Sports

R Ashwin's recent statement on his YouTube stream, labeling ODI cricket as "redundant," is significant and reflects a deeper sentiment regarding the format's evolving place in the cricketing landscape. Historically, the 50-over format served as a crucial compromise between the brevity of T20s and the depth of Tests, becoming the mainstay of cricket's commercial success during the 1990s and 2000s. This was particularly relevant as Test cricket faced a downturn in popularity and financial support. Ashwin's comment invites reflection on the future relevance of ODIs in the context of changing viewer preferences and the rise of T20 cricket. Concerns about the survival of the ODI format in modern cricket have resurfaced as the T20 World Cup and IPL are set to dominate the cricket calendar fo...

When Sjoerd Marijne first took charge of the Indian women’s hockey team in 2017, it was a fragmented group with players lacking basic skills in running, passing, and scoring. Nine years later, as he embarks on his third tenure with the team beginning January 14, Marijne is expected to find the players in a similar state to when he first assessed them. The Dutch coach, who led the Indian women's hockey team to its highest-ever finish, fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics, has been appointed as the new chief coach. He succeeds Harendra Singh, who resigned in December due to personal reasons, although reports indicate his exit followed player complaints to the sports ministry about his behavior and a series of unsatisfactory results. Hockey India officials indicated that Marijne was sele...

One of their best white-ball bowlers, Lasith Malinga, has been hired by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as a Consultant-Fast Bowling Coach for the national men's side for a brief one-month period in order to help them get ready for the Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which would be co-hosted with India. One of the few sling bowlers, Malinga has played for Sri Lanka in 30 Test matches, 226 One-Day Internationals, and 84 Twenty20 Internationals, taking 101, 338, and 107 wickets in each. He was an important part of the Sri Lankan side that won the ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2014 and placed second twice, at home in 2012 and in England in 2009. Additionally, he had been second in the 50-over World Cup twice, in 2007 and 2011. Lasith Malinga has been appointed as the National Men's Team's Consulta...

As the game between Magnus Carlsen and Arjun Erigaisi in Round 9 of the FIDE World Blitz Championship approached its climax, the official live stream experienced a freezing glitch. When it resumed shortly after, Carlsen was seen leaving the scene while Erigaisi calmly prepared to reset the chessboard. It was later revealed that Carlsen had lost due to a time expiration. In the brief moment of lost coverage, significant events had unfolded in the match between the two players, who had recently won gold and bronze medals at the World Rapid Championship. Carlsen, facing intense pressure, fumbled his queen during a crucial moment in a blitz game as time expired, leading to his defeat against Arjun. This loss echoed Carlsen's earlier defeat to Gukesh in a classical match at Norway Chess. ...

Renuka Thakur, who displayed early cricketing talent, faced limited opportunities following her father's death when she was three. With scarce resources in her village of Parsa, her mother took a low-paying government job. At 13, Renuka's uncle encouraged her to attend a residential academy by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association in Dharamshala, a pivotal decision that led to her becoming a key player in India's recent World Cup victory. Sunita emphasized the crucial role of the academy in developing a player who represented India and won the World Cup. Established in 2009, the academy, which offers specialized training for women’s cricket, has produced four international cricketers, including key members of the recent World Cup squad, Renuka and Harleen Deol. Verma reflects on ...

The animated celebration by Virat Kohli, including a shush towards the Gujarat dressing room, captured his competitive spirit during a tense match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Following a frustrating performance in his previous outings, Kohli's intensity peaked when Gujarat’s No.9, Amit Desai, was run out amid fielding errors. Kohli's reactions resounded at the Centre of Excellence, culminating in Delhi's narrow seven-run victory over Gujarat, marking their second consecutive win. He rightfully won the Man of the Match award with a prize of Rs 10,000. This was significant for Delhi, especially since Kohli batted early again, as IPL player Priyansh Arya got out quickly. Gujarat was ready for Kohli, who had demonstrated his intent in the previous match against Andhra. Virat Kohli demon...

In 2025, India's young sportswomen excelled across various disciplines, showcasing exceptional talent and resilience. Notable performances included Sree Charani's control, Sheetal Devi's grit, chess queen Divya Deshmukh’s strategic plays, and emerging stars such as Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma in badminton, Suruchi in shooting, Ankita Bhagat challenging South Korea in archery, Preeti Panwar's boxing prowess, and Antim Panghal's dominance in wrestling. Together, they exemplified the spirit of 'Gen She', proudly representing India on the global stage. Unnati Hooda's defeat of PV Sindhu at the China Open in June and her subsequent rise to World No 23 rank on December 15 marks a significant career milestone for the 18-year-old. Despite being behind Sindhu, who is established as India's to...

2025 has been a remarkable year for India's R Praggnanandhaa, who has won multiple titles including the Tata Steel Masters, Superbet Chess Classic Romania, UzChess Cup Masters, and London Chess Classic. These achievements have earned him a spot in the Candidates tournament next year, marking his second qualification. Currently ranked No 7 in the world, he also secured second place at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial tournament and the 12th Sinquefield Cup. Praggnanandhaa attributes his recent successes to increased ambition and the inspiration he draws from contemporaries Gukesh Dommaraju and Arjun Erigiasi. He emphasizes that his results reflect years of hard work and a desire to win tournaments, as he shared during a media interaction at the Global Chess League in Mumbai where he represen...

At the MIG Cricket Club in Mumbai, members of the Indian women's blind cricket team, who recently won the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup, met Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar. This encounter was a major turning point for the team. Tendulkar spent almost an hour with the players, congratulating them on their historic accomplishment and paying close attention to their adventures. The team's path to the world title has been characterized by resilience, grit, and an unwavering belief in their dreams. Tendulkar praised the team's perseverance, saying they had surmounted difficult obstacles to pursue their goals and go past the last obstacle by winning the World Cup. He said that long after the competition, their diligence and tenacity would be remembered and honored. He also recognized the...

In a recent Global Chess League match, world champion D Gukesh opted for the Sicilian opening while playing black against his mentor, Viswanathan Anand. Despite Anand being semi-retired, he demonstrated his enduring competitive spirit, leading his team, Ganges Grandmasters, to a 12-3 victory over Gukesh's PBG Alaskan Knights, forcing Gukesh to resign in 45 moves. The Sicilian Defence, favored by renowned players like Garry Kasparov and Bobby Fischer, begins with 1.e4 c5, aiming to disrupt symmetry and create a dynamic position. Recently, Gukesh chose the Kan Variation of the Sicilian in a match against 'Vishy sir', reminiscent of the 2014 World Championship match against Magnus Carlsen. Eleven years ago, Anand faced the Kan Variation of the Sicilian Defence in Game 6, where he was o...