Sports
Play sports for the love of it, Kapil Dev urges kids in New York
India’s first world-cup winning cricket captain Kapil Dev urged kids to play sports for the love of it, and community leaders to think in terms of delivering cricket pitches so that more people could take up the game in New York and other places in the United States.
New York State passed a law earlier this year amending the existing framework to include “the promotion and expansion of cricket in the state of New York to the jurisdiction of the state athletic commission.” The local cricket leagues are thrilled with this decision.
Kapil Dev answered questions with his signature humour and candour at a fundraiser-cum-spread-the-word event for cricket’s uptake in New York. Kapil Dev’s presence drew eclectic fandom to a packed room at the Indian Consulate in uptown Manhattan.
Kapil Dev’s free flowing conversation with the audience was based on criss-crossed sport, philanthropy and memories of the 1983 cricket World Cup.
Fresh off watching the film 1983, economist and first vice chairman of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya asked Kapil Dev whether he really didn’t know he had broken a world record during his historic 175-run knock against Zimbabwe.
“I didn’t know nothing about what the world record is,” Dev told Panagariya. “Ninety seven to 98 percent this movie is true whatever they showed.”
Taking questions on his top five matches, Kapil Dev went back in time to when he was “very young” and playing for his home state Haryana. Back then, Kapil Dev’s team beat Mumbai in a 5-day match.
“If I had to pick my best five matches, that Mumbai match would very much be on the top,” Kapil Dev said.
Did any batsman intimidate him? “Anybody I can’t take wicket, I get intimidated by,” Kapil Dev explained.
Kapil Dev brackets Sunil Gavaskar and Vivian Richards as the greatest batsmen he bowled to.
“Apart from Sunil Gavaskar – because I played alongside him a lot and ‘ghar ki murgi daal baraabar’ – without doubt Richards,” he said.
Kapil Dev did not translate the daal and murgi idiom for the benefit of his invited audience at the Indian mission.
He was implying that we don’t often covet our own greats.
Throughout the evening, Kapil Dev kept circling back to the theme of parents, children and goal setting. “My job, indicating the role of the parents is (I) want to see what is your passion,” he said.
“So you should have a passion, not your father,” Kapil Dev said, pointing in the general direction of young cricket players who had come to meet him.
“The first step is giving them the ground where they can go and express themselves,” Kapil Dev reminded local cricket administrators in the audience.
“That’s more important than to start looking for the champions.”
Kapil Dev is on a U.S. fundraising tour for his non profit Khushii, which helps educate underprivileged children.
National News
Navi Mumbai Police Impose Traffic Restrictions Near D Y Patil Stadium During WPL 2026

Navi Mumbai: Navi Mumbai police will impose traffic restrictions on the service road near Dr. D. Y. Patil Stadium in Nerul from January 9 to January 17, 2026, to ensure security and smooth movement during the BCCI Women’s Premier League (WPL) T20 cricket matches.
According to the traffic control notification issued by the Turbhe Traffic Division, all types of vehicles will be barred from plying and parking on the service road between Bhimashankar Society and the L.P. Rickshaw Stand from 7 am to 11 pm on match days, as the route has been earmarked for the movement of players and dignitaries.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Tirupati Kakade said the restrictions are being enforced under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act to prevent congestion and maintain law and order in the stadium vicinity during the matches.
Commuters have been advised to use the Sion–Panvel Highway, specifically the Uran Phata to L.P. Bridge stretch, as an alternative route to reach their destinations.
The restrictions will not apply to vehicles carrying essential commodities, police vehicles, fire brigade units, ambulances, government vehicles, other emergency services, and vehicles holding official passes issued by the WPL/IPL management.
National News
Andhra Pradesh CM congratulates Koneru Humpy

Amaravati, Dec 29: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday congratulated Koneru Humpy on winning the bronze medal at the FIDE World Rapid Championships.
“Champions are not defined by one result, but by the courage to compete at the highest level, again and again. A bronze on the world stage reflects true excellence. Your journey, consistency, and the pride you bring to India inspire millions,” the Chief Minister wrote on X.
He also congratulated Arjun Erigaisi on winning the bronze medal at the FIDE World Rapid Championship. “His podium finish makes him the only Indian male player to achieve this feat since Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. A son of Telangana, Arjun, has added another chapter of pride to India’s illustrious chess legacy,” said CM Naidu.
Sports Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, Home Minister V. Anitha, Roads and Buildings Minister B. C. Janardhan Reddy and Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) Chairman A. Ravi Naidu also congratulated Koneru Humpy.
Minister Ramprasad Reddy noted that Humpy has already won five medals at the FIDE World Rapid Championship. He said India was proud of her achievements.
He termed the woman chess champion as an inspiration for all women sportspersons and wished that she bring many more laurels to India and the state.
SAAP Chairman Ravi Naidu said that Humpy has made India proud by winning five medals at the FIDE Championship.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar also congratulated Arjun Erigaisi.
“Congratulations to the son of the soil on securing the bronze medal at the FIDE World Rapid Championship. With this achievement, he becomes the only Indian male player to reach the podium at this event since Viswanathan Anand. Telangana is proud of your achievements,” posted Bandi Sanjay.
He also congratulated Koneru Humpy on winning the bronze medal at the FIDE World Rapid Championship and said that she continues to make India proud.
Sports
Virat Kohli completes 16,000 List A runs on Vijay Hazare Trophy return

Bengaluru, Dec 24: Virat Kohli has once again etched his name in cricketing history, reaching the remarkable milestone of 16,000 List A runs during his return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Wednesday.
Playing for Delhi in their clash against Andhra Pradesh here at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, Kohli achieved the feat with his first run in the team’s chase of 299. This landmark moment further cements his status as one of the greatest ever in the 50-over format.
Kohli’s 16,000-run feat makes him only the second Indian player, after legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar, to reach this figure in List A cricket. The 37-year-old now stands as the ninth player overall to breach this milestone, joining the ranks of cricketing legends like Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, Sir Vivian Richards, and others.
Kohli’s last appearance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy came during the 2010-11 season, where he captained Delhi. He would go on to play in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy in 2013-14 but had not participated in the Vijay Hazare for nearly a decade before this comeback. His return to the competition was eagerly anticipated, and his achievement was a fitting start to Delhi’s campaign.
While the milestone of 16,000 List A runs stands as a testament to Kohli’s excellence, his ODI record continues to shine even brighter. He remains the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history, behind only Sachin Tendulkar.
With 14,557 runs in 308 matches at an extraordinary average of 58.46, Kohli is the fastest player to 14,000 runs in ODI cricket. He also boasts the most centuries in the format, with 53 to his name.
Despite his long and storied career, Kohli is still chasing Tendulkar’s record of 60 centuries in List A cricket. He currently holds 57 centuries, four ahead of Tendulkar’s former record of 53 in the ODI format.
Having made his List A debut back in 2006 for Delhi in the Ranji One-Day Tournament, Kohli’s career has been nothing short of spectacular. Over the years, he has represented Delhi in various domestic competitions, with standout performances in the 50-over format.
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