Real Madrid to face Man City as Champions League R016 serves up heavyweight clashes
India Today
UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid will face Manchester City in a heavyweight clash as the Champions League Round of 16 draw delivered blockbuster matchups, with PSG taking on Chelsea in another standout fixture.
Manchester City and Real Madrid will renew their rivalry in the Champions League Round of 16 after being drawn together for the sixth time since 2019-20, setting up another chapter in European football's most frequent modern clash.
The two sides have already met once this season, with City recovering from a goal down to win 2-1 in the group stage in December. Their latest encounter promises another tactical battle between two of Europe's powerhouses.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain face Chelsea in a rematch of last year's contentious Club World Cup final, which the Premier League side won. The tie offers Chelsea a chance for redemption on the continental stage.
Arsenal, who topped the league phase standings, will take on German champions Bayer Leverkusen, while second-placed Bayern Munich face Serie A's Atalanta in what should be an attacking spectacle.
The draw was less kind to some Premier League clubs. Newcastle United must navigate a tricky fixture against Barcelona, while Liverpool faces Turkish champions Galatasaray in what promises to be a hostile atmosphere.
Tottenham Hotspur, struggling domestically, drew Atletico Madrid in a challenging assignment that will test their European credentials.
Anil Kumble believes Kolkata Knight Riders weakened their own title-winning core by releasing Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt after their 2024 triumph. The former India captain criticised the franchise's inconsistent retention strategy.
Rohit Sharma believes India's recent success in ICC tournaments could be the start of a strong phase for the national teams. The India captain praised both men's and women's teams and hopes the winning run continues.
Suryakumar Yadav revealed how a phone call and a little faith helped Ishan Kishan stage a sensational comeback, earning him a spot in India's Men's T20 World Cup squad. Kishan capitalised on the opportunity, scoring 317 runs in nine matches.
Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav married his childhood friend, Vanshika Singh, on March 14 in a grand ceremony held in Mussoorie. The celebrations were even more special for Kuldeep, coming shortly after India's T20 World Cup 2026 triumph.
AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan says the federation replaced the Indian women's team's ill-fitting AFC Women's Asian Cup kits within seven hours, but the effort went unrecognised.
Pakistan national selector Aaqib Javed believes that the country and the country's cricket board need to move on from scapegoating culture to move forward in international cricket.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave in New Delhi, Abhishek Sharma revealed how his father and family helped him overcome a difficult T20 World Cup campaign, during which he battled poor form before scoring a match-winning 18-ball fifty in the final against New Zealand.
Kevin Pietersen has stepped down as Delhi Capitals mentor ahead of IPL 2026, saying he could not commit the time required, though he confirmed he will return to the commentary box during the tournament.
The PCB has denied reports that Pakistan players were fined PKR 5 million each for their T20 World Cup exit, with spokesperson Amir Mir clarifying that no penalties have been imposed, though the board is considering a performance-based accountability formula.
Salman Ali Agha has been given a reprimand and a demerit point following his outburst after the controversial run out during the second ODI against Bangladesh on Friday, March 13.
On this day on March 14, 2001, India overcame a massive first-innings deficit to script a remarkable 171-run victory against Australia in the 2001 Kolkata Test, powered by the record-breaking partnership of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman and a dominant display by Harbhajan Singh on the final day.