India’s cricketing icon Virat Kohli made headlines when he embraced a vegetarian lifestyle a few years ago, a surprising shift for a player who once relished dishes like butter chicken. The cricketer, known for his commitment to fitness, elucidated how eliminating non-vegetarian fare contributed to his enhanced physical well-being. However, a recent Instagram story showcasing his enjoyment of ‘mock chicken tikka’ left some fans perplexed.

Unveiling the backstory, Virat’s story featured an empty plate accompanied by the caption, “You’ve really nailed this mock chicken tikka.” For those unfamiliar, a mock chicken tikka is a vegetarian rendition, prepared in a manner similar to the traditional chicken version but using plant-based alternatives like jackfruit, soy protein, or tofu. Virat’s culinary choice reflects the expanding realm of vegetarian options, bridging the gap between taste preferences and dietary preferences in an increasingly diverse culinary landscape.

 Singhwal noted some health benefits of eating a mock chicken tikka as opposed to the original one. (Source: Virat Kohli/ Instagram)

Ekta Singhwal, dietician, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospital explained that a mock chicken tikka can also be based on ingredients like tempeh, or seitan, marinated and cooked similarly to mimic the flavours and textures of the original dish.

Singhwal noted some health benefits of eating a mock chicken tikka as opposed to the original one.

– Protein balance: Tofu provides a complete protein source with all essential amino acids, supporting muscle health.

– Nutrient-rich marinade: The ginger-garlic paste contributes anti-inflammatory compounds, while lemon juice adds vitamin C and aids iron absorption.

– Minimised sodium: Opt for low-sodium spice blends and salt alternatives to reduce sodium intake.

– Grilling technique: Grilling promotes a healthier cooking method compared to deep-frying, preserving the nutritional value of the ingredients.

Here’s how can you make it at home!

Ingredients:

– 1 block (about 14 oz) of extra-firm tofu, pressed and cut into cubes
– 1 cup of unsweetened plant-based yogurt
– 2 tablespoons tikka masala spice blend (low-sodium, if possible)
– 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste (freshly minced for optimal health benefits)
– 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
– Salt to taste (consider using a mineral-rich salt)
– Skewers for grilling (if using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning)

Virat Kohli

Instructions:

– In a bowl, combine plant-based yogurt, tikka masala spice blend, ginger-garlic paste, fresh lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. This marinade provides flavour without excessive sodium.

– Press the tofu to remove excess water, enhancing its texture. Use extra-firm tofu for a substantial protein source.

– Cut pressed tofu into bite-sized cubes and thoroughly coat them with the marinade. Allow the tofu to marinate for a minimum of two hours or, for best results, overnight in the refrigerator. This prolonged marination enhances the flavour.

– Thread marinated tofu cubes onto skewers, promoting portion control and even cooking.

– Grill skewers until the tofu develops a light char, turning them occasionally. Grilling preserves nutrients and imparts a smoky flavour.

– Serve the mock chicken tikka with a side of green chutney and a colorful array of sliced vegetables for added vitamins and fibre.

The hotly anticipated Riyahd Season Cup is finally upon us, and with it comes the question everyone wants to know the answer to: are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo playing against each other in the tournament?

The answer is no, unfortunately. Despite both being some of the greatest footballers of all time, they won’t be facing off against each other on the pitch in Riyadh. Messi is playing for Barcelona, while Ronaldo will be representing Juventus.

The Riyahd Season Cup, which is taking place from October 11th to October 18th, will feature some of the world’s top football teams, such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSG, and Milan. While Messi and Ronaldo are not taking part in the tournament, they will both be watching from the sidelines and cheering for their respective teams.

The tournament will feature some of the world’s top players, such as Neymar, Sergio Ramos, and Kylian Mbappe. While Messi and Ronaldo will not be on the pitch, their presence will still be felt. Both players have been dominating the football world for over a decade, and their fans will be eagerly anticipating a potential showdown between the two of them in the future.

The Riyahd Season Cup will be an exciting tournament for all football fans, and it will be a great opportunity to see some of the world’s best players competing against each other. While Messi and Ronaldo won’t be facing off against each other, the tournament will still be an exciting event to watch.

The Tweet even included a flier of the two teams with their official emblems. News of the alleged friendly match spread like wildfire, and shortly after, Inter Miami released a statement that has been removed. Per ESPN, Inter Miami denied the claims, calling it “inaccurate.” “Earlier today, an announcement was issued stating that Inter Miami CF is scheduled to play in the Riyadh Season Cup. This is inaccurate,” it read.

“The release included statements attributed to team owner Jorge Mas. Mas has made no comments, publicly or privately, in relation to the preseason tour,” the Inter Miami CF Communications Department said.

Their statement continued, “Since day one, Inter Miami CF has set out to be a global brand. To this end, we have been in conversations to determine our 2024 preseason schedule. We look forward to showcasing our players on Inter Miami CF’s first international tour which will be announced in the coming weeks.”

However, the webpage on Inter Miami’s website that ESPN linked to has been removed. The original tweet is still up.

As noted by ESPN, the last time they played against each other was at the same tournament on Jan. 19, 2023, in Riyadh. Messi played with his old team, PSG, and he battled Ronaldo after his surprise move to Al Nassr. PSG won the match 5-4.

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India Cricket Schedule 2023: After winning the Asia Cup and Gold at the Asian Games 2023, team India is eyeing the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. On October 11, India will play their second match of the season against Afghanistan.

This is the first time that India is hosting the ICC World Cup 2023 on its own. The final of the tournament will be played on November 19, 2023.

India Cricket Schedule 2023 & 2024

The complete schedule India Men’s Cricket Schedule for 2023 (Full List of Tests, ODIs, and T20s) is here.

India Cricket Schedule 2023

Upcoming Confirmed Series of India

Check the upcoming series of India T20, ODI, and Test Matches. Currently, India will focus on two big tournaments, Asia Cup 2023 is around the corner, and the World Cup is also scheduled this year.

India Cricket World Cup 2023 Schedule

India is the host country for the 50-50 overs Cricket World Cup this year, and one of the strongest teams in the world. Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, and Hardik Pandya like world-class players in the team.

India vs Australia T20 2023

India vs Australia T20Is 2023

India vs South Africa T20Is

India vs South Africa T20Is

India vs South Africa ODIs 2023

India vs South Africa ODIs 2023

India vs South Africa Tests 2024

India vs South Africa Test 2024

India vs Afghanistan T20Is 2024

India vs Afghanistan T20Is 2024

India vs England Tests 2024

India vs England Tests 2024

BCCI Official Website – bcci.tv/international/fixtures

India Cricket Schedule (Date Not Confirmed)

Check the list of the next matches of Team India; The dates of these matches are not confirmed yet.

January-February 2025 (Home)

Team India will start their year 2025 with a match with England in January and February. The latter will come to India to play 3 ODIs and 5 T20 matches.

February-March 2025 (Pakistan)

Pakistan is going to host the 9th edition of the Champions Trophy from February to March 2025. However, due to complex relations with the country, it will be interesting to see whether India will go to Pakistan to play in the tournament or not.

If India decides to not visit the Pakistan for Champions Trophy, there are more chances that the Tournament or all the matches between the two countries throughout the Champions Trophy can be shifted to a neutral venue.

June-August 2025 (Away)

Team India will visit England for a 5-match test series (WTC 2025-27) in June-August 2025. Both are the tough sides and it will be interesting to see who wins the test series. Also, it will be a challenge for Team India to defeat England on their home grounds.

August 2025 (Away)

After completing the England tour for the test series, Team India will visit Bangladesh for ODIs and T20 Series. There will be 3 One Day International matches between the two teams followed by 3 T20 matches.

October 2025 (Home)

In October 2023, West Indies will come to India to play 2 test match test series that will be a part of the WTC 2025-27 cycle. India seems the strongest side as it has players like Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara and it will play to secure the No. 1 spot in Test Cricket.

October-November 2025 (Away)

After its West Indies tour, Team India will travel to Australia to play the 3-match ODI series and 5-match T-20 series against Australia, which is one of the storing sides of world cricket.

November-December 2025 (Home)

After completing the Australian tour, Team India will end the year 2023 with a 2-match Test Series (WTC 2025-27), 3 ODIs, and 5 T20s in the Home grounds across the country. This will be a great opportunity to end the year 2023 on a winning note.

January 2026 (Home)

Team India will start the year 2026 with 3 ODI matches and a T20 series of 5 matches against New Zealand. The latter will travel to India to play all the matches. Team India will try its best to start the year by winning all the ODI and T20 matches at home.

T20 World Cup 2026 (India/Sri Lanka)

T-20 cricket is one of the most loved cricketing formats fans love to watch. The T20 World Cup 2026 will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka jointly and fans around the world will be eagerly waiting for this event.

It will be played in February-March 2026 and Team India will be a tough contender to lift the T20 World Cup Trophy.

June 2026 (Home)

After hosting the 2026 T-20 World Cup along with Sri Lanka, Team India will host 1 Test Match and 3 ODIs matches for Team Afghanistan. Though the latter has emerged as the strongest side, it will be a great opportunity for India to give a strong performance in the home series.

July 2026 (Away)

In July 2026, Team India will travel to England to play a 3-match ODI series and a 5-match T20 series. The English side is stronger and won on their home grounds. It will be a good opportunity for India to perform best against one of the strongest sides in International cricket.

August 2026 (Away)

Team India will play 2 Test Matches against Sri Lanka away from home, which will be a part of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. India will play to win the series and top the Test Cricket Chart.

September 2026 (Away)

In September 2026, Team India will play a 3-match T20 series against Afghanistan away from Home. Team India won’t travel to Afghanistan due to the complex situation in the country. So the series will be played in a neutral venue.

September-October 2026 (Home)

In September-October 2026, Team India will be hosting 3 3-match ODI series as well as a 5-match T20 series against the West Indies Team, which is considered one of the toughest T20 sides. India will take on the latter to secure the Top position in both ODI and T20 cricket.

October-November 2026 (Away)

In October, Team India will travel to New Zealand to play 2 Tests (WTC 2025-27), 3 ODIs, and 5 T20 matches against the host team. Kiwis are the most challenging side while playing the home series. So the Indian side needs to perform very well to win all the matches against the host team.

December 2026 (Home)

Team India will end their year 2026 playing a 3-match ODI series and 3-match T20 series against Sri Lanka in the home grounds across the county. The series will provide India a big opportunity to show their best performance and end the year on a winning note to build momentum to start the next year.

Team India Schedule for 2027

The Team India Cricket Schedule is packed with some of the most exciting matches in 2027 but among all the most exciting ones is the last series of the World Test Championship 2025-27 session.

Following the WTC, India will participate in one of the most prestigious World Cricket that is ICC World Cup (50-overs), which is set to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Nambia. Also, India will play a 5 match Test series against Australia that year.

If you have any queries related to India Cricket Schedule 2023, feel free to comment below.

India Cricket Schedule 2023 FAQs

Q. When is India’s Next match?

A. India’s Next match is the Asia Cup Final 2023 on September 17th, 2023.

Q. When will ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 start?

Ans. ICC Men’s ODI World Cup will start on October 5, 2023.

Q. Who will host the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023?

Ans. India will be hosting the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023.

Q. Which country is hosting Asia Cup 2023?

Ans. Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be hosting the Asia Cup 2023.

Q. When will Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 end?

Ans. The Indian Premier League 2023 will end on May 28, 2023.

Q. Who won IPL 2023?

A. IPL 2023 final is between CSK vs GT on May 29, 2023.

Q. Who won the WTC Final 2023?

A. Australia won the WTC final in the Th Oval, won by 209 runs.

Q. When will the Asian Games 2023 start?

A. Asian Games 2023 will start on September 19, 2023.

Saudi Arabia has launched an official bid to host the 2034 World Cup, in response to recent restrictions placed on potential host countries by FIFA. Saudi Arabia has long been considered an ideal candidate to host the world’s biggest football tournament, with its excellent infrastructure and wealth of football experience. The country has already hosted a number of major international football tournaments, including the FIFA Club World Cup, and the AFC Asian Cup. Saudi Arabia also has the financial resources to successfully host the tournament, and the government has expressed its commitment to providing a safe and secure tournament for all participating teams. This bid is also in line with the country’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to diversify the economy away from oil and create a more vibrant sporting culture. With the backing of the government, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation is confident that it can make a strong case to FIFA for the country to host the 2034 World Cup.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) is looking to take advantage of new FIFA regulations that have opened the door to more countries to bid for the 2034 World Cup. The SAFF has announced their formal bid to host the world’s biggest sporting event in the country.

The new regulations, which will be implemented in 2027, have been put in place to encourage more nations to compete for the right to host the World Cup. Previously, only countries that had hosted the tournament before could bid, but now countries that have never hosted the tournament before can also submit a bid.

The SAFF is confident they can provide a top-class tournament that is worthy of the world’s biggest footballing event. The country has world-class stadiums and infrastructure, as well as a passionate fan base that will be eager to support the national team.

The SAFF is also looking to use the tournament as an opportunity to showcase the culture and traditions of Saudi Arabia to the world. The tournament will also help to promote Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination and encourage investment in the country.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation is confident that their bid for the 2034 World Cup will be successful. With the right preparation and support, the World Cup could be the perfect opportunity for Saudi Arabia to show the world what they are capable of.

 Kapil Dev said one shouldn’t compare Sanju Samson and Suryakumar, feels the team management is doing the right thing by backing a player of SKY’s calibre.

Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson

Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson have been trending on social media for the last couple of days. The former because of his unheard-of hat-trick of first-ball ducks in the three-match ODI series, the latter because of not getting enough chances despite Surya’s repeated failures in ODIs. Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I and ODI numbers are chalk and cheese, to say the least. In T20Is, he is yet to put a foot wrong after making his debut in 2021. In ODIs though, he averages a mere 24 and has crossed the fifty-run mark only twice in 21 innings. Samson, on the other hand, averages 66 in the 11 ODIs that he has got.

Isn’t it unfair to Samson? Despite performing well in the sporadic chances that he has got, he is not even in the ODI squad as India prefers to back Suryakumar on the basis of his T20I numbers. On the flip side, doesn’t SKY, the No.1-ranked T20I batter, deserve a decent run after all that he has done in the shortest format?

It’s a never ending and difficult debate. Legendary India cricketer Kapil Dev said one shouldn’t compare Samson and Surya. India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain said the team management is doing the right thing by backing a player of SKY’s calibre.

Also Read :

• Virat Kohli finally reveled the story of his first meeting with wife Anushka Sharma.
• Qatari billionaire to make second bid for Manchester United: Reports
• Lionel Messi to join Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in $299m a year deal: reports.

“A cricketer who has played so well will always get more chances. Don’t compare Surya with Sanju Samson, it doesn’t seem right. If Sanju goes through a bad phase then you will talk about somebody else. This should not happen. If the team management has decided to back Suryakumar Yadav then he should be given more chances. Yes, people will talk, give their opinion but ultimately it’s the management’s call,” Kapil told ABP News.

After getting dismissed for golden ducks in near-identical fashion in the first two ODIs while batting at No.4, SKY was sent in at No.7 in the third and final ODI in Chennai. Even that did not work as the 32-year-old was cleaned up by left-arm spinner Ashton Agar for another first-ball duck.

Kapil said shuffling of the batting order is nothing new in ODIs and captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid must have had some reasons for using SKY at No.7.

“It’s very easy to talk after the match is finished. Maybe the idea behind sending Suryakumar at No.7 was to give him an opportunity as a finisher. This (shuffling of the batting order) is nothing new in ODIs. This has happened many times before. Yes, at times it can happen that a batter’s confidence is dented if he has been dragged down the order. But the onus rests on the player to tell his captain that ‘I can handle myself in the top order.’ The coach and captain must have taken the decision with particular thinking,” he added.

After India lost the decider by 21 runs, captain Rohit Sharma did clear that SKY was originally slated to bat at No.5 but they decided to break the chain of right-handers by sending left-arm Axar Patel and keep SKY for later so that he can tackle the spinners.

• Virat Kohli has shared an untold story about his first meeting with Anushka Sharma.
• Virat and Anushka tied the knot in December 2017.

Virat Kohli, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma are among the most famous celebrity couples in India. They tied the knot in December 2017 and welcomed a baby girl in January 2021. Their strong bond has earned them a massive social media following, and they are often the subject of public discussion.

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma

In a recent casual conversation with his close friend and former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate AB de Villiers on the show ‘the 360 show,’ Kohli shared details about his first encounter with Anushka. He admitted feeling nervous and shaky when he was informed of meeting the actress for the first time during an ad shoot.

“I remember this was 2013, I was just named captain for the Zimbabwe tour. My manager came to me and told me that I was going to shoot with Anushka Sharma. As soon as I heard this, I was so nervous. Like how the hell am I gonna do this. I was really nervous,” Kohli said on the RCB podcast.

Kohli further revealed that he had no clue how to approach her as she was a renowned actress at that time.

The 34-year-old recalled that he broke the ice by cracking an unfunny joke about Anushka’s heels when they first met, but they hit it off eventually after a few get-togethers.

“Out of nervousness, I didn’t realise how tall she was. So the first thing I told her when I saw her heels was, ‘Didn’t you get anything higher to wear?’ and she was like ‘Excuse me?’ It was so bad, I was so nervous. But then I figured out that she was a normal person and when we got talking I realized our background was so similar. From there on we became friends and then gradually we started dating, it didn’t happen instantly,” added Kohli.

Despite their initial nerves, the couple’s connection has grown stronger over the years, and they continue to be a much-loved couple in the fans eye.

ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2022 nominees revealed(ads1)

Two left-arm quicks and a pair of openers are the four men in the running to take out the ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award for 2022. We take a look at their respective breakout years.

Marco Jansen – South Africa

36 Test wickets at 19.02, 229 runs at 22.90 (correct at time of publication)
Two ODI wickets, one T20I wicket

The year that was

Just when we thought South Africa’s bowling attack could not be strengthened, up stepped a 206cm left-arm quick who made an impression of his own.

Jansen’s first nine* Test matches (*including Boxing Day in Australia) have turned heads in the cricket world, and moments with the white ball show there will be little respite for batting line-ups no matter the format.

After a strong Test debut on home soil on Boxing Day 2021, Jansen continued to trouble his opponents no matter where he travelled in 2022. Taking 14 Test wickets in the calendar year in South Africa at just 13.50, Jansen emulated the success on tour in England and Australia, averaging just 13.11 and 13.33 respectively. His nine Test wickets in New Zealand came at a respectable 28.55 to boot, as he contributed with the bat for Dean Elgar’s side.

Jansen made four appearances for South Africa across the two white-ball formats, showing early glimpses of his quality. He claimed Shreyas Iyer in his only T20I, and a pair of wickets in an ODI against Bangladesh.

Memorable performance

Making 30 with the bat in South Africa’s paltry 118 at The Oval, Jansen brought his form into the bowling performance, finishing with a maiden five-wicket haul on a surface historically good for batting.

Jansen made a mess of Alex Lees stumps to start the run, before trapping Zak Crawley plumb lbw in an early double-strike. He claimed Joe Root and Harry Brook when he returned to the bowling crease, before dismissing Ben Foakes for his fifth.

He finished with 5/35 as South Africa hit back in the match, bowling England out for just 158.

Ibrahim Zadran – Afghanistan

431 ODI runs at 71.83, strike rate 88.31
367 T20I runs at 36.70, strike rate 109.55

The year that was

Afghanistan made huge strides in the One Day International game in particular thanks to Ibrahim Zadran’s work, making a number of vital contributions, on top of showing his mettle in the shortest format.(ads2)

The country’s automatic qualification for the Cricket World Cup came with the help of 431 runs in seven ODIs opening the batting, making three Super League centuries in the run.

In T20 cricket, Zadran again played a key part. A knock of 64* from 59 balls against India stands out as his team fell away in their reply, with steady runs at the T20 World Cup. He finished with 367 runs at a strike rate of 110 and an average of 36.70, playing an important holding role as more aggressive players could move forward around him.

Ibrahim’s T20I runs came in important knocks, making 276 at 46 across the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup.

Memorable performance

Zadran can boast the highest individual ODI innings for an Afghan after his effort of 162 against a strong Sri Lankan bowling attack in Pallekele, breaking Mohammad Shahzad’s 131* seven years prior.

Ibrahim fell on the last ball of the innings after smashing 15 fours and four sixes prior in a dominant knock, with only Najibullah Zadran’s 77 accompanying him.

It was the second century for Ibrahim in the three-match Super League series, taking his year ODI run tally to 431 at an average of almost 72.

Finn Allen – New Zealand

411 T20I runs at 21.63, strike rate 155.09
387 ODI runs at 38.70, strike rate 94.39

The year that was

The Black Caps have unearthed another gem in Finn Allen, who kicked on with an excellent 2022 and building on his first T20I appearance back in 2021.

Making a century against Scotland from just 56 balls against Scotland jump-started his game in the build-up to the T20 World Cup, where he gave the Kiwis another dimension at the top of the order. His 42 from just 24 balls against Australia put the defending champions’ campaign in disarray almost before it started, and Allen also made his ODI debut in July.

Allen made a half-century on his team’s Super League tour of Ireland, before half-centuries against the West Indies and India. He averages 38.70 in the early stages of his ODI career, at a strike rate of 94.39.

Memorable performance

Similar to his blitz against Australia at the T20 World Cup later in the year, Allen stole the fourth match away from Pakistan in their tri-series with Bangladesh, making 62 from just 42 balls in a chase of 131.

Allen stole the show with six sixes in the knock, hitting three off the bowling of Shahnawaz Dahani, also taking on the spin of Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Iftikhar Ahmed.

Arshdeep Singh – India

33 T20I wickets at 18.12, economy 8.17, strike rate 13.30

The year that was

It’s admirable just how quickly Arshdeep Singh took to the international game, already an integral part to India’s bowling assault with the white ball.

Building on a strong IPL career, India’s national setup took on the left-arm quick, and he made the most of the chance with the team looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2021 T20 World Cup. The fast-bowler played 21 T20Is for India, taking 33 wickets at an economy of 8.17, providing strong competition in Powerplay and death-over situations.

Arshdeep was also handed an ODI cap on India’s recent tour of New Zealand, and the future is bright for the 23-year-old seemingly destined to take India’s game forward.

Memorable performance

Unflustered by the pressure of an India v Pakistan fixture in a global tournament and in front of over 90,000 people, Arshdeep stood tall on the big stage.

With prodigious swing at pace, Arshdeep removed both members of Pakistan’s prolific opening pair. He claimed Babar Azam with his first ball lbw, before taking the wicket of Mohammad Rizwan at the end of his next over.

Arshdeep returned at the death to curtail Asif Ali’s plans of a late onslaught, finishing with 3/32 from his four-over allotment.