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MCA honours Mumbai Cricket Excellence at Grand Awards Night

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Ayush_MCA Awards (PC: File Photo) The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) organised a grand awards समारोह in Mumbai on Wednesday, recognising excellence across the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons while honouring performers who continue to shape the city’s strong cricketing legacy and inspire future generations. The event saw the presence of former India cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Rajeev Kulkarni and Diana Edulji, along with Cabinet Ministers Ashish Shelar and Aditi Tatkare, and MCA President Ajinkya Naik. MCA Apex Council Members, Office Bearers, and players also attended, highlighting the depth and unity of Mumbai’s cricket structure. At the senior level, standout performances were recognised with Siddhesh Lad and Shardul Thakur receiving the Justice Tendolkar Trophy for Best Senior Cricketer for the 2025–26 and 2024–25 seasons, respectively, for their significant contributions. Highlighting Mumbai’s role in Indian cricket, the MCA also honoured Ayush Mhatre, captain ...
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One Sachin = Two Pelés = Delicious Omelette – Tendulkar the Foodie on Copacabana Beach

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Boria Majumdar with Sachin Tendulkar at the Copacabana Beach during Rio Olympics 2016. Image: Revsportz What do I write for Sachin Tendulkar’s birthday? That was my first thought. Almost everything there is to write about the man has already been written. Then I thought, why not write about Sachin and food? Not many know what a big foodie he is, and it could make for a nice birthday column. So, here it is. Sachin enjoys his food, and that’s no secret. So much so that once he went out for a meal with Anjali and ordered multiple dishes at one go. Anjali, naturally, didn’t order anything, thinking Sachin had ordered for both of them. To her surprise, Sachin asked her to order, saying that whatever he had ordered was for himself and that he would eat it all! But the funniest food-related encounter happened in Rio during the 2016 Olympics. Sachin had a fracture in his leg at the time and was in a cast. I remember telling him that in Brazil he wouldn’t have the issue of being mobbed an...
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MI vs CSK: “Was trying to use the conditions as best as possible” – Akeal Hosein

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Akeal Hosain and Noor Ahmed (PC-BCCI) A century from Sanju Samson helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) reach 207/6, making it a difficult chase for Mumbai Indians (MI). The spin duo of Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad made a major impact in the game and controlled the middle overs, leaving MI batters struggling. Hosein bowled four overs for 17 runs and four wickets, alongside a maiden, using tight lines and control to build pressure, while Noor Ahmad bowled four overs for 24 runs and two wickets, relying on variation and flight to pick key wickets at crucial moments. After the game, while speaking to the broadcasters, Hosein explained his approach clearly, saying, “The wicket was offering both, some were swinging and it was gripping as well. So for me, it was just trying to use the conditions as best as possible.” He stuck to a simple plan with the ball, adding, “Yes, that was definitely the plan, to stay on the stumps. If they have to hit you off the stumps, kudos to them.” Talking abo...
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India Eye Strong Women’s T20 World Cup Push Amid Rising Expectations

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Image: Indian Women’s cricket team, Instagram It is exactly 50 days to go until the Women’s T20 World Cup in June in the UK. India may not have had the best of starts in their final preparations in South Africa, but nonetheless there is every reason to believe they can mount a strong campaign when the showpiece begins. Very bluntly, two out of India, Australia and South Africa will make the semi-finals. While Pakistan, Bangladesh and a qualifier are also in the group, chances are the semi-final spots will be decided between these three sides. Why do I think India have a chance? Why would I say they can indeed beat South Africa and Australia and make the top four? Is it mere hope, or are there sound reasons behind the assessment? First, India now know how to win on the big stage. They also understand that a World Cup is about winning four matches. In the 50-over World Cup at home, India lost three consecutive matches but then won the games that mattered and were crowned world champ...
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SA-W vs IND-W, 3rd T20I: Laura Wolvaardt’s Blistering 115 Seals 3-0 Series Win for South Africa Women

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Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus against India (PC: Proteas Women) A thumping nine-wicket win for South Africa Women in the third T20I in Johannesburg as they sealed the five-match series with two matches to spare. Despite India Women posting a competitive 192/4 and setting a 193-run target, the bowlers were taken apart by the South African openers, skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus. Wolvaardt’s 115 and Luus’ unbeaten 64 ensured a dominant win for the home side, leaving the visitors clueless. India made three changes, bringing back Renuka Singh Thakur and Kashvee Gautam while dropping N. Shree Charani and Kranti Gaud. They also left out Anushka Sharma to include Bharti Fulmali, who, however, did not get a chance to bat. India’s 192/4 was a much-improved batting effort compared to the first two games. Shafali Verma registered back-to-back fifties, and her 68-run stand with Smriti Mandhana set the tone. However, left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba struck twice in consecutive deliver...
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Gritty Rajasthan Royals pip Lucknow Super Giants

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Ravindra Jadeja played a crucial hand. PC – BCCI. A fine all-round show propelled Rajasthan Royals to a 40-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants in an IPL game played in Lucknow. In a chase of 160, LSG could muster a mere 119. RR now have 5 wins in 7 games and sit second on the table. LSG’s batting crumbles again  Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram, batting at 2, 3 and 4 respectively, couldn’t open their account. Nicholas Pooran did accumulate 22 runs while Himmat Singh scored 15. However, it wasn’t enough. Eventually, only Mitchell Marsh crossed the 50-run mark but his knock went in vain. RR’s lower-middle-order comes to the fore At one point of time, RR too were struggling at 77 for 5. However, the experienced Ravindra Jadeja (29-ball unbeaten 43), Donovan Ferreira (20 runs) and Shubham Dubey (19 not out) took RR to a competitive score on a pitch that assisted the fast bowlers right through the match. RR’s clinical effort with the ball  Jofra Archer...
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LSG vs RR: Markram lauds X-factor Mayank, says he gives LSG a selection headache

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Mayank is yet to play a single game this season. (PC: BCCI) Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) batter Aiden Markram has labelled Mayank Yadav as an X-factor and asserted that the fast bowler is giving the team selection headaches ahead of their game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Wednesday. Mayank’s career has been marred by multiple injury setbacks, primarily a severe lower-back stress fracture, which sidelined him for most of last year’s IPL. Mayank is now fit and has been bowling in the nets. However, despite this, he is not getting opportunities. “The last I heard is he’s fit and firing,” Markram told reporters ahead of their clash against RR in Lucknow on the eve of the match. “A fit and firing Mayank Yadav creates significant selection headaches for any team he is in. He’s an X-factor bowler.” Earlier in the season, LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody also confirmed that Mayank has been fit this season, but the franchise wanted him to build up his workload. LSG have mostly gone wi...
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