2015 was characterised by some interesting events and trends.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ravikant Chopra, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) PC Vaish, GM, Cricket Operations, Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) members Yashpal Sharma and Sunil Valson also took the charge on Monday after taking back their resignations.
The South African legend will continue his association with the franchise in a different role -- that of mentor and batting consultant.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India sprang no surprises in the list of central retainership contracts which was announced on Friday by including all their star players in the top group.
Cricket Association on Bengal president Sourav Ganguly's differences with some of the other office-bearers came out in the open when the former India captain spoke how misinformation was being spread by a section about Eden Gardens' branding coming under the ambit of ambush marketing. Treasurer Biswarup Dey, who has been a known detractor of Ganguly in the CAB, had raised questions about the tendering process for Eden Gardens' branding that could come under the ambit of ambush marketing. "There was no process of tenders in CAB. Tender means an Open Tender. But in this case, it will be a restricted tender to avoid ambush marketing issues. "I know that permission from the Army and BCCI is needed for naming rights.
India's Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand has joined the list of star cricketers who endorse Pepsi after the soft drink giant roped him in as its brand ambassador on Friday.
Delhi Capitals have never reached the IPL final, never made the top-two, and ventured into the top-four for the first time since 2012.
Senior South Africa batsman Hashim Amla, who is finally getting to play in the Indian Premier League, feels he is now more comfortable with T20 format and there is no reason why conventional batsmen like him can't succeed in the shortest format. Amla was branded as a Test specialist early on in his career but 12 years after making his international debut, he is a valuable asset for the team across all formats. To add to that, his recent run of form in T20s has clearly shown how well he has adjusted to the slam bang version of the game. "There has been a lot of T20 cricket of late and that helps. Yes you do try to hit a few, innovate but the basics remain the same," said Amla, who joined Kings XI Punjab as a late replacement for Shaun Marsh.
'The 2014 Australia tour and the brand of cricket played by the team laid a great foundation of the brilliant run of success enjoyed across all formats and conditions.' 'It also coincided with Virat Kohli enjoying the responsibilities of leading the team and then putting his heart and soul into taking the Indian team to ascend many unconquered summits.'
According to a senior police official, VB Chandrasekhar ended his life by hanging himself at his house in Chennai on Thursday evening due to debts.
Ganguly is set to be elected unopposed BCCI president on October 23 at the Board's Annual General Meeting.
Or does Priyanka Chopra's love for Assam go beyond that?
Asked if Ganguly would be cornered at the meeting, he laughed and cited an example.
England had crashed out in the group stage of the 2015 World Cup and Eoin Morgan said it was an amazing journey that the team went through from that embarrassing defeat to reaching the pinnacle of world cricket after four years. England were adjudged the winners of the 50-over World Cup last year on the basis of their superior boundary count after the epic final against New Zealand, and also the ensuing Super Over, ended in a tie at the Lord's in London.
It will not be feasible to shift IPL matches out of Pune, the BCCI told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, while stating that franchises of Mumbai and Pune teams are willing to contribute Rs five crore towards the Chief Minister's drought relief fund. The BCCI spelt out its stand before a bench of Justices V M Kanade and M S Karnik, hearing a PIL by NGO Loksatta Movement challenging use of large quantities of water in stadiums at a time when the state was reeling under severe drought conditions. BCCI's counsel Rafiq Dada also told the high court that the cricket board is ready to supply over 60 lakh litres of non-potable water to drought-hit areas in Maharashtra free of cost. He said the water will be supplied in support with Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), Mumbai Cricket Association and Maharashtra Cricket Association. "It would not be feasible to shift matches out of Pune as it will disturb the Pune team's brand value and economic balance," he said. The franchises of Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants are willing to contribute Rs five crore to the CM's drought relief fund, Dada said.
The Marylebone Cricket Club, custodians of the laws of cricket, on Tuesday, said Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was under no obligation to warn Jos Buttler before 'Mankading' him in the Indian Premier League match between Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.
It all started from Mumbai. Now, Khan's fan base has spread from the US, UK and West Asia to Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Germany, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Kuwait and Palestine. Of the top 10 Bollywood movies that earned the most overseas, seven had Khan in them.
The $385 million acquisition of TEN Sports is set to make Sony Pictures Networks a major cricket broadcaster in Asia as it seeks to expand its Twenty20-dominated portfolio. Sony Corp-owned SPN holds broadcast rights for the annual cash-rich Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament while also having the rights for the domestic leagues in South Africa and the West Indies.
Nissan Motor Co has entered into an eight-year sponsorship agreement with the International Cricket Council (ICC), a company executive said, in a bid by the Japanese car maker to boost its small market share in cricket-crazy India.
'In two years there will be consolidation. Look at the Indian brands now. Only three of us are surviving, many others have died. What will differentiate us are two things -- timing of our launches in the market and the communication to the consumer," Narendra Bansal, CMD of Intex, tells Arnab Dutta.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and Liam Plunkett says that's the story of England's campaign at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019.
'The boys deserve all the credit for the character they showed, real character.'
After their best-ever show at IPL 7, Kings XI Punjab will look to continue their aggressive brand of cricket when they start their campaign against Hobart Hurricanes in a Group B match of the Champions League Twenty20 in Mohali on Thursday.
Royal Challengers Bangalore's Stuart Binny said he is not vying for the all-rounder's spot in the IPL team with Shane Watson and added that it will be the Australian veteran who will be in competition with other foreign players. "I don't think it is between me and Wato (Watson). He falls under foreign category. He will be vying with foreign players. I am not worried whether I will get into the playing XI from the very first match. My role is to get as much as practice right now," he told reporters after a practice match played under lights at Chinnaswamy Stadium. Asked what he expects from his RCB team mates Chris Gayle and A B De Villiers, Binny said he is eager to share the dressing room with Gayle and De Villiers, having spent some time with Watson at Rajasthan Royals. "I have played with Wato for five IPL seasons. So, I know exactly how Wato plays this brand of cricket, and the boldness he has when he comes out to play his cricket," he said.
Cricket doesn't need development. In football there are two elements - one is the game and the other is the philanthropy element. Cricket is a purely commercial decision.
Members of franchise team, owned by Reliance Industries, will display the Bridgestone logo, which highlights the slogan 'Your journey, Our passion', on the non-leading arms of their shirts.
Raina last played in the 50-over format in October 2015 and is making a comeback after two years and 8 months.
Launched this April, the FCG business will end the year with a turnover of Rs 500 crore
The heat wave that began a few weeks ago as well as the prediction of a possible El Nino weather phenomenon this year has beverage and ice-cream makers hope for a 15-20 per cent growth in sales in May
Australia still searching for their best formula in ODIs, says Finch
After launching their campaign on a winning note, IPL finalists Kings XI Punjab will look to dish out another dominating performance when they face the formidable Barbados Tridents in a Group B match of the Oppo Champions League twenty20 in Mohali on Saturday.
India made the difference in the PowerPlays and never backed down in any situation during the white-ball tour
Former Cricket Board chief Sharad Pawar's intervention in the BCCI's dispute with International Management Group had come after Mumbai Indians' franchise owner and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani wrote to him on the matter.
Across the country, companies have stepped up their act to contain the crisis. IT and other new economy firms seem to have taken a lead.
'Test cricket is so fortunate that today's cricket's biggest brand -- Virat Kohli -- loves Test cricket and puts his heart and soul into it,' says Sanjay Manjrekar.
'Let Shah Rukh release the film with the blessings of the Italian woman (Sonia Gandhi) and Yuvraj (Rahul Gandhi) without any protection and let it run in any theatre anywhere in the country. Sena will not oppose it,' Sena chief Bal Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana.
India opener Lokesh Rahul hit back at all those who branded him a player for the longer version, saying he has proved them wrong.
Be heard without screaming; be visible without cluttering.
Banned for life from India's cricket establishment, a beleagured former IPL boss Lalit Modi is not ready to throw in the towel yet.