Sports

Priyansh Arya’s friends told him that he won’t fetch more than Rs 1 crore.© BCCI

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) icon Virat Kohli has reacted to a video of himself after winning his first ‘Man of the Match’ award in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Reacting to the video, which was from 2011, Kohli can be seen mocking himself after carefully listening to the video. For the record, Kohli received his first ‘Man of the Match’ in IPL in 2011 against the Delhi Capitals (Delhi Daredevils back then). He smashed a 38-ball 56 as RCB chased down the target of 162 with three balls to spare.

In the old video, Kohli spoke on how he played the role of the aggressor so that Chris Gayle can play his natural game. 

“To be honest, I did not plan to bat like that. But when I started to hit the ball well, I took charge from Chris. That was the plan in the middle so that he could play himself in, and I could go for my shots because I was hitting it well,” Kohli was heard as saying in the old video, while speaking on ’18 Calling 18′ on JioHotstar.

“I don’t even know what I said. You guys brought it here from somewhere,” Kohli told the host, before laughing out loud while reacting to his remarks.

“Chris could play himself in? Waah! Galat fehmi dekh lo (Look at the misunderstanding)! Since the social media boom, fans have started analysing players’ quotes, which has become way too twisted,” he added.

Kohli reacting to his first IPL MOTM interview where he talked about being the aggressor while playing with Chris Gayle.

had a good laugh, made fun of himself watching that 14-yr-old interview.

This guy is the funniest of all, man.pic.twitter.com/0EOjQf39Ch

— K. (@Lifefkdup) April 9, 2025

Kohli has been in fine form in the ongoing season of IPL. He has accumulated 164 runs over four matches, which includes two half-centuries. The team has been successful as a whole, securing victories in three of the four matches. They ended a 17-year winless streak in Chennai by defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and they also achieved their first victory against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium in ten years.

Kohli might soon approach Chris Gayle, as he became just the fifth batsman to achieve 13,000 runs in T20 during the current IPL 2025 season. Kohli also ranks at the top among Indian batsmen in terms of centuries, hitting nine in his career, eight of which occurred in the IPL.

Kohli had previously surpassed the 10,000-run mark T20 milestone during the 2021 IPL, accomplishing the feat in 299 innings as the third-fastest batsman after Babar Azam and Gayle. More than 8000 of Kohli’s T20 runs have been scored in the IPL, where the Royal Challengers Bengaluru star continues to lead the batting charts.

Kohli scored one of his fastest fifties in the IPL against MI at the Wankhede Stadium. RCB is yet to win an IPL title, but they probably have the best squad at their disposal in IPL 2025. Kohli will be next seen in action on April 9, when RCB will take on Delhi Capitals in their next IPL 2025 match in Delhi.

Priyansh Arya and Ricky Ponting (Image credit: Punjab Kings)

NEW DELHI: Priyansh Arya was an unfamiliar name until he smashed six consecutive sixes in an over during a Delhi Premier League (DPL) match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium last August.
But that was just the beginning. When given the opportunity to represent Delhi in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, Arya carried his red-hot form into the domestic circuit, finishing as Delhi’s top scorer with 222 runs in seven innings at an impressive strike rate of 166.91. The 24-year-old from Ashok Nagar, Delhi, soon saw his power-hitting and persistence pay off in a big way — earning a ?3.80 crore IPL deal with Punjab Kings, transforming him into a millionaire overnight.
READ: The making of six-hitting Priyansh Arya
“People only knew me in Delhi after the six sixes in an over feat, but after getting an IPL contract, the whole country knows me,” Arya told TimesofIndia.com in a virtual interaction arranged by Punjab Kings.

“I get recognised, people know me, I get recognition wherever I go. Life has changed after that. People started congratulating me for that feat. Six sixes changed my life, honestly,” he said.
Arya began his IPL journey on a high, smashing a scintillating 47 off just 23 balls against Gujarat Titans. But he quickly hit a rough patch.
The swashbuckling opener managed only 8 runs against Lucknow Super Giants before being dismissed for a golden duck by a fiery Jofra Archer delivery against Rajasthan Royals — a blow that left the young batter visibly dejected and his confidence shaken.
But Arya wasn’t ready to give up. With solid backing from skipper Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, he remained determined. He had stumbled, but he rose again — and he was raring to make a statement.
The stage was set for him against Chennai Super Kings.
Facing the first ball of the innings, Arya stood at the crease, eyes focused. Khaleel Ahmed had the ball in hand. Just days earlier, Arya’s stumps had been sent cartwheeling off the very first delivery.
This time, though, there was no hesitation.
Arya stepped up and launched the first ball into the stands — a towering six that roared, “I’m back.”
“Getting out on zero is just a part of the game. I will get out on zero and will make centuries as well. This is all part of the game. I don’t overthink these things. Shreyas Iyer told me to just believe in my instincts and play accordingly. He said always follow your first thoughts. Those tips from him helped me a lot,” Arya said.
“Ricky sir said if you get a similar ball next time, then hit it out of the ground. I got the same kind of delivery and I did just that. I just backed myself. I wanted to hit the first ball out of the park,” the left-hander said.

Lovlina Borgohain (Photo Credit: X)

NEW DELHI: Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain faces a significant decision regarding her weight category for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has scrapped her current 75kg weight class, forcing her to choose between moving down to 70kg or bulking up to the +80kg division.
The IOC’s announcement of the event program and athlete quotas for the LA Games has caught Borgohain off guard.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Initially, she expressed her inclination towards moving down to 70kg, as she believes it would be challenging for her to bulk up to the +80kg category.
“This is brand new information for me. It is quite shocking. I think I will have to move down to 70kg because it will be difficult for me to go up to +80kg,” Lovlina Borgohain told PTI.
However, Borgohain’s personal coach, Pranamika Bora, emphasised the need for a comprehensive assessment before making a final decision.
“Really surprised by this news. It’s too soon to commit to anything. She can fight in both weight categories as she has the height to play in +80kg as well,” Bora said.

Currently, Borgohain’s natural weight is 74kg, and Bora cautioned that excessive weight loss could lead to a reduction in strength.
“Right now her natural weight is 74kg and cutting too much could lead to her losing strength. So we will see what gives her more advantage,” she added.
This is not the first time Borgohain has had to adapt to weight category changes.
Ahead of the Paris Games, she moved up from her preferred 69kg division to 75kg after the former was removed from the Olympic program.
Despite the shift, she excelled, winning gold at the 2022 Asian Championships, clinching the 2023 World Championship title, and securing silver at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
If Borgohain opts for the 70kg category, it would mark a return to a weight class close to her previous 69kg division, where she won bronze at the Tokyo Games.

At 2028 Los Angeles Games, cricket will be played in the T20 format, with six teams competing in both the men’s and women’s competitions. (Representational image)
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cricket will feature six teams battling for top honours when the sport returns to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games after a gap of 128 years.

This was confirmed by the organisers on Wednesday (April 9, 2025).

Cricket last featured at the Olympics in the 1900 edition of the Games in Paris, where a one-off, two-day match between Great Britain and France was held, which is now recognised as an unofficial Test.

At LA 2028, cricket will be played in the T20 format, with six teams competing in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

Every team will be able to name a 15-member squad as a total of 90 athlete quotas have been allocated for each gender.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) consists of 12 full members in Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Another 94 countries form the associate members group.

Qualification criteria for the 2028 Games are yet to be confirmed for the cricket tournament but U.S.A. are likely to earn a direct spot at the quadrennial extravaganza as host nation, meaning only five teams will be allowed to make the cut through the qualification process. It is expected that top five teams in the ICC rankings within a certain cut-off date will qualify apart from the United States of America.

Cricket is one of five new sports which will feature at the next Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved cricket’s inclusion for LA28 in 2023, along with baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash.

Meanwhile, The Executive Board (EB) of the IOC on Wednesday (April 9) approved the event programme and athlete quotas for the LA Games, adding 22 more medal events as compared to Paris 2024.

The IOC approved a record 351 medal events for the LA28 programme and the athlete quota remains at 10,500, with an extra 698 quota places allocated for the five additional sports — baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash.

For the first time in history, all team sports will have at least the same number of women’s teams as men’s.

Among other sports, boxing will achieve full gender parity with the addition of a seventh women’s weight category, same as the men’s.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) co-owner Preity Zinta was all praise for young batter Priyansh Arya, following the latter’s match-winning century against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Tuesday. Playing just his fourth Indian Premier League (IPL) game, Priyansh scored a counter-attacking 103 in 42 balls, with seven fours and nine sixes, striking at over 245. A day after the match, Zinta took to social media and shared contrasting details of her two interactions with Priyansh, labelling his knock as “birth of a bright star”.

“Last night was beyond special. We witnessed an explosive game of cricket, the roar of a legend, and the birth of a bright star! I met 24-year-old Priyansh Arya with some of our other young players a couple of days ago. He was quiet, shy & unassuming & did not utter a word throughout the evening,” Zinta captioned the post.

“Last night, I met him again during the PBKS vs CSK game at the Mullanpur cricket stadium. This time his talent spoke out aloud and his aggressive batting style stunned not just me but all of India as he etched his name in the record books for a blistering 103 off 42 balls. So proud of you, Priyansh Arya. You are a shining example of how actions speak louder than words. Keep smiling and shining & thank you for entertaining not just me but everyone that showed up to see the game. Here’s to many more memorable moments on and off the field,” she added.

Last night was beyond special. We witnessed an explosive game of cricket, the roar of a legend and the birth of a bright Star !

I met 24 year old Priyansh Arya with some of our other young players a couple of days ago. He was quiet, shy & unassuming & did not utter a word… pic.twitter.com/HtJPFsx1mf

— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) April 9, 2025

Priyansh also expressed his joy for applause after his maiden century in the match against CSK and said such performances boost his confidence.

“These things give me a lot of confidence. It’s a great feeling because I’m getting a name among all the legends. Well, I can tell you the first practice game we played…It feels really good. It’s an out-of-the-world feeling. Obviously, scoring a run is a different thing and scoring a hundred is a different thing. So it feels really good.” Priyansh Arya said per a video posted by IPL.

He also spoke about the level of competition.

“I thought that if it was in my slot, I would take that shot. I would back myself. It’s not like I’m going to take a single. Even if the wickets fall, I’ll back myself. I mean, I think I can clear the boundary. It feels really good. There’s a little more pressure here. There’s a crowd. I mean, obviously, every bowler you’re getting internationally who’s been playing for many years, you’re getting legends,” he said.

“It feels good to perform against them. This is what I always learn. I mean, no matter how many times I get out, they don’t say anything to me. They’re always positive. They don’t teach me anything that I can do this. They used to say, if you get the next ball here, hit it out of the ground. So that gives me a lot of confidence. Everything is positive,” he added.

Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand has been making big waves in the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1, having won both of her matches so far at the prestigious tournament, organised by MSLTA in association with AITA and PMDTA, at the Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Complex in Pune. On the first day, Mananchaya helped Thailand in their 3-0 win over Hong Kong, China. She came from behind to win her tie 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 over Hong Yi Cody Wong to help her side begin their campaign on a strong note.

She then carried on her momentum on the second day as Thailand took on hosts India. Mananchaya faced Sahaja Yamalapalli, whom she defeated 6-3, 6-7, 1-0 in a closely-contested match. The Thai sensation won the first set 6-3 but Sahaja replied well and took the second set after winning the tie-breaker. Unfortunately for the Indian, she had to retire from the match due to an injury in the third set.

About her experience playing in India, Manchaya said, “I’ve played in India since I was a junior and I really love it. Sometimes , it’s tough to play because it’s humid but I am getting used to it. The Indian players are getting really better and I like playing here.”

Mananchaya recently played the WTA Mumbai Open 2025 in India, which was also organised by MSLTA. “The facilities here are very good just like the WTA Mumbai Open. It’s getting better than before and I am always happy to come to India,” she added.

Reflecting more on the weather conditions, she said, “I have been playing the second match in the evening so it has helped me a lot. I saw my teammates play the first match in the afternoon and noticed that the ball was very flat. When the sun is down, it’s not that hot and the ball stays on the court more, so it is better.”

Mananchaya also highlighted the importance of her team and the role they play in the tournament. “There is a lot of pressure in this tournament because we are playing for our country but we support each other a lot and help each other get relaxed. When representing the country, it is mostly about mental strength and the coach has helped me a lot in that. Everyone makes me smile and I love this team,” she said. 

About her opponent, Sahaja, Mananchaya stated, “She played really well and has improved a lot from before. She fought hard for her country, but it was unfortunate that she had to retire. We didn’t want to finish like this but I hope she gets better and keeps fighting tomorrow.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a press release)

India’s campaign has ended in the men’s and women’s singles events.© BAI

Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has issued a strong response amid criticism over him fanboying on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon MS Dhoni. Rayudu, who played six seasons for CSK, has been getting a lot of negative messages on social media for his continued support towards the franchise and Dhoni. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Rayudu broke his silence on the matter, once again declaring himself as a fan of ‘Thala’. Rayudu also lashed out at fans, adding that none of their hate messages would change his opinion.

“I was a Thala’s fan. I am a Thala’s fan. I will always be a Thala’s fan. No matter what anyone thinks or does. It will not make a one percent difference. So please stop spending money on paid pr and donate that to charity. Lot of underprivileged people can benefit,” Rayudu posted on X.

I was a Thala’s fan

I am a Thala’s fan

I will always be a Thala’s fan.

No matter what anyone thinks or does. It will not make a one percent difference.

So please stop spending money on paid pr and donate that to charity. Lot of underprivileged people can benefit.

— ATR (@RayuduAmbati) April 10, 2025

Meanwhile, formrer CSK wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa has advised Dhoni to bat slightly up the order.

“I don’t think there was ever a lack of intent from MS Dhoni. Even outside the IPL, I believe he has passed on responsibility to others and given them a clear understanding of what to expect in the coming years as CSK rebuilds into a championship-contending side. That transition is happening, and while we would love to see MS bat the way he is right now, perhaps a little higher up the order, I don’t think the problem lies at the end,” Uthappa said on JioHotstar.

Uthappa also shared his thoughts on CSK’s performance against PBKS and said, “They started well, scoring almost 9.8 or 9.9 runs per over, which is as good as you can expect with the kind of openers they have. But you can’t let the game slip in the middle overs, especially when chasing a big total. The approach in the overs from 7 to 12 was very quiet.

“You need big overs right after the powerplay to keep the pressure on the opposition. Winning the powerplay is one thing, but owning the middle overs is what wins you games and they failed to do that, again.

“In the last two overs, they needed 42 runs, which is just too many. Had they managed a couple of 15 to 20-run overs in the middle, that equation could have come down to needing just 22 to 25 runs at the end. The intent just wasn’t there,” he added.

CSK will now face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their next match on Friday.

(With IANS Inputs)