Sports

Following India’s thrilling victory over South Africa in the fifth T20 match, Hardik Pandya celebrated his record-breaking innings with exuberance. Pandya revealed that he only realized the magnitude of his achievement—scoring one of India’s fastest T20 half-centuries in just 16 balls—after returning to the pavilion. Social media team members informed him of the milestone, to which he humorously remarked, “Oh no, I just missed becoming number one!” He immediately added that he was thrilled to see the record still credited to the legendary Yuvraj Singh. A Promise Kept: First-Ball SixPandya shared the secret behind his fearless batting approach. Before walking to the crease, he had promised his girlfriend that he would attempt a six off the very first ball. Confident in his ability and th...

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya not only destroyed South Africa’s bowling attack with a fiery innings in the fifth T20I at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, but also captured hearts with an extraordinary act of kindness on the field. During the match, a powerful six from Hardik struck a cameraman standing near the dugout, causing an injury. Immediately after the match, Hardik rushed to check on him, applied an ice pack to his left shoulder, and offered words of comfort, winning widespread admiration. A video of the incident, showing the relieved cameraman smiling, quickly went viral on social media, showcasing Hardik’s sportsmanship. Blistering Batting and Record-Breaking Half-CenturyComing in at a critical stage with India struggling at 115/3 in the 13th over, Hardik made his inten...

The Mumbai squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy has been announced, with former Indian captain Rohit Sharma making a much-anticipated return. Rohit will feature in the first two matches against Sikkim (24 Dec) and Uttarakhand (26 Dec). His participation follows a new BCCI rule mandating that all national team players must play at least two domestic one-day matches, provided they are fit. Rohit’s inclusion is a major boost for Mumbai and is expected to elevate the overall standard of domestic cricket. The captaincy of the team has been handed to experienced all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who will lead a squad blending youth and experience. Notable AbsencesStar players Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shivam Dube will not be part of the initial squad. Yashasvi Jaiswal is currently hos...

In a thrilling finale of the 5-match T20 series, India defeated South Africa by 30 runs, clinching the series 3-1. While both teams combined to score over 400 runs in the match, it was India’s standout performers who turned the tide and secured a memorable win. Here are the five heroes of the game: 1. Jasprit Bumrah – Master of the YorkersJasprit Bumrah once again proved why he is India’s most lethal T20 bowler. He bowled 4 overs for just 17 runs, taking 2 crucial wickets. Bumrah’s performance completely shifted the momentum in India’s favor at a critical stage of the match. 2. Hardik Pandya – Blazing Batting DisplayHardik Pandya set the innings on fire with a 63-run knock off just 25 balls, including 5 fours and 5 sixes. His aggressive batting provided India the momentum they needed...

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is set to commence on 7 February in India and Sri Lanka. The BCCI is expected to announce the Indian squad for the mega event on 20 December. While the team selection often sparks debate, there are three players whose recent performances suggest they don’t fully deserve a place — yet are likely to be included. 1. Suryakumar YadavThe Indian captain has had a tough year with the bat. In 21 T20 matches in 2025, Suryakumar scored only 218 runs in 19 innings, averaging 13.62, without a single fifty. Despite this dismal form, he is expected to retain his spot in the squad, raising questions about merit-based selection. 2. Shubman GillVice-captain Shubman Gill has struggled to find consistency in T20 cricket. In 15 matches this year, he managed 291 runs at an aver...

The Indian cricket team sealed the 5-match T20 series against South Africa with a commanding 30-run victory in the final game, winning the series 3-1. After a spectacular batting display, India’s bowlers stepped up to dominate, ensuring a comprehensive triumph. India set a formidable target of 232 runs, finishing at 231/5 in their allotted 20 overs. South Africa, despite a strong start, fell short at 201 all out. While South Africa had earlier taken the Test series 2-0, India bounced back to win the ODI series 2-1 and now the T20 series, marking a significant turnaround. Bumrah and Chakarvarty Turn the TideChasing 232, Quinton de Kock gave South Africa an explosive start with a 65-run knock off just 35 balls, featuring 9 fours and 3 sixes. He was ably supported by Dewald Brevis, who ...

In the IPL 2026 mini-auction, Devon Conway went unsold, leaving many fans and franchises surprised. However, the New Zealand opener made a spectacular statement just days later by scoring a commanding 227 against the West Indies in the third Test, silencing all critics. Record-Breaking PartnershipConway and Tom Latham forged a 323-run partnership for the first wicket, setting a new benchmark as the highest opening stand in World Test Championship (WTC) history. This partnership also surpassed the 317-run record previously held by India’s Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal against South Africa in 2019. Conway’s Second Double CenturyThis innings marked Conway’s second double century in Test cricket and his career-best score. He became only the second New Zealand opener to score a double c...

Karachi: Pakistani international kabaddi player Ubaidullah Rajput is facing potential disciplinary action after playing for an Indian team in a private tournament in Bahrain. On 16 December, Rajput donned the Indian jersey and was seen waving the Indian flag during the GCC Cup. Videos and photos of the incident quickly went viral, prompting the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) to call an emergency meeting on 27 December to discuss possible action against him and other players involved. PKF ReactsPKF Secretary Rana Sarwar stated, “This was a private tournament where teams were created under names like India, Pakistan, Canada, and Iran, with players from the respective countries. Ubaidullah playing for India under these circumstances is unacceptable.” Sarwar added that 16 Pakistani playe...

The Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 is expected to be announced on 20th December. The tournament will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February and March next year. India enters the competition as the defending champions, having defeated South Africa in the 2024 edition. With Rohit Sharma retired and Virat Kohli stepping away from T20 internationals, the team will be led by Suryakumar Yadav this time. However, for some established players, making the squad looks increasingly difficult. Here are five Indian cricketers who may miss out: 1. Ravi BishnoiRavi Bishnoi has previously been ranked the world’s number one T20 bowler. The leg-spinner has taken 61 wickets in 42 T20 internationals. Despite his impressive record, he hasn’t played for India since IPL 2025, and with Kuldee...

Dubai: The India and Sri Lanka Under-19 teams were all set to clash in the semifinal of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai. However, continuous rain in the city has cast a shadow over this crucial fixture, creating uncertainty over the match outcome. According to tournament rules, if the match is abandoned due to rain or no result is possible, the team that topped their group stage will automatically advance to the final. In this scenario, India stands to benefit, as they finished first in Group A. India’s Dominance in Group StageThe Indian Under-19 team has showcased a commanding performance throughout the tournament. They began with a massive win over UAE, scoring 433 and defeating the hosts by 234 runs. Against arch-rivals Pakistan, India triumphed by 90 ...