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Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Rishi Sunak – the former UK prime minister who is a RCB fan, unsurprisingly
From one famous Bengaluru son-in-law to another, more famous one. Former British Prime Minister, Conservative politician Rishi Sunak who will attend the IPL final, announced his cricket loyalties by uttering the words 'Ee Sala Cup Namde!' as he revealed he was a Royal Challengers Bengaluru fan. It is fairly well known that IPL teams have international followings, and when asked which side was his, Sunak made it clear. 'I'll give you a clue — Ee Sala Cup Namde!' he told 'Hopefully, my pronunciation has improved since I proposed to Akshata 16 years ago in Kannada where, truth be told, I'm not entirely sure she knew what I was talking about!' he joked about the smattering of the RCB home tongue. His reasons for supporting them were fairly straightforward. 'But obviously, I'm married into a Bengaluru family, so RCB is my team. We went to matches together a long time ago, and actually, Akshata's mother and father got me this shirt when we got married, which is great,' he continued. The former UK premier said he used to cheer them on in Downing Street, 'especially last year's charge, which was fantastic to watch — and it's a privilege to be here in India cheering them on in the final.' Noting that cricket was back in the Olympics for the first time in 100 years — because of India, he said the IPL had transformed cricket. 'I think every cricketer, everywhere, wants to play in the IPL at some point in their career now. And just look at the English players who've been involved and they're getting better. I was at Edgbaston last week watching the England vs West Indies ODI — Jacob Bethell played a brilliant innings. The IPL has improved him as a cricketer,' he noted. 'It's also been great for the women's game, getting more girls into the sport. But beyond that, it's a sign of the influence India now has in the 21st century. India's passions, India's tastes — they now have a global impact. Why is cricket back in the Olympics for the first time in 100 years? Because of India,' he repeated. He said cricket wasn't just about big stadia but also ruling the streets. 'I love cricket in India the passion, the skill, the enthusiasm. Watching a game, you can see just how much it means to everyone. There's a brilliant intensity to it, whether it's gully cricket or a Test match. What's also really special is that cricket is everywhere on every street, there are people playing and then the whole country comes together for the big moments. That's really special.' He unsurprisingly named Virat Kohli as his favourite cricketer, whose signed bat he had received as PM. 'Now, in terms of my favourite players obviously, I'm a massive Virat Kohli fan. He's a total legend. One of my prized possessions is a signed bat of his that Minister (oEA) Jaishankar brought me when I was Prime Minister, as a Diwali gift, to Downing Street — which is amazing,' he said. He also had great hopes from the English featuring in the final. 'But of course, I'm also hoping for a big contribution from RCB's English contingent — Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, let's bring it home!' Not being Prime Minister had its previous perks. 'Earlier this year, I was in India to watch the England–India match at the Wankhede, but that morning I had time to go down to the Parsee Gymkhana and the Maidan in Mumbai to play some tennis ball cricket with youngsters. I couldn't have done that when I was Prime Minister, and I had so much fun. It was truly life-affirming their enthusiasm was totally infectious. Some of the best bowling I've ever faced! I channelled my inner Joe Root, tried to hit a few good drives it was a fantastic morning,' he said. He also said it had helped break some Ashes ice with his Aussie counterpart. 'Cricket is such a helpful diplomatic tool. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and I have always had great cricket banter, especially during the Ashes series — at one point, it even got a tiny bit heated between us, but all in a very friendly way. Prime Minister Modi and I also always had great cricket chats before getting down to business. The thing about cricket is that it reminds you who your friends are and what you share — your passions — and that puts everyone in the right frame of mind before tackling the serious diplomatic stuff,' he said. 'India are coming to England this summer. It's going to be a great tour, and I know it will strengthen the partnership and friendship between our two countries,' he ended staidly.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IPL 2025 Final, RCB vs PBKS: Mood in Ahmedabad completely dry ahead of title clash
The mood in Ahmedabad is 'dry' ahead of the title decider (Image courtesy - Pratyush Raj of in Ahmedabad : Outside the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, there are big cutouts of two captains Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar. The handful of fans hoping to see Virat Kohli were perplexed to see the image of Rajat Patidar. "Who is he?," asked one of the fans outside Gate No. 1. The vendor, who was busy selling jerseys, replied angrily, "he is the captain of the team whose jersey you are buying." The poor guy had no clue about Rajat Patidar, and murmured, "wasn't Kohli the captain?" Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The vendors aren't particularly fans of the sport but they have a lot of hopes riding on the proceedings and the outcomes. "There isn't a buzz this time around. We failed to sell Rohit Sharma's jersey ahead of Qualifier 2, and now we are struggling to find buyers for Kohli's. We don't care who wins as long as we are selling jerseys. Hopefully, we will have more sales on Tuesday," said Krupal, before he started chanting the rates of the jerseys. IPL 2025 Final, RCB vs Punjab Kings: The wait will finally end in Ahmedabad Like Krupal, Mohammed Aslam sells wristbands, caps, and flags. Aslam jogs down memory lane and reminisced about the IPL 2023 final match between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings. "Despite the heavy rain, the fans from CSK, who had travelled from Chennai, were so passionate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch xu hướng AUD/USD? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo We sold all our items, but this time around, there is no such hype," he laughed. Poll Who do you think will be crowned IPL champion this year? RCB PBKS Too close to call it Krupal and Aslam are not wrong about the mood ahead of the final. On Sunday, hardly 50,000 people turned up to watch the Qualifier 2 match between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians. There were no buyers for many of the hospitality boxes as they were empty. The IPL final, which was shifted to the world's biggest stadium in Ahmedabad, has failed to create any buzz in the city. Hyderabad and Kolkata were supposed to host the playoffs as per the original dates but the venues were changed citing "weather conditions." The rain, however, has continued to follow the business end of the cash-rich league as there was a heavy shower ahead of Qualifier 2 and a light spell is expected on Tuesday as well. Even if the weather permits and the match goes ahead, it would be interesting to see whether the title clash will be able to fill the Narendra Modi Stadium. In the pre-match press conference, both captains chose to keep cards close to their chests. Shreyas Iyer spoke about lack of sleep while a soft-spoken and very un-RCB-like captain Rajat Patidar reserved praise for the fans and vowed not to get bogged down by the unreal expectation. The PBKS players, tired from their rain-affected marathon match, didn't turn up for the training session. Captain Shreyas left the venue after the photo shoot but RCB did train for around two hours. IPL 2025 Winner Prediction: What Greenstone Lobo's Astrology says Once RCB left the ground, the pitch and the inner ring were immediately covered, and final touches were applied to the makeshift stage for the closing ceremony. India's leading musician Shankar Mahadevan, accompanied by his sons Siddharth and Shivam, will deliver a special performance in a tribute to India's armed forces. Who's that IPL player? 'See you at the FINAL tomorrow ❤️ What an honour this is!!!' Shivam Mahadevan shared his excitement on Instagram. Buzz or no buzz, one thing is for sure: there will be a new IPL champion. Between Bengaluru and Punjab, the wait of one franchise will end.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IPL 2025 Qualifier 2: Punjab Kings likely to get Yuzvendra Chahal boost against Mumbai Indians
in Ahmedabad: Punjab Kings (PBKS) battled through three bouts of drizzling on Saturday ahead of IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 against (MI) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now There were three mild showers during PBKS' three-hour training session in Ahmedabad. Ahead of the big match, PBKS may get their most experienced player, , back in action. The 34-year-old, who missed PBKS' last three matches due to a wrist injury, would be desperate to play on Sunday. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. Chahal's right wrist was protected, but the veteran spinner did train. He played football, took catches, and bowled a few balls in the empty net. It is yet to be seen how much his wrist has recovered, but has learned that he is ready to take injections, if needed, to get back into the playing XI. Arshdeep Singh: India's Left-Arm X-Factor? 🇮🇳🔥 Chahal, a wily customer, will be needed by Shreyas Iyer against the five-time champions MI, who never slip up in the playoffs. Meanwhile, MI have had their own share of injury issues. Deepak Chahar, who didn't play the Eliminator due to a hamstring strain in his left leg, was at the venue for his fitness test. The MI team had reached Ahmedabad at AM on a chartered flight, but their coaching staff and medical team were at the stadium, conducting Chahar's fitness test. The other MI bowler who made it to the stadium was left-arm quick Reece Topley. Chahar looked fine, but if he is not match-fit, then Topley might play his first match for MI. MI vs PBKS weather report While there have been some light pre-monsoon showers in Ahmedabad in the days leading up to the match, the forecast for Sunday, June 1, suggests a low chance of rain during match hours. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now MI vs PBKS pitch report The covers from the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium came off for barely five minutes, with MI coaching staff, including head coach Mahela Jayawardene, taking a quick look. This is the same pitch on which Gujarat Titans defended 217 against Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings defended 230 against the home team. One can expect a run-fest in Qualifier 2. Of the 14 innings played in Ahmedabad, teams have crossed the 200-run mark on nine instances. MI vs PBKS predicted playing XIs 'I don't want to be a one-season wonder': Punjab Kings' Shashank Singh Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult Impact Sub: Ashwani Kumar Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Yuzvendra Chahal Impact Sub: Vyshak Vijaykumar
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Virat Kohli: The force behind RCB's dominant march to IPL 2025 final
in Mullanpur: wears his heart on his sleeve. After Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) thumping eight-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1, Virat Kohli was seen gesturing as if to say, "Just one more to go." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. Could 2025 finally be the year RCB break their title drought? Will it be the year the curse is lifted? Will Virat Kohli finally lay his hands on the elusive title he has been chasing since 2008? Everything will be answered on June 3 in Ahmedabad. But Kohli in the field against PBKS gave a glimpse of why this is a tournament where he refuses to lose. He is the leading run-getter for RCB in this year's IPL and seemed to run on something extra, call it a desire, a resolve or a motivation. And it was no different on Thursday. The aggression and intensity Virat showed in the field made him look like a wounded lion who had tasted blood. Poll Will 2025 be the year RCB finally breaks their title drought? Yes, definitely! No, they will fall short again. Yes, after quitting Test cricket, he has a lot to prove. The energy with which he was patrolling the RCB troop gives you a reminder of Virat Kohli, the "on-your-face Test captain." He displayed a range of emotions in a single match: the thumping of the RCB badge, which holds a special place in his heart; the jubilation after every fall of a PBKS wicket; the fist pump in the air; rushing from the boundary line to celebrate every wicket – Kohli was at his cinematic best. As RCB's pace trio of , Yash Dayal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar came all guns blazing, it looked like Virat Kohli for a moment forgot that he was not the captain of RCB, as he was calling all the shots. He may no longer wear the captain's armband, but on the field, he continues to lead. His energy is relentless, his presence impossible to ignore. He was central to every tactical move — constantly in the bowlers' ears, or in the fielders' eyeline when they erred. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A growl, a stare — his expressions spoke volumes without a single word. Josh Hazlewood - we picked up momentum from Jitesh's knock in Lucknow Physically, he remains a remarkable athlete — enduring long spells under the punishing sun with unwavering stamina. His boundless energy continues to offset the natural decline in reflexes that comes with age. RCB pacer Josh Hazlewood summed up Virat's energy in just one short sentence: "Virat's always up and about in the field," he told reporters after the match. He was at his theatrical best in the field, but on a wicket which had something to offer for the fast bowlers, his recurring susceptibility outside the off-stump was on display as well. The extra bounce on the sixth-stump line, which he ended up poking, did the trick for Kohli. It was a dismissal reminiscent of those that kind of put the last nail in his Test career in Australia. But come June 3 in Ahmedabad, the pitch won't have this amount of bounce. The Narendra Modi Stadium favours batters, and RCB will bank on Kohli to not just guide them to their first title but also to achieve redemption by winning a trophy in front of one hundred thousand spectators. So tighten your seatbelt, as we might be in for "one last dance" from one of the all-time greats.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IPL Eliminator: Mohali high in spirits as Shubman Gill returns home after becoming India's Test captain
Gujarat Titans' captain Shubman Gill (AP Photo) in Mullanpur: On Friday, when he leads the Gujarat Titans (GT) against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Eliminator at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur, it will be the first time Shubman Gill will be playing at his home venue after becoming India's Test captain. Would he get sentimental or act cool about it? Deepinder Chabra, the assistant curator at the Mullanpur Stadium, keeps it crisp. "Punjabi load nahi lete (Punjabis don't overthink)," he tells Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Chabra, who has given almost two decades of his life to the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) and has seen India's Test captain when he used to walk out with an oversized helmet and pads, reveals the chat the two had when GT trained at the stadium on Tuesday night. Who's that IPL player? "It's a big honor for us. A cricketer from Punjab has become India's Test captain. Becoming India's Test captain is a huge deal. I told him 'now your image will be in the stadium's galleries next to the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar , MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli. It's a big responsibility, Shubman.' He nodded and replied, 'Will leave no stone unturned to keep that legacy intact,'" reveals Chabra. Gill's elevation to Test captaincy has attracted a mixed response with many former cricketers not mincing their words on the move. Shubman Gill story: From a remote village near the border to India's Test captain "He has not even secured his place in India's Test XI," Srikkanth had told after the youngster was announced India's captain. But back in Mohali, the vibe is different. Yuvraj Singh , one of Shubman's mentors, was at the Chandigarh airport on Monday to receive the prince of Indian cricket. Poll How do you feel about Shubman Gill becoming India's Test captain? Excited Skeptical Indifferent Proud Former India bowler and national selector Harvinder Singh is ignoring the "outside noises" and feels Gill was the right choice for Test captaincy. "I know there are concerns about him being captain. But these are outside noises. There was always a leadership quality in him. Even in our selection panel, we had circled Shubman as India's next captain. So, I am not surprised," says Harvinder. "It will be a litmus test for sure. Captaining India for the first time, that too in England. It has been a nightmare tour for many former Indian captains. But it is good. His batsmanship, his leadership, and most importantly, his character will be tested. He will come out a better cricketer at the end of the five-match series," adds the former cricketer who has played 3 Tests and 16 ODIs for India. 'Shubman Gill used his brains a lot more than the other guys' Gill's obsession With the Mullanpur venue not available, GT were training at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday. The iconic venue where it all started for Gill. Watching GT batters practice in the nets is about watching a lot of Gill's smooth stroke play. Gill, right from his age-group cricket days, has had an insatiable obsession with spending time in the nets. Spending hours facing the cricket ball is a habit his father Lakhwinder Singh drilled into a young Shubman, and he continues to follow what has worked for him. "At that age, you generally don't see anyone batting in the nets for so long. Then there was Shubman, who had to be forced out of the nets,' says Gurkeerat Mann. "A lot of credit goes to his father who made him understand that the more he bats in the nets, the longer he will be able to bat in the match. I guess that has become a habit. He is carrying his father's wisdom with him,' adds Mann. To end the conversation on a lighter note, Chabra reveals another unknown facet about Gill. A trait that has been lesser known to the world. "As a person, he has not changed much. Even now he bats the most in the nets. Above all, 'Munda mahool bana ke rakhta hai (The boy keeps the atmosphere very light).' I have seen him doing pranks on his teammates in his U-16 days, and nothing has changed now," says Chabra. Sai Sudharsan's T20 Evolution: Where skill meets science | TOI Sports Exclusive Punjab all-rounder Ramandeep Singh, who has known Gill from a very young age, explains the reason behind Gill's stubbornness to bat in the nets. "You will see a different Shubman in every game. Right from a very young age, one thing that was very unique in him was that he was a quick learner. He keeps improving himself. And nets are his second home. He trains until he finds that perfection," says Ramandeep. Ramandeep further explains how Gill has worked on his power-hitting in recent years. "He was never a power-hitter. In T20s also, his strike rate used to hover around 120. He used to try to play along the ground. Playing aerial shots was a big no. But now see his six-hitting. It didn't come naturally to him. He has worked on it at the nets,' says Ramandeep. We will come to know in a few hours whether India's new Test skipper will have a happy homecoming but the hopes and spirits continue to be high in Mohali - the place where it all started for the classy right-hander.
