Author: Ashok Namboodiri

When Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) launched their Kannada Instagram page ahead of IPL 2025, few expected it to spark such a personal revolution for 15-year-old Darshan Bhat, a cricket-crazy teenager from Shivajinagar, a vibrant old neighborhood in Bengaluru. Darshan, the son of a BMTC bus driver and a Kannada medium school student, always felt a deep connection with RCB. But like many young fans from non-English backgrounds, he struggled to fully engage with RCB’s official content online. “Aamele ella English dalli irutte sir… nanage artha agalla. Adakke RCB news nanna friend hatra kelbeku,” he says with a grin. (“Everything used…

Just a day ago, the New York Liberty—one of the marquee franchises in the WNBA—achieved a capital raise that sent shockwaves through the world of professional sports. Valued at a stunning $450 million, Liberty isn’t just making headlines—they’re making history. And for women’s sports, that number is more than a valuation; it’s validation. Across the globe, valuations in women’s sports are reaching unprecedented heights. Angel City FC of the NWSL now boasts a valuation close to $200 million, and Chelsea FC’s women’s team is attracting independent investor interest. Liberty’s $450 million valuation, however, has set a new benchmark—and sent a…

“An athlete’s life is not a normal life.” That line from my trainer, Coach Nav, during a morning workout stayed with me all day. It struck me particularly hard while reading three striking headlines from the world of Indian cricket. On March 23, 2025, MS Dhoni kicked off yet another IPL season at the age of 43. Less than a month later, on April 19, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi made a jaw-dropping IPL debut. Then came May 12, when Virat Kohli, at 36, announced his retirement from Test cricket, choosing to prioritise his body and family. These events didn’t just tell…