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Virat Kohli gets elusive silverware, IPL champion RCB bags brand title
RCB's first IPL title adds brand momentum but experts say Kohli's brand value remains unchanged while PBKS under Iyer emerge as a serious branding contender
Vishal Menon New Delhi
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Moments after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were crowned Indian Premier League (IPL) champions for the first time, Virat Kohli's shoulders drooped and his eyes moistened, struggling to hold back the whirlwind of emotions bottled up for the past 18 years.
As tears trickled down the cricketing icon's cheeks, Ahmedabad, the venue of this year's IPL final, was a heady cauldron of noise and nostalgia.
RCB's hard-fought six-run win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) marked not just a long-awaited title but a personal coronation for Kohli – the franchise's heartbeat for nearly two decades.
This cathartic triumph could mark a
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The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
DPAR permission to KSCA for Vidhana Soudha event reached police on June 5, document indicates
The letter from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), in-charge of Vidhana Soudha, giving permission to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to hold a felicitation for the IPL winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team on the grand steps of the administrative nerve centre of the State, was received at the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Vidhana Soudha Security) only on June 5. The event was on June 4, the note by the inward section at the office shows. This has raised questions on the timeline of events, and how the letter could reach the police a day after the event. The Hindu is in possession of the complete trail of the documents. The papers show that the DPAR writes to DCP (Vidhana Soudha Security) seeking his opinion for an event to felicitate RCB on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha if the team wins. Flagging concerns This letter is dated and signed June 3. In response to this letter, M. N. Karibasavana Gowda, DCP (Vidhana Soudha Security), wrote back flagging concerns over lack of time to prepare for security for the event, but said the police would abide by the decision of the government. This letter has been dated and signed June 4. Following this, DPAR wrote to the CEO, KSCA, permitting them to hold the event on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha subject to 16 conditions. A copy of this letter, dated June 4, seems to have reached the police on June 5. For all letters and documents that reach a police station or an office, the inward section assigns it a serial number, enters it in a register and marks it with a seal and sign. The DPAR letter giving permission to the KSCA for the event, is marked with serial number 1656 and the official has signed the document marking the date June 5, 2025. However, DPAR Secretary G. Satyavathi said that the allegations were 'not true'. Despite multiple attempts, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh was not available for comment. Multiple probes Presently, multiple probes — magisterial inquiry, judicial inquiry by Justice John Michael Cunha, and CID — into the stampede fiasco are mostly focusing on the events at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Amidst the IAS and IPS officials being at loggerheads, there have been demands from within the fraternity that the probe be expanded to all the happenings with respect to RCB victory celebrations in the city on June 4, including the event at the Vidhana Soudha. Police officials have argued that the event at the stadium cannot be looked at in isolation, as the open-air event at the Vidhana Soudha and the confusion over the victory parade brought lakhs of fans to the streets, leading to overcrowding and stampede at the stadium. Video clips Two video clips which show the crowds gathered at the Vidhana Soudha being directed towards the stadium are also doing the rounds. A senior IAS officer, speaking to television channels during preparations of the event on the grand steps, is heard saying that the Vidhana Soudha was only the starting point of the victory parade and appealing to RCB fans to not gather in large numbers at the Vidhana Soudha but go to the stadium. By then Home Minister G. Parameshwara had announced that there would be no victory parade, sources claimed. In another video, the anchor of the felicitation event at the Vidhana Soudha, announcing the end of the event, is heard appealing to the crowd to move towards the stadium, 'if there was space'. 'Any probe into the stampede fiasco that day has to look at all the events of the day holistically and not in a piecemeal manner,' a senior police official said.
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First Post
2 hours ago
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'My heart sunk...': Hardik Pandya, Neeraj Chopra, sports fraternity mourn Air India Ahmedabad plane crash
A tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has shocked the country. Sports stars like Hardik Pandya, Neeraj Chopra, Sourav Ganguly, and teams like India's hockey and football teams paid tribute to the victims. read more A big tragedy happened today when an Air India plane going from Ahmedabad to London crashed just minutes after takeoff. The flight had 242 people on board and crashed into a medical college hostel near the airport during lunchtime. It was heading to Gatwick Airport in England. The whole country is in shock, and people from all over, including some of the biggest names in Indian sports, have come forward to express their sadness and support. They have shared their thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sports stars react to plane crash incident Hardik Pandya, Neeraj Chopra, Gautam Gambhir, Sourav Ganguly, Suresh Raina, Sania Mirza, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Shubman Gill, and Mohammed Shami have all posted messages online. Even IPL teams like Gujarat Titans, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the Indian football team, have shown their support on social media. Heartbroken by the visuals coming in from Ahmedabad. My prayers and thoughts are with everyone involved. May God give strength to the families of the victims. Om Shanti. 🙏 — Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) June 12, 2025 Heartbreaking to hear about the crash in Ahmedabad. Prayers and strength to the families of those affected 🙏🏻 — hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) June 12, 2025 Extremely saddened by the tragic crash in Ahmedabad. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this catastrophe. — Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) June 12, 2025 Shaken by the heartbreaking tragedy in Ahmedabad. In this hour of grief, sending prayers to all those affected, and strength to the brave souls helping on the ground. 🙏💔 — Shubman Gill (@ShubmanGill) June 12, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Deeply saddened by the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad today. My heartfelt prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those affected. May they find strength in this time of immense grief. — Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) June 12, 2025 Heartbreaking to hear about the crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts are with the families of those affected 🙏🏻 — Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) June 12, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pray for all the families💔 — 𝕸𝖔𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖒𝖆𝖉 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖎 (@MdShami11) June 12, 2025 Absolutely devastated by the news of the Air India crash in Ahmedabad. My heartfelt prayers for all the lives lost and strength to the families affected. In this tragic hour, we stand united in grief. 🕯️🙏 #AirIndia #Ahmedabad #Condolences — Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) June 12, 2025 I am utterly shocked and deeply anguished to learn about the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families who are enduring unimaginable pain and loss. In moments like these, words feel so inadequate, but I hope… — Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 12, 2025 Prayers for the families and people on the Air India flight 🤲🏽 my heart sunk hearing the news of the crash .. praying praying praying — Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) June 12, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The All India Football Federation is deeply saddened by the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad today. The thoughts and heartfelt prayers of the entire football fraternity are with everyone affected by this devastating incident. HELPLINE NUMBERS Ahmedabad Police… — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 12, 2025 India & Argentina hockey teams show respect The India and Argentina hockey teams observed a minute's silence before their match in the FIH Pro League to pay tribute to the crash victims. The @TheHockeyIndia and @ArgFieldHockey teams observed a minute's silence for all the victims of today's tragic Air India plane crash, and their families, ahead of their FIH Hockey Pro League match. Our thoughts are with all the victims and their families. RIP. — International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) June 12, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
WTC Final: Pat Cummins claims fifer against South Africa, surpasses Indian great on elite list
NEW DELHI: Australia skipper delivered a breathtaking bowling performance at Lord's, grabbing 6 for 28 to rip through South Africa's batting order and tilt the World Test Championship final heavily in his side's favour. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Cummins's masterclass saw him register his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests and reach a major personal milestone, surpassing Indian great Bishan Singh Bedi and matching with nine five-fors as a Test captain, the second-most in history behind Imran Khan (12). Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. Most Test 5-fers as captain 12 - Imran Khan 9 - Richie Benaud 9 - Pat Cummins 8 - Bishan Singh Bedi 7 - Courtney Walsh 7 - Jason Holder The South African innings collapsed spectacularly on Day 2, skittled out for just 138 in reply to Australia's modest 212. Cummins, who had already taken two wickets in the morning session, returned after lunch to produce a blistering burst, four wickets for one run in just 17 balls, leaving South Africa reeling. Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham had briefly steadied the ship with a 64-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Bavuma, who started the day on 3 not out, showed some fight with a stylish six off Cummins and a lofted drive off Starc, but was dismissed soon after, caught at cover by a diving Marnus Labuschagne. Poll Should Pat Cummins be considered among the greatest Test captains of all time? Yes, absolutely! Not yet, needs more time No, there are better captains Cummins struck again quickly after lunch, removing Kyle Verreynne lbw and trapping Marco Jansen for a duck in the same over. He then ended Bedingham's 111-ball effort by inducing an edge to the keeper before the lower order completely disintegrated. 'Cricketers Aren't Cattle... ': Harish Thawani on the IPL and Business of Indian Cricket A farcical run-out of Keshav Maharaj only added to South Africa's woes, and Cummins fittingly wrapped up the innings with his 300th Test wicket, dismissing , caught at deep square leg by Beau Webster. With this performance, Cummins not only reaffirmed his status as one of the premier fast bowlers of his generation but also etched his name alongside the game's greats as a captain who leads by fiery example.
