2025 will go down as one of the most unsettling chapters in Indian cricket -- not merely because of who retired, but because of how and when it happened.
Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is not scheduled to play serious football on the 'G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025'.
Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's touchdown in Kolkata in the early hours of Saturday sent the city into a frenzy.
Disappointing, wanted to go out on a high: Emotional Devine bids farewell to game
Kohli, who announced his red-ball retirement via Instagram earlier this month without a farewell match, received an ovation of a different kind.
Djokovic still undecided on next year's French Open after semi-final exit.
While Sachin Tendulkar's 2013 farewell became a national pilgrimage, a vibrant celebration befitting a cricketing deity, the exits of many other Indian icons this century have been quieter journeys into the twilight.
'I want to play more cricket. Where is the place? Obviously not in the Indian dressing room but from somewhere else. I want to be honest with the game.'
Sharath Kamal's illustrious two-decade career came to an end on Saturday as he lost to Snehit Suravajjula in the men's singles round of 16 match at the WTT Star Contender 2025.
Amid speculation that he has sought a farewell match, Pakistan's flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi has said that he is too experienced and seasoned a cricketer to make such a demand and ruled out calling it quits anytime soon. "I have played 20 years of international cricket for Pakistan and not the PCB. And I am not dependent on anyone for a match. The love and support I have got and get from my well-wishers and fans is enough reward for me," Afridi told the media in Peshawar on Sunday. The firebrand former Pakistan captain said he would not ask the PCB for any farewell match.
'When I went out to bat, it was nearing the end of play. The West Indies players honoured me, and the crowd gave me a warm reception. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I had to stay focused.'
The 37-year-old, who on Thursday announced his retirement from T20 Internationals with immediate effect, had expressed his desire to play his farewell match against South Africa at home in October if he is assured of safety on return to Bangladesh.
German giants Bayern Munich expectedly thrashed the Indian national team 4-0 in Bhaichung Bhutia's farewell match, which had little in quality, in Delhi on Tuesday. Around 35,000 spectators watched the match at the floodlit Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, but the national team, led for the last time by Bhutia, was no match for the highly-fancied German side, which had overwhelming ball possession and did most of the attacking.
Shakib was named as an accused in a murder case back home during the political unrest that led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
India's friendly match against German football giant, Bayern Munich in January next year will be Indian legend Bhaichung Bhutia's "official farewell match", the AIFF said on Saturday.
Thanking everyone for being part of his glorious 19-year journey in international football, Sunil Chhetri was in tears as his teammates gave the Indian football icon a guard of honour while the packed Salt Lake Stadium rose for a standing ovation.
David Warner received a 'Guard of Honour' from Pakistan
A summary of the concluding day's action in the German Cup, French Cup and La Liga.
The Newlands contest lasted 642 balls with India registering a series-levelling victory in the shortest ever Test
Former Australia Test skipper Tim Paine labelled the SCG pitch as an "absolute disgrace" which was produced for the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Tasmania.
The Brazilian striker celebrated his international farewell with a goal as the world champions beat Guatemala 3-0 in a friendly international.
Former captain Michael Ballack has described as a 'farce' an offer to end his Germany career with a friendly against Brazil in August, saying on Friday he was not being treated with respect by coach Joachim Loew.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum set a new record for the fastest Test century after lunch on the first day of the second Test against Australia on Saturday when he clouted exactly 100 runs in 54 balls.
What some of our leaders were up to on the weekend.
Top German football club Bayern Munich, on Wednesday, announced a 24-member squad for the Bhaichung Bhutia farewell exhibition match against India XI, in New Delhi, on January 10 with all the first team players being named.
Rohan Bopanna revealed that he will bring curtains down on his Davis Cup career when the country hosts Morocco in September
In an emotional farewell, Sania Mirza brought an end to her glorious career where it all began.
Former India batsman VVS Laxman reckons Dhoni would bid the game farewell at his 'home ground'.
Novak Djokovic produced a stunning performance to thrash Frances Tiafoe in his first match since winning Wimbledon in July to edge Team Europe ahead in the Laver Cup on Saturday.
20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer returned from more than a year away for a last dance in tandem with great rival Rafael Nadal on a gripping and memorable finale by the Thames in front of a 17,500 sell-out crowd at London's O2 Arena on Friday.
Irfan Pathan, who retired from cricket in January, has suggested a charity-cum-farewell match between the retired Indian players and the current Virat Kohli-led team.
According to details, the PCB has reminded Saqlain, who is the head of international players development at the High Performance Centre, that he is a board employee and can't post videos on YouTube.
There were speculations regarding Dhoni's participation in this year's T20 World Cup in Australia, which was postponed to 2022 due to the global health crisis.
Images from the the T20 World Cup Super 12s match between Afghanistan and Namibia, in Abu Dhabi, on Sunday.
Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has hit back over legendary batsman Javed Miandad's recent comments that the former T20 skipper "wanted the farewell game only for money". Speaking during the book launch ceremony of sports journalist Saleem Khaliq, the 36-year-old all-rounder said that money has always been an issue for Miandad rather than him. Afridi further went on to say that it doesn't suit the legendary cricketer like Miandad to pass such kind of "irresponsible" comments.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has saluted 'role model' Sachin Tendulkar for inspiring an entire generation of cricketers after the hosts crushed a hapless West Indies by an innings and 126 runs in the master batsman's farewell match to complete a 2-0 series whitewash.
West Indies on Sunday paid a tribute to their legendary batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul. The veteran will touch the milestone of playing 150 Tests when the Caribbean side will clash with India from Wednesday to salvage a draw in the two-match series.
Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com picks the five best matches of the final round.
South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis on Sunday surpassed Rahul Dravid as the third highest run-getter in Test cricket after a 115-run knock against India in his farewell match in Durban.
Already ruled out of India's exhibition match against Bayern Munich which is also Bhaichung Bhutia's farewell match, Sunil Chhetri talks about Bhaichung's influence on his career, his telepathy with the legendary striker and much more.
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