Kolkata, Feb 12: Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have announced a first-of-its-kind Trophy Tour ahead of the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Last year, they won their third IPL title, adding to the ones they claimed in 2012 and 2014.

As part of their championship celebrations, the franchise will travel along with the coveted trophy across multiple cities in India to connect with the heart of their fanbase. This marks the first time in history that an IPL franchise is organising a Trophy Tour beyond their home city.

“The initiative aims to give the nationwide KKR fans a chance to interact with the trophy and witness their favourite team’s achievement in all its glory. Ahead of the new season, the extensive tour will see the prestigious IPL trophy journey across nine cities, starting from February 14 in Guwahati and finally making a return to the City of Joy in Kolkata by March 16,” the franchise said in a release.

The tour will cover multiple regions in their catchment area including Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Gangtok, Siliguri, Patna, Durgapur, and Kolkata.

Through this initiative, KKR aims to create memorable experiences for the fans who have constantly shown their support for the team throughout the years.

The engagement will give the fans a first-hand experience of the trophy while also allowing them an opportunity to create their own memories with the ultimate prize.

The fans can participate in exciting cricket-themed games including Cricket Rock Paper Scissors and Cricket Pong. Each visitor will have a chance to win fantastic prizes and take home special KKR giveaways, making their trophy-viewing experience even more memorable.

“We are very excited to bring the Trophy Tour to our fans in Eastern India. Due to some unavoidable reasons, we couldn’t do a victory march in Kolkata after the title win last season. For us, our fans are like family. They have showered KKR with immense love, in good times and bad.

“This tour is our attempt at bringing back to the fans the trophy our players had won through their constant love and support last season,” Binda Dey, Group CMO, Knight Riders Sports.

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 is just around the corner, with the third season set to kick off on February 14th. The opening match promises to be an exciting one, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Gujarat Giants.

The 2025 Women’s Premier League season is set to break records, with matches taking place across four venues, the highest number in WPL history. The season’s format includes 20 group-stage matches, followed by two thrilling knockout games, ultimately leading up to the highly anticipated final on March 15th.

There will be five teams who will compete for the prestigious championship in the Women’s Premier League. The tournament would be a spectacle for the cricket fans and will boast an array of international stars and talented players.

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) kicks off from 14th February and there are many exciting cricket matches to come. Here’s your ultimate guide to the tournament, including a comprehensive schedule of matches, featuring dates, timings, and venues for all the thrilling clashes between the top five teams.

The Vadodara venue – Kotambi Stadium

– Feb 14, Fri– Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 07:30 PM  
– Feb 15, Sat – Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals, 07:30 PM  
– Feb 16, Sun – Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz, 07:30 PM  
– Feb 17, Mon – Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 07:30PM 
– Feb 18, Tue – Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians, 07:30 PM  
– Feb 19, Wed – UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals, 07:30 PM  

The Bengaluru venue– M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

– Feb 21, Fri – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians, 07:30 PM  
– Feb 22, Sat – Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz, 07:30 PM  
– Feb 24, Mon – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz, 07:30 PM  
– Feb 25, Tue – Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants, 07:30 PM  
– Feb 26, Wed – Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz, 07:30 PM  
– Feb 27, Thu – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants, 07:30 PM  
– Feb 28, Fri – Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians, 07:30 PM  
– Mar 1, Sat – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals, 07:30 PM  

The Lucknow venue – Ekana Cricket Stadium

– Mar 3, Mon – UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants, 07:30 PM  
– Mar 6, Thu – UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians, 07:30 PM  
– Mar 7, Fri – Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals, 07:30 PM  
– Mar 8, Sat – UP Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 07:30 PM  

The Mumbai venue – Brabourne Stadium

– Mar 10, Mon – Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants, 07:30 PM  
– Mar 11, Tue – Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 07:30 PM  

Knockout Matches – Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai

– Mar 13, Thu – Eliminator (TBD vs TBD), 07:30 PM  
– Mar 15, Sat – Final (TBD vs TBD), 07:30 PM  

Where can cricket fans watch the live telecast of the WPL 2025 matches in India?

Cricket fans can watch the live telecast of WPL 2025 matches on the Sports18 network in India.

Where can cricket fans watch the live streaming of the WPL 2025 matches in India? 

Cricket fans can watch the live streaming of WPL 2025 matches on the JioCinema app and website in India.

Lausanne, Feb 11: The inaugural Olympic Esports Games will take place in Riyadh in 2027, two years later than originally planned, following a 12-year agreement with Saudi Arabia signed last year. The qualifying period, the Road to the Olympic Esports Games, will start this year, the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday.

In June 2024, the IOC Executive Board announced that it would create an Olympic Esports Games, with the 142nd IOC Session held during the 2024 Summer Olympics due to vote on the proposal.

In July 2024, it was announced that the inaugural Olympic Esports Games would be held in Saudi Arabia in 2025, following a new partnership with the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee. The proposal was ultimately approved by a unanimous vote on July 23, 2024.

For the organisation of the Olympic Esports Games, IOC is partnering with the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee. The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) will become the founding partner of the Games.

“The IOC and EWCF will collaborate closely with key stakeholders to establish qualification pathways, enhance competitive integrity, and align the national esports ecosystems with broader global standards,” the IOC said in a release.

A joint committee of the IOC and the SOPC has been set up to steer the Games. It is chaired by IOC Member Ser Miang Ng and co-chaired by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal.

The committee consists of six people, three from each partner, and is currently working to define the games that will be part of the first edition of the Olympic Esports Games.

The cooperation between the IOC and the SOPC was the major topic of a meeting between the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, HRH Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, IOC chief Thomas Bach and the president of the SOPC and Minister of Sports, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal in Riyadh on Sunday.

“There is now a very clear roadmap to the historic first-ever Olympic Esports Games. With the Road to the Olympic Esports Games starting this year, the Games are becoming a reality. This is further evidence of the strength of the partnership between the IOC and the SOPC in many areas,” Bach said.

“The journey to the first-ever Olympic Esports Games is clear, with an immediate timeline that works for all parties and sees the Road to Olympic Esports Games start in 2025. Together with the IOC, there is real momentum, unity, and clarity on the way forward, with the focus now on delivering.

“Already Saudi Arabia is looking forward to welcoming the world and playing its part to help the dreams of so many esports athletes come true,” the president of the SOPC added.