Even though Mahendra Singh Dhoni has retired, a large number of young fans could be seen wearing his iconic No. 7 jersey.
The Pakistan cricket team left for Dubai for the marquee Champions Trophy clash against arch-rivals India without opener Fakhar Zaman, who suffered an injury during the opening match against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19. The left-handed batter has been replaced by Imam-ul-Haq in Pakistan's squad.
Dhoni continues to perform the role of finisher for Chennai, but over the years, his capacity has significantly diminished.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan admitted that his team's Champions Trophy campaign is effectively over following their six-wicket defeat to India
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar engaged in a heated exchange with Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi in the Legislative Council, dismissing her as "inconsequential" without her husband, RJD president Lalu Prasad. The spat stemmed from RJD MLCs wearing badges promoting quota hikes passed during Tejashwi Yadav's tenure as Deputy CM, which Nitish Kumar perceived as an attempt to claim credit for the populist move. Kumar also remarked that Rabri Devi was only propped up by her husband when he was in trouble, referring to her becoming Chief Minister in 1997 while Lalu Prasad faced corruption charges. The war of words between the two rivals has intensified, with the RJD accusing Kumar of losing his mental balance and being unfit to rule.
It has been a forgettable campaign for Pakistan in the first global tournament to be staged in the country since 1996.
Virat Kohli, the architect of India's victory over Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal, expressed his unwavering belief in continued success as long as his passion for the game remains strong.
'India are strong favourites'
Deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has issued a strong warning against threats to ban her Awami League party, calling the demands "audacious" and accusing Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus of being a "fraud" and "corrupt" for his role in the current interim government. Hasina, who fled Bangladesh in August 2024 following a student-led uprising, claims Yunus assumed power through a "meticulous design" with funding from overseas and misled students and people. She asserts that her Awami League is the legitimate party, with a strong history of fighting for the people's rights, and accuses Yunus and his supporters of having no constitutional basis or people's mandate to rule the country.
Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed has expressed his confidence in the pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, saying they will deliver something special in the must-win Champions Trophy clash against India. Despite the absence of Fakhar Zaman, who was ruled out due to an injury, Javed believes the team is well-equipped to handle the pressure and has the potential to overcome the challenge.
Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain believe that Virat Kohli is probably the best batter in ODI history.
'I knew he would come through in a big match because of his ability to rise to the occasion.'
Australia and UP Warriorz captain Alyssa Healy has opted out of the upcoming edition of the Women's Premier League due to a stress injury to her right foot.
The Pakistan cricket team arrived in Dubai on Thursday for their crucial Champions Trophy clash against India, hoping to bounce back after their opening loss to New Zealand.
According to sources aware of developments in the Board, a few players are contemplating if they should travel to New Zealand.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner praised centurions Will Young and Tom Latham for their crucial contributions in the team's emphatic 60-run victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy opener.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has opened up about the important moment when MS Dhoni handed him the reins ahead of the 2024 IPL season,
India's star pacer Mohammed Shami says he prefers to eat only one meal a day and has never had a craving for delicacies.
Virat Kohli's recurring dismissals due to an open-faced bat is a matter of concern as India aim to regain the Champions Trophy after 12 years, believes legendary Sunil Gavaskar.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi says the selection committee "will review" the national squad picked for the Champions Trophy even as he defended the controversial selections of batter Khushdil Shah and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.
Former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla hailed Virat Kohli's match-winning century against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy
Pakistan need to win if they are any chance of progressing to the semi-finals in their home tournament after being crushed by New Zealand in their campaign opener.
The glass bridge offers tourists an enchanting view of the monuments of the two savants and the sea around.
Alex Carey reckons Australia might need to put at least 400 runs on the board if they bat first against South Africa
From Saif Ali Khan's sabse bada beta's streaming debut to how to make potstickers with Prince Charles' chhoti bahu, it's all there on OTT this week.
Allowing India to play all their matches in Dubai robbed Pakistan of the honour of hosting the final and disrupted the schedule of the knockout matches.
Dhoni appears in an unexpected avatar - seated in a bathtub filled with ice against a snowy landscape, yet visibly sweating under immense pressure.
Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav feels he has found his rhythm after returning from injury and is confident he will continue to improve in the ongoing Champions Trophy.
India won their seventh ICC trophy, while registering their third Champions Trophy triumph.
Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has predicted that JD(U) president Nitish Kumar will contest the upcoming assembly polls in Bihar in alliance with the BJP but may switch sides later, with hopes for another term as the chief minister. Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, also asserted that Kumar's popularity has declined and he is unlikely to win a fifth consecutive term. He challenged the BJP to declare Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate, arguing that they would struggle to win seats if they did so. Kishor also criticized Kumar's leadership, accusing him of being "physically tired and mentally retired" and of "bringing disrepute to Bihar" by touching Prime Minister Narendra Modi's feet. He said his new party will enter the fray to pull Bihar "out of the political rut" and that the state's much-touted prohibition policy is an example of the BJP's duplicity.
Raina also laid emphasis on how Kuldeep Yadav could be a lynchpin in India's success.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that the ongoing Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai could be the last ICC tournament for Rohit Sharma, who is 37 years old and has struggled for runs in recent times. Manjrekar feels that it's "very unlikely" that Rohit will be around for the 2027 World Cup, and that this tournament could be his swansong.
Syed Firdaus Ashraf marches through time to trace the bitter history between Russia and its West European neighbours.
Pakistan and Bangladesh will face off in a dead rubber match in the Champions Trophy on Thursday, both teams looking to salvage some pride after disappointing tournament performances. Both teams have suffered heavy defeats to New Zealand.
On how long Rohit should play, Azharuddin said it is for a player to decide.
Pakistan's cricket team continued to invite scathing criticism a day after being knocked out of the Champions Trophy, the great Sunil Gavaskar saying that it would struggle to beat even a second-string Indian team.
Pakistan were all out for 260 in 47.2 overs with Babar Azam (64) and Khushdil Shah (69) scoring half-centuries but the hosts never looked in the hunt.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes Virat Kohli needs to relax and not overthink his form ahead of India's crucial Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan.
'Pakistan can beat any team on any given day'
Francisco Moura's second-half strike earned hosts Porto a 1-1 draw against 10-man AS Roma in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round play-off on Thursday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances