Sports

Ahmedabad witnessed a breathtaking display of power-hitting on the opening day of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, as India’s ‘Junior Dhoni’ Ishan Kishan announced his return to form—and to the national reckoning—in emphatic fashion. Playing for Jharkhand, the explosive left-hander smashed a sensational 33-ball century against defending champions Karnataka, sending a strong warning to opponents ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Batting at No. 6 at the Narendra Modi Stadium (B Ground), Kishan walked in with clear intent and dismantled a formidable Karnataka bowling attack. He raced to his half-century in just 20 balls and brought up his hundred in 33 deliveries, eventually scoring a blistering 125 off 39 balls. His innings was studded with 7 fours and 14 towering sixes, turning the match into a o...

From the historic lanes of Motihari—where Mahatma Gandhi once ignited the Champaran Satyagraha—has emerged a new name that is shaking Indian domestic cricket. Bihar captain Sakibul Gani has once again etched his name into the record books, this time by smashing the fastest List-A century by an Indian. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26, Bihar produced a jaw-dropping performance against Arunachal Pradesh, piling up 574 runs for 6 wickets, the highest team total in the tournament’s history. At the heart of this carnage was Sakibul Gani, who brought up his century in just 32 balls, surpassing Anmolpreet Singh’s previous Indian record of 36 balls. Third Fastest List-A Century in World Cricket Gani’s innings places him among the global elite. His 32-ball hundred is now the third-fastes...

Ranchi: Bihar’s captain Sakibul Gani has created history by smashing the fastest List-A century by an Indian, reaching the landmark in just 32 balls against Arunachal Pradesh. In the same match, Vaibhav Suryavanshi had earlier reached his century in 36 balls, but Gani’s explosive innings surpassed it, leaving a mark in cricketing records. Breaking RecordsThe previous fastest List-A century by an Indian was held by Punjab’s Anmolpreet Singh, who scored a hundred in 35 balls. Gani, batting at number five, capitalized on the whirlwind start provided by Vaibhav’s 190 off 84 balls. He raced to his century with a flurry of 9 fours and 9 sixes, finishing unbeaten on 128 runs off 40 balls, boasting a staggering strike rate of 320. This is Gani’s third List-A century. Globally, his 32-ball ce...

Ranchi: After a disappointing U-19 Asia Cup final against Pakistan, 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi made a spectacular comeback in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 Plate Group match. Facing Arunachal Pradesh at Ranchi, Vaibhav unleashed a blistering innings of 190 runs off just 84 balls, including 16 fours and 15 massive sixes, propelling Bihar to 391 for 3 with 11 overs remaining. Revenge for the Asia Cup FinalVaibhav’s fiery knock seemed like payback for the humiliating loss against Pakistan in the U-19 Asia Cup final in UAE, where he managed only 26 runs and was involved in a heated altercation with Pakistani bowlers, which went viral online. Century in Just 36 BallsWinning the toss, Bihar opted to bat first. Vaibhav dominated from the very first ball, reaching his century ...

Rohit Sharma, the former Indian cricket captain, made a spectacular appearance in Jaipur as he arrived to play for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. Even though Rohit now represents India only in the ODI format, his aura among fans remains unmatched. Fans Overwhelm Security at Sawai Mansingh StadiumAt Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium, hundreds of fans gathered to take selfies with Rohit, overwhelming the security personnel. The viral video circulating on social media shows fans breaking through the security layers to reach their favorite cricketer. Today, Mumbai is playing against Sikkim in the tournament, with Rohit in the playing XI. Video Captures Net Practice ChaosThe video, recorded during Tuesday evening’s net session, shows Rohit Sharma heading towards the Mumbai team’...

Neeraj Chopra, the pride of Indian athletics, celebrates his 28th birthday today. Known as India’s “Golden Boy,” Neeraj has inspired millions with his incredible journey from childhood struggles to becoming an Olympic champion. Childhood Struggles and Early LifeBorn on December 24, 1997, in Panipat, Haryana, into a farmer family, Neeraj faced challenges from a young age. At 12, he weighed over 80 kilograms, and his childhood diet, consisting of ghee, churma, and roti, contributed to his weight. Children often mocked him, but with support from his uncle, Neeraj started training in running and exercising at the stadium. It was here that he first witnessed javelin throwers, sparking his passion for the sport. On his very first attempt, he threw 25 meters, leaving everyone amazed. From that...

Cricket is a game of uncertainties. Even the greatest players can be dismissed for a duck, yet some ducks become unforgettable. Today marks the record of one such extraordinary duck, set by New Zealand’s Jeff Allott. The 77-Ball DuckIn a match between South Africa and New Zealand in Auckland, New Zealand were 320/9 when Jeff Allott walked in at number 11. Chris Harris, batting at the other end, remained unbeaten. While Harris scored runs, Allott faced 77 balls without scoring, spending a staggering 101 minutes at the crease. This remains the longest duck in terms of balls faced and time spent at the crease in cricket history. Other Notable DucksEngland’s James Anderson ranks second, having spent 81 minutes and faced 55 balls without scoring against Sri Lanka in 2014. England’s Richar...

New Delhi: Amid England’s disappointing performance in the Ashes series, two players—Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell—have found themselves in the spotlight for off-field behavior, sparking widespread controversy. Videos showing the players vaping e-cigarettes and dancing at a nightclub have gone viral, raising questions about team discipline. Videos Raise ConcernsIn one video, Duckett appears frustrated while searching for his hotel room, prompting a passerby to jokingly ask if he needs a cab back to the training ground. Bethell’s videos, meanwhile, show him partying in a nightclub with an unidentified individual, vaping and dancing. These clips have drawn criticism for potentially affecting team focus during a high-profile series like the Ashes. ECB Launches InquiryThe England and Wal...

Visakhapatnam: India’s young opener Shafali Verma starred in the second T20 International against Sri Lanka, delivering a blistering performance that led India to a 7-wicket victory. Chasing a target of 129, Shafali scored an unbeaten 69 off just 34 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and a six, and was named Player of the Match. Shafali Overtakes MandhanaThis match marked Shafali Verma’s 92nd T20I appearance for India. With her 8th Player of the Match award, she has now surpassed fellow Indian batters Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, both of whom have 7 awards each. In women’s T20Is for India, the record for most Player of the Match awards is held by Mithali Raj with 12, followed by Harmanpreet Kaur with 11. Top Player of the Match Awards in Indian Women’s T20Is Mithali Raj – 12 ...

New Delhi: After nearly 15 years, Virat Kohli is making a return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, representing Delhi under the captaincy of Rishabh Pant. In the tournament’s opening match, Delhi will take on Andhra Pradesh. Kohli is now just one run away from reaching a monumental milestone in List A cricket, crossing 16,000 career runs—a feat achieved by only a few cricketing legends. Kohli’s Record in the Vijay Hazare TrophyKohli has played 17 matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi, batting in 16 innings and scoring 910 runs at an average of 60.66. His highest score in the tournament is 124, and he has recorded four centuries and four half-centuries. Kohli made his List A debut for Delhi against the Army in 2006, before representing India in the Under-19 World Cup. One Run Away fr...