Tag: IPL

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Mohit Sharma Announces Retirement from All Forms of Cricket

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Fast bowler Mohit Sharma, known for his sharp variations and death-over mastery, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Wednesday, 3 December. The 37-year-old, who last appeared in the Indian Premier League 2025 season for Delhi Capitals, shared the news through an emotional Instagram post, closing a chapter that spanned more than a decade of professional cricket.

Mohit represented India in 26 ODIs and 8 T20Is between 2013 and 2015, forming a reliable seam option during his peak years. He earned widespread recognition for his ability to deliver under pressure, particularly in the death overs — a skill that defined the latter part of his T20 career.

“Today, with a full heart, I announce my retirement from all formats of cricket,” Mohit wrote. “From representing Haryana to wearing the India jersey and playing in the IPL, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing.”

Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction scheduled for December 15 in Abu Dhabi, Delhi Capitals released the seasoned pacer. In the previous season, Mohit featured in eight games, picking up two wickets at an economy rate of 10.28 — an uncharacteristic dip in form in an otherwise impressive late-career flourish.

Mohit’s journey included standout years with Chennai Super Kings, where he emerged as a consistent wicket-taker and grew into a dependable T20 bowler. His story remains one of grit, reinvention and resilience — a cricketer who made the most of every opportunity and left a notable imprint on India’s limited-overs cricket.

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Glenn Maxwell Withdraws from IPL 2026 Auction, Ends a Memorable League Journey

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has officially withdrawn from the IPL 2026 auction, bringing an emotional close to his long, colourful, and influential journey in the Indian Premier League. Known for his explosive batting, off-spin versatility, and electrifying fielding, Maxwell’s presence in the league has always been a major attraction. His announcement came through a heartfelt Instagram post, where he expressed deep gratitude to fans, teammates, and the franchises that believed in him over the years. In his message, Maxwell spoke about the IPL’s impact on his career and personal growth, calling his time in India unforgettable. He thanked supporters for their passion, acknowledging the league as a major factor in shaping him both as a player and as a person.

Maxwell’s decision follows a disappointing IPL 2025 season with Punjab Kings, who signed him for ₹4.20 crore. Despite his reputation as a dynamic match-winner, he managed only 48 runs in seven games, averaging 8 with a strike rate of 97.96. His contributions with the ball, picking up four wickets, offered some relief but did little to change the fortunes of his campaign. The season seemed far removed from his earlier heroics in the league, and his withdrawal from the 2026 auction signals a reflective pause in his T20 franchise journey.

His exit joins a growing list of top overseas players stepping away from IPL 2026. Former RCB captain Faf du Plessis opted out earlier, and West Indies powerhouse Andre Russell announced his retirement from the league after being released by Kolkata Knight Riders. Russell, however, will remain connected to the franchise by joining KKR’s support staff for the upcoming season. With Maxwell’s departure adding to this wave, the upcoming IPL season is set to mark the end of an era defined by some of the league’s most entertaining international performers.

Through his message, Maxwell reinforced his bond with Indian fans and left the door open for a future return. As the IPL prepares for its next phase, the absence of one of its most charismatic figures will undoubtedly be felt.

Sports

Goa Beat Assam by 3 Wickets in Men’s U-23 State ‘A’ Trophy

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Goa registered a commanding three-wicket win over Assam in the Men’s Under-23 State ‘A’ Trophy Elite One-Day Tournament, held at the Kotambi Stadium ‘B’ in Vadodara on Tuesday. With this victory, Goa strengthened their position in the Elite ‘B’ Group standings, collecting four points from two matches.

Winning the toss, Goa elected to bowl first and made full use of the conditions. Assam’s innings saw several starts but lacked a defining partnership. Roshan Topno top-scored with 53 runs, while Mayukh Hazarika (37), Sumit Kashyap (32), and Rohit Sen (31) offered useful contributions. Goa’s bowlers maintained consistent pressure, with Anuj Yadav producing a standout performance, taking four wickets for just 22 runs. He received excellent support from Kutbudin Jamadar, who claimed three wickets for 26 runs. Lakhmesh Pawne, Kaustubh Pingulkar, and Manish Kakode chipped in with one wicket each as Assam were bowled out for 215 in 42.4 overs.

Chasing 216, Goa’s innings got off to a steady start before a 102-run partnership between Sanath Nevagi and Chittem Jeevankumar changed the course of the match. Sanath continued his remarkable form, scoring a fluent 85 off 63 balls, laced with nine fours and five sixes. Having narrowly missed a century in the previous match, he once again fell short of the milestone but set up the chase perfectly. Jeevankumar played the anchor role initially before accelerating to 71 off 90 balls, striking six boundaries and two sixes.

Despite losing a few wickets in the middle overs, Goa maintained composure. Shivendra Bhujbal (14 not out) and Anuj Yadav (2 not out) ensured no further setbacks, guiding Goa to 216 for 7 in 38.5 overs and sealing victory with 67 balls remaining.

With this win, Goa now have four points from two games and continue to look strong in the Elite ‘B’ Group. Their next fixture is against Gujarat at the Motibaug Ground in Vadodara on Thursday, November 13.

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Goa in Commanding Position Against Madhya Pradesh in Ranji Trophy Clash

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Goa took a decisive step toward victory in their Ranji Trophy Group B match against Madhya Pradesh at the Goa Cricket Association Academy Ground in Porvorim. After establishing a vital 97-run first-innings lead, Goa’s bowlers, led by V. Koushik, maintained firm control over proceedings. Madhya Pradesh, resuming their innings at 181 for 7, could add only six more runs before being bowled out for 187 in reply to Goa’s 284. Koushik was the standout performer with a five-wicket haul for just 34 runs in 19 overs, including six maidens. Arjun Tendulkar and Lalit Yadav also made important contributions with two wickets each.

In their second innings, Goa batted confidently to post 230 runs in 65.4 overs, setting Madhya Pradesh a challenging target of 328. Abhinav Tejarana led the scoring with a composed 69, while Lalit Yadav made 42 and Rajshekhar Harikant added 40. Captain Snehal Kauthankar contributed a steady 23. The crucial 78-run partnership between Abhinav and Lalit for the fourth wicket provided the backbone of Goa’s innings. For Madhya Pradesh, Kumar Kartikeya bowled tirelessly, finishing with figures of 5 for 81, supported by Md Arshad Khan with three wickets and Saransh Jain with two.

At the close of the third day, Madhya Pradesh had reached 21 for 1 in 10 overs, still needing 307 runs for victory on the final day. Goa, with nine wickets to claim, are within touching distance of a memorable triumph.

In a notable first for the Goa team, Rajshekhar Harikant became the state’s first concussion substitute in Ranji Trophy history, replacing Samar Dubhashi, who was struck on the helmet by a delivery from Kuldeep Sen. The incident underscored the growing emphasis on player safety in domestic cricket and highlighted Goa’s adaptability in a competitive contest.

Goa’s balanced performance across departments has put them in pole position to seal a vital win and strengthen their standing in the Ranji Trophy Group B table.

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Goa Tightens Control Over Madhya Pradesh in Ranji Trophy Group B Encounter

Tanisha Cardozo

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.