Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured a dominant 6-0 victory over CISF Protectors in the 135th Durand Cup, with Sahal Abdul Samad scoring a first-half hat-trick.
Ahead of the auction last year, he was let go by SRH, an opportunity that Lucknow Super Giants scooped up. Seeing Samad's potential, the Zaheer Khan-mentored team bought his services for Rs 4.2 crores at the auction table.
A 76-year-old man, Abdul Samad, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined Rs 16,000 for his involvement in a 1988 bank robbery at the Nallurnad Service Cooperative Bank in Wayanad, Kerala. This sentencing concludes a decades-long legal process for the six-member gang.
Mukesh Choudhary's impressive 5/78 helped Rest of India restrict Jammu and Kashmir to 278 on day two of the Irani Cup. Despite a strong fightback from J&K's Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad, and Lone Nasir Muzaffar, RoI ended the day 17 runs in arrears in their second innings, having lost an early wicket. The match has been dominated by fast bowlers, with RoI looking to build a lead on day three.
Mohun Bagan secured their 31st Calcutta Football League Premier Division title, their first since 2018, with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Mohammedan Sporting despite being down to 10 men. Sahal Abdul Samad scored a brace, and Sayan Banerjee netted the winner, ending an eight-year title drought for the Mariners.
India faces a challenging FIFA international friendly against two-time world champions Uruguay in Kolkata, aiming to recover from a 0-4 defeat by Brazil.
World champions India, featuring a strong line-up of T20 stars, are set to face Pakistan in the men's gold-medal cricket clash at the Asian Games, a match where a silver medal would be considered a 'royal embarrassment' for India.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced significant changes to its T20 leadership, dropping Salman Ali Agha as captain and appointing Sahibzada Farhan. The board also named squads for upcoming T20 and ODI series against Sri Lanka and England, with Shaheen Shah Afridi retaining ODI captaincy.
Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh has been named in the North Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, with Jammu and Kashmir's Kanhaiya Wadhawan appointed captain. The 15-member squad also includes six players from the Ranji Trophy-winning Jammu and Kashmir side and other promising talents.
The Indian football team is set to play a series of international friendlies against Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay, offering valuable experience against world-class opponents. These matches are crucial for the team to assess its current standard and gain confidence, despite facing significantly more accomplished sides.
Brazil's star-studded line-up, including Vinicius Jr and Marquinhos, is set to face India in a friendly match at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, with veteran goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu captaining the Indian side.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Jamshedpur FC 9-8 in a penalty shootout after their Durand Cup quarterfinal match ended 1-1 in regulation time. Sahal Abdul Samad scored for Mohun Bagan and Devendra Murgaonkar for Jamshedpur. Mohun Bagan secured their spot in the semifinals after a dramatic sudden-death shootout.
Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir managed to secure a draw against Madhya Pradesh in their Ranji Trophy Group A opener. Rain and bad light intervened on the final day, preventing Madhya Pradesh from pushing for a victory after J&K were left reeling at 88 for seven chasing 326.
Brazil, with eight changes to their starting line-up, defeated India 4-0 in a football friendly, with Samuel Lino scoring a brace and Estevao and Pedro also finding the net.
Khalid Jamil, head coach of the Indian football team, expressed optimism despite a 4-0 defeat against five-time world champions Brazil. He highlighted the high quality of the Brazilian team and the learning experience for India, emphasizing the need for more high-profile matches to improve. Jamil also defended goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and looked forward to the upcoming match against Uruguay.
Rest of India defeated reigning Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs to clinch the Irani Cup, with pacers Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep sharing nine wickets in a sensational bowling performance.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated arch-rivals East Bengal 1-0 in the Durand Cup opener, thanks to a decisive goal from Sahal Abdul Samad and a strong defensive performance led by goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. The pre-season derby saw Mohun Bagan combine clinical finishing with resolute defending to secure the win.
Ishan Kishan's explosive unbeaten 80 and Jasprit Bumrah's two wicket burst were instrumental in guiding India to a 124-run win over Sri Lanka in the Asian Games men's cricket semifinal on Thursday.
Defending champions NorthEast United FC are set to face 17-time winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the second semifinal of the Durand Cup. NorthEast United, chasing a third consecutive title, made a strong comeback in their quarterfinal, while Mohun Bagan advanced via a penalty shootout after a solid defensive campaign. Both teams are fully fit and ready for a challenging encounter.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated arch-rivals East Bengal 1-0 in the IFA Shield final on Thursday, with Samir Zeljkovic scoring the decisive goal. This victory marks Mohun Bagan's 22nd IFA Shield title and provides a significant boost ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League season, while also avenging their earlier Durand Cup final defeat to East Bengal.
The Indian men's football team, led by head coach Khalid Jamil, will play high-profile friendlies against Panama, five-time world champions Brazil, and two-time world champions Uruguay in September and October.
Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir were bowled out for 120, allowing Madhya Pradesh to take a 135-run overall lead on day two of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match. Meanwhile, Baroda, Uttar Pradesh, and Vidarbha also established strong positions in their respective matches.
Rest of India were bowled out for 237 by a spirited Jammu and Kashmir attack on Day 1 of the Irani Cup. Skipper Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan failed to convert starts, while Shikhar Mohan and Ravichandran Smaran scored half-centuries. J&K ended the day at 21 for 2, losing two early wickets.
A football friendly match between India and Brazil, featuring star player Vinicius Jr, saw a surprisingly low attendance at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium. High ticket prices and the ongoing Durga Puja festival are cited as the primary reasons for the subdued response, contrasting sharply with the usual fan frenzy for local derbies and past international events.
Captain Tilak Varma's unbeaten 106 and Shreyas Gopal's 87 helped South Zone secure a vital 90-run first-innings lead against North Zone in their Duleep Trophy semifinal, overcoming an early collapse.
India's national football team faced five-time champions Brazil in a FIFA international friendly in Kolkata, losing 4-0. Despite a spirited start for the first 25 minutes, Brazil's superior skill and clinical finishing secured a comfortable victory with goals from Estevao, Pedro, and Samuel Lino.
East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan are set to clash in the IFA Shield final on Thursday, a highly anticipated Kolkata derby. East Bengal aims to avenge last year's defeat and secure their 30th title, while Mohun Bagan seeks to retain the Shield and claim their 22nd. The match comes amidst a demanding schedule for both teams, particularly Mohun Bagan, with players returning from national duty, adding to the tactical challenges for coaches Panagiotis Dilmperis and Antonio Habas.
India's national football team suffered a 6-1 defeat against two-time former world champions Uruguay in an international friendly in Kolkata.
India is set to host five-time world champions Brazil in a historic invitational football friendly in Kolkata. The match, while offering invaluable exposure for the Indian team, has also drawn criticism over its cost and the decision to withdraw from the FIFA ASEAN Cup. The event carries political significance and marks a key step in Brazil's rebuilding process.
Five-time world champions Brazil are set to play India in an invitational friendly at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, marking their first-ever international meeting. The match, while a spectacle for Indian fans, has drawn criticism regarding its cost and impact on Indian football development, with former captain Bhaichung Bhutia questioning its value over long-term investment. For Brazil, it's part of a rebuilding process, while India aims to gain invaluable experience against a top-tier team.
North Zone secured their spot in the Duleep Trophy semi-finals by defeating West Zone by 52 runs in a thrilling quarter-final match in Bengaluru. Left-arm spinners Abid Mushtaq and Nishant Sindhu were instrumental in polishing off the West Zone tail on the final day.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated NorthEast United 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw in the Durand Cup semi-final. Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith was the hero, making two crucial saves to send Mohun Bagan into the final, where they will face arch-rivals East Bengal FC in the Kolkata Derby.
North Zone secured a crucial 64-run first-innings lead against West Zone in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final, largely due to exceptional bowling from Abid Mushtaq (5/39) and Arshdeep Singh (3/53). However, controversial selection Yash Dhull failed to score, raising questions about his inclusion over specialist opener Sanat Sangwan. North Zone ended day two with a 171-run overall lead, aiming to extend it further.
North Zone coaches Ajay Sharma and Sarandeep Singh are under scrutiny for controversially dropping Sanat Sangwan, the Ranji Trophy's third-highest run-scorer, for the Duleep Trophy quarter-final against West Zone, opting instead for Yash Dhull, who had a significantly poorer Ranji season.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-member squad, including six uncapped players, for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh.
The Duleep Trophy reaches its semifinal stage with defending champions Central Zone and last year's runners-up South Zone receiving direct entry. They will face East Zone and North Zone, respectively, who advanced after winning their quarterfinal matches. The upcoming clashes promise intense competition as teams battle for a spot in the final.
Pace spearhead Auqib Nabi was the standout performer for Jammu and Kashmir but the triumphant Ranji Trophy campaign was a team effort.
Babar Azam returns to Pakistan's ODI squad for the Australia series, while Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the side in the three-match contest beginning May 30.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Punjab FC 3-2 in a thrilling Indian Super League match, with a late free-kick from Jason Cummings securing the win.
