Sports

Mumbai: An unusual and concerning scene unfolded during the Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Delhi at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) on Thursday, as players were forced to wear face masks on the field due to severe dust pollution caused by nearby construction work. During the final session of the day, thick clouds of dust engulfed the ground, making breathing difficult for players and support staff alike. As a precautionary measure, several Mumbai players, including India batter Sarfaraz Khan, his brother Musheer Khan, and off-spinner Himanshu Singh, were seen fielding with masks for nearly 30 minutes. The situation was so uncomfortable that even some Delhi players requested masks from the Mumbai camp, citing breathing difficulties while running between the wickets and fielding....

Visakhapatnam:Cricket witnessed a rare and heartwarming moment after New Zealand’s 50-run victory in the fourth T20 International, as world No.1 ODI batter Daryl Mitchell was seen sharing valuable batting insights with Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer. A video of the post-match interaction has gone viral on social media, showing Mitchell engaged in an animated technical discussion with Iyer. The New Zealand star was seen explaining key aspects of batting, including stance alignment, trigger movement, and balance at the crease, offering a glimpse into the spirit of learning that transcends national rivalries. Despite being part of the Indian squad, Shreyas Iyer has not yet featured in the playing XI during the ongoing series. He was initially drafted into the team as a replacem...

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel has raised a strong call for Ishan Kishan to replace Sanju Samson in the playing XI for the final T20 against New Zealand. Patel questioned why the team management is waiting to make a decision, especially after Tilak Varma’s return to the squad. Sanju Samson Struggles with the Bat Sanju Samson has failed to make an impact with the bat in the ongoing T20 series, scoring just 40 runs across four matches against New Zealand. His lack of runs has added pressure on the team management and raised concerns about his form ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. In contrast, Ishan Kishan, making a comeback after nearly two and a half years, has shown excellent form, scoring 112 runs in three innings, including a blistering 50 off 21 balls. Part...

In a stunning UEFA Champions League clash, Real Madrid suffered a surprising 4-2 defeat against Benfica, forcing the 15-time European champions into the knockout phase playoffs. Benfica Clinches a Historic Win The Portuguese side, Benfica, handed Real Madrid a heavy loss, finishing the match 4-2. As a result, Real Madrid could not secure a top-8 finish in the group stage and now must compete in the knockout phase playoffs to advance to the Round of 16. Benfica, despite finishing 24th in the standings, also qualified for the knockout playoffs. The top 8 teams advance directly to the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th play in the knockout phase playoffs for the remaining spots. Thrilling Match Highlights The scoring began with Kylian Mbappé netting the opener in the 30th...

New Delhi: Vihaan Malhotra’s name has become familiar to every cricket fan after his standout performances for India in the ongoing U-19 World Cup 2026 in Zimbabwe. The 19-year-old vice-captain has emerged as a match-winner for the team, fulfilling a dream he expressed as a nine-year-old: “I want to be like Virat Kohli and play alongside him.” From Childhood Dream to U-19 StarPatiala Cricket Hub Academy coach Kamal Sandhu recalls the day when young Vihaan first shared his ambition. “He came to me and said he wanted to be like Virat Kohli. At that time, nobody knew that this dream would take him to great heights in cricket,” says Sandhu. Fast forward a decade, Vihaan has not only achieved this dream but will also share the dressing room with Kohli in IPL 2026, having been bought by Royal...

New Delhi: Two players from Delhi’s Under-23 cricket team have been accused of molesting a minor girl during a match in Puducherry. The incident has raised serious questions about the administration and disciplinary protocols of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA). According to reports by Dainik Jagran, the accused players were shifted from the team hotel to another hotel, indicating that the allegations are being taken seriously. The DDCA has initiated an immediate investigation, causing a stir within the association. Allegations and DDCA ResponseSources said such incidents damage the dignity of the sport and tarnish the reputation of the institution. However, DDCA Joint Secretary Amit Grover stated that the players were only listening to music and that no concrete e...

New Delhi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to decide on 30 January whether to boycott the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. However, former Pakistani cricketers have warned that taking such a step could lead to significant losses. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been insisting on a boycott of the T20 World Cup 2026 in protest against the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to exclude Bangladesh from the tournament. Naqvi even set a deadline from 30 January to 2 February after discussions with Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. However, recent developments suggest that his threats may lack substance. While PCB appears adamant about boycotting, the team’s flight tickets to Colombo have already been booked. Pakistan is scheduled to play all its World Cup matches in Sri ...

India’s all-rounder Washington Sundar, who was sidelined due to an injury during the ODI series against New Zealand, has returned to practice and is working on his recovery at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. While this is encouraging news, concerns remain over his availability for the T20 World Cup opener. Injury Details and RecoverySundar, 26, had been struggling with a side strain and a minor rib fracture, which had kept him away from competitive cricket. Before resuming practice, he consulted Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala for a thorough evaluation. Initial scans revealed muscle strain, followed by confirmation of a small rib fracture. Sundar has started batting in nets as part of his rehabilitation but still experiences mild discomfort around the rib area. According to s...

Gautam Gambhir has recently been under intense scrutiny from cricket fans following a string of disappointing results for Team India, from Test defeats to ODI series losses. Rumors have surfaced suggesting that Gambhir might be removed from his position as head coach, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to finally respond. Fans Blame Gambhir for Historic LossesGambhir has been facing criticism after India suffered a historic Test series defeat against South Africa on home soil and a first-ever ODI series win for New Zealand in India. The upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 is being viewed as Gambhir’s ultimate test; reports suggest that failure to secure the title could put his role as head coach at risk. The BCCI’s earlier silence only fueled these speculations. BCCI ...