Gareth Bale becomes the latest 'galactico' signing by the world's richest club and marks the latest instance when Real Madrid broke its own transfer record. We take a look at the last few instances when Madrid bettered itself in the summer transfer market.
Bikash Mohapatra takes a look the transfer market, wherein some clubs have made quality purchases without actually breaking the bank.
Robin van Persie has announced his arrival at Old Trafford in style. The question is will he make the same impact as Fergie's other Dutch signings?
India coach Duncan Fletcher says the toss played an important role and losing Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar before lunch put India on the backfoot. Bikash Mohapatra reports from Edgbaston.
England captain Andrew Strauss says the third Test, beginning Wednesday, is an opportunity for cricket to provide a feel-good factor amid the escalating riots in London.
Ian Bell's brilliant 159 allied to a sporting reprieve saw England into a commanding lead on the third day of the second Test against India at Trent Bridge.
India, replying to England's 221, were 24 for 1 at close on Day 1 of the second Test, on Friday.
If prejudice can form the basis of election and governance in the world's largest democracy, the case is no different in the world's oldest democracy as well, writes Bikash Mohapatra.
The number of Americans not paying taxes has gone up to almost 50 per cent, reports Bikash Mohapatra
How did US President Barack Obama manage to trump Mitt Romney despite his dismal record in the last four years? Rediff.com's Bikash Mohapatra, who at the heart of all the action in Washington, DC, listens to what the experts have to say
A few swimmers, their plethora of medals in other major international competitions notwithstanding, missed out on the medal that matters the most in the sport -- an Olympic gold. rediff.com takes a look at a few recent examples.
An effort by President Barack Obama played a key role in returning him to the White House for another stint.
As US heads to a neck-to-neck battle between the two presidential candidates, the state of Ohio may hold the key to the eventual outcome, says Bikash Mohapatra
Rediff.com takes a look at a few athletes in recent history who have upset the odds (and the favourites) to take home the gold at the world's biggest sporting event.
'Ishant was good early on in his career, but his graph went down... He picks six wickets in one innings, but can't pick even one in the next.' Former India players assess the beleagured Indian pacer in conversation with Bikash Mohapatra.
Bikash Mohapatra lends an ear as experts make an assessment of India's bowling woes.
Ricky Ponting's decision to retire in the middle of the 2012 Test series against South Africa, who were led by Graeme Smith, proved costly for Australia. For someone who not only took away the former Aussie captain's record, but also condemned him to retirement in defeat, Bikash Mohapatra says, it is a shame that Smith did not learn from the Australian's error in judgment while calling it a day.
Graeme Smith was one of the best captains, ever. He led South Africa to a record 53 victories in his 108 Tests in charge. Under his able leadership South Africa rose to become the top-ranked team in Test cricket. He is the only captain to win away series against Australia and England. Failure to win the World Cup, however, says Bikash Mohapatra, will be the biggest regret in an otherwise illustrious career.
Rafael Nadal's historic seventh French Open crown was also his 50th ATP title. Only nine other players in the Open era preceded the Spaniard to the feat. Bikash Mohapatra looks at them.
The No. 2-ranked Test nation in the world was expected to have it easy against the Black Caps, ranked No. 8. Instead, they will return empty-handed from the trip. Here's a look at how the 11 Indian players -- there was no change in the team for the second Test -- fared in the just-concluded series.
Following Carlo Ancelotti's sacking, Bikash Mohapatra takes a look at EPL managers who lost their jobs after failing to deliver this season.
Rafael Nadal's quarter-final win over compatriot Nicolas Almagro made him only the sixth player ever to win 50 matches at the French Open. Roger Federer, his arch rival, had achieved the feat earlier in the tournament.
Rediff.com lists the batsmen who have unfortunately been dismissed without facing a ball during this IPL. A look at the tournament's diamond ducks.
With the first of six successive games, away from their comfort zone, conceded to Mumbai Indians, the results of the next five will be crucial in determining how comfortably the team from Bangalore is placed when it welcomes Punjab at the Chinnaswamy on May 14, says Bikash Mohapatra.
In winning the Premier League in his first season with Manchester United, after eight frustrating years with Arsenal, Robin van Persie joined an elite club of players for whom leaving the clubs where they spent a bulk of their careers proved a remarkable switch. Rediff.com takes a look at a few other such examples.
Bikash Mohapatra takes a look at the five best winter transfers in 2014.
Bikash Mohapatra rates the 175 against Australia at Hyderabad in 2009 the best he's witnessed from the batting icon's blade, and prays for at least one more similar one before he calls it a day.
'To make Kevin Pietersen the scapegoat is an easy way out for the ECB. It is about not accepting collective failure and brushing the reality under the carpet. It also is about taking your best player for granted. It is not that the ECB bosses do not recognise Pietersen's rare talent,' says Bikash Mohapatra. 'It is just that they cannot accept that such genius is accompanied by a temperament that needs to be dealt with delicately.'
Dinesh Karthik's dazzling performance with the bat stands out among stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.
Bikash Mohapatra salutes Radamel Falcao and Diego Simeone, the men who fashioned Atletico Madrid's Europa Cup triumph.
Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 182, as England, replying to India's first innings of 224, ended Day 2 in the third Test on 456-3.
Niranjan Shah, manager when India last toured New Zealand, tells Bikash Mohapatra M S Dhon's team has enough experience to emerge triumphant in both the Tests and ODIs again.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni marked his return to form with a blistering counterattack before India were bundled out for 224 in their first innings to give England early control in the third Test. In reply, England were 84 for no loss at close.
Rediff.com takes a look at a sportspersons whose careers had a fairy-tale finish.
India's frontline bowlers were humiliated by Northamptonshire's openers as the home side scored 355 for seven when stumps were drawn on the final day of the two-day warm-up game on Saturday.
As American Bubba Watson celebrates putting on the green jacket, rediff.com takes a look at other instances when left-handers got it right at the Masters.
Despite talk about doing well overseas, the reality is it will take more time, and a concentrated effort -- and that includes making sporting wickets at home -- for Team India to perform consistently overseas, let alone win, says Bikash Mohapatra.
Moscow Olympics gold medallist MM Sommaya goes down memory lane with Bikash Mohapatra.
R Ashwin is in line for another player of the series award, says Bikash Mohapatra. After the first two Tests against Australia, has already a tally of 18 wickets, four more than he finished with against England.
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