Entertainment
India’s most expensive cinematic production—a mega-budget retelling of the beloved Hindu epic Ramayana—has divided film critics and cultural purists even as it draws packed crowds across theatres. While audiences have celebrated its ambitious visual scale and star-studded lineup, the film faces sharp pushback over colloquial language, creative departures from classical texts, and an over-reliance on visual effects at the expense of emotional depth.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football after an extraordinary 23-year journey with Portugal. Signing off as the sport’s all-time record goalscorer with 146 goals in 234 caps, the Euro 2016 champion confirmed in an emotional address that he is ‘handing back the number 7 shirt,’ prompting the Portuguese Football Federation to announce a special nationwide tribute to celebrate his historic career.
Celebrated British actor Sir Patrick Stewart has passed away at the age of 86. Rising from a childhood marked by domestic hardship and going completely bald by age 19, Stewart built a formidable career with the Royal Shakespeare Company before capturing global stardom as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor X in the X-Men franchise. Knighted in 2010, the Yorkshire-born legend proved that classical discipline and character can redefine modern popular culture.
In a game that swung like a pendulum, Australia’s explosive 104-run opening stand ended in a heartbreaking tailspin as Sri Lanka’s spinners choked the middle order. Chasing 182, the night belonged to Pathum Nissanka, who silenced the Australian attack with the tournament’s first century to secure Sri Lanka’s progression and leave the “Men in Yellow” praying for a miracle to stay alive.
Sport is about competing hard while retaining its essential spirit centred around grace. Shaking hands with an opponent is a basic component of any sporting endeavour.
Ishan Kishan’s explosive 77-run knock and a clinical bowling masterclass from Varun Chakaravarthy led India to a dominant 61-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Defending a target of 176, the Indian attack dismantled the Pakistan lineup for just 114 runs, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the T20 World Cup 2026 and officially securing a place in the next round.
As India prepares for their high-stakes World Cup match against Pakistan, Ravichandran Ashwin has shared a unique strategy to counter Usman Tariq’s “stop-and-pause” action. By stepping away from the crease during the bowler’s hesitation, Ashwin suggests Indian batters can use the “dead ball” rule to break Tariq’s rhythm and shift the psychological pressure back onto the opposition.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru created history on Thursday night, chasing down a massive target of 204 runs to defeat the Delhi Capitals by six wickets in the Women’s Premier League final at the BCA Stadium.
No team had ever chased a target as high as 311 at the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup before, but on Wednesday in Harare, India made it look like a walk in the park. A magnificent hundred from Aaron George and a blistering opening salvo from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi saw India pull off a record chase and beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second semi-final.
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