Sports

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 continues with its second match today as UP Warriorz take on Gujarat Giants. The toss for the match is scheduled shortly, setting the stage for an exciting encounter. The tournament had a sensational start on January 9, and both teams will be eager to begin their campaigns with a victory. This marks the first match of the season for both sides. Head-to-Head RecordUP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants have faced each other six times in WPL history, with both teams winning three matches each. Their encounters have always produced thrilling cricket, with no team having a clear dominance over the other. Match VenueToday’s clash will be held at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Both teams will aim to kick off their season on a winning note. Live Bro...

The much-anticipated 3-match ODI series between India and New Zealand is set to begin on Sunday, 11 January, with the opening match in Vadodara. Both teams have been training rigorously ahead of the series. Notably, New Zealand’s squad features a player born in India — 23-year-old leg-spinner Adithya Ashok. Who is Adithya Ashok?Adithya Ashok was born on 5 September 2002 in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. At the age of four, he moved to New Zealand with his family but has always stayed connected to his Indian roots, especially his early memories with his grandfather. Training at CSK AcademyDespite moving abroad, Ashok frequently visits India. Last year, he had a special opportunity to train at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Academy, where he honed his skills on various types of pitches. Early ...

As the Indian cricket team gears up for their ODI series against New Zealand, star batsman Virat Kohli entertained his teammates by mimicking fast bowler Arshdeep Singh during a practice session. The first ODI will be played at the Baroda Cricket Association Ground on January 11. Fun on the Field During training in Baroda, Kohli was seen enjoying light-hearted moments with his teammates. While practicing, he engaged in high-fives, jokes, and laughter. At one point, he began imitating Arshdeep Singh’s run-up, which left everyone in splits. The Indian Premier League franchise Punjab Kings shared a video of the funny incident on social media, delighting fans. Kohli in Top Form Virat Kohli has been in excellent form recently. On Australia’s tour, he was dismissed without scoring in...

The lead-up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has already been marred by controversy. Following the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, Bangladesh has reportedly expressed reluctance to play their T20 World Cup matches in India. The Controversy Mustafizur Rahman was recently released by his IPL franchise, sparking outrage in Bangladesh. The country is co-hosting the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 along with India, scheduled to begin on February 7. Following the IPL incident, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reportedly requested the ICC to schedule their matches outside India, citing concerns over player participation. This move has generated significant debate ahead of the mega T20 tournament, with many wondering if the issue could affect the tournament’s schedule. ...

Scoring 10,000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs) is a monumental achievement, achieved by only 15 players in cricket history. Among them, only five players have also accomplished the rare feat of taking a 5-wicket haul in this format. Here’s a look at these extraordinary all-rounders: 1. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) Sanath Jayasuriya played 445 ODIs, scoring 13,430 runs. Renowned for his explosive batting, Jayasuriya was equally dangerous with the ball. He claimed 323 wickets in ODIs, including four 5-wicket hauls. His best bowling figures came against Zimbabwe, taking 6 wickets for 29 runs. 2. Sachin Tendulkar (India) Known as the “God of Cricket,” Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in ODI history. A master batsman and part-time bowler, Tendulkar took 154 wickets,...

New Delhi: Ireland have announced their 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, set to begin on February 7. Experienced batter Paul Stirling will lead the team as captain, with Lorcan Tucker appointed as vice-captain. Group Stage and FixturesIreland has been placed in Group B, alongside Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Oman, and Australia. Their campaign kicks off against Sri Lanka on February 8. This will mark Ireland’s ninth appearance in a T20 World Cup. The team’s best previous performances came in 2009 and 2022, when they qualified for the second round and secured wins over former champions West Indies and England. New Faces in the SquadThe squad features three newcomers: Tim Tecktor, Ben Kalitz, and Matthew Humphreys. Out of the 15 players, 12 retainers were part of the previous Wo...

Kuala Lumpur: India’s star badminton player PV Sindhu bowed out of the Malaysia Open 2026 after a straight-games defeat in the semifinals, bringing an end to India’s campaign in the tournament. Semifinal ShowdownSindhu, ranked 18th in the world, faced China’s Wang Yihan, currently the world number two in women’s singles. Wang secured a 21-16, 21-15 victory in a match that lasted 52 minutes. Both games were closely contested. In the first game, the score was tied at 14-14, but unforced errors from Sindhu allowed Wang to pull away and claim the game 21-16. In the second game, Sindhu initially led 11-6, but Wang produced a stunning run, winning 9 consecutive points to take the game and the match. Comeback After InjuryThis was Sindhu’s first tournament after returning from injury, mak...

New Delhi: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 kicked off in spectacular fashion at the D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, with a thrilling opener between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). In a match that went down to the last over, RCB snatched a dramatic three-wicket victory, thanks to a sensational finish by Nadine de Klerk. De Klerk’s Heroics in the Last OverRCB required 18 runs from the final over bowled by MI’s Nat Saiver-Brent, and de Klerk was on strike. The first two deliveries yielded no runs, but on the third ball, de Klerk hit a massive six, followed by a boundary on the fourth ball. She then struck another six on the fifth delivery. With 2 runs needed off the final ball, de Klerk calmly hit a boundary to seal the win for RCB. Her incredible 44-ball ...

New Delhi: Indian ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer had a close call with a fan’s dog at the airport ahead of India’s upcoming series against New Zealand. The incident, captured on video, has gone viral on social media. A Fun Yet Frightening MomentIyer, fully fit and ready to make his return to the national side, was seen interacting with fans while preparing for the first ODI of the series starting January 11. As he attempted to pet a dog held by a nearby woman, the animal suddenly lunged at him. Alert and quick to react, Iyer pulled his hand back just in time, avoiding a bite. Form in Domestic CricketIyer has been in good form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, representing Mumbai. Against Himachal Pradesh, he scored 82 runs off 53 balls, including 10 fours and 3 sixes, and followed it up wit...

Navi Mumbai: Despite Mumbai Indians’ (MI) last-ball defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the WPL 2026 opener, MI leg-spinner Amelia Kerr created history by becoming the highest wicket-taker in Women’s Premier League history. She surpassed her own teammate Hayley Matthews to claim the milestone. Kerr’s Record-Breaking PerformanceKerr started her spell in the match with a bang, taking two wickets in her very first over, and went on to finish with an economical 4-over spell conceding just 13 runs. With these wickets, her tally in WPL now stands at 42, edging past Matthews’ 41 wickets. Matthews, who missed the first match due to illness, remains a key competitor for the top spot. In 29 matches, she has taken 41 wickets, while Kerr achieved her 42 wickets in 30 matches. Matthews...