Published: January 10, 2026 at 9:50 pm
Anvith Reddy powered Hyderabad to a comfortable six-wicket victory in the final of the 19th All India Rajiv Gandhi Under-19 Twenty20 Cricket Championship at L B Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday.
Batting first, CFI managed a modest 124 in 17.1 overs as the Hyderabad bowlers kept a tight leash on their rivals. Siddarth Yadav scored 34 and R Prudvishwar made 21, while P Koushik was the other batter to reach double figures with 12. For Hyderabad, Akhul Sai Chandra took three wickets, while Rahul Karthikeye and Bharath Annamraj claimed two wickets apiece.
In reply, Hyderabad reached 125 for four in 13.4 overs as Anvith slammed 46. He was ably supported by Sai Sharan Ravuri who made 19.
Sports minister Vakiti Srihari, B Mahesh Kumar Goud, president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Party, V Hanumantha Rao, former MP & chairman of Cricket Federation of India and T Shesh Narayan, former secretary of Hyderabad Cricket Association, were the guests and gave away the prizes.
Girls winning team 9th All India Rajiv Gandhi Under-19 Twenty20 Cricket Championship at L B Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday
Brief scores: CFI 124 in 17.1 overs (Siddarth Yadav 34, R Prudvishwar 21) lost to Hyderabad 125/4 in 13.4 overs (Anvith Reddy 46, Sai Sharan Ravuri 19).
Best bowler: Rahul Karthikeya (Hyderabad). Best fielder: Pranay (Hyderabad). Best wicketkeeper: Rayudu Nayak (CFI). Best batter: Sai Sharan Ravuri (Hyderabad). Best all-rounder & Best player of the tournament: G Sidharth Yadav (CFI). Man of the Match: Anvith Reddy (Hyderabad). Woman of the match: Akshitha Goud.
Best players of the tournament: Hiruth Inesh Liyanage and Nethun Nesara (Sri Lanka), Rahul Karthikeya (Hyderabad), Kishan Sri (Tamil Nadu), Vishnu & Akshay (Chennai), Harry Stanes (CFI), Bhanu (Telangana), Rudra (Maharashtra), Rehan & Janav (Karnataka), Gaurav Bhosikar (Vidarbha), Adarsh Yadav (Bihar). Girl players: Shruthika, Niddi and Pratiksha.
Vineeth, Santosh help their teams post wins
V Vineeth Pawar hit a half-century to set up Hyderabad’s 23-run win over Warangal in the Kaka Venkataswamy Memorial Telangana Inter-District T20 League Phase ll at Warangal on Saturday.
Batting first, Hyderabad made 164 for six thanks to Pawar’s 65. Nikshith took four for 36 for Warangal, who were bowled out for 141. Nikshith made a 30 but he lacked support from others.
In another match, A Santosh helped Adilabad score a narrow nine-run win over Karimnagar. Santosh made 62 as Adilabad scored 133 for nine. In reply, Karimnagar were restricted to 124 for eight.
Telangana minister G Vivekanand presenting the man of the match award on Saturdy
Brief scores: Hyderabad 164/6 in 20 overs (V Vineeth Pawar 65, Nikshith 4/36) beat Warangal 141 in 19 overs (Nikshith 30). Adilabad 133/9 in 18 overs (A Santosh 62, Mohammed Arshad 3/30) beat Karimnagar 124/8 in 18 overs (M Abhinav Goud 44).
Nikil Sekhar bags five wickets
G Nikil Sekhar took five for 28 to help Team F score a thumping 210-run win over Team I in the HCA Under-14 probables’ tournament. Replying to Team F’s mammoth 402 for eight, Team I were bowled out for 192 despite CH Ritesh Reddy making 78.
Brief scores (Day 2): Team D 281 in 81.3 overs beat Team A 169 in 73.4 overs (V Jagath Roshan 40, D S Vignesh Vihaan Varma 3/13). Team B 225 in 54.3 overs vs Team C 282 in 83.3 overs (P Naksh Reddy 73). Team F 402/8 in 90 overs beat Team I 192 in 57.5 overs (CH Ritesh Reddy 78, G Nikil Sekhar 5/28). Team H 216/5 in 90 overs vs Team G 277 in 90 overs (Raghaav Narayan 50no, Medhansh Agarwal 70, B Sudhamsh 61).
Bengal Excellency Award for Shabbir Ali
Badge of honour for football great Shabbir Ali
Former Indian football captain Shabbir Ali has been selected for the Bengal Excellency Award 2026. The award will be presented to the Dhyan Chand awardee in Kolkata on January 25. “Kolkata, the City of Joy, occupies a special place in my heart. The affection and respect I have received from the people of Bengal have always been a source of inspiration, and I proudly regard Kolkata as my second home. This award recognises my services to Bengal and to Indian football over the past four decades, and I accept it with deep gratitude,” said Shabbir Ali. “Once again, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Joy Bangla Sambad and its Editor-in-Chief, Santanu Ray, for nominating me for this distinguished honour,” he added.
