The Times of India

Nandani Sharma created WPL history with a sensational spell for Delhi Capitals against Gujarat Giants in Navi Mumbai. The Chandigarh pacer became the first player to take a five-wicket haul and a hat-trick in a single WPL match. Her pace and accuracy turned the game, marking her arrival as a rising star in Indian womens cricket.

India were well placed for most of the chase and appeared in control until Kohlis dismissal in the 40th over. At that stage, India needed 67 runs from 66 balls with seven wickets in hand. However, New Zealand struck back quickly, picking up wickets to put pressure on the hosts.

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Gujarat Giants opener Sophie Devine unleashed a devastating 32-run over against Delhi Capitals' Sneh Rana, propelling her to a rapid half-century. Devine's explosive innings of 95 runs off 42 balls, including six sixes in one over, was the highlight of the match. She narrowly missed a century as Gujarat Giants posted a strong total.

Rohit Sharma created history in the first ODI against New Zealand by becoming the leading six-hitter among openers in ODI cricket, surpassing Chris Gayle. He also became the first player to hit 650 international sixes. Rohit scored 26 runs, while New Zealand posted 300/8 after a strong start led by their openers.

The moment came in the eighth over of Indias innings. Gill, batting on eight, attempted a cut shot off the fourth ball of Zak Foulkes over. The delivery was back of a length and outside the off stump. Gill stayed back and hit the ball hard towards the backward point region. Phillips moved quickly to his left, jumped and stretched out his left hand while airborne.

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Sanjay Bangar sparked controversy during the first IND vs NZ ODI by calling Hindi the national language of India on air. The remark, made during a discussion involving KL Rahul and Washington Sundar, drew heavy social media backlash, with fans pointing out that India has no national language. Meanwhile, New Zealand posted 300/8, led by Daryl Mitchells 84.

French No. 1 chess grandmaster Alireza Firouzja drew global attention after posting Long live Iran on social media and sharing the monarchial-era Iranian flag. The post was linked to ongoing protests and a humanitarian crisis in Iran. Though now a French citizen, Firouzjas message showed strong solidarity with Iranians and highlighted his deep emotional ties to his country of birth.

India faced New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara, but team selection stole the spotlight. Arshdeep Singhs absence from the playing XI surprised fans and sparked memes online, with Mohammed Siraj returning instead. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer made his comeback after injury, strengthening Indias batting. Shubman Gill chose to bowl first, aiming to test combinations in helpful conditions.

As per ICC regulations, umpires for ODIs are appointed under specific clauses. Clause 2.1.4 states that the ICC shall appoint one umpire for each ODI, who must not be from the same country as the participating teams and must be from the Elite Panel or International Panel. Clause 2.1.5 says the home board shall appoint one umpire.

Ravindra Jadeja is honing his bowling skills with a unique drill ahead of India's ODI series against New Zealand. Guided by coach Morne Morkel, Jadeja practiced precise ball placement, aiming for coloured cones. The all-rounder is in excellent form, boasting a strong ODI record against the Black Caps, making him a key player for the upcoming matches.

Virat Kohli has achieved another milestone, becoming the fifth Indian with the most ODI appearances, surpassing Sourav Ganguly. With 309 matches played, he now trails only Tendulkar, Dhoni, Dravid, and Azharuddin. Kohli is also nearing a significant batting record, poised to become the second-highest international run-scorer across all formats.

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Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand due to a side strain sustained during training. The wicketkeeper-batter suffered an oblique muscle tear after being hit by a delivery. This setback comes after his return from a toe fracture. Dhruv Jurel has been named as Pants replacement.

In-form wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has been drafted into Indias ODI squad as Rishabh Pants replacement after the latter was ruled out with a side strain. Jurel joins the team on the back of a prolific Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, where he has scored 558 runs and led Uttar Pradesh to the top of Elite Group B.

Virat Kohli's preparation for the ODI series against New Zealand in Vadodara was marked by intense net sessions and a heartwarming fan interaction. A young fan's striking resemblance to a younger Kohli drew widespread amusement online, with many dubbing him 'Mini VK'. Kohli continues his impressive ODI form, aiming to maintain momentum against the Blackcaps.

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Ryan Rickeltons historic unbeaten 113, backed by a brutal opening stand with Rassie van der Dussen and disciplined bowling from Kagiso Rabada and George Linde, drove MI Cape Town to a commanding 36-run win over Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 El Clasico.

Sherfane Rutherfords composed 42* and a clinical bowling effort led by Keshav Maharaj and Gideon Peters helped Pretoria Capitals defend a modest 138 to beat Paarl Royals by 21 runs in a tense Betway SA20 clash at Boland Park.

Virat Kohli's leadership shone during India's training camp as he motivated a local net bowler, emphasising conviction in bowling. After an intense session, Kohli offered encouragement and signed a ball, demonstrating his commitment to developing talent and his own sharp form ahead of the ODI series.

He has been diagnosed with a right-sided strain with internal oblique muscle tear, and has thus been ruled out of the forthcoming ODI series against New Zealand, a reliable source told TOI. While KL Rahul is the regular wicketkeeper in India's ODI side, the selectors will soon announce a replacement for Pant.

Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Capitals by 50 runs in the WPL with a dominant all-round display. Nat Sciver-Brunt (70 not out) and Harmanpreet Kaur (74 not out) powered MI to 195/4. Delhis chase faltered early as Nicola Carey struck key blows, and despite Chinelle Henrys 56, DC were bowled out for 145 in 19 overs.

All India Football Federation (AIFF) has asked Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to send the details of the venues where they plan to play their home matches by Monday noon so that it can start working on the schedule of the delayed season which is set to start on February 14.

Phoebe Litchfields aggressive 78 off 40 balls could not prevent UP Warriorz from going down as Gujarat Giants registered a 10-run win in a high-scoring Womens Premier League (WPL) match.

Indian pacer Umran Malik, nicknamed the Indian Shoaib Akhtar, has been left out of Jammu and Kashmirs Ranji Trophy preparatory camp due to poor domestic form. Despite international experience, he played only one Ranji match without success and was earlier dropped from the Vijay Hazare squad. Opener Qamran Iqbal was also omitted as J&K prepare for phase two.

Gardners innings came to an end in the 18th over when she was dismissed by Sophie Ecclestone. Georgia Wareham then provided the finishing touches with a quick unbeaten 27 off just 10 balls, which included one four and three sixes. Bharti Fulmali also chipped in with an unbeaten 14 off seven balls, hitting two sixes, as Gujarat Giants crossed the 200-run mark.

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Pant was batting against Indian throwdown specialists when he copped the blow and was seen grimacing in pain.

Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dazzled in India U19s World Cup warm-up against Scotland, smashing 96 off 50 balls to power India to 374/8. Opening the innings, the left-hander mixed precision with power, striking nine fours and seven sixes. His fearless, fluent knock and rapid partnership with Aaron George sent a clear warning to rivals.

India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru pace-bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar has been ruled out for at least two weeks of the ongoing Women's Premier League due to a hamstring injury. The 26-year-old, who last played a competitive game in the T20 World Cup in October 2024, was brought for Rs 85 lakh during the Women's Premier League auction in November last year.

Pakistan pacer Zaman Khan came under scrutiny in the Big Bash League after David Warner questioned his slingshot bowling action during a match. Warner raised concerns with umpires after scoring 82. Zaman struggled in his debut for Brisbane Heat, conceding 32 runs, though Heat won comfortably. The incident revived memories of Muhammad Hasnains past action controversy.

The 26-year-old was not picked for the T20 World Cup despite leading India in the longer formats. Gill has played 36 T20Is, scoring 869 runs at an average of 28.03 and a strike rate of 138.59. He was dropped from the T20 setup after managing 291 runs in his last 15 matches in the format at an average of 24.25.

A viral video shows Sanju Samson receiving batting tips from former India star Yuvraj Singh in the nets. This interaction fuels speculation about Yuvraj's growing influence as a mentor, following his past guidance for Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. Samson is preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup at home.

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Wesley So clarified that he proposed the draw against R Praggnanandhaa after a dramatic time scramble at Tata Steel Chess India Rapid, a decision that sparked debate and criticism from arbiter Chris Bird. Amid the controversy, Nihal Sarin won the Rapid title, dedicating it to his late grandfather, while Kateryna Lagno claimed the womens crown

Olympic star Neeraj Chopra has ended his coaching partnership with javelin legend Jan Zelezny after a successful year. Chopra credited Zelezny for helping him surpass the 90-meter mark and expressed admiration for his idol. Both athletes highlighted their positive relationship and plan to stay in touch. Chopra now aims for greater control over his training as he targets future championships.

Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto revealed the psychological strain on players due to uncertainty surrounding their T20 World Cup participation in India. He also condemned a BCB director's 'Indian agent' remark against former captain Tamim Iqbal, emphasizing the need for respect within the cricketing fraternity.

India's ODI campaign kicks off against New Zealand with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in top form. Captain Shubman Gill faces scrutiny after T20 World Cup omission, while Shreyas Iyer's return bolsters the middle order. New Zealand, missing key players, aims to leverage a winning mindset led by Michael Bracewell.

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India is significantly raising its Olympic medal ambitions, targeting 12-14 gold and 30-35 overall medals for the 2036 Games, while also bidding to host. A long-term strategy aims for 30-35 gold and 100 total medals by 2048, positioning India among the top sporting nations.

Sikkim's cricket team gained valuable experience in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Though they did not win, the tournament provided a clear path for improvement. The team showed promise against stronger opponents. Enhanced facilities are expected to boost local cricket. The women's team secured Sikkim's first national title. Professional coaching is anticipated to enhance competitiveness.

Former Mizoram Ranji Trophy cricketer K. Lalremruata, 38, tragically passed away on Thursday after collapsing during a local match. He suffered a stroke while playing and succumbed despite immediate medical attention. Lalremruata represented Mizoram in the Ranji and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophies, leaving a significant void in the state's cricket fraternity.

Axar Patel, now India's T20I vice-captain, reflects on his journey of growth and maturity as a cricketer. He credits past setbacks for building resilience and a clear mindset, enabling him to perform under pressure. Patel emphasizes his evolution as a specialist all-rounder, no longer seen as a backup, and his confidence in his batting abilities.