MUMBAI: An era concluded in Indian cricket as Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Thursday. The former India captain, who famously led the side to a remarkable Test series triumph in Australia in 2020-21, made the announcement in an emotional post on social media on Thursday.Rahane walks off having featured in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is for India while also turning out in 212 IPL games for six teams. He put out a video statement on his Instagram account making his decision public, where he said: "The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, we simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting and I have always understood its importance. Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats."Paying rich compliments to Rahane, former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar, who has closely observed Rahane's career over the years, told TOI, "I've seen Ajinkya since his Under-19 days. At that time, I was the chairman of the BCCI's talent spotters (TRDO). He was also a part of the India Emerging team for a tour of Australia (in 2008). He was a hard-working, focused, disciplined and sincere cricketer. Of course, the highlights of his career were scoring that match-winning century for India at Lord's (against England in 2014 in a Test) and captaining India to an amazing series win in Australia in the 2020-21 (Border-Gavaskar) Test series."However, Vengsarkar felt that India's think tank could've treated Rahane better. "But the one thing I didn't understand, that after captaining India to a Test win against Australia at Dharmashala (in March 2017), how did he become the 12th man just six months later? It was baffling to see at that time," the ex-chairman of selectors wondered. Vengsarkar was referring to India's tour of South Africa in 2018, when Rahane was dropped for the first two Tests at Cape Town and Centurion, before being recalled for the third Test at Johannesburg.Praising Rahane's technique, Vengsarkar said, "He had a very good technique and temperament. He also had a good defensive technique in the longest format of the game. He was one of our best batters in overseas conditions, and a good player of fast bowling. The only thing is that I wish he had a continuous stint as an India cricketer, because that also helps the player mentally. Being in and out of the side continuously is detrimental to the confidence of a cricketer, and his game was all about confidence.""Ajinkya conducted himself very well off the field as well. He played for Mumbai with the same intensity and commitment as he did for India. I wish him all the best for his future endeavors post retirement. It's a good, expected decision by Rahane. Possibly he wants to build a career in media," Vengsarkar felt.Former India batter Pravin Amre, who was the Mumbai head coach when Rahane made his first-class debut back in Sept 2007 for Mumbai against Karachi Urban in the Mohammad Nissar Trophy, said, For me, I think it's been an incredible journey. I'm very proud of Rahanes journey, because I saw him as an under-17 player. And from there, representing in 85 Tests, is truly phenomenal. Also, he played for 18 years in the IPL, which is incredible. He captained Indias Test team. Nobody can forget his contribution in Australia, especially when India lost the first Test at Adelaide, and then won the second Test at Melbourne. He led from the front with a century.Amre rated Rahanes century against Australia in the memorable 2020-21 Test series even higher than the batters classy ton at Lords on a greentop, which helped India win that Test against all odds.As a coach, I enjoyed many of his milestones, like getting that Test century at Lords, which I think was one of the best centuries by an India batter in an overseas Test. It was a top-class knock on a complete great top. However, I will still rate his century in the (second Test) Melbourne Test (in 2020-21) higher. That hundred was about him leading from the front, as Virat was not there. I think that the course of that Test, and that series changed completely after his hundred, Amre said.Amre asserted that it was Rahanes ability to score centuries in tough conditions overseas, especially the SENA countries, that marked him out as special.One is rated as a complete batsman when one scores runs in England, Australia, and the SENA countries in general. And Ajinkya did that. I think that was his main role, and that's what we (he and Rahane) prepared for also, and I'm proud of it. I definitely feel that Rahane deserved to play 100 Tests. However, he finished with a phenomenal record. His contribution as a fielder also was great, especially in the slips, he was brilliant, Amre gushed.Praising the attitude of his ward and his ability to bat India out of crisis situations in tough conditions, Amre said, Ajinkya was a coach's delight. To work with him was such a wonderful experience, because he was always willing to listen, which I think is very important. He enjoyed his cricket. He gave plenty of enjoyment to Team Indias fans as well, because whenever India needed him the most, he was there with the bat. He was Indias Crisis Man. That's what's very important. It wasnt easy for him since he played in an Indian team which had great players like Rohit (Sharma) and Virat (Kohli). The limelight was not on him. However, he played his role of a reliable Test batsman perfectly.Pointing out that Rahane was also a good limited-overs player, Amre said, People underestimated his white-ball game. If you see, anybody who played 18 years of IPL is a phenomenal achievement. I saw his entire journey. We worked together. I am proud of his commitment, his performances under pressure. 132738404Amre felt that Rahane could contribute a lot to the game after his retirement. I wish him all the best for a good second innings. And thats because he can be a good coach or a commentator. But I want him to be connected with cricket. Because now he is an experienced man. And you cannot buy experience in the supermarket.I was there when he made his debut for Mumbai, in Pakistan, and scored a century (143). It was something special. He always enjoyed pressure. He is a quiet warrior. He never showed off. As a coach, I can say that he has performed to his potential. Im proud of his achievement, and whenever he was given an opportunity, he gave his best. That is more important, concluded Amre.After waiting on the bench for 16 Tests, Rahane finally made his Test debut in the home series against Australia in Delhi in the fourth and final Test in March 2013. India won that match by six wickets, but Rahane failed miserably, as he was dismissed for 7 & 1. However, the Mumbai batter bounced back from that initial setback, slamming a magnificent century (103) at Lords against England in July 2014 to shape Indias stunning 95-run win on a greentop.Subsequently, he went on to establish himself as one of the crucial cogs of India's batting spine for years to come. Rahane played 85 Tests, scoring 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46. The 38-year-old played his last Test at Port of Spain against West Indies in July 2023, after making a comeback for the World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval a month earlier. However, he found himself sidelined due to poor form and the selectors will to look beyond him. In March 2024, he captained Mumbai to their 42nd Ranji Trophy title. He expressed a willingness to return to Indias Test team for one last time, but his lack of runs in domestic cricket for Mumbai didnt support his cause.During his illustrious career, Rahane became one of Indias most reliable middle-order batters away from home, where he scored eight of his 12 Test tons, with one each coming in England and New Zealand and two each in Sri Lanka and West Indies."From those early days traveling from Dombivli as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every single day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap. I lived by one simple rule: always put my country and my team ahead of myself. I played this game with complete honesty and I have always believed that if your intent is right, the game will always take care of you. Since the time I made my debut as a first-class cricketer, Indian cricket has grown tremendously and I feel so proud to have been a part of it over the last 20 years. While my chapter as an Indian cricketer comes to an end, my journey with the game doesn't.""I look forward to helping the next generation, sharing the values this sport has taught me, and giving back to the game that has given me everything. From starting out as a young player in Mumbai, to playing for India, it has been an absolute honor. There have been many wins and losses along the way, but the sheer joy of playing cricket, being part of different teams, and creating lifelong memories, that has been the greatest satisfaction of my career. To the BCCI, the MCA, my teammates, my coaches, every IPL franchise, to Radhika, my entire family, my friends, and everyone who stood by me, thank you."And a very special thank you to all the cricket fans who supported me through every high and low. Ajinkya means unbeatable, but cricket has shown me defeat many times. As cricketers, we fail more often than we succeed. My team has lost matches, I have made mistakes, but there is one place where I was never defeated, and that was in your hearts. (In Marathi) You always treated me like your own. Thank you for your love, your faith, and your support. Cap number 278, signing off," said Rahane in is video message.Reacting to Rahanes decision, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president Ajinkya Naik said, "Ajinkya Rahanes retirement marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian cricket. His dedication, composure under pressure, and commitment to excellence have made him one of Mumbai crickets finest ambassadors. His legacy will inspire generations to come."

Dental Tourism in Mumbai: 9 Amazing Benefits of Choosing Mumbai for Your Dental Treatment Introduction Dental Tourism in Mumbai has become one of the most trusted choices for patients seeking high-quality dental care at affordable prices. Every year, thousands of international visitors, NRIs, and medical travelers choose Mumbai for everything from preventive dental care to...

  According to the latest report published by Data Bridge Market Research, the Platelet Aggregation Devices Market The global platelet aggregation devices market size was valued at USD 927.45 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1.44 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 5.67% during the forecast period   The large scale Platelet Aggregation...

Enterprise WAN serves as the operational backbone for modern organizations, enabling seamless communication between corporate headquarters, branch offices, data centers, and remote employees. Historically, enterprise networking relied heavily on Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) circuits. However, the modern enterprise ecosystem demands greater flexibility, lower latency, and reduced...

Here's how it played out picking from the fourth position

The deadline is inching closer and very few deals have materialized yet

After 10,000 simulations, SportsLine's model reveals its top MLB picks today

The Arizona Cardinals may have invested the No. 3 overall pick in Jeremiyah Love this spring, but their running back competition is not an open-and-shut case not even close. In each of their 11-on-11 sessions in training camp, Tyler Allgeier has taken the first snaps with the starting offense.One sequence on Wednesday, July 29, felt emblematic. It was Loves second snap of the day, and he whiffed on picking up a blitz in pass protection, causing the play to be whistled dead for a sack. Allgeier replaced him on the next play, and Love didnt return to the field with the starters until two drives later.These are all normal parts of the rookie learning curve. Typically, the two biggest hurdles for those backs are in pass protection and in picking the correct rushing lanes.But the Cardinals are in a unique position, having acquired Tyler Allgeier as a veteran option in free agency before drafting Love. They do not need to force Love onto the field as he acclimates to the league.And, indeed, on Wednesday, Allgeier led the Cardinals first-team offense in carries, with 10 to Loves four the widest margin of camp.Plus, thats with James Conner still limited to individual work as he returns from a foot injury. Last week, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett went out of his way to praise Conner, saying he is excited for James to get out there and show what hes got. That could further cut into Loves workload early on.When Love is on the field, though, its hard to ignore his explosiveness. He broke off one impressive big run with the second-team offense, bursting through a small crack in the defensive line. The challenge is simply getting himself in those positions.Offensive line struggles continueIf theres an overarching trend early in training camp, its this: The Cardinals pass catchers have generally gotten the better of their secondary, finding open space downfield as Mike LaFleur works to install his offensive scheme. But up front, the defense has had the clear edge.Defensive end Darius Robinson and edge rusher Eku Leota have been among the more productive pass rushers, creating consistent issues for both Gardner Minshew and Jacoby Brissett. On the other side, Elijah Wilkinson has struggled to protect the quarterback at right tackle, while both starting guards (Isaac Seumalo and Isaiah Adams) have had occasional issues.On Wednesday, that trend was amplified because of penalties, as the offensive line was repeatedly whistled for false starts. When he was hired, LaFleur preached the importance of having a clean pre-snap operation. But with the offensive line enduring growing pains, that hasnt yet come to fruition.Another mixed day for Marvin Harrison Jr.One day after making headlines with an ugly drop, Harrison was once again Brissetts preferred receiver, seeing five targets.On some of those, he found significant space over the middle of the field, including with a nice deep curl route against Will Johnson. Thats been a common trend in camp, as LaFleurs scheme has benefitted this wide receiver corps.At the end of the day, though, Harrison had just two catches on his five targets. One of those was uncatchable, but the other two hit him in the hands. On one, he failed to haul in a diving attempt after a nice double move. On the other, he couldnt complete a contested catch over the middle. Both would have been impressive grabs, but theyre plays that Harrison will want to make.This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Growing pains for RB Jeremiyah Love at Arizona Cardinals camp

The Philadelphia Eagles opened training camp this week at the Jefferson Health Training Complex, and the biggest story isn't a player; it's a scheme. After parting ways with Kevin Patullo and bringing in Sean Mannion, the Eagles are rolling out a substantially different offense in 2026.The Eagles' first camp practice, an unpadded session lasting roughly 70 minutes, gave the coaching staff and media their first real look at how the new system functions. By most accounts, it was imperfect but promising. The offense reportedly looked far more functional than it had during the spring when Vic Fangio's defense had largely dominated the reps. One detail that stood out was a heavy dose of under-center play-action looks with Jalen Hurts connecting on several on-time throws over the middle.The tweet youve all been waiting for: Jalen Hurts just found DeVonta Smith on a dig route over the middle of the field with Quinyon Mitchell in coverage. #Eagles EJ Smith (@EJSmith94) July 29, 2026The run game may also look slightly different. Tank Bigsby, now in his second season with the Eagles, flashed early, mixing in a strong inside run with a catch-and-run out of the backfield. If the Eagles lean into more two-tight-end (12 personnel) sets, especially with Eli Stowers in the mix, it could open the door to more varied backfield combinations.Very early into practice and Eagles RB Tank Bigsby has already made some nice plays. Good run up the middle and then a catch-and-run from the flag to shake a defender for YAC. Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) July 29, 2026The offensive line will factor into the equation as well. With longtime coach Jeff Stoutland no longer with the team, new position coach Chris Kuper is now responsible for installing and teaching a different set of blocking strategies up front.None of this is more than a first impression. Training camp battles and early practice reps have a way of looking different than regular-season football. But the early signals are exactly what a team hoping to reinvent its offensive identity would want. The real test will come once pads go on and preseason games begin, but for now, we will pay close attention to how this new-look offense continues to develop.This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles' offense getting a facelift in training camp under new OC Sean Mannion