Author: Gargi Raut

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been known as cricket’s glitziest spectacle—the perfect blend of cinema and cricket, packed crowds, larger-than-life stars, star-studded opening ceremonies and corporate-box balconies. But when you peel away the glitter, you realise what the IPL is really about—diamonds being unearthed from the rough, comeback tales and a haven for stars who have stepped away from the international stage. You can’t help but romanticise stories like these. Less than a day ago, the name Vignesh Puthur meant nothing to India—the 24-year-old was still unknown, probably battling nerves and adrenaline in the Mumbai Indians (MI) dressing…

Oscar Piastri put on a race winning show at the Shanghai International circuit to redeem himself following the Melbourne spin out. Piastri, who took pole in qualifying, clinched his third F1 race win with an immaculate drive where he led every single lap while navigating both his teammate Lando Norris and Mercedes’ George Russell. The two McLarens topped the race again as they executed their one pit-stop strategy to perfection. In fact, the top five race finishers—Piastri, Norris, Russell, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, all deployed a single pit stop strategy. Although it is to be noted that Lewis Hamilton,…

Gargi Raut at Eden Gardens The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been about more than just cricket. It’s a spectacle of entertainment, success stories, cinema, music, celebrities and sporting passion. But at the heart of it all, beyond the glitz and the glamour, the fireworks and the drama, lie the fans — who make IPL what it truly is. The 2025 IPL season burst into life at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the home of the defending champions. The night started with a spectacle combining cinema and cricket—with Shreya Ghoshal, Disha Patani, Karan Aujla and the ‘King…

Royal Challengers Bengaluru has one of the most loyal fanbases in the world. Sugumar in particular exemplifies the point. You may have seen him on the screen in every RCB match, with a feathered headgear and face-painted crimson. On the eve of the IPL 2025 opening game between KKR and RCB. The franchise’s two superfans – Ashok and Sugumar – were in the stands, waving their flags, chanting their slogans and catching the attention of other fans. The two superfans are celebrities in their own right. As fans spotted them, they queued up to get pictures with the two. Before…

Virat Kohli is a name that echoes through every alleyway and household in India. It is a name synonymous with success, power and an unimaginable fan following. Kohli is not just a cricketer or a celebrity, he is a phenomenon. If the former Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain were to play a game alone, people would still fill up a stadium, such is the brand value of his name. We witnessed a glimpse of that madness at Eden Gardens as the RCBteam stepped out to practice ahead of the blockbuster IPL 2025 opening game. The atmosphere outside the iconic stadium was…

Tania Sachdev has become a household name in Indian chess. For her, chess started as a childhood curiosity—a game that was gifted to her brother, but one she couldn’t resist picking up. Within days, the six-year-old Tania was beating everyone in her family, walking around with a chess board in hand and challenging everyone who stepped into her home to play a game. “It started as a hobby. My brother was gifted a chessboard, and I wanted to learn it. My father needed a rule book to teach my brother because he didn’t know how to play either. But…

A franchise that walked into the auction with the highest purse, Punjab Kings would be looking at the new season with fresh hope. It’s a team that has come to be known for its inconsistency in the IPL. Despite a couple of good seasons, back in 2008 and 2014, their trophy cabinet remains empty. But the 2025 mega auction brought new energy into the squad with big names, bold buys and a shift in strategy. PBKS picked former KKR captain Shreyas Iyer to lead the charge. With a formidable pace attack and an exciting mix of youth and experience, the…

Anticipation ran high after an eventful summer break. With Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari, breaking allegiance with Mereceds and multiple driver changes on the grid; fans were eagerly awaiting the familiar “lights out and away we go” commentary. Little did we know, the Australian GP in Melbourne would have more drama than we could have imagined. With treacherous wet conditions and rookie Isaac Hajar crashing in the formation lap, an exciting race was already set up. On the racing front, Lando Norris led for the majority of the race and eventually clinched his first win of the season.…

Hockey as a sport has seen a transformation in the past year. Back-to-back Olympic bronze medals for the men’s team, Asian Champions Trophy wins for the men’s, women’s, and junior teams, the resurrection of the Hockey India League—Indian hockey is on the rise, with players, coaches, and officials determined to take it even higher. At the RevSportz Tata Steel Trailblazers 3.0 Conclave, a session was dedicated to celebrating Indian hockey ahead of its 100-year anniversary. The message was clear—Indian hockey is making waves and will continue to do so. PR Sreejesh, Harmanpreet Singh, Bholanath Singh, and Harendra Singh shared their…

India as a country loves celebrating success stories in sports, be it a Cricket World Cup or Olympic medals, we love putting athletes up on a pedestal, mobbing them when they step out of their homes, asking for autographs, selfies and more. It’s a life that many dream of, some spend their entire life chasing it, while only a handful make it to the top. But what happens to the 99% that have dedicated their entire life to a sport, to pursuing excellence, to perfecting their craft only to get nothing in return? Pullela Gopichand, India’s national badminton coach, has…