Sports

Colombo, April 30 (IANS) Newly-appointed interim chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, Eran Wickramaratne, has asserted that the ongoing administrative overhaul is aimed purely at revitalising the sport across all levels, dismissing any notion of political interference following the resignation of the previous board led by Shammi Silva.

Wickramaratne, a former Member of Parliament and investment banker, assumed charge at SLC headquarters after being appointed by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage to lead the newly formed interim committee tasked with stabilising and reforming the governing body.

“We are here mainly tasked with how to develop the cricket sport in the country from the very school periphery to the clubs extending to the district level as well as women’s cricket, where we intend to give our full backing towards that end,” he said in an SLC release.

The interim setup marks a significant restructuring at SLC following the collective resignation of Silva and his executive committee amid growing criticism over governance issues, financial concerns, and a dip in the national team’s performances. Sri Lanka’s early exit from the recent T20 World Cup, which they co-hosted, is widely seen as a key factor prompting the change.

Clarifying the mandate of the committee, Wickramaratne emphasised that the focus remains strictly on fulfilling assigned responsibilities rather than pursuing individual agendas.

“We have not come to do what we want to do, but to essentially do what we have been assigned to do, principally run the administration and what happens on the cricket field,” he told the media.

The interim panel includes several prominent cricketing and administrative figures, such as former captains Kumar Sangakkara and Roshan Mahanama, along with former opener Sidath Wettimuny, alongside professionals from finance, law, and governance. Wickramaratne highlighted the collective expertise within the group as a key strength.

Commenting that the team entrusted to him was solid, with cricket-savvy personnel from Kumar Sangakkara to Sidath Wettimuny and Roshan Mahanama, Wickramaratne beamed that the gamut covered highly qualified professionals from administration to finance and law.

The shake-up comes after a turbulent period for Sri Lanka Cricket, including a 2023 ICC suspension and the relocation of the Under-19 World Cup, which raised concerns about governance standards. The current transition will be closely watched by the International Cricket Council, particularly in determining whether the changes constitute administrative reform or political involvement.

Outlining the broader vision, Wickramaratne stressed that the committee’s responsibility extends beyond short-term management to the implementation of structural changes within the sport.

Further elaborating on the Transformation Committee’s role, its Chairman said, “The Transformation Committee’s task is to create a meaningful change in respect of the game of cricket from the constitution downwards to the cricket field.”

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) Punjab Kings are sitting at the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 table, but former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop believes that their bowling needs to step up in terms of execution, adding that out-batting strong opposition teams is not a sustainable formula for winning the championship.

PBKS saw their unbeaten run end when they lost to Rajasthan Royals by six wickets in New Chandigarh. Their bowlers bowled more than twice the number of slower balls compared to RR, but leaked 64 runs off 27 such deliveries without taking a wicket, which meant they erred hugely in execution and got a thorough reality check.

“Look, I think I said yesterday, and it's something that I've been thinking deeply about with Punjab because I'm a great fan of Shreyas Iyer’s leadership and also Ricky Ponting as a coach. I like the aggressive way that Punjab, not even this iteration, I go back to the 2014 Punjab Kings team that got to the final. I go back through the pandemic when Punjab were going hard.

“This hasn't just begun. The one thing that concerns me, and it sounds counterintuitive, is that the team at the top of the table, I'm going to identify their bowling as something that they will believe as well, needs to be better because when I go across the metrics again, in each phase, Punjab are in the bottom three bowling-wise.

“So what happens is that you're limiting yourself to trying to out-bat, for want of a more savvy term, like strong opposition teams like RCB, like Sunrisers Hyderabad, a wonderful bowling team like Rajasthan Royals with Jofra Archer. The teams that historically have won the IPL, certainly in this decade, if I could go back maybe up to 2010, 2015, have always had a balance between batting and bowling,” Bishop, an ESPNCricinfo expert, told IANS in a virtual interaction ahead of TATA IPL 2026 Revenge Week.

PBKS have also conceded five 200‑plus totals and one score of 195 in seven completed innings. Much of that slide is linked to left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh enduring his toughest IPL season, where his average and economy rate have been on the higher side.

Only time will tell if PBKS get their bowling act right against Gujarat Titans, who they meet in Ahmedabad on Sunday, when the ‘revenge week’ phase of the competition is observed from May 2-10. PBKS bowlers had fared really well at the back-end of the innings when they previously beat GT in New Chandigarh to kickstart their stellar season on a high.

“Now that may change this IPL, I'm waiting to see. But I do think Punjab are excellent at batting, but they need their bowlers to stand up. I think they mis-executed in that last game that you spoke about. They were put under pressure, and under pressure is when the best bowlers will execute their yorkers, execute their slower balls.

“As good as the surface is up in Mullanpur, I think there was some mis-execution there with full tosses that were intended to be yorkers, et cetera. So the Arshdeep’s, the Lockie Ferguson’s, to a lesser extent, Yuzvendra Chahal, and those guys have to start executing that,” added Bishop.

Catch TATA IPL 2026's Revenge Week, May 2-10, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network

--IANS

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Manchester, April 30 (IANS) Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new long-term contract that will keep him at the club until 2031, ending months of speculation surrounding his future with the top English club.

The 21-year-old England international had previously signed a deal in 2023, just before breaking into the first team. That contract was set to run until 2027, with an option to extend by another year. However, uncertainty emerged earlier this season when Mainoo struggled for regular game time under former manager Ruben Amorim.

Since Amorim’s departure in January, Mainoo has enjoyed a resurgence under interim boss Michael Carrick. He has started 11 of the last 12 league matches, missing only the 2-1 defeat to Leeds United due to injury. “Manchester United has always been my home; this special club means everything to my family,” he said in a statement released by the club.

“I have the privilege of living my dream every single day, with the same relentless desire to succeed here as when I joined my first training session at the age of six.

“We can all feel the momentum building inside the club. I am determined to step up and play my role in helping Manchester United to regularly fight for major trophies in the years ahead,” he added.

The Stockport-born midfielder is widely recognised as one of the best talents of his generation. He joined the club’s world-renowned Academy in 2014, having been associated with Manchester United since the age of six.

At just 21, the boyhood United fan has already made 98 appearances for the club, scoring the decisive goal in the 2024 Emirates FA Cup final and representing England in the Euro 2024 final.

Jason Wilcox, Manchester United Director of Football, said: “Kobbie is one of the most naturally gifted young footballers in the world.

“His technical ability, dedicated professionalism, and humble personality make him the perfect role model for our young players and a true credit to our outstanding Academy system.

“We are delighted that Kobbie has extended his stay here and have full confidence that he will develop into one of the best players in the world, ready to play a pivotal role in a Manchester United team challenging for the biggest honours.”

--IANS

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Mohali, April 30 (IANS) Roundglass Hockey Academy (RGHA) is set to embark on an exciting international tour as they travel to Kenya to participate in the Sikh Union Club Nairobi Centenary Celebrations Hockey Tournament 2026, which is scheduled from May 1 to May 9 in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.

The prestigious tournament marks the 100th anniversary of the historic Sikh Union Club. Celebrating a century of rich sporting heritage, the club holds immense significance in the global hockey landscape for its foundational role in developing the sport in East Africa and producing a legendary pipeline of Olympians for the Kenyan national team.

The event will feature a highly competitive lineup of teams, providing the RGHA athletes with an invaluable opportunity to showcase their talent on an international stage and gain crucial exposure against diverse playing styles.

Following a string of impressive performances on the domestic circuit—including multiple recent national camp call-ups- a strong RGHA squad has been selected for the Kenya tour. The team is geared up for a demanding schedule of fixtures that will test their skills, resilience, and tactical adaptability in a vibrant, international hockey environment.

According to the official tournament schedule, Roundglass Hockey Academy will kick off its campaign against Select U23 on May 1. This will be followed by the match against Satellites on May 2. The squad will then face the Niger Flickers on May 4, before concluding their group-stage matches with two highly anticipated clashes against the host club Sikh Union Nairobi and London Sikh Union, on May 6 and 7, respectively.

RGHA Squad for Sikh Union Club Nairobi Centenary Celebrations Hockey Tournament 2026

Goalkeepers: Jashandeep Singh, Arshdeep Singh

Defenders: Prince Singh, Amandeep Singh, Dilavarpreet Singh

Midfielders: Sunny Singh, Damanpreet Singh, Varinder Singh, Arshpreet Singh, Damandeep Singh, Om Rajnes

Forwards: Gurwinder Singh, Sukhmanpreet Singh, Sukhpreet Singh, Jarman Singh, Razzaq Ali, Jobanpreet Singh, Anurag Singh

--IANS

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Johannesburg, April 30 (IANS) Experienced campaigners Dane Paterson and Ottneil Baartman have been included alongside emerging pacer Nqobani Mokoena in South Africa A’s squad for their upcoming tour of England, where they will face the England Lions in a series of red- and white-ball matches.

The tour will begin with two four-day fixtures from May 22, with the side to be led by batter Marques Ackermann. The coaching group will be headed by Wandile Gwavu, with former internationals Justin Ontong and Rory Kleinveldt taking charge of batting and bowling duties respectively.

Baartman, 33, finds himself back in contention after narrowly missing out on selection for the T20 World Cup. He will look to stake his claim in the red-ball format, while young fast bowler Mokoena, already capped in T20Is, continues his progression through the ranks.

Paterson’s inclusion marks a notable return to the longer-format setup. The seamer last featured in Tests in the 2024 Boxing Day match, which helped South Africa secure a place in the World Test Championship final. Although he travelled with the squad to Lord’s, he did not make the playing XI and subsequently missed overseas tours to Pakistan and India. Now 37 and without a central contract, this assignment presents a renewed opportunity as South Africa gear up for a busy home Test season.

All three pacers, Paterson, Baartman, and Mokoena, have also been named in the one-day squad for the three-match series that follows the four-day games. They will be joined in the limited-overs setup by promising quicks Kwena Maphaka and Gerald Coetzee.

In the batting department, Tony de Zorzi returns after recovering from an injury that ruled him out of the T20 World Cup. He features in both squads alongside Jason Smith, who had limited opportunities in that tournament. Additional batting options include the Hermann brothers, Jordan Hermann and Rubin Hermann, as well as Sinethemba Qeshile and Lesego Senokwane, all of whom are on the fringes of national selection.

The one-day squad also features Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Connor Esterhuizen, both of whom are currently playing in the Indian Premier League. Pretorius has already represented South Africa across formats, while Esterhuizen impressed on his T20I debut tour in New Zealand, finishing as the leading run-scorer.

The four-day matches will be played at Arundel and Beckenham, venues familiar to the side from their preparations ahead of the World Test Championship final. The white-ball fixtures are scheduled to take place in Leicester and Worcester, providing a comprehensive test for South Africa A as they look to build depth across formats ahead of a demanding international calendar.

South Africa A Four-Day Squad: Marques Ackerman, Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Zubayr Hamza, Jordan Hermann, Rubin Hermann, Nqobani Mokoena, Dane Paterson, Sinethemba Qeshile, Lesego Senokwane, Jason Smith, Prenelan Subrayen, Tiaan van Vuuren, Codi Yusuf

South Africa A One-Day squad: Marques Ackerman, Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester, Bjorn Fortuin, Rubin Hermann, Kwena Maphaka, Nqobani Mokoena, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Jason Smith, Prenelan Subrayen

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) Former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara admitted that attempting modern attacking shots like the reverse sweep would not have suited his batting style, saying it could have cost him his wicket in Test cricket.

“Ravi bhai, if I had played such a shot in a Test match, I wouldn’t have been able to score runs. All three of my stumps would have been knocked over, because it was very difficult for me to execute that shot,” Pujara told Jio Hotstar.

The remark came during a light-hearted exchange with former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who joked about how Pujara might have reacted if asked to practise the reverse sweep earlier in his career.

“When I was a coach, Pujara, if I had told you to practise the reverse sweep three years ago, you would have come running after me with a bat. Isn’t it?” Shastri said.

The former coach-batter duo also talked about India’s historic triumph in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where Pujara played a defining role. During the 2018–19 series in Australia, he emerged as the highest run-scorer with 521 runs, including three centuries, helping India secure their first-ever Test series win on Australian soil and earning the Player of the Series award.

Pujara’s resilience was once again crucial in the 2020–21 series, where his ability to absorb pressure and tire out the Australian bowling attack played a key role in another famous Indian victory.

Highlighting his importance, Shastri said, “It was as good as winning the World Cup. No Asian team had ever beaten Australia in Australia in a Test series. So, it’s the toughest tour.”

He further praised Pujara’s toughness, adding, “Pujara was our soldier, taking blows and still fighting it out on both tours and even in England. His presence was crucial; we wouldn’t have done it without him.”

Pujara was one of India's most resilient Test specialists. He retired from all forms of international and first-class cricket in August 2025. Known for his old-school defensive technique and immense patience, he finished his international career with 7,195 Test runs in 103 matches at an average of 43.60.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) A 56-member Indian boxing contingent is all set to begin its campaign at the Asian Boxing U15 & U17 Championships 2026, which gets underway on Friday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

India heads into the prestigious age-group tournament with a strong and well-rounded squad across both boys’ and girls’ categories, reflecting the country’s continued focus on grassroots development and nurturing future champions.

The U-17 teams will see 13 boxers each in the boys’ and girls’ categories, competing across weight divisions ranging from 44–46kg to +80kg, supported by four coaches and a physiotherapist per squad.

Meanwhile, the U-15 teams feature 15 boxers each in both boys’ and girls’ divisions, competing across 30–33kg to +70kg categories, with five coaches and a physiotherapist accompanying each side.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh said, “These championships are an important platform for our young boxers to gain international exposure and test themselves against the best in Asia. Over the past two years, boxing has established itself as India’s top-performing sport, consistently delivering the highest number of medals across major international events, including multi-sport competitions like the Youth Asian Games as well as World and Continental Championships.

"This sustained success reflects the growing depth of our grassroots program. We have a strong group of talented athletes across age categories, and we are confident this batch represents the next wave of upcoming talent and future champions for Indian boxing.”

The championships serve as a crucial platform for identifying and developing the next generation of elite boxers, with many of these young athletes expected to progress through the national pathway and represent India at major international competitions in the years to come.

Last year, India concluded its campaign with a strong performance at the inaugural Asian U-15 & U-17 Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan, winning a total of 43 Medals, including 15 gold, 6 silver, and 22 bronze medals. The country finished second overall, just behind Kazakhstan.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) Rohit Sharma’s wife Ritika Sajdeh penned down a heartfelt message on his birthday as the Indian star turned 39, with wishes pouring in from fans, teammates, and well-wishers across the world.

Sharing an emotional note on Instagram, Ritika wrote, “Happy happy birthday, my Ro. I’ve spent every year saying you’re my best friend, my soulmate, and the best part of us, and this year is no different. To many more lifetimes of everything we have in this one and more.”

A modern-day white-ball great, a two-time ICC title-winning captain and widely known as cricket’s ‘Hitman’, Rohit Sharma is celebrating his 39th birthday on Thursday. Since making his debut for India in 2007, Rohit has gradually built a remarkable career and established himself as one of the finest players of his generation.

Under his leadership, India lifted two major ICC trophies, the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy in 2025. Over the years, he has also created several records, including becoming the highest six-hitter in international cricket.

At the franchise level, Rohit has enjoyed immense success as well, leading the Mumbai Indians to five Indian Premier League titles, further cementing his legacy as one of the most successful captains in the game.

Cricket fraternity and fans around the world took to social media to celebrate his birthday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India celebrated his achievements, posting: “508 int’l matches, More than 20,000 int’l runs, ICC Men’s T20 WC 2007 winner, Winning Captain of ICC Men’s T20 WC 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Here’s wishing #TeamIndia great Rohit Sharma @ImRo45 a very happy birthday."

Shikhar Dhawan shared a birthday wish for his former opening partner. Dhawan and Rohit formed one of the most successful opening pairs for India, with the two featuring as two of India's standout performers in their ICC Champions Trophy-winning campaign.

"Happy Birthday @ImRo45, from opening together to all the laughs in between….always special. Have a great one, brother," He wrote on X.

The Mumbai Indians posted on social media a reel wherein all their players were seen smearing cake on Rohit's face on his birthday. His wife, Ritika, was also part of the dressing room celebration.

Suresh Raina shared a message for his former teammate. Calling him ‘brotherman’, Raina hailed Rohit as ‘one of the finest to ever play the game' in his birthday message.

"Happy Birthday, brotherman, @ImRo45. A true match-winner and one of the finest to ever play the game. Wishing you lots of success, happiness, and many more big knocks ahead! Have a great one, brother!" He wrote on X.

Irfan Pathan wrote, "Wishing a very happy birthday to the leader who led from the front and earned the respect of his teammates."

While Mohammad Shami posted on Instagram story and wrote, "Many happy returns of the day bhai, May this year bring peace and success."

Rohit Sharma has retired from tests and T20Is but still represents the country in ODIs. He is currently participating in the IPL for the Mumbai Indians.

—IANS

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New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes has seen European cricket from the inside, including coaching Sweden. Now, as co-owner of the Rotterdam franchise in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), the legendary fielding icon said he is finally positioned to convert everything he learned into a lasting impact and make a difference on the continent through the competition.

Apart from Rhodes, fellow South Africans Faf du Plessis, who will also captain the Rotterdam side in the inaugural season, and Heinrich Klaasen, are also on board as co-owners of the Rotterdam franchise. "Actually, I lived in Sweden for two and a half years during the pandemic, during the lockdown, because Sweden didn't have a lockdown.

“My wife and I, with the kids, shifted across to Sweden, and I coached the national team there. I was really involved, not just in the Nordics, because obviously we sort of were one, two levels below where I'm currently looking now. But I always had a keen eye focused on Germany, France, and Italy, which were the next level above Sweden.

“We also had a close relationship with the Dutch national setup, because they were very supportive of us in the Nordics. Because I think the Netherlands cricket board had been well supported by the English cricket board, so the Netherlands understood the importance of having a bigger brother in European cricket, and they took that responsibility quite well," Rhodes told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Thursday, facilitated by ETPL.

The time in Sweden gave Rhodes more than just coaching experience -- it gave him a conviction that European cricketers, long starved of exposure to elite players and high-level infrastructure, were hungry for precisely the kind of investment the ETPL has been designed to deliver. When the opportunity to enter ETPL as an owner rather than a coach arrived, Rhodes seized it without hesitation.

"So, one of the co-owners, Madhukar Shree, who works on the commercial side in T20 cricket, and worked in tennis on the IP side, has always been talking about it. Like, 'If we get an opportunity to get in as co-owners as opposed to employees, let's take it.' When the European T20 Premier League came around, we were very excited because I've seen the difference when I was in Sweden.

“I only worked with the national team for about a year and a half and saw how eager and keen and how grateful they were for an international player to come and spend time and give, just keep giving, these players have lapped it up. So from that perspective, I jumped in straight away.

“I mean, I've retired from coaching, I've obviously long retired as a player, but this will be the first time I've ever had an opportunity to be a co-owner in franchise-level cricket. That excites me because on a couple of points, I can make a difference in Europe, and through the ETPL, we want to ensure that the platform that they already have, the existing platform with the existing local people playing cricket in Europe, in the Netherlands, Ireland, and Scotland.

“We want to grow that platform and base by bringing in great players to play at the ETPL, and great coaches, but also ensuring that it's not just a four-week window. The way to do that, we've kind of structured our franchise with a very South African feel because then with the hemispheres, we can still introduce some of the Rotterdam players to cricket practice, and club cricket in South Africa to ensure that they get this sort of exposure all year round and not just in the four weeks of the ETPL," he added.

By building the setup with a distinctly South African ownership, Rhodes is attempting to address one of associate cricket's most persistent challenges - the absence of year-round competitive exposure for players outside the traditional cricketing powerhouses.

The vision, however, stretches well beyond the boundary, as Rhodes sees the ETPL as a vehicle to bring cricket to a generation of European sports enthusiasts who have grown up playing football, hockey, or tennis but never held a bat.

"The key is that when we kind of talk about cricket in Europe, there are 33 countries that are associate members of ICC. So there really is a big presence in Europe, but the majority of that is the diaspora. Some local players and people who have grown up in the Netherlands might be playing football and hockey.

“I mean, I was a hockey player, and I know the benefits of being a hockey player. Tennis is also a big sport in Europe. So, we want to introduce it to people who might not have played cricket before, but ensuring that we get them down to fan engagement activations away from just the cricket itself is going to be important because we want to educate a bigger base about the joys of the game and the ability for people to cross over sports.

“It’s because they didn't grow up playing cricket that doesn't discount them. If we introduce it to kids who are already playing football, hockey, and tennis, I know that there's a great opportunity to switch from a technical point of view and become cricket players. If you've got the natural movement that all these other sports will bring, as I had the opportunity growing up in South Africa to participate in so many different sports," he elaborated.

Rhodes is equally clear about the boundaries of his own involvement – though he won’t be in coaching, his focus as Rotterdam’s co-owner will be on building every layer of the operations - from local management and logistics to grassroots development - into something that outlasts the competition's inaugural season by many years.

"I don't think I'll be coaching and stay in my lane as a co-owner, but what is important is that we're trying to grow an ecosystem by not just bringing international players to benefit the local players. We are also utilizing local coaching staff and local management to ensure that, through this franchise, we are growing because cricket is a team game, and it's not just the 11 players on the field.

“It's an entire team, the logistics, the administration side of it, the running of it is so important because yes, it is about the players, but without everything being done behind the scenes, it's not going to happen.

“So a key focus for us is, how do we leave cricket better in the Netherlands from our involvement, not just on the playing side, but how do we actually grow the cricketing infrastructure? There is an infrastructure, and good facilities are already there, which is exciting.

“We've seen in the USA - they've had to build facilities. Here we have existing cricket facilities in the Netherlands, Ireland, and Scotland, where the ETPL will be starting with two teams in each of those countries. There are existing good cricketing facilities, and it's ensuring that we as a franchise grow the entire cricket community on every side, if that makes any sense."

The six-team ETPL, scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20, will feature city-based franchises in Rotterdam, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Belfast. The tournament joins a growing list of T20 leagues around the world inspired by the franchise model of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

--IANS

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Ahmedabad, April 30 (IANS) Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the official brand ambassador for a Formula 1-backed sim racing initiative in India, with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited announcing his association ahead of the launch of the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026.

The programme, organised under an agreement granting Mumbai Falcons the rights to host an official Formula 1-sanctioned sim-racing competition, aims to create a structured national platform for emerging esports racing talent across the country. The initiative marks a significant step towards integrating motorsport and esports within India’s broader sporting ecosystem.

Iyer, regarded as one of India’s consistent performers across formats, has also built a strong connection with younger audiences beyond cricket, making him a strategic choice to represent the programme and its vision of engaging a new generation of athletes.

“Sport has always been about finding your edge and staying disciplined enough to act on it. When I heard what Mumbai Falcons is building in terms of a real pathway that takes young Indians from where they are today to where they could go, I didn’t need much convincing. This is the kind of initiative I would have wanted access to growing up, and I’m proud to be part of what’s coming,” said Iyer, Brand Ambassador for the F1 Program in India led by Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited.

The championship will be conducted on F1 25, the official game of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, replicating real-world circuits, formats, and team environments to deliver an authentic racing experience.

Explaining the vision behind the initiative, Ameet Gadhoke, Managing Director of Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited, said the project is designed to bridge structural gaps in India’s sporting ecosystem and unlock untapped potential.

“We built Mumbai Falcons on the belief that India has world-class sporting talent; the potential, however, has been constrained by structural deficiencies. Partnering with Formula 1 to bring the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026 to life is yet another significant initiative in that direction.

Shreyas represents exactly the kind of athlete we had in mind when shaping this initiative, displaying sporting excellence and discipline paired with authentic resonance with the emerging demographic, the younger aspiring generations. The platform we’re about to launch is something India has not seen before in this space. The full scope of this initiative will be announced shortly,” Gadhoke said.

Registrations for the competition will open on April 30 through the MFRL app, with online qualifiers followed by city-based simulator rounds. The competition will culminate in a national final scheduled to be held in Mumbai in November.

Mumbai Falcons’ most ambitious nationwide project to date is offering Indian youth a pathway into global-format competitive racing through esports.

--IANS

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