KL Rahul led Delhi Capitals to a dominant eight-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2025 clash at the Ekana Stadium. Returning to face his former side, Rahul struck a composed half-century, silencing the home crowd. Abishek Porel added 51, while Axar Patel contributed an unbeaten 34 to chase down LSG’s 159 with ease. For Lucknow, Aiden Markram stood tall with a fifty and two wickets, but Rishabh Pant’s surprising decision to bat at No. 7 drew criticism as he failed to deliver. The defeat marks a setback for LSG, while DC gain crucial points in the table. (PC:X/DC)

Yuvraj Singh played a key role in Abhishek Sharma's rise, says Yograj Singh, revealing the former all-rounder mentored him through tough times. Abhishek, now a Grade C BCCI contract holder, was once steered away from distractions like late-night parties and girlfriends by Yuvraj. Yograj recounted how Yuvraj identified Abhishek's talent early, despite PCA initially labeling him a bowler. He compared Abhishek’s transformation under Yuvraj’s guidance to that of Shubman Gill, crediting Yuvraj’s strict discipline and support. “A diamond in the hands of a diamond becomes Kohinoor,” Yograj said, praising Yuvraj’s influence on young cricketers.

Pooja Yadav, a 20-year-old from Gangapur village in Varanasi, has become the first woman from Benaras to join the Indian women's hockey team. Her journey began when her father, Mahendra Yadav, a milkman and farmer secured her first pair of hockey shoes by delivering milk to the shopkeeper until the cost was covered. Pooja's early days involved playing cricket with boys, fostering her belief in gender equality in sports. Despite societal skepticism, her family's unwavering support propelled her forward. After joining the SAI hostel in Lucknow five years ago, Pooja honed her skills, leading to her national selection. Her achievement has inspired pride in her village and hopes to encourage more girls to pursue sports. (PC: Social News XYZ)

Shubman Gill delivered a commanding performance against his former team, leading Gujarat Titans (GT) to a 39-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025. Gill scored a scintillating 90 off 55 balls, anchoring GT’s total of 198/3. In response, only KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane offered resistance, as the rest of the batting order crumbled. All GT bowlers chipped in with wickets, tightening their grip at the top of the points table. With this loss, KKR now sits seventh and four points away from the playoff spots, making their qualification hopes increasingly slim.( PC: BCCI)

FIFA has officially released its 2026 World Cup host city posters, showcasing a vibrant mix of art and culture from the 16 cities set to host matches across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Each poster, created by local artists, reflects the unique spirit of its city—ranging from astronauts in Houston to underwater lobsters in Boston. The Dallas poster features a cowboy executing a bicycle kick, while Guadalajara bursts with color and heritage. The tradition of venue-specific World Cup posters began in 1998, and the 2026 collection raises the bar with its surreal, bold, and imaginative visuals.

Shubman Gill’s brilliant 90 off 55 balls helped Gujarat Titans post a challenging total of 198/3 against Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL 2025 encounter. Gill, playing against his former side, formed a solid opening partnership of 114 runs with B Sai Sudharsan, who contributed 52. Despite Jos Buttler being dropped twice, he made KKR pay with a quickfire 41. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and chose to bowl, but couldn’t contain the GT batsmen. KKR will need 199 to win as they chase down the target with Sunil Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz opening the innings. (PC: BCCI)

14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi made an unforgettable IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 34 off 20 balls against Lucknow Super Giants. Coming in for the injured Sanju Samson, Suryavanshi’s blistering knock included a six off the first ball he faced, leaving commentators in awe. His performance garnered praise from cricket legends and drew attention from Pakistan, where former cricketer Basit Ali remarked on the confidence that Indian cricket provides its young talent. Despite Rajasthan's defeat, Suryavanshi’s remarkable start to his IPL career has created waves both in India and across the border. (PC: Reuters)

On April 21, 2025, the BCCI unveiled the men's central contracts for the 2024–25 season. Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, previously excluded for skipping domestic duties, have been reinstated, placed in Grade B and C, respectively. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja retain their A+ status. New entrants include Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Abhishek Sharma. Ravichandran Ashwin is omitted following his December 2024 retirement. Rishabh Pant advances to Grade A, while Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are in Grade B. Grade C features players like Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, and Sanju Samson. Notably, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Jitesh Sharma, and KS Bharat are absent from this year's list. (PC: ANI & Hindustan Times)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) avenged their previous loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) with a dominant seven-wicket win on Sunday. Virat Kohli starred with a match-winning 77, becoming the IPL's highest 50-plus scorer. Following the win, RCB posted Kohli’s viral dance video with Quick Style, subtly mocking PBKS for a parody posted earlier. The caption: "Every masterpiece has a copy. Stick to the original." Kohli was named Player of the Match, praising team balance and his anchor role. With five consecutive away wins, RCB now sit third on the IPL 2025 table with 10 points from eight games.

The BCCI has banned Gurmeet Singh Bhamrah, former co-owner of the Mumbai T20 League team SoBo Supersonics, for trying to fix matches in 2019. He reportedly asked players Dhawal Kulkarni and Bhavin Thakkar to underperform. A man named Sonu Vasan made the offer to Thakkar on Bhamrah’s behalf. The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) found proof in recorded conversations. The ban's duration was not mentioned but may range from five years to life. Bhamrah is no longer involved with the league. The Mumbai T20 League was revived this year after being suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (PC: Getty)