Sports

Bumrah Among Injured Stars Set to Miss ICC Champions Trophy

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2025

Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and Australia’s Mitchell Starc have joined the growing list of injured players as the countdown to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 begins, set to commence on February 19.

Ending the uncertainty over Bumrah’s participation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Tuesday that he will miss the tournament due to a back injury sustained during the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney earlier this year.

—

Harshit Rana, who made his ODI debut in the ongoing series against England, will replace Bumrah on the squad. Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been omitted from the provisional roster, with Varun Chakravarthy stepping in as his replacement. Jaiswal, alongside Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube, has been reassigned to the non-travelling reserves.

—

On the Australian side, Starc has opted out of the tournament, joining Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood on the injury list. The team also faced the loss of Mitchell Marsh due to injury, followed by Marcus Stoinis’s surprising retirement from ODIs just days before the tournament.

South Africa’s Anrich Nortje was the first player to withdraw from the tournament after preliminary squads were announced, with fellow fast bowler Gerald Coetzee now joining him on the injured list. Several other players remain uncertain for the competition due to recent injuries. Pakistan’s Haris Rauf has been sidelined for the remainder of the home ODI Tri-Series due to a muscular strain, while opening batter Saim Ayub is also set to miss the tournament due to a serious injury sustained last year.

New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson and Rachin Ravindra are also doubtful as they recover from injuries suffered in recent matches—Ferguson from a hamstring issue during the ILT20, and Ravindra from a blow to the face during a Tri-Series game against Pakistan.

England has also been affected, as young all-rounder Jacob Bethell picked up an injury during the white-ball series in India leading up to the Champions Trophy, which returns after an eight-year hiatus.

The ICC has set February 11 as the final deadline for participating teams to submit their rosters of 15 players for the Champions Trophy, with any subsequent changes requiring approval from the tournament’s technical committee.

India’s Champions Trophy squad includes: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, and Varun Chakravarthy.

Non-travelling reserves are: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, and Shivam Dube.

—

Sports

Suresh Raina Opposes IPL Impact Player Rule

Published

19 hours ago

September 5, 2026

Namma Kudla

Mumbai: Former Chennai Super Kings player Suresh Raina has opposed the Impact Player rule in the IPL.

Raina said the rule gives batters an extra advantage and puts more pressure on bowlers. He noted that teams are now scoring 200-plus runs more frequently, with some even approaching the 300-run mark.

“Bowlers have nothing left,” Raina said, adding that the rule has made their job much harder.

Former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma and several other players have also criticised the rule.

The Impact Player rule allows teams to replace one player during a match with a batter or bowler, depending on the situation. The rule was first tested in the 2022-23 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before being introduced in the IPL in 2023.

Sports

Messi Announces Retirement from International Football

Published

5 days ago

September 1, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Football legend and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39.

Messi shared the emotional decision through a post on Instagram. He said that the decision was painful but felt that it was the right time to step away from the national team.

His retirement came after Argentina’s defeat against Spain in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Argentina lost the final 1-0 at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19.

Messi had led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022. Argentina defeated France in a dramatic penalty shootout in the final held in Doha, Qatar.

Messi made his international debut for Argentina in August 2005. During his remarkable international career, he played 207 matches and scored 125 goals for his country.

He also appeared in six FIFA World Cups and became one of the greatest players in the history of football.

Messi’s retirement marks the end of a glorious international career that spanned more than two decades. His decision has left football fans around the world emotional.

Entertainment

Cristiano Ronaldo Marries Longtime Partner Georgina Rodriguez

Published

3 weeks ago

August 14, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has married his longtime partner, Georgina Rodriguez, in a private ceremony.

Ronaldo reportedly tied the knot with Georgina on Tuesday, August 11. The couple surprised fans by sharing an official wedding photo on social media.

The picture shows Ronaldo and Georgina holding hands while wearing their wedding rings. The couple appeared happy as they marked the special occasion.

The wedding took place in Cascais, a picturesque coastal town near Portugal’s capital, Lisbon. The ceremony was kept extremely private, with only their five children reportedly attending the occasion.

Ronaldo and Georgina first met in Madrid in 2016. They have been together for nearly a decade.

The couple has five children: Cristiano Jr., twins Eva and Mateo, Alana Martina, and Bella Esmeralda.

Ronaldo is one of the most decorated footballers in the world. He has scored a record 146 goals for Portugal in international football and has won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award five times.

He recently represented Portugal at the FIFA World Cup, making it the sixth World Cup of his career. At club level, Ronaldo currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

He is expected to return to action when the new domestic season begins on Saturday.