Category: Sports

  • WPL 2023: Key to India’s ODI World Cup Preparations!

    WPL 2023: Key to India’s ODI World Cup Preparations!

    The third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is coming up, and Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of India and Mumbai Indians, believes it will be very important for preparing for the ODI World Cup that India will host later this year. Harmanpreet shared that this WPL is key because after the tournament, the team will have time to focus on fitness.

    Harmanpreet also praised India’s Under-19 women’s team for winning their second T20 World Cup in Malaysia, saying it’s a proud moment for everyone.

    To make the press conference more special, Harmanpreet, MI coach Charlotte Edwards, mentor and bowling coach Jhulan Goswami, and all-rounder S Sajana arrived in a local Mumbai taxi driven by a woman.

    Jhulan talked about the strength of the MI squad, mentioning the exciting new player, 16-year-old wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini, who was bought for ₹1.6 crore during the 2024 mini-auction. She noted the quality of the team and highlighted young players who performed well in domestic cricket.

    MI coach Charlotte Edwards gave an update on Indian seamer Pooja Vastrakar, who is currently injured. She mentioned they will make a decision on Pooja’s fitness soon since she has been an important player for MI.

    Jhulan pointed out how the WPL has changed the mindset of domestic players, who now want to impress scouts and have a chance to play in the league. She observed a renewed eagerness among players in domestic cricket to play well.

    The growing popularity of WPL means more recognition for women cricketers. Jhulan shared that in regions where there was little attention in the past, cricket now attracts interest, with fans keen to know about upcoming WPL events.

    This season, unlike the first, will be held at four venues: Vadodara, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Mumbai.

    Harmanpreet reflected on her strong ties to Mumbai, saying that time is very valued there. She recalled her positive experiences playing in Mumbai and expressed excitement about playing in front of fans again.

    Jhulan echoed Harmanpreet’s views, noting that the WPL inspires young girls and motivates them, which is the goal of the league. With the ODI World Cup approaching, all eyes will be on how the WPL helps prepare the team for this big event.

  • Virat Kohli Misses ODI Against England: Injury Update & Fan Reaction

    Virat Kohli Misses ODI Against England: Injury Update & Fan Reaction

    Cricket fans were sad on Thursday when Rohit Sharma said Virat Kohli could not play in the first ODI against England in Nagpur. Virat hurt his knee the night before, so Yashasvi Jaiswal took his place and made his debut.

    Kohli’s injury comes after he struggled in the recent Tests against New Zealand and Australia, and also didn’t score well in the Ranji Trophy. Before the game, Kohli was seen with a bandage on his right knee and was trying to see if he could play. He jogged a little, did some stretches, and looked unsure while touching his knee.

    Before this, the last time Kohli missed a match due to injury was in 2022 when he had back pain and couldn’t play a Test match against South Africa. Many fans were upset because he played poorly against Australia, often getting out to simple catches. Fans started to worry about his performance and batting style.

    Even with these issues, lots of fans came to see him play at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. They were especially excited for Thursday’s game because Kohli is just 94 runs away from becoming the third player ever to score 14,000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Only Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara have done that before. If Kohli achieves this, he will be the fastest player to reach this milestone.

  • India vs England ODI Series: Exciting Matches Ahead

    India vs England ODI Series: Exciting Matches Ahead

    India is excited to play against England in a One Day International (ODI) series starting on February 6 in Nagpur. After India’s success in T20 games, cricket fans are sad to see Virat Kohli missing from the team. However, two young players, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harshit Rana, have been picked for the first time to play in the ODI format.

    The second ODI will take place in Cuttack at the Barabati Stadium on Sunday, and Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium will host the final match on February 12. The team selected for the ODI series is the same as the one that played in the ICC Champions Trophy, except that Varun Chakaravarthy takes the place of Jasprit Bumrah.

    Good news for England as their top batsman, Joe Root, returns to the ODI squad after not playing since 2023. His experience will help strengthen England’s batting lineup.

    India’s playing list for the first ODI is:
    – Rohit Sharma (Captain)
    – Yashasvi Jaiswal
    – Shubman Gill
    – K. L. Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
    – Shreyas Iyer
    – Hardik Pandya
    – Ravindra Jadeja
    – Axar Patel
    – Mohammed Shami
    – Harshit Rana
    – Kuldeep Yadav

    As India prepares for the Champions Trophy, the form and fitness of veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are being closely watched. Both players did not perform well in the Ranji Trophy recently, and they need to show strong performances in the ODI series, where they have been successful in the past.

    Rohit and Kohli were the top two run-scorers in the 2023 World Cup, but since then, they have faced criticism for their performances in other formats of the game. The ODI series against England is an important opportunity for them to prove themselves before the Champions Trophy, which takes place in Pakistan and Dubai starting February 19

  • Cristiano Ronaldo at 40: Reflecting on His Career and the Ballon d’Or Controversy

    Cristiano Ronaldo at 40: Reflecting on His Career and the Ballon d’Or Controversy

    Cristiano Ronaldo, often called the greatest footballer ever, celebrated his 40th birthday on Wednesday. He currently plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and could represent Portugal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo is in the final stage of his career, just like his biggest rival, Lionel Messi, who plays for Inter Miami in the MLS.

    In the past, Ronaldo and Messi often went head-to-head when Ronaldo played for Real Madrid and Messi for Barcelona. Recently, Ronaldo shared his thoughts in an interview. He expressed his feelings about the Ballon d’Or, an award given to the best player in the world. Ronaldo believes that Vinicius Jr. deserved the award over Rodri last year. He pointed out that Messi has won the Ballon d’Or seven times, while he has it five times.

    Ronaldo said, “There is no credibility. Vinicius should be the Ballon d’Or winner. I felt angry about it, but I’ve learned to accept it.” He also noted that he is very competitive and sometimes forgets how much he has achieved. “If I were anyone else, I would have stopped playing football ten years ago,” he added.

    He talked about comparing himself to other great players like Messi, Pele, and Maradona, saying, “It’s fine to have preferences, but saying I’m not complete is a lie. I’m the most complete player, and I believe that with all my heart.”

    Together, Messi and Ronaldo have collected an amazing 77 official trophies (Messi 44, Ronaldo 33) and have both scored over 800 goals for their clubs and countries during their careers.

  • India vs England ODI Series: Complete Schedule & Squad Details!

    India vs England ODI Series: Complete Schedule & Squad Details!

    Get ready, cricket fans! India will face England in the first One Day International (ODI) match at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur this Thursday. The second match will happen at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday, and the third match is set for February 12 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

    India’s team for this series is the same as the one that played in the ICC Champions Trophy but with one change: Varun Chakaravarthy will replace Jasprit Bumrah. Also, England’s star player Joe Root is back in the ODI squad for the first time since 2023, making the tournament even more exciting!

    Match Streaming Information:
    – Where to Stream: You can watch the matches live on Disney+ Hotstar.
    – Where to Watch on TV: The games will be shown on Star Sports 1 (HD & SD), Star Sports 1 Hindi (HD & SD), Star Sports 1 Tamil (HD & SD), Star Sports 1 Telugu (HD & SD), and Star Sports 1 Kannada (SD).

    Schedule for India vs England ODI Series:
    – February 6, Thursday: 1st ODI at VCA Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur – 1:30 PM IST
    – February 9, Sunday: 2nd ODI at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack – 1:30 PM IST
    – February 12, Wednesday: 3rd ODI at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad – 1:30 PM IST

    India’s Squad:
    – Rohit Sharma (Captain)
    – Shubman Gill
    – Shreyas Iyer
    – Yashasvi Jaiswal
    – Virat Kohli
    – Rishabh Pant
    – KL Rahul
    – Ravindra Jadeja
    – Axar Patel
    – Washington Sundar
    – Arshdeep Singh
    – Harshit Rana
    – Kuldeep Yadav
    – Mohammed Shami
    – Varun Chakaravarthy

    Don’t miss any of the action!

  • India Crushes South Africa in Epic 2000 ICC KnockOut Semifinal

    India Crushes South Africa in Epic 2000 ICC KnockOut Semifinal

    After being away from international cricket for more than 20 years because of apartheid, South Africa returned to the game in late 1991. India led the way in welcoming them back. In their first One-Day International series in November 1991, South Africa impressed everyone, showing that cricket was still alive and well in their country. Although India won that series 2-1, South Africa got their payback four months later, winning their first World Cup match against India in 1992.

    By October 13, 2000, when South Africa and India met in the semifinals of the ICC KnockOut Trophy in Nairobi, both teams were looking to regain their glory and win back their fans’ trust. South African captain Hansie Cronje had just been involved in a match-fixing scandal, which deeply affected the cricket scene in both countries.

    India had lifted its spirits with a stunning victory over Australia in the quarterfinals, thanks to young stars Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan. But South Africa, the defending champions, were determined to show their strength. South Africa had won the first ICC KnockOut Trophy in 1998 and was looking to add another title.

    In the semifinals, South Africa faced a tough challenge from India. India had strong players, including Sourav Ganguly, who was brilliant with the bat. He played a fantastic inning, scoring 141 runs and leading India to a high score of 295 runs.

    In response, South Africa struggled to keep up with the required run rate. Zaheer Khan struck early, taking crucial wickets and putting South Africa on the back foot. Indian bowler Anil Kumble also did well, taking important wickets and controlling the game.

    Despite efforts from players like Mark Boucher, who scored 60 runs, South Africa couldn’t recover. They were all out for 200 runs, losing by 95 runs and allowing India to enter the finals of a major tournament for the first time since 1985.

    Match Summary:
    – India: 295 runs in 50 overs (Sourav Ganguly 141, Sachin Tendulkar 39, Rahul Dravid 58, Yuvraj Singh 41; Allan Donald 2-34, Jacques Kallis 2-71)
    – South Africa: 200 all out in 41 overs (Jonty Rhodes 32, Mark Boucher 60, Lance Klusener 29; Zaheer Khan 2-27, Anil Kumble 2-28, Sachin Tendulkar 2-32)
    – Player of the Match: Sourav Ganguly

  • Gujarat Giants Appoint Ashleigh Gardner as Captain for WPL 2025

    Gujarat Giants Appoint Ashleigh Gardner as Captain for WPL 2025

    The Gujarat Giants have picked Ashleigh Gardner, an Australian all-rounder, as their new captain for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2025. Gardner takes over from her teammate Beth Mooney, who was the previous captain.

    Gardner is a star in Australian cricket, having won the Belinda Clark Award twice. She helped Australia win a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and was named Player of the Tournament at the 2023 T20 World Cup held in South Africa. Since the WPL started, Gardner has been an important player for the Gujarat Giants, scoring 324 runs and taking 17 wickets over the last two seasons.

    “I am truly honored to be named captain of the Gujarat Giants,” Gardner said. “I love being part of this team, and I cannot wait to lead such a talented group this season. We have a great mix of young and experienced players, along with lots of Indian talent. I’m excited to work hard and make our fans proud!”

    Michael Klinger, the team’s head coach, believes Gardner will be a great captain. “She is a fierce competitor who knows the game very well. Her ability to inspire others makes her the perfect choice to lead the Giants,” he said. Klinger also thanked Mooney for her leadership and shared that she will now focus on being the wicketkeeper and a key batsman.

    Last year, the Gujarat Giants struggled, finishing at the bottom of the league with only two wins in eight matches. They are hoping for a better season with Gardner at the helm.

  • IGF Condemns IOA’s Interference in Indian Golf Union Elections

    IGF Condemns IOA’s Interference in Indian Golf Union Elections

    The International Golf Federation (IGF) is upset with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for interfering in the Indian Golf Union (IGU) elections. The IOA recognized a group led by Harish Kumar Shetty and ignored the group led by Brijinder Singh. The IGF believes the IOA has no right to do this.

    The IOA said Shetty’s group was official in a letter sent out on December 30, 2024. However, the IGF fully supports the elections that Brijinder Singh’s group won on December 15, 2024. Both groups held their elections separately with different judges overseeing the process.

    In a strong letter to IOA President PT Usha, IGF executive director Antony Scanlon expressed his concerns. He stated that the IGF sees no problem with Singh’s group, whose election followed the rules and the National Sports Development Code of India. The IGF believes the IOA is wrong to interfere in this election and that the association should respect the elected officials, which included Singh as president.

    The Sports Ministry of India also criticized the IOA for recognizing the Shetty-led group. Scanlon pointed out that the IOA’s actions undermine the legitimate process of the IGU. He highlighted that it is not right for the IOA to support a different body that is not recognized by the IGF, as this goes against the Olympic guidelines.

    Additionally, Scanlon criticized the IOA for removing golf from the upcoming National Games. He argued that this penalizes athletes and goes against the goals of supporting high-performance sports. He urged the IOA to reconsider and put the athletes first, instead of getting involved in political disputes.

    This disagreement is unfortunate, according to Scanlon, who believes the actions of the IOA lack respect for the Olympic values that the IGF stands by. He also made sure to inform the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about this issue.

  • Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Gear Up for ODI Series Against England

    Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Gear Up for ODI Series Against England

    Indian cricket stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are working hard to get ready for the upcoming ODI series against England in Nagpur. A recent video from the BCCI shows them practicing their batting skills in the nets, hitting plenty of exciting shots before the first match.

    Both players had a tough time in the 2024-25 Test season, with Rohit scoring only 164 runs in eight matches at a low average of 10.93, while Kohli managed 382 runs in ten matches at 22.87, with just one hundred and a half-century. Their recent performances in domestic cricket weren’t great either; Rohit got out for 3 and 28 runs in a Ranji Trophy match, while Kohli struggled in his first-class comeback with just 6 runs against Railways.

    In 2024, Kohli faced challenges in all formats and ended the year with only 655 runs in 23 matches, averaging 21.83. The highlight was his single century in the Perth Test, scoring 100. On the other hand, Rohit shined in T20s, leading India to the T20 World Cup title and topping the team’s scoring chart with 257 runs at an impressive strike rate of 156.70. He scored a total of 378 runs in 11 T20I matches during the year, including one century and three fifties.

    For ODIs, both Rohit and Kohli didn’t play many matches last year, with Rohit scoring 157 runs in three games against Sri Lanka at an average of 52.33. Kohli had a tough time there but performed well in ODIs overall, hitting 1,435 runs in 30 matches since 2023 at an amazing average of 65.22, including six centuries and eight half-centuries. His outstanding performance in the 2023 World Cup made him the top scorer, accumulating 765 runs with an impressive average of 95.62.

    As they prepare to play in Nagpur, both Rohit and Kohli want to leave their Test struggles behind and showcase their skills in ODIs again. Their batting form will be vital for India as the team gears up for the Champions Trophy starting later this month.

  • Cummins Unlikely for ICC Champions Trophy, New Captain on the Horizon?

    Cummins Unlikely for ICC Champions Trophy, New Captain on the Horizon?

    In Melbourne, Australia, cricket captain Pat Cummins is unlikely to play in the ICC Champions Trophy because of an ankle injury. Coach Andrew McDonald shared that Cummins missed the recent tour to Sri Lanka to welcome his second child and has been dealing with an ankle problem. This issue started after he bowled a lot during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he took 25 wickets.

    While Cummins cannot join the team, others will be flying to Sri Lanka soon for two One Day Internationals (ODIs). The coach mentioned that key bowler Josh Hazlewood is also struggling with a hip injury, making his participation uncertain.

    “Pat Cummins cannot bowl yet, so we will need a new captain,” McDonald said. He pointed out that Steve Smith and Travis Head are the main candidates for leadership while they are preparing the team for the Champions Trophy.

    Smith has done well in recent matches, making him a strong choice alongside Head.

    Additionally, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will miss the Champions Trophy due to a back injury, but he might play for the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League. The coach is considering adding Beau Webster to the ODI squad because of his seam bowling skills.

    Other all-rounders, Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis, are also dealing with injuries. Hardie has just returned to bowling after being hurt for a while, while Stoinis has tightness in his hamstring from playing in another league.

    With both Cummins and Hazlewood possibly out, Sean Abbott might have a chance to return to the ODI team. Spencer Johnson is also in line to travel to Sri Lanka as backup.