Sports

Late Surge and Disciplined Bowling Power Rajasthan Lions Past Dubai Royals


Written by Intern Swara Bodke || Team Allycaral

Goa | January 29, 2026
Rajasthan Lions produced a strong all-round performance, combining a crucial late batting surge with disciplined bowling, to defeat Dubai Royals by 16 runs in Match 6 of the World Legends Pro T20 League in Goa on Thursday.
Asked to bat first, the Lions were rocked early as Eoin Morgan and Callum Ferguson were dismissed cheaply, leaving the side struggling at 23/2 inside the first four overs. The early setbacks, however, were steadied by a composed partnership between Naman Ojha and Suresh Raina.
Ojha played the aggressor’s role, counter-attacking with a fluent half-century off around 30 balls, while Raina anchored the innings from the other end. At the halfway mark, Rajasthan were 79/2, well-placed but yet to fully capitalise on the platform.
Raina briefly increased the tempo before departing for 30, triggering a middle-order wobble. JP Duminy was dismissed for a golden duck, as Rishi Dhawan struck twice in two deliveries to reduce Rajasthan to 95/4.
Dubai Royals then threatened to seize complete control through Piyush Chawla, who produced a sensational spell that included the first hat-trick of the World Legends Pro T20 League. His burst ripped through the Rajasthan middle order and put the Lions under significant pressure.
Despite the collapse, Rajasthan recovered through a late flourish from Jesal Karia and Bipul Sharma. Karia struck a brisk 31 off 18 balls, while Sharma added a valuable 22 off 13 deliveries, helping the Lions post a competitive total of 170/9.
Defending the target, Rajasthan Lions delivered a commanding bowling performance, led by Karia and Sharma, who shared five wickets between them. The duo ensured that Dubai Royals were never able to build sustained partnerships during the chase.
Kirk Edwards top-scored for the Royals with 46, while Samit Patel chipped in with a quick 30, but regular wickets stalled their progress. Dubai Royals were eventually bowled out for 154 in 19.1 overs, falling 16 runs short of the target.
Match Result:
Rajasthan Lions won by 16 runs

Brief Scores:

Rajasthan Lions – 170/9

Naman Ojha 66 (43)

Jesal Karia 31 (18)

Piyush Chawla 3/29 (4 overs)

Samit Patel 2/33 (4 overs)

Dubai Royals – 154/10 (19.1 overs)

Kirk Edwards 46 (38)

Samit Patel 30 (17)

Jesal Karia 3/21 (3.1 overs)

Bipul Sharma 3/28 (4 overs)

Sports

14 Teams Gear Up as ISL 2025-26 Kicks Off on February 14


The Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 is all set to launch on February 14, marking another thrilling chapter in India’s top-tier football competition. 14 teams from across the country will battle it out over the course of the season, aiming for supremacy, glory, and a chance to lift the coveted ISL trophy.

Fans can look forward to a season filled with tactical battles, emerging young talents, and international stars showcasing their skills on Indian soil. With fixtures scheduled across major cities, the league promises high-energy football, fan engagement, and electrifying stadium atmospheres.

Teams are preparing meticulously, with transfers, pre-season camps, and strategy sessions shaping up ahead of the kickoff. Clubs like Jamshedpur FC, Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City FC, Kerala Blasters, and Odisha FC are expected to be major contenders, while new signings and promising youngsters could change the dynamics of the league.

The ISL continues to grow in stature, nurturing Indian football talent, attracting international attention, and inspiring fans across the country. With the season opener set for February 14, football enthusiasts can expect a fiery start to what promises to be a landmark season.

Stay tuned as the chase for the ISL summit begins!

Sports

Todu and Paranjpe March into Men’s Doubles Quarterfinals at Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026


Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Panaji, January 2026 – Sonu Todu and Atharv Paranjpe advanced to the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles event at the Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026 with a dominant 6–1 victory over Nishad Shevde and Siddarth Nunes in the Round-of-16. The match was played at the courts of Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, one of the two main venues hosting the tournament alongside Panjim Gymkhana.

The men’s singles category witnessed several closely contested encounters. Ashwin Narsinghani edged past Vishwambhar 6–4, while Parth Deorukhakar registered a convincing 6–1 win over Sreyas Prasad. Nishad Shevde defeated Arnav Harishankar 6–4. At the Gymkhana courts, Praneeth V blanked Subhash Nayar 6–0, and Ryan Sodhi overcame Kshitij Gupta 6–3.

Doubles action across various rounds saw Maaz Khan and Arnav Bansode beat Raviteja Damera and Ashwath Tiwari 6–2. Ashwin Narsinghani paired with Prathmesh Patil to defeat Dhruv Rao and Subham 6–3. Parth Deorukhakar and Arnav Bansode continued their strong run, registering wins over Rehaan Diaz/Prajat Halankara (6–2) and Eshaan Khadeer/Adam Basha (6–4). Other notable results included victories by Avish Verma/Joshua Cardozo, Dhruv Rao/Subham, Maaz Khan/Arnav Harishankar, and Raviteja Damera/Ashwath Tiwari.

In additional men’s singles matches, Parth Deorukhakar defeated Avish Verma 6–2, while Paul Singh secured a 6–0 win over Ashwath D.

The women’s singles draw also saw intense competition, with Nidhi, Tomoyo Fujita, Janavi, Riya, Trisha, Unnathi, Atika and Renee registering wins in their respective matches.

Jointly organised by Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias and the Gadre Group in association with the Goa State Tennis Association (GSTA), the Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026 has attracted a record 555 entries across the Masters and Open categories, making it one of the largest tennis tournaments held in the state.

Sports

Dubai Royals Cross 200 as Chawla Holds Nerve in 3-Run Thriller Against Gurugram Thunders


Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Goa, January 28, 2026 – A run-fest at the World Legends Pro T20 League 2026 lived up to expectations as Dubai Royals edged out Gurugram Thunders by three runs in a pulsating fourth match of the tournament.


Batting first, Dubai Royals posted a commanding 200 for 5 in their 20 overs, becoming the first team in the league to breach the 200-run mark. The innings was anchored by Samit Patel, who produced a match-defining unbeaten knock of 65 off just 32 balls, blending clean hitting with intelligent placement. Ambati Rayudu chipped in with a fluent 45 off 27 deliveries as the Royals maintained momentum throughout the innings.

Despite the onslaught, Gurugram Thunders showed resilience with the ball. Thisara Perera delivered a disciplined spell, finishing with figures of 2 overs for 24 runs, while the bowling unit regrouped in the death overs to prevent further damage.

In reply, Gurugram Thunders mounted a spirited chase, driven by an exceptional innings from Cheteshwar Pujara. Displaying attacking intent, Pujara registered his first half-century of the tournament and went on to score a sublime 99, striking at over 100. He found strong support from Thisara Perera, whose explosive unbeaten 56 off 27 balls kept the chase alive till the final moments.

With seven runs required off the last over, veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla held his nerve, dismissing Pujara just one short of a century and conceding only three runs to seal a dramatic victory for Dubai Royals. The Thunders eventually finished on 195 for 7, falling agonisingly short once again.

The win marked Dubai Royals’ first victory of the season after an opening-day defeat, while Gurugram Thunders endured their second narrow loss of the tournament.

Brief Scores
Dubai Royals: 200/5
Samit Patel 65 (32), Ambati Rayudu 45 (27)
Stuart Broad 2/17 (3 overs), Saurin Thakar 1/26 (3 overs)

Gurugram Thunders: 195/7
Cheteshwar Pujara 99 (60), Thisara Perera 56* (27)
Piyush Chawla 3/35 (4 overs), Samit Patel 2/16 (4 overs)

Sports

Chadwick Walton’s Century Guides Delhi Warriors to a Magnificent Win Over Dubai Royals


Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral

Legends rolled back the years in spectacular fashion as the World Legends Pro T20 League got underway at the 1919 Sportz Stadium, delivering a high-octane opening contest that thrilled fans and set the tone for the tournament. The inaugural match saw a combined total of 394 runs, with Delhi Warriors registering a commanding nine-wicket win over Dubai Royals.


Chasing a competitive target of 197, Delhi Warriors were led by a sensational unbeaten century from Chadwick Walton — the first hundred of the tournament, coming in its very first match. Walton’s masterclass ensured Delhi cruised to victory in just 16.3 overs, finishing with 21 balls to spare.

Walton was ably supported by Shreevats Goswami, with the duo putting on a dominant 159-run opening partnership that dismantled the Dubai bowling attack. Goswami departed after a fluent 56, but by then the contest was firmly in Delhi’s grasp. Piyush Chawla claimed the only wicket for Dubai Royals.

Reflecting on his innings, Walton said the electric atmosphere in Goa and the positive dressing-room environment played a crucial role. He credited the relaxed leadership and strong team camaraderie for allowing players to express themselves freely while chasing a challenging total.

Delhi Warriors captain Harbhajan Singh echoed those sentiments, highlighting the importance of unity and composure within the squad. He praised Walton and Goswami for their outstanding performances and acknowledged the passionate support of the Goan crowd in making the opening game memorable.

Earlier, Dubai Royals, sent in to bat, began positively with openers Shikhar Dhawan and Kirk Edwards building early momentum. However, Harbhajan Singh provided the breakthrough by dismissing Dhawan. Edwards then stitched together a vital 95-run partnership with Peter Trego, stabilising the innings before Harbhajan struck again.

Trego anchored the Dubai innings with a well-compiled half-century, guiding his side to a competitive total of 196 for 6. Subodh Bhati emerged as the standout bowler for Delhi, returning impressive figures of 3 for 37.

The tournament promises more excitement as fans look forward to a double-header on January 27, with Pune Panthers facing Gurugram Thunders, followed by Rajasthan Lions taking on Maharashtra Tycoons — a clash set to feature global stars including Chris Gayle, Martin Guptill, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, JP Duminy and Stuart Broad.


Brief Scores

Dubai Royals: 196/6 (20 overs)

Peter Trego 60 (35)

Kirk Edwards 41 (28)

Subodh Bhati 3/37 (4)

Harbhajan Singh 2/25 (4)


Delhi Warriors: 198/1 (16.3 overs)

Chadwick Walton 128* (62)

Shreevats Goswami 56 (33)

Piyush Chawla 1/46 (4)