Sports

Johannesburg Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis will miss the remaining matches of the 2025–26 SA20 season due to a thumb injury that requires surgery. The injury occurred on January 10 during the match against MI Cape Town, when he was fielding and was unable to bat. Donovan Ferreira is expected to take over captaincy duties in his absence. Franchise Confirms InjuryThe franchise confirmed that du Plessis has torn the ligament in his right thumb and will need surgical intervention. JSK posted on social media: “All our love is with you, Captain. Faf du Plessis will miss the remainder of the SA20 season due to a right thumb ligament injury requiring surgery. Our best wishes are with you.” Team Performance and Faf’s FormJohannesburg Super Kings have performed well this season, accumulat...

Real Madrid has parted ways with manager Xabi Alonso after just seven months in charge. The 44-year-old former Spanish international was appointed in June but was relieved of his duties following a defeat against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. During his brief tenure, Real Madrid played 34 matches, winning 24, drawing 4, and losing 6. Álvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as his successor. Mbappé Refuses to Acknowledge AlonsoA video from the Spanish Super Cup final has gone viral, showing Alonso requesting his players to give Barcelona a ‘guard of honour’ after the match. However, Kylian Mbappé refused to comply, instructing his teammates to return to the dressing room after receiving their runner-up medals. Alonso, attempting to follow the team, was left behind as Mbappé led his...

The controversy over Bangladesh’s matches in the 2026 T20 World Cup continues to simmer. Despite repeated claims from Bangladesh that it is willing to play matches anywhere except India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has firmly refused to shift the venues. Given the limited time before the tournament begins, ICC has maintained that relocating matches is no longer feasible. However, Bangladesh has been offered the option to play at an alternative venue within India. Meanwhile, comments from Bangladesh’s Sports Advisor, Asif Nazrul, alleging threats to team security have been strongly denied by the ICC, forcing Bangladesh to retract its earlier claims. Here’s a summary of the situation in five key points: Bangladesh rejects alternative venue within IndiaICC offered Banglades...

Bengaluru: Ahead of IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans have been dealt a major blow. The franchise will not play any of its home matches at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium due to safety concerns following last year’s tragic victory parade. RCB to Play at Navi Mumbai and Raipur RCB’s home matches will now be hosted across two venues: five matches at D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and two matches at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals will play their home matches at Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Pune. Reason Behind the Shift The decision follows the disastrous RCB victory parade last year, during which a stampede killed 11 people and injured over 50 others. Since then, security concerns have prevented the M. Chinnaswamy St...

New Delhi: Indian cricket star Virat Kohli continues to impress both on and off the field. After a brilliant 93-run innings in the first ODI against New Zealand, Kohli helped India secure a 1-0 series lead and achieved a monumental career milestone of 28,000 international runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer in cricket history after Sachin Tendulkar. A Glimpse Inside the Dressing Room During the match, a fan captured a video of Kohli in the dressing room, showing his unique pre-batting routine. The clip quickly went viral on social media. The video reveals how Kohli, moments after Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, gets ready to bat in a matter of seconds. He applies perfume, rubs lotion on his hands, has a light snack, dons his gloves, and strides onto the field—all in a swift, eff...

Rajkot: Indian pace bowler Arshdeep Singh, known for his humorous reels and fun-loving nature, once again stole the spotlight—but this time off the cricket field. Upon Team India’s arrival in Rajkot for the second ODI against New Zealand, Arshdeep delighted fans with his energetic Garba dance moves, leaving social media abuzz. A Grand Welcome with Local Flair On Monday evening, Team India received a grand welcome at their hotel. As team members were garlanded with flowers and escorted inside, traditional Gujarati Garba music played, accompanied by local performers dancing along the team’s path. While most players walked straight inside, Arshdeep Singh joined the performers, matching their steps with infectious energy. Fans were thrilled to see the Indian pacer embracing the local cul...

Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, wife of cricket superstar Virat Kohli, recently shared a deeply emotional post for her daughter, Vamika, highlighting the joys and responsibilities of motherhood. Known for keeping their children away from the limelight, Virat and Anushka have prioritized family over fame and career, with Anushka even stepping back from her successful Bollywood journey to focus on her children. A Heartfelt Tribute on Vamika’s Birthday On 11 January, the day of Vamika’s birthday, Anushka posted a touching message on her Instagram story. She wrote: "And I wouldn’t want to go back to the version of myself that didn’t know you, my child. 11 January 2021." The heartfelt post resonated with fans of both Anushka and Virat, offering a glimpse into her love and dedicati...

Mohammad Rizwan recently became the latest high-profile batsman to be declared ‘retired out’ in a T20 match, a rare and humbling occurrence in professional cricket. The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman, who was hoping to secure a place in the T20 World Cup squad, struggled in the Big Bash League (BBL), raising concerns about his T20 form. Rizwan’s BBL Struggles In a match against Sydney Thunder, Rizwan scored 26 runs off 23 balls before being called back by captain Will Sutherland and officially declared ‘retired out.’ This marked the sixth instance in 2026 where a batsman has been retired out during a competitive match. Rizwan had been purchased at a high price by Melbourne Renegades and was expected to deliver consistently. However, in eight BBL matches, he managed only 167 runs at...

India’s vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is on the verge of a remarkable milestone as India take on New Zealand in the second ODI of the three-match series on Wednesday. Iyer needs just 34 runs to reach 3,000 runs in ODI cricket, a feat that would make him the fastest Indian to achieve this landmark. Fastest Indian to 3,000 ODI Runs Currently, the record for the fewest innings to reach 3,000 ODI runs is held by India’s “Gabbar,” Shikhar Dhawan, who achieved it in 72 innings. Virat Kohli reached the mark in 75 innings. Iyer, with 2,966 runs from 68 innings, is just 34 runs short. If he accomplishes this in the second ODI, he will reach 3,000 runs in just 69 innings, breaking Dhawan’s record and leaving legends like Kohli and Rohit Sharma behind. Iyer Among Fastest in the World Achievin...

India will face New Zealand in the second ODI at Rajkot on Wednesday, with a potential change in the playing XI. India had won the first ODI in Vadodara by four wickets, and a victory in Rajkot would secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Washington Sundar Ruled Out All-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs after sustaining an injury while bowling in the first match. Sundar’s absence has opened the door for a new inclusion in the Indian squad. Ayush Badoni Set to Debut Delhi’s 26-year-old Ayush Badoni has been named as Sundar’s replacement and is expected to make his ODI debut on Wednesday. Last year, Sundar had batted at number five during India’s home series against South Africa, and he was slated for the same position against New Zeal...