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Rajkot IPL team roars at season 9 auction; pockets Raina, Jadeja
MUMBAI: The newly formed Rajkot based Indian Premier League (IPL) team owned by Intex Mobiles has unveiled its first set of players for the upcoming IPL season 9.
In the auction held for the two newly formed teams, Intex managed to win some of the brightest stars of the game. The bid for this season was held at NCA Grounds in Mumbai, Maharashtra today.
At the auction, the team successfully bid for Suresh Raina (Rs 12.5 crore), Ravindra Jadeja (Rs 9.5 crore), James Faulkner (Rs 5.5 crore) and Brendon McCullum (Rs 7.5 crore). With this, the Rajkot IPL team has set the ball rolling for a star-studded line-up to represent the team in the ninth season of the cash rich tourney, starting 9 April, 2016.
“Our intent is to put together a really strong team to ensure a thrilling tournament for the fans. I am very happy with the players that we have been able to fix today as they are amongst the best talents in the sports. Being a new team we will inject new ideas and hopefully add lots of excitement to the upcoming season,” stated Rajkot IPL team owner and Intex Technologies director Keshav Bansal.
“Intex is the leading domestic mobile handset brand in Gujarat and have a huge connect with the people of the state. We are absolutely delighted and it is an honour for us to bring the IPL to the vibrant and cricket loving state of Gujarat. I am confident of getting the love and support of our fans in Rajkot and all across the state,” he added.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
