Sports

Benoni: The Indian Under-19 cricket team will take on South Africa Under-19 in the second Youth ODI of the three-match series today in Benoni. After winning the opening match, India currently lead the series 1–0, but all eyes will be on young captain Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who will be eager to make a strong impact with the bat after a modest outing in the first game. Suryavanshi created history in the opening match by becoming the youngest-ever captain in Under-19 cricket. However, despite the milestone, he failed to deliver a big innings with the bat. With the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup in focus, the second ODI is being seen as a crucial opportunity for the Indian skipper to showcase his batting form. Recap of the First Match India Under-19 registered a convincing 25-run victo...

Mumbai: Former India captain Rohit Sharma was visibly upset after a couple of young fans misbehaved while trying to take selfies with him as he sat inside his car outside Mumbai’s Kalina Airport. A video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, has sparked widespread outrage among cricket fans. The incident reportedly took place after Rohit returned to Mumbai with his family following his daughter Samaira’s birthday celebrations in Jamnagar. Several videos from the airport showed fans crowding around the star cricketer as he made his way to his car, highlighting the immense popularity he enjoys. However, one particular clip captured an uncomfortable moment when two young fans crossed the line. According to the video, Rohit Sharma was seated in his car along with h...

Jaipur: Ahead of the IPL 2026 season, Rajasthan Royals are facing a major leadership decision after trading their long-time captain Sanju Samson before the upcoming auction. Samson has moved to Chennai Super Kings, with Rajasthan acquiring Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in return. With the captaincy now vacant, speculation is mounting over who will lead the Jaipur-based franchise in the next IPL season. During Sanju Samson’s tenure, young all-rounder Riyan Parag served as vice-captain in the 2025 season and even led the side in a few matches when Samson was unavailable due to injury. As a result, Parag remains one of the leading contenders for the captaincy. Other young Indian talents in the squad, including Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal, are also seen as potential long-term leadersh...

Sydney: England captain Ben Stokes endured a forgettable outing in the first innings of the Sydney Test as Australia pacer Mitchell Starc once again proved to be his nemesis during the final match of the Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. After winning the toss, Stokes opted to bat first. England’s top order struggled early, but Joe Root and Harry Brook steadied the innings with a century partnership. However, soon after Brook’s dismissal, Stokes walked in and failed to make an impact, returning to the pavilion without opening his account. Starc removed Stokes in the 51st over with a sharp delivery that bounced steeply after pitching. Stokes failed to control the extra bounce, edging the ball to the wicketkeeper. Starc did not appeal initially, and the on-field umpire turned ...

Dubai: Desert Vipers finally turned years of heartbreak into glory as they defeated MI Emirates by 46 runs to win their first-ever International League T20 (ILT20) title at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After losing two finals in the league’s first three seasons, the Vipers delivered a commanding performance in the fourth edition to lift the trophy in style. Led by captain Sam Curran, Desert Vipers posted a competitive total of 182 for 4 after being asked to bat first. Curran was the standout performer, playing a match-winning unbeaten knock of 74 runs. Batting at number four, he struck eight boundaries and two sixes in his 51-ball innings. He received solid support from Max Holden, who scored 41, as the duo added a crucial 89-run partnership off 64 balls. For MI Emirates, Fa...

Sydney: England’s batting great Joe Root continued his remarkable run in Test cricket, scoring his 41st Test century during the final Test of the Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Root reached the milestone on Day Two, completing his hundred off 146 deliveries after rain restricted play to just 45 overs on the opening day. Resuming on 72 not out, Root showed composure and class to notch up his second century of the series. With this knock, he joined former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on the elite list of players with the most Test hundreds. Ponting scored 41 centuries in 168 Tests, while Root achieved the same feat in his 163rd match. Only two batters now stand ahead of Root—Sachin Tendulkar with 51 centuries and Jacques Kallis with 45. This century was particularly sign...

New Delhi: Pakistan clinched the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 title with a dominant 191-run victory over India in the final. Despite the emphatic win, Pakistan’s chief selector and head of the National Cricket Academy, Aaqib Javed, drew attention to India’s cricketing structure, openly praising the Indian system and calling it a model worth following. Speaking ahead of the final on a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast, former fast bowler Aaqib Javed said he has closely studied India’s success story and has attempted to implement similar ideas to strengthen Pakistan cricket. “The success of any cricketing nation depends on the quality of its talent,” he said, underlining the importance of a strong grassroots system. Aaqib highlighted India’s consistent performances in limited-overs cricke...

On January 1, 1967, cricket in India faced one of its most shameful moments when the Eden Gardens stadium in Calcutta (now Kolkata) erupted in riots during a Test match between India and the West Indies. The chaos overshadowed the game, leaving a mark in cricket history as much for the crowd trouble as for the sport itself. Overcrowding Sparks ChaosReports suggest that the organizers oversold tickets far beyond the stadium’s capacity, leaving spectators crammed in the stands and spilling onto the outfield. Police attempts to clear the boundary-line crowd with batons only inflamed tempers. Spectators went on a rampage, breaking chairs and setting fire to stadium furniture. Police retreated in the face of the enraged crowd, creating a dangerous situation that terrified both players and of...

In a jaw-dropping finale of the SA20 League 2025, Pretoria Capitals’ explosive duo Dewald Brevis and Sherfane Rutherford delivered a performance that will be remembered for years. Facing Mumbai Indians Cape Town, the pair combined for six consecutive sixes in just six balls, setting the stage for a massive total and an emphatic 85-run victory. Six Sixes in a Single Over: T20 Magic UnleashedThe magic began in the 18th over when Brevis hit back-to-back sixes off Corbin Bosch’s last two deliveries. Taking charge in the 19th over, Rutherford followed with four consecutive sixes in his first four balls, completing a surreal sequence of six sixes across two overs. In their joint 28-ball blitz, the duo hit 11 boundaries—10 of which were towering sixes—leaving fielders scrambling to retrieve th...

Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly endorsed Sarfaraz Khan for a regular role in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) playing XI for IPL 2026, citing the young batsman’s exceptional form in domestic cricket. Ashwin praised Sarfaraz for not merely knocking on selection doors, but making a compelling case for himself with his explosive performances. Explosive Domestic FormSarfaraz has been in career-best form in recent months. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Goa, he scored a breathtaking 157 off just 75 balls, astonishing the cricketing world. Earlier, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), Sarfaraz amassed 329 runs in seven matches at an average of 65.80 and a strike rate of 203.08, featuring rapid-fire innings such as 100(47), 64(25), and 73(22). His aggressive style an...