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IPL Mega Auction: Pat Cummins ‘absolutely pumped’ to don KKR colours again

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Australian pace bowling stalwart and Test skipper Pat Cummins said he was “absolutely pumped” to be back with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after the IPL franchise made a winning bid for the 28-year-old cricketer during the Mega Auction here on Saturday.

KKR brought back Cummins, shaking off a battle from new franchises Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans to buy him back for INR 7.25 crores after previously buying him for INR 15.5 crores in the IPL 2020 auctions.

Cummins was expected to command a much higher price in the bidding war as he was one of the marquee players in the auction, and the 2021 runners-up would be happy to get him back for a much lower price.

Cummins’ presence will add to the wealth of bowling as well as leadership experience, as the quick recently guided Australia to a 4-0 win in the Ashes, and with great maturity handled the crisis in the wake of Justin Langer quitting his post as head coach. The tall pacer will now lead the team for the three-Test series against Pakistan next month before he arrives for the IPL 2022.

Cummins also gives KKR more options in captaincy as they also have Shreyas Iyer in the squad after the Indian cricketer was bought for a whopping INR 12.25 crore on Saturday.

KKR posted a video on social media where Cummins can be seen thanking the franchise CEO Venky Mysore and coach Brendon McCullum.

“Absolutely pumped to be back with Kolkata. Thanks to Venky (Mysore), Baz (Brendon McCullum), SRK (Shah Rukh Khan), the whole team. Just absolutely pumped, so excited… want to come around quick enough. Thanks for making me part of the galaxy of knights in the upcoming season,” Cummins said in his 17-second video.

Cummins played seven matches in IPL 2021, taking nine wickets and scoring 93 runs. He has taken a total of 38 wickets in 37 IPL matches since 2014 when he made his debut in the lucrative league. He has so far played five IPL seasons — 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2021.

Meanwhile a report in cricket.com.au said on Saturday that, Cricket Australia (CA) “is understood to have told IPL franchises that players involved in the white-ball series against Pakistan will not be released to travel until April 6, while players that make the Sheffield Shield final will not be able to travel until April 5”.

Players wanting to participate in the IPL need a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from CA to compete, which dictates their availability. These are not usually withheld unless there is national duty, or a medical/fitness reason, the report said.

International

‘I’m happy here’: Cristiano Ronaldo pledges to continue at Al Nassr in Saudi Pro League

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Portugese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to continue at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia despite walking away empty handed in this season. The 38-year-old has earmarked the tournament to be among the top five in the world.

Ronaldo, who signed a two and a half year contract with Al Nassr, scored 14 goals in 16 games in the season, with his side standing second behind Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro league. However, there were speculations about how long will he stay as reports of swap deal with Saudi-owned Newcastle United emerged, who have now qualified for next season’s Champions league.

In an official Saudi Pro League interview, the star footballer revealed:

“I’m happy here, I want to continue here, I will continue here. And in my opinion, if they continue to do the work that they want to do here, for the next five years, I think the Saudi league can be a top five league in the world. I expected to win something this year, but we didn’t, but next year I’m really positive, but next year I’m really positive and confident that things will change and we go in a better way.”

Cristiano Ronaldo suggests he is still adjusting to strange training timings in Saudi Arabia:

Ronaldo also revealed how contrasting the training timings in Europe and Saudi Arabia are, elaborating:

“In Europe, we train more in the morning, but here we train in the afternoon or evening and in Ramadan, we train at 10 at night. So this is strange but as I tell you, these situations are part of an experience, memories. I like to live these moments because you learn with these things.”

With 837 goals in 512 games, Ronaldo is the combined highest goal scorer in history.

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Lionel Messi to leave PSG at the end of the season, confirms club manager Christophe Galtier

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Paris Saint Germain superstar Lionel Messi will leave the club at the end of the current season, manager Christophe Galtier confirmed on Thursday. Messi made 74 appearances for PSG in which he scored 32 goals and made 35 assists. In Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain has played 37 matches out of which they have won 27, lost six and drew four.

PSG had acquired Messi’s services two years ago in a record transfer deal after he left FC Barcelona in 2021.

Messi, who’s contract with PSG ends this season, is now being linked with with a move to Saudi Arabia while talk of a return to the Nou Camp has picked up in Spain in recent weeks.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner will play his final match for PSG against Clermont Foot on Saturday.

“I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football,” Galtier said on Thursday. “This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes.”

Messi’s envious record

In the Spanish La Liga football competition, Lionel Messi has scored 474 goals in 520 matches. In the French Ligue 1, Messi has scored 22 goals in 57 matches.

The 35-year-old while playing for Football Club Barcelona has scored 672 goals in 778 games. While playing for Paris Saint-Germain he has scored 32 goals in 74 matches.

No plan to bring Messi back: Barca president

FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta recently said that the club has re-established good relationships with Argentine legend Lionel Messi, but it would not pay any price to bring him back to the Camp Nou Stadium.

“I have spoken with Leo to somehow redirect the situation that occurred when I had to put the institution ahead of everything, including him, the best player in the world,” said Laporta in a Monday morning TV show.

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Mark Zuckerberg strikes gold against jiu jitsu fighters, posts pictures on Instagram

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In the past, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has appeared helpless in front of the US Congress where he has been slapped by fines, and fired 11,000 vulnerable employees after being hit by falling revenues. But outside the business arena where Meta is facing tough competition from TikTok and other rivals, Zuckerberg is a huge mixed martial arts fan.

Contrary to setbacks in the tech sector, the Facebook founder has tasted victory in jiu jitsu.

Striking gold, but in a different arena

  • The billionaire who has trained with UFC fighters, posted pictures after winning jiu jitsu matches for the first time.
  • The billionaire who tried his hand at martial arts, revealed that he won a gold medal in the Gi categroy and a silver medal in the No-GI category.
  • His post on Instagram received comments from UFC featherweight and bantamweight category champions, as well as jiu jitsu hall of fame member Bernardo Faria.

Competitive or short tempered?

  • The entrepreneur turned sportsperson, who also enjoys surfing, was seen getting into a heated argument after losing a contest during the tournament in California as well.
  • On the work front, Zuckerberg’s firm Meta also surprised the markets by bouncing back with strong earnings, after struggling with loss of ad revenue.
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