The Times of India

Rohit Sharma admits watching the T20 World Cup from home will be strange. He shares insights into his captaincy, highlighting difficult selection choices. Sharma explains that balancing the team often required tough calls. He emphasizes open communication and building trust within the squad. Sharma expresses confidence in the current Indian team's stability and understanding.

India defeated New Zealand by 48 runs in the first T20 International. Abhishek Sharma scored 84 runs off 35 balls. Rinku Singh added 44 runs. New Zealand's Glenn Phillips scored 78 runs. India's bowling secured the win. Abhishek Sharma's performance was key to India's dominance.

The 2002 Antigua Test between India and West Indies is remembered for Anil Kumble's courageous bowling with a broken jaw. Beyond this, it marked a rare occasion where all eleven Indian players bowled in an innings. The match, which ended in a draw, also saw Ajay Ratra become the youngest wicketkeeper to score a Test century at the time.

Indian badminton's rising stars, Sanskar Saraswat and Arsh Mohammad, are making waves. Saraswat, a singles focus player, secured a Guwahati Super 100 title and aims for the top 80 globally. Mohammad, a doubles specialist, overcame an ACL injury to win senior national bronze and targets the top 100 doubles ranking, dreaming of Olympic glory.

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France's sports minister stated the government is not considering a boycott of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, despite political tensions. While emphasizing sport's separation from politics, she acknowledged the situation could evolve. The remarks follow US President Trump's comments on Greenland, raising concerns among European allies.

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The ICC has rejected Bangladesh's request to shift T20 World Cup matches from India, threatening to replace them if they refuse to travel. This decision follows a dispute over pacer Mustafizur Rahman's IPL removal and Bangladesh's subsequent ban on IPL broadcasts. Scotland is poised to replace Bangladesh if they maintain their stance.

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Former pacer Varun Aaron believes Suryakumar Yadav's recent T20I struggles stem from shot selection and difficulty with slower deliveries. Aaron suggests batting Suryakumar at number four, similar to his IPL role, to improve his consistency and address concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Daryl Mitchell has ascended to the top of the men's ODI batting rankings, surpassing Virat Kohli after a stellar series against India. Mitchell's consecutive centuries powered New Zealand's victory and earned him the No. 1 spot with 845 rating points. Ibrahim Zadran also climbed to third, while Glenn Phillips reached 20th.

Sanju Samson, India's first-choice keeper for the 2026 T20 World Cup, reflects on his decade-long journey marked by failures and successes. Having returned to his preferred opening role, Samson emphasizes his fearless approach and the importance of his bond with captain Suryakumar Yadav. He remains driven by a hunger to contribute positively.

Pakistan has offered to host Bangladesh's T20 World Cup matches, backing Dhaka's refusal to play in India due to security concerns. The ICC is set to decide Bangladesh's participation amid ongoing talks. Bangladesh insists on shifting venues, while the ICC prefers the original schedule. This standoff follows recent IPL-related directives impacting Bangladeshi players.

At the 1990 Australian Open, tennis icon John McEnroe was disqualified from his fourth-round match, becoming the first player in the Open Era to be defaulted from a Grand Slam for triple court violations. This infamous incident occurred on January 21, marking a significant moment in tennis history.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru players Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, and Georgia Voll were spotted enjoying a morning walk in Vadodara ahead of WPL 2026 matches, delighting fans. The outing highlighted player safety concerns after last years Australian women cricketers harassment in Indore. BCCI condemned the incident, praising prompt police action, while ensuring stricter security protocols for visiting players.

The BCCI is delaying the IPL 2026 schedule, awaiting government election announcements in key states like Assam, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. This uncertainty impacts venues in Guwahati, Chennai, and Kolkata. Franchisees Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been asked to confirm their home grounds within a week, further influencing the final fixture list.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) will take on Pretoria Capitals on Wednesday in Qualifier 1 of the SA20 Season 4. Two-time champions SEC are looking to book a spot in the title match for fourth year running, having reached the playoffs by topping the points table. In this season SEC has won both of their league matches against Pretoria Capitals.

Bangladesh cricketers express a strong desire to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Star batter Najmul Hossain Shanto highlighted the players' eagerness to compete on the global stage. This comes as the Bangladesh Cricket Board maintains its stance against playing matches in India. The International Cricket Council Board is set to make a final decision on the matter soon.

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Top stars advanced at the Australian Open, with Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff reaching the third round. Medvedev battled past Quentin Halys in four sets, while Alcaraz overcame Yannick Hanfmann in straight sets. Sabalenka cruised past Bai Zhuoxuan, and Gauff delivered a dominant win over Olga Danilovic. Elina Svitolina and Andrey Rublev also progressed to the round of 32.

With cricket set to return to the Olympics, the European T20 Premier League, backed by the cricket's governing body ICC, aims to transform associate cricket by bringing elite global stars to Europe. Backed by Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan and featuring names like Steve Waugh, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Maxwell, ETPL offers exposure, credibility and development opportunities across Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Tuesdays Champions League action delivered major upsets and dominant wins. Manchester City lost 31 to Bodo/Glimt, and PSG fell 21 to Sporting CP. Arsenal stayed perfect with a 31 win over Inter, securing a top-two finish, while Real Madrid thrashed Monaco 61. Tottenham also boosted their top-eight hopes with a 20 victory over Dortmund.

Emotional Saina Nehwal announced her retirement from badminton, citing a chronic knee condition that prevents her from competing at the highest level. The 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist, India's first in badminton, expressed gratitude for the love and support received throughout her illustrious career. She remains optimistic about India's future Olympic gold medal prospects in various sports.

Pakistan Cricket Board has formally backed Bangladesh's decision to avoid playing matches in India for the 2026 T20 World Cup. This move comes as the International Cricket Council prepares to meet and decide on Bangladesh's participation. Bangladesh cited political and security concerns for their stance. The ICC has so far maintained that the tournament schedule will not change.

Reports claiming Pakistan has halted T20 World Cup 2026 preparations in support of Bangladesh have been dismissed by former cricketers. Kamran Akmal called the idea illogical, stressing no official PCB or government statement exists. Basit Ali said any decision depends on the government and noted broadcasters would oppose withdrawal, especially due to the IndiaPakistan match. The issue stems from Bangladeshs refusal to play in India over security concerns.

National record holder Dev Meena and his teammates were delayed for hours at Panvel station, missing their train to Bhopal. Railway officials demanded a penalty for their pole vault equipment, deeming them 'steel pipes'. Despite explaining their athlete status, the team paid a fine and incurred extra travel costs, causing significant inconvenience.

Indias ODI series loss to New Zealand has put captain Shubman Gills leadership under scrutiny. Former spinner R Ashwin said India lacked clarity in using bowling resources during crucial middle overs. Comparing Gill to Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, Ashwin felt India failed to apply timely pressure, questioned Kuldeep Yadavs limited use, and suggested Gill appeared cautious under pressure with no clear backup plan.

Bihar's record-breaking 574/6 against Arunachal Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy highlights cricket's burgeoning presence in the latter state. Despite a recent entry into domestic cricket, Arunachal's players like Nabam Abo and Techi Doria are dedicated to improving, seeking professional training and advocating for a dedicated stadium to foster future talent and elevate their game.

Indian cricket's elite players face a potential hierarchy shift as the BCCI considers scrapping the Grade A+ category for the 2025-26 season. This move could impact stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with discussions underway regarding revised pay structures and player placements across A, B, and C grades.

India face a resurgent New Zealand in a T20 series, a crucial test for the T20 World Cup squad. Captain Suryakumar Yadav seeks to regain form amidst batting concerns, while Ishan Kishan is set to bat at number three. New Zealand, buoyed by recent successes, aims for a T20 hat-trick against India.

Sanjay Manjrekar defended coach Gautam Gambhir after Indias ODI series loss to New Zealand, urging fans not to overreact. He said bilateral ODIs hold little value today and are often forgotten quickly. Manjrekar stressed that only World Cups truly matter in 50-over cricket and that poor results in smaller series can help teams reset before major tournaments.

Bangladesh captain Litton Das questioned his teams T20 World Cup participation after Rangpur Riders BPL exit, criticising slow pitches and saying, Are you sure we are going to play in the World Cup? He confirmed the BCB has not discussed the issue with him. The uncertainty follows Bangladesh rejecting ICC conditions to play in India, amid an unresolved venue dispute and a looming February 7 tournament start.

Jemimah Rodriguess unbeaten 51 guided Delhi Capitals to a crucial seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in the WPL. Chasing 155, Delhi recovered from a middle-overs wobble, with Marizanne Kapp finishing in style. Earlier, Nat Sciver-Brunts 66 not out lifted Mumbai, whose powerplay struggles continued in their fourth loss.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape have been to the SA20 playoffs each season. Twice they've been champions, once the runners-up and their fate this season is still to be decided. They come into the knockouts as the table-toppers this edition. Central to their success is Eastern Cape's very own Adrian Birrell.

India achieved a historic 317-run victory over Sri Lanka in the 3rd ODI on January 15, 2023, at Greenfield International Stadium. Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill's exceptional batting propelled India to 390/5, a total Sri Lanka failed to chase, collapsing for 73. This marked India's biggest ODI win by margin.

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India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is confident for the upcoming series against New Zealand. He plans to stick to his aggressive style of play. Injuries to Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar have created opportunities for other players. Ravi Bishnoi and Shreyas Iyer have been included in the squad. The first T20I is on January 20.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav said Ishan Kishan will bat at No. 3 ahead of Shreyas Iyer in the New Zealand T20 series as he is part of Indias T20 World Cup squad and a like-for-like replacement for injured Tilak Varma. Iyer will be considered at No. 5. Suryakumar stressed flexibility in batting roles and prioritised team success over individual form.

Indian GM R Praggnanandhaa has confirmed his third appearance at Norway Chess, becoming the second announced participant after Magnus Carlsen. The 2026 Candidates qualifier and world No. 4 previously won the event in 2022 and defeated Carlsen in 2024. Organisers praised his consistency and ambition, while hopes remain for D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi to join the field.

Former captain Rohit Sharma offered advice to spinner Kuldeep Yadav for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Sharma suggested Yadav focus on his bowling and refrain from frequent appeals. This comes as the team considers selection between Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy. Yadav is part of India's squad for the T20 World Cup.

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KL Rahul will return to Ranji Trophy action for Karnataka against Punjab from January 29, while Nitish Kumar Reddy has confirmed availability for Andhra Pradeshs remaining group games. Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja are also set for domestic outings. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant is likely to miss the second leg of the tournament due to injury and he may head to the CoE in coming days.

Naomi Osaka made a striking fashion statement at the Australian Open, entering Rod Laver Arena with a white parasol, wide-brimmed hat, and veil. The former world number one said the look was about creating lasting memories and telling her own story, with inspiration coming from her daughter and past tennis icons.