ircrehab.com – News Features & Broad Perspectives

Dane van Niekerk revokes international retirement

The ex-South Africa captain has been included in the 20-member pre-World Cup probables training camp

'Never say never': AB de Villiers on possible IPL comeback with RCB

AB de Villiers, the former South African cricket star, has expressed his desire to return to the IPL, potentially as a coach or mentor with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. While a full-time professional role is unlikely, he emphasized his strong connection with RCB.

Duleep Trophy 2025 full schedule: Match dates, timings, format, venues, and all you need to know

The Indian home cricket season of 2025-26 starts with the Duleep Trophy. The tournament begins on August 28. It ends on September 15. The zonal format returns with North, South, East, West, Central, and North East zones competing. Matches will occur at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. South Zone and West Zone enter directly into the semi-finals.

Asia Cup: 'Suryakumar Yadav not effective against us' – Former Pakistan cricketer’s shocking claim

Bazid Khan analyzed India's Asia Cup squad, noting the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will impact the team's intensity. He highlighted Suryakumar Yadav's struggles against Pakistan and emphasized Ravindra Jadeja's all-round contribution and fielding prowess will be missed. India faces the challenge of finding the right combination to compensate for these key players.

Exclusive | Not Gukesh, Anand! Meet the only Indian to beat Magnus Carlsen in classical with black in his 14 years as World No. 1

Karthikeyan Murali, the 26-year-old Grandmaster from Thanjavur, holds a unique place in Indian chess history. In 2023, at the Qatar Masters, he became the only Indian to beat Magnus Carlsen with the black pieces during the Norwegian’s 14-year reign as World No. 1. A two-time national champion, Murali’s accidental chess journey now carries one unforgettable milestone.

Online Gaming Bill 2025: How many crores will BCCI lose after Dream11 exit?

Dream11 is ending its title sponsorship of the Indian cricket team following the passage of the 'Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025,' which led to the shutdown of their real money games operations.

Pakistan give seven players maiden Women's World Cup call-up

The squad includes 20-year-old Eyman Fatima who recently made her international debut for Pakistan in T20Is

BCCI ends INR 358 crore jersey deal with Dream11

The board will now need to look for a new sponsor for Asia Cup, which starts in just in a fortnight

Shakib Al Hasan makes history, achieves first-ever feat in T20 cricket

Shakib Al Hasan will make history in T20 cricket. He will become the first player to achieve 500 wickets and 7000 runs. He will play for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the Caribbean Premier League. Shakib's all-round performance will secure a victory against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. His achievement will set new benchmarks in T20 cricket.

Chess | 'No jeans': Divya Deshmukh evokes Magnus Carlsen's viral dress code controversy - Watch

India’s Divya Deshmukh sparked laughs with her “No jeans!” rule-change joke, recalling Magnus Carlsen’s 2024 dress code controversy. Carlsen famously refused to change his Corneliani jeans, was fined, and later auctioned them for $36,100. Proceeds went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, turning a quirky chess moment into a powerful charitable milestone.

KCL thriller: Sanju Samson smashes century, but Muhammad Ashik steals the show with last-ball six – Watch

In a thrilling Kerala Cricket League 2025 encounter, Muhammad Ashik's last-ball six secured a four-wicket victory for Kochi Blue Tigers over Aries Kollam Sailors. Chasing a daunting 237, Ashik's unbeaten 45 complemented Sanju Samson's explosive 121. Earlier, Vishnu Vinod (94) and Sachin Baby (91) propelled Aries Kollam Sailors to 236/5.

Indian Football: NEUFC Durand title a glimmer of hope in troubled times

Northeast United FC, led by coach Juan Pedro Benali, celebrated their historic Durand Cup victory with exuberance, marking their second consecutive title. They defeated Diamond Harbour FC 6-1, becoming the first team in three decades to defend the title.

Cricket | ‘Not being picked for England Tests left Arshdeep Singh impatient’ - Punjab bowling coach

Arshdeep Singh's Test debut in England was delayed due to injury and team selection, testing his patience. Punjab's bowling coach, Gagandeep Singh, believes Arshdeep should have been given a chance, given his swing bowling ability.

38-year-old record shattered! Australia's 22-year-old bowler creates history just two days after birthday

Cooper Connolly's record-breaking five-wicket haul propelled Australia to a dominant 276-run victory over South Africa in the third ODI at Mackay. The 22-year-old's stellar performance, where he took 5 for 22, made him the youngest Australian to achieve an ODI five-for. Earlier, Australia amassed a massive 431/2, highlighted by centuries from Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Cameron Green.

US Open 2025: From Nike to On to Vuori — How upstart brands are changing tennis

Ben Shelton defended his sponsor On, questioning its characterization as a small company. Jack Draper joined Vuori, highlighting non-traditional brands disrupting the industry’s status quo. Upstart brands like On and Lululemon are challenging Nike and Adidas' dominance in tennis apparel by signing top players like Iga Swiatek and Frances Tiafoe. Coco Gauff highlighted fashion's role in attracting new fans to tennis.

US Open 2025: At 45, Venus Williams still chasing joy, tennis and history

Venus Williams is set to electrify the US Open. Her arrival promises high drama and powerful tennis. Williams affirms tennis is integral to her life and said that she envisions a future with the sport, whether playing or watching. The groundbreaker will once again, showcase her passion on tennis's grandest stage.

Premier League: Jack Grealish shines in home debut for Everton, wins Player of The Match

Everton inaugurated their Bramley-Moore Dock stadium with a 2-0 victory against Brighton, highlighted by Jack Grealish's stellar performance. On loan from Manchester City, Grealish provided two assists, setting up Iliman Ndiaye's opening goal and James Garner's long-range strike. Jordan Pickford's penalty save against Danny Welbeck further secured the win, sparking jubilant celebrations among the 51,759 fans.

Cheteshwar Pujara: 'Time to give the next generation a chance' – Post-retirement interview

Cheteshwar Pujara, India's Test batting mainstay, has retired from all cricket forms after a stellar career spanning from 2010 to 2023. He emphasized creating opportunities for younger players and expressed satisfaction with his media engagements. Pujara fondly recalled his innings in Colombo, Adelaide, and double centuries in India, while acknowledging the challenges posed by Steyn, Anderson, and Cummins.

Watch: Bruno Fernandes stumbles into referee, blazes penalty over as Man United squander chance vs Fulham

Bruno Fernandes experienced a bizarre incident in Manchester United's match against Fulham when he collided with referee Chris Kavanagh before a penalty. The disruption seemingly affected Fernandes, as his subsequent penalty kick sailed over the crossbar. This miss compounds Fernandes' penalty record and underscores United's struggles with scoring.

Prithvi Shaw’s comeback trail continues: After debut hundred, he hits second fifty-plus score for Maharashtra

Prithvi Shaw, now representing Maharashtra, is making a strong statement ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season. Following a century against Chhattisgarh, the 25-year-old struck a fluent half-century against TNCA President’s XI, showcasing his attacking instincts. This innings further solidifies his comeback after a challenging previous season, as he aims for consistency with his new team.