Rohit Sharma To Lead India Squad For T20 World Cup; Hardik Pandya To Be Vice-Captain

MUMBAI, April 30: KL Rahul has been excluded while veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal will be making a comeback as India announced their squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian cricket team with Hardik Pandya serving as the vice-captain. Yashasvi Jaiswal has been included as the opening option while Shivam Dube has been rewarded for his brilliant form in the IPL 2024.

Arshdeep Singh has been added to the pace department along with Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are the wicket-keeping options while Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are the all-rounders. Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav will be the specialist batters.

India will begin their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York before facing Pakistan in a much anticipated encounter at the same venue on June 9.

India will play USA and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively.

Shubman Gill and Rinku Singh were also major exclusions from the 15-member squad but both cricketers were included in the reserve list. Fast bowlers Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan also found a place in the reserve list and they can find a place in case of an injury or a change in strategy.

This will also be the first international competition for Rishabh Pant who has been missing in action since his near-fatal car accident in 2022. The wicket-keeper batter has performed well in the IPL 2024 till now and his show for Delhi Capitals has earned him a spot in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad.

India's squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.

Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan.

Nakajima wins Hero Indian Open, India’s Ahlawat tied second

GURUGRAM, Mar 31: Keita Nakajima has won the USD 2.25 mliion Hero Indian Open as he won by four shots and set a record for a winning total by aggregating 17-under, three better than the winning score of 2023 achieved by Germany’s Marcel Siem, who was injured and couldn't defend his title this year.

Nakajima took his maiden DP World Tour title at the DLF Golf and Country Club. After touching 21-under after eight holes on the final day, he dropped a double bogey and three bogeys against one birdie in the last five holes to finish 17-under and four clear of three players, including India’s Veer Ahlawat, American Johannes Veerman and Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg.

It was Nakajima’s fifth title, after four on the Japanese Tour, which includes one as an amateur, where he topped the 2023 Order of Merit to earn his DP World Tour card.

There was a lot to cheer for the local fans as local golfer Veer Ahlawat produced a grandstand finish with an eagle for a round of 1-under 71 after a mid-round run of four bogeys between the sixth and the 14th. The Tied-second was Ahlawat’s best finish on the DP World Tour and should get him into the next event in Korea in a fortnight’s time.

Ahlawat was the top Indian for the second year in a row, after being T-13 last year with Shubhankar Sharma (72), who this time ended T-31st.

Manu Gandas (71) who played the DP World Tour in 2023, was the next best Indian, just outside the Top-10 in Tied-11th place, which was his best finish on the Tour.

Apart from Ahlawat and Gandas, the other Indians were Karandeep Kochhar (69) in T-13, Shubhankar Sharma (72) in T-31, Aman Raj (78) in T-51, Jairaj Singh Sandhu (71) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (72) in T-58 and Rashid Khan (78) in T-65.

Even as he finished tied second, Ahlawat was very happy with the result. He said, I’m really happy to have played so well in front of my home crowd, my family and my newly-wedded wife. There was some pressure on me this week as there were high expectations from me playing at my home course with my coach also being present here. But I managed to put together a good week thanks to some brilliant driving and iron-play.”

“Finishing with an eagle was the icing on the cake. There was just one bad drive by me on the eighth today, other than that I didn’t hit bad shots. I just didn’t make good pars on a few holes I would say. Playing well in such a strong field and negotiating the tough windy conditions on the final day really boosts my morale. With the roars, I almost felt like a winner, especially since we were all fighting for second place, once Keita went so far ahead.”

As for his goal from here, he added, “I now lead the PGTI Order of Merit and that gives me a good chance to contend for the Order of Merit crown that can in turn earn me a card on the DP World Tour next year.”

Colsaerts gets ready for Hero Indian Open by leading team to Pro-Am win

GURUGRAM, Mar 27: Nicolas Colsaerts, who called the DLF Golf and Country Club a tough course, got down to business as the Hero Pro-Am ahead of the Hero Indian Open was conducted Wednesday morning.

The former Ryder Cup player from Belgium, who has three DP World Tour wins against his name in a total of 10 pro wins, carried his team comprising three ladies - Anjali Chawla, Meera Luthra and Kusum Anand - to a fine win. They aggregated 37-under and were three better than the team lead by Romain Langasque, whose teammates were Masni Eriza, Prathmesh Moharil and Narinder Dagar, father of India’s top women’s pro, Diksha Dagar.

Last year’s runner-up Yannik Paul, also had a good look at the course, as his team was third. His teammates were Golien Kipgen, Saurabh Uppal and Rohit Kapoor.

The prizes were given away by Dr Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp.

Shubhankar confident of picking up Hero Indian Open Cup

GURGUGRAM, March 27, 2024: Shubhankar Sharma calls the DLF Golf and Country Club his second home and like many other Indian golfers, he calls the Hero Indian Open as the ‘fifth’ Major for his fellow Indians.

The 27-year-old, who has already been a professional for more than a decade, and won twice on the DP World Tour, feels he is ready to add to that. The indication is there, as he arrives into India on the back of a fine Tied-seventh place at last week’s Porsche Singapore Classic.

The former Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year is joined by a strong field this week, which includes last year’s Hero Indian Open runner-up Yannik Paul of Germany and four-time DP World Tour winner Rasmus Højgaard, from Denmark.

The field of 144 at the USD 2.25 million Hero Indian Open includes 20 players from Top-200 and two of them, Hojgaard and Jordan Smith are in the Top-100 and another 18 players are ranked between 101 and 200, which includes India’s Sharma at 188.

More than 40 players in the field have won on the DP World Tour and between them their tally of DP World Tour titles is just under 90. With such a strong field, Sharma said, “The field is strong and it will be a good test this week.”

He added, "This is home for me, like my second home. I spent my teenage years here and all my evenings were spent practicing on the putting green, playing putting matches with friends. I know all the coaches, I know literally everyone, support staff, everyone who works here. So, you know, we had a routine of putting until the lights went. I used to live five minutes down the road. It’s going to be an amazing week.”

“It’s one of the tougher courses that we play all year, but it’s a challenge which we all cherish."

Winning start for Fitzpatrick in 'Hero Shot'

GURUGRAM, Mar 26: England’s Alex Fitzpatrick gave his campaign at the Hero Indian Open 2024 a winning start as he won the USD 10,000 Hero Shot competition at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

The contest also included Anirban Lahiri, Shiv Kapur, Rasmus Højgaard, Yannik Paul, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Nicolas Colsaerts, Guido Migliozzi and Edoardo Molinari with Dr. Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, playing as an honorary entry in the first round.

The players were given 60 seconds to hit nine balls each at a target created on the 18th green of the DLF Golf and Country Club. All eight players were miked up to make it an interactive and fun event.

The shootout first eliminated Paul, Colsaerts, Lahiri and Kapur in the 100 yard contest. In the next stage, the semi-finals, Højgaard and Migliozzi were knocked out in the 110-yard contest, despite Højgaard having recorded a whopping 235 points in the first round.

In the final played at the 18th green target from a distance of 120 yards, Fitzpatrick outscored Molinari 100 points to 70.

Fixderma Joins Forces with Delhi Capitals as Key Sponsor for IPL 2024

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Mar 22: Fixderma, a leading Dermaceutical brand, has announced its partnership with Delhi Capitals as Associate Sponsor for the Indian Premier League (IPL) season that commences today. This collaboration marks Fixderma's inaugural foray into cricket sponsorship, signifying a significant milestone for the brand.

As part of this exciting partnership, the Fixderma logo will adorn the lead arm of Delhi Capital jerseys, ensuring prominent visibility throughout the tournament.

Additionally, viewers can anticipate the seamless integration of Fixderma's acclaimed Shadow Sunscreen range into various promotional activities, highlighting the brand's commitment to skincare and sun protection.

Ms. Shaily Mehrotra, Co-founder and CEO of Fixderma, expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Delhi Capitals, marking our first-ever association with cricket. This partnership not only underscores our aim to educate and empower individuals to prioritize sun protection as an essential aspect of their daily routine but also provides a unique platform to reach out to millions of cricket enthusiasts. We look forward to a successful partnership with Delhi Capitals and to showcasing our Shadow Sunscreen range to a wider audience."

Anurag Mehrotra Chairman Fixderma, expressed his excitement as well, stating, "Being a cricket enthusiast and a player myself, this collaboration is a special one for many reasons. I am delighted that Fixderma is taking a step in the direction of associating with brands that have huge fan-following and engagement, thereby also building larger awareness and consideration for us as a brand in the coming times.

Sukhvinder Singh, Interim CEO of Delhi Capitals said "We are delighted to welcome Fixderma on board as Key Sponsor for this IPL season. Their commitment to skincare aligns perfectly with our team's ethos of prioritizing wellness and performance both on and off the field. We look forward to working closely with the Fixderma team to make this partnership a resounding success."

As Delhi Capitals gears up for an action-packed season, Fixderma is all set to make its mark in the world of cricket, championing the importance of skincare and sun protection among fans and players alike.

The Delhi Capitals team participates in both, the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women's Premier League (WPL). Co-owned by the GMR Group and the JSW Group, Delhi Capitals was established in 2008 as Delhi Daredevils before embracing a new avatar in 2019. In 2020, the team reached its first ever final. In 2023, Delhi Capitals became one of the five founding teams to participate in the Women’s Premier League. The team reached the final in the inaugural edition of the tournament.

Vi John partners with Lucknow Super Giants as Grooming Partner

NEW DELHI, Mar 22: The personal care brand Vi John on Wednesday announced that they shall be the Official grooming partner of the Lucknow Super Giants Team in the upcoming T20 season 2024.

The team, which is captained by KL Rahul, shall be sporting VI John Logo on their non-lead trousers in the upcoming T20 tournament which is viewed by millions of sports lovers across India as well as internationally.

“It's indeed a pleasure to partner with Lucknow Super Giants as the Official Grooming Partner. The team represents quality and performance in equal measure like our personal care range and has an impressive track record. The tournament allows us to take our product range to a younger and wider audience and showcase our proposition. We are excited to support Lucknow Super Giants as it plans for another successful outing and make the most of our synergy” said Ashutosh Chaudharie, General Manager Marketing, Vi John.

Lucknow Super Giants CEO Vinod Bisht stated "We are proud to partner with Vi John in the upcoming season. The brand represents confidence in a bold new generation - something that resonates well with the brand of cricket we wish to play."

“Vi John as a company has a vision of Grooming India and a legacy of doing the same across six decades. With Lucknow Super Giants we have found a natural partner who has pan-India appeal and immense potential. We look forward to a robust season ahead and wish the best to the team” said Harshit Kochhar, Business Director, VI John group.

Star Sports viewership hit new high in build up to IPL

NEW DELHI, Mar 21: Star Sports, the official broadcaster of Tata IPL 2024, has already set new viewership benchmarks for the upcoming season. Since the commencement of its IPL build-up programming, Star Sports has witnessed a remarkable 24% increase in viewership compared to last year, reaching an astounding 245 million viewers as of March 15. The total consumption for build-up programming has soared to 21.3 billion minutes, an impressive 26% higher compared to last year.

This unprecedented engagement, even before a ball is bowled, highlights the overwhelming popularity, enhanced storytelling in multiple languages, and the network’s connection with fans across different cohorts.

Star Sports has left no stone unturned in delivering an exciting opening. Viewers on TV will get to see exclusive interviews with 8 of the 10 IPL captains on their vision for the upcoming tournament. Outside of the opening ceremony, Star Sports will be airing exclusive content with some of the biggest celebrities including Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Kareena Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, A R Rahman, Vijay Devarakonda, Prabhudeva and many more.

With a Starcast of more 150 commentators and presenters, including former players with more than 40 IPL titles among them, 12 IPL Team Coaches, 18 World Cup Winners, 12 International Captains and more, viewers can expect an engaging broadcast. There is already a lot of excitement for the comeback of Navjot Singh Sidhu in the Star Sports commentary box after almost a decade.

Angel One announces its official partnership with IPL

NEW DELHI, Mar 20: Angel One Limited (Angel One), technology-led financial services player, announced its partnership with the Indian Premier League (IPL). The company will serve as an Associate Partner of IPL in the financial services category during this five-year association from 2024 to 2028.

Through this alliance, Angel One aims to reach the diverse sports audience of IPL platform to promote financial awareness and empowerment in the country, especially within the young Indians.

Commenting on the partnership, Prabhakar Tiwari, Chief Growth Officer, Angel One Limited, said, “The IPL's immense reach provides us with a unique opportunity to empower millions of cricket enthusiasts with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed financial decisions. Through this seamless integration of sports and fintech, our aim is to actively promote financial awareness in India.”

Dinesh D. Thakkar, Chairman & Managing Director, Angel One Limited, said, “IPL is an esteemed event that has experienced growth in both reputation and engagement throughout the years, a development that mirrors the growth of Angel One as one of the prominent fintech players in India. Our primary focus is on expanding into the multi-service sector, where we can meet all our customers' financial needs. This partnership strengthens our efforts to reach millions of Indians and we are excited to inspire a generation of financially savvy cricket enthusiasts.”

Offering a wide range of online investment opportunities including Stocks, Mutual Funds, Derivatives, Sovereign Gold Bonds and ETFs, Angel One serves over 2 Crore investors in the country.

Yes Bank Partners with Indian Olympic Association for Paris Olympics 2024

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Mar 19: Yes Bank has announced its partnership with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as the Official Banking Partner for Team India at the Paris Olympics 2024. This significant collaboration was unveiled during a special event at Yes Bank’s Mumbai headquarters.

The announcement saw the presence of Yes Bank’s top executives including Prashant Kumar, Managing Director and CEO; Rajan Pental, Executive Director; along with notable members of the IOA - Dr. P.T. Usha, President, IOA and Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Raghuram Iyer, CEO, IOA; Ms. Mary Kom, Chairperson, Athletes Commission and London Olympics 2012 Bronze Medalist; and Paris bound Indian Olympic athletes Ms. Manu Bhaker, Ms. Rajeshwari Ria Kumari, Ms. Parveen Hooda and Dhiraj Bommadevara.

This partnership aims to demonstrate the strength an ecosystem plays in nurturing Olympic talent. In line with this, Yes Bank launched the campaign ‘Milkar Jitayenge’, highlighting the shared effort behind every victory. Yes Bank's brand philosophy, 'Life Ko Banao Rich', aligns with this partnership, emphasising life’s richness in experiences and memories. As our athletes compete globally, their achievements contribute to our national memory and pride, creating a legacy of shared experiences.

Prashant Kumar, MD & CEO, Yes Bank, stated, “India’s achievements in international sports have inspired the nation. The Olympics hold a significant place for Indians, uniting us in support of our athletes. Yes Bank is committed to supporting Team India in their pursuit of excellence, reflecting our dedication to national pride and achievement.”

Yes Bank also introduced ‘Yes Glory’, a special savings account proposition for the Indian Olympic contingent heading to Paris 2024. This gesture from YES BANK extends best wishes to the athletes and acknowledges the importance of their families in their journey. The benefits of ‘Yes Glory’ will also be available to the athletes' immediate family members.

Benefits of Yes Glory include complimentary welcome on-board Taj voucher; Complimentary Orthopedic consultations; Zero cross-currency mark-up on International spends; Complimentary Medical insurance; Yes Glory Gold Debit Card (Limited edition exclusive Debit card, specially designed for our champion athletes); and complimentary International lounge access.

About the association IOA President Dr. P.T. Usha said, “I am extremely excited about the collaboration between the Indian Olympic Association and Yes Bank, where Yes Bank will serve as the exclusive banking partner for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This collaboration not only signifies a strong alliance but also paves the way for enhanced financial support and services for our athletes. The launch of the YES Glory Debit Card is a testament to our commitment to empowering our athletes with innovative solutions, ensuring they can focus wholeheartedly on their Olympic journey without financial concerns.”

The partnership between YES BANK and Indian Olympic Association has been facilitated by IOS Sports & Entertainment. Neerav Tomar, CEO & MD, IOS Sports & Entertainment said on this partnership, “We are delighted to onboard Yes Bank as the sponsor of Team India for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Yes Bank has been a great promoter of sports since long and this partnership with Team India for the Olympic games not only signifies their dedication to development of sports in the country, but also our shared vision of empowering Team India to achieve unparalleled success at this year's Paris Olympics. We are excited about the great things we are going to accomplish together for Team India and I would like to thank the Indian Olympic Association for bestowing us with this responsibility and their trust as the official commercial partners for Team India.”

Star-studded lineup of proven winners set for the record prize purse at Hero Indian Open 2024

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, March 18: An impressive line-up of winners and international stars from the DP World Tour have signed up to enter the Hero Indian Open as 2024 edition of the iconic National Open starts next week.

Amongst the players who have confirmed participation in the USD 2.25 million event, which will be held from March 28-31 at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram, are pedigreed stars like Matteo Manassero who earlier this month ended a more than 10-year-long wait for his fifth DP World Tour with a win at the Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa.

He is to join multiple winners like Rasmus Hojgaard, and former Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts among others. The glittering array includes India’s own Anirban Lahiri, a past champion of the Hero Indian Open from 2015, and two-time winner on the Tour, Shubhankar Sharma.

Some of the other names who have entered so far include Dutch pro Darius Van Driel, who won his maiden DPWT title at the Magical Kenya Open, after successes on the Alps and Challenge Tours in Europe.

The star cast of at least seven winners from 2023 in the entry list includes the prolific Rasmus Hojgaard, whose four wins on DPWT include the Made in Himmerland win in 2023 and others from last season’s schedule such as English duo Todd Clements (D+D Real Czech Masters) and Dale Whitnell (Scandinavian Masters), Kiwi Daniel Hillier (British Masters), Swede Simon Forsstrom (Soudal Open in Belgium), England’s Daniel Gavins (Ras Al Khaimah) and England’s Matthew Baldwin (SDC Championships).

There are nine other winners from the 2022 schedule and the roster includes England’s Matthew Jordan (Portugal), Germany’s Yannik Paul (Mallorca), Guido Migliozzi of Italy, Max Keiffer of Germany, Callum Shinkwin of England, Spaniard Adri Arnaus, Scotsman Ewen Ferguson, China’s Wu Ashun and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Almost a decade and a half ago, Manassero burst onto the global scene to become the youngest-ever DPWT winner back in 2010. He quickly racked up three more wins in the next three years and then lost his form. Once ranked as high as 25th in the world, Manassero went down the rankings but is now trending up, winning on the Alps Tour, the Challenge Tour and now the main DP World Tour.

Also coming to India is the rising New Zealand star, Kazumi Kobori, who at 22, has already picked up four wins on the PGA Tour of Australasia. Three of those have come in 2024.

Punjab Kings unveils incredible new jersey at a grand event

MOHALI, Mar 16: Ahead of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, The Punjab Kings launched their highly anticipated new matchday jersey. The jersey was revealed in a spectacular event at the Elante Mall in Chandigarh on Saturday in the presence of renowned personalities from all walks of life.

A standout comic performance by Jasmeet Singh Bhatia left the audience in splits. Afterwards, Punjab Kings co-owner Preity G Zinta and team Captain Shikhar Dhawan unveiled the new colors and revealed the stunning new design in all its glory. The other members of the team along with coaching staff also graced the ceremony.

Further adding to the glamour and entertainment on the night was the Punjabi singer and actor Gippy Grewal, who mesmerized the jam-packed sher squad and set the stage ablaze with his vibrant performance.

The new red jersey, manufactured by playR has been made according to international standards and embodies passion, spirit, and vigor- something the Shers of Punjab stand for. The fabric for the new jersey has been imported from Vietnam and the manufacturing of the same has been done in India by PlayR. It is 20% lighter and 30% more stretchable and has been designed with anti-sweat, anti-odour, anti-bacterial, and anti-pilling technologies. The new jersey is also resistant to UV rays, and hence, will avoid colour fading.

We are delighted to launch our new jersey infront of our loyal fans, who are the backbone of the team. The new colors reflect the emotions and pulse of Punjab and everything it stands for. The team will represent the fans on the field and make some unforgettable memories in the new stadium.” said Preity G Zinta, Punjab Kings co-owner.

At the bottom of the jersey, the kesari patterns are inspired by fire, a symbol deeply rooted in our traditions, resonating with auspicious beginnings. It further highlights the fire within the Shers. The Indian tri-colour, on the shoulder blades, marks a tribute to our nation, and to our honourable armed forces. The nihal blue arrows on the sides reflect upward movement and symbolise the weapons of the warriors of Punjab. The honeycomb pattern on the lower end of the jersey is dedicated to the fans and the spirit of teamwork, inspired by the unity of honeybees, who work in synergy towards one goal.

The love and passion of the sher squad is infectious and it is hard for me to put in words how happy I am, to back here. We have an exciting team this season that will give everything on the pitch as we look forward to don the vibrant new jersey and play at the new home ground infront of all of you.” said Shikhar Dhawan, the Captain of Punjab Kings.

The new jersey will be available on Punjab Kings website and soon-to-be-launched app in India. It will also be available in UK, Canada, Australia and UAE for international fans.

Rasmus Højgaard, Yannik Paul, Anirban Lahiri Confirm Participation At Hero Indian Open

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Mar 13: Rasmus Højgaard, who turns 23 on Tuesday, will be seeking more silverware to his already growing collection when he tees off at the USD 2.25 million Hero Indian Open this month. Højgaard already has four wins on the DP World Tour to his name.

Rasmus will be making his debut at the Hero Indian Open, which will be played from March 28-31 at the DLF Golf and Country Club, and will hope to mark his birthday month with a fifth career win on the DP World Tour. Currently 75th in the world rankings, Denmark’s Højgaard will be one of the highest-ranked players in the field, his career-best rank being 63rd.

He is coming off a glorious start to 2024 with Top-10s in three successive starts in Ras Al Khaimah, where he was second, and then T-8 in Bahrain and T-6 in Qatar. Before that, he was an identical T-11 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and the Dubai Invitational.

His first win at the 2019 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (part 2020 season) made him the third youngest to win a title in the DPWT and he added to that by winning the 2020 ISPS Handa UK Championship, 2021 Omega European Masters and the 2023 Made in Himmerland, held in his home country, Denmark.

A win at the Hero Indian Open would bring Rasmus closer to getting into the Top-10 of the DP World Tour rankings for 2024, which could earn him a card into the PGA Tour and join his brother Nicolai. Incidentally, his twin brother Nicolai played last year at the Hero Indian Open and finished T-32.

Late last year Rasmus narrowly missed earning into the PGA Tour, while Nicolai, who won the season-ending 2023 DP World Tour Championships, has moved to the PGA Tour.

Another popular name confirming his entry to the Hero Indian Open will be Yannik Paul of Germany, who turned 30 last week. Paul will be back for India’s national open to try and complete some unfinished work.

The one-time DP World Tour, Paul, who made his Hero Indian Open debut last year, came within a whisker of his second win on the Tour, after starting with a brilliant 65 on the first day. He shot all four rounds under par, but despite a bogey-free final round, fell one short of the eventual champion and countryman Marcel Siem.

Siem, who kept his nerve to shoot 70 and win by one shot, was looking forward to defending his title, but unfortunately injured himself and pulled out of this year’s event.

Even though Paul was unable to add to his tally of wins in 2023, he had a superb season with two runner-up finishes, one third place and four other Top-10 results. Paul, who broke through into Top-100 of the world, is now just outside at 112th.

The current season 2024 has begun well with two Top-10 finishes in 2024. He was T-8 at the Dubai Invitational and T-4 at Ras Al Khaimah Championships.

All top Indian stars, led by the 2015 Hero Indian Open winner, Anirban Lahiri, will be seen in action at the 4-day 72-hole event.

The tournament, now in its 57th edition, will carry a record prize purse of USD 2.25 million and will be a part of the Asian Swing bringing added benefits for the Swing Champion. The Hero Indian Open will be the second of five events comprising the Asian Swing as part of the new-look 2024 Race to Dubai.

The tournament will see 144 players compete for the trophy. The winner will receive a handsome US$ 382,500, the runner-up picking up US$ 247,500 and the third-place finisher pocketing US$ 141,750.

Hero MotoCorp has been the Title Sponsor of the tournament since 2005 and marks two decades of a fruitful relationship with India’s apex golfing body, the Indian Golf Union (IGU). This is also the 10th year of the tournament’s association with the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour), one of the biggest global golfing Tours.

The Hero Indian Open was not held between 2020 – 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and returned to the Race to Dubai in February 2023.

Hero Indian Open Returns With US $ 2.25 M Purse; To Be Held At DLF Golf & Country Club

By Deepak Arora

(From left to right): Golfer Manu Gandas; Brijinder Singh, President, Indian Golf Union; SK Sharma, Chairman – HIO Committee; Golfer Aman Raj; Bharatendu Kabi, Head - Corporate Communications & CSR, Hero MotoCorp; Tusch Daroga, VP-Operations, DLF Golf & Country Club, with the Hero Indian Open trophy

NEW DELHI, March 1: The Hero Indian Open – the country’s National Open and flagship golf tournament – is returning to usher in a new era in Indian golf with an enhanced prize purse and several first-time incentives.

The 2024 edition of the Hero Indian Open will be held between March 28-31, 2024 at the DLF Golf & Country Club, Gurugram.

Dr. Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, said, “For more than two decades, the Hero Indian Open has served as the cornerstone of Indian golf, embodying our nation's golfing spirit with distinction. It brings me immense satisfaction to have played a guiding role in this esteemed national endeavor."

Throughout its storied history, Dr Munjal said "the tournament has been instrumental in elevating Indian golf and its players onto the global stage, showcasing our country's talent and potential to the world."

With the support of the IGU and DP World Tour, he said he was confident that "we will continue to steer this prestigious event towards unprecedented levels of success and recognition. We extend our sincerest best wishes to all participating players, anticipating a week filled with exhilarating and world-class golf.”

The tournament – now in its 57th edition - will carry a record prize purse of US $2.25 million and will be a part of the Asian Swing bringing added benefits for the Swing Champion. The Hero Indian open will be the second of five events comprising the Asian Swing as part of the new-look 2024 Race to Dubai.

While the entry list is yet to be closed, leading the field will be former champion Anirban Lahiri, who won in 2015, Shiv Kapur, three-time DP World Tour winner Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium and the new exciting talent Kazumi Kobori of New Zealand.

Brijinder Singh, President, Indian Golf Union said: “The Indian Golf Union, the proud organiser of India’s most prestigious golf event, is grateful to Hero MotoCorp and DP World Tour for their unwavering commitment and continuous support to Indian golf and our flagship event.

Brijinder Singh said "We are thankful to DLF Golf and Country Club for hosting this prestigious tournament at their world class golf course. The Hero Indian Open has been the summit on the Indian golf calendar as Indian Golf Union strives to promote and run one of the most expansive amateur schedules, which has allowed top amateurs to grow in to world class professional golfers, who have done India proud.”

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive Officer of the DP World Tour, said: “We are very excited to visit India once again for the 57th edition of the historic Hero Indian Open. The tournament made a very welcome return to our schedule last year and our members are looking forward to returning to Delhi at the end of this month. With the significant involvement of Hero MotoCorp and its Chairman and CEO Dr Pawan Munjal, this event has gone from strength to strength and we are anticipating another exciting week at DLF Golf & Country Club.”

Tusch Daroga, VP, DLF Golf and Country Club, said, “We are tremendously proud to partner with Hero MotoCorp and Indian Golf Union to stage India’s premier golfing event - the Hero Indian Open. Our collaboration over the years has been founded on our mutual passion for the game and we couldn’t be prouder with the association.”

The tournament will see 144 players compete for the trophy. The winner will receive a handsome US$ 382,500, the runner-up picking up US$ 247,500 and the third-place finisher pocketing US$ 140,850.

Hero MotoCorp has been the Title Sponsor of the tournament since 2005 and marks two decades of a fruitful relationship with India’s apex golfing body, the Indian Golf Union (IGU). This is also the 10th year of the tournament’s association with the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour), one of the biggest global golfing Tours.

Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan 'Will Be Awarded' BCCI Contract If Conditions Met

All is not finished for Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan. The duo is in the headlines since the time they were excluded from the latest BCCI contracts. Despite being firmly in the BCCI's scheme of things in the last couple of years, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were excluded.

Their axing is being perceived as a message from the cricket governing body to players who may show reluctance to play in domestic cricket.

Ishan Kishan, since he took a break midway into India's Tour of South Africa, has been practising in Baroda rather than playing in Ranji Trophy for his state Jharkhand. Shreyas Iyer recently said that he was injured and missed a Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai.

Both of them did not find a place in the BCCI annual contract list. "Please note that Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations," the BCCI said in a release.

"The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team, a statement in the release added.