Former Hull City wing back Bernard Mendy scored through a stunning bicycle kick as hosts Chennaiyin FC beat Kerala Blasters 2-1 in a Hero Indian Super League match on Tuesday.
They endured a disastrous run the last time around to finish at the bottom of the heap and Kings XI Punjab would be aiming to make amends this season when they begin their campaign against newbies Gujarat Lions in their IPL opener in Mohali on Monday. Kings XI Punjab did not make any big buys this year and have a new captain in South African David Miller in place of Australian George Bailey who was released after leading the side to the last place in the previous season. Virender Sehwag has also retired and he will serve as team mentor this season. The Preity Zinta-owned side continues to lack the team balance as it has not added any significant player, only snapping the likes of all-rounders Farhaan Behardien and Marcus Stoinis, seamer Mohit Sharma and left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh. Last season, their batsmen lacked consistency and whenever they did well, the bowlers let the side down. On the other hand, debutants Gujarat Lions have a balanced side with top-class performers in both batting and bowling. They have explosive batsmen in Brendon McCullum, captain Suresh Raina, Aaron Finch and a plenty of top-notch all-rounders in Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja and James Faulkner.
The spotlight is back on this B'town actor and how!
James Faulkner has earned his reputation as Australia's man for every occasion the hard way. Whether it's with bat or ball, the all-rounder has become the player Australia's team can always rely on to get them out of pickle.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Sunday
Kings XI Punjab will look to go all guns blazing against down and out Gujarat Lions in Mohali.
IPL Player draft: How the bidding went
Pune FC's James Moga scored one of the quickest goals in the history of Indian football as his side held United Sikkim (USFC) to a 2-2 draw in a seventh round I-League match in Pune.
India win fifth ODI to seal 4-1 series victory in New Zealand
Pune FC returned to winning ways, defeating a spirited Pailan Arrows 2-0, in a Round 5 I-League fixture that halted the AIFF developmental outfit's unbeaten run in Kolkata on Friday.
His decision to bat first backfired as India were dismissed for a paltry 153 against England and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni put the blame on his batsmen for their nine-wicket loss in their second ODI of the tri-series in Brisbane.
In a letter addressed to Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra, IOC's Director (Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations) James Macleod expressed the world body's satisfaction with the written guarantee from the Indian government on the issue.
More stars than they are in heaven were at the Sachin: A Billion Dreams premiere.
Suresh Raina helped India draw first blood in the One-Day International series against England, hitting an impressive century in the tourists' rain-affected 133-run victory in Cardiff, on Wednesday.
New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin feels Mahendra Singh Dhoni erred in his decision after winning the toss, and said the entire Kiwi outfit was surprised when the Indian skipper decided to bowl first in the second Twenty20 game at a relatively slow Chepauk pitch in Chennai.
Seeking to continue their winning momentum and take an unassailable 2-0 lead, India were dealt a blow ahead of the third one-dayer against England at Trent Bridge on Saturday as opener Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the remainder of the tour because of injury.
How can a chief minister shrug off his responsibility not just for the illegality taking place under his nose but also for the lives that are likely lost? asks Aditi Phadnis.
India Test regulars like Cheteswar Pujara and Ishant Sharma have also thrown their hat into the ring with base prices of Rs 50 and Rs 75 lakh respectively.
Statistical highlights of the Indian Premier League match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab in Mumbai on Sunday.
Delhi Daredevils would look to continue the new-found momentum against a struggling Gujarat Lions in New Delhi on Thursday.
80 Tests and 16,634 deliveries -- the least by any bowler in the 400 Test wicket Club -- took him to the cherished landmark.
What goes behind the scenes for an American President's visit?
Flurry of economic reform suggests Modi realises his muscular nationalism script is getting jaded. Chances are he'll try for economic recovery but stick to what's worked so far, observes Shekhar Gupta.
The off-spinner took 4 for 51 as his side bowled out Gloucestershire for 288 and enforced the follow-on.
Royal Challengers Bangalore will have rise to the occasion when they take on the already-eliminated Delhi Daredevil
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave a frank assessment of his team's fourth day collapse to lose the first Test against Australia, saying the Melbourne Cricket Ground wicket was benign enough to reel in the victory target.
Given the relative paucity of cricket this year, Test cricket has emerged as a healer for deprived fans, notes Dhruv Munjal.
The Athletics Federation of India has submitted a list of 51 athletes, including the 11 called for trials, for the August 18 to September 2 Asian Games.
The goal-scorers in the 12th men's hockey World Cup, which is underway in Delhi.
The Australian cricket team suffered a massive blow today after its veteran pace spearhead Brett Lee was ruled out of the entire ODI tri-series against India and Sri Lanka due to a broken foot.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to field against England in the fifth One-Day International at the Barabati stadium in Cuttack on Wednesday. India brought in left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan in place of Munaf Patel and Rohit Sharma replaced the in-form Gautam Gambhir.
SV Sunil's oodles of experience came in handy as his 59th minute strike enabled India to pip a gritty Wales 4-3 in their second Pool B encounter at the Commonwealth Games, in Gold Coast.
Images from day one of the second Test between India and Australia in Sydney, on Tuesday.
Images from day four of the first Test between India and Australia in Melbourne, on Thursday.
Punjab are lying at the bottom of the table with only one win from six matches, while the in-form Lions are the top of the IPL standings with six wins from seven matches.
Eesan seems to have the usual collection of kuthu, romantic and energising songs, but there's nothing that scales the heights of musical brilliance.
The odds will be stacked heavily in favour of India when the title contenders, with an eye on securing a knockout berth, meet minnows Papua New Guinea in the ICC U-19 World Cup, in Mount Maunganui, on Tuesday.
Top India batsman Virat Kohli has maintained his second position in the latest ICC batsmen rankings while medium pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has moved up a place to be seventh in the bowlers' standings.
Hindi lyrics are no bar to the global appeal of his music.
Images from the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, in Delhi, on Saturday.
