Sports

Guwahati: India is once again on the brink of defeat in the second Test against South Africa, and controversy has erupted following comments made by South Africa’s head coach Shukri Conrad after the fourth day of play. South Africa is on the verge of winning the match and completing a series clean sweep. In the post-day press conference, Conrad made remarks that have sparked debate across the cricketing world. He referenced a famous quote by the late England captain Tony Greig from 1976, before England’s series against Clive Lloyd’s West Indies, which had infamously motivated the West Indies to crush England 3-0. Conrad said, “We wanted the Indian team to spend as much time on the field as possible. We wanted them to come down to their knees (I am borrowing this line), and we wanted ...

New Delhi: The wedding of Indian women’s cricket vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and singer-director Palaash Muchhal, originally scheduled for Sunday in Sangli, Maharashtra, was postponed after a sudden health scare involving Smriti’s father, Srinivas Mandhana. Father Now Out of DangerSrinivas Mandhana was admitted to a hospital in Sangli after his health deteriorated unexpectedly during breakfast on Sunday. Doctors performed an angiography, which confirmed there were no blockages, and his condition is now stable and out of danger. He was discharged on Tuesday. Wedding Postponed at Smriti’s RequestAccording to Smriti’s manager, Tuhin Mishra, the decision to postpone the wedding was made by Smriti herself. She prioritized her father’s recovery over the celebrations, stating that she want...

The much-anticipated wedding of Indian women’s cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and singer Palash Muchhal, originally scheduled for 23 November in Sangli, Maharashtra, was postponed at the last moment due to the sudden illness of Smriti’s father. Despite completing pre-wedding rituals like Haldi and Sangeet, the families decided to defer the wedding indefinitely. Here are the five latest updates regarding the wedding and associated social media buzz: 1. Smriti’s Father Discharged from HospitalSmriti’s father, Srinivas Mandhana, is reportedly in stable condition and was discharged from Sarvahit Hospital in Sangli on Tuesday. He has returned home, but there has been no official announcement from either family regarding a new wedding date. 2. Viral Photos of Palash with His ...

The 2026 T20 World Cup promises another high-voltage encounter as India and Pakistan are drawn in the same group. The eagerly awaited clash is set for 15 February at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed his excitement, saying that the match is one fans around the world are eagerly anticipating. Yadav Takes a Friendly Dig at PakistanDuring the tournament announcement event, which also featured Rohit Sharma, captain of the 2024 World Cup-winning team, Yadav recalled India’s dominant performance against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, where India secured three consecutive wins in T20 matches. Speaking about the World Cup fixtures, he said: "The group looks good. We are playing in great venues like Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. Talking about the game ...

Guwahati: Former Indian captain and veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble was seen visibly frustrated during live commentary in the ongoing second Test between India and South Africa in Guwahati, following a questionable dismissal of opener KL Rahul. The clip of Kumble’s reaction has now gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention from cricket fans. India’s batting woes continued on the fourth day of the Test, putting them under threat of a 0-2 series whitewash. Team India needed their openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, to hold their wickets and bat for a draw. However, both fell by the evening, leaving fans and commentators frustrated. Kumble’s visible irritation stemmed from Rahul’s dismissive shot against off-spinner Simon Harmer. The delivery, pitched outside off-stum...

New Delhi: The nation is in mourning following the death of Bollywood’s evergreen superstar Dharmendra, who passed away in Mumbai at the age of 89. His demise has created a wave of sorrow across India. Not only the film industry but also leading figures from the cricket world — including Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli — paid heartfelt tributes to the legendary actor whose charm and simplicity won millions of hearts. Sachin Tendulkar Expresses Deep Grief Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar shared an emotional note on X, calling Dharmendra “one of the brightest stars of Indian cinema whose energy inspired everyone around him.” Recalling one of their memorable interactions, Sachin wrote that Dharmendra once told him, “Tumko dekhkar mera ek kilo khoon badh jaata hai.”Paying tribute to t...

In a moment of immense pride for the nation, the Indian women’s kabaddi team clinched the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 title, defeating Chinese Taipei 35–28 in a thrilling final. With this victory, India has secured the prestigious trophy for the second consecutive time, reaffirming its dominance on the global kabaddi stage. Prime Minister and Home Minister Praise the Champions Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his delight over the team’s extraordinary achievement. In a message on X, he wrote:“Congratulations to our Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team for winning the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 and making the country proud! Their remarkable grit, skill, and dedication are truly inspiring. This victory will motivate countless young athletes.” Home Minister Amit Shah also extended warm wishes, st...

As excitement builds ahead of the IPL 2026 season, all ten franchises have finalized their retentions before the upcoming mini-auction. The spotlight remains firmly on Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant, who continues to hold the title of the most expensive player in IPL history with a staggering ₹27 crore price tag. Reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who lifted their maiden trophy in IPL 2025, have also retained their core group, while other teams have made strategic decisions to strengthen their squads ahead of the auction. Below is the complete list of the most expensive retained players of IPL 2026: Most Expensive Players Retained for IPL 2026 TeamPlayerSalaryLucknow Super Giants (LSG)Rishabh Pant₹27 crorePunjab Kings (PBKS)Shreyas Iyer₹26.75 cror...

Guwahati:India finds itself under immense pressure in the second Test against South Africa after being bowled out for 201 runs, falling 288 runs short of the visitors’ first-innings total of 489. The team couldn’t even avoid the follow-on, though South Africa chose to bat again instead of enforcing it.Former India head coach Ravi Shastri sharply criticised the team’s planning, selection strategy and batting order decisions — directly questioning Gautam Gambhir and the current management. Ravi Shastri Criticises Team Strategy Reacting to India’s dismal batting show, Shastri said the decisions made by the team management were “illogical” and lacked clarity.He commented: “No, it makes absolutely no sense. I fail to understand the reasoning. When they review this series, some of thes...

Guwahati:India’s batting woes have deepened in the ongoing Test series against South Africa. Across three innings, no Indian batter has managed to score a century, raising the possibility that a historic 30-year record might finally be broken. In the first Test, India were bundled out for 189 in the opening innings and collapsed to 93 all out in the second. The second Test in Guwahati has shown little improvement — India managed only 201 runs in their first innings. No Century in the Entire Series So Far This series has been brutal for batters. India has not produced a single hundred, and even half-centuries have been rare. No fifties in the first Test Only Yashasvi Jaiswal managed a fifty in GuwahatiOn the South African side, only three scores of 50+ have come, including a...