Tag: Mahesh Bhupathi

Sports

World Legends Pro T20 League Announces Squads, Captains, Fixtures for Inaugural Season in Goa

rencygomes02

Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Goa, January 21, 2026: The World Legends Pro T20 League (WLPT20) has officially announced the six franchises, team captains, final squads, and the complete fixture schedule for its inaugural season. The tournament will be held at the 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium, Goa, from 26 January to 4 February 2026, featuring 18 matches including a league stage, two semi-finals, and a grand finale.


The six franchises—Rajasthan Kings, Delhi Warriors, Pune Panthers, Dubai Royals, Gurugram Thunders, and Maharashtra Tycoons—will feature 90 legendary cricketers from around the world, blending iconic international stars with top Indian domestic talent.

The league will kick off with a grand opening ceremony on 25 January, featuring a live performance by Sunidhi Chauhan, setting the stage for a cricketing and entertainment extravaganza.

“Seeing these squads and captains come together is incredibly exciting. Each team is well-balanced, blending legendary experience with T20 flair, and fans are in for a real spectacle—high-octane matches, unforgettable moments, and a chance to see some of the greatest players in cricket history light up the field once again,” said League Commissioner Michael Clarke.

“This league is built on a model where management and owners focus on creating long-term, sustainable value together. For the first time in years, Goa will host a major cricketing extravaganza, and we’re excited to bring world-class cricket to the city,” added Mahesh Bhupathi, CEO of SGSE.


Team Squads & Captains – WLPT20 2026
Rajasthan Kings – Captain: Eoin Morgan
Ben Cutting, Elton Chigumbura, Naman Ojha, Callum Ferguson, Angelo Perera, JP Duminy, Suresh Raina, Bipul Sharma, Pinal Shah, Jaykishan Kolsawala, Abhimanyu Mithun, Anureet Singh, Jesal Karia, Shadab Jakati

Delhi Warriors – Captain: Harbhajan Singh
Seekkugge Prasanna, Chadwick Walton, Imran Tahir, Colin Ingram, Irfan Pathan, Isuru Udana, Shahbaz Nadeem, Chirag Gandhi, Shreevats Goswami, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Rahul Shukla, Diwesh Pathania, Suboth Bhati, Ravi Jangid

Pune Panthers – Captain: Kieron Pollard
Samiullah Shinwari, Upul Tharanga, Amit Mishra, Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo, Martin Guptill, Robin Uthappa, Kamil Leverock, Rahul Yadav, Asad Pathan, Ankit Rajpoot, Faiz Fazal, Priyank Panchal, Ishwar Pandey

Dubai Royals – Captain: Shikhar Dhawan
Samit Patel, Piyush Chawla, Christopher Mpofu, Fidel Edwards, Danushka Gunathilaka, Ambati Rayudu, Yusuf Pathan, Parvez Rasool, Gitansh Khera, Abhishek Raut, Peter Trego, Monu Kumar, Amit Verma, Kirk Edwards

Gurugram Thunders – Captain: Thisara Perera
Phil Mustard, Ross Taylor, Cheteshwar Pujara, Colin de Grandhomme, S Sreesanth, Stuart Broad, Rayad Emrit, Jermaine Blackwood, Amitoze Singh, Sheldon Jackson, Akshay Wakhare, Malinda Pushpakumara, Saurin Thakar, Pawan Negi

Maharashtra Tycoons – Captain: Dinesh Karthik
Carlos Brathwaite, Dale Steyn, Chris Gayle, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Stuart Binny, Peter Siddle, Shaun Marsh, Rahul Sharma, Pawan Suyal, Praveen Gupta, Baltej Singh, Manvinder Bisla, Siddarth Kaul


League Format
Each team plays five league-stage matches

Points awarded based on match results

Top four teams advance to the playoffs

Semi-finals: 3 February 2026

Grand Final: 4 February 2026

All matches at a single venue to ensure uniform playing conditions

Fixtures – WLPT20 2026

26 Jan: Delhi Warriors vs Dubai Royals, 7:30 PM
27 Jan: Pune Panthers vs Gurugram Thunders, 2:30 PM
27 Jan: Rajasthan Kings vs Maharashtra Tycoons, 7:30 PM
28 Jan: Dubai Royals vs Gurugram Thunders, 2:30 PM
28 Jan: Delhi Warriors vs Pune Panthers, 7:30 PM
29 Jan: Rajasthan Kings vs Dubai Royals, 2:30 PM
29 Jan: Gurugram Thunders vs Maharashtra Tycoons, 7:30 PM
30 Jan: Maharashtra Tycoons vs Delhi Warriors, 2:30 PM
30 Jan: Pune Panthers vs Rajasthan Kings, 7:30 PM
31 Jan: Gurugram Thunders vs Rajasthan Kings, 2:30 PM
31 Jan: Dubai Royals vs Pune Panthers, 7:30 PM
1 Feb: Pune Panthers vs Maharashtra Tycoons, 2:30 PM
1 Feb: Delhi Warriors vs Gurugram Thunders, 7:30 PM
2 Feb: Rajasthan Kings vs Delhi Warriors, 2:30 PM
2 Feb: Maharashtra Tycoons vs Dubai Royals, 7:30 PM
3 Feb: Semi-Final 1, 2:30 PM
3 Feb: Semi-Final 2, 7:30 PM
4 Feb: Grand Final, 7:30 PM

Sports

Global Chess League Season 3: Caruana, Giri, Hou, and Praggnanandhaa Headline SG Pipers’ Star-Studded Squad

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

The Global Chess League is set to return for its highly anticipated third season, and this year brings a historic first—the tournament will be held in India, a country deeply rooted in chess tradition and boasting a rapidly expanding fan base. Scheduled from December 13 to 24, the event will feature the Alpine SG Pipers as one of its most promising teams, with a carefully assembled roster of global chess elites and rising stars.

Retaining their core from last season, the SG Pipers will once again be led by R Praggnanandhaa, who was named Player of the Season in 2024, and Hou Yifan, the current World No.1 among women. These two remain the cornerstone of the team, offering a potent mix of talent, experience, and popularity.

Joining them this year are four high-profile additions. Fabiano Caruana, the American Grandmaster and former World Championship challenger, comes on board as the team’s Icon Player. Anish Giri, a well-established super-GM known for his consistent top-level play, joins the lineup as one of the Superstar Men. From Georgia, Nino Batsiashvili brings both experience and firepower as Superstar Women, having previously won an Olympiad gold medal. And adding youthful energy is Indian prodigy Leon Luke Mendonca, a player known for his fearless and creative style on the board.

The team will be coached by Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay, who expressed full confidence in the squad’s balance and depth. “This is a solid and balanced team,” Thipsay said. “Fabiano brings world-class strength, Anish is extremely reliable, and our retained players—Pragg and Hou—are already fan favorites and strong performers. Nino adds proven international experience, and Leon represents the next generation of Indian chess. I believe we are in for an excellent season.”

The league’s arrival in India also marks a pivotal moment for the sport’s growth in the region. Mahesh Bhupathi, CEO of SG – Media – Entertainment, sees this as more than just competition. “The Global Chess League coming to India for the first time is a landmark moment for the sport and its growing community of fans here,” he said. “We aim to go beyond the game by building teams that not only compete but also inspire. With this incredible lineup, we’re looking to create something special.”

With India at the center of this edition and the SG Pipers boasting one of the most star-studded squads in the tournament, all eyes will be on the action come December.