ISL 2025-26: Odisha, Inter Kashi share points in Bhubaneswar

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bhubaneswar, Feb 24 (IANS) Odisha FC and Inter Kashi FC played out a goalless draw in Gameweek 2 of Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 at the Kalinga Stadium, in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Odisha FC, playing their first match of the season, and Inter Kashi FC, building on their encouraging league debut, were evenly matched throughout.

Despite chances at both ends, neither side could find the breakthrough as the contest ended in the first stalemate of the season. Despite nine attempts from Odisha and eight from Inter Kashi, only two shots on target were registered by each side. Odisha’s Rahul KP was named the Player of the Match.

The visitors started brightly. In the opening minute, Inter Kashi midfielder Tomba Singh made a sharp low save from distance.

Odisha responded around the quarter-hour mark when Rahul KP fired over from long range, following a quick transition initiated by Lalthathanga Khawlhring. Shortly after, Suhair VP, headed over for Odisha from close range after a set-piece delivery by Isak Vanlalruatfela.

Midway through the first half, Thoiba Singh won a free-kick for the hosts on the right and later headed narrowly wide from Khawlhring’s delivery. Suhair again failed to hit the target from another set-piece situation. At the other end, Planas saw a close-range effort blocked by the defence. Just before the break, Vanlalruatfela tested Lluis Tarrés with a low strike from distance, but the Inter Kashi custodian gathered comfortably as the teams went into the interval.

Early in the second half, Inter Kashi forward Rohit Danu had a header blocked inside the area. A little after the hour mark, Vanlalruatfela came closest for the Juggernauts, but his left-footed effort from a tight angle was blocked by defender David Humanes.

In the 73rd minute, Danu dragged a shot wide from the left after being picked out by Prasanth Mohan. Deep into stoppage time, he attempted another effort from distance, which sailed just over the crossbar.

Both teams pushed in the closing ten minutes, with Inter Kashi threatening more. However, neither could apply the finishing touch as the contest ended goalless, with both sides sharing the spoils.

–IANS

bsk/

Related Posts

Defending champions Anish Thapa and Nirmaben Thakor to lead Indian contingent at Mumbai Marathon

Mumbai, Jan 3 (IANS) The 21st Mumbai Marathon, a World Athletics gold label event, will feature a vibrant blend of experienced champions and rising stars, highlighting the depth and strength of Indian distance running nationwide. Attention will be on defending champions Anish Thapa and Nirmaben Thakor as they aim to reclaim their titles at Asia’s premier marathon on January 18.

The top three finishers in both the Indian Elite men’s and women’s categories will receive prize money of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 4 lakh, and Rs 3 lakh, respectively. Additionally, there is a bonus of Rs 2 lakh for setting an event record, as well as a jackpot of Rs 1 lakh for achieving an Indian event record. Currently, the Indian event records are held by Nitendra Singh Rawat (2:15:48) in the men’s category and Sudha Singh (2:34:56) in the women’s category.

Anish Thapa leads the men’s elite field, demonstrating his strong championship record after winning the Hyderabad Marathon 2025. As an experienced runner, he has a personal best of 2:16:41, achieved in Delhi in 2022.

He will encounter strong competition from Man Singh, the runner-up at the Mumbai Marathon 2025. Man Singh has an impressive personal best of 2:13:25, set at the 2025 Valencia Marathon. He is the third-fastest Indian marathoner ever and won the 2024 Asian Marathon Championships, making him a prominent contender.

Adding to the competition is Srinu Bugatha, a two-time Mumbai Marathon Champion (2020 & 2024), returning with proven experience on this course. He will be accompanied by Pradeep Singh Chaudhary, who has been steadily improving on the domestic circuit and is emerging as a formidable challenger.

The women’s elite race features Nirmaben Thakor, aiming for a historic third Mumbai Marathon win. She will compete against Jyoti Gawate, a two-time winner in 2011 and 2017, who is making a notable comeback. Additionally, Lalita Babbar achieved three consecutive wins from 2012 to 2014, a record Nirmaben hopes to match.

Bhagirathi, a marathon winner in Hyderabad and Delhi, also competes, with a personal best of 2:48:56 set in Delhi. The women’s lineup includes Sonam, who finished on the podium at Mumbai Marathon 2025, and Ashvini Madan Jadhav, one of the youngest athletes in the elite field.

Vivek Singh, JT MD, Procam International, said, “The Tata Mumbai Marathon has always been a definitive platform for Indian distance running and the 21st edition once again underlines the depth, resilience and growing competitiveness of our elite athletes. With defending champions returning, former winners back in contention and a strong group of emerging runners stepping up, the Indian elite field reflects how far the sport has progressed nationally. As a World Athletics Gold Label Race, the Tata Mumbai Marathon continues to challenge Indian athletes to test themselves against the highest benchmarks while giving them a stage that commands global attention.”

This year’s race will include 36 of the country’s best athletes, with 23 men and 13 women, competing intensely for the men’s and women’s titles.

–IANS

vi/

IPL 2025: Du Plessis returns, Bethell handed debut as RCB elect to bowl first against DC

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Faf du Plessis returns for Delhi Capitals (DC) while England’s batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been handed a debut in the IPL as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and elected to bowl first in match 46 of the ongoing tournament at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.

The winner of this game between second-placed DC and third-ranked RCB will replace Gujarat Titans (GT) at the top of the points table. The last time these two teams met in the tournament, KL Rahul smashed an unbeaten 93 to take DC to a stunning six-wicket win over RCB at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 10.

After winning the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar said Bethell replaces his countrymate Phil Salt, who is down with fever. “The wicket is quite good to bat on and I don’t think it’s going to change too much and we like to chase. It’s our first win at our home and we will try to continue playing good cricket. In every match, we are trying to improve, so we want to keep learning,” he said.

Du Plessis, meanwhile, is back for DC after missing last four games due to a groin injury. Captain Axar Patel said he would have preferred to bat first if he had won the toss, and that the Impact Player will be decided accordingly in the match, with Ashutosh Sharma slotted in impact substitutes. “In the last game (against RR), there was no dew but in the game against Mumbai, there was some dew.”

“They (LSG) had two foreign batters at the top so I wanted to bowl against them. I was bowling with a good rhythm, the plan wasn’t to bowl four overs in a row but I kept bowling so I continued with it,” he said.

Sunday’s match will be played on pitch number four at the stadium, which was used in DC’s clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 13, which the visitors won by 12 runs. The pitch report by broadcasters said the surface looked very dry, with live grass not available. Square boundaries are at 58m and 66m respectively, while straight boundary stands at 71m.

Playing XIs

Delhi Capitals: Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mukesh Kumar

Impact Substitutes: Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Jake Fraser McGurk, Madhav Tiwari, and Tripurana Vijay

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal

Impact Substitutes: Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, and Swapnil Singh

–IANS

nr/ab

Ashes: ‘They’re playing to 20 per cent of their potential’, says Broad on England’s performance in Gabba Test

New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS) Former pacer Stuart Broad believes there is some frustration within the England team regarding their performance from Day 3, stating that Ben Stokes’ side is playing just 20 per cent of their potential in this ongoing day-night Ashes Test at the Gabba.

Despite losing Alex Carey early on Day 3 at the Gabba, Australia recovered to compile a formidable total of 511, thanks to Mitchell Starc (77) and Scott Boland’s (21) substantial partnership of 75 runs for the ninth wicket.

England got off to a good start in their second innings, scoring 48 runs in the first seven overs. Then, the Australian pacers ran riot with the ball, tearing through the England top order as the tourists found themselves stranded at 134/6 at the end of Day 3 play.

“I think there is some frustration for sure. It’s a very talented group, and in the five days of Ashes cricket so far, they’re playing to about maximum 20 per cent of their potential,” said Broad on SEN cricket.

“I think ultimately, when you are getting beaten by a side that you think, ‘They are way better than us, ‘ there is a bit of an understanding. I don’t think anyone in England looks at this Australian side and goes, ‘They are way better than this English team’.

“I think England are gifting opportunities back to Australia, and if you do that in Australia, you are going to cause yourself a lot of problems,” he added.

Resuming from their overnight score of 134/6, Ben Stokes and Will Jacks are slowly but surely chipping away at Australia’s lead as England made it to lunch without losing a wicket. The duo also brought up their 50-run partnership.

Australia got its closest chance to breaking up the partnership with Stokes almost being dismissed on 30, hitting the edge and flying over Cameron Green by just a hand in the slips cordon, with the ball racing to the boundary.

Australian bowlers, despite some good bowling, have been unable to break the partnership of Stokes and Jacks, with the two all-rounders now making 65 runs at the crease together for a 16-run lead at Tea.

–IANS

bc/vi