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Unmukt and Vinay Kumar to play for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2015
MUMBAI: While the country is currently engulfed with football fever with the ongoing Hero Indian Super League, cricket fans are in for some good news. The league that started it all, Pepsi Indian Premier League, in its eighth season, is set to kick off on 8 April 2015, and conclude on 24 May 2015.
The first trading window for the tournament opened on 6 October 2014. So far two players have been traded; Mumbai Indians have acquired Unmukt Chand from Rajasthan Royals and R Vinay Kumar from Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively.
Chand had led the India Under-19 cricket team to the U-19 Cricket World Cup victory in 2012. During the IPL season seven he was bought for Rs 65 lakhs by Rajasthan Royals. Vinay Kumar was picked up by KKR for Rs 2.8 crore.
Mumbai Indians have also released Michael Hussey and Praveen Kumar (Pepsi IPL 2014 replacement player), both of whom may enter the Pepsi IPL 2015 Player Auction.
The first trading window will close on 12 December 2014.
Meanwhile, BCCI hon. secretary Sanjay Patel said that the IPL governing council has also decided the windows for the 2016 and 2017 seasons of the tournament. Further mentioning the dates, he said, “The Pepsi IPL 2016 will be played in the window between 8 April 2016 and 29 May 2016 while IPL 2017 will be played from 5 April 2017 to 21 May 2017.”
The previous seventh season was won by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
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.
