Sports

India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, a double Olympic medalist, has announced a major career move by parting ways with JSW Sports, ending a decade-long association. The 27-year-old athlete is now set to launch his own athlete management firm, named Well Sports, marking a new chapter in his illustrious career. Neeraj Chopra’s Statement In a press release, Neeraj Chopra expressed gratitude towards JSW Sports, saying:"The past 10 years with JSW Sports have been filled with growth, trust, and success. They played a significant role in shaping my career, and I will always be thankful for their support and vision. We are concluding this journey here, and I will carry these values forward into the next phase of my career." The statement emphasized that both Neeraj and JSW Sports a...

Abhinav Manohar, the Karnataka batsman, went unsold at the IPL 2026 mini-auction held on December 16, despite a base price of just ₹30 lakh. Released by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) before the auction, Manohar has since been making headlines with a stellar unbeaten run in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. Abhinav Manohar’s Vijay Hazare Heroics Since December 24, Manohar has played five matches in the tournament and has not been dismissed even once. His scores include: Jharkhand – 56* (not out) Kerala – Did not bat Tamil Nadu – 20* (not out) Puducherry – 21* (not out) Tripura – 79* (not out) His remarkable consistency has made him one of the standout performers of the tournament. IPL Auction Oversight? Manohar was released by SRH, owned by Kavya Maran...

The controversy surrounding Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman and his exclusion from the IPL 2026 has escalated into a potential international cricket crisis. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), acting on government instructions, has raised concerns with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the safety of its players in India. The board has requested that Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India be shifted to Sri Lanka. While ICC has not officially confirmed the change, reports suggest that the body is preparing a revised schedule. Here’s a breakdown of the issue in five points: 1. Background of the Controversy Mustafizur Rahman was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for ₹9.2 crore. Following anti-Muslim protests in Bangladesh, some Hindu groups thr...

The fifth and final Test of the Australia vs England series at the Sydney Cricket Ground witnessed a dramatic on-field confrontation on Day 2 between England captain Ben Stokes and Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne. The incident caught the attention of fans as tensions flared during Australia’s innings. How the Clash Unfolded The drama unfolded in the 29th over of Australia’s innings, bowled by Ben Stokes. On the final delivery of the over, Travis Head struck a boundary, which visibly frustrated Stokes. He reportedly exchanged words with Head, who responded in kind. At the non-striker’s end, Labuschagne also spoke to Stokes, escalating the situation. Stokes, appearing visibly irritated, placed his hand on Labuschagne’s shoulder as the verbal exchange intensified. On-field umpi...

NNew Delhi: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is set to kick off on 7 January, bringing together some of the world’s top female cricketers along with talented uncapped players ready to make their mark. Following a mega-auction in November, several players have switched teams, creating fresh excitement across the six-team tournament. Here’s a look at five uncapped players who could turn heads with their performances this season. 1. Charlie Nott – UP Warriors The Australian all-rounder joins UP Warriors as a replacement player. She boasts an impressive 775 runs and 28 wickets in the Women’s Big Bash League. In England’s The Hundred, she has scored 228 runs and taken 6 wickets, making her a valuable addition to the squad. 2. Anushka Sharma – Gujarat Giants Gujarat Giants spent...

Dhaka: Cricket fans in Bangladesh will not be able to watch IPL 2026 matches on television. The country’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a directive to all local TV channels, imposing a ban on the telecast of Indian Premier League games following the removal of Bangladeshi star Mustafizur Rahman from the tournament. Background of the Controversy Mustafizur Rahman had been signed by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for ₹9.2 crore during the IPL auction. However, after protests over his inclusion—sparked by the ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh—the BCCI instructed KKR to release him from the team. KKR complied, releasing Rahman from their squad. The decision to remove Bangladesh’s fast bowler triggered strong public sentiment in the country, prompting the...

New Delhi: Following consecutive clean sweeps at home in Test cricket under head coach Gautam Gambhir, Team India is now determined to reverse its fortunes. Captain Shubman Gill has reportedly presented a detailed plan to the BCCI to strengthen the team’s performance ahead of future home Test series. Struggles in Recent Home Tests The Indian Test team faced a crushing defeat in their recent home series against South Africa. In November, South Africa secured a 2-0 clean sweep. In the first Test, India failed to chase a modest target of 124 runs in the final innings—the lowest successful run chase lost by the team at home. The second Test ended in a humiliating 408-run defeat, marking India’s largest loss by runs in home Test cricket history. Shubman Gill’s Proposal to BCCI Accor...

NNew Delhi: January 5 holds a special place in Indian cricket history, as it marks the birth of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, famously known as Tiger Pataudi. He not only captained India with distinction but also led the team to its first-ever Test victory on foreign soil, all while playing with vision in only one eye. Early Life and Tragic Accident Born on January 5, 1941, into the royal family of Bhopal, Mansoor Ali Khan was the son of Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, who had represented both India and England in Test cricket. Tragedy struck early when his father passed away when Mansoor was just 11, prompting him to move to England. At the age of 20, during a car accident in England in 1961, a piece of glass damaged his right eye, leaving him partially blind. Despite this setback, many f...

New Delhi: As tensions escalated in Latin America following the U.S. attack on Venezuela, the world watched anxiously, divided in opinion. Meanwhile, the tiny Nordic nation of Iceland caught attention for an entirely different reason—its cricket board’s trademark humorous social media post. Known for poking fun at cricketing legends, including Gautam Gambhir, the Iceland Cricket Board took a lighthearted swipe at global politics, drawing indirect attention to U.S. President Donald Trump. The Tweet That Went Viral On January 3, coinciding with the day of the U.S. military strike on Venezuela, Iceland Cricket tweeted:"Venezuela has oil, Greenland has rare earth minerals. Fortunately, Iceland only has volcanoes, glaciers, and very average cricketers." The post cleverly referenced Ven...

Cape Town: The struggles of defending champions MI Cape Town continued in the SA20 league as they suffered yet another defeat, going down by seven wickets to Paarl Royals. After five matches, MI Cape Town are still searching for their first win of the season, a worrying sign for a team packed with international stars. Despite being led by Rashid Khan and boasting big names such as Nicholas Pooran, Ryan Rickelton, Trent Boult and Kagiso Rabada, MI Cape Town find themselves rooted to the bottom of the points table. From five matches, the team has managed just two points—four losses and one no-result due to rain. MI Cape Town Collapse to 88 In the 13th match of the tournament, MI Cape Town were asked to bat first and were bundled out for a paltry 88 runs. Openers Ryan Rickelton and R...