Boxing, badminton, poker, pool - every sport imaginable is rebranding in India as a "super" or "pro" franchise-based competition chasing a slice of an emerging billion-dollar entertainment market dominated by cricket's Indian Premier League.
The star-studded Twenty20 tournament has inspired a raft of glitzy new sports leagues seeking to replicate the winning formula that recently landed India's most popular sporting event a bumper $2.55 billion broadcast deal.
Earlier this month Rupert Murdoch's Star India beat rival bids from Facebook, Sony and India's Airtel to land the IPL's TV and digital rights over five years from 2018.
But long before it hit the jackpot, the IPL - famous for its pyrotechnics, cheerleaders and huge signing bonuses - had no trouble filling stadiums and attracting huge TV audiences a decade after its debut.
Its huge success has not gone unnoticed by promoters hoping that less popular sports such as kabaddi, football and boxing can make inroads in cricket-mad India.
Celebrity talent and big-name sponsors are being deployed to whip up excitement.
But Bollywood superstars are not the only investors in these nascent leagues, as foreigners are attracted to the growing Indian sports market.
British-Indian entrepreneur Bill Dosanjh has launched two separate leagues in a single year - mixed martial arts and boxing.
The Super Boxing League, promoted by British former light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan, offers fans the spectacle of a US-style fight night: glamorous front-row attendees, referees in bow ties, big hits and a sense of real theatre.
It is "what Bollywood gives us," Dosanjh said, "action or romance. It does not get much more action to see two gladiators really go at it. We really believe that these fight nights that we are doing and the league format will attract the viewer."
Many pugilists put their national careers on the line signing up for the independent league.
Dosanjh was forced to strike out alone after India's national boxing federation refused to endorse the tournament.
But the recent success of Olympic medallist Vijender Singh on the pro circuit has boosted confidence that this maverick league could break new ground for the sport in India.
"I hope boxing matches up the ongoing league fever in the country, like IPL and kabaddi," said amateur boxer Deepak Tanwar Singh.
Kabaddi is a hugely-popular traditional game.
"We are getting fame and money from here and in future boxers representing India in the Olympics will go from the amateur as well as the professional circuit."
Many of these independent leagues are improving the quality and breadth of sport in India, and offering young hopefuls a platform to showcase their talent beyond the national fixation on cricket.
India won just two medals in the Rio Olympics, despite boasting a population of 1.25 billion, and most sports heroes are still born on the cricket pitch.
Sports commentator Sunil Taneja said new franchises moulded in the image of the IPL were giving rise to sports icons outside the traditional domain of cricket.
They are also generating big money.
"Before the advent of the Pro Kabaddi League there was no money at all in the sport," Taneja, who has been associated with the Pro Kabaddi League since its inception in 2014, he said.
"Now a player like Nitin Tomar is not only a household name, but earns a handsome purse."
22-year-old Tomar made history in the latest round of player auctions in the Pro League, which is in its fifth season.
The young star from a small village in India's north was scooped up for a whopping $145,000, an unprecedented signing fee in the modest world of kabaddi.
The league received a major ring of endorsement in May when Chinese smartphone giant VIVO signed a five-year sponsorship deal worth nearly $50 million.
Even less conventional sports are establishing pro leagues, bringing together India's best with the promise of big sign-up fees and prize money.
The inaugural season of the Indian Cue Masters League, or "Cue Slam", wrapped up in August, with foreign snooker players joining local pros for a strong first showing.
The "Match Indian Poker League" kicks off its first edition in October as the field for professional franchises expands ever wider.
India is on track to replicate the success of professional sports franchises in other countries, said Utpal Gandhi, a senior stakeholder in Cue Slam, the Premier Badminton League and an upcoming volleyball competition.
"In the United States this is a very large industry. India and Asia are following in its footsteps," Gandhi said.
Suryakumar Yadav's unbeaten 73 and a quickfire 24 from Naman Dhir helped Mumbai Indians secure a 59-run win over Delhi Capitals and confirm their place in the Indian Premier League playoffs on Wednesday.
In a direct contest for a playoff spot, Mumbai scored 180-5 and bowled Delhi out for 121 at the Wankhede Stadium.
Mitchell Santner returned figures of 3-11 from four overs, while Jasprit Bumrah also picked up three wickets.
"I can throw them (Santner and Bumrah) the ball whenever I want," Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya said. "They bring such control and perfection, which makes my job easy."
The five-time champions have now joined Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings in the top four. The playoffs begin on May 29.
Delhi still have one game left but can only get to 15 points, while Mumbai have 16 points with one more match to go.
Mumbai recovered their campaign midway through the season after losing four of their first five games. They have now won seven of their last eight matches.
The final group games will determine the playoff positions, with the top two teams getting two chances to reach the final on June 3.
After being asked to bat first, Mumbai overcame an early top-order collapse, which included Rohit Sharma getting out for five. They rebuilt in the second half of the innings.
Suryakumar held firm in his 43-ball innings that included seven fours and four sixes, while Dhir added 24 not out from eight balls to boost the total.
Dhir hit two fours and two sixes off Mukesh Kumar in a 27-run 19th over. Suryakumar followed it up with 21 runs in the final over bowled by Dushmantha Chameera.
‘Let it slip’
"We let it slip in the last two overs," said Delhi stand-in captain Faf du Plessis, who stepped in for Axar Patel due to illness.
"Momentum is a real thing in cricket. The way they counter-punched to get almost 50 in the last two overs, undoing the work of the first 17-18 overs. We lost that momentum."
Du Plessis also said the team missed Australian bowler Mitchell Starc, who did not return after the IPL resumed following a pause caused by the India-Pakistan conflict.
The IPL resumed last Saturday with a revised schedule, leading some overseas players to change their season plans.
Tilak Varma added 27 runs in a 55-run stand with Suryakumar after Mumbai lost three early wickets.
Rohit was dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman in the third over, followed soon after by Will Jacks and Ryan Rickelton.
Rohit, who recently had a stand at the stadium named after him, had several fans dressed in white as a tribute to his recent retirement from Test cricket.
Delhi lost early wickets in the chase, starting with du Plessis falling for six in the second over.
Trent Boult dismissed KL Rahul for 11, and Jacks removed Abishek Porel for a single-digit score.
Wickets continued to fall, and Santner took two in one over to end Delhi’s resistance. They were bowled out in 18.2 overs.
INDIAN javelin star Neeraj Chopra finally achieved the long-awaited 90 metre mark at the Doha Diamond League last Friday (16), but described the experience as “bittersweet” after finishing second in the competition.
The 27-year-old double Olympic medallist sent his spear soaring to 90.23m in his third attempt, only to be overtaken by Germany’s Julian Weber, who clinched gold with a throw of 91.06m in his final attempt.
Weber, who became the 26th javelin thrower to breach the 90m mark with his winning throw of 91.06m, shared a sporting moment with Chopra. “I was very happy for him. We have been fighting for the 90m throw for a long time and we both achieved that today. So, it was very special for us,” the German athlete said.
Two-time world champion and Paris Olympics bronze medallist, Anderson Peters of Grenada, finished third with his opening throw of 84.65m, while the other Indian in the competition, Kishore Jena, placed eighth with a throw of 78.60m.
Despite settling for second place, Chopra was upbeat and promised fans that more 90m-plus throws would follow this season.
“I am very happy with the 90m mark but it’s a little bit of a bittersweet experience actually,” Chopra said after the event. “I believe I am ready to throw farther. It’s just the beginning of a long season.”
The achievement makes Chopra only the third Asian and 25th athlete worldwide to join the elite 90m club in javelin throw. For nearly five years, the question of when he would breach this frontier has followed him throughout his career.
India’s prime minister Narendra Modi was quick to congratulate Chopra on his achievement. “A spectacular feat! Congratulations to Neeraj Chopra for breaching the 90m mark at Doha Diamond League 2025 and achieving his personal best throw. This is the outcome of his relentless dedication, discipline and passion. India is elated and proud,” Modi wrote on X.
Working with legendary Czech javelin thrower Jan Zelezny since February appears to be paying dividends.
Zelezny, whose world record stands at a staggering 98.48m since 1996, accompanied Chopra to Doha with confidence in his protégé’s abilities.
,Chopra in action during the event
“He doesn’t normally go to the Diamond Leagues but he came with me because he told me that today is the day to achieve 90m,” revealed Chopra. “After my 90m throw also, he told me I can throw 2-3m farther.”
Chopra cited improved health as a key factor in his performance. “I was always feeling something in my groin in the last few years. I did not give my best because of that. This year I feel much better,” he explained. “We will also work on some aspects and so I believe I can throw more than 90m in the upcoming events this year till the World Championships.”
The World Championships will be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21, giving Chopra time to improve his technique.
Chopra’s journey continues at the 71st ORLEN Janusz Kusocinski Memorial event in Chorzow, Poland, on Friday (23). There, he will face Weber and Peters again, providing an early opportunity to deliver on his promise of more throws beyond the coveted 90m mark.
The Indian athlete will also compete at the Golden Spike 2025 athletics meet in Ostrava, Czechia on June 24, hoping for success after withdrawing from the previous two editions due to injuries.
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The second trailer gave fans a closer look at the game’s setting and characters
Grand Theft Auto 6's highly anticipated second trailer has been dissected frame by frame by fans, with one viewer pointing out a small visual oversight. The brief moment, lasting just a second, has sparked light-hearted reactions across the gaming community.
The error occurs during a high-octane scene where Jason, one of the game's protagonists, fires a handgun from a car. Reddit user Cat_With_Banana96 noted that light appears on Jason’s face a fraction of a second before the muzzle flash of the gun, creating a discrepancy in the trailer’s lighting sequence. The fan shared screenshots to highlight the moment, which takes place during a fast-paced sequence lasting only a second.
The detail was quickly picked up by other viewers, with many joking about the slip-up. Comments such as “That’s it, pre-order cancelled” and “Literally unplayable” filled the replies, clearly intended as humorous jabs rather than serious criticism. The trailer, released by Rockstar Games, has otherwise been widely praised for its visual fidelity and cinematic presentation.
While the lighting issue is minor, it has drawn attention because of Rockstar’s reputation for high standards and the frequent comments from Take-Two Interactive’s CEO Strauss Zelnick about striving for “perfection”. Fans have largely taken the slip in good humour, acknowledging the incredible amount of detail throughout the rest of the trailer.
- YouTubeYouTube/ Rockstar Games
The second trailer gave fans a closer look at the game’s setting and characters, including more footage of Jason and Lucia, the protagonists. Styled as a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, the pair were shown navigating chaotic scenes including swamp pursuits, helicopter action, and romantic moments, offering more insight into the game’s narrative and tone.
Rockstar Games has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 is set for release in 2025. The game will take players to Vice City and beyond, and expectations remain high despite the long wait. For most fans, a small continuity error in a trailer is unlikely to dampen excitement for what is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious titles in Rockstar’s history.
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FILE PHOTO: Pakistan's players, (L-R) Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
PAKISTAN dropped stars Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan on Wednesday (21) as they named a new-look squad for three home Twenty20 internationals against Bangladesh.
Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson will take charge for the first time after being appointed last week, replacing Aaqib Javed.
Salman Ali Agha will captain Pakistan as they look towards next year's Twenty20 World Cup, to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Fast bowler Shaheen had played in Pakistan's last T20 series in New Zealand in March, but batsmen Azam and Rizwan were omitted for the second consecutive T20 series after being criticised for slow scoring.
"The squad has been selected based on players' performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League, which concludes on May 25," the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
Shaheen has taken 12 wickets for Lahore Qalandars in 10 PSL matches at an economy rate of 8.20. Opener Sahibzada Farhan earned a recall after topping the PSL batting charts with 394 runs.
Batsmen Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman return after missing the New Zealand tour with injuries.
Fast bowler Hasan Ali is back after being sidelined with multiple injuries since May last year.
The PCB said that the matches, which have been affected by a 10-day delay to the PSL caused by the deadly India-Pakistan conflict, will be held in Lahore on May 28, 30 and June 1.
Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub
(AFP)
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The 14-year-old, who had earlier drawn attention with a 35-ball century last month, made 57 off 33 balls to help Rajasthan chase down 188 with 17 balls remaining. (Photo: Getty Images)
VAIBHAV SURYAVANSHI scored a half-century as Rajasthan Royals ended their IPL campaign with a six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday.
The 14-year-old, who had earlier drawn attention with a 35-ball century last month, made 57 off 33 balls to help Rajasthan chase down 188 with 17 balls remaining in New Delhi.
Suryavanshi, who began his IPL career by hitting his first ball for six and played a key role in the chase, hitting four fours and four sixes in his innings.
"I don't have words for Vaibhav, he can hit a slower ball over cover," Rajasthan captain Sanju Samson said.
"Today when the middle overs were going on, he was going with his job very smartly. He has game awareness at such a young age."
Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 31 off 12 balls to finish the chase.
Both teams were already out of the playoff race. Rajasthan stayed ahead of Chennai, which was bottom of the table with four wins from 14 matches.
Chennai, led by MS Dhoni, who is 43, have one league game remaining.
Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings have secured play-off spots. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals are still in contention for the final place.
Chennai had opportunities in the match, including a double strike by Ravichandran Ashwin, who removed Samson (41) and Suryavanshi in the space of five balls.
Jurel responded with boundaries in the next over, and even after Riyan Parag was dismissed, Rajasthan completed the chase.
Jurel hit the winning six, with Shimron Hetmyer not out on 12 at the other end.
Yashasvi Jaiswal made 36 off 19 balls and added 37 for the opening wicket with Suryavanshi.
Mhatre leads Chennai recovery
Chennai posted 187-8 after falling to 78-5 in under eight overs, batting first on a hot and humid day in Delhi.
"If you look at the amount of runs we had put on the board, it was very good," said Dhoni. "But you got to see the wickets column as it puts pressure on the lower-middle order that you might not bat 20 overs."
Teenager Ayush Mhatre made 43 off 20 balls, lifting Chennai after two early wickets. His dismissal started a collapse.
Mhatre, who has a top score of 94 in his debut year, hit eight fours and one six before being dismissed by Tushar Deshpande.
Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Ashwin, and Yudhvir Singh claimed his third wicket by removing Ravindra Jadeja as Chennai lost five wickets in 7.4 overs.
Dewald Brevis scored 42 and shared a 59-run stand with Shivam Dube, who made 39, to rebuild the innings.
Rajasthan bowlers restricted Chennai to 17 runs in the final three overs.
Akash Madhwal took 3-29 and was named player of the match.
The IPL resumed on Saturday after being paused due to the conflict between India and Pakistan. The final is now scheduled for 3 June in Ahmedabad.