From the electrifying victory of the Indian cricket team in the recent T20 series to the rising star power of young badminton sensations, India's sporting landscape is ablaze with action! This week alone saw record-breaking performances in the Pro Kabaddi League, showcasing the nation's unwavering passion for indigenous sports. The upcoming Asian Games are generating immense anticipation, with athletes across disciplines sharpening their skills and aiming for glory on the international stage. We delve into the crucial role of sports sponsorships in nurturing talent and boosting India's sporting infrastructure. Furthermore, debates rage on about the future of cricket's dominance in India's sporting ecosystem, with other sports like hockey and football vying for increased attention and investment. Stay updated on all the latest scores, match analyses, and exclusive interviews with your favorite athletes. Explore the dynamic world of Indian sports—from the bustling stadiums to the quiet dedication of rising stars—right here. Discover the stories that shape the nation’s sporting spirit and witness the unfolding drama of the sporting year.
Lucknow, Dec 17 (PTI) The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was called off on Wednesday owing to poor visibility after a dense layer of smog engulfed the Ekana Stadium raising serious questions about BCCI's scheduling of matches in northern part of India during peak winter month. The venues allotted for the full series against the Proteas included New Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Lucknow, Ranchi, Raipur, Visakhapatnam, Cuttack, Ahmedabad, Guwahati and Kolkata during November and December. It is also a period when pollution levels in the host cities like Lucknow, New Chandigarh and Dharamsala are usually at its worst. The fourth T20I was officially abandoned without a ball being bowled due to "excessive fog", the reality was that a thick blanket of smog enveloped the Ekana Stadium, severely hampering visibility. The Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the hazardous range, above 400 in Lucknow on Wednesday, raising serious questions about the BCCI's commitment to players' welfare. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was seen wearing a surgical mask to counter the pollution while the Indian team warmed up ahead of the game. The match, scheduled to start at 7 pm, was eventually called off at 9:30 pm after the sixth inspection although it was more of a formality with everyone present well aware that visibility was only going to get worse as the night progressed. The players had abandoned their warm-up session by 7:30 pm and returned to the confines of their dressing rooms. By 9 pm, the sizeable crowd that had braved the cold conditions had also begun to thin out. BCCI vice-president and lifelong Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association's spiritual boss Rajeev Shukla walked out to the middle during one of the inspections but his body language after speaking to match officials indicated disappointment. With no reserve day in place, both teams will now fly to Ahmedabad for the final T20I on Friday, with India leading the series 2-1. While the BCCI follows a rotational policy when allotting venues, the board could have considered swapping venues with the white-ball series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin January 11. The 'Men in Blue' are set to face New Zealand for a white-ball series at venues across western and southern India -- Vadodara, Rajkot, Indore, Nagpur, Raipur, Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram with just one match scheduled in the northeastern city of Guwahati. Matches held at most north zone venues have historically been affected by weather conditions during the winter months. Last week, the third T20I was played in sub-10-degree temperatures in Dharamsala, set in the lap of the snow-clad Dhauladhar range. Post the game, India's mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who hails from Tamil Nadu, admitted that the conditions were particularly challenging for him. "I've never played at a ground this cold, so I did find it quite challenging," he had said. The AQI on match day in Dharmsala was in the 'poor' category and in the 'severe' zone during the 2nd T20I in New Chandigarh. The planning of BCCI's operations team seemed questionable if they hadn't collected the historical weather data of north-Indian cities or even didn't have a plan B to start the matches from afternoon which could have at least ensured a game for the ticket-paying public. PTI APA APA KHS
Mumbai, December 4: As Team India prepares for the pink-ball day-night second Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval, all eyes will be on star India batter Virat Kohli, who has not only regained his form and confidence following a fine century at Perth but also holds an incredible record at the venue. Let's look at his records there. Virat Kohli's Record in Adelaide: A Look at How the Star Indian Batsman Has Performed at Adelaide Oval Ahead of IND vs AUS Pink-Ball Test in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. His first match as Test captain during the 2014 series that included a statement-making 1 ...Read More >
Brendon Kleynhans is a maths teacher at South African College School, one of the country's most prestigious alma maters. It luxuriates in the leafiness all around the most genteel part of Cape Town, with Newlands a mere long boundary away. If that brings to your mind's eye a slight, chinless, reticent, bespectacled individual sporting a combover, a pocket protector and - dread word - slacks who declines to step out of the safety of suburbia, you need that eye tested. "During camps it's half-pace," Kleynhans told Cricbuzz in the Kingsmead nets on Tuesday as the South Africans completed their ...Read More >
New Delhi: Harry Brook, England's rising star, has cemented his place as one of the world's top Test batters. He has moved up to second in the latest ICC Men's Test Batting Rankings following a brilliant 171-run performance in England's dominant eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in Christchurch. This remarkable knock propelled Brook two places higher in the rankings, pushing him ahead of India's Yashasvi Jaiswal, who slipped to fourth just days after reaching his career-best position. Brook now has 854 rating points, while New Zealand's Kane Williamson remains in third with consistent fift ...Read More >
While world No 3 India had a disappointing T20 World Cup in October, failing to make it past the group stage, the sixth-ranked West Indies made their way to the semifinal where they lost to runner-up New Zealand. "They're the top four for a reason because they probably are a better team and have better records. But at the same time I feel like every team is really starting to compete now," Matthews said when asked if the gap between top-ranked teams and those in the bottom was big. "When you lo ...Read More >
WPL 2025 Auction: The WPL 2025 auction is scheduled for December 15 in Bengaluru, with 120 players, including 91 Indians and 29 international stars, up for selection. The event will see franchises compete for spots to build their squads, with 19 available positions remaining. Key players like Tejal Hasabnis, Heather Knight, and Deandra Dottin are among the prominent names. Fans can watch the auction live on Sports18 and JioCinema, starting at 3 PM IST.The much-awaited Women's Premier League (WPL) ...Read More >
Mumbai, December 17: Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been ruled out of the three-match ODIs series against Zimbabwe due to a Grade 2B quadriceps along with a hip flexor injury, said the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). Mohammad Ishaq has been named Gurbaz's replacement for the series, scheduled to commence on Tuesday. Afghanistan Test Squad Announced: Rashid Khan Returns for Upcoming Two-Match Test Series Against Zimbabwe. The 19-year-old Ishaq, who played five T20Is scoring 76 runs, is yet to make his ODI debut. ACB said confirmed spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was rested as ...Read More >
Brisbane: India captain Rohit Sharma, when quizzed about veteran pacer Mohammed Shami's availability for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, said it all depends on the National Cricket Academy's (NCA) clearance. Speaking after India's draw in the third Test against Australia at the Gabba, Rohit left the question of Shami's fitness availability in the hands of the NCA, where the ace pacer is undergoing rehabilitation after ankle surgery in November 2023. "I think it's high time somebody from NCA talked about him. That's our national cricket academy where he is rehabbing. Those guys are the on ...Read More >
Australia lost the first Test by 295 runsAustralia faced their first Test defeat in PerthAustralia are looking to make a comeback in Adelaide Australia retained their 13-member squad for their second Test against India, confirmed selector and coach Andrew McDonald. On Monday, the Aussies lost the Perth Test by 295 runs to go 0-1 down in the five-match series against India. It was also the first time Australia lost at the Optus Stadium after winning four matches on the trot since 2018. McDonald, however, showed faith in their squad to make a turnaround in the Pink-Ball Test, starting December ...Read More >
Hardik Pandya played an excellent knock of 69 runs in 30 balls to lead Baroda to a three-wicket win over Tamil Nadu in a high-scoring Group B match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Wednesday. Hardik's innings included four 4s and seven 6s. Out of those seven sixes, four came in the 17th over bowled by left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh. Chasing a stiff total of 222, Baroda was at 121 for 4 when Hardik came out to bat after the dismissal of his elder brother Krunal. The equation came down to 66 needed off 24 balls when Gurjapneet, a 6'3" seamer bought for Rs 2.2 crore by five-time Indian Prem ...Read More >
Get latest articles and stories on Sports at LatestLY. Pakistan will play its share of matches in next year's inaugural blind women's T20 World Cup in either Nepal or Sri Lanka after a hybrid model for the event was finalised at the World Blind Cricket Council's (WBCC) Annual General Meeting in Multan. New Delhi, Dec 3 (PTI) Pakistan will play its share of matches in next year's inaugural blind women's T20 World Cup in either Nepal or Sri Lanka after a hybrid model for the event was finalised at the World Blind Cricket Council's (WBCC) Annual General Meeting in Multan. The development comes ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Sophie Ecclestone's position as the premier T20I bowler is under threat, with her England teammate Sarah Glenn closing the gap in the latest ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings. Ecclestone, who took just two wickets in England's recent 3-0 series victory over South Africa, saw her lead at the top shrink to a mere 23 ratings points. Also Read | India vs Pakistan in Men's Junior Asia Cup 2024 Final! PR Sreejesh's Side Beats Malaysia 3-1 To Set Up Summit Clash Against Archrivals. Sarah Glenn emerged as a standout performer during the series, claiming five wick ...Read More >
New Delhi: After an exhilarating win in Perth, India faced a harsh reality when Australia decisively triumphed by 10 wickets in the second Test held at Adelaide Oval. This result has leveled the series at 1-1, setting up an important third Test at the Gabba, which is known to be one of Australia's toughest venues. India's batting lineup struggled in Adelaide, folding for just 180 and 175 runs in their two innings. To regain the upper hand in the series, Indian batsmen need to learn from their errors and put up a strong total that their bowlers can defend against the Australian attack. As Ind ...Read More >
New Delhi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Dec, 2024) Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will go down as one of India's greatest players after retiring from international cricket on Wednesday aged 38. India's go-to bowler was central to their Test dominance in the last decade with his ability to outfox top batsmen. Ashwin finished with 537 wickets in 106 Tests since his debut in 2011 against the West Indies in New Delhi. He was also more than useful with the bat. Described as an "all-time great" by his Test captain Rohit Sharma, Ashwin earlier this year became only the ninth bowler ...Read More >
India’s star batter Virat Kohli, ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, reflected on his memorable century on Perth’s challenging pitch during the 2018/19 series, calling it his best knock in Australia. However, Kohli faces immense pressure this series, struggling with form after scoring just 488 runs in 2024 at an average of 20.33. Once a dominant force in Test cricket, his performance has dipped since 2020, raising questions about his place in the team. With the five-Test series kicking off in Perth on November 22, Kohli aims to rediscover his magic on Australian soil and silence his c ...Read More >
Get latest articles and stories on Sports at LatestLY. Kiwi batter Kane Williamson helped New Zealand seat in the driver's seat of the first Test match against England at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday. Christchurch [New Zealand], November 28 (ANI): Kiwi batter Kane Williamson helped New Zealand seat in the driver's seat of the first Test match against England at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday. At Day 01 stumps, New Zealand stood at 319/8 with Glenn Phillips (41*) and Tim Southee (10*) unbeaten on the crease. Also Read | Pakistan vs Zimbabwe Live Score Updates of 3rd ODI 2 ...Read More >
New Delhi : Ahead of the second Test against Australia, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh recollected his memories of playing against Aussies and said the battle between the teams forced them to put in extra effort on the field. After the Ashes rivalry in red-ball cricket, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has gained much popularity among cricket fanatics with India not losing the series since 2016. "It was our job. We were playing to win against Australia. You get to know how good of a player you are when you play against a bigger team like Australia, and Australia was a very good team. They we ...Read More >
Surat, 13 December 2024: The Big Cricket League continued to thrill cricket fans as the Southern Spartans showcased their dominance against the Rajasthan Regals in the first game of the day. Winning the toss and electing to field, the Spartans' bowlers, led by Abhimanyu Mithun, restricted the Regals to a below-par score. The Regals had a shaky start, losing opener S Srinivas early for a struggling 3 off 8 balls. Sri Lankan legend T Dilshan played a steady hand, scoring 33 off 32 balls, but found ...Read More >
'Of course, if I get an opportunity to lead RCB, that is what I am there for, and I will be happy.' IMAGE: Rajat Patidar's name is doing rounds within RCB circles as their prospective captain for IPL 2025. Photograph: BCCI Rajat Patidar's international career did not take off as he would have liked, but the Madhya Pradesh batter is confident of 're-creating' the opportunity through domestic matches and make a comeback to the Indian team. Patidar's six innings against England earlier this year ...Read More >
CABI chairman Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar slammed Pakistani media for falsely reporting that India lost hosting rights for the Women's T20 World Cup for Blind, set for November 2025. He clarified that India secured hosting rights last year and recent discussions confirmed plans for a hybrid model involving Nepal or Sri Lanka if Pakistan participates. The confusion arises amid India’s refusal to visit Pakistan for the ongoing Men’s T20 Blind World Cup, citing government clearance issues. Kivadasannavar warned against spreading misinformation, emphasizing that Pakistan’s participation hinges on ...Read More >
Bengaluru [India], : For Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar who will be returning to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad for the second time after being picked in the Indian Premier League 2025 auction, feels, it is more than just a professional opportunity it is a heartfelt homecoming and a very special one. Interestingly, both the players have worn the RCB jersey before but never shouldered the bowling responsibilities at the 'Chinnaswamy' in any of the past seasons of IPL. Both are eager ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) It will be a two-way fight between incumbent Arun Jaitley and former India cricketer Kirti Azad for the president's post in the three-day DDCA elections beginning here on Friday. The results will be declared on December 16. The Jaitley-led panel holds significant clout among the 3748 members likely to vote in the elections. Azad, a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning India team and sitting Trinamool Congress MP from Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency, is confident of change in Delhi & District Cricket Association, which is not the best governed BCCI affiliated state uni ...Read More >
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat in the second ODI against Pakistan in Bulawayo on November 26. Pakistan made two changes to their squad after losing the first match by 80 runs on the DLS method. Tayyab Tahir and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed made their ODI debuts, replacing Haseebullah Khan and Mohammad Hasnain. Pakistan's key players, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Babar Azam, were rested as they tested bench strength ahead of next year's Champions Trophy. Zimbabwe, after their impressive win, retained their winning combination for the match. The third ODI will be held in Bulawayo on Thu ...Read More >
New Delhi: The IPL 2025 mega auction has concluded, with all teams finalizing their squads of at least 18 players. As is often the case, the RCB management finds itself under scrutiny for its player selections. Retaining only three players -- Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal -- RCB entered the auction with three RTM (Right to Match) cards but opted to use just one, securing Swapnil Singh. Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif expressed his thoughts on RCB's decision to let Will Jacks go to Mumbai Indians for ₹5.25 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. Kaif termed it a "massive miss" for RC ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) It will be a two-way fight between incumbent Arun Jaitley and former India cricketer Kirti Azad for the president's post in the three-day DDCA elections beginning here on Friday. The results will be declared on December 16. The Jaitley-led panel holds significant clout among the 3748 members likely to vote in the elections. Also Read | India Women's Cricket Team Fined For Slow Over-Rate in Second ODI Against Australia. Azad, a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning India team and sitting Trinamool Congress MP from Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency, is confident of change ...Read More >
Surat (Gujarat) [India], December 15 (ANI): The Big Cricket League continued to deliver nail-biting action as the Mumbai Marines showcased resilience to secure a low-scoring victory against the Northern Challengers. The Challengers, batting first, got off to a blazing start courtesy of Shikhar Dhawan, who smashed a quick-fire 30 off just 15 balls. However, the team crumbled under relentless pressure from the Marines' bowlers, led by the Sri Lankan spinner M Pushpakumara, who delivered a sensational spell, claiming 4 wickets while conceding just 3 runs per over. Manpreet Gony also chipped in ...Read More >
Delhi Capitals made a strong impression at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, assembling a well-balanced squad for the upcoming season. Key signings included former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis (Rs 2 crore), India pacer Mukesh Kumar (Rs 8 crore - RTM), and Sri Lankan bowler Dushmantha Chameera (Rs 75 lakh). The team also secured uncapped talents like Donovan Ferreira and Ajay Mandal. Co-owner Parth Jindal hailed the squad as “balanced,” while head coach Hemang Badani expressed confidence in their Indian core. Delhi Capitals’ full squad now includes big names like KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, and T ...Read More >
The IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah saw records shattered, with Indian players dominating the headlines. Arshdeep Singh broke Yuvraj Singh's nine-year-old auction record, fetching ₹18 crore, only for Shreyas Iyer to surpass it with ₹26.75 crore. Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player, bought for ₹27 crore by Lucknow Super Giants. However, Jitesh Sharma's IPL salary hike was the talk of the auction, as he secured ₹11 crore, a staggering 5500% increase from his previous ₹20 lakh. Royal Challengers Bengaluru picked him up as a wicketkeeper-batter to replace Dinesh Karthik. Other big earners inc ...Read More >
The incident took place on the second ball of the 53rd over of England's first innings, which was bowled by Tim Southee. New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips, who is one of the best fielders of all time, produced a super effort on the field on Friday (November 29) during the second day's play of the ongoing first Test between New Zealand and England in Christchurch. During the third session of Day 2's play of the match taking place at Hagley Oval, Phillips dived to his right to complete a flying catch of England wicketkeeper-batter Ollie Pope with his one hand. The incident took place on t ...Read More >
South Africa are gearing up to host England in an exciting three-match ODI series, starting on December 4 at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley. The series comes on the heels of a one-sided T20I contest, where England dominated with a 3-0 whitewash. After a disappointing T20I series, South Africa will aim to hit the reset button and find their footing in the 50-over format. The longer format provides the Proteas with an opportunity to rebuild and showcase their resilience against a strong English side. With the advantage of playing on home soil, South Africa will look to capitalize on familiar con ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 3 (ANI): India cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar met his childhood friend Vinod Kambli and unveiled a memorial of renowned cricket coach Ramakant Vitthal Achrekar at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park on Tuesday. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, former cricketer and Sachin's childhood friend Vinod Kambli, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, Pravin Amre, 1983 World Cup-winning player Balwinder Singh Sandhu and others were also present during the unveiling ceremony of the memorial of the legenda ...Read More >