Lucknow witnessed a thrilling double-header of sporting excellence this Friday as The Times of India (TOI) cricket team secured the Media Premier League (MPL) championship and new state boxing champions were crowned, all at the iconic KD Singh 'Babu' Stadium.
TOI's Commanding Victory in MPL Final
In a display of dominant cricket, The Times of India (TOI) defeated DD-AIR by a convincing margin of 37 runs to claim the coveted Media Premier League trophy. The victory was built on the foundation of a powerful batting performance and a disciplined bowling effort.
Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, TOI posted a formidable total of 167 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was masterfully anchored by skipper Abbas Rizvi, who remained unbeaten on a brilliant 71 runs from 59 balls. He found a perfect partner in Devesh Pandey, who provided explosive momentum with a quickfire 52 off just 37 deliveries. Valuable contributions also came from Rajiv Srivastava (19) and Vivek Chauhan (9).
DD-AIR's Chase Falls Short
Facing a challenging target, the DD-AIR batting lineup struggled to build partnerships against a relentless TOI bowling attack. Despite a fighting half-century from CS Azad, who scored 58 runs from 47 balls (including five boundaries and a six), the team was bowled out for 130 runs in 19.5 overs, falling well short of the required total.
The TOI bowling was a collective effort. Ishtiyaq Raza was the pick of the bowlers, claiming an impressive three-wicket haul. Captain Abbas Rizvi showcased his all-round prowess by taking two wickets. The remaining wickets were shared among Rajiv Srivastava, Mohsin Usmani, Anish Oberoi, Prem Shankar Mishra, and Anil Mishra, who took one wicket each.
Awards and Celebrations
At the post-match ceremony, TOI captain Abbas Rizvi was rightly adjudged the 'Man of the Match' for his stellar all-round performance. The tournament's top honors were also distributed: Rishi Singh Sengar was named the 'Player of the Tournament', while TOI's star batsman Devesh Pandey was awarded the 'Best Batsman of the Tournament'. The 'Best Bowler of the Tournament' award went to Nadeem Khan of LSJA XI.
The prizes were presented by a distinguished gathering of guests. The chief guest was Deepak Kumar Dey, Chief General Manager of State Bank of India (Lucknow circle). The guest of honour list included former minister and ex-Ranji player Mohsin Raza, sports director RP Singh, former Indian cricketer Gyanendra Pandey, and Anjani Kumar Pandey, Business Head of Omaxe Ltd.
State Boxing Champions Emerge
In a parallel sporting event at the same venue, the State Senior Boxing Championship concluded, identifying the best pugilists from across Uttar Pradesh. Gold medalists across various weight categories were celebrated for their skill and determination.
The champions include:
- Rishi Singh (Varanasi) in Flyweight (47-50kg)
- Manish Rathore (Agra) in Bantamweight (50-55kg)
- Karan (Agra) in Lightweight (55-60kg)
- Abhishek Yadav (Devipatan region) in Welterweight (60-65kg)
- Aman Rathore (Agra) in Light Middleweight (65-70kg)
- Shawshaw (Jhansi) in Middleweight (70-75kg)
- Arjun Malik (Meerut) in Light Heavyweight (75-80kg)
- Rocky Chaudhary (Meerut) in Cruiserweight (80-85kg)
- Abhinav Rai (Azamgarh) in Heavyweight (85-90kg)
- Vishal Gupta (Varanasi) in Superheavyweight (90-90+kg)
School Cricket League Concludes in Kanpur
Adding to the day's sporting achievements, the International School Cricket League (ISCL-2025) final was held at the City Montessori School on Kanpur Road. Bal Bhavan Lions from Delhi emerged victorious, defeating Aster Knights (Aster Noida) by six wickets. Chasing a target of 157 set by Aster Public School, the Delhi-based team reached 162 runs in just 18.4 overs, showcasing explosive batting to clinch the title.
The day marked a significant celebration of grassroots and institutional sports in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting talent across cricket and boxing.
