Dwayne Bravo joins KKR as mentor after announcing retirement from all forms of cricket
Kolkata: Just hours after announcing retirement from all forms of cricket, former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has been roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders as their team mentor for the upcoming IPL 2025 season, marking an end to his long-standing association with Chennai Super Kings.
Bravo, the highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket history, will replace Gambhir Gambhir, who stepped down from the mentor’s position to become the head coach of India’s men’s cricket team.
“Over his illustrious career, he has played 582 T20 matches, taken 631 wickets, and scored nearly 7,000 runs. With more championship wins than any other cricketer, Bravo’s experience is unparalleled,” defending champions KKR stated in an official release on Friday.
“I’ve been part of the Trinbago Knight Riders for the last 10 years in the CPL. Having played for and against the Knight Riders in various leagues, I have a lot of respect for how they operate. The owners’ passion, the professionalism of the management, and the family-like environment make it a special place. This is the perfect platform for me as I transition from playing to mentoring and coaching the next generation of players,” Bravo expressed.
Venky Mysore, KKR CEO, shared that DJ Bravo joining them is a very exciting development. "His deep desire drive to win wherever he plays, his extensive experience and knowledge will benefit the franchise and all players immensely. We are also very pleased that Bravo will be involved with all our other franchises around the world – CPL, MLC, and ILT20," he said.
Bravo's announced his retirement after a recent injury during the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), marking the end of an era for the "Champion”. “Today is the day I say goodbye to the game that has given me everything. From the age of five, I knew this was what I wanted to do–this was the sport I was destined to play. I had no interest in anything else, and I dedicated my entire life to you. In return, you gave me the life I dreamed of for myself and my family. For that, I can’t thank you enough,” Bravo wrote in an emotional post on Instagram.
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P&H High Court denies anticipatory bail to man accused of replacing national flag with saffron flag
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to grant anticipatory bail to Vikas Tomar, who is accused of removing the national flag from a mosque in Gurugram’s Uton village and replacing it with a saffron flag.
Justice Manisha Batra, presiding over the case Vikas Tomar @ Vikash Tomar v. State of Haryana, observed that the allegations against the petitioner were not vague but specific, and supported by conversations between him and other co-accused.
“The gravity of the offence and its potential impact on public order and communal peace cannot be overlooked at this stage,” the Court noted. It further stated that no exceptional circumstances had been presented that would justify granting pre-arrest bail, especially given the “serious communal and constitutional implications” of the alleged conduct.
According to the prosecution, a complaint was filed on July 7 in Bilaspur, Gurugram, reporting that anti-social elements had replaced the national flag atop a mosque with a saffron flag. Audio and video evidence were submitted along with the complaint. Two other accused were initially arrested under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 2 of the Prevention of Insult to National Honours Act, 1971, but were granted bail the same day.
The Sessions Court had earlier denied anticipatory bail to Tomar on July 15, with Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Chauhan observing that such acts threaten the social fabric in a diverse country like India. He remarked, “Any person of ordinary prudence and slightest of patriotism in his heart would not have dared to commit such a crime.”
Tomar's counsel argued before the High Court that he was not named in the FIR and had no role in the alleged incident. However, opposing counsel representing the State and the complainant contended that Tomar aimed to provoke communal unrest in the region.
Justice Batra, after considering the arguments, concluded that custodial interrogation of the accused was necessary. “No ground for grant of anticipatory bail is made out,” the Court held.
Advocate Abhimanyu Singh appeared for the petitioner, while Additional Advocate General Apoorv Garg represented the State of Haryana. Advocate Rosi appeared for the complainant.
The bail plea was dismissed.
