'If Vijay and I had left each other's hand, we would have fallen in the valley and died.'
Controversial wicketkeeper-batter Abhishek Porel has been included in Bengal's Ranji Trophy squad for their season opener against Delhi at Kalyani, following his recent bail in a rape case. The squad also features India pacers Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, and Akash Deep.
Kajol, Ranbir Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Mouni Roy, and Jaya Bachchan got together to celebrate Durga Puja over the weekend.
A 65-year-old farmer, Sitaram Pal, was found murdered with a sharp-edged weapon near his tubewell in Satopit village, Fatehpur. Police have registered a murder case against unidentified persons and formed special teams to investigate the incident.
Priyansh Arya's 199 and captain Ayush Badoni's unbeaten 115 propelled Delhi to a commanding 381 for 4 against Gujarat on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match. The duo forged a crucial 234-run partnership. Elsewhere in Group C, Bengal faced a tough challenge against Services, while other matches also saw early action.
Discus thrower Bharatpreet Singh and pole vaulter Nitika Anup established new meet records at the 6th Indian Open U23 Athletics Competition in Jaipur. Bharatpreet won gold with a throw of 54.70m, while Nitika secured gold by clearing 4.15m. The event also saw other athletes achieve notable results across various disciplines.
A 20-year-old youth, Soumya Ranjan Rath, who was out on bail after a previous fatal car incident, hit four people with his vehicle on Monday in Bhubaneswar after a dispute at an eatery. Police confirmed he was under the influence of alcohol and has been arrested, with actions planned to cancel his bail and driving license.
Fifteen wickets fell as Bengal gained a narrow edge over Services in the Ranji Trophy, while Delhi piled up 648/6 against Gujarat with Ayush Badoni scoring 217.
Sudip Kumar Gharami (122 not out) and Abhishek Porel (114 not out) struck unbeaten centuries, forging a 199-run partnership to put Bengal in a commanding position against Delhi in their Ranji Trophy Group C match.
Bengal secured a dominant nine-wicket victory over Delhi in their Ranji Trophy Group C opener after bowling out the visitors for 277 in their second innings. Delhi captain Ayush Badoni top-scored with 85, but Bengal chased down the target of 89 comfortably. In another Group C match, Gujarat defeated Odisha by 10 wickets, powered by Siddharth Desai's five-wicket haul, while Jharkhand and Kerala played out a draw.
Six villagers in Fatehpur district were arrested after allegedly tying a telecom technician to a mobile tower. The incident occurred following prolonged 5G network outages, with residents demanding resolution to connectivity issues. Police rescued the technician and subsequently arrested six individuals who were later released on bail.
Teen prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and skipper Ishan Kishan had disappointing performances for East Zone in their Duleep Trophy campaign opener against North East Zone, both falling for single-digit scores.
The Global Chess League's halfway stage saw significant upsets and dramatic finishes, with Triveni Continental Kings defeating table-toppers Alpine APL Pipers. Ganges Grandmasters secured a crucial win against PBG Alaskan Knights due to a last-second time violation, while CheQ Mumba Masters maintained their strong performance. These results have intensified the competition for the top two positions.
Ishan Kishan's unbeaten century put East Zone firmly in control as they ended Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy final on 385/4.
During the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai, South Zone captain Tilak Varma showed frustration towards 15-year-old East Zone vice-captain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi amidst a strong opening partnership by East Zone. The exchange, which included Varma reportedly calling Sooryavanshi "Kya yaar ye vice captain," added drama to the highly anticipated match.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made 40 before captain Ishan Kishan stroke a fluent knock of 39 not out to help East Zone down Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final match.
What should have been a top-draw domestic red-ball clash to kick off the new season featuring some of India's Test stars has quickly turned into a lopsided contest, courtesy of a lifeless pitch heavily loaded in favour of the batters.
Ganges Grandmasters have secured a spot in the Global Chess League finals despite a loss to PBG Alaskan Knights. Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers, however, suffered a defeat against Triveni Continental Knights, leaving their final berth dependent on the outcome of the last league match. Key moments included Ian Nepomniachtchi's draw against Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen's first loss in the competition to Alireza Firouzja.
Alpine APL Pipers secured the top position in the Global Chess League after defeating PBG Alaskan Knights. However, Ganges Grandmasters and FYERS American Gambits are close contenders. Ganges Grandmasters also had a strong win against the Pipers, while CheQ Mumba Masters kept their final hopes alive with a decisive victory over Triveni Continental Kings, featuring wins from top players like Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian.
Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers, led by World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, defeated FYERS American Gambits 9-7 in a critical Global Chess League match. Carlsen ended Javokhir Sindarov's winning streak, while Gujrathi secured a marathon victory, propelling Pipers closer to a final berth.
Indian batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is intensely preparing for the upcoming domestic season, including the Duleep Trophy, following a successful tour of Zimbabwe, as evidenced by his recent social media post showing him focused on both defensive and attacking batting techniques.
Delhi Police have registered an FIR in connection with the Satya Niketan building collapse that killed seven people, alleging that the owners constructed additional floors on an old structure despite concerns over its load-bearing capacity and that further construction work was underway.
Following the murder of a trader in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, after a social media dispute, widespread protests have erupted. Demonstrators, led by Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad, are demanding the death penalty for the accused, compensation for the victim's family, and action against negligent police personnel, three of whom have already been suspended.
FYERS American Gambits defeated Triveni Continental Kings to retain their top position in the Global Chess League standings, ahead of Alpine APL Pipers. Other matches saw Ganges Grandmasters secure a dominant win over Continental Kings, while Mumba Masters suffered two defeats, including a loss to PBG Alaskan Knights. The Gambits, Pipers, and Grandmasters have all won four matches, with Gambits having played one more round.
The Global Chess League commenced with defending champions Alpine APL Pipers securing a 10-8 victory over Mumba Masters, spearheaded by Magnus Carlsen.
Ishan Kishan made another strong red-ball statement with 80 after his 270, as East Zone moved within touching distance of the Duleep Trophy title.
In the Global Chess League, Ganges Grandmasters ended FYER American Gambits' winning streak with a 9-7 victory, moving to second place. Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers secured their second consecutive win, defeating Ganges Grandmasters 11-6. Key players like Polina Shuvalova, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Koneru Humpy delivered crucial performances, while Magnus Carlsen showcased his endgame prowess with a draw against Nepomniachtchi. PBG Alaskan Knights also registered a comfortable win against CheQ Mumba Masters.
East Zone captain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took a successful DRS review to get the wicket of the well-set Aryan Juyal for 46 off the bowling of Mukesh Kumar.
Teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been appointed vice-captain in the Ishan Kishan-led East Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy starting next month.
East Zone pacers Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar chipped away at the wickets to leave South Zone tottering on 242/6 at stumps on Day 3, of the Duleep Trophy final.
Abhimanyu Easwaran stepped out of his crease for what seemed like a routine drinks break. He was unaware that the ball was still live and paid the price for a rare lapse in concentration against Services.
The Duleep Trophy final between East Zone and South Zone will feature a mix of rising talents like Devdutt Padikkal, Tilak Varma, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, alongside established players like Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, and Mohammed Shami. Players will be looking to impress selectors for upcoming national assignments, with Padikkal aiming to continue his red-ball form and Siraj seeking to regain rhythm. The match also marks Shami's 100th first-class game.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old batter, made history by becoming the youngest player to score a half-century in the Duleep Trophy. Playing for East Zone against Central Zone, he scored an unbeaten 80 off 69 balls, breaking a 57-year-old record.
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.
The UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships in Kanpur witnessed top seed Manush Shah narrowly escape an upset in the men's singles, while the women's singles draw experienced significant upheavals with several seeded players, including eighth-seeded Sayali Wani, making early exits after intense five-game battles.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will get a golden chance to improve upon his none too impressive first class numbers when East Zone take on the severely inexperienced North East Zone in the quarter-final of the Duleep Trophy.
Teen batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored just eight runs on his Duleep Trophy debut for East Zone before Sudip Gharami and Shahbaz Ahmed hit hundreds to power them to 355 for 6 against North East.
'He was like a sponge. He soaked up everything we taught him -- and when it came time to play, he'd squeeze out exactly what was needed on the board during tournaments.'
Coming so soon after Main Vaapas Aaunga, also a Partition era tale with a message of compassion, the flaws in Batwara 1947 are even more grating, observes Deepa Gahlot.
