'I thought helmets would help. So, I took a motorcycle helmet with a polycarbonate visor to WSC.'
For spin great Neetu David it was a culmination of a lifelong dream -- to see the India women's team finally end their wait for a World title.
As the year draws to a close, Rediff's Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya takes a look at the hits and misses, the highs and lows, the newsmakers and the dealbreakers in alphabetical order.
Jemimah's success is carved not just from talent and hard work, but from dreams, faith, and an unshakable spirit.
At 16, when I first stepped into college, I also stepped straight into my first heartbreak. There was a boy, of course. We started talking, then dating, and my nave teenage self was convinced this was something special. My best friend, however, was never convinced. She said he wasn't right for me. I didn't listen. I was 16, dramatic, slightly delusional and completely in love (or so I thought).
'As a nation, we create beautiful content and a high volume of it (films) but we are limited by the number of theatres and screen density.' 'You now have a living-room large screen available to showcase that.'
The Perth Stadium curator has promised the wicket will be green, fast and bouncy but Stokes offered no thoughts on whether England would attack with four quicks or pick the specialist spinner, Shoaib Bashir, in their 11.
The most famous cricket umpire of his time has left the ground forever.
'We are not AI. We are allowed to break, and rebuild.'
'When you miss India, you'll hear it before you see it. That's really where the idea started.' 'If you ever go to your terrace at night in India, you'll hear sounds from everywhere.' 'That feeling of hearing home in your head when you're far away... that's the soul of the show.'
'He will have no problems playing under any captain, he will still give his 100 percent for the team.'
Over four decades, the India-Australia ODI rivalry has mirrored the evolution of both teams, from Australia's supremacy in the 2000s to India's resurgence post-2010. Come Sunday, this rivalry will be renewed as Shubman Gill will commence his first assignment as ODI captain in the opening game of the three match series, at the Optus stadium in Perth.
Every innings he played will be remembered along with every drop of sweat he shed to display the purity of technique with resilience, recalls veteran cricket correspondent K R Nayar.
'Will any coach think of keeping out Rohit and Kohli from the ODI team? That means there is something going on within the team against the two players.' Manoj Tiwary, who played 12 ODIs and three T20Is for India, said iconic players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli deserve greater respect.
For too long has Pakistan gotten away with running with the terrorists and hunting with the forces. This duplicity needs to end, asserts Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
Made at a time when an insidious agenda can be read into it, Haq is an important film that deals with a contentious subject with maturity, observes Deepa Gahlot.
In a rivalry born of pride and provocation, Bangladesh's one ball victory over Sri Lanka felt like more than just a win, it was a tale of heritage, heartbreak and the unshakable passion that makes the Naagin Derby cricket's most emotional stage.
'The way Abhishek and Shubman bat, it is like fire and ice.'
'I'm looking at it as a chance to play international football, to represent India, and to hopefully inspire other players with a similar background to me, to show them that they can come to India and do the same thing.'
Though the oldest Alphas are just turning 15 in 2025, they're already more digitally fluent than any generation before, points out Sandeep Goyal.
'I knew the finger was broken but I told the physio that I don't want to take any painkillers.' 'I was in very good rhythm and I just wanted to carry on.'
India enjoy a dominant 9-3 win loss record against Pakistan in T20 Internationals, including a 7-1 margin in T20 World Cups.
What we see in him today is not just stardom, but the reflection of his sincerity, humility, and an artist who carries the fragrance of his roots, asserts K R Nayar, who has known the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner from their school and college days.
'I wanted a player of his calibre to take on one of the strongest sides in the country.' 'However, he stuck to his guns, and we had an argument.'
It was a black weekend for the Bollywood box office, as close to half a dozen new films arrived in theatres and all of them flopped!
Lord's has a tradition of rewarding those who give their best, asserts veteran cricket correspondent K R Nayar.
It is not yet clear if Diageo Plc is looking to sell its complete stake in RCB.
'He is one of the most complete cricketers you will ever see.'
'If a player who is not being selected after scoring so many runs in the IPL, then there is some other reason for his non-inclusion.'
'That is how he developed his concentration and focus.'
Despite the ups and downs, The Oval remains a ground of rich memories and monumental moments for Indian cricket.
Can Shubman Gill and his men rewrite the script once more? The answer begins unrolling on July 23.
'Bumrah's 2024 exploits were a masterclass in skill, precision, and relentless consistency,' ICC said in a statement.
How much protein is needed for a healthy daily diet? A healthy adult needs a minimum of 0.80 gram of protein for every kilogramme of body weight per day. The average consumption of protein in India is around 62 gm per day, which is way lower than the global average of 78 gm.
Former captain Sourav Ganguly on Thursday said India may have missed a trick by not playing Kuldeep Yadav at Lord's and Manchester, as quality spinners come to the fore on the last two days of a Test match.
Twinkle is in love with... Ananya is gym-ready... Genelia promotes Junior...
Dilip Doshi, who passed away on June 23, was celebrated not only as one of India's finest left-arm spinners but also as a cricketer of rare character and amazing qualities, recalls veteran cricket correspondent K R Nayar.
Glimpses from India and around the world that will make you smile and cry.
India's historic first-ever Test win at Edgbaston by a massive 336 runs after losing the first Test was a triumph of Grit, Resilience, Excellence, Aggressiveness, and Tactfulness, a truly GREAT performance that will be remembered for years, asserts veteran cricket correspondent K R Nayar.
We asked colleagues, present and past, to reflect on a man who has made such a difference to their lives and careers. Here it is then, a rich collection of memories that offer enchanting glimpses of the enigmatic Ajit Balakrishnan.
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