Sports - Loktej English

IPL: Rajasthan Royals acquired by Mittal family and Adar Poonawalla for $1.65 billion

Loktej English Team — Mon, 04 May 2026 12:04:04 +0530

New Delhi: Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, known as the Steel King, and Aditya Mittal announced on Sunday that they have reached an agreement to acquire Rajasthan Royals (RR) in partnership with Adar Poonawalla, Manoj Badale, and a consortium.

The Mittal family will hold approximately 75 percent of Rajasthan Royals, while Adar Poonawalla will own about 18 percent. Around 7 percent will be held by existing approved investors, including Manoj Badale. It is believed that the consortium led by Kal Somani, which previously made a successful bid to acquire RR, faced funding issues in completing the purchase, leading to the deal falling through.

Badale will continue to support Rajasthan Royals and act as a bridge between the past and the present, bringing his deep knowledge and experience of cricket to the franchise. In addition to the IPL team, Rajasthan Royals also owns Paarl Royals in the South Africa T20 League (SA20) and Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). RR was sold for approximately $1.65 billion, reflecting the enterprise value of the Rajasthan Royals men's franchise, Paarl Royals, and Barbados Royals.

The completion of the agreement is subject to standard closing conditions, including approvals from BCCI, CCI, IPL governing council, and other applicable regulatory authorities, and is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2026. Lakshmi N. Mittal stated that he loves cricket and his family is from Rajasthan, so there is no other IPL team he would want to be a part of besides Rajasthan Royals.

He expressed excitement about being part of this great team and looks forward to cheering for future successes alongside all the fans on the sidelines. Aditya Mittal mentioned that IPL has become one of the largest sporting leagues in the world in a short time, and Rajasthan Royals is one of the iconic teams of the league, known for developing new talents, which he finds very appealing. They are committed to continuing this legacy and utilizing the best talents in the world for future success.

Vanisha Mittal-Bhatia expressed that their family loves sports and India, so being part of the future success of the world's largest cricket league with Rajasthan Royals is an honor and privilege. Adar Poonawalla expressed happiness in partnering with Aditya Mittal on this investment, stating that Rajasthan Royals is a premier IPL franchise with a strong legacy, and he is eager to contribute to its continued growth and long-term success. Badale remarked that being associated with Rajasthan Royals from the beginning and playing a small role in creating one of the most exciting and successful cricket leagues has been a lifelong privilege.

He expressed gratitude to the most important people—fans, players, coaches, and management teams, both old and new—who have made the team what it is today. He welcomed the Mittal family and Adar Poonawalla as the new owners of Rajasthan Royals.

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IPL 2026: Kyle Jamieson Faces Consequences for Aggressive Celebration After Dismissing Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Loktej English Team — Sat, 02 May 2026 19:40:27 +0530

Kyle Jamieson of Delhi Capitals has landed in controversy following an aggressive celebration after dismissing Vaibhav Suryavanshi during a match against Rajasthan Royals on May 1. According to an official statement released by the IPL, Jamieson was found guilty of violating Article 2.5 of the code of conduct, which pertains to the use of abusive language or provocative gestures towards an opposing player.

For this misconduct, Jamieson received one demerit point and a strict warning. During the match, after dismissing Suryavanshi for just 4 runs, Jamieson celebrated by clapping loudly near the young batsman's face and gestured sharply for him to head towards the dugout. The 15-year-old Suryavanshi has been in excellent form this season, having scored half-centuries in just 15 balls on two occasions, making his wicket crucial for Delhi.

However, fans on social media criticized the excessive behavior of an experienced foreign bowler towards a teenage player. Jamieson admitted his mistake before match referee Rajiv Seth. In terms of the match result, Delhi Capitals defeated Rajasthan Royals in a high-scoring encounter.

Rajasthan set a massive score of 225/6, thanks to Riyan Parag's impressive 90 runs. Chasing the target, Delhi secured victory with five balls to spare, bolstered by a strong opening partnership of 110 runs between KL Rahul (75 runs) and Pathum Nissanka (62 runs). With this win, Delhi has strengthened its position in the points table, but the disciplinary action against Jamieson remains a concern for the team.

Surat's Excitement for IPL 2026, Fan Park to Offer Stadium-like Experience

Loktej English Team — Fri, 01 May 2026 20:47:28 +0530

Surat is becoming a major attraction for cricket fans as the excitement for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 grows this year. The IPL Fan Park has been organized at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, where fans can enjoy live matches on a big screen.

The live broadcast of each match aims to provide an authentic stadium experience, allowing spectators to feel as if they are in a real stadium. Entry to the fan park is completely free, enabling more people to participate in this cricket festival. The atmosphere is further enhanced by music, merchandise, food stalls, drinks, and various exciting activities.

The crowd, filled with cheers, slogans, face painting, and support for their teams, creates a vibrant cricketing environment. Fans are openly cheering for their favorite players and teams while enjoying their special 'fan moments.' These fan parks, organized in about 50 cities across the country, are spreading the IPL craze to every corner. Millions of cricket enthusiasts are expected to participate this season, making this event one of the largest fan experiences to date.

Organizers state that the excitement for the IPL is increasing every year, and this time they are making efforts to make it even more memorable through the fan park. For cricket lovers in Surat, this is a golden opportunity to enjoy live matches with stadium-like energy right in their city.

Georgia and Armenia to jointly host the 2029 FIFA Under-20 World Cup

Loktej English Team — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:00:57 +0530

FIFA has selected Georgia and Armenia to jointly host the 2029 Under-20 World Cup. This will be the first time that these two countries from the South Caucasus region will host a FIFA tournament.

The decision was made during a FIFA Council meeting held in Vancouver, Canada, just before the 76th FIFA Congress. This tournament, held every two years, brings together 24 youth teams from around the world and is considered a platform for future stars. The Football Federation of Armenia described this as a 'historic achievement' and stated that it symbolizes the trust of the international football community.

The federation's president, Armen Melikbekyan, mentioned that this tournament will provide local players and fans with a World Cup-like experience. Meanwhile, the president of the Georgian Football Federation, Levan Kobiashvili, expressed confidence that this event will give a new direction to the development of football in the region, calling it a 'unique moment' in Georgia's independent football history. The competition began in 1977 in Tunisia, originally known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, and was renamed to its current form in 2007.

So far, 23 editions have been played, with Argentina Under-20 winning the most titles at six, while Brazil Under-20 follows with five titles. Recently, Morocco won the title in the tournament held in Chile in 2025.

The next edition in 2027 will be jointly hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. FIFA's decision is seen as a significant step for regional sports development, with hopes of revitalizing youth football in the coming years.

With RCB's victory, Virat Kohli makes history, becoming the first batsman to achieve this in IPL

Loktej English Team — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:16:22 +0530

Virat Kohli made history by scoring 11 runs against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026. He became the first batsman in the world to complete 9000 runs in IPL.

In the 39th match of IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bangalore secured a significant victory, defeating Delhi Capitals by a margin of 9 wickets. This match was also special for the team's star batsman, Virat Kohli. On April 27, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Kohli achieved a major milestone, becoming the first batsman in IPL history to reach 9000 runs.

Kohli was playing his 275th match in the IPL and needed only 11 runs to reach this milestone. He achieved this historic feat by taking a single on the last ball of the sixth over of RCB's innings. To reach this record, Kohli faced a total of 6732 balls, showcasing his consistency and outstanding performance.

Kohli remains at the top of the list of highest run-scorers in IPL, followed by Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, and KL Rahul. Rohit Sharma has scored over 7000 runs in 276 matches, while Shikhar Dhawan has ended his IPL career with over 6700 runs in 222 matches. David Warner is the top foreign batsman with over 6500 runs in 184 matches, and KL Rahul has scored over 5500 runs in 153 matches.

The highest run-scorers in IPL are: Virat Kohli – 9012 runs, Rohit Sharma – 7183 runs, Shikhar Dhawan – 6769 runs, David Warner – 6565 runs, KL Rahul – 5580 runs, Suresh Raina – 5528 runs. Kohli had another opportunity to set a record against Delhi Capitals. However, Royal Challengers Bangalore achieved the target of 76 runs in just 6.3 overs.

If Kohli had scored 27 runs in this match, he would have become the first batsman to score 1200 runs against a single team in T20 cricket. Currently, he has 1184 runs in 34 matches against Delhi.

How Many Matches Will Team India Play Before the Mega Event of T20 World Cup 2026? Here is the Complete Schedule

Loktej English Team — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:15:17 +0530

Before the T20 World Cup 2026, the Indian women's team will play a crucial series against England, focusing on strengthening their preparations. As the T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, the Indian women's cricket team has begun finalizing their preparations.

Every match has become extremely important for the team, as it is not just a game but a significant part of their World Cup preparation. Recently, the Indian team recorded a remarkable victory in the fourth T20 match against South Africa, marking their entry into the series. Although the team has already lost the series, their full attention is now on performing better in the remaining matches to regain momentum.

The Indian team is currently playing a T20 series against South Africa, which is considered crucial for the upcoming World Cup. The countdown for the T20 World Cup 2026, starting on June 12 in England, has begun, with 12 teams competing for the title. After winning the ODI World Cup 2025, the Indian team is now preparing to make history by winning the T20 World Cup.

Under the leadership of captain Harmanpreet Kaur, the team aims to leave no stone unturned this time. Notably, the Indian team has often come close to winning the title in the T20 format but has fallen short, so the players appear fully focused this time. In the five-match series against South Africa, India secured a 14-run victory in the fourth match.

Although the series is lost, the team aims to boost their confidence with a win in the final match. India will play the fifth and final T20 match on April 27 in Benoni. After that, the team will tour England for final preparations before the World Cup.

This tour is considered crucial for acclimatizing to the conditions in England. In England, the Indian team will play a three-match T20 series, which will take place just before the World Cup, providing the team an opportunity to adapt to the pitch and weather conditions.

This is why these matches are deemed very important for the team. The schedule for India's remaining T20 matches is as follows: April 27: India vs South Africa, 5th T20I (Benoni); May 28: India vs England, 1st T20 (Chelmsford).

A Revolutionary Change in Badminton History, Now the Game Will Be Played to 15 Points Instead of 21

Loktej English Team — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:14:12 +0530

In a historic decision, the Badminton World Federation has officially approved a new scoring system. During the annual general meeting held in Horsens, Denmark, it was decided by a two-thirds majority that international badminton matches will now be played based on three games of 15 points instead of 21.

This new rule will come into effect worldwide on January 4, 2027. With this decision, the nearly two-decade-long '3×21' format, which replaced the old scoring system in 2006, will come to an end. BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul described this historic decision as a milestone for the future of badminton.

She argued that the shorter 15-point format will not only make matches more exciting and intense but will also make the duration of matches more predictable. The federation believes that the shorter format will reduce the physical burden on players, leading to better recovery and longer careers. The aim of this change is to connect the new generation of audiences to the sport and make it more dynamic in terms of broadcasting.

Although the number of points has been reduced, the BWF clarified that the core nature, skills, and strategies of the game will remain unchanged. Under the new rules, a two-point lead will be required in case of a tie at 14-14, while the maximum point limit is set at 21 (meaning that in a 20-20 tie, the player winning the 21st point will win the game). However, some senior players like Saina Nehwal have expressed concerns about the traditional character of the game, but the federation has assured that this innovation will further strengthen badminton's reputation in global competition.

IPL 2026: Pat Cummins Becomes a Fan of Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Loktej English Team — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:14:15 +0530

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 15-year-old left-handed opener playing for Rajasthan Royals in IPL, has gained fans worldwide with his explosive batting despite not having debuted in international cricket yet. Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia and SRH in IPL, has become a new fan of Suryavanshi.

The match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) took place on Saturday evening in Jaipur. SRH won the toss and opted to bowl first. Vaibhav Suryavanshi opened the innings for RR and scored a century off 36 balls, hitting 12 sixes and 5 fours for a total of 103 runs.

This performance helped RR score 228 runs. SRH chased down the target, scoring 229 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, winning the match with 9 balls to spare. Although SRH won the match, Vaibhav's explosive batting made him a fan of the opposing team's captain, Pat Cummins.

After the match, Cummins mentioned in a press conference that Suryavanshi is his new favorite player, stating that watching him bat is fantastic and entertaining. He noted that Suryavanshi has had a great start to his career and has the potential to win matches on his own.

Cummins, known as a successful and respected captain in international cricket, played his first match of IPL 2026 on Saturday, strengthening SRH's bowling lineup. He took the wicket of captain Riyan Parag for just 27 runs in 4 overs against RR.

RCB Secures Second Place in Standings by Defeating Gujarat Titans by Five Wickets

Loktej English Team — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:35:00 +0530

Bengaluru, April 25. Thanks to half-centuries from Virat Kohli (81) and Devdutt Padikkal (55), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets with seven balls to spare in the 34th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday.

With this victory, RCB moved to second place in the points table. Chasing a target of 206 runs, RCB lost their first wicket in the third over when Mohammed Siraj dismissed Jacob Bethel (14). Following this, the partnership between Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal stabilized the innings, accumulating runs quickly.

The duo shared a second-wicket partnership of 115 runs. Rashid Khan ended this partnership by dismissing Devdutt Padikkal in the 13th over. Padikkal scored 55 runs off 27 balls, hitting two fours and six sixes.

In the next over, Jason Holder bowled out Virat Kohli, who was approaching a century. Kohli scored 81 runs off 44 balls, hitting eight fours and four sixes. These two batsmen had brought the team close to victory.

However, after the fall of captain Rajat Patidar (8) and Jitesh Sharma (10), RCB faced a crisis. Subsequently, the partnership between Krunal Pandya and Tim David played cautiously to ensure RCB's victory. RCB finished their innings at 206 runs for the loss of five wickets in 18.5 overs.

Krunal Pandya remained unbeaten on 23 runs off 12 balls, hitting three fours and one six, while Tim David scored an unbeaten 10 runs off nine balls. For Gujarat Titans, Rashid Khan took two wickets, while Mohammed Siraj, Jason Holder, and Manav Suthar each took one wicket. Earlier, Sai Sudharsan's explosive batting (100) helped Gujarat Titans set a massive score of 205 runs for three wickets against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first. The opening pair of Sai Sudharsan and captain Shubman Gill added 128 runs for the first wicket, giving their team a strong start. SuYash Sharma broke this partnership by dismissing Shubman Gill in the 13th over.

Gill scored 32 runs off 24 balls, hitting two fours and one six. In the 16th over, Josh Hazlewood caught and bowled Sai Sudharsan, who had scored a century. Sudharsan made 100 runs off 58 balls, hitting 11 fours and five sixes.

In the 18th over, Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Jos Buttler, giving RCB their third wicket. Buttler scored 25 runs off 16 balls, hitting two fours and one six. In the final over, Jason Holder hit two sixes and a four, scoring one run to take Gujarat's score past 200 runs.

Gujarat Titans set a massive score of 205 runs for three wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Jason Holder scored an unbeaten 23 runs off 10 balls, while Washington Sundar remained not out on 19 runs off 12 balls. For RCB, SuYash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar each took one wicket.

IPL 2026: Sanju Samson Moves to Third Place in Orange Cap Race, Anshul Kamboj Retains Purple Cap

Loktej English Team — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:52:56 +0530

In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) secured a significant victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) by 103 runs, leading to important changes in the Orange Cap and Purple Cap races. Sanju Samson has moved to third place in the Orange Cap race, having scored a total of 293 runs with two centuries.

However, Abhishek Sharma of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Heinrich Klaasen remain in first and second places with 323 and 320 runs respectively. Shubman Gill is in fourth place with 265 runs, while Virat Kohli is sixth with 247 runs, and Rajat Patidar is ninth with 230 runs. Changes in the rankings of these players are possible in upcoming matches.

Meanwhile, in the Purple Cap race, Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings has regained the top position. He took 1 wicket for 10 runs in 3 overs against Mumbai, bringing his total to 14 wickets.

Prince Yadav of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is in second place with 13 wickets, while Ishan Malinga of SRH and Prasidh Krishna of Gujarat Titans (GT) are in third and fourth places with 12 wickets each. The Purple Cap race is expected to become even more exciting in the upcoming matches, with potential changes in the top positions based on bowlers' performances.

Surat: Better Tomorrow Foundation's Resolution, Youth and Women to Get Empowered Future

Loktej English Team — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:28:23 +0530

A meeting of the women's unit of the Better Tomorrow Foundation was held at Canal Walkers in Vesu, Surat. The meeting was chaired by the foundation's founder president Rajesh Bharuka, with a large number of women members in attendance.

On this occasion, Rajesh Bharuka provided information about the foundation's objectives and activities, stating that the organization is continuously working to make the youth and women of Surat self-reliant and empowered. He mentioned that the foundation's goal is to advance every section of society towards a better future. He noted that the Better Tomorrow Foundation is currently working on five major projects, which include food service under 'Nar Seva Narayan Seva', providing employment by starting food stalls for the needy under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' project, environmental protection through the 'One Tree in the Name of Mother' campaign, water service in poor settlements, and cow service.

During the meeting, the announcement of new office bearers for the women's unit in Surat was also made. Sunita Agarwal was appointed as chairperson, Tarun Vadhwani as president, Preeti Agarwal, Payal Joshi, and Hani Bhavanani as vice-presidents, Maya Balchandani as general secretary, Megha Purohit and Jiyara Vadhwani as ministers, Siya Bulchandani and Jiya Khurana as treasurers, and poet Sonal Jain as advisor.

At the end of the program, all newly appointed office bearers and present members took an oath to vote in the upcoming Surat Municipal Corporation elections. On this occasion, everyone resolved to advance social service and public awareness activities.

India's Weaknesses Were Exposed at the Right Time Before the T20 World Cup: Harmanpreet

Loktej English Team — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:28:47 +0530

Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women's team, believes that the team's poor performance against South Africa came at the right time, allowing the management to address weaknesses and make a strong comeback in the T20 World Cup in June. The Indian women's team faced its first defeat in a T20 international series after being eliminated in the group stage of the T20 World Cup held in October 2024.

South Africa secured an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series by winning the third match by nine wickets on Wednesday. After being eliminated early in the last T20 World Cup, the Indian team performed well, winning series against the West Indies, England, Sri Lanka, and Australia. After the third match, Harmanpreet told reporters that since the last T20 World Cup, they have won most of their T20 series, and this is the only series where they have not performed as expected.

She mentioned that it is good for the team to make mistakes now rather than during the World Cup, as this is the right time to learn from those mistakes and make a strong comeback. Harmanpreet added that as a captain, she takes everything positively and that they still have two matches to play, where they can perform well and bounce back. With less than two months remaining until the T20 World Cup in England and Wales, India's performance is a cause for concern, especially as their bowling has not been effective.

South Africa has taken 21 wickets in three matches, while India has managed only seven. In the third T20 international match, India set a target of 192 runs for South Africa, which was achieved in 16.3 overs with the loss of just one wicket.

Harmanpreet stated that their score was good, but unfortunately, they could not take wickets during the powerplay, which is always helpful in any match. They failed to do so, which cost them dearly.