Sports

Durban/New Delhi: South African left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj recently made headlines after his pivotal performance in the Kolkata Test, where he claimed India’s final wicket to secure a historic 30-run victory. But behind the cricketing superstar lies a fascinating Indian connection, not only in Maharaj’s heritage but also through his wife, Lerisha Munsamy. Keshav Maharaj’s Indian Roots Born on 7 February 1990 in Durban, Maharaj comes from a family of Indian origin. His ancestors migrated from Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, to South Africa in 1874, seeking better opportunities. Despite being away from India for nearly 150 years, Maharaj’s family has preserved its Indian traditions, celebrating festivals with great enthusiasm. This cultural bond is reflected in Maharaj, who proudly iden...

New Delhi: Former Indian captain and legendary wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni was recently spotted at a private airport, exuding his signature calm yet charismatic presence. The 44-year-old cricket icon appeared extremely fit, sparking excitement among fans. A video from the airport capturing Dhoni’s appearance has gone viral on social media. Dhoni’s Iconic Style In the viral clip, Dhoni can be seen wearing a beige T-shirt, black cargo pants, and his signature black goggles, effortlessly carrying his “hero” persona. Even years after retiring from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni continues to remain in the spotlight, largely due to his ongoing role in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Focused on IPL 2026 Preparation Dhoni has been retained by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of...

New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen some of the biggest cricket stars from around the world light up the T20 stage. However, not every international superstar has managed to leave a huge mark in the league. Surprisingly, several legendary cricketers who have dominated international cricket have never scored a century in the IPL. Here’s a look at five such stars: 1. Jacques Kallis South African legend Jacques Kallis, who played IPL from 2008 to 2014, never managed an IPL century. In 98 matches, Kallis scored 2,427 runs. Despite this, his international career was stellar, amassing 62 centuries across formats. 2. Ricky Ponting Australian great Ricky Ponting struggled to make an impact in the IPL. Playing just 10 matches between 2008 and 2013, he scored only 91 runs...

New Delhi: Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have released West Indies star all-rounder Andre Russell, ending an 11-year association that began in 2014. Now part of the auction pool, Russell is expected to attract significant interest from multiple franchises. Here’s a look at three teams that could target him and are likely to spend big. 1. Delhi Capitals Delhi Capitals are reportedly keen on adding a powerhouse foreign all-rounder to their squad. Russell’s ability to hit massive sixes would suit Delhi’s smaller grounds perfectly, making him an ideal match for the team’s strategy. With no top-tier foreign all-rounder currently in the squad, Russell could easily become a central figure in Delhi’s lineup. 2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CSK have releas...

In a major IPL 2026 pre-retention trade deal, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has moved from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to Rajasthan Royals (RR), while wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson will now represent CSK. The announcement comes ahead of the mini-auction and the release of the retained players list. Jadeja’s Stellar IPL Journey Having represented CSK for 12 seasons, Jadeja has played over 254 IPL matches, scoring 3,260 runs and taking 170 wickets, establishing himself as one of the league’s most experienced players. Under the trade agreement, his IPL fee has been revised from ₹18 crore to ₹14 crore. Samson, meanwhile, will continue with CSK on his current ₹18 crore fee. Since his IPL debut in 2013, Samson has predominantly played for Rajasthan Royals, except for the 201...

India’s first innings in the Kolkata Test against South Africa collapsed for 189 runs, leaving the team with a slender 30-run lead over the visitors’ first innings total of 159. Despite a strong bowling performance on Day 1, highlighted by Jasprit Bumrah’s five wickets, the Indian batting lineup failed to capitalize, falling well below expectations. Middle Order Meltdown The Indian middle order crumbled under pressure, with no batsman able to convert a good start into a substantial score. KL Rahul (39), Washington Sundar (29), and Ravindra Jadeja (27) made starts but failed to build innings. Captain Shubman Gill had to retire hurt due to a neck strain, further destabilizing India’s fragile batting order at a crucial stage. South African Spinners Steal the Show South Afr...

The second day of the Kolkata Test between India and South Africa was dominated by bowlers, continuing the trend from the first day. While 11 wickets fell on Day 1, Day 2 saw 15 more batsmen dismissed. In South Africa’s second innings, the visitors are 7 down for 93, with a lead of just 63 runs. India’s Bowling Power Shines Day 2 highlighted the supremacy of India’s spin attack. After being bowled out for 189 in their second innings, India had a modest lead of 30 runs from the first innings. South Africa, which managed 159 runs on Day 1, struggled again, with no batsman crossing 40 runs. Shubman Gill forced to retire hurtIndia faced early trouble after Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for 12 in the second innings at 18/1. KL Rahul then steadied the innings, adding 57 runs with Washington...

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has achieved a remarkable milestone in the first Test of the two-match series against South Africa. During India’s second innings, Jadeja picked up four crucial wickets, which included his 250th Test wicket on home soil, making him only the fourth Indian bowler to reach this landmark in India. Joining an Elite Club By reaching this milestone, Jadeja has cemented his place among India’s greatest spinners. The list of Indian bowlers who have taken 250 or more Test wickets in India now stands as: Ravichandran Ashwin – 383 wickets Anil Kumble – 350 wickets Harbhajan Singh – 265 wickets Ravindra Jadeja – 250 wickets Remarkably, Jadeja achieved this feat in just 52 Test matches, highlighting his consistency and impact. His precise lin...

Kolkata: India has made a major change in their playing XI for the opening Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens on Friday, 14 November. With Rishabh Pant returning to the side as wicketkeeper-batsman, the team management has also opted for a significant batting adjustment. Sai Sudharsan Dropped from Playing XI Young batsman Sai Sudharsan has been left out of the playing XI for this match. Sudharsan had impressed in the recent Delhi Test against West Indies, scoring a brilliant 87-run innings, but he has now been omitted for the first Test against South Africa. Washington Sundar to Bat at No. 3 India has decided to promote all-rounder Washington Sundar to the crucial No. 3 batting position, replacing Sai Sudharsan. Sundar, who has previously scored a magnificent century in ...

Kolkata: The much-anticipated first Test of the two-match series between India and South Africa is set to begin on Friday, 14 November, at the historic Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. With South Africa being the current World Test Champions and having impressed recently on Pakistani pitches, all eyes are on this opening match of the series. Weather Outlook: No Rain Threat Kolkata is expected to remain clear throughout the match. On Thursday, the sun shone brightly, and the skies were clear. Meteorologists have confirmed no rain forecast from 14–18 November, ensuring uninterrupted play. Temperatures are likely to range from 18°C in the morning to 30°C during the afternoon, with humidity levels around 60–70%, typical for November. Light winds may provide bowlers with some assistance, ...