Sports

New Delhi: The year 2025 in Indian cricket has begun with a spectacular story of talent, youth, and record-breaking achievements. Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Bihar has been honored with the Prime Minister’s National Child Award, making him the first cricketer ever to receive this prestigious recognition. This award, the highest civilian honor for children in India, recognizes outstanding achievements among youngsters aged 5 to 18. Vaibhav shares the stage with other young prodigies, including international chess stars R. Praggnanandhaa and R. Vaishali, underscoring that his achievement is not just exceptional for his age group but remarkable in the global sporting arena. A Record-Breaking Feat on the Cricket Field Vaibhav captured the nation’s attention when he smash...

Jaipur: Star Indian batter and former captain Rohit Sharma endured a disappointing outing with the bat in his second match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, getting out for a golden duck against Uttarakhand. However, Rohit quickly made amends with an outstanding effort in the field, producing a sharp catch in the slips that underlined his value beyond batting. Opening the innings for Mumbai, Rohit fell on the very first ball, attempting his trademark shot on a delivery from pacer Devendra Singh Bora. Fresh from a magnificent 155-run knock in the previous match, Rohit’s early dismissal came as a surprise to the packed Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Rohit’s Fielding Brilliance While runs did not come off his bat, Rohit made a decisive impact during Mumbai’s bowling innings. Uttarakhand opener Ka...

Jaipur: Whenever Rohit Sharma steps onto a cricket field, fans are willing to travel hundreds of kilometres and spend thousands on tickets just to watch him bat. On Thursday, the same devotion turned into heartbreak at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, where Rohit was dismissed for a golden duck in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 match against Uttarakhand. Opening the innings for Mumbai, Rohit was out on the very first ball he faced—his first golden duck in List-A cricket in 13 years. The early dismissal stunned the crowd, especially since Rohit had smashed a brilliant 155-run knock at the same venue in his previous match. Expecting another masterclass, thousands of fans had filled the stands, many travelling long distances to see their idol in action. Fans Leave the Stadium in Disappointm...

New Delhi: Ahead of the announcement of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, star finisher Rinku Singh sent a strong message to the selectors with a sensational batting display in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Playing against Chandigarh, Rinku tore apart the bowling attack with a breathtaking century, propelling Uttar Pradesh to a towering total of 367 runs. Batting with fearless intent, Rinku Singh played a knock that blurred the line between One-Day and T20 cricket. He smashed 106 runs off just 60 balls, showcasing his trademark power-hitting and composure under pressure. His innings included 11 boundaries and 4 towering sixes, with shots flowing to all parts of the ground. Rinku’s explosive performance formed the backbone of Uttar Pradesh’s innings, as the team finished at 367 for...

Melbourne: The first day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and England was dominated by the bowlers, with 20 wickets falling across three sessions. Australia were bundled out for 152 runs in their first innings, and England could manage only 110 runs, leaving the contest wide open. In a surprising move, Scott Boland, who batted at No. 11 in Australia’s first innings and was dismissed for a golden duck, opened the batting for the hosts in their second innings. Boland, a fast bowler with 119 first-class matches, had never opened in his career, typically batting at 10 or 11. Yet he faced the challenge with confidence, striking a boundary in his brief stint. Why Boland OpenedWith England’s innings wrapped up before the end of the day, Australia needed to face just one over before ...

Jaipur: The recent Khelo India University Games in Jaipur have raised serious concerns about the state of Indian sports. A strikingly low number of participants and the fear of doping scandals are leaving the future of Indian athletics uncertain. At the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the women’s 400m race saw Manisha from Kurukshetra University running alone, as four of the five registered athletes withdrew at the last moment. Similarly, in the men’s 400m hurdles, Ruchit Mor from Gujarat Sports University ran solo. In wrestling, some events had only two or three participants, highlighting a worrying trend. A Warning BellThe Khelo India University Games receive massive government funding every year, running into crores of rupees. While the intent to provide large-scale opportunities to athle...

Melbourne: England, having already lost the Ashes series 3-0, suffered yet another batting collapse in the fourth Test at the MCG. While the English bowlers shone on the pitch, their batsmen failed to capitalize, leaving fans disappointed. England’s first innings ended at a mere 110 runs, narrowly avoiding a sub-100 total thanks to Gus Atkinson, who anchored the tail with aggressive stroke play, helping the team surpass 100. The Australian pace attack was ruthless: Mitchell Starc took 2 wickets, Michael Neser claimed 4, Scott Boland 3, and Cameron Green chipped in with 1. Earlier, England’s bowlers had provided hope by restricting Australia to 152 runs in their first innings. Led by Josh Tong, they struck early, with Starc, Neser, and Boland struggling to lift the team’s morale. Howe...

Melbourne: On the first day of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), England delivered a stunning comeback, bundling out Australia for just 152 runs. Despite Australia having already sealed the series by winning the first three matches, England’s bowlers, led by young pacer Josh Tong, sent a strong message to their opponents and cricket fans worldwide. Josh Tong’s MagicThe spotlight belonged to Josh Tong, who took 5 crucial wickets for just 45 runs. His swinging deliveries left Australian batsmen struggling from the start. Tong struck early, dismissing Jack Vedurld and Marnus Labuschagne cheaply, with Joe Root taking a brilliant catch to send Labuschagne back to the pavilion. Tong then delivered a magical ball to dismiss Steve Smith, knocking off the middle stump ...

New Delhi: Bihar’s young cricket prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been honored with the Prime Minister’s National Child Award for his exceptional achievements in sports. The prestigious award was presented to him by President Droupadi Murmu at a grand ceremony in New Delhi, where Vaibhav also had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nation’s Highest Recognition for Young AthletesThe award, given by the Government of India to children aged 5–18 for outstanding courage, talent, and achievements, recognized Vaibhav in the sports category. The ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan highlighted Vaibhav’s dedication, sportsmanship, and extraordinary talent. Post the award ceremony, Prime Minister Modi interacted with Vaibhav and other awardees, motivating them to continue bringing glo...

Jaipur: In a shocking turn of events at the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 match in Jaipur, Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck against Uttarakhand. About 12,000 fans who had come to see the ‘Hitman’ in action were left stunned as their favorite cricketer was out on the very first ball. Expectations were high after Rohit’s explosive 155-run innings in the previous match, but Uttarakhand’s young pacer Devendra Singh Bora stole the spotlight with this remarkable feat. The Catch That Sealed Rohit’s FateThe dismissal was dramatic and has now gone viral on social media. Rohit played a classic flick shot aiming for a six, and the ball landed near the boundary line in the hands of Uttarakhand fielder Jagmohan Nagarkoti. Initially, the ball popped out of Nagarkoti’s hands, ...