Kolkata: Goa secured a confident and clinical five-wicket victory over Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Elite T20 clash held at the Salt Lake JU Second Campus, Kolkata. Chasing a competitive target of 181, Goa displayed composure and strong batting depth to finish the game with just one ball remaining.
Earlier, Bihar posted a solid total of 180/7 in 20 overs. S. Agni anchored the innings with a well-crafted 60 off 41 balls, stabilizing the middle order. Vaibhav Suryavanshi injected momentum with a brisk 46 from 25 balls, while Akash Raj contributed a steady 40 off 31 deliveries.
Goa’s bowling unit showed good discipline, with Deepraj Gaonkar leading the attack, claiming 4 wickets for 38 runs. Arjun Tendulkar supported well with figures of 2/32, ensuring Bihar didn’t run away with a bigger total.
In response, Goa’s chase was powered by a brilliant match-winning knock from Suyash S. Prabhudessai, who scored a blazing 79 off 46 balls. His aggressive yet controlled innings laid the foundation for the chase. Kashyap Bakle added crucial support with a composed 64 off 49 deliveries, keeping the scoreboard ticking.
With the match heading toward a tight finish, Lalit Yadav held his nerve to score an unbeaten 21 off 12 balls, guiding Goa to 184/5 in 19.5 overs. Suyash Prabhudessai was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.
The victory boosts Goa’s momentum in the tournament as they look ahead to their upcoming fixtures with confidence.
Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk
Goa delivered an outstanding performance against Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Elite T20 match, securing a comfortable 7-wicket win with 9 balls to spare at Salt Lake JU Second Campus in Kolkata.
The standout performers for Goa were captain Suyash Prabhudessai and Abhinav Tejarana, who scored crucial half-centuries to guide their team to victory. Winning the toss, Goa elected to bowl first, putting Madhya Pradesh into bat. MP managed to post a competitive total of 170/6 in their 20 overs, with Harpreet Singh Bhatia top-scoring with an unbeaten 80 off 52 balls, supported by Aniket Verma’s 34 and captain Rajat Patidar’s 29. For Goa, Arjun Tendulkar impressed with his bowling, claiming 3 wickets for 36 runs, while Heramb Parab took 2 for 27 and Koushik chipped in with one wicket.
During the chase, Goa stumbled early, losing openers Ishan Gadekar (5) and Arjun Tendulkar (16) cheaply. However, Abhinav Tejarana and captain Suyash Prabhudessai formed a crucial 89-run partnership for the third wicket, stabilizing the innings. Abhinav’s aggressive 55 off just 33 balls, featuring 3 fours and 4 sixes, gave Goa the momentum they needed, while Suyash anchored the chase with an unbeaten 75 from 50 deliveries, striking 6 fours and 3 sixes. Along with Lalit Yadav, who remained 12 not out, Suyash added an unbeaten 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket, ensuring Goa’s victory.
After four matches, Goa sits in Group B with two wins and two losses, totaling 8 points. Their next fixture is against Bihar on the 4th. The win highlighted Goa’s fearless batting, disciplined bowling, and excellent teamwork, reinforcing their position as a rising force in Indian domestic T20 cricket.
Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk
Goa suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Madhya Pradesh by three wickets in their Ranji Trophy Group B encounter at the GCA Academy Ground in Porvorim. Despite entering the final day with hopes of dismissing the visitors by taking the remaining nine wickets, Goa could only manage six, as Madhya Pradesh successfully chased down a 328-run target in 94 overs, finishing at 7 for 328.
Resuming their innings at 21 for 1 on the fourth and final day, Madhya Pradesh’s openers Harsh Gawali and captain Himanshu Mantri extended the total to 49 before Arjun Tendulkar dismissed Mantri for 22, giving Goa their first breakthrough of the day. Gawali went on to complete a fine half-century, scoring 54 before falling to left-arm spinner Darshan Misal. His partnership of 57 runs with Shubham Sharma for the third wicket kept Madhya Pradesh steady in their pursuit.
Shubham Sharma, who top-scored with 72, added another crucial 70-run stand with Harpreet Singh Bhatia (35), putting Goa under increasing pressure. Off-spinner Lalit Yadav broke through twice in quick succession, dismissing both Harpreet and Sharma to reduce Madhya Pradesh to 176 for 4. Goa seemed to regain some control when they removed Rishabh Chauhan and Aryan Pandey, leaving the visitors wobbling at 263 for 7, still 65 runs away from victory.
However, Saransh Jain and Arshad Khan displayed composure under pressure, putting together an unbeaten partnership that sealed the match. Jain remained not out on 82, while Arshad contributed 25 as Madhya Pradesh reached the target with three wickets to spare.
For Goa, Lalit Yadav and Darshan Misal were the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets apiece. Arjun Tendulkar, V. Koushik, and Mohit Redkar chipped in with one each but were unable to make decisive breakthroughs on the final day.
With this result, Goa slipped to third place in the Group B standings with one win, one loss, and two draws from four matches, accumulating 11 points. They will next face Saurashtra at the Niranjan Shah Stadium Ground ‘C’ in Rajkot from November 16, hoping to bounce back strongly and reclaim their momentum in the domestic season.
Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk
Goa continued their impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy Group B clash against Madhya Pradesh, tightening their grip on the game at the Goa Cricket Association Academy Ground in Porvorim. After posting 284 in their first innings, Goa’s bowlers struck early and often to leave Madhya Pradesh in deep trouble at 181 for 7 at stumps on the second day.
Resuming from their overnight score of 256 for 8, Goa added valuable runs through Deeparaj Gaonkar, who converted his unbeaten 30 into a composed half-century, scoring 51 before being dismissed. His steady innings helped Goa push their total to 284 before being bowled out. For Madhya Pradesh, off-spinner Saransh Jain was the standout performer with figures of 4 for 78, while left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya supported with 3 for 88. Aryan Pandey, Kuldeep Sen, and captain Shubham Sharma chipped in with a wicket each.
Madhya Pradesh’s reply got off to a disastrous start as Goa’s pace attack, spearheaded by Arjun Tendulkar and Koushik, wreaked havoc. Arjun dismissed Yash Dubey and Himanshu Mantri early, while Koushik removed Harsh Gawali and Harpreet Bhatia in quick succession to leave MP reeling at 38 for 4. The situation worsened when captain Shubham Sharma fell for 16, again to Koushik, reducing the visitors to a precarious 56 for 5.
Rishabh Chouhan and Saransh Jain offered brief resistance with a 54-run stand for the sixth wicket, followed by a 43-run partnership between Jain and Aryan Pandey, which prevented complete collapse. However, Goa’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout, with Koushik finishing as the standout performer, claiming 3 for 33. Arjun Tendulkar backed him effectively with 2 for 34, while Lalit Yadav contributed with 2 for 22.
At stumps on Day 2, Madhya Pradesh trailed Goa’s total by 103 runs with just three wickets in hand. The home side is now poised to claim a crucial first-innings lead as the match heads into the third day, continuing their impressive run in this Ranji Trophy season.
In what might be Mumbai’s most talked-about (but unconfirmed) engagement of the year, Arjun Tendulkar—cricketer and son of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar—is rumoured to be engaged to Saaniya Chandok, granddaughter of hospitality magnate Ravi Ghai. The alleged engagement reportedly took place in a private setting, with only close family and friends in attendance, according to a report by India Today.
However, Times Now Digital stated they couldn’t verify the claim independently, leaving the rumour mill to churn—with equal parts speculation and excitement.
Who Is Saaniya Chandok?
While not a public figure in the traditional sense, Saaniya Chandok is no stranger to pedigree. Her grandfather, Ravi Ghai, is a cornerstone of India’s hospitality industry through Graviss Hospitality Ltd., which owns the InterContinental hotel on Marine Drive and popular dessert brand The Brooklyn Creamery.
But Saaniya has carved her own entrepreneurial path. A graduate of the London School of Economics and a certified Veterinary Technician (Worldwide Veterinary Service, 2024), she is also the founder of Mr. Paws Pet Spa & Store LLP, a boutique pet care brand based in Mumbai.
Inside the Ghai Hospitality Empire
The Ghai family legacy stretches back to the 1940s, beginning with Iqbal Krishan “IK” Ghai, known as the ‘Maharajah of Ice Cream’. From serving American soldiers homemade ice cream during WWII to founding Kwality Ice Cream, his sweet innovations redefined India’s dessert industry.
His son, Ravi Ghai, took the brand global and diversified into luxury hospitality with the InterContinental. However, recent headlines have been less flattering: just weeks ago, Ravi and his son Gaurav were reportedly embroiled in a legal dispute over control of Graviss Hospitality—allegations of forgery and betrayal casting a shadow over the otherwise iconic brand.
How Do Saaniya and Arjun Know Each Other?
While neither the Tendulkar nor Ghai families have spoken publicly, signs of a budding bond have been visible for some time. Social media detectives have found images of Saaniya and Arjun’s sister, Sara Tendulkar, vacationing together in Jaipur and attending IPL matches—suggesting more than just surface-level acquaintance.
Where Is Arjun Tendulkar in His Career?
Professionally, Arjun continues to chase cricketing dreams. A left-arm fast bowler, he plays for Goa in domestic cricket and appeared for the Mumbai Indians in the 2023 and 2024 IPL seasons. Despite the spotlight on his last name, he’s working steadily to build his own path in Indian cricket.
Interestingly, just hours before the reported engagement, Arjun’s Instagram story showed only a cricket ground with the caption: “Just cricket ground.” Poetic timing or pure coincidence?
Following in Sachin’s Romantic Footsteps?
If true, Arjun’s engagement would echo his father’s romantic journey. Sachin Tendulkar proposed to Anjali Mehta when he was just 19, waiting until 22 to marry in 1995. Like his father, Arjun seems to favour quiet commitment over loud declarations—perhaps a modern update to a classic love story.
Mumbai’s Next Power Couple in the Making?
Cricket legacy on one side. Hospitality royalty on the other. Both deeply rooted in Mumbai’s elite circles. If the rumoured engagement proves true, Arjun Tendulkar and Saaniya Chandok could very well become the city’s next power couple—balancing fame, business, and quiet charisma.
But until we hear it from the Tendulkars or Ghais themselves, this remains a story wrapped in rumour, tradition, and tantalising curiosity.
