
Kush Maini becomes 1st Indian to win F2 Monaco GP, jubilant Anand Mahindra reacts
Under the shimmering skies of the Cte d'Azur, Kush Maini etched his name into racing history with a spectacular victory in the Formula 2 Sprint Race on the iconic streets of Monaco. Displaying precision, composure, and unshakeable focus, he claimed his first F2 win of the season—and his maiden podium with DAMS Lucas Oil—at the most prestigious venue in motorsport. This historic achievement makes him the first Indian driver to win at Monaco.advertisementStarting from pole position, the BWT Alpine F1 Team reserve driver showcased masterful control and strategic poise throughout the race. He made the most of a strong start and managed the pressure with veteran-like maturity, securing a dominant lights-to-flag victory.
Maini had qualified P10 for Sunday's Feature Race, placing him on pole for Saturday's Sprint Race due to the reverse grid system. From the moment the lights went out, the DAMS driver led confidently for all 30 laps.'P1 and first Indian to win at Monaco. It's a great honour and a dream come true, really. I want to thank DAMS and everyone who's supported me. We keep believing,' said an emotional Kush after the podium celebration.Business tycoon Anand Mahindra, the chairman of Mahindra Group, heaped praise on Kush Maini for the incredible achievement. advertisementTaking to X, Mahindra wrote, 'You are Standing Tall, @kmainiofficial and the country stands tall with you. Kush Maini making history as the 1st Indian winner of an F2 race in Monte Carlo. We are proud to have you on our team at @MahindraRacing.' Following a challenging start to the 2025 season, the Monaco win arrived at the perfect moment - boosting both his confidence and momentum at a critical point in the calendar.In what was a truly special moment for Kush and the nation, he proudly sang the Indian national anthem during the podium celebrations. Indian business tycoon Gautam Singhania was seen embracing Kush in the pit lane after the win. Singhania's JK Racing, along with TVS Racing, have supported Maini throughout his career.With this landmark victory, Kush now looks to carry the momentum into Sunday's Feature Race and into the upcoming round in Barcelona next weekend.
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Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: ‘Couldn't have walked out in tougher conditions' - Ben Duckett hails Ollie Pope's ton
England's Ollie Pope celebrates (AP Photo/Scott Heppell) England opener Ben Duckett praised teammate Ollie Pope 's century and discussed facing Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah during the post-match press conference on day two of the Leeds Test against India. England finished the day at 209/3, trailing India by 262 runs, after India posted 471 in their first innings powered by centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal , Shubman Gill , and Rishabh Pant . Pope reached his ninth Test century and second against India, continuing his impressive form at number three. England's strong batting performance came after bowling India out from a commanding position of 430/4. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "Yeah, I just think he was so calm coming out. You know, he probably could not walk out in tougher conditions with Jasprit running down the hill with the lights on, so, you know, to, I think at one point he was run-a-ball 50 or around that, so. It was great batting with him. I always have a good time out there in the middle with him, and it was goosebumps when he got to 100, you know, you could see what it meant to him. He is such a big part of this dressing room, and it was just great to see him be there 100 not out," Duckett said about Pope's innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal credits Shubman Gill after maiden Test ton in England: 'I love it' Pope has accumulated 2,124 runs in 29 matches at number three position, averaging 45.19 with eight centuries and seven fifties. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo His highest score stands at 205, maintaining a strike rate above 75. Duckett acknowledged Bumrah, who claimed all three English wickets, as the "best bowler in the world" regardless of conditions. "He is good in India on the flattest pitches ever, and you know when he is coming in down the hill with the lights on and it is swinging both ways, it is tough, and I feel like we minimise the damage early on. You know, it could have been a lot worse today, so I think we are pretty happy in the position we're in," Duckett added. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? Speaking about Bumrah's bowling style, Duckett elaborated: "First of all, how unique his run-up is. You are obviously waiting and waiting for him to get there, um, and I think just his ability to bowl three or four different balls with no cue. You do not know he is bowling a bouncer or a slower ball or an outswinger or an inswinger until it comes out of his hand, really. He has got such a fast wrist. So that is why you have got to watch the ball so hard with him. " Duckett also praised England pacer Josh Tongue, calling him the "X-Factor" who efficiently dismisses lower-order batsmen. "You know, there's nothing more frustrating than 9, 10, 11 (batters) chipping in with runs and putting on a partnership," he stated. England's day two performance included a solid half-century from Duckett, who scored 62 runs off 94 balls with nine boundaries. His partnership with Pope provided stability after Zak Crawley's early dismissal. India's first innings featured centuries from Jaiswal (101), captain Gill (147), and Pant (134). However, England's Ben Stokes (4/66) and Josh Tongue (4/86) triggered a collapse from 430/4. At stumps, Pope remained unbeaten on 100 with Harry Brook yet to score, while Bumrah proved to be the standout bowler for India with three wickets. Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
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First Post
18 minutes ago
- First Post
England fight back in 1st Test as Ollie Pope's ton, Stokes' strikes revive hosts after India's dominance
England clawed their way back into the 1st Test after a horror Day 1 thanks to Ollie Pope's unbeaten hundred and a fiery spell from Ben Stokes. Despite India's dominance, England stuck to their attacking style to close Day 2 at 209/3, trailing by 262. read more England's first day in this Test was nothing short of a nightmare. Whenever the opposition reaches the close 359/3, it's never great, but it's doubly galling when it was you who sent them into bat in the first place. However, after a thrilling Day Two at Headingley , the hosts now find themselves firmly back in the mix. For much of the morning, things were looking even more bleak for England than they had the night before. Rishabh Pant was doing his full unorthodox batting wizard routine, flaying the ball to all parts of the ground, almost the only cheers coming from England supporters were to greet various sixes caught by people in the stands. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And yet by the close of Day Two, they can comfortably claim to be right back in proceedings, even with the late blow of Joe Root's dismissal, being 209/3 – 262 runs behind – represents an impressive fightback. Perhaps most pleasingly for England leadership, it was a comeback inspired by a key part of this side's ethos – sticking to their principles and keeping faith with the style of play that they believe in. In another era, Shoaib Bashir's 24 wicketless overs for 93 runs might have seen him hidden from the firing line, particularly given the fondness that Pant had taken to him. However, England persisted, recognising that despite the attentions of India's wicket-keeper, Bashir was bowling well – ultimately, the wicket of Shubman Gill would be his reward. From the point where perhaps the only people on the ground who believed England might ever take another wicket were the 11 playing for them on the pitch, the wicket of Gill marked a tentative first toe in the door on the way to recovery. Stokes inspires thrilling comeback That door was well and truly barged open in a thrilling 40 minutes before lunch, Ben Stokes perhaps inevitably at the heart of things as he took two wickets before lunch with Josh Tongue adding three of his own either side of the break. Whether through English persistence or Indian complacency – the truth probably somewhere between the two points – the tourists had lost 7/41 in the hour either side of lunch. If bowling on Day One had been an example of England's desire to not necessarily adhere to conventional cricketing wisdom blowing up in their faces, then Day Two provided something of a counterbalance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bumrah strikes but England hold on Under Headingley floodlights, Jasprit Bumrah was in electric form, Zak Crawley was removed inside the first over, and the next wicket surely not far away. England would have been forgiven for going into their shells and trying to ride out this onslaught. However, that is not how this team plays; instead, they stuck to the positive, attacking 'brand' of cricket that the setup wants to play, meaning that despite Bumrah's penetrative opening spell, England were still going at almost 5.5 runs an over after the first 10 had been bowled. England undoubtedly rode their luck, perhaps fortune really does favour the brave, perhaps India were slightly put on the back foot by the home side's perseverance in their own strategy, and took their eye off the ball somewhat. Ollie Pope's century silences doubts Arguably, the most crucial example of England's insistence on sticking to their guns came with Ollie Pope's superb unbeaten hundred. There has been some recent speculation about the security of his place in the team; however, England have always insisted that this is purely a construction of the media and the fans and that Pope is seen as a key part of this side. Today, that faith in their number three paid off, a ninth Test hundred for Pope, the reward, England battling back in this fascinating match. There is, of course, a long way to go in this game. England might continue to claw their way back into things, India may very well find the luck that deserted them on Day Two and snuff out any hopes of a revival. Perhaps the only thing that is certain is that whatever happens, England will do it in the style that they believe in. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD


News18
18 minutes ago
- News18
Did ICICI Bank Try To Acquire HDFC? What Deepak Parekh Reveals
Last Updated: 'I remember you talking to me said ICICI started HDFC. 'Why don't you come back home?' That was your offer,' Parekh said in interaction with Ex-ICICI CEO Chanda Kochhar. ICICI Bank once tried to merge housing finance firm HDFC with itself before its reverse merger with its own banking arm, HDFC Bank former chairman Deepak Parekh has revealed. In a YouTube video, Parekh, in an interaction with ICICI Bank former MD & CEO Chanda Kochhar, said, 'I remember you talking to me once…you said that ICICI started HDFC. 'Why don't you come back home?' That was your offer." However, Parekh said he declined the offer, saying 'it won't be fair or proper with our name and the bank and all". He also said the HDFC Bank-HDFC reverse merger, which was completed in July 2023, was primarily driven by regulatory pressure. 'The RBI supported us and they pushed us into it to some extent and they helped us…there were no concessions, no relief, no time, nothing but they helped us to go through the process and get the approval," Parekh said. On the reverse merger, Parekh called it 'a sad day and a happy day". He added, 'It's good for the institution. It's good for the country to have large banks. Look at how large Chinese banks are. We have to be bigger, larger in India." Describing the merger as good for the institution, he said, it is good for the country to have large banks. Indian banks must grow through acquisitions to become stronger in future, he added. HDFC Ltd, the parent entity of HDFC Bank, merged with its banking subsidiary to create the country's biggest private sector lender. The merger became effective from July 1, 2023. With the reverse merger, the 44-year-old institution HDFC Ltd faded into memory lane. Interestingly, the creation of HDFC Ltd was financially supported by erstwhile ICICI Ltd, the parent entity of ICICI Bank. The Reserve Bank of India had classified large NBFCs like HDFC, which then held assets exceeding Rs 5 lakh crore, as systemically important — well above the Rs 50,000-crore threshold. (With Inputs from PTI) First Published: