[ad_1]
Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has openly declared his allegiance to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of the IPL 2025 final against Punjab Kings, calling the team his own due to deep personal ties. “I’m married into a Bangalore family, so RCB is my team,” Sunak tells TimesofIndia.com, recalling how he proposed to his wife Akshata Murty in Kannada — a language he admitted he hadn’t quite mastered at the time.The former British leader, in India to cheer on RCB who are seeking their first IPL title, revealed that his in-laws gifted him an RCB jersey when he got married, and that he’s followed the team closely ever since.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“We went to matches a long time ago and I used to cheer them on in Downing Street,” he shares, adding that last year’s campaign was especially thrilling to watch.
Poll
Do you believe RCB will win their first IPL title in 2025?
Sunak named Virat Kohli as his favourite player, calling him a “total legend” and proudly mentioning a signed bat gifted to him by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his tenure at Downing Street. “It’s one of my prized possessions,” he says.But Sunak isn’t only counting on the Indian superstar. “I’m also hoping for a big contribution from RCB’s English contingent — Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone — let’s bring it home,” he adds, as Bengaluru look to secure their maiden IPL title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.Who’s that IPL player?Beyond his personal fandom, Sunak applauded the Indian Premier League‘s transformative effect on world cricket.“The IPL has transformed cricket. Every cricketer, everywhere, wants to play in the IPL at some point in their career now,” he says, noting its developmental impact on English players. “I was at Edgbaston last week watching England vs West Indies. Jacob Bethell played a brilliant innings. The IPL has improved him as a player.”
Rishi Sunak with India’s Suryakumar Yadav and England’s Jos Buttler. (Pic credit: Special arrangement)
Sunak also highlighted the IPL’s (WPL) contribution to women’s cricket and broader cultural influence. “It’s been great for the women’s game, getting more girls into the sport. But it’s also a sign of the influence that India now has in the 21st century. India’s passions, India’s tastes now have global impact.”He concluded with a nod to cricket’s return to the Olympics at Los Angeles in 2028. “Why is cricket back in the Olympics for the first time in 100 years? Because of India.”
Diplomacy meets cricketSunak also underscored cricket’s unique ability to serve as a diplomatic tool despite the historic rivalry on the field using his relationship with Australian PM Anthony Albanese and India’s PM Narendra Modi.“Prime Minister Albanese and I always had great cricket banter — especially during the Ashes, where at one point it got a tiny bit heated, but all in a friendly way,” he laughs. “And Prime Minister Modi and I always had great cricket chat before we got down to business.”“Cricket reminds you who your friends are and your shared passions. It puts everyone in the right frame of mind before you get down to the serious diplomatic stuff,” he adds, looking ahead to India’s tour of England this summer. “It’s going to be a great tour and I know it will strengthen the partnership and friendship between our two countries.”
[ad_2]
Source link
About the author
When a Monument Cries for Help — A Citizen’s Appeal from village Masjid moth, South Extension–II
When a Monument Cries for Help — A Citizen’s Appeal from Village Masjid Moth, South Extension–II South Extension–II is known as one of Delhi’s most premium localities — a place associated with culture, history, prosperity, and civic pride. But today, standing next to the historic Masjid Moth monument in Village Masjid Moth, the reality on the ground is heartbreaking, disturbing, and deeply shameful. Just a few days ago, a local resident posted a reel on Instagram showing a film shoot taking place at Masjid Moth. Like him, many young people from this area dream of seeing this monument revived — used respectfully for art, cinema, culture, photography, and tourism. Yet the truth is that the Archaeological Department and civic authorities have completely abandoned it. ▶ View Instagram Reel A Monument Surrounded by Filth and Neglect Garbage carts overflowing with waste […]
Designing Thug Life: Amritha Ram on Styling Kamal Haasan
Costume design in Indian cinema often dances between fantasy and realism. But in Thug Life, Amritha Ram collaborates with cinematic icons Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam to craft a fashion-forward yet character-driven wardrobe that breaks norms. In an exclusive with ETimes, Amritha reveals how meticulous planning, storytelling, and visual language drove her designs. Tip 1: Collaboration Is the Key to Vision When asked what excited her most about working on Thug Life, Amritha simply said, “Two names: Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam.” The sheer reputation of these legends shaped her approach. Mani Ratnam was clear about the film’s visual tone—stripping away Bollywood glamor for something minimalistic yet powerful. “Mani sir guided me all the way. He knew exactly what he wanted,” she shared. Working with Kamal, who understands fabric, dyeing, and even costume history, was a learning curve. His feedback […]
If It Happened There: Donald Trump sends central troops to quell protests in opposition-ruled California | World News
[ad_1] Protesters confront police on the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Note: The following piece is inspired by Joshua Keating’s If It Happened There which uses tropes and tones normally used by American media to describe events in other countries. The facts presented deal with as much exactitude and accuracy as an American media outlets’ reporting about a foreign country.Los Angeles, Mexican for the city of angels, is home to Hollywood – America’s answer to Bollywood – and a city where starstruck aspirants come with the dream of being immortalised on the silver screen. Yet, the city, which falls under America-administered California, an opposition state which overwhelmingly voted for Mr Donald Trump’s rival from the Democratic Party, Ms Kamala Harris, […]
Apple prepares for new ‘Games’ app as domain goes live ahead of WWDC 2025 keynote
[ad_1] Apple is expected to launch iOS 19 (or rumoured iOS 26) and one of new features that is reported to come is a new Apple Games app. Apple appears to be laying the groundwork for this new application, which is said to curate games from the App Store and Apple Arcade, as a domain purportedly leading to the platform has gone live.As per a report by 9to5mac, the company's new games.apple.com domain has just gone live. However, it is currently displaying a blank page, signaling imminent content.This shift from a "Safari Can’t Find The Server" error message to a blank white page strongly suggests Apple is preparing to push content to the URL very soon, potentially coinciding with the conclusion of the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote.What Apple’s new Games app is all aboutWhile the exact function of the […]
MS Dhoni inducted into ICC Hall of Fame | Cricket News
[ad_1] MS Dhoni, former India cricket captain, has been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, recognizing his extraordinary career spanning 16 years with 17,266 international runs, 829 dismissals and 538 matches across formats for India. The wicketkeeper-batsman revolutionized the sport through his unique playing style, tactical leadership and achievements including winning all three ICC men's white-ball titles as captain. "It is an honour to be named in the ICC Hall of Fame, which recognises the contributions of cricketers across generations and from all over the world. To have your name remembered alongside such all-time greats is a wonderful feeling. It is something that I will cherish forever," Dhoni said about his induction. Dhoni's journey began in 2004 when he made his ODI debut. Though he was dismissed for a duck in his first match, he soon announced his […]
160-million-year-old blue-stain fungi in China found to be harmful to trees |
[ad_1] In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have uncovered 160-million-year-old blue-stain fungi fossils from the Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation in China. The new findings offer fresh insights into the ecological relationships between blue-stain fungi, plants, and insects during the Jurassic period. These fungi are generally nonfatal to their hosts but often accelerate tree mortality when associated with wood-boring insects.According to ScienceDaily, a Chinese team of scientists highlights the discovery of well-preserved blue-stain fungal hyphae within Jurassic fossil wood from northeastern China, pushing back the earliest known fossil record of this fungal group by approximately 80 million years.Know about the blue-stain fungi, deadly to treesBlue-stain fungi are known for their ability to colonize wood, particularly in conifer trees, causing characteristic discoloration in the sapwood. While these fungi do not decompose wood, they often cause considerable damage when associated with wood-boring insects. Their role […]
Related
DJ in the Sky: How a Viral Paragliding Performance Put Bir on the Map
A young DJ recently strapped on not just a harness but also a sound system, delivering a live set while paragliding at 10,000 feet over Bir, Himachal Pradesh. The video spread like wildfire across Instagram, YouTube, and X, garnering millions of views. It was more than a stunt — it was a perfect blend of adventure, creativity, and digital shareability. Why it clicked Novelty factor: Music + extreme sports = instant attention. Visual spectacle: The Himalayas in the background amplified the drama. Social-first content: The clip was optimized for vertical viewing, helping it trend on Reels and Shorts. Cultural meaning The performance wasn’t just a viral gimmick. It symbolized the fusion of youth culture — music festivals, influencer-driven experiences, and India’s booming adventure travel scene. Bir, already known as the paragliding capital of India, is now a global talking point. […]
Designing Thug Life: Amritha Ram on Styling Kamal Haasan
Costume design in Indian cinema often dances between fantasy and realism. But in Thug Life, Amritha Ram collaborates with cinematic icons Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam to craft a fashion-forward yet character-driven wardrobe that breaks norms. In an exclusive with ETimes, Amritha reveals how meticulous planning, storytelling, and visual language drove her designs. Tip 1: Collaboration Is the Key to Vision When asked what excited her most about working on Thug Life, Amritha simply said, “Two names: Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam.” The sheer reputation of these legends shaped her approach. Mani Ratnam was clear about the film’s visual tone—stripping away Bollywood glamor for something minimalistic yet powerful. “Mani sir guided me all the way. He knew exactly what he wanted,” she shared. Working with Kamal, who understands fabric, dyeing, and even costume history, was a learning curve. His feedback […]
If It Happened There: Donald Trump sends central troops to quell protests in opposition-ruled California | World News
[ad_1] Protesters confront police on the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Note: The following piece is inspired by Joshua Keating’s If It Happened There which uses tropes and tones normally used by American media to describe events in other countries. The facts presented deal with as much exactitude and accuracy as an American media outlets’ reporting about a foreign country.Los Angeles, Mexican for the city of angels, is home to Hollywood – America’s answer to Bollywood – and a city where starstruck aspirants come with the dream of being immortalised on the silver screen. Yet, the city, which falls under America-administered California, an opposition state which overwhelmingly voted for Mr Donald Trump’s rival from the Democratic Party, Ms Kamala Harris, […]
Apple prepares for new ‘Games’ app as domain goes live ahead of WWDC 2025 keynote
[ad_1] Apple is expected to launch iOS 19 (or rumoured iOS 26) and one of new features that is reported to come is a new Apple Games app. Apple appears to be laying the groundwork for this new application, which is said to curate games from the App Store and Apple Arcade, as a domain purportedly leading to the platform has gone live.As per a report by 9to5mac, the company's new games.apple.com domain has just gone live. However, it is currently displaying a blank page, signaling imminent content.This shift from a "Safari Can’t Find The Server" error message to a blank white page strongly suggests Apple is preparing to push content to the URL very soon, potentially coinciding with the conclusion of the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote.What Apple’s new Games app is all aboutWhile the exact function of the […]
MS Dhoni inducted into ICC Hall of Fame | Cricket News
[ad_1] MS Dhoni, former India cricket captain, has been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, recognizing his extraordinary career spanning 16 years with 17,266 international runs, 829 dismissals and 538 matches across formats for India. The wicketkeeper-batsman revolutionized the sport through his unique playing style, tactical leadership and achievements including winning all three ICC men's white-ball titles as captain. "It is an honour to be named in the ICC Hall of Fame, which recognises the contributions of cricketers across generations and from all over the world. To have your name remembered alongside such all-time greats is a wonderful feeling. It is something that I will cherish forever," Dhoni said about his induction. Dhoni's journey began in 2004 when he made his ODI debut. Though he was dismissed for a duck in his first match, he soon announced his […]
160-million-year-old blue-stain fungi in China found to be harmful to trees |
[ad_1] In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have uncovered 160-million-year-old blue-stain fungi fossils from the Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation in China. The new findings offer fresh insights into the ecological relationships between blue-stain fungi, plants, and insects during the Jurassic period. These fungi are generally nonfatal to their hosts but often accelerate tree mortality when associated with wood-boring insects.According to ScienceDaily, a Chinese team of scientists highlights the discovery of well-preserved blue-stain fungal hyphae within Jurassic fossil wood from northeastern China, pushing back the earliest known fossil record of this fungal group by approximately 80 million years.Know about the blue-stain fungi, deadly to treesBlue-stain fungi are known for their ability to colonize wood, particularly in conifer trees, causing characteristic discoloration in the sapwood. While these fungi do not decompose wood, they often cause considerable damage when associated with wood-boring insects. Their role […]
Be the first to leave a comment