurred inside a tunnel on the Quetta-Peshawar route, resulted in intense clashes between the militants and Pakistani security forces. The standoff ended with t

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on the Jaffar Express train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, resulting in the deaths of six Pakistani military personnel and sparking a tense hostage situation. The train, carrying approximately 400 passengers in nine bogies, was traveling from Quetta in Balochistan to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it was attacked. According to railway officials quoted by Reuters, BLA fighters targeted the

Virat Kohli stands as one of the most accomplished and celebrated cricketers of modern times. Renowned for his fierce determination, exceptional batting prowess, and remarkable leadership, Kohli has carved his name into cricket’s hall of fame. With a career spanning over a decade, he has not only dominated international cricket but has also set numerous records across all formats. From leading India to major tournament victories t

Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi recently engaged in a conversation with India Today News Director Rahul Kanwal and Managing Editor Gaurav Sawant, where he shed light on critical national security concerns, especially the growing collaboration between Pakistan and China. He emphasized that India needs to fully acknowledge the high degree of collusion between the two neighboring countries, particularly in the realms of military and cyber capabilities. General Dwivedi pointed out tha

Former England cricketer and renowned commentator David Lloyd has strongly criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the scheduling of the Champions Trophy 2025, calling the arrangements "embarrassing" and "laughable." His comments come after India played all their matches in Dubai, refusing to travel to Pakistan, the official host nation of the tournament.Lloyd’s frustration mirrors the growing criticism from cricket analysts and fans who believe that

Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami has found himself at the center of controversy after a Muslim cleric criticized him for not observing a fast during India’s semi-final match against Australia in the Champions Trophy. The match, held during the holy month of Ramzan, saw Shami performing exceptionally well, yet his choice to not fast drew sharp reactions from religious figures.The remarks came from Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, who strongly c

As India and Australia arrived at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for the much-anticipated semi-final match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, excitement among fans was at an all-time high. Cricket enthusiasts turned out in large numbers to support Team India, expressing confidence in their chances against the defending champions.One enthusiastic fan shared their optimism, saying, "We are very excited... I feel this is India's payback time to Australia. We want to support

FIFA, the world governing body of football, has officially lifted its suspension on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) after the necessary constitutional reforms were approved. The decision comes after PFF Congress members reached a consensus last Thursday to amend the constitution as required by FIFA, ensuring smooth governance and compliance with international football regulations.The suspension, which had been in effect since February 5, 2025, was imposed after the PFF failed to implem

India continued its unbeaten run in the Champions Trophy 2025, securing a 44-run victory over New Zealand in a low-scoring thriller. With Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul leading the charge, India’s spinners showcased their strength, defending a total of 249/9. Despite a resilient innings by Kane Williamson, New Zealand struggled against India’s well-coordinated spin attack, failing to chase the target.The win marked India’s third consecutive victory in the league

The Pakistan cricket team is set for a major restructuring following its disastrous performance in the ICC Champions Trophy, where they were eliminated without securing a single win. The team, led by Mohammad Rizwan, managed just one point in the tournament, suffering defeats against New Zealand and India, while their match against Bangladesh was washed out. The disappointing campaign has led to speculation of sweeping changes within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), selection committee, coac

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been accused of sending over $2 billion in aid to Hamas since the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, raising concerns over how U.S. foreign aid is allocated. The claims were presented during a House Committee hearing on USAID’s financial practices, bringing renewed scrutiny to the agency’s funding policies.   Additionally, reports suggest that USAID provided financial assistance to Falah-e-In

Lahore: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has set his sights on another massive victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as his team prepares to take on world champions Australia in their final group-stage match on Friday at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.Coming off a thrilling eight-run victory over England, Afghanistan eliminated the defending champions from the tournament and strengthened their semi-final hopes. A win against Australia would guarantee Afghanistan a historic place i