Sports

Lucknow: The fourth T20 between India and South Africa at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, was abandoned without a single ball bowled due to hazardous fog and extreme air pollution, leaving thousands of fans disappointed. Among them was a devoted supporter who had sold three sacks of wheat just to afford a ticket, only to see his dreams vanish in the fog. Fans’ Disappointment: Dreams Lost in HazeWhen the umpires officially called off the match at 9:25 PM, the stadium’s thousands of spectators watched helplessly as their long-awaited cricketing excitement was buried under a blanket of smog. For many, this was more than a canceled game—it was the crushing of dreams and efforts invested to witness their favorite teams live. Selling Wheat to Watch CricketOutside the stadium, the mood was ...

Lucknow: The fourth T20 match between India and South Africa at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, fell victim to nature as dense fog and poor visibility forced the game to be abandoned. For cricket fans, this was more than just a washed-out match—it marked a bizarre recurring pattern at Ekana Stadium whenever the South African team plays here. Ekana and South Africa: A Triple MisfortuneThis is the third time that matches involving South Africa at Ekana have been disrupted by unforeseen circumstances. April 2020: During a planned ODI series, the match was canceled at the last moment due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in India. The South African team had to remain confined in a hotel in Lucknow for several days, with all match preparations already completed. October 2022: Heavy rainfal...

New Delhi: A video of Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has gone viral on social media, showing him losing his temper at an airport over a fan recording him without permission. The incident occurred while Bumrah was waiting in line for check-in, when a fan approached him and started recording a selfie video up close without consent. Initially, Bumrah tried to stop the fan and issued a warning, but when the fan ignored him, Bumrah snatched the phone from the fan’s hands. “Don’t tell me if it falls,” Bumrah warnedThe viral clip captures the interaction between Bumrah and the fan. As the fan said, “I’ll go with you, sir”, Bumrah firmly responded, “If your phone falls, don’t tell me.” When the fan casually replied, “It’s okay, sir”, Bumrah immediately took the phone. His strict reaction ...

New Delhi: On the second day of the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval, Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon achieved one of the most remarkable milestones of his Test career. With brilliant bowling, Lyon surpassed legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath’s record of 563 Test wickets, claiming his 564th wicket and becoming Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history. Lyon first dismissed Ollie Pope, equalling McGrath’s tally, and then removed Ben Duckett to set a new benchmark. Globally, Lyon now ranks as the sixth most successful Test bowler. Among Australians, only the legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne (708 wickets) remains ahead of him. Turning the Match in Australia’s FavorLyon’s breakthrough came at a crucial juncture. England had started steadily at 41/1, chasing Au...

New Delhi: The IPL 2026 mini-auction proved that winning on the field is not just about a fat wallet but also about strategic planning. Mumbai Indians, entering the auction with a modest ₹2.75 crore purse, stunned everyone when they acquired South African wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock for just ₹1 crore. A Clever Move Praised by R AshwinFormer Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin hailed Mumbai Indians’ move as the smartest play of the season. Ashwin explained that while other franchises hesitated or focused on strategy, MI capitalized on the opportunity instantly. On his YouTube channel, Ashwin remarked with a touch of humor, “It seemed like everyone else was asleep while MI snatched the deal in a blink.” According to him, MI is trying to recreate the magic of their 2020 champio...

The fourth T20 between India and South Africa in Lucknow was abandoned due to heavy fog, making it the latest in a series of unusual match cancellations in international cricket history. The toss could not take place, and after multiple inspections, the umpires called off the game. Fans expressed their frustration on social media, but such incidents have occurred before. Here’s a look at five notable examples: 1. Sri Lanka vs Australia/West Indies (1996 World Cup)Two weeks before the World Cup began, a suicide truck bombing at Colombo’s Central Bank killed 91 people and injured nearly 1,400. Amid the civil war in Sri Lanka, Australia and West Indies refused to play citing safety concerns. The ICC awarded Sri Lanka walkovers for both matches. 2. Pakistan vs New Zealand (2021)On 17 Sep...

Lucknow, UP: Uttar Pradesh’s 20-year-old all-rounder Prashant Veer made headlines at the IPL 2026 mini-auction on 16 December in Abu Dhabi, as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) secured his services for a record-breaking ₹14.20 crore. This made him one of the most expensive uncapped players in IPL history, sharing the record with Kartik Sharma. Celebration with TeammatesVeer watched the auction live along with his teammates from UP. When the bid crossed ₹10 crore, UP captain Rinku Singh erupted with joy. Fellow players joked about Veer managing such a huge contract, making it a moment of celebration and pride. His signing amount surpassed the previous IPL record of ₹10 crore paid by Lucknow Super Giants for Avesh Khan in 2023. Veer’s Impressive StatsThe young left-arm spinner represents Uttar...

The T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in India, has announced ticket prices for different matches, ranging from ₹100 to ₹10,000, depending on the venue and seating category. Ticket Rates for Group Matches at Eden GardensThe Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) on Wednesday revealed ticket rates for matches at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The 10th edition of the prestigious tournament will commence on 7 February 2026. Bangladesh vs Italy, England vs Italy, West Indies vs Italy: Premium Hospitality (B Premium): ₹4,000 Lower Block B & L: ₹1,000 Lower Block C, F & K: ₹200 Lower Block D, E, G, H & J: ₹200 Upper Block B1, C1, D1, F1, G1, H1, K1 & L1: ₹100 West Indies vs Bangladesh, England vs Bangladesh: Premium Hospitality (B Premium): ₹5,000 Lower...

The IPL 2026 mini-auction, held on 16 December in Abu Dhabi, saw franchises splurging on uncapped players. While many players earned big, a few star names went for surprisingly low prices, giving the franchises a massive bargain. Here’s a look at five players who were snapped up at their base prices: 1. David Miller – Delhi Capitals (₹2 crore)South African star David Miller was picked by Delhi Capitals for ₹2 crore, his base price. Miller has played 141 IPL matches, scoring 3,077 runs, making him a seasoned T20 campaigner at a bargain price. 2. Ben Duckett – Delhi Capitals (₹2 crore)England’s explosive opener Ben Duckett was also bought by Delhi Capitals for ₹2 crore, exactly his base price. Duckett has scored 527 runs in 20 T20 matches for England, making him a powerful addition to ...

Former India captain MS Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, continues to be an active figure in the IPL. The five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retained their core and invested in young talent during the IPL 2026 auction held on 16 December, spending ₹40 crore to acquire nine players, including Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for ₹14.20 crore each. Dhoni, however, has confirmed he will once again take the field in IPL 2026. Speculation about his future, however, has been fueled by his former teammate Robin Uthappa, who suggested that this season could mark the end of Dhoni’s illustrious IPL career. Uthappa’s Insights on Dhoni’s RoleSpeaking on JioHotstar, Uthappa said, “I think everything is clear now. This is likely MS Dhoni’s last season. There’s no gu...