Sports

Vadodara: Delhi Capitals faced a double setback on Tuesday night in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026. First, the team suffered a heart-breaking loss to Gujarat Joints by just 3 runs. Following the match at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, Delhi captain Jemimah Rodrigues was fined ₹12 lakh for her team’s slow over rate, confirmed by the WPL management. First Fine of the SeasonThe WPL management stated, “Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues has been penalized for her team’s slow over rate during the match against Gujarat Joints on Tuesday in Vadodara. This is the first fine this season under the WPL Code of Conduct for violating the minimum over rate regulations, with a penalty of ₹12 lakh imposed on Rodrigues.” Impact on StandingsThe defeat, coupled with the penalty, h...

New Delhi: With the T20 World Cup 2026 set to begin on 7 February, former India head coach Rahul Dravid has issued a timely warning to the national team. While India enters the tournament as hot favorites to defend their title, Dravid reminded the squad that even one bad day can undo months of hard work. Drawing from the 2023 World Cup final, he emphasized that “the team that plays well on match day wins,” highlighting the fine margins in cricket. Learning from Past FinalsDravid recalled the 2023 ODI World Cup, where India won all ten of their matches leading up to the final but lost to Australia on 19 November 2023, when Travis Head played a sensational century. Despite the setback, India bounced back to win the T20 World Cup on 29 June 2024, ending a 13-year wait for an ICC trophy in ...

Former Pakistan cricket star Muhammad Yousuf has come under social media scrutiny after posting an inaccurate tweet regarding Bangladesh’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup 2026. His comments, which drew widespread attention, have now become a subject of ridicule online. Yousuf’s Controversial TweetFollowing the decision to exclude Bangladesh from the upcoming T20 World Cup, Yousuf claimed that replacing Bangladesh with Scotland would cause significant financial losses to the ICC. He posted on X that the combined cricket viewership of ten countries—New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Nepal, Netherlands, Ireland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan—totals 178 million, compared to Bangladesh’s 176 million. Yousuf further argued that sports should be guided by principles, not influe...

For Indian cricket, this day remains one of the most humbling chapters in its history. During the 2011–12 Test series in Australia, India suffered a crushing 4–0 whitewash, a result that continues to evoke reflections on the challenges faced by the team on foreign soil. The series, particularly the fourth and final Test at Adelaide Oval, ended with India losing by a massive 298 runs, marking the eighth consecutive overseas Test defeat and raising serious questions about the team’s strategy and resilience. Ponting and Clarke’s Double Centuries Australia dominated from the outset. Captain Michael Clarke and veteran Ricky Ponting took the Indian bowling attack to task, each scoring double centuries—Ponting made 221 while Clarke contributed 210. Shockingly, their combined total fell shor...

With the T20I series already sealed, the Indian cricket team is expected to experiment with its playing XI in the fourth match against New Zealand at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. While India holds an unassailable 3–0 lead in the five-match series, a few selection calls—particularly in the batting and bowling departments—are set to dominate discussions ahead of the game. India’s dominant run in the first three matches has been built on explosive batting displays and disciplined bowling performances. However, the lack of runs from opener Sanju Samson has emerged as a concern. Samson Under Pressure, But Likely to Get Another Chance Sanju Samson has struggled to find rhythm in the series, managing just 16 runs in three innings. His form has sparked debate, especially with ...

Former Indian cricketer Jacob Martin, once a teammate of Sachin Tendulkar and an international debutant under Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy, is back in the spotlight—this time for reasons far removed from cricket. The 53-year-old was arrested by the Vadodara Police on Tuesday on charges of drunk and rash driving, after allegedly crashing his luxury SUV into three parked vehicles. The incident occurred in the Akota area’s Puni Nagar Society at around 2:30 a.m. on January 27. Police officials stated that Martin was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol when he lost control of his vehicle, causing significant damage. He was subsequently taken into custody, and his vehicle was seized. Early Promise and International Debut Jacob Martin made his international debut for India und...

Brilliant centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook propelled England to a commanding 53-run victory over Sri Lanka in the third and final One Day International at Colombo, sealing the three-match ODI series 2–1 in emphatic fashion. After opting to bat first, England recovered from an early setback to post a formidable 357 for 3, a total that proved beyond Sri Lanka despite a valiant century from Pawan Ratnayake in the chase. Early Wobbles, Solid Recovery England’s innings got off to a shaky start as openers Ben Duckett (7) and Rehan Ahmed (24) were dismissed within the first 11 overs. The visitors were then steadied by the experienced Joe Root, who stitched together a crucial 126-run partnership for the third wicket with Jacob Bethell. Bethell played a composed knock of 65 runs ...

In a nail-biting encounter of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, Gujarat Giants held their nerves to defend just nine runs in the final over, defeating Delhi Capitals by three runs at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on Monday night. The pulsating victory handed Delhi their first defeat in the Vadodara leg of the tournament. Once again, it was Sophie Devine who emerged as the hero for Gujarat, delivering a clutch performance in the last over to seal a dramatic win. Earlier this season as well, Devine had successfully defended seven runs against Delhi, underlining her reputation as a big-match performer. Gujarat Post Competitive Total After winning the toss, Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues elected to bowl first. Batting first, Gujarat Giants posted a competitive 174 for 9 in...

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who took over as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team after Rahul Dravid amid high expectations, is facing mounting criticism following a series of disappointing results. Under his tenure, Team India has suffered setbacks that have raised serious questions about his coaching philosophy, tactical approach, and long-term suitability for the role. India’s recent performances, particularly in the longer formats, have been a cause for concern. The team endured a historic home Test series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand, an unprecedented result that shocked fans and experts alike. This was followed by a crushing 408-run defeat against South Africa, further intensifying scrutiny of Gambhir’s leadership. Declining Test Record Raises Alarm ...

With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 approaching, concerns have grown over the form of India’s experienced wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, whose struggles with the bat have continued in the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand. However, the Indian team management has finally come out in support of the right-hander, backing him to regain form at the right time. Sanju Samson has managed just 16 runs in three innings so far in the series, including a disappointing duck in the third T20I in Guwahati. His lack of runs has raised questions about his place in the squad, especially with Ishan Kishan delivering consistent performances and emerging as a strong contender for a World Cup berth. Morkel Backs Samson Ahead of the fourth T20I between India and New Zealand, scheduled to...