Sreebhumi FC take sweet revenge, defeating Gokulam Kerala FC in their IWL opener
Shreebhumi FC started their campaign in their second edition of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) in style, trouncing Gokulam Kerala FC 4-0 at Kalyani Stadium on Wednesday. Grace Dangmei struck twice while Rimpa Halder and Anju Chanu scored one each for the winners. Shreebhumi lost to Gokulam Kerala FC in their opening match of the IWL last season. The team’s Technical Director, Shukla Dutta, however, said, “First match is always a tough game for any team. Considering the perspective, our performance today was satisfactory, although we missed more chances. Rimpa was consistent throughout.” The club is now waiting for its two Ghanaian footballers, a striker and a defender, who can bolster the team in their forthcoming matches. The foreigners are expected to arrive within a couple of days and join the team before their next match on 27th December. In another match of the day, NITA FA humbled debutant SESA FA 6-1. India international Pyari Xaxa, who joined the team only three days ago, struck the hat-trick while Amiratu scored twice and Bhumika scored one for the winners.
Uncertainty may force City Football Group to leave the Mumbai franchise!
Amidst the uncertainty looming over the resumption of the ISL this season, City Football Group, a global conglomerate that owns EPL club Manchester City and ISL, is reportedly planning to leave Mumbai City FC, according to a report from Khel Now. According to reports, once the process is completed, Mumbai City FC will return to full ownership under Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor and businessman Bimal Parekh. It is learnt that City Football Group (CFG) is withdrawing from Mumbai City FC due to ongoing uncertainty in Indian football. CFG’s decision to step away is another major blow to Indian football at a time when the ISL’s future itself remains unclear. With no confirmed league calendar, unresolved commercial arrangements, and continued governance deadlock, the exit of one of the world’s most influential football ownership groups sends a worrying message to investors, sponsors, and clubs alike. City Football Group entered Indian football in November 2019 after acquiring a 65 percent stake in Mumbai City FC. Their arrival marked a clear shift in ambition and structure at the club. Under CFG, Mumbai City adopted a more professional, data-driven approach to recruitment and operations. The results were immediate. In the 2020–21 season, Mumbai City created history by winning both the ISL League Winners’ Shield and the ISL Cup, the first club to achieve the double in a single season. City Football Group entered Indian football in November 2019 after acquiring a 65 percent stake in Mumbai City FC. Their arrival marked a clear shift in ambition and structure at the club. Under CFG, Mumbai City adopted a more professional, data-driven approach to recruitment and operations. The results were immediate. In the 2020–21 season, Mumbai City created history by winning both the ISL League Winners’ Shield and the ISL Cup, the first club to achieve the double in a single season. The success did not stop there. Mumbai City lifted another League Winners’ Shield in the 2022–23 season after an unprecedented 18-match unbeaten run. On the continental stage, the club also became the first Indian team to win the AFC Champions League match, a landmark moment for Indian club football.
Over 10,000 turn up, stadium echoes with chants for Rohit Sharma!
North Indian city, Jaipur, was draped in ‘blue’ as more than 10 thousand cricket lovers thronged at the Swai Mansingh Stadium on Wednesday morning with roaring chants of ‘Mumbai Cha Raja’ to watch Rohit Sharma. The former India captain returned to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier domestic 50-over competition, after a gap of seven years. He turned out for Mumbai, who were taking on Sikkim in a first-round fixture of the tournament in Jaipur. With the state association announcing free entry, thousands of fans queued up outside the stadium well before the scheduled start of play on Wednesday. Even before the Mumbai team bus arrived at the venue, a few thousand supporters had already taken their seats, eager to cheer one of the most successful ODI batters the country has produced. It was a rare opportunity for fans to watch Rohit up close. With no live television or streaming coverage for the Mumbai–Sikkim contest, cricket lovers in the city were keen not to miss the moment. Rohit acknowledged the affection of the crowd, taking time to wave whenever he found himself fielding near the boundary ropes as Sikkim won the toss and elected to bat first. He was stationed in the slip cordon in the beginning as the atmosphere at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium took on the feel of an international fixture. But later on, “Mumbai cha Raja, Rohit Sharma” chants compelled the former Indian captain to place him on the boundary so that the fans could watch him from close. Two stands were initially opened for the fans to watch Rohit Sharma, but today the crowd grew so large that all the remaining stands had to be opened as well.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi breaks AB de Villiers’ first-class world record with the fastest 150 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s domineering streaks at the senior level continued as he bashed a 36-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Plate league opener for Bihar against Arunachal Pradesh at the JSCA Oval Ground in Ranchi on Wednesday. Turning up for the match only three days after India’s Asia Cup U-19 final debacle against Pakistan in Dubai, Suryavanshi peppered the Arunachal bowlers from the outset to storm to his century on the back of a feast of fours and nine sixes in 36 balls, making it only the second-fastest hundred by an Indian man in overall List A cricket. Only Punjab batter Anmolpreet Singh has recorded a quicker ton among Indians in List-A cricket, having smashed a 35-ball century against Arunachal in the Vijay Hazare competition last season. Suryavanshi’s 36-ball ton ranks as the joint-fourth fastest ever in the world in List -A cricket. The dashing left-hander had racked up his 150 in only 54 deliveries, with Bihar storming past the 200-run mark inside 18 overs. Suryavanshi thereby broke South Africa batting legend AB de Villiers’ record (64 balls) for the fastest century in the format. Suryavanshi, however, missed out on recording the fastest List-A double hundred as he fell on 190 off 84 deliveries. He clubbed 15 sixes during the whirlwind knock, only second to Rohit Sharma (16) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (16) in a List-A innings among Indians.
