Wasim Akram Narrates How Shah Rukh Khan Arranged Boeing Airplane For KKR Players In One Hour

 Wasim Akram Narrates How Shah Rukh Khan Arranged Boeing Airplane For KKR Players In One Hour 

Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram recently revealed an unheard story with Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan from his coaching days at Kolkata Knight Riders.

Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram recently revealed an unheard story with Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan from his coaching days at Kolkata Knight Riders. Akram, who is one of the legendary players of Pakistan, was appointed as KKR's bowling coach in 2010. He then went to serve the franchise till 2016, including during the two title wins in 2012 and 2014. Talking about Shah Rukh Khan, who is also the co-owner of KKR, always stands like a wall for his team and Akram's revelation totally proved this.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025 LIVE UPDATES - RR vs GT LIVE SCORE

During an interaction with VU Sports, Akram narrated an incident from IPL 2012, when SRK arranged a Boeing for the entire team, in order to give the players some rest before the knockout match.

"I think this happened during the 2012 IPL season. Our knockout match was in Kolkata, and I remember we were going to arrive via, via some place. Shah Rukh Khan was there, so I asked him, 'Khan saab, ek request hai (Mr Khan, I have a request)'. I said, 'Ladke bade thak jayenge, hum kal pahunchenge, parso match hai. Toh agar ek private plane (The team will get extremely tired. We'll reach tomorrow, and the match is the day after. If a private plane could be arranged)...'" said Akram.

"He said, 'Thak jayenge ladke? Koi problem nahi (They'll get tired you say, no problem)'. Within one hour, pura Boeing jahaaz khada tha for the whole team," Akram added.

It is worth noting that in 2012, KKR went on to lift the IPL title after defeating Chennai Super Kings in the final match.

Talking about KKR, their previous match against Punjab Kings got washed out due to rain in Kolkata on Saturday.

Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya slammed stellar half-centuries to lay a solid opening foundation, but KKR pulled things back at the death as Punjab Kings posted 201 for 4 after PBKS opted to bat.

In reply, KKR were seven for no loss in one over when a sudden thunderstorm struck around 9.35pm, sending debris flying across the ground and even blowing the covers into the stands. The ground staff quickly covered the pitch, but relentless rain followed, leaving no scope for a resumption of play.

After nearly 90 minutes of waiting, with no let-up in the weather, the match was officially called off at 10.58pm. As a result, both the teams shared one point each.

KKR now have seven points from nine matches to stay at seventh spot, while Punjab Kings moved to 11 points from nine games.

 During his KKR tenure, Wasim Akram came across a wonderful moment that showed the love, care and admiration KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan has for his players.

 Former KKR coach Wasim Akram recalled an unheard story of Shah Rukh Khan

After overcoming his struggle with drug addiction, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram landed a job in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the bowling coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders, where he spent six seasons, between 2010 and 2016. During his tenure, he came across a wonderful moment that showed the love, care and admiration KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan had, and still has, for his players.

Former KKR coach Wasim Akram recalled an unheard story of Shah Rukh Khan

In an interview with VU Sports, as quoted by the Indian Express, Akram recalled an incident from the 2012 IPL season, where he had made a request to Shah Rukh regarding how the players would get tired as they would be reaching the venue on the eve of the game. Akram was concerned that the exhaustion might have an impact on the result. But the Bollywood superstar assured him not to worry and then arranged a Boeing within an hour for the entire team.

Akram said: “I think this happened during the 2012 IPL season. Our knockout match was in Kolkata, and I remember we were going to arrive via, via some place. Shah Rukh Khan was there, so I asked him, ‘Khan saab, ek request hai (Mr Khan, I have a request)’. I said, ‘Ladke bade thak jayenge, hum kal pahunchenge, parso match hai. Toh agar ek private plane (The team will get extremely tired. We’ll reach tomorrow, and the match is the day after. If a private plane could be arranged)…’ He said, ‘Thak jayenge ladke? Koi problem nahi (They’ll get tired you say, no problem)’. Within one hour, pura Boeing jahaaz khada tha for the whole team.”

Later in his autobiography, Akram revealed how important the KKR job was for him after spending his days in a drug rehabilitation centre in Lahore under "brutal" conditions. He wrote: “Movies conjure up an image of rehab as a caring, nurturing environment. This facility in Lahore was brutal: a bare building with five cells, a meeting room and a kitchen.” He added, “Once out, I tried to keep calm, to get centred. Shah Rukh Khan offered me an attractive job as the bowling coach at Kolkata Knight Riders – my first senior coaching role anywhere.”

 When Shah Rukh Khan's IPL team was in crisis, his solution was a private Boeing plane for them

 Synopsis

Wasim Akram recently shared a touching story about Shah Rukh Khan's generosity during the 2012 IPL season. As the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, Akram was concerned about the players' exhaustion before a crucial knockout match. When he requested a private plane to help the team avoid fatigue, Shah Rukh Khan immediately arranged a Boeing for the entire squad within an hour. This act of care highlights the Bollywood star's commitment to his players' well-being.

Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan cricketer and renowned bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), recently reflected on a memorable incident from the 2012 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. In an interview with VU Sports, Akram recounted a heartwarming story that highlighted the care and generosity of Shah Rukh Khan, the co-owner of KKR.

During the 2012 IPL season, Akram was concerned about the team’s fatigue ahead of a crucial knockout match in Kolkata. The players were expected to arrive at the venue a day before the match, which could affect their performance. Akram, mindful of the exhaustion the team would face, approached Shah Rukh Khan with a request.

Shah Rukh Khan’s Quick Response

In the interview, Akram shared how he approached Shah Rukh Khan, saying, "Khan saab, ek request hai (Mr Khan, I have a request)." He went on to explain that the players would be tired from their travel and that the match was the following day. He suggested arranging a private plane to help the team avoid additional fatigue. Akram's concern was clear: "Ladke bade thak jayenge, hum kal pahunchenge, parso match hai. Toh agar ek private plane... (The team will get extremely tired. We’ll reach tomorrow, and the match is the day after. If a private plane could be arranged)."

Without hesitation, Shah Rukh Khan responded, "Thak jayenge ladke? Koi problem nahi (They’ll get tired, you say, no problem)." True to his word, within an hour, a Boeing was arranged for the entire team, a gesture that left Akram impressed by the Bollywood superstar's commitment to the well-being of his players.

Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid Preview: Team News & Prediction

Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid Preview: Team News & Prediction

Atletico Madrid have perhaps given themselves another chance of getting back involved in La Liga’s title race as Los Rojiblancos now take on a very poor Real Valladolid side this weekend.

Kick-off date/time: Monday 14th April 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid may be televised on one of their affiliated channels

How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+

Atletico Madrid Preview: Giving themselves a chance

Atletico Madrid endured something of a mini collapse through March and early April with elimination from the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey to Barcelona and the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League in controversial circumstances to Real Madrid.

They also suffered back-to-back defeats and a draw in La Liga but both Barcelona and Madrid dropping points last weekend may well have given Atletico a chance of a title charge once again, scoring a second-half stoppage-time winner to defeat Sevilla last weekend.

Real Valladolid Preview: An awful season

 Real Valladolid have endured a miserable campaign both on and off the pitch, following their promotion to the top-flight last season, with Ronaldo looking to sell the club but then reportedly ignoring offers as he focused on his now failed Brazilian FA presidential campaign.

The visitors begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting 14 points adrift of safety with eight games of the campaign to go. Their most recent outing saw them suffer a humiliating 4-0 annihilation at the hands of Getafe at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla last weekend.

 Atletico Madrid Team News: Couple of doubts

Atletico Madrid are dealing with a couple of injury concerns ahead of the visit of rock-bottom Valladolid as Samuel Lino is a doubt for this one alongside Argentina international midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Nahuel Molina, Le Normand, Lenglet, Cesar Azpilicueta; Giuliano Simeone, Marcos Llorente, Pablo Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Julian Alvarez

Unavailable: 

Questionable: Samuel Lino (Injured), De Paul (Injured)

Real Valladolid Team News: Mario Martin suspended

Real Valladolid are dealing with a couple of absentees ahead of the trip to the Metropolitano this weekend with Estonia international goalkeeper Karl Hein still sidelined alongside midfielder Mario Martin, who is now missing through suspension.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): Ferreira; Candela, Cumart, Ozkacar, Aznou; Ivan Sanchez, Nikitscher, Amallah, Raul Moro; Sylla, Juanmi Latasa

Unavailable: Hein (Injured), Mario Martin (Suspended)

Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid Prediction

The game that could well have saved Atletico’s season at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan saw them go 1-0 down via Lucien Agoume after seven minutes before an equalising penalty scored by Julian Alvarez and then a last-gasp Pablo Barrios winner against Sevilla. They have been better to watch this season and have even played well in their aforementioned mini collapse. They now welcome a genuinely woeful Valladolid side to the capital city this week and a comfortable Atleti victory is to be expected at the Metropolitano.

Atletico Madrid are expecting to part ways with several players this summer, but they hope one of them is not club captain Koke Resurreccion, who has been linked with bringing his 25-year association to an end.

Koke has been on a rolling one-year contract for multiple seasons, and with the 2024-25 campaign coming to a close, it will soon be known whether he remains at the club that he first joined back in 2000.

 Atletico Madrid are expecting to part ways with several players this summer, but they hope one of them is not club captain Koke Resurreccion, who has been linked with bringing his 25-year association to an end.

Koke has been on a rolling one-year contract for multiple seasons, and with the 2024-25 campaign coming to a close, it will soon be known whether he remains at the club that he first joined back in 2000.

 MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 29: Koke of Atletico de Madrid interacts with the fans during the LaLiga match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on September 29, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Image via Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Atleti want Koke to continue as club captain for at least one more season, and they continue to see him as a crucial player in the dressing room despite his drop in minutes compared to the 2023-24 campaign.

Koke has accepted his position as a squad player, although it remains to be seen whether he will do so for another season where his minutes could be reduced further if Talati complete 

It will be very interesting to follow the situation with Koke over the coming weeks. Atletico Madrid are proposing these contract talks, but there is no guarantee that they will be successful. However, it would be a surprise if the 33-year-old were to walk away from Los Colchoneros before he is no longer needed by Diego Simeone and the rest of the first team personnel at the Metropolitano.

Who is Shaik Rasheed? 20-year-old opener for CSK in IPL history

 Who is Shaik Rasheed? 20-year-old opener for CSK in IPL history

FILE PHOTO: CSK’s Shaik Rasheed, during training ahead of the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), at M Chinnasamy Stadium (KSCA)

The 20-year-old batter from Andhra was picked by the Super Kings in the IPL 2025 auction for INR 30 lakh. Rasheed has been part of the CSK camp since 2023 but had not played a single game over the last two seasons.

The young batter rose to fame after being part of the India U19 team that won the U19 World Cup in 2022. He has since been a mainstay in the Andhra batting lineup, scoring 1204 First-Class runs in 19 matches at an average of 46.04.

He has also played 17 T20 encounters, scoring 352 runs at 29.33 and a strike rate of 127.07. CSK will hope the right-hander batter can provide some stability in the top of the order, a fact that the team has been struggling in this season.

He scored a fluent 19-ball 27 to give CSK a good start in the Powerplay while chasing 167.

NEW DELHI: Shaik Rasheed made a memorable entry into the Indian Premier League on Monday, becoming the youngest-ever opener for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The 20-year-old debuted against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium, making his mark in the record books at just 20 years and 202 day

Rasheed broke the previous record held by England’s Sam Curran, who opened for CSK in 2020 at 22 years and 132 days.

Showing little sign of nerves, Rasheed smashed 27 off 19 balls, laced with six boundaries, helping CSK to a brisk start while chasing 167 against LSG. He shared a 52-run opening stand with Rachin Ravindra (37 off 22), giving the struggling five-time champions a rare solid foundation.

His debut knock ended when he mistimed a short ball from Avesh Khan, offering a simple catch to Nicholas Pooran. It was only the third time in seven games this season that CSK crossed 50 in the powerplay.

 Who is Shaik Rasheed?

Born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Rasheed is a promising top-order batter who has represented Andhra in domestic cricket.

Before his IPL debut, he had played 19 First-Class matches, scoring 1204 runs at an average of 37.62, alongside 12 List A and 17 T20 matches. He also has a strong pedigree at the youth level, having been a part of the India Under-19 setup.

With CSK battling form issues this season, Rasheed’s emergence offers a glimmer of hope and a fresh face for the future.

 In a significant move, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have given young talent Shaik Rasheed his debut cap in the ongoing IPL 2025 clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

 Struggling at the bottom of the points table, CSK introduced two fresh faces—Shaik Rasheed and Jamie Overton—while dropping veterans Ravichandran Ashwin and Devon Conway for the match at Ekana Stadium, Lucknow.

Winning the toss, MS Dhoni chose to bowl first against LSG. The decision to include Rasheed signals a shift toward a youth-focused strategy as CSK aims to bounce back from a difficult season.

 Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (w/c), David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Digvesh Singh Rathi

Chennai Super Kings Playing XI:

Shaik Rasheed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni (w/c), Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana

europa conference league

2024/25 UEFA Conference League: Matches, final, key dates

What are the match dates? Where is the 2025 final? What is the new format?

The fourth edition of the UEFA Conference League, and the first since it changes its name from the UEFA Europa Conference League, will start on 11 July 2024 and run until the final on 28 May 2025.

Please note that some dates are provisional and subject to change.

 

What is the new Conference League format?

The biggest change is to the group stage, which will become a single 36-team League stage. Each side faces six different teams (three at home, three away). The top eight overall advance directly to the round of 16; sides finishing from ninth to 24th will contest the knockout phase play-offs, with the victors going through to the last 16. From then on it is a straight knockout.

Conference League 2024/25 schedule

When are the 2024/25 Conference League qualification rounds?

First qualifying round: 11 & 18 July 2024
Second qualifying round: 25 July & 1 August 2024
Third qualifying round: 8 & 15 August 2024
Play-offs: 22 & 29 August 2024

 

When are the 2024/25 Conference League League stage matches?

Matchday 1: 3 October 2024
Matchday 2: 24 October 2024
Matchday 3: 7 November 2024
Matchday 4: 28 November 2024
Matchday 5: 12 December 2024
Matchday 6: 19 December 2024

When is the 2024/25 Conference League knockout stage?

Knockout phase play-offs: 13 & 20 February 2025
Round of 16: 6 & 13 March 2025
Quarter-finals: 10 & 17 April 2025
Semi-finals: 1 & 8 May 2025
Final: 28 May 2025

When are the 2024/25 Conference League draws?

First qualifying round: 18 June 2024
Second qualifying round: 19 June 2024
Third qualifying round: 22 July 2024
Play-offs: 5 August 2024
League phase: 30 August 2024
Knockout phase play-offs: 20 December 2024
Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final: 21 February 2025

Where is the Conference League final in 2025?

Stadion Wrocław in Poland will host the 2025 final, which will be played on 28 May 2025.

The home of two-time Polish champions Śląsk Wrocław, the venue has a capacity of over 40,000 and is the third biggest stadium in the country. Completed in 2011, Stadion Wrocław held three games as Poland co-hosted UEFA EURO 2012 with neighbours Ukraine, and it continues to stage national team games. The venue lies to the northwest of Wrocław, which is the third largest city in Poland and the main city in the region of Lower Silesia ('Dolny Śląsk' in Polish).

 

What do the winners of the 2025 Conference League final get?

First and foremost, a very fetching trophy. There is also the not insignificant matter of a place in the League stage of the following season's UEFA Europa League for the winners if they have not qualified for the UEFA Champions League via their domestic competition.

'At least put your signature in Tamil': PM Modi takes shot at DMK govt over language row

'At least put your signature in Tamil': PM Modi takes shot at DMK govt over language row

         'At least put your signature in Tamil': PM Modi takes shot at DMK govt over language row

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a potshot at the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government amid the ongoing language row and advised the leaders of the state to at least sign their names in Tamil.

During a public address in Rameswaram, PM Modi said that the central government is working to ensure that the Tamil language and Tamil heritage reach every corner of the world.

"The government is constantly working to ensure that the Tamil language and Tamil heritage reach every corner of the world. Sometimes, I am surprised when I receive letters from some leaders of Tamil Nadu; none of them are signed in the Tamil language," the Prime Minister said.

 "If we are proud of Tamil, then I would request everyone to at least sign your name in Tamil," he added.

PM Modi also suggested that the Tamil Nadu government start medical courses in Tamil to facilitate children from poor families in fulfilling their dream of becoming doctors.

"I would urge the Tamil Nadu government to start medical courses in Tamil so that even the children of poor families can fulfill their dream of becoming doctors," PM Modi said.

"Our effort is to ensure that the youth of our country do not have to go abroad to become doctors. In the last 10 years, Tamil Nadu has got 11 new medical colleges," he added.

 

PM Modi's remarks follow the ongoing disagreement between the Union government and the Tamil Nadu state government over the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in the state.

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin has accused the Union government of trying to impose Hindi and has refused to implement the three-language formula under NEP.

The debate over NEP is focused on its three-language formula, which Tamil Nadu fears may lead to the introduction of Hindi in the state.

Stalin has raised concerns that the policy gives more importance to Hindi over regional languages, which he believes affects the state's linguistic identity and autonomy. The central government, however, says that NEP encourages multilingualism and allows flexibility in language education. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has denied that Hindi is being imposed, stating that states have the freedom to choose their languages under the policy.

 

The dispute grew after the central government withheld Rs 2,152 crore meant for Tamil Nadu’s Samagra Shiksha scheme, citing the state’s refusal to implement NEP. Tamil Nadu has historically opposed the three-language formula, considering it a step toward promoting Hindi, while the central government argues that the policy is intended to help students access job opportunities in different regions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while inaugurating the New Pamban Bridge in Rameswaram on Sunday, April 6, 2025, took a pointed dig at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin amid the ongoing language debate.

Speaking on Ram Navami, Modi expressed surprise that letters from Tamil Nadu ministers, including Stalin, lack Tamil signatures, urging them to embrace their linguistic pride. “The Government is constantly working to ensure that the Tamil language and Tamil heritage reach every corner of the world. Sometimes, I am surprised when I receive letters from some leaders of Tamil Nadu; none of them are signed in the Tamil language.

If you are proud of Tamil, then I would request everyone at least sign your name in Tamil,” Modi said. The remark underscores Modi’s broader pitch for Tamil, including his call for medical education in the mother tongue to benefit the poor. The New Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge, was part of over Rs 8,300 crore in projects dedicated that day. The language jab reignites a sensitive issue in Tamil Nadu, where resistance to Hindi imposition—rooted in the Dravidian movement’s legacy—remains fierce. Stalin’s DMK has long championed Tamil identity, yet Modi’s critique subtly challenges their consistency, amplifying the Centre-state linguistic tussle

LSG vs MI: Rohit Sharma gets Kieron Pollard's backing after poor IPL 2025 start

 LSG vs MI: Rohit Sharma gets Kieron Pollard's backing after poor IPL 2025 start

                                LSG vs MI: Rohit Sharma gets Kieron Pollard's backing after poor IPL 2025 start

Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard has backed under-fire Rohit Sharma to succeed in the IPL 2025 season despite his poor start to the campaign with the bat. Rohit, who was instrumental in India's Champions Trophy win, failed to carry the form into the IPL campaign and has struggled at the top.

In the 3 matches he has played so far, Rohit has scored 21 runs at an average of 7 and a strike-rate of 105. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Pollard commented on the MI star's form and hailed the Indian opener as a legend of the game.

The MI batting coach said that Rohit is doing everything right as an individual and asked everyone not to judge him based on a few low scores. Pollard said that in cricket a player fails more than he succeeds and claimed that people will start singing Rohit's praises once he gets a big score.

"Personally, I've played alongside Rohit since U-19 cricket, and he has fought his way and etched his name in history and in the record books in different situations, different formats of the game."

"He's a legend of the game in his own right. And as an individual as well, there are times when you have a couple of low scores. He is doing the right things as well as an individual who now enjoys cricket and does not be pressurised in certain situations."

"So let's not judge on a couple of low scores. In cricket, we know, we fail more than we succeed, and I'm sure we'll be singing out his praises when he comes and he gives us that big score, and then he'll be the next hot topic," said Pollard.

Pollard on MI's scouting success

MI's scouting has unearthed two gems in Vignesh Puthur and Ashwani Kumar this season. Ashwani picked up four wickets on his debut against KKR and Pollard said that it shows there's a place for everyone in the team.

Pollard, however, said that there should be a balance in the squad.

"There's a place for everyone. Every superstar today was once a young talent. We need to be mindful of how we portray things—there is a natural cycle in cricket. While young players deserve recognition, we shouldn't forget the experienced players who have nurtured them. The IPL is great for unearthing new talent every year, and that's a positive sign for Indian cricket," said Pollard.

"I can't speak for other franchises, as I don't know their scouting processes in detail. However, I can confidently say that MI has been successful in identifying and nurturing talent over the years. There's a method to our approach, and every IPL season, we aim to bring forward new talent who can contribute in the long run."

Exclusive | 'Seniors said we lack facilities, focus on govt job instead': Making of India's fastest man Gurindervir Singh

Exclusive | 'Seniors said we lack facilities, focus on govt job instead': Making of India's fastest man Gurindervir Singh

Exclusive | 'Seniors said we lack facilities, focus on govt job instead': Making of India's fastest man Gurindervir Singh

NEW DELHI: Facing the unforgiving wrath of the sun at the Youth Asian Championships in 2017, a 16-year-old Gurindervir Singh stood at the starting line.

Unfazed by the magnitude of the competition and the competitors -- given that he had won gold medals and set national records in almost every event he had participated in until then -- the tall and muscular frame looked poised to go beyond the red ribbon and secure qualification in 100m with ease.

 

But destiny had other plans.

"I had the most extraordinary experience of my life," Gurindervir tells TimesofIndia.com.

He ran the heat but barely made the cut, ranking 16th out of 16 qualified for the next round. What followed shook the sprinter.

"The coaches and other players, even my own roommate, taunted me. They said I would never win a medal, that I was lucky to be here as a 'best loser,'" Gurindervir recalls. "That hurt me a lot."

Broken inside, the runner skipped meals and isolated himself. Then came a call from his father, Kamaljeet Singh.

 

"I didn’t tell anyone at home about my situation, not even my coach (Sarabjeet Singh). When I spoke to my father, I told him that I had qualified, but I didn’t mention my rank," Gurindervir reveals

.

"When my father asked me, 'What are the chances of winning a medal?' I told him that second or third place was possible. Hearing my reply, he got so angry and said, 'If you have the mentality of aiming for second or third place, how will you ever come first? If you think like this, then don't run!'"

Kamaljeet's words ignited the fire missing in Gurindervir. In the semi-finals, he not only qualified but also emerged as the fastest runner.

By the time he reached the final, he had become a champion from an underdog. Against all odds, he won gold, becoming the first Indian to do so.

From Patial to podiums: The journey of India's fastest man

Born in Patial, a small village in Jalandhar district, Punjab, in December 2000, Gurindervir grew up in a family where playing sports was a way of life.

His father, a national-level volleyball player, and his grandfather, a Kabaddi player who also served in the Indian Army, ensured that athletics wasn’t just an afterthought.

"My father started training me early. We didn’t have fancy facilities, but he taught me skipping, jumping, and running. I used to train barefoot," Gurindervir pointed out.

 The turning point came when he saw Usain Bolt’s record run at the 2008 Olympics. "That’s when I knew I wanted to be a sprinter," he reveals.

At Guru Nanak Mission Public School, his first coach, Sarwan Singh, recognised his raw talent. He taught Gurindervir how to use starting blocks, introduced him to spikes, and set him on the path to professional sprinting.

 Later, under the guidance of coach Sarabjeet Singh Happy in Jalandhar, Gurindervir shattered national records in the U-14 and U-18 categories.

Hitting the bull's eye and making headlines

Last week, at the Indian Grand Prix 1 in Bengaluru, Gurindervir Singh made history in Men's 100m, subsequently qualifying for the upcoming Asian Championship in South Korea. He clocked 10.20 seconds in the 100m race, breaking Manikanta H. Hoblidhar’s national record of 10.23 seconds.

 "It’s a big achievement for me," he says. "I had been trying to break this record for a long time. In 2020, I equaled the national record but missed breaking it by just 0.01 seconds."

Hoblidhar improved his time to 10.22 seconds but finished second, while Amlan Borgohain came third.

 

All three athletes train at the Reliance Foundation High Performance Centre, where Gurindervir has been working under the supervision of James Hillier since September 2024.

The hurdles on the track

The road to the national record, however, has been far from smooth. Gurindervir battled severe health issues between 2022 and 2023.

"I was staying away from home. The food wasn’t nutritious in the sports hostel in Punjab. I tried cooking for myself but didn’t get enough time after doing it for one and one-and-half months. So I started eating outside, but that wasn’t ideal either. My coach Happy sir arranged for free meals at a restaurant, which helped for a while, but then I realised the food wasn’t healthy enough," he stated.

"Our hostel was very old, its water tank had contaminated water, no one used to clean it, and no one cared about it. The poor water quality at the hostel made things worse. I even got my own water filter, but it didn’t help much. My gut lining got damaged. The mucus in my large intestine got thinner, and I started experiencing issues like severe weakness. During an inter-state competition in 2022, due to severe diarrhea and vomiting, I lost 10-12 kg in just 8-10 days."

 

Despite multiple treatments, including medicines and Ayurveda, nothing worked: "It was one of the most depressing times of my life. I couldn’t sleep, and my body was giving up."

The turning point came when his coach recommended a mushroom-based supplement that helped his digestion. By 2024, he had recovered almost fully.

"Slowly, my condition stabilised. I won gold in the Federation Cup and Inter-State Championships and joined Reliance in September 2024. With better facilities, I fully recovered," he adds.

 The harsh reality of Indian athletics

Despite his success, Gurindervir is painfully aware of the financial struggles in Indian athletics.

"Every athlete wants to win medals for their country and see their national flag raised. But then there’s the financial aspect. A sports career lasts only 10-20 years. If an athlete doesn’t become financially stable in that time, then what is the use of the medals? Future generations won’t be motivated if they see athletes struggling financially," he remarks.

"I didn't start with the goal of getting a job. My goal was always to win medals. A job alone wouldn’t satisfy me. But my senior athletes, who had played in the Asian Games, told me that in India, there aren’t enough facilities, funding, or even proper diet support from the government," he sighs. "They advised me to take a job if I got an offer because you never know what might happen -- an injury could end your career, and then you’d be left with nothing. That’s why many athletes end up taking jobs. But the problem is that once they start working, they can’t train properly."

Virat Kohli finger injury: RCB head coach Andy Flower gives an update

Virat Kohli finger injury: RCB head coach Andy Flower gives an update

Virat Kohli finger injury: RCB head coach Andy Flower gives an update

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) icon Virat Kohli had an injury scare during the Indian Premier League match against Gujarat Titans at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday but the team's head coach Andy Flower has assured that "there's no worry".

Kohli sustained a finger injury while fielding but Flower said there were no significant concerns about the star batter's condition.

 “Virat looks fine; he’s okay, there’s no worry,” said Flower after the match, which RCB lost by eight wickets for their first defeat of the season in three matches.

During Gujarat's pursuit of 170 to win, Kohli attempted to stop a boundary in the deep but injured his finger in the process. The RCB physiotherapist had to attend to Kohli, who was visibly in discomfort.

 Player of the Match' Mohammed Siraj's spell of 3 for 19 was instrumental in restricting RCB, who opted to bat first in the IPL contest.

“The toss was reasonably important, as there was quite a bit of dew; we knew that," said Flower. "It wasn’t a typical Chinnaswamy wicket, where you expect the ball to come a lot quicker. That’s not the reason for the result; they played better than us today.

“Siraj bowled an outstanding spell with the new ball; his lines were good, his lengths were tight, and he threatened the stumps a lot, so good on him. We all rate Siraj very highly, of course, and we love Siraj," he added.

 Even after their first defeat of the season, RCB, with four points, are still in the third position due to a better run-rate.

Rohit Sharma-Rishabh Pant Under Scrutiny As Mumbai Indians Face Lucknow Super Giants

 Rohit Sharma-Rishabh Pant Under Scrutiny As Mumbai Indians Face Lucknow Super Giants

                 Rohit Sharma has scored just 21 runs from three innings in IPL 2025 (Picture credit: AP)

Two stalwarts of Indian cricket- Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant- will be hoping to overcome their lean patch when Mumbai Indians face Lucknow Super Giants in a clash between two struggling teams in the Indian Premier League in Lucknow on Friday.

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians have not clicked so far this season, with just two points from three games.

 India captain Rohit’s form with the bat has put the MI team management in a tight spot. The same is true for LSG skipper Pant, whose extended dry run is not helping matters for the home side.

With both the teams almost identically placed with a solitary win each in three games, the contest could boil down to who exploits the conditions better on the day.

Given that the curators haven’t been providing tailor-made pitches to the home sides- something that has caused frustration of the coaches and players in some franchises- the team that gets a head-start with the bat or ball in the power play overs could call the shots.

The prolonged absence of MI pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah due to injury and the management maintaining a stoic silence on his return is only adding to the frustration of the Hardik Pandya-led side.

 MI, though, found success in the handy pace of young left-armer Ashwani Kumar, who single-handedly demolished defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders with excellent figures of 4/24 in three overs in their win at home on March 31.

It would be premature to pass judgement about his pedigree, but in the 23-year-old Punjab pacer, MI have got a glimmer of hope. Making his IPL debut for MI after playing only four T20 matches on the domestic circuit, he dismissed established names like Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh and Andre Russell to become the first Indian to take four wickets on IPL debut.

IPL has, time and again, given a platform for young players to excel but few have been able to do that consistently. Mayank Yadav, after bedazzling everyone with his searing pace, just faded away. MI would be hoping Ashwani is not a one-match wonder.

With MI finally giving a commanding performance against KKR at the Wankhede, it was South African keeper-batter Ryan Rickelton who guided them to victory in the chase of a sub-par total.

 Rohit and ‘Mr 360 degrees’ Suryakumar Yadav will have big roles to play in a side that doesn’t bat deep but has an array of slow and fast bowlers who can deliver.

Lucknow Super Giants, placed sixth behind MI, have not hit their stride following their demoralising one-wicket defeat to Delhi Capitals in the IPL opener at Visakhapatnam.

While West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran has been in sublime form and is leading the scoring charts with 189 runs from three games, including two half-centuries, his exploits have not rubbed off on other LSG batters, except Australian Mitchell Marsh, who also has two half-tons so far in this edition.

Much of their woes are due to their bowling, led by Shardul Thakur and Ravi Bishnoi, and the poor form of their charismatic captain Pant with the bat.

After not being in the playing eleven during India’s Champions Trophy campaign, with KL Rahul wielding the big gloves, Pant’s form would be a cause for concern in the busy season ahead.

With scores of 0, 15 and 2 in the three games so far, the LSG skipper is struggling. But one innings can change all that.

 The Teams (From):

Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Abdul Samad, Akash Deep, Akash Singh, Avesh Khan, Ayush Badoni, Matthew Breetzke, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Himmat Singh, Shamar Joseph, Aryan Juyal, Arshin Kulkarni, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Nicholas Pooran, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Manimaran Siddharth, Shardul Thakur, Mayank Yadav.

Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Bevon Jacobs, Robin Minz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naman Dhir, Vignesh Puthur, Satyanarayana Raju, Ryan Rickelton, Mitchell Santner, Karn Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Krishnan Shrijith, Arjun Tendulkar, Tilak Varma, Reece Topley, Suryakumar Yadav.

Venkatesh Iyer, pacers hand KKR dominating win at home as SRH implode once again

Venkatesh Iyer, pacers hand KKR dominating win at home as SRH implode once again 

             Venkatesh Iyer, pacers hand KKR dominating win at home as SRH implode once again

 Kolkata Knight Riders obliterated Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens on Thursday, April 3. Ajinkya Rahane's side got the pitch they wanted from Sujan Mukherjee and showed their full might as the defending champions beat the 2024 finalists by 80 runs.

In a slow turner in Kolkata, SRH painfully and gradually saw their hopes of winning the match fade away after abysmal performances in both halves of the game. After a terrible performance in the field, which saw KKR score 200/6 in the first innings, SRH batters imploded and only managed a total of 120 runs, losing the entirety of their side in 16.4 overs.

 IPL 2025 Coverage | IPL Points Table | IPL Schedule

The tall batting line-up of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan failed as SRH were reduced to 9/3 in the first three overs of the chase. From there, the visiting side saw their hopes slip away, one ball at a time, as the Kolkata bowlers put up a controlled performance for the entirety of the second innings of the match.

The tragic part, perhaps, was that Eden Gardens was not even half-filled on the night, reportedly due to the multifold rise in ticket prices.

 A Bowling Performance to Remember

Ajinkya Rahane and KKR had a public spat with the Eden pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee after they lost the first game. Rahane had wanted a slow turner, more suited to the team's strength. This was the game that KKR needed to prove that their demand for a certain kind of pitch was right, and boy, they did.

Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, KKR's pace pairing from last season, wrecked the SRH batting line-up in the first 3 overs, drawing false shots and edges. The slight seam movement was enough to trump the SRH batters, who failed to understand the nature of the pitch.

 Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan tried to go hard at the ball and ended up throwing their wickets.

After the duo were done, Rahane attacked the SRH line-up with Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, finishing 7 of their overs by the 14th. The duo gave away only 49 runs in return for Kamindu Mendis' (27 off 20) and Aniket Verma's (6 off 6) wickets.

KKR bowlers were well-supported by their fielding unit, who refused to drop chances in the field. Only Andre Russell dropped a difficult chance off Kamindu, but he made up for it by dismissing Nitish Kumar Reddy right after that.

 Captain Rahane-Understudy Angkrish Shine

Tactically, there were several differences between the two teams on the day. SRH bowled shorter lengths, while KKR were not afraid to pitch it full. Only one SRH spinner bowled his full quota of overs, while KKR hurriedly went through Narine and Varun.

But perhaps, the main difference was in their approach with the bat. Both KKR and SRH were heavy-hitting sides last IPL. But in this match, KKR adapted to the conditions much better. They knew that this was the sort of pitch where batters could not hit shots from ball one. After two early wickets, Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi dug their nails into the wicket.

 They navigated the first half of the match by hitting shots against balls that were either too short or too full. They left alone the deliveries that were in the in-between length, ones that gripped on the surface, deceiving the batters.

The duo added 81 runs in 51 balls, setting the stage for the middle-order batters to show their hitting range.

Rahane hit 38 off 27, while Angkrish made sure that he reached his fifty. From there on, it was simply a barrage of big shots from Venkatesh Iyer (60 off 29) and Rinku Singh (32* off 17) that made sure KKR put up a mega total on Thursday.