Sports

Indian women’s cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is on the verge of making history. She needs just 28 runs to reach the milestone of 10,000 international runs, which she could achieve in the third T20I against Sri Lanka today at Greenfield Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. So far, only Mithali Raj has crossed 10,000 runs for India, accumulating 10,868 runs in 333 international matches across all formats. Globally, just three women have achieved this feat, and Mandhana is poised to become the fourth female cricketer to join this elite club. Struggling in the First Two MatchesMandhana returned to the team amidst controversy surrounding her marriage. She hasn’t had a major innings in the first two matches of the series, scoring 25 and 14 runs respectively. Despite this, she is expect...

In a stunning turn of events during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 on Friday, Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma was sent back to the pavilion for zero runs on the very first ball by an emerging fast bowler from Uttarakhand, leaving fans and cricket enthusiasts in shock. After his explosive 155-run innings against Sikkim on 24 December, expectations were high for another stellar performance from the Hitman, but it was Devendra Singh Bora who stole the limelight. The Bowler Behind the SurpriseDevendra Singh Bora, a 25-year-old fast bowler from Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, was playing just his third List A match. Born on 6 December 2000, Bora made his first-class debut in 2024 for Uttarakhand against Puducherry and his List A debut the same year against Manipur in Jaipur. Representing Uttarakhand in...

Mumbai suffered a major shock in the Vijay Hazare Trophy when captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed on the very first ball against Uttarakhand, leaving fans stunned and disappointed. After a sensational 155-run innings off just 94 balls in the previous match against Sikkim, Rohit was unable to open his account this time, falling victim to a golden duck. Devendra Singh Bora’s Magical SpellAll eyes were on Rohit at the start of the match at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Fast bowler Devendra Singh Bora made an instant impact, sending Rohit back to the pavilion on the last ball of his opening over. Rohit attempted a shot, but the ball took the edge and flew towards deep fine leg, where fielder Jagmohan Nagarkoti made a spectacular catch after a brief moment of uncertainty. The stadium fell...

Returning to domestic cricket after a 15-year gap, Virat Kohli once again proved why he is called the King of Cricket. Playing for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Kohli unleashed a storming innings of 131 runs off 101 balls against Andhra Pradesh, smashing 14 fours and 3 massive sixes. His aggressive stroke play not only secured the target comfortably for Delhi but also left everyone on the field—players and umpires alike—astonished. A Historic HomecomingKohli’s comeback for Delhi after nearly one and a half decades was highly anticipated. Facing a challenging target of 299 runs, he dominated the bowling attack from the start, completing his half-century in just 39 balls and his century in 83 balls. His innings anchored the match, giving Delhi control throughout and showcasing his mas...

Former Indian captain and legendary selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has made a strong recommendation to the BCCI, urging that teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi be fast-tracked into the Indian senior team. Srikkanth compared the 14-year-old prodigy to Sachin Tendulkar, highlighting his extraordinary talent, composure, and technique. According to Srikkanth, just as Sachin made his international debut at 16 and dominated world cricket, Vaibhav possesses the same rare combination of skill and temperament to thrive at the highest level. Historic and Explosive Performance in Vijay Hazare TrophyVaibhav recently grabbed the cricketing world’s attention with a breathtaking performance in domestic cricket. In a Vijay Hazare Trophy match, he became the youngest century-maker in List A cricke...

The year 2025 will be remembered in Indian sports as one that turned the impossible into possible. While fans faced bittersweet moments like the sudden Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, there were several historic highlights that will be etched in memory forever. From RCB finally claiming an IPL trophy to Neeraj Chopra crossing new milestones, here are the five most memorable moments of 2025 in Indian sports. 1. RCB Ends 18-Year Wait for IPL GloryRoyal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended their long 18-year wait by winning their first IPL title. With Virat Kohli leading the team, RCB defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, scoring 191 runs in the final. Krunal Pandya’s brilliant spell of 4 overs for 17 runs and 2 wickets restricted PBKS to 18...

The year 2025 witnessed some outstanding performances from Indian batsmen, with several players making significant contributions across formats. Players like Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja showcased remarkable consistency and skill, racking up impressive runs for Team India. 1. Shubman Gill Tops the ChartLeading the pack is Shubman Gill, the captain of India’s Test and One-Day teams. Gill amassed a staggering 1,764 runs in 35 matches, including 7 centuries and 3 half-centuries, making him the highest run-scorer for India this year. His performance has been nothing short of phenomenal across all formats. 2. KL Rahul Secures Second SpotKL Rahul claimed the second spot with 1,180 runs in 24 matches, featuring 3 centuries and 5 half-centuries. Rahul primarily played T...

Jaipur, December 25: These days, few would envy the position of Yashasvi Jaiswal, one of India’s most talented young cricketers, who seems to be caught in the transition phase of Indian cricket. The 23-year-old opener from Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh has displayed immense skill in white-ball cricket, yet opportunities continue to come mainly as a replacement player rather than a guaranteed spot. A Career of “Replacement” OpportunitiesIn 2024, Jaiswal struggled to secure T20 opportunities overseas in the US and Caribbean, where veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were preferred. Though included in the Champions Trophy squad months later, he missed out due to the team’s requirement for a fourth spinner, as decided by then-head coach Gautam Gambhir. Similarly, when Shubman Gill, India’s all-f...

New Delhi, December 25: During the closing ceremony of the MPs Sports Festival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a virtual conversation with young athletes from across the country. In a heartwarming moment, 14-year-old Kabaddi player Shanti Kumari from Assam asked the Prime Minister to repeat his question, bringing a smile to his face. Shanti, hailing from the Darang-Udalguri Lok Sabha constituency, was one of the athletes selected by the local MP, Dilip Saikia, to interact with PM Modi. As the conversation began, the Prime Minister greeted her and asked her to share a little about herself and why she had chosen Kabaddi. Shanti, however, appeared slightly puzzled and politely requested, “Sir, please repeat the question.” The innocent request made PM Modi chuckle. Encouragement...

New Delhi, December 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the closing ceremony of the MPs Sports Festival virtually, emphasized the importance of skill and talent in sports selection, creating opportunities for children from even the most underprivileged backgrounds to excel at a young age. “Today, opportunities in sports are unlimited,” said PM Modi. “Selection is no longer based on connections or influence, but purely on skill and talent. Even a child from the poorest family can reach the top at a young age.” He highlighted India’s ongoing efforts to host major international sporting events, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and the 2036 Olympics. “Young athletes participating today, even those aged 10 or 12, could represent India at the 2036 Olympics,...