Sports

Mumbai: In the opening match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pulled off a dramatic three-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI), snatching victory in the final over of a tense encounter. At one stage, MI looked firmly in control of the game, but a sensational performance by Nadine de Klerk in the last over changed the course entirely. With 18 runs required off the final over bowled by Nat Saiver-Brent, de Klerk struck two fours and two sixes, handing RCB a thrilling win. Key MI Players Who Fell Short Nat Saiver-Brent – The team’s most experienced all-rounder was expected to deliver under pressure but failed with the bat, scoring just 4 runs. Her bowling in the final over further proved costly, conceding the 18 runs that...

Mumbai: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 kicked off with a nail-biting encounter as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) by three wickets in a dramatic finish. The match went down to the final over, with Nadine de Klerk emerging as the hero of the day. RCB Pull Off Last-Over MiracleChasing 155 runs set by MI, RCB got off to a flying start with openers Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris putting up 40 runs in just 3 overs. However, the chase hit a rocky patch as RCB lost 5 wickets for 65 runs. The innings was steadied by a crucial partnership between Nadine de Klerk and Arundhati Reddy, who added 52 runs together. Reddy scored 20 before being dismissed. With 18 runs needed off the final over, MI’s Nat Saiver-Brent came on to bowl. De Kle...

Dhaka: A major controversy has erupted in Bangladesh cricket after a senior official of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) labeled former captain Tamim Iqbal as an “Indian agent.” The remark, made by M. Najmul Islam, chairman of BCB’s Finance Committee, has drawn widespread criticism from players and cricketing authorities alike. What Triggered the Controversy?The remarks came after Tamim Iqbal, in a recent interview, stressed that cricket should take precedence before the BCB makes a final decision on Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Najmul Islam’s statement followed the BCB’s controversial decision not to send the team to India, citing security concerns. The situation escalated after the BCCI asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi player Mustafi...

Mumbai: In a spectacular start to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur set a new record by becoming the highest run-scorer among Indian players in WPL history, surpassing Shafali Verma. She achieved this milestone during the opening match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). RCB vs MI: Match HighlightsThe season opener between Mumbai Indians and RCB took place at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Winning the toss, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana opted to field first. Mumbai’s innings began shakily as early wickets fell to Lauren Bell’s incisive bowling. Amelia Kerr and Silver Brent returned to the pavilion cheaply. Amidst the wobble, Harmanpreet Kaur and G Kamalini steadied the innings with a crucial partnership. Kamalini scored 32 run...

The global tennis fraternity has been left stunned by an extraordinary and controversial episode involving 21-year-old Hajar Abdelkader, a player who has been labelled by many as “the world’s worst tennis player” following her astonishing appearance at a professional tournament in Nairobi. Abdelkader’s participation in the ITF W35 Nairobi tournament, which carries a total prize purse of £22,000 (approximately ₹24 lakh), has sparked widespread debate over player verification, wildcard entries, and the integrity of selection processes in professional tennis. A 37-Minute Match That Shocked Everyone Abdelkader’s match ended in embarrassment, as she lost 6-0, 6-0 in just 37 minutes, managing to win only three points throughout the contest. She committed an astonishing 20 double faults,...

The Indian cricket team is set to begin its three-match One Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand on January 11, with the opening encounter scheduled to be played at the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) Stadium in Vadodara. The New Zealand squad has already arrived in India, and anticipation is high for the series opener featuring some of the biggest names in world cricket. The series marks the return of Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have retired from Test cricket and T20 Internationals and are now active only in the ODI format. Their presence adds significant star power to the contest and is expected to draw a packed crowd at the newly built venue. Historic Match at a New Venue The BCA Stadium in Vadodara will host its first-ever men’s internatio...

An unusual weather interruption brought the SA20 clash between Joburg Super Kings (JSK) and Paarl Royals (PR) to an abrupt end at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday, as persistent lightning forced officials to abandon the match after the completion of the first innings. After winning the toss, Paarl Royals captain David Miller opted to bowl first. Joburg Super Kings responded with an aggressive start, led by skipper Faf du Plessis and his new opening partner James Vince. The duo added 73 runs in just 7.3 overs, setting the tone for a commanding total. Despite not timing the ball fluently at times, du Plessis struck a brisk 39 off 24 deliveries, including six boundaries and a six, before being bowled by Sikandar Raza on the first ball of the seventh over. JSK maintained their momentum ...

New Delhi: WWE superstar Nikki Bella is making headlines again with her personal life. The 42-year-old wrestling star is reportedly dating 22-year-old NFL player Cooper DeJean of the Philadelphia Eagles. The couple has been spotted together multiple times, fueling media speculation, and Bella was recently seen wearing DeJean’s jersey at an Eagles game. A Look Back at Nikki Bella’s Past RelationshipsNikki Bella previously had a long-term relationship with WWE legend John Cena. The couple got engaged and even set a wedding date before ultimately parting ways. In 2022, Bella married dancer Artem Chigvintsev, her partner on Dancing with the Stars, but the couple divorced in 2024. Who is Cooper DeJean?Cooper DeJean, born 9 February 2003 in Iowa, is a rising star in American football. A st...

Navi Mumbai: The 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) begins today with a thrilling opener between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The match will be played at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, with the toss scheduled at 7 PM and play starting at 7:30 PM. Captains and TeamsMumbai Indians are led by Harmanpreet Kaur, while RCB’s skipper is Indian star batter Smriti Mandhana. Head-to-Head RecordMumbai Indians have been the most successful franchise in WPL history, winning two of the three titles so far. RCB has claimed the trophy once. To date, the two teams have faced each other seven times, with Mumbai Indians winning four matches and RCB winning three, promising another high-intensity clash. Alice Perry Out of This SeasonAustralian all-rounder...

New Delhi: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has once again approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) requesting that its matches in the T20 World Cup 2026 be moved out of India due to security concerns. This follows an earlier request that was rejected by the ICC, which had stated that it saw no security issues. Detailed Security Concerns RaisedAccording to reports, the BCB submitted a new formal letter after discussions between its advisors and the Ministry of Sports’ consultant, Asif Nazrul, who has taken a firm stance on the matter. A BCB source told PTI, “The ICC wanted details regarding our security concerns, and the BCB has now provided them comprehensively.” Implications for the TournamentThe T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on 7 February, co-hosted by India...