&w=3840&q=100)
Rahul Dravid's son Samit finds no takers in Maharaja Trophy T20 auction as Devdutt Padikkal attracts mega bid
Samit Dravid suffered a knee injury in 2024 which has impacted his cricket recently. Image: PTI
Rahul Dravid's son and all-rounder, Samit Dravid, was one of the high-profile names to go unsold at the Maharaja Trophy T20 2025 on Tuesday. The Maharaja Trophy T20 is an IPL-styled tournament which is organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and the 2025 season will be played from 11 to 27 August. Samit was part of the Mysore Warriors in 2024; however, he could not find a taker in the 2025 players' auction.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
In the 2024 season, the 19-year-old Samit was signed by the Warriors for Rs. 50,000 and scored 82 runs for them in seven innings from the middle-order at a strike rate of 114. He did not bowl his medium pace.
Samit Dravid goes unsold in Maharaja Trophy T20 auction
In September 2024, Samit was also picked in India Under-19's squad for the one-day series against Australia Under-19s in Puducherry, but missed the series due to a knee injury.
India middle-order batter Devdutt Padikkal attracted the highest bid of Rs 13.20 lakh in the players auction held on Tuesday ahead of this year's Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20.
Devdutt was bought by Hubli Tigers ahead of the tournament which is set to take place between August 11 and 27 behind closed doors.
Abhinav Manohar, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad, and former India batter Manish Pandey received the second-highest bids, going to the Hubli Tigers and Mysuru Warriors respectively for Rs 12.20 lakh each.
Among the bowlers, Shivamogga Lions went big for Karnataka pacer Vidwath Kaverappa at Rs 10.80 lakh, while Bengaluru Blasters shelled out Rs 8.30 lakh for pacer Vidyadhar Patil.
The Shivamogga Lions bought India A batter Aneeshwar Gautam for Rs 8.20 lakh, while Mangaluru Dragons highlighted their auction day with the purchase of veteran Shreyas Gopal for Rs 8.60 lakh.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Each team will make two more additions to their squads with players from their respective catchment areas.
With agency inputs
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG 4th Test: 'What is Sai Sudharsan's fault?' — Former India cricketer backs recall as Karun Nair's flaws exposed
NEW DELHI: With India trailing 1-2 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and the fourth Test at Old Trafford looming large, selection debates have intensified, especially around Karun Nair's place in the XI. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has openly questioned Nair's inclusion, urging the team management to give promising youngster Sai Sudharsan another opportunity. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. Nair, making a highly anticipated comeback to Test cricket after eight years, has failed to make a mark, scoring just 131 runs in six innings at an average of 21.83. Despite showing glimpses of his strokeplay, the 33-year-old has not been able to convert starts into match-defining innings. Did Sai Sudharsan confirm his India Playing XI spot on eve of the match? 'Karun Nair has played three Test matches. He is a very promising cricketer, but his technical weakness has been exposed,' Sidhu said on his YouTube channel. 'The big question is whether you will go to win or to build a team. When you think of winning, I think what is the fault of Sai Sudharsan?' Poll Should Sai Sudharsan replace Karun Nair in the Test XI? Yes, he deserves a chance No, Nair should be given more opportunities Sidhu also praised Sudharsan's recent form, saying: 'You have one of the most promising players of India who won the Orange Cap. Yes, there is no connection whatsoever between IPL and Test cricket, but he was in form. Technically, one of the soundest low-gravity batsmen, whose hand-eye co-ordination and head is always completely above the toe, and a left-hander. Why shouldn't he come to the team?' 23-year-old Sudharsan made his Test debut in the first match of the series, scoring 0 and 30, and has been benched since. Shubman Gill explosive press conference: Hits back at England and big revelation on India Playing XI However, India captain Shubman Gill came out in support of Nair, expressing confidence in his abilities. 'He didn't bat at his number in the first game and we have had conversations with him, and he will turn it around,' Gill said during the pre-match press conference. Gill emphasised that Nair remains an integral part of the batting group, especially after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the format. With India facing a must-win scenario, the team's middle-order combination will be under the scanner — and Nair's performance, if picked, could well define his second coming.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Suicide helplines choke with over 60% jump in calls from betting addicts
Hyderabad: Distress calls from youngsters hooked to online betting are choking suicide prevention helplines in Hyderabad. Counsellors report an over 60% spike in numbers in the last six months – compared to previous years – the majority of them being recorded during the IPL season, stretching from March to May 2025. In the last one year, local police registered about 80 cases involving online betting and gambling apart from 20 suicides. According to city-based suicide prevention service, Roshini Foundation, the jump in caller count this year is about 65% when compared to 2023. "Also, in 2023, 22% of all distress calls were related to online betting. In the first quarter of 2025, this figure stood at 36.5% with cricketing events like the Indian Premier League (IPL) triggering spikes," said Swarna Raju, director of Roshini. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The average age of these callers' ranges between 20 years and 40 years, say counsellors. This includes students, salaried employees and businessmen, among others. The majority report losing money – from a few thousand to a few lakh – within minutes. "We used to receive about 80 to 100 calls every month from those addicted to online betting when the IPL season was on. Now, the average is around 10 a month," said Tekmal Sreekar Reddy, director of 1Life, another suicide prevention helpline. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo He emphasised how the share of calls related to online betting losses has grown. "Of all calls that we received last quarter, about 20% were from those in financial distress — nearly 60% of them stemmed from online betting losses," he added. Even at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Erragadda, there has been enrolment of patients — young men around 25 to 30 years old — addicted to online betting and gambling. "This trend has grown due to the easy availability of more mobile apps," Dr Vivaswan Boorla, senior psychiatrist, IMH, said. He added: "After a few initial wins, youngsters start chasing big rewards. This is fuelled by celebrities and social media influencers who promote such betting apps. While clinically we consider it as an addictive illness, for patients, it is just another way of earning money. They do not consider it wrong," he added. Counsellors say that addicts reach out to helplines when they lose big money and are "overwhelmed with shame and isolation". "They feel that they have reached a point of no return and fear facing their families. That's why they contemplate suicide," explained Reddy. Individual mental health professionals also admit to recording alarming patterns among online betting addicts. "I have seen a 10% to 15% rise in distressed clients with betting-related issues walking into my clinic of late," said Jayanti Sundar Rajan, a counselling psychologist with over 20 years of experience. HELPLINES ROSHINI: 040-66202000/08142020044/08142020033 1LIFE: 7893078930 Tele MANAS: 14416 or 1-800-891-4416
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Tenders floated for two world-class sports complexes in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: In a major push to transform the city into a hub for sports and fitness, the state youth empowerment and sports department has initiated the process to establish two state-of-the-art sports complexes on the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The department has floated tenders to appoint private agencies for transaction advisory services for projects at Honnaganahatti (off Magadi Road) and Ravuthanahalli (off Tumakuru Road). The move follows chief minister Siddaramaiah's 2024-25 budget announcement that Bengaluru would get four international-standard, multi-sport complexes. "We will establish world-class sports complexes in all four directions — east, west, south, and north — of the city," said R Chethan, commissioner, youth empowerment and sports department. "We have requested the govt to allot land for two more places." The ambitious project is estimated to cost Rs 280 crore and is designed to reshape the city's sporting landscape. It will feature ultramodern outdoor and indoor sports arenas, an adventure sports zone, a sports mall, a sports equipment manufacturing centre, hostels, staff quarters, basic amenities, a hospital, and a fitness and rehabilitation centre. Currently, the department owns the land for both sites. At Honnaganahatti in Bengaluru south taluk, it has around nine acres where a stadium already exists. The facility currently hosts about 500 users per day and includes a 400m athletic track, swimming pool, outdoor gym, mud volleyball court, and a pavilion. Officials believe upgrading this into a world-class complex could attract up to 2,000 users daily. At Ravuthanahalli, the department owns 15 acres, and projections indicate similar footfall. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With no comparable infrastructure nearby, the complexes are expected to serve not just city athletes but also draw talent from across the country. Officials also point to the rationale behind opting for the PPP model: "Since this project includes international standard sports infrastructure development, private sector entities with better knowledge about modern sports can execute it. Also, the department does not have the necessary funds to implement this project." Besides bridging the funding gap, the PPP model is expected to ensure cutting-edge technology and broader access to athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Revenue for the private partners may come from user charges, training and coaching fees, advertising, hospitality services, and healthcare and rehabilitation facilities.
