The Sporting Spotlight

Return of Sunil Chhetri  Sunil Chhetri, India's talismanic footballer, has made a remarkable return to the national team less than a year after announcing his retirement. At 40, Chhetri's comeback underscores his enduring passion for the sport, his love for the country and highlights the current challenges facing Indian football. Chhetri's contributions to Indian football are unparallel. With 94 international goals in 151 appearances, he stands among the top global scorers, only behind legends like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ali Daei. His leadership has been instrumental in India's successes, including multiple SAFF Championship victories, Nehru Cup triumphs and a historic AFC Challenge Cup win in 2008, which secured India's spot in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. After retiring in June 2024 following a draw against Kuwait, Chhetri continued to showcase his prowess in domestic competitions with Bengaluru FC, having scored 12 goals in 24 matches of this Indian Supe...

Women's Premier League  2025 The recently concluded Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 has once again demonstrated the rapid rise of women's cricket, delivering high-octane action, thrilling finishes, and inspiring performances. With packed stadiums, record-breaking viewership, and star players shining on the big stage, the tournament reinforced its status as a crucial force in revolutionizing the women's game not only in India but on a global level. As the WPL concluded this weekend with intense competition and passion, it brought forth new opportunities and visibility for female cricketers. The Women’s Premier League T20 has been a game-changer in terms of visibility. With prominent television coverage, digital streaming, and widespread media attention, the WPL has brought women’s cricket into the spotlight like never before. Fans from across the globe tuned in to watch the fast-paced, high-energy matches, showing that the demand for women’s sports is growing in India. By ...

  CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025 The cricketing world is abuzz with excitement as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is just around the corner. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to commence on February 19, marking a significant moment in cricket history as Pakistan hosts its first major ICC tournament since 1996. The Champions Trophy, often dubbed a "mini World Cup," features the eight top-ranked ODI teams battling it out for supremacy this time across venues in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This edition also marks the return of the Champions Trophy after its last occurrence in 2017. The Champions Trophy is famous for being unpredictable, and the 2025 edition will be no exception. With each team having the potential to pull off an upset, the tournament will be full of surprises. The competition format involves eight teams divided into two groups of four. Teams will play each other once in each group, with the top two teams from each group moving on to the semi-finals. The...

IPL 2025 Auction Takeaways: Key Highlights and Insights The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction is more than just a cricketing event—it’s a high-stakes marketplace where strategies are as important as performances on the field. Over the years, the auction has evolved, setting new trends and reshaping team dynamics. Let’s explore some key IPL auction trends that emerged in the recently concluded auction. 1. Indians Go Big in IPL Auction  Most of the top Indian players were retained by their franchises like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, SuryaKumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya by Mumbai Indians, Virat Kohli by RCB, Jaiswal and Sanju Samson by Rajasthan Royals, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni by Chennai for large sums of money by their respective clubs. But the ones that came into the auctions due to limitations in number of retentions that a team can make also made a huge impact in auction and got auctioned at a large amount of money. Top 5 costliest buys of the auction were all...

  UCL 2024-25 The UEFA Champions League has long been the pinnacle of European club football, where the continent’s elite battle for supremacy in a competition that captures the imagination of fans worldwide. Starting from the 2024-25 season, this prestigious tournament is undergoing a significant transformation. UEFA has introduced a new format designed to enhance the competition, increase the number of high-profile matches, and offer more opportunities for teams from different leagues to compete at the highest level. Here’s an in-depth look at what the new format entails and what it means for the future of the Champions League. The expansion from 32 to 36 teams opens up the competition to more clubs across Europe, ensuring wider representation in the tournament. The four additional slots will be allocated based on several criteria: One slot  will be given to the club ranked third in the association’s league placed fifth in the UEFA rankings ie French Ligue1 currently with Li...