Latest news with #WorldChampionshipofLegends2025
Economic Times
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
She debuted as a Kingfisher Calendar model, became a cricket host, and got a surprise on-field proposal on live TV: Who is Karishma Kotak?
During the World Championship of Legends 2025 final, WCL owner Harshit Tomar unexpectedly proposed to British model and cricket anchor Karishma Kotak live on air, overshadowing South Africa's victory. The proposal instantly went viral. (Image: Instagram/ karishmakotak26) While the South Africa Champions celebrated their resounding victory over Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 final at Edgbaston, one moment off the pitch stole the thunder from even AB de Villiers' spectacular 120-run knock — a live on-air proposal that no one saw coming. British model, TV presenter, and cricket anchor Karishma Kotak found herself in the spotlight for reasons beyond her crisp commentary and vibrant hosting style. WCL owner Harshit Tomar, during a post-match interaction, cheekily turned a professional moment into a personal surprise by proposing to Kotak on camera — a gesture that instantly went viral and sent fans into a frenzy. In the now-circulating clip, Karishma is seen asking Tomar how he plans to celebrate the WCL victory. In a bold and unexpected reply, Tomar says he'd like to marry the anchor, leaving Karishma visibly stunned and speechless. The internet has since been buzzing, dissecting the age difference, speculating about their equation, and joking about the spontaneity of the proposal. A user on social media even commented, 'Relax guys. She is 18 years older than him, probably it is just a compliment to a 43-year-old single aunt with some back story between them. Aunty may be stalking the young lad off the field.' Despite the mixed reactions, the moment has undeniably brought Karishma Kotak back into the limelight. — BollyTellyBuzz (@BollyTellyBuzz) Born in London, Karishma is no stranger to fame. She began her modelling career at the age of 16 and steadily carved a niche for herself in both the fashion and entertainment industries. Her big break came when she was featured in the 2006 Kingfisher Calendar, a stepping stone that launched many successful careers in the modelling world. Over the years, she's worked with premium brands including Dove, Tanishq, Pond's, Titan, and Wella Hair Colour, among others. Apart from her modelling prowess, Karishma gained nationwide recognition after appearing on Bigg Boss Season 6 and later as a host on Extraaa Innings during IPL 6. In 2016, she ventured into regional cinema with the Punjabi film Kaptaan. In an earlier conversation with ETimes, Kotak reflected on her unconventional entry into sports presenting. 'Mandira [Bedi] truly paved the way, and I have immense respect for what she brought to the space,' she shared. 'I never planned to be a sports presenter, it just sort of found me! But I think when passion meets preparation, the universe aligns.' This 'alignment of the universe' perhaps extended beyond the cricket field at Edgbaston, as fans now speculate about the equation between her and Tomar, whose estimated net worth reportedly crosses ₹15 crore. While she hasn't responded publicly to the proposal beyond her initial stunned reaction, Karishma Kotak continues to win fans not only for her glamorous presence but also for the grace and spontaneity she showed during an unexpected moment in a high-pressure setting.
The Hindu
03-08-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
WCL 2025: AB De Villiers rolls back the years with century as South Africa beats Pakistan in final
AB de Villiers rolled back the years to smash a 47-ball century and help South Africa Champions beat Pakistan Champions by nine wickets in the final of the World Championship of Legends 2025, in Birmingham, on Sunday. South Africa's opener and captain, De Villiers, remained unbeaten at 120 off just 60 balls, while JP Duminy struck a fifty as they chased down 196 with 19 balls to spare. Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Sharjeel Khan, the first centurion in the Pakistan Super League, gave his side a strong start, scoring a 44-ball 76, also pairing up with former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik for a valuable 72-run partnership. Meanwhile, Hardus Viljoen and Wayne Parnell were the pick of the bowlers for South Africa, with the duo taking two scalps each. While Viljoen removed the openers, Parnell sent the middle-order packing, including skipper Mohammad Hafeez. De Villiers then ramped up the chase with opener Hashim Amla, hitting two sixes and a four in the second over. He hit 16 more boundaries and had two valuable partnerships with Amla and Duminy — 72 runs and 125 runs respectively — to clinch the title. With over 429 runs in the tournament, including three centuries, De Villiers deservedly won the Player of the Tournament. The last time the two sides met, in the group stage, Pakistan had won the match by 31 runs. This time around, when it mattered the most, South Africa Champions had the last laugh.
NDTV
03-08-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
"We Would've Crushed Pakistan, But...": Suresh Raina's Unfiltered Post On WCL Final Result
South Africa Champions thrashed Pakistan Champions in the summit clash of the World Championship of Legends 2025 on Saturday in Birmingham. Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted a good total of 195/5 in 20 overs with opener Sharjeel Khan scoring 76 off 44 balls. Later, the Proteas chased down the target with nine wickets in hand and 19 balls to spare. Skipper AB de Villiers, who already dominated the entire tournament with his powerful hitting, once again played an unbeaten knock of 120 off 60 and propelled the Proteas to a comfortable title win. After South Africa's win, former India batter Suresh Raina, who was a part of India Champions team, took to X (formerly Twitter) and congratulated the Proteas while taking a dig at Pakistan. "What a knock by @ABdeVilliers17 in the final, absolutely smashed it Had we played, we would've crushed them too, but we chose our nation above everything else. Full respect to @EaseMyTrip and @nishantpitti for standing firm and not supporting any match involving them. That's real character," wrote Raina on X. What a knock by @ABdeVilliers17 in the final, absolutely smashed it Had we played, we would've crushed them too, but we chose our nation above everything else. Full respect to @EaseMyTrip and @nishantpitti for standing firm and not supporting any match involving them. That's… — Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) August 2, 2025 For the unversed, India Champions, who were led hy Yuvraj Singh, first refused to play their league match against Pakistan as a protest against Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. Later, when both the teams were qualified the semi-finals and had to face each other again, India once again opted out, which enabled Pakistan to reach the final against South Africa. Due to the controversies in the 2025 edition, The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced that it is issuing a blanket ban from future participation in the WCL. As per the governing body of Pakistan cricket, WCL's statement and actions, following the decision by India Legends to pull out of the semi-final against Pakistan, were 'tainted with hypocrisy and bias' "The PCB, during its 79th BoG meeting held virtually under the chairmanship of Mohsin Naqvi reviewed with considerable disappointment WCL's appalling conduct of awarding points to a willfully forfeiting team, and the content of the press releases of the WCL announcing the cancellation of the scheduled India vs. Pakistan legends matches, which were tainted with hypocrisy and bias.
Hindustan Times
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
WCL owner tells anchor Karishma Kotak 'I'm going to propose to you' on live TV, shares picture with her few hours later
AB de Villiers capped off a sensational tournament with a third century in the World Championship of Legends 2025, slamming 120 off just 60 balls to power South Africa Champions to a thumping nine-wicket win over Pakistan Champions in the final at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Sunday. Chasing 196, the Proteas legends crossed the finish line in just 16.5 overs, with de Villiers smashing 12 fours and 7 sixes in a vintage onslaught. Harshit Tomar (L) talks to Karishma Kotal after WCL Final(X) He stitched partnerships of 72 with Hashim Amla (18 off 14) and an unbeaten 125 with Jean-Paul Duminy (50* off 28) to seal the title with ease. Sharjeel Khan's 76 off 44 had earlier lifted Pakistan Champions to a competitive 195/5, but de Villiers's ruthless assault turned the final into a one-sided affair. However, it was in the post-match presentation that the most unexpected moment of the evening unfolded. Harshit Tomar, the owner of WCL, was being interviewed by anchor Karishma Kotak when, right at the end of the segment, she asked him how he planned to celebrate the successful conclusion of the tournament. Without batting an eye, Tomar replied, 'Probably once this is over, I'm going to propose to you.' The comment, made live on air, visibly stunned Kotak. Caught off guard, she let out an 'Oh my god' before quickly regaining her composure and switching back to her role as presenter. The abruptness of the moment set social media alight, with many viewers calling the exchange awkward and uncomfortable. Some fans criticised Tomar's bluntness, saying it risked putting Kotak in a difficult spot during a live telecast. Tomar, however, appeared unfazed by the chatter. Soon after the incident, he shared a picture of himself with Kotak on social media, captioned with a heart emoji. A WCL team member also commented 'touchwood' on the post, suggesting that the two may share a rapport that viewers aren't privy to. While de Villiers and his team lifted the trophy, the interaction between Tomar and Kotak also saw significant chatter on social media platforms. While de Villiers' prowess with the bat was a major talking point of the tournament, it was also caught in controversy when the India Champions team called off its match against Pakistan Champions twice – including the one in the semi-finals.
Hindustan Times
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
AB de Villiers lights up WCL final with yet another hundred, fans demand retirement U-turn after title-clinching knock
AB de Villiers' return to cricket proved to be a thoroughly triumphant one, as he struck his third century of the World Championship of Legends 2025 to lead South Africa Champions to the title over Pakistan at Edgbaston. AB de Villiers lifts the WCL 2025 trophy after hitting 120*(60) in the final vs Pakistan.(WCL Instagram) It has been a truly incredible campaign with the bat for de Villiers, who returned to a competitive cricket field with his first appearance since his retirement in 2021. In his first go on the masters' tour, de Villiers wrapped things up with an unbeaten 120* off just 60 deliveries, opening the batting and helping the Proteas chase down a target of 196 in just 16.5 overs. De Villiers' innings consisted of 12 boundaries and 7 sixes, flaying the ball all across the Edgbaston pitch as he showed he would still fit in at the highest level of the sport if he really desired. To make matters even more special, de Villiers struggled with an injury through the late stages of the innings, limping towards the end but guiding his team home. JP Duminy came in at number three and also played a very able hand, scoring 50* off just 28 deliveries to seal a nine-wicket victory with a six over long-off. De Villiers puts entire tournament to the sword De Villiers had an incredible campaign, scoring 429 runs in just 6 matches, comfortably leading the run-scoring charts and in a completely different universe compared to the other players in the tournament. He rightly picked up the honours of being the player of the tournament after a remarkable showing right through the tournament. It was a strong batting performance by Pakistan, guided by Sharjeel Khan's 76(44) opening the batting, with Wayne Parnell starring for South Africa once again with ball as he took a pair of wickets. However, it was never close for the team in Pakistan's bowling effort as de Villiers and Duminy laid into the bowlers with no remorse, completing the chase with 19 deliveries to spare. De Villiers finished the group stage of the tournament with 61* against India followed by 116* against England and 123 against Australia, making this his third century in his last four innings of the tournament. To pair with his incredible batting, de Villiers also made an impact in the field, as his last-ball run-out against Australia in the semifinal ensured the Proteas reached the final in the first place.
