What makes these players such hot properties at the IPL Players Auction?
Will Ishan Kishan get Rs 15.25 crore for one year, or for three years? Do the players get their IPL payments, whether it is in full or in part, and what is the payment schedule? Harish Kotian/Rediff.com explains all you need to know about IPL player payments.
Virat Kohli said his elevation to captaincy has a lot to do with Mahendra Singh Dhoni keenly observing his cricket smarts for six to seven years. Kohli spoke about how he was always keen on taking responsibility and becoming the India captain was a part of that process.
Biden said that 100 days since he took the oath of office on January 20 and inherited the worst pandemic in a century and the worst economic crisis in a decade, America is on the move again, turning peril into possibility, crisis into opportunity and setback into strength.
'The BRICS anthem has to necessarily be an anthem of Vedic times -- Walk together, Dream together, Achieve together.' 'And who knows it better than Modi?' says Tarun Vijay.
Prime Minister Modi made a strategic blunder of Nehruvian proportions -- presuming no war can happen now, and the Chinese won't be a military threat and risk their economic interests, observes Shekhar Gupta.
Sanju Samson cleared the boundaries at will to power Rajasthan Royals to two massive wins over Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab, the second one ending in the highest run chase in the history of IPL.
China on Tuesday said border talks with India have yielded "initial results", enabling the two neighbours to properly handle their differences over the vexed boundary issue and maintain peace along the frontier.
'Whichever option India chooses, it should be clear to the government that the China-Pakistan nexus poses a clear and present danger to national security,' says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).
The promise of a less suspicious government is surprising. What about the disconnect between the new business stance and earlier push to dictate the narrative in politics and public life, wonders T N Ninan.
In terms of viewership, the IPL even outperformed some of the pay-per-view matches of the Premier League in Britain.
The Summit for Democracy seems to have done more harm than good, notes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
'An opportunity is at hand to think big and recast the India-China relationship on a new template, which would help the pursuit of our country's dream of major power status,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
China will also set up 50 joint laboratories with countries participating in the Belt and Road initiative to enhance cooperation on innovation.
India will eye another dominant performance against hosts England in a three- match ODI series
Until he was 24, Varun Chakravarthy was making a living as an architect. Three years later, an IPL team paid Rs 84 million for his spinning skills!
While working with Air India, she has also earned a degree in BSc Aviation, done a course in classical key-board, learnt various forms of modern dance and become a lawyer. Anjuli Bhargava profiles the super-achiever.
China has been trying to build lobbies of influence and mould public opinion in India since at least 2017, and large sums have been invested in the effort, reveals former RA&W officer Jayadeva Ranade.
While a glitzy new league may inspire youngsters to take up the sport, India's hopes of becoming a soccer power rest with its development at a grassroots level, according to FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.
Lagaan's dream run on screen and off it is a much needed reminder of winning against all odds in these pandemic ravaged times, notes Sukanya Verma.
'"Who you know" does not help in scoring runs or taking wickets in front of hundreds of millions of fans, which alone determines your selection to play for your team.'
'The confidence and the kind of cricket India has played in the recent past will be a big factor.'
After being missed out on earning a contract from Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises in the auction ahead of its 10th season, veteran all-rounder Irfan Pathan penned an emotional letter to his fans and followers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the People's Liberation Army has the confidence and capability to defeat all invading enemies as he inspected a massive military parade at the country's largest military base to mark the 90th founding anniversary of the 2.3-million strong army.
While the two sides' objectives may appear to differ, it is clear that both India and China are emphasising on the common minimum possible areas of cooperation between them, says Srikanth Kondapalli.
Out-of-favour opener Murali Vijay said he is under no pressure to get back to the Indian team and would look to contribute to whichever team he is playing for.
'If an 'informal meeting' with Xi Jinping materialises before the SCO summit in June, that itself could be regarded as a significant breakthrough in India-China relations,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
'There are major implications for India. Though there was a transparently thin attempt to project the troop reduction as intended to promote peace, the downsizing is actually part of plans to streamline and strengthen the PLA, capable of defending China's national interests at home and abroad,' says Jayadev Ranade.
'Chinese leaders rarely receive their foreign guests in cities other than Beijing. Such respect for India!' 'Does it mean that Modi could replicate "the warmth and unconventional way" by sending Indian troops into Tibet, as Xi did in Chumur (Ladakh) when he arrived in India? Of course, Indians are far too polite to do so,' says Claude Arpi.
'A breakthrough in eastern Ladakh leading to disengagement and creation of a buffer zone will obviate the need of military deployment through the winter months ahead,' notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Will China's new military reforms endanger Xi Jinping's rule?
Calls for boycotting Chinese products have intensified after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the Galwan Valley clash on June 15. The Chinese have so far refused to share details of the casualties they suffered.
Mumbai Indians lock horns with an out-of-sorts Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match in which home skipper Rohit Sharma's return from injury will also be awaited, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
Shikhar Dhawan said he discussed his batting with Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting which helped him get back among the runs and convert his 20s and 30s into centuries
Washington Sundar has played a major role in Royal Challengers Bangalore's success so far this IPL season, with skipper Virat Kohli using him mostly in the Powerplay overs. He has taken five wickets in seven games, but at an astonishing economy rate of 4.90.
'China might soon have to seriously consider whether it prefers an Indo-US hyphenation to a Sino-Indian one.'
Some BCCI officials are of the view that unless VIVO backs out on its own in prevailing circumstances, the board should honour the remainder of the contract, which ends in 2022.
'China's latest defence White Paper has been issued against the backdrop of the upgraded Sino-Pakistan strategic relationship which has impinged on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Beijing's continuing intransigence on tackling the issue of the disputed border or intrusion by PLA troops,' says Jayadeva Ranade.
India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh's mother Shabnam on Friday sought to clear the air on reports that the her son owes a whopping 96.43 lakh in service tax on his income from the first and second Indian Premier League season, saying the King's XI Punjab batsman was paid only for playing and not promotional activity.
'Modi's initial forays into foreign policy had the flavour of Aswamedha Yagas launched by ancient kings to conquer the world.' 'He overcame the hesitations of history and explored unconventional ways to win friends and influence people.' A fascinating excerpt from Ambassador T P Sreenivasan's new book, Modiplomacy -- Through a Shakespearean Prism.