For years, the Board of Control for Crock in India (BCCI) has navigated various challenges. However a recent coury order is set to have a major financial impact on the sport's governing body.

This ruling revisits a past chapter involving a former IPL team and a long-standing dispute with them. The decision has arrived after a decade of the case, and brings a major setback for BCCI as Bombay HC orders to pay ₹538 crore to defunct IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

Read the full story to know why.

How the BCCI-Kochi Tuskers Kerala dispute began

The root of this major legal battle dates back to 2011, when the BCCI terminated the contract of the IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala. The team, managed by Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL), had only played in one IPL season.

The BCCI claimed they ended the contract because Kochi Tuskers failed to provide a required annual bank guarantee by a deadline in March 2011. This was seen by the BCCI as a serious breach of their agreement.

However, the team owners had a different view. They argued that their delay was due to several issues, including problems with the stadium in Kochi and delays in getting necessary approvals. They also stated that the BCCI continued to deal with them and even accepted payments for months after the March deadline.

The team owners believed this showed the BCCI had waived or overlooked the deadline, making their sudden contract termination unfair.

Taking the matter to arbitration:

Because they felt the termination was wrong, the Kochi Tuskers owners took the matter to arbitration in 2012. An independent tribunal looked at all the facts. In June 2015, this tribunal ruled in favor of Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

The tribunal specifically directed the BCCI to pay ₹384.83 crore to Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL) for lost earnings and ₹153.34 crore to Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) for a wrongfully cashed bank guarantee. These amounts also included interest and legal costs.

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The Financial Fallout: Why ₹538 crore to be paid now?

The BCCI challenged the 2015 arbitration award in the Bombay High Court, arguing it was unfair and that the damages were too high. However, the recent Bombay HC ruling upheld the original arbitration decision.

This means the BCCI is now legally required to pay a total of over ₹538 crore, including accumulated interest since 2015, to the KTK owners. This represents a major financial loss and a significant legal defeat for the Indian cricket board.

The hashtag #BoycottAsiaCup is trending on X (formerly Twitter) as Indian cricket fans and social media users express outrage over India’s scheduled match against Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup. The tournament is set to take place from September 9 to 28 in the UAE, with India and Pakistan placed in the same group and likely to face each other up to a possible three times during the event.

The backlash boosted following the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, which claimed 26 civilian lives, and India’s subsequent military response, Operation Sindoor. Many Indian fans see the decision to play Pakistan as insensitive and accuse the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of prioritising commercial attractions over national sentiment. This has led to calls for the BCCI to boycott the Asia Cup to uphold a stance against Pakistan's involvement amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Enough of this nonsense. #BoycottAsiaCup https://t.co/onAFIGwMju

— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) July 26, 2025

Criticism has also targeted Indian players and officials for inconsistency, such as their boycott of a recent World Championship of Legends match against Pakistan, but their willingness to play in the Asia Cup. The controversy reflects the wider debate about whether sports should remain separate from political issues between the two nations.

If Terror and Talks Can’t go Together then Terror and Cricket can’t go together. #BoycottAsiaCup #BoycottBCCI pic.twitter.com/sbPzjXOHMH

— BRADDY (@braddy_Codie05) July 26, 2025

Asia Cup 2025 full schedule

The Nation England has produced some extraordinary Batsmen in Cricket. They have impressed Cricket fans from all over the world with their achievements and glory. The test is considered the Best Format in Cricket. England has & had some players who are the best among many in the world of Test Cricket. Sir Jack Hobbs is considered the Best Test Batsman for England in Tests. He has scored 5410 runs in just 102 innings with 15 centuries and 28 half-centuries.

In recent times of greats, Joe Root has proven himself one of the greatest if not the greatest for England in Test Format as he has every right due to his achievements. Now, Let's give a look at the list of the Top 5 Batsmen with the most test centuries for England.

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Top 5 Batsmen with the Most Test Centuries for England:

1. Joe Root | 38 Centuries

England batter Joe Root has written his name in the history books for England in Test Format by bringing up his 38th Test hundred on the third day of the fourth Test between England and India in Manchester. With this century, Root also climbed to second on the all time list of Test run-scorers. Moreover, he also overtook Graham Gooch as the highest run-scorer at Lord's in international cricket. 

Root made his debut in 2012 against team India and since then he has played 157* test matches. He has scored 13,409 runs with an average of 51.17.

2. Alastair Cook | 33 Centuries

Alastair Cook was one of the greats in Test Cricket of his generation. He made his debut against India in 2006 for the national team in Test Cricket. Cook played 161 Test matches in which he batted 291 innings. He scored 12,472 runs with an average of 45.35. His highest score was 294 and he made 33 centuries and 57 half-centuries for his team. Cook played his last Test Match against India in 2018.

3. Kevin Pietersen | 23 Centuries

Kevin Pietersen has proved himself across every format for England. He made his Test debut in 2005 against the Australian side at Lords. Pietersen played 104 test matches, in which he scored 8181 runs with an average of 47.29. He played his last test match against Australia in 2014. Kevin Pietersen is third on the list with 23 Centuries.

4. Wally Hammond | 22 Centuries

The judgment of cricket history is that the greatest batsmen the game has known are - WG Grace, Jack Hobbs, Walter Hammond, and Don Bradman. Others may come close indeed to those four but do not quite take place with them. Hammond made his test debut against South Africa in 1927. He played 85 test matches and scored 7249 runs with an average of 58.45. He is 4th on the list with 22 test centuries. The Great Walter Hammond played his last Test match against New Zealand in 1947.

5. Colin Cowdrey | 22 Centuries

Colin Cowdrey mostly known as Michael Cowdrey played Cricket for 21 years, One of the most durable batsmen in the history of Test Cricket. Cowdrey made his test debut in 1954 against the Aussies and played 114 matches, scoring 7624 runs with an average of 44.06. He is 5th on the list with the same no as Wally Hammond, 22 centuries. Michael Cowdrey played his last test match in 1975 against the Australian side.

Top 10 Players with the Most Centuries in Test Cricket for England:

There has been a lot of discussion about the Asia Cup 2025 tournament for a long time. However, now a big report has come out regarding the start of this tournament. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting was to be held in Dhaka regarding Asia Cup 2025, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to attend it.

Also Read: 'Needs a PR team': 15 players debuted, still no chance for Abhimanyu Easwaran

However, later BCCI attended this meeting online, where Asia Cup was discussed and it is being told that consensus has been reached for organizing the tournament. The tournament will start from 8 September.

Asia Cup 2025 starts on September 8

According to the report, Asia Cup 2025 will start from September 8 and its final match will be played on September 24. 8 teams will participate in it, in which India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan are full time members.

At the same time, the ACC Premier Cup winning team Hong Kong, Oman and UAE will also participate in it. According to the information, the tournament will be hosted in the UAE. However, BCCI will be its host and will release the schedule soon.

The tournament will be held in T20 format

Keeping in mind the T20 World Cup 2026, this time the Asia Cup will be held in T20 format. Last time there was a ODI World Cup, it was organized in ODI format. Matches were held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka under the hybrid model. The Indian team defeated Sri Lanka in the final and won the trophy of the last edition.

BCCI yet to confirm participation against Pakistan

A major question for the Asia Cup 2025 is whether India will play against Pakistan. Tensions remain high due to recent incidents like the Pahalgam terror attacks and India’s Operation Sindoor, leading to strong public sentiment against sporting ties with Pakistan.

Also Read: ENG vs IND 4th Test: Rishabh Pant to available for batting; Jurel will do wicketkeeping

This pressure has already led to the cancellation of the match between India Champions and Pakistan Champions at the World Championship of Legends, where Indian players withdrew in protest.

While the two teams might be placed in separate groups, a potential clash in the Super 4s or final would make a face-off inevitable, keeping fans and officials on edge.

The 2025 Asia Cup faces significant uncertainty as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has threatened to boycott any resolutions if the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Annual General Meeting (AGM) proceeds in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The meeting, scheduled for July 24, has become a flashpoint amid heightened political tensions between India and Bangladesh, prompting the BCCI to refuse to attend if the venue is not changed from Dhaka.

ACC does not want to change the venue

According to multiple reports, including ANI and India Today, the BCCI has formally communicated its stance to both the ACC and its chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, requesting a change of venue.

However, these requests have gone unanswered, with Naqvi reportedly adamant on holding the meeting in Dhaka, a move seen by India as exerting undue pressure to influence Asia Cup-related decisions.

India threatens to withdraw from the Asia Cup 2025

India, the defending champions and host of the upcoming six-nation T20 Asia Cup, likely scheduled for September, is not alone in its boycott.

Cricket boards from Sri Lanka, Oman, and Afghanistan have also expressed reservations about attending the meeting in Bangladesh, raising questions about the ACC's ability to make valid decisions without key members present.

Compounding the tension is the recent postponement of India's white-ball tour of Bangladesh from August 2025 to September 2026, underscoring the diplomatic strain. India refused to play in Pakistan during the 2023 Asia Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, with matches relocated to neutral venues like Sri Lanka and Dubai, respectively. The Men in Blue went on to win both tournaments. 

There have been speculative reports that BCCI might withdraw from both the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the Men’s Asia Cup, but BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has denied these claims, calling them "speculative and imaginary".

There is a saying in cricket, "When life gives you a Greg Chappel, be a Sourav Ganguly". Well, that's a bit controversial line to start an article about Sourav Ganguly records.

But that was the life and career of Sourav Ganguly, who rose against every odd and came back like a "Maharaj" (King, people from Kolkata call him that) every time he was pushed down.

Now, the former India captain, who turned 53 today, made some significant moves on and off the field which changed Indian Cricket forever.

To mark his birth anniversary, we present to you a list of Sourav Ganguly's records that he achieved throughout his career.

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Sourav Ganguly's records in tests

Sourav Ganguly made his test debut in 1996 against England at Lords' Cricket Ground. At that time his selection was questioned. The pundits called him the "East-Zone quota". But a typical Sourav Ganguly made sure all the questions were answered with the bat in hand. 

Not to forget his mild-paced bowling. Let's take a look at Sourav Ganguly's records in tests.

1. 62nd batsman in test cricket history to score a 100 on test debut.
2. 6th test batsman to score centuries in the first two tests in his career.
3. Highest Test score by a left-handed Indian batsman (239).
4. Only test player to score a test century on debut and then score a zero in the last test innings.
5. Only player to average more than 40 throughout his test career and play more than 100 test matches.

Read Also: Cricket records: Most test matches as an umpire

Sourav Ganguly's records in ODIs

Though Ganguly was India's one of the best in the longest format, it was the white ball that he dominated more than anyone. Even more than Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting. 

Sourav Ganguly scored more white-ball runs than any other player during his time. Here are some of Sourav Ganguly's records in ODIs-

1. He was the fastest man to reach 6000, 7000, 8000, and 9000 ODI runs while playing.
2. Ganguly is the only cricketer to win four consecutive Man of the Match awards in One Day Internationals.
3. Highest individual score by any batsman in an ICC Champions Trophy final (117).
4. Sourav Ganguly was also the first player to hit 3 centuries in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy.
5. Highest individual score in the ICC World Cup by any Indian player (183).
6. He is also the third fastest to score 10000 ODI runs (263 ing).
7. Most ODI runs by any left-handed Indian player (11363)
8. Second most ODI runs in a single calendar year (1767 runs in 1999).
9. The second-most ODI hundreds in a single calendar year (7 ODI tons in 2000).
10. One of the five cricketers to have achieved the unique treble. Ganguly has scored more than 10,000 runs, and taken more than 100 wickets & 100 catches in ODI cricket.
11. Third-highest run-scorer in ODI cricket among Indians and ninth overall.
12. Sourav Ganguly also has the record of scoring the second-most tons by an Indian batsman in a single World Cup. ( 3 centuries in 2003)
13. 10th most hundreds in ODI cricket (22).

Read Also: Most runs in Knockouts of ICC Tournament

Sourav Ganguly's records as captain

Sourav Ganguly is sometimes called the "accidental captain". He had never captained any team before being the captain of the Indian Cricket team.

Read Also | Ranking all Indian captains in ICC events

He took over the captaincy post during a tough time of the "Azhar Saga". But as Kapil Dev said, that was the moment Indian cricket's future was made. Here are some of the records Sourav Ganguly made as a captain-

1. Till retirement, Sourav Ganguly had the most successful India captain in away tests (11 wins). Virat Kohli later went past him.
2. Third most successful ODI captain among Indians (76 wins )
3. Ganguly is the only Indian skipper to win a Test series in Pakistan.
4. He took the captaincy when India was ranked 8 in Test rankings, and left India second-ranked in Test cricket, still a record for the biggest jump.
5. 8th most matches as captain in ODI history (146)

Read Also: Most successful captains in Test cricket

"Giving that Indian team a lot of steel, self-belief, character. Forget about winning at home. I think all sides are comfortable winning at home. But it's about going outside in Test conditions that you are not familiar with against the best in the world and having that fire, hunger and belief to win. And I think that's where Dada made the biggest difference to Indian cricket."

Kumar Sangakkara on Sourav Ganguly as captain