Cricket

MS Dhoni, the iconic captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), exercised his democratic right by casting his vote in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections in his hometown Ranchi on Saturday. Dhoni's arrival at the polling booth was met with immense enthusiasm and media attention.After CSK's disappointing exit from the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dhoni returned to Ranchi and made his way to the polling booth on Saturday morning. The former India captain was accompanied by his family as he cast his vote.The Election Commission of India (ECI) shared a picture of Dhoni's arrival at the polling booth on social media, hailing him as "Thala for a reason." The ECI also tweeted a video of Dhoni casting his vote, which quickly went viral.Dhoni's participation in the electoral process highlights the importance of civic duty and encourages others to exercise their right to vote. His presence at the polling booth also serves as a reminder of the power of sports personalities to influence and inspire the public.The sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections witnessed voting in 58 parliamentary constituencies across six states and two Union Territories. Over 11.13 crore voters were eligible to cast their ballots, including two former Chief Ministers: Manohar Lal Khattar from the BJP and Mehbooba Mufti from the PDP.Dhoni's decision to travel in economy class after CSK's elimination from the IPL further endeared him to fans and the public. His humility and commitment to his hometown have made him a beloved figure in Ranchi and beyond.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, recognized as the 'national icon' by the Election Commission, cast his vote in Mumbai on Monday during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. His son, Arjun Tendulkar, an IPL player for Mumbai Indians, accompanied him.Tendulkar, the leading run-scorer in international cricket, urged citizens to vote, emphasizing its importance for the nation's future. He highlighted the need for thoughtful action and encouraged people to exercise their democratic right.The fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections witnessed extensive arrangements for a smooth and secure voting experience. Six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai were contested, including Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South, and Mumbai South Central.Other constituencies in Maharashtra participating in the fifth phase included Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Kalyan, Palghar, Bhiwandi, and Thane. Maharashtra has the second-largest number of Lok Sabha seats (48) after Uttar Pradesh.Key contests in various constituencies marked the fifth phase. Prominent leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, and Omar Abdullah sought electoral success. Eight states/UTs participated in this phase: Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.To ensure a peaceful atmosphere, 2,000 flying squads, 2105 static surveillance teams, 881 video surveillance teams, and 502 video viewing teams monitored the 94,732 polling stations round the clock.

Ravindra Jadeja, India's star all-rounder, and his wife Rivaba Jadeja exercised their democratic right by casting their votes in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat's Jamnagar. Jadeja shared a picture on Instagram with his wife after they cast their votes, captioning it, "My vote, my right."Rivaba, a Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) MLA from the Jamnagar North Assembly constituency, was accompanied by her husband and other family members to the polling booth. Jadeja's sister, Naina Jadeja, and father, Anirudhsinh Jadeja, also cast their votes in Jamnagar.After casting her vote, Naina spoke to ANI, emphasizing the importance of voting in a democracy. "Voting is our right in a democracy... We should vote for a better future," she said.In Jamnagar, BJP's sitting MP Poonamben Maadam is facing off against Congress' JP Marayviya. The third phase of polling is taking place on 93 Lok Sabha seats across 11 states and union territories, including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.Jadeja is currently part of India's 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup. India will begin their campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York, followed by a highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue. They will then face the USA and Canada on June 12 and 15, respectively.

Mohammed Shami Urges Citizens to Vote, Expresses Gratitude for PM Modi's PraiseIndian star pacer Mohammed Shami cast his vote in Amroha during the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday. After exercising his franchise, Shami emphasized the importance of voting and encouraged citizens to "elect the government of their choice.""Every citizen has the right to cast their votes and elect the government of their choice," Shami told the media. "It is a matter of pride for me that PM Narendra Modi took my name during his speech (in Amroha) and praised me and my game."Shami's vote came as part of the second phase of Lok Sabha polls, which saw voting held in eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh: Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura, and Bulandshahr.Earlier this year, PM Modi had wished Shami a speedy recovery after the pacer underwent a successful operation on his Achilles tendon. Shami is currently undergoing rehabilitation from the injury.On April 19, Shami provided an injury update to his fans, expressing his eagerness to make a comeback. "Injuries don't define you, your comeback will... Can't wait to be back out there with my team!" he wrote on Instagram.Shami is not participating in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, where he was expected to play for the Gujarat Titans (GT). He also missed the five-match Test series against England at home in January-March due to his injury.The 33-year-old last represented India in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November. Despite playing through pain, Shami emerged as the tournament's highest wicket-taker, claiming 24 wickets in just seven matches.Shami's performance in the World Cup was a testament to his resilience and determination. He missed the subsequent tour to South Africa and the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in January due to his injury.

Former Indian cricket all-rounder Yusuf Pathan has embarked on a new chapter in his life, announcing his candidacy for the Lok Sabha elections from the Baharampur constituency under the banner of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). This move has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, as Baharampur has traditionally been a Congress stronghold.Pathan's decision to enter politics has been met with mixed reactions. His brother, former India cricketer Irfan Pathan, expressed his support on social media, praising Yusuf's compassion and dedication to serving others. However, Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who currently represents Baharampur, questioned the TMC's motives, suggesting that Pathan's nomination was a ploy to polarize voters and benefit the BJP.The TMC's decision to field Pathan in Baharampur is seen as a strategic move to challenge the Congress's dominance in the region. The TMC and Congress are part of the INDIA alliance, but seat-sharing negotiations have stalled in Bengal. The TMC is believed to have offered Baharampur and another seat to the Congress, but the grand old party demanded a larger share.Pathan's entry into politics has added a new dimension to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bengal. His popularity as a cricketer and his reputation for social work could potentially sway voters in his favor. However, he will face a tough challenge from Chowdhury, who has a strong base in Baharampur and is known for his vocal opposition to the TMC government.The outcome of the Baharampur contest will be closely watched, as it could have implications for the overall political landscape in Bengal. If Pathan is successful, it will be a major setback for the Congress and a boost for the TMC. Conversely, a victory for Chowdhury would reaffirm the Congress's hold on Baharampur and deal a blow to the TMC's ambitions.