Sport
IPL: Mumbai Indians fall short by just six runs in Gujarat match

One doesn’t often see Rashid Khan thumped by a batsman in a T20 game, but on Sunday, in the Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans match, Deward Brevis did the unthinkable and smashed Rashid out of the park.
In doing so, he showed how confident he was while facing arguably the most dangerous T20 bowler in the world.
Shubman Gill meanwhile, in his first game as Gujarat Titans captain, was thrilled by how his bowlers pulled their heist against Mumbai Indians on Sunday.
Mumbai Indians needed only 48 runs off the last six overs with seven wickets in hand but they fell six runs short.
Rashid didn’t take a wicket but went for only 23 in his four overs and it was towards the end of his spell that Mumbai began to flounder.
ESPNcricinfo reported that Rashid’s final over did indeed play out as unexpected.
Tim David lofted Rashid towards the deep midwicket boundary.
He and Tilak Varma could have run two if they pushed hard, but they settled for a single to bring the left-handed Tilak on strike.
Tilak then hit the next ball to deep midwicket but refused the single. Mumbai at this stage needed 38 off 21 balls and the pressure only increased after Rashid conceded only three runs in the 17th over.
Hardik’s response when he was asked if there had been a plan to keep David away from Rashid was ”not really”.
He went on to say: “I think Tilak felt that was a better idea at that point of time. I completely back him, not an issue, 13 games to go.”
Mohit Sharma, who was the second highest wicket-taker last season but had only played three competitive matches since then, followed up by dismissing David in the 18th over to return figures of 2 for 32.
However, Indian media are having a field day over Hardik’s return to Mumbai Indians, which they say started on a sour note.
The all-rounder rejoined MI last year before the auction in a sensational transfer, and also replaced Rohit Sharma as captain.
In 2022, Hardik was released by MI and picked up by Gujarat Titans, who immediately appointed him as captain.
He led GT to the title in their debut season, followed by a runners-up finish. So, as the Hindustan Times has stated, it was shocking for fans when he decided to rejoin MI as he was expected to be a long-term skipper for GT.
But Hardik’s return started off on a poor note after MI crashed to their six-run defeat.
There was also plenty of pre-match drama which got the fans worked up.
During the first innings, there was a moment which caught everyone’s attention. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik were caught up in an animated discussion, and just as Rohit arrived to join it, Hardik simply walked away.
In response, Bumrah could be seen taken aback by Hardik’s decision to just walk away.
This has led to fans questioning whether there is a divide in the team.
In the other match of the day, captain Sanju Samson’s powerful knock of 82*(52) coupled with some brilliant Powerplay and slog-overs bowling, helped Rajasthan Royals get off to a winning start as they beat Lucknow Super Giants by 20 runs.
Today, Monday March 25, Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Punjab Super Kings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
Anticipation is running high among fans as the star-studded Bengaluru side, perennial contenders for the trophy, seek redemption after a shaky start to the season.
Their opening encounter against defending champions Chennai ended in defeat, intensifying the pressure as they gear up to face Punjab on Monday.
Fans across the country can tune in to Ariana Television from 6.30pm to watch this match live. Fans can also stream the match live on Ariana Television’s website.
Click here for IPL 2024 schedule.
Sport
Ariana Snooker Championship 2025: Naderi and Hotak through to final

Ariana Snooker Championship semi-finals wrapped up on Sunday with Naveed Naderi and Raees Khan Hotak both moving on to the final on Monday.
In the first semi-final on Sunday, Naveed Naderi, who is ranked number 2 in Afghanistan, beat Zulmai Salamkhil 5-3.
Later in the day, Raees Khan Hotak, who is ranked number 4 in Afghanistan, defeated Nader Khan Rohani 5-4 in a fiercely contested match.
Hotak, who at 42 years of age, has over 40 domestic tournaments under his belt and has played in 30 international matches.
Naderi is 32 years old and while not as experienced as Hotak, he does have 35 domestic games to his name. He has also played in one international event.
Both players however have their eye on the title. Their match will get underway at 4pm Kabul time on Monday.
Snooker enthusiasts across Afghanistan can watch the exciting final on Monday live on Ariana Television, the Ariana Sports Facebook page, the Ariana Sports YouTube channel, and the Ariana Television website.
The match will start at 4pm but a preview show will be broadcast from 3pm. Stay tuned!
Sport
Mujeeb Ur Rahman replaces injured Ghazanfar in Mumbai Indians’ squad for IPL 2025
Mujeeb had gone unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, but now joined MI at a fee of INR 2 crore ($230,000).

Afghanistan offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has replaced his countryman AM Ghazanfar in Mumbai Indians’ (MI) squad for IPL 2025 after an injured Ghazanfar was ruled out of the Champions Trophy, and the IPL that follows.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said recently that Ghazanfar had been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a fractured vertebra sustained during Afghanistan’s tour of Zimbabwe last month.
Ghazanfar, who will be out of cricket for at least four months, will also miss out on IPL this year, his first contract with the league.
Mujeeb meanwhile last played at the IPL in 2021, for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Most recently, he was with Paarl Royals at the SA20, where his side lost to finalists Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 2. However, he was Royals’ highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 14 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 23.14.
He wasn’t picked by Afghanistan for the Champions Trophy, as according to Ahmad Suliman Khil, their interim chief selector, “he has been advised by his doctor to focus on T20s for a while to ensure his full recovery before returning to ODIs”.
This was after he sustained a hand injury that left him out of cricket for five months. Only in November last year was he able to return.
Mujeeb had gone unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, but now joined MI at a fee of INR 2 crore ($230,000).
The ICC Champions Trophy gets underway on Wednesday, February 19, in Pakistan when the hosts take on New Zealand. Afghanistan will play their first match on Friday, February 21, when they take on South Africa.
IPL will start on Friday, March 21 and run through to Sunday May 25.
Cricket fans meanwhile can stay tuned with Ariana Radio & Television Network (ATN) as all Champions Trophy matches will be broadcast live across the country.
Sport
Ariana Snooker Championship 2025: Quarterfinals conclude with thrilling matches

Zulmai Salamkhil clinched a 5-3 victory over Zarif Afzali in a gripping quarterfinal match on Saturday, securing his spot in the semifinals of the Ariana Snooker Championship.
In another electrifying encounter, Naweed Naderi edged out Mohammad Mir Noorzai 5-4, advancing to the semifinals after a fiercely contested game.
The day wrapped up with Nader Rohani delivering a dominant 5-1 win against Saleh Mohammad Mohammadi, solidifying his place in the semifinals.
Snooker enthusiasts across Afghanistan can watch the exciting semifinal matches, starting this Sunday, live on Ariana Television, the Ariana Sports Facebook page, the Ariana Sports YouTube channel, and the Ariana Television website. Stay tuned!
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