Chants of “Kohli, Kohli” echoed across the airport as supporters tried to catch a glimpse of the star batter. Security arrangements remained tight, yet brief chaos followed when Kohli exited the terminal. Officials later escorted him safely to his vehicle. Teammate Nitish Reddy also reached Vadodara, while other squad members are expected soon.

Kohli recently returned to domestic cricket after 15 years by featuring in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He impressed with scores of 131 and 77 in two matches. During the tournament, he became the fastest batter to cross 16,000 List A runs, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record.

The 37-year-old continues his strong run in international cricket after a successful Australia tour and a century-filled ODI series against South Africa. Kohli now stands just 25 runs away from becoming the fastest player to reach 28,000 international runs. He also enjoys an excellent ODI record against New Zealand, with 1,657 runs in 33 matches.

The post Virat Kohli Sparks Frenzy Ahead of New Zealand ODIs appeared first on India Podcast.

Palash Muchhal’s family has repeatedly stated that the wedding will take place soon. However, confusion grew after a surprising social media post by Mandhana. She shared a new commercial video on her official accounts. Viewers noticed that she was not wearing a ring, and this immediately triggered fresh speculation. Many users claimed that Mandhana had ended her relationship with Palash.

A different section of fans argued that the advertisement could have been shot before the engagement. They suggested that the missing ring might not indicate any breakup. The post, however, went viral and created heavy discussion on social media platforms.

Both families have remained silent about whether the wedding will occur as planned. Fans now wait for an official statement from Mandhana or Palash to clear the ongoing rumours surrounding their relationship.

The post Smriti Mandhana’s Post Sparks Wedding Buzz appeared first on India Podcast.

This development comes after Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was originally named Maharashtra’s captain for the T20 tournament, earned a call-up to the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series against South Africa starting November 30 in Ranchi. With Gaikwad unavailable, the Maharashtra selectors now appear ready to hand over the leadership duties to Shaw.

Interestingly, while announcing the 16-member squad on Friday, the Maharashtra selection committee did not name a vice-captain—a move that now seems intentional in light of Gaikwad’s national duty.

Sources within the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) have reportedly confirmed that Shaw has been the frontrunner for the captaincy and was informed earlier to be ready for the role. Shaw, who has been working to revive his domestic career, will now have an opportunity to lead a new side and make a fresh start.

A formal announcement confirming Shaw’s captaincy is likely to be made on Monday.

The post Prithvi Shaw Maharashtra Captain: Likely to Lead Team as Gaikwad Joins India appeared first on India Podcast.

Rahul explains that therapy changed the way he connects with himself. Earlier, he struggled to express emotions and carried every failure like a burden. Through therapy, he learned to recognise unhealthy patterns and rebuild confidence. He also learned how to cope with negativity and public scrutiny. According to him, mental clarity directly improved his performance and relationships.

He talks openly about the impact of online criticism. He says harsh comments once affected him deeply, especially during tough phases. Over time, he built emotional resilience and stopped letting outside noise define him. This shift helped him approach cricket with a healthier mindset.

Rahul also shares how life outside cricket keeps him grounded. Time with loved ones, small routines, and meaningful conversations give him strength during stressful periods. He emphasises that athletes must create identities beyond their sport, because emotional balance shapes long-term success.

The show Like an Athlete aims to highlight what athletes face behind the spotlight. Rahul’s episode sets the tone by showing that vulnerability and courage can coexist. He encourages younger players to seek help early, talk openly, and treat mental health as an essential part of training.

With this conversation, Rahul hopes more athletes will feel comfortable acknowledging struggles and embracing support systems.

The post KL Rahul Opens Up on Therapy, Criticism and Life Beyond Cricket appeared first on India Podcast.

JioHotstar reported that 185 million users streamed the final on its app, matching the numbers of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Final. Another 92 million watched on Connected TV, equaling the CTV audience of major men’s finals. Harmanpreet Kaur’s match-winning catch drew a peak of 21 million viewers.

At Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, India clinched their first ICC title by defeating South Africa by 52 runs. The stadium was packed as India became the first subcontinent team and the fourth overall to lift the Women’s World Cup.

The ICC announced that the 2029 Women’s ODI World Cup will feature 10 teams, up from eight. Nearly 300,000 fans attended the 2025 edition, setting a new record for women’s cricket events. The ICC said the expansion aims to give emerging nations more chances and strengthen global competition in women’s cricket.

The post Record-Breaking Viewership for Women’s World Cup Final appeared first on India Podcast.

Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, are looking to level the series 2-2 after trailing 1-3. Marsh said the pitch looks great and expressed hope of finishing the tour on a positive note. “Lots to play for, both teams have played some great cricket. India bowled superbly last game,” he added.

Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav once again lost the toss, prompting laughter among teammates. He said the team is focused on expressing themselves and sticking to their plan. “Until you’re winning games, losing tosses doesn’t matter. Everyone understood the conditions last match. We want to continue the same approach,” he said.

India aim to maintain their record of never losing a T20I series in Australia. The playing XIs are unchanged for Australia, while India’s lineup features Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah among others.

The post Rinku Singh Joins as India Chase Series Win at Gabba appeared first on India Podcast.

Abhishek became the fastest player to reach 1,000 T20I runs for a single country in terms of balls faced and also the quickest Indian based on matches played. His milestone broke Australia’s Tim David’s global record of 1,000 runs in 569 balls, achieved earlier this month.

Previously, India’s Suryakumar Yadav held the second spot, taking 573 balls, while New Zealand’s Finn Allen took 611 balls. Abhishek narrowly missed breaking Virat Kohli’s record, who reached the mark in 27 innings. However, Abhishek became the fastest Indian to reach the milestone, achieving it in 28 innings.

The global record for fewest matches to 1,000 runs remains shared by England’s Dawid Malan and Czech Republic’s Sabawoon Davizi with 24 matches. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson (995) and Tilak Varma (991) are close to joining Abhishek in the 1,000-run club.

The post Abhishek Sharma Breaks Global T20 Record appeared first on India Podcast.

Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the team played with confidence and lifted the trophy for the first time. Tendulkar shared his joy on X, saying the win would inspire many young girls to play cricket. He called it a defining moment for women’s cricket in India.

India scored 298 runs with superb knocks from Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma. Both players also shined with the ball. Shafali dismissed Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp, while Deepti took five wickets to seal the victory.

Shafali won the Player of the Match award. Deepti was named Player of the Tournament for her 200-plus runs and 20 wickets. India’s victory ended their long ICC trophy wait and brought pride to the entire nation.

The post Sachin Lauds Women’s Team for Historic World Cup Win appeared first on India Podcast.

India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, in front of a packed crowd. All-rounder Deepti Sharma led the team’s victory with an outstanding all-round performance, scoring 58 runs and taking five wickets for 39. Her efforts ensured India posted a strong total of 298/7 in 50 overs.

South Africa’s chase ended at 246 in 45.3 overs, despite a valiant effort from captain Laura Wolvaardt. Key moments, like Tazmin Brits’ run-out by Amanjot Kaur, shifted the game in India’s favor. The Indian bowlers held their composure to secure a memorable win and clinch the nation’s maiden Women’s World Cup title.

With this triumph, India joined England and Australia as the only nations to win both men’s and women’s ODI World Cups. President Murmu said the victory would inspire generations of young women cricketers and elevate Indian women’s cricket to greater heights.

The post President Murmu Hails Historic Women’s World Cup Win appeared first on India Podcast.

He questioned why there was resentment over the inclusion of a minority leader in the state cabinet. Goud reminded that Azharuddin rose from a humble background and achieved great success through hard work and dedication. He said such comments from a Union Minister were unbecoming and politically motivated.

Highlighting Azharuddin’s achievements, Goud said the former Indian cricket captain had brought glory to the country on numerous occasions. He also served the public as an elected Member of Parliament, contributing significantly to his constituency’s development.

Goud clarified that the Congress leadership had already decided to induct Azharuddin into the cabinet three months ago. He stated that Kishan Reddy’s comments were not only disrespectful but also aimed at creating unnecessary religious and political division.

The post Mahesh Kumar Goud Hits Back at Kishan Reddy Over Azharuddin Remark appeared first on India Podcast.