Odisha Govt Aims To Make Sambalpur A Leading City, Says Union Education Minister Pradhan

The side has let go of Disha Kasat, Indrani Roy, Nadine de Klerk, Heather Knight, Shubha Satheesh, Shraddha Pokharkar and Simran Dil Bahadur.  

“The WPL retention and release is always a balancing act heading into a mini-auction,” said head coach Luke Williams. “We really came to retain a significant number of players that were involved in the championship-winning team from last season, but, also, gave ourselves the flexibility and opportunity to select some targetted players in the auction to give us some depth going into the next season.”

“Disha, Heather, Nadine, Indrani, Simran, Shraddha, and Shubha have been released. We thank them for their significant contribution and we wish them all the best for the future," he said.

Shreyanka, the India all-rounder who became the leading wicket-taker in the WPL 2024 triumph, expressed gratitude for her being retained by RCB. "Playing for the team I’ve admired since childhood and then going on to win the trophy with them still feels surreal at times.

But what truly makes this journey special isn’t just the cricket or the victories—it’s the culture of support, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds we’ve built in that dressing room.”

“It’s about pushing each other to be our best, both on and off the field. There’s something uniquely powerful about being part of a team that’s as much about people and values as it is about performance. I’m excited to keep building on what we’ve started, alongside such inspiring teammates and our incredible fans who make every moment even more meaningful through this season too."

RCB will go into the auction, to be held next month, with a purse of INR 3.25 crore. Leg-spinner Asha, who played a pivotal role in RCB winning the title as part of the spin trio with Shreyanka and Sophie Molineux, went on to make her India debut in T20Is and ODIs, apart from playing in the T20 World Cup last month. She spoke about her happiness in being retained by the franchise.

"Staying with RCB means more to me than just wearing the jersey—it’s about being part of a family united by passion, purpose, and a shared belief in each other. My journey here has been nothing short of life-changing.”

“There was a time when I was ready to hang up my boots, uncertain of my place in the game. But being part of this team reignited something in me— a renewed sense of belief and purpose. It rekindled my dreams and led me to achieve what I once thought was out of reach: making my debut for India,” she said.

“Every training session, every match with RCB reminds me of the limitless potential within me, despite the challenges and setbacks. It’s the incredible team culture here that has shaped me both as a player and as a person. The support, the resilience, and the drive we share push me to strive for my very best, every single day.”

RCB retained players: Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry (overseas), Richa Ghosh, Sabbineni Meghana, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Wareham (overseas), Asha Sobhana, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine (overseas), Sophie Molineux (overseas), Ekta Bisht, Kanika Ahuja, Kate Cross (overseas), Danielle Wyatt-Hodge (overseas, traded in from UP Warriorz).

(IANS)

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The bike rider, who was reportedly died on the spot, has been identified as Pramod Tarai, 40. Pramod was working at IFFCO, Paradip.

As per reports, Pramod was going to office when tragedy struck. The incident happened near a Patrol Pump near Biswali Village. 

After committing the crime, the tanker didn't stop at the crime scene and fled away.

The Paradip Lock Police arrived at the scene and started investigation. The police have began search operation as well as blocked connected roads to prevent the tanker go out of reach.

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Iyer scored 233 off 228 balls, hitting 24 fours and nine sixes, with a strike rate of 102.19. His innings, along with significant contributions from Siddhesh Lad (169), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (92) and Suryansh Shedge (79 n o), propelled Mumbai to 602/4 declared after being put in to bat by Odisha. Odisha is currently playing in their first innings.

This is Iyer's third double-century in first-class cricket, following his double ton against Punjab in 2015 and a score of 202 against Australia A in 2017.

Iyer is the third-highest run-scorer in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, amassing 405 runs in four innings at an average of 101.25, including two centuries. His highest score is 233.

In the previous match against Maharashtra, he scored 142. In his first Ranji game of the season against Baroda, he managed scores of 0 and 30.

These substantial scores will undoubtedly bolster Iyer's confidence, especially after being dropped from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) central contract list this year due to concerns over his commitment to red-ball cricket.

Iyer was part of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy-winning side this year and also led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL, scoring 351 runs in 15 matches at an average of 39.00, with two half-centuries.

He marked his return to red-ball cricket for Mumbai in the Buchi Babu tournament, though he didn't make a major impact. In the season-opening Duleep Trophy, he scored 154 runs in three matches (six innings) at an average of 25.66, with two half-centuries.

Iyer also featured in Mumbai's Irani Cup-winning team against the Rest of India, scoring 57 and eight across the two innings.

He last represented India in Test cricket in February this year, before being dropped due to a slump in form. In 14 Tests, he has scored 811 runs at an average of 36.86, with one century and five fifties in 24 innings. His highest score in Tests is 105. 

(ANI)

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