[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”E-Edition” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Istok%20Web%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theindianpanorama.news%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F01%2FTIP-January-3-E-Edition.pdf”][vc_single_image image=”176969″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css=”” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TIP-January-3-E-Edition.pdf”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Lead Stories This Week” google_fonts=”font_family:Istok%20Web%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theindianpanorama.news%2F”][vc_wp_posts number=”5″ show_date=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”82828″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css=”” link=” https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][vc_single_image image=”82829″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css=”” link=” https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Tag: Sports
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Arsenal ease past Brentford to close gap on Liverpool
Arsenal showed they can cope without the injured Bukayo Saka as they began the year in style by recovering from an early sucker-punch to beat Brentford 3-1 away and move back into second place in the Premier League. Forward Saka, arguably Arsenal’s most influential player this season, has been ruled out for at least two months after hamstring surgery, dealing a blow to the club’s title hopes.
A visit to a Brentford side who have been impressive at home this season felt like a must-win game for Arsenal but things began badly as Bryan Mbeumo gave his side a 13th minute lead with the home side’s first attack.
Arsenal did not panic, though, and Gabriel Jesus continued his recent resurgence to equalise before halftime. Mikel Arteta’s side came out firing in the second half and Mikel Merino put them ahead five minutes after the restart after Brentford failed to deal with a corner.
Three minutes later Gabriel Martinelli produced a clinical volleyed finish to put Arsenal in complete control. -
Rohit Sharma ‘rests’ for final match, is this the end of Captain’s Test career?
Sydney (TIP)- India captain Rohit Sharma on Friday “opted to rest” himself from the fifth and final Test against Australia here after a string of underwhelming performances, putting a question mark on his future in the longest format. His deputy Jasprit Bumrah took over the leadership role, something that he had done in the series-opener as well when Rohit took a short paternity break. “Our captain has shown leadership, he has opted to rest,” said Bumrah at the toss that India won and opted to bat.
“It shows the unity we have in the team,” he added in front of a packed arena.
Rohit made the call after scoring 31 runs in five innings across three Tests.
The 37-year-old white-ball great looked like a pale shadow of himself in those innings, struggling to execute even his bread and butter shots including the trademark front foot pull.
During the customary pre-match warm-up session, Rohit was seen playing football with Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan, who is ending the series without getting a game.
After this, Rohit was seen engaged in a discussion with the team’s video analyst Hari Prasad. He left the outfield close to the toss time before Bumrah walked out to a loud roar from the capacity crowd.
When the TV cameras panned on him, Rohit was seen sitting outside the dressing room with fielding coach Ryan Ten Doeschate by his side. Head coach Gautam Gambhir sat a distance from the duo. Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Rohit for his decision.
“So typical of Rohit Sharma. Doing the right thing, doing what’s right for the team. But could not understand the ‘cloak & dagger’ around the issue. Wasn’t even talked about at the toss,” he posted on ‘X’.
Looking at India’s practice session on the eve of the game it was clear that Rohit was going to sit out.
The speculation over his future in the longest format also gained momentum after India lost the fourth Test in Melbourne to trail the five-match series 1-2. The year 2024 turned out to be the least productive year for Rohit in Test cricket as he collected 619 runs in 26 innings across 14 matches averaging 24.76.
Having played his 67th five-day game in Melbourne, Rohit is also being expected to call time on his roller-coaster Test career soon.
Rohit could not replicate his stellar success in white ball cricket over the course of his 11-year Test career.
After not realising his potential in the middle-order following his debut in 2013, Rohit’s red ball career got a second wing in 2019 when he started opening.
Source: PTI -
Manu, Gukesh among 4 picked for Khel Ratna
New Delhi (TIP)- Paris Olympics double medallist shooter Manu Bhaker, recently crowned world chess champion D Gukesh, men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para athlete Praveen Kumar were picked for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in a list announced by the Union sports ministry on Thursday, January 2.
The confirmation of Bhaker being given the country’s highest sporting honour comes after the 22-year-old’s name did not figure in the initial list by the 12-member awards committee last month. That the only athlete in independent India to win two medals in the same Olympics was overlooked raised eyebrows and evoked criticism. However, Bhaker later admitted her “lapse” in not filing for the nomination.
Once that was “being corrected”, as Bhaker said in her social media post last month, it was more or less certain that the sports ministry would add her name to the final list.
Gukesh, who won the World Chess Championship title only on December 12, is also a late addition as the last date for filing the nominations for the award that takes into consideration performances over the last four years closed in November.
The ministry of youth affairs and sports stated that the four Khel Ratna and 32 Arjuna awardees were finalised “based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny”. The athletes will be handed their awards by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17.
“I’m extremely humbled and honoured to know that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports have announced the prestigious award for me, and for recognising my achievements,” Gukesh said. “This award will motivate me to work even harder and achieve more laurels for the country in 2025.”
For Gukesh, this highest honour only underlines his stunning rise over the last couple of years that led him to becoming the youngest player to win the Candidates at 17 and eventually the youngest world champion at 18.
“I’m happy that the right decision has been taken and Manu has been handed the award. No deserving athlete should be left out,” Jaspal Rana, Bhaker’s personal coach, said. “It was very important to set the right example. Not just Manu, any athlete who deserves recognition and does not get it is bound to feel demoralised.”
Bhaker was India’s standout performer at last year’s Paris Olympics, with her twin bronze medals (10m air pistol individual and mixed with Sarabjot Singh who has been chosen for the Arjuna Award) alone pushing India’s overall tally to six. Bhaker was granted the Arjuna Award in 2020.
Harmanpreet led the India men’s hockey team to a second consecutive Olympic bronze medal in Paris. The star dragflicker was the highest goalscorer at the Games, and fired both the goals in India’s bronze medal match where the team rallied to win from a goal down against Spain. Under his leadership, India also grabbed the Asian Games gold medal in Hangzhou in 2023, sealing their ticket to Paris.
“It’s a big deal for me. I would thank my team for it — this award may have an individual’s name on it but it belongs to the entire team,” Harmanpreet said in Rourkela, where he is playing the Hockey India League. “This will motivate me to keep working hard and try to achieve things that we haven’t so far.”
The fourth recipient, Praveen, became the T64 high jump champion at the Paris Paralympics. Born with a congenital condition affecting the bones connecting his hip to his left leg, the 21-year-old from Uttar Pradesh upgraded his second Paralympic medal from silver in Tokyo in 2021 to gold in Paris last year. He had also grabbed the gold at the 2023 Asian Para Games rewriting a new Games record.
Indian para athletes are not only swelling the medals tally at the Paralympics but also expanding their presence in these awards. As many as 17 among the 32 chosen names for the Arjuna Award are para athletes, after the country won a record 29 medals, including seven gold at the Paris Paralympics.
Former para swimmer Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medallist, will also be handed the lifetime Arjuna Award along with Sucha Singh (athletics). Among other awards, Deepali Deshpande (shooting), Sandeep Sangwan (hockey) and Subhash Rana (para shooting) will be handed the Dronacharya Award, the highest honour for coaches, while S Muralidharan (badminton) and Armando Colaco (football) will get the same award in the lifetime category. -
From India’s T20 glory to Olympic excellence: A rewind
As 2024 comes to a close, the global sporting fraternity pauses to reflect on a year that delivered extraordinary achievements, thrilling moments, and landmark events across disciplines. From cricketing glory and Olympic excellence to the electrifying circuits of Formula One and a new world champion in chess, 2024 has been a year that celebrated resilience, passion, and sheer talent. Here’s a comprehensive look at the year’s most mem
orable sporting highlights and what lies ahead in 2025.Cricket: India’s glorious resurgence
India’s cricketing narrative in 2024 was one of redemption and triumph. Under the astute leadership of Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team clinched their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title, defeating South Africa by seven runs in a heart-stopping final. This victory, breaking an 11-year ICC trophy drought and a 13-year wait for a World Cup title, marked a historic resurgence for Indian cricket on the global stage.
Meanwhile, spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin retired from international cricket, marking the end of an era for India’s bowling attack. Indian women’s cricket also saw commendable performances, with the team continuing their ascent in bilateral series but failing to clinch the T20 World Cup title. Globally, cricket made strides in expanding its reach, with Major League Cricket in the USA captivating new audiences in non-traditional cricketing territories.
Football: Triumphs and joy
The UEFA Euro 2024, held in Germany, was a celebration of footballing excellence. Spain claimed its fourth UEFA European Championship title in history with a 2-1 victory over England in the final. In club football, Manchester City dominated the Premier League, while Real Madrid secured their 15th UEFA Champions League title, overcoming Borussia Dortmund in a pulsating final.
Women’s football continued its rapid rise, with Barcelona securing the Women’s Champions League crown. Meanwhile, Argentina claimed their second consecutive Copa América title, defeating Colombia 1-0 with a 112th-minute goal from Lautaro Martínez, despite Lionel Messi sustaining a second-half leg injury.
Tennis: A youthful revolution
In 2024, the torchbearers of tennis’s next generation seized the spotlight. Carlos Alcaraz added the French Open and Wimbledon titles to his growing legacy, while Jannik Sinner claimed victories at the US Open and Australian Open.
Rafael Nadal announced his retirement from professional tennis during the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain, bringing an end to his extraordinary career. At the age of 38, he retired with 22 Grand Slam singles titles and a host of other achievements. In women’s tennis, Aryna Sabalenka reigned supreme with US Open and Australian Open titles, while Iga Swiatek triumphed at the French Open. At the Australian Open, Rohan Bopanna, aged 43, won his first men’s doubles Grand Slam title, becoming the oldest player to achieve this feat.
Paris 2024 Olympics: A global showcase
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics captivated the world with its blend of tradition and innovation. Featuring 329 events across 32 sports, the Games introduced breakdancing and Formula Kite while celebrating the return of crowd favorites like surfing and skateboarding. India’s Paris 2024 Olympics campaign featured historic achievements and near-misses. Manu Bhaker made history with India’s first Olympic shooting medal, a bronze, followed by another in the mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh. Swapnil Kusale added a third shooting medal, marking India’s best-ever performance in the sport. The men’s hockey team secured bronze, and Neeraj Chopra claimed silver in javelin. Aman Sehrawat became India’s youngest Olympic medallist with a wrestling bronze. However, India faced disappointment with six fourth-place finishes and Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification before her final.
India also won the Women’s Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2024, defeating China 1-0 in the final. This historic victory secured their third title, making them joint most successful with South Korea.
Paralympics 2024: India’s unprecedented success
India delivered its best-ever performance at the 2024 Paralympic Games, winning 29 medals, including 17 in athletics, 5 in badminton, 4 in shooting, 2 in archery, and 1 in judo. Notable achievements included Avani Lekhara’s double gold, Sumit Antil’s javelin title defense, Mariyappan Thangavelu’s historic streak, and Harvinder Singh’s groundbreaking archery gold.
Formula One: Verstappen’s continued reign
The 2024 Formula 1 season proved to be one of the most exciting in recent years. Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship but faced strong competition from Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc. Meanwhile, McLaren triumphed in the Constructors’ Championship, securing their first title since 1998. The Dutchman now equals legends Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel with four titles, behind only Juan Manuel Fangio (5), Lewis Hamilton (7), and Michael Schumacher (7).
Chess: A new king rises
Indian chess witnessed a watershed moment in 2024 as Dommaraju Gukesh became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at just 18, dethroning Ding Liren of China. Gukesh’s achievement, breaking Garry Kasparov’s decades-old record, heralded the advent of a golden era for I ndian chess, with prodigies like R. Praggnanandhaa adding to the nation’s growing dominance.
Badminton: On the path to revival
At the Syed Modi India International Super 300 tournament in Lucknow, India’s PV Sindhu ended the title drought by defeating China’s Luo Yu Wu 21-14, 21-16, securing her third win at the event. Lakshya Sen clinched his maiden title with a dominant 21-6, 21-7 victory over Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh. The highlight was Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who made history as the first Indian women’s doubles pair to win the title, beating Li Jing Bao and Li Qian 21-18, 21-11. This success marked a turning point for Indian badminton in 2024.
Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also put up decent performances, winning the French Open and Thailand Open titles.
A year to remember and a bright future ahead
As we look back on the exhilarating year of 2024, it is clear that the sporting world was filled with unforgettable moments of triumph, resilience, and history-making performances. From India’s T20 glory to Gukesh’s chess crowning, athletes across the globe displayed remarkable skill, determination, and passion. These milestones not only created new legacies but also set the stage for even greater achievements in the years to come.
In cricket, India’s resurgence under Rohit Sharma and their long-awaited T20 World Cup victory was a testament to the country’s resilience. In football, the Spanish national team’s triumph at Euro 2024, along with Real Madrid’s record-breaking Champions League victory, added to the drama and excitement of the season. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner symbolized a youthful revolution in tennis, while Max Verstappen’s dominance in Formula 1 and Gukesh’s rise in chess signaled the ongoing evolution of sporting dynasties.
Meanwhile, India’s performance in the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics was a testament to the country’s growing prominence in the global sporting arena, showcasing both breakthroughs and near-misses that fueled hope for the future. In badminton, India’s rising stars like PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen took center stage, further cementing the nation’s position as a powerhouse in the sport.
As we turn the page to 2025, the sporting world is full of excitement and anticipation. India’s continued rise in cricket, badminton, and shooting offers great promise, especially with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and the 2025 World Athletics Championships on the horizon. The nation is also expected to build on its Paralympic success, with a strong focus on nurturing young talents for future global competitions.
Tennis fans will continue to witness the next generation of stars battling it out on the courts, while in Formula 1, the competition to dethrone Max Verstappen promises thrilling rivalries. Football, too, will see the ongoing dominance of clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as a host of emerging teams and talents looking to make their mark.
As always, the world will eagerly await the Olympics, where athletes from around the globe will push their limits to secure their places in history. With emerging nations rising in prominence, 2025 is set to be a year where sportsmanship, passion, and excellence will continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
In sum, 2025 promises to build on the foundation of 2024’s successes, with a host of new stars, records, and unforgettable moments waiting to be written. Whether it’s in cricket, football, tennis, Formula 1, or chess, the world of sports will remain as exciting as ever. Fans and athletes alike have much to look forward to as they set their sights on new horizons and strive for even greater feats in the year ahead. -
World Championships Rapid and Blitz: Koneru Humpy becomes world rapid champion for second time
New York (TIP)- Grandmaster Koneru Humpy capped a wonderful year for Indian chess, defeating Irene Sukandar of Indonesia to emerge the women’s world rapid chess champion here on Sunday.
India No. 1 Humpy, who had first won the event back in 2019, is only the second player after China’s Ju Wenjun to clinch the title more than once. Humpy’s achievement laced a sensational year for the chess fraternity after D Gukesh defeated China’s Ding Liren to emerge champion in the classical format World Championship recently. In September, India had also won its first-ever gold medals in the open and women’s categories in the Chess Olympiad.
The Indian, who started the tournament here with a first-round defeat, was the lone winner in the 11th and final round. She topped the table with 8.5 points, half a point clear of six others including compatriot D Harika.
“I’m very excited and happy. In fact, I expected it to be a very tough day, like some sort of tiebreak. But when I finished the game, the arbitrator told me (about winning), and it was a tense moment for me,” said Humpy. “So, this is quite unexpected because the whole year I have been struggling and I had very bad tournaments where I just ended up in last place. So, this came as a surprise,” she added.
Wenjun finished second as the tiebreak was resolved while Kateryna Lagno of Russia ended third. Harika, who had eight points, had to be content with a fifth-place finish.
Humpy credited her family for the success. “I think it was possible because of the support from my family. My husband and my parents… they support me a lot. My parents look after my daughter when I travel. It’s not easy to become a world champion at 37. It’s quite difficult when you get older to keep that motivation and stay sharp when required. I’m glad that I made it,” she said.
The seasoned player said she was motivated to do well after her first round defeat, which saw her eventually slipping to 2.5 points after four rounds. Humpy said her victory will now prompt other Indians to take up chess.
“I think it’s high time for India. We also have Gukesh as world champion and now I got the second world title in the rapid event. So, I think this will motivate a lot of youngsters to take up chess professionally,” she said.
Meanwhile, in the open section, 18-year-old Russian Grandmaster Volodar Murzin won the gold medal ahead of a star-studded field showing tremendous nerves. -
Workhorse Jasprit Bumrah picks 13th 5-wicket haul after hardest toil in MCG Test
Melbourne (TIP)- Jasprit Bumrah delivered another bowling masterclass, securing his 13th five-wicket haul in Test cricket as India bowled out Australia for 228 on Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Starting the day with the challenging task of breaking Australia’s stubborn resistance, Bumrah wasted no time. In just four deliveries, he dismissed Nathan Lyon, ending Australia’s second innings at 234. This left the hosts setting India a target of 340 runs for victory.
Bumrah returned with impressive figures of 5 for 57 from 24.4 overs, delivering an exhausting yet immensely rewarding performance. This effort marked a career-high workload, as he bowled an incredible 53.2 overs in the ongoing Boxing Day Test at the MCG, the most he has bowled in his career.
Bumrah’s dominance at the MCG is nothing short of phenomenal. With 24 wickets across six matches at a staggering average of 14.66 and a strike rate of 32.7, he has been the backbone of India’s success at the MCG. His latest five-wicket haul adds to a glittering resume that includes standout figures such as 6/33, 3/53, 4/56, 2/54, 4/99, and 5/57. This sustained brilliance not only underscores his mastery of the craft but also establishes him as one of the finest modern-day performers on cricket’s biggest stage.
Australia’s innings began without fireworks as debutant Sam Konstas (8) fell early to Bumrah. Marnus Labuschagne stood firm with a gritty 70, but his dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse. From a steady 80/2, Australia slumped to 91/6, undone by India’s relentless pace attack. Pat Cummins fought valiantly with a defiant 41, supported by a frustrating final-wicket stand between Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon, which extended Australia’s lead to over 325. However, Bumrah’s precision ensured there was no escape for Australia.
It has become crystal clear over the last few years that Jasprit Bumrah would end up as one of the best fast bowlers the game has ever seen. On Sunday, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, he firmed up the general perception further with a tangible statistical milestone — the Indian pacer became the first bowler ever in Test cricket to claim 200 wickets at an average of under 20. He has picked up 200 Test scalps giving just 19.38 runs per wicket. If that doesn’t sound impressive enough, just look at the names that follow him on the list of fast bowlers having the lowest Test averages — the great Malcolm Marshall (20.94), Joel Garner (20.97) and Curtly Ambrose (20.99).
Ahead of the Australia series, Bumrah had done enough to establish himself as a modern day great. With his breathtaking performance in this series, he has taken giant strides towards cementing his place in the league of all-time great fast bowlers. Out of the total 56 Australian wickets that have fallen so far in four Test matches, Bumrah has picked up 29, more than 50 per cent, at a strike rate of 29.10 and an average of 13.24. Bumrah has single-handedly kept India alive in the series, as far as bowling is concerned. -
R Ashwin announces retirement from international cricket
Brisbane (TIP)- Indian cricket team spinner R Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket following the third Test match against Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday, December 18 . Ashwin made the announcement in the post-match press conference along with skipper Rohit Sharma after the game ended in a draw. Ashwin played the second match of the five-Test series in Adelaide but was replaced by Ravindra Jadeja for the match in Brisbane. Ashwin retires from the game as the second highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games, leaving him only behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets). Ashwin will continue to play T20 tournaments and he will represent Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025.
“I won’t take too much of your time. Today will be the last day for me as an India cricketer,” Ashwin said at the end of the drawn third Test here in a joint press conference with captain Rohit Sharma during which he declined to take any questions and left after making the announcement. The 38-year-old played the day-night Test in Adelaide and picked up one wicket. “He was very, very sure of his decision. We should stand by what he wants,” said Rohit after Ashwin left the stage.
He was seen sharing an emotional moment with star batter Virat Kohli in the dressing room hours before the announcement. “A name synonymous with mastery, wizardry, brilliance, and innovation,” said the BCCI in its tribute post on X.
With Ashwin stepping down from the international stage, he is truly leaving behind a tremendous legacy and massive boots to fill for the youngsters who will come in to make up for his presence.
Ashwin spearheaded the bowling attack and was a major face behind India’s rise to the top and eventual domination in Test cricket that lasted from 2014 to 2019.
When one turns to look at his dominance in the home conditions, he was a phenom. His expertise wasn’t just limited to the ball but also some impactful contributions with the bat.
In the white-ball format, Ashwin made 181 appearances and snatched 228 wickets. He made 116 ODI appearances and took 156 wickets at an average of 33.20, with best figures of 4/25. He also made 707 runs at an average of 16.44, with one fifty, a knock of 65 in 63 innings. He is the 13th-highest wicket-taker in ODIs for India.
In 65 T20Is, he took 72 wickets at an average of 23.22. His best figures are 4/8. He also scored 184 runs in 19 innings at an average of 26.28, with best score of 31. He is the sixth-highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is. With 765 scalps in 287 matches, he is India’s second-highest wicket-taker across all formats, next to Kumble (953). He also won the 2011 50-Over World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy with India. -
McSweeney dropped, Konstas called up for Boxing Day Tests
Melbourne (TIP)- Teenage sensation Sam Konstas was handed a maiden call up as Australia on Friday dropped rookie opener Nathan McSweeney for the final two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.
The 19-year-old is set to become Australia’s youngest Test batting debutant in over 70 years.
If Konstas, who turned 19 on October 2, is selected in the playing XI in the Boxing Day Test, he would become Australia’s youngest Test debutant since captain Pat Cummins, who was 18 years and 193 days old when he made his debut against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2011. The teenager would also become the youngest specialist batter to debut for Australia since Ian Craig when he played against South Africa at the MCG in 1953 aged 17 years 239 days.
Konstas’s inclusion follows a series of disappointing performances from the Australian top order in the first three Tests especially McSweeney.
The 25-year-old, who made his Test debut in the series-opener in Perth, failed to score a single half century and could only manage scores of 10, 0, 39, 10 not out, 9 and 4 in his six innings and was dismissed by Indian pace Jasprit Bumrah spearhead four times.
Konstas had been in the reckoning to partner experienced Usman Khawaja after grabbing the attention of Cricket Australia’s selection committee following his twin Sheffield Shield centuries for New South Wales.
He had scored an unbeaten 73 at the MCG against India A while notching up a ton (107) in the Prime Ministers XI pink ball game against India in Canberra.
“Sam gets a call up to the Test squad for the first time. His style of batting offers a point of difference and we look forward to watching his game develop further,” Australian Chair of Selectors George Bailey said.
“We remain confident Nathan has the ability and temperament to succeed at Test level in the future. It was a difficult decision to leave him out.
“It has clearly been a challenge at the top of the order for batters throughout the series and we want to provide the option of a different line up for the next two matches,” he added.
Konstas’s inclusion follows a warning from former pacer Merv Hughes, who cautioned selectors against making any changes to the batting lineup for the Boxing Day Test.
The former selector said it would have been a “panic call” move from Australia to add Konstas in the squad. “Now it would almost be a panic call to me… Just stay calm. They drew the last Test. The last two Tests have been a draw and a win, so what is there to panic about,” Hughes had told ‘The Courier Mail’. Konstas had said earlier this week, “It would be a dream come true (playing the Boxing Day Test).” -
All India-Pakistan matches until 2028 at neutral venues, including Champions Trophy
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on December 19 that the 2025 Champions Trophy will be conducted in a hybrid model that will see India’s matches in the eight-team event taking place at a neutral venue.
In a statement released by the ICC, it confirmed: “India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC Events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue,” as reported by India Today last week. This will mean that Pakistan will not travel to India for their matches during the Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025 and the T20 World Cup in 2026.
The tournament, scheduled to begin on February 19 in Pakistan, faced uncertainty due to India’s refusal to travel to the host nation. The ICC reiterated in its statement: “This will apply to the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 (hosted by Pakistan), set to be played in February and March 2025, as well as the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (hosted by India) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (hosted by India and Sri Lanka).”
The statement also announced that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been awarded the hosting rights for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, where neutral venue arrangements will also apply. Additionally, Cricket Australia is set to host one of the senior ICC women’s events during the 2029-2031 cycle. “It was also announced that the PCB has been awarded hosting rights of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, where neutral venue arrangements will also apply.” -
Indian team looks to regroup with pep talk from Kohli
Brisbane (TIP)- He used to be the cynosure of all eyes at training sessions during his captaincy days and Virat Kohli was once again the centre of attention as he addressed his teammates on Thursday, December 12.
After the demoralising 10-wicket defeat in the Adelaide Day/Night game, the visitors needed a bit of inspiration going into the crucial third Test of the series, and the youngsters in the side couldn’t have got a better mentor than ‘King’ Kohli himself to guide them with his words of wisdom.
A team huddle before the start of training sessions has been a constant feature for years now and Kohli used to do a lot of talking during his days in charge.
He did take a back seat once he left captaincy but with skipper Rohit Sharma also under immense pressure after four straight defeats, the senior-most player (in terms of Test debut) had to take the initiative ahead of the match starting here on Saturday, December 14.
With vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah by his side, Kohli was seen speaking animatedly to the group and everyone, including Rohit, listened to him with rapt attention. Unlike before the pink-ball Test, Rohit looked in far better shape during his net session at the Gabba but question marks remain over whether he would be back to opening the innings or stay put at No. 6, which isn’t his preferred slot.
On the day, while KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal once again faced the new ball at the nets, Rohit took on a slightly older Kookaburra at the beginning. Having faced that for some time, he did change nets with Rahul and also played a brand new red cherry for a while. The Gabba pitch has a decent grass cover and has always been one of the most traditional Australian wickets with both seam and bounce on offer. Rohit’s susceptibility has been against the moving deliveries more than bounce, and hence, it would be interesting to see if he takes on the challenge head on.
After his session, Rohit and head coach Gautam Gambhir were immersed in a lengthy chat and from a distance, it looked like they were discussing technique. Gambhir was seen shaping up for some shadow drives, with Rohit watching him intently.
Akash Deep is believed to be the most consistent bowler in the Indian net session but that is no indicator that he will replace the young Harshit Rana, who was taken to task by Travis Head during the second Test in Adelaide. Source: PTI -
At 18, Gukesh conquers chess world, dethrones China’s Ding to become youngest world champion
New Delhi (TIP)- Nurtured by parents who put their careers on hold for his growth and didn’t hesitate to seek crowd-funding for his dreams, D Gukesh manifested his destiny as a seven-year-old and turned it into reality in just over a decade’s time. The 18-year-old defeated Ding Liren of China to become the youngest ever world chess champion capping a fabulous year in which he has hardly put a foot wrong wherever he has shown up to compete.
But the journey to the top hasn’t been the easiest ride and has involved sacrifices not only from him but also his parents ENT surgeon Dr Rajinikanth and Padma, a microbiologist.
Rajinikanth had to stop practice in 2017-18 as the father-son duo travelled across the world on a shoe-string budget when Gukesh chased the final GM norm, while his mother became the primary breadwinner, taking care of the household expenses.
“His parents have sacrificed a lot,” Gukesh’s childhood coach Vishnu Prasanna told PTI in April after he became the youngest challenger to the world title as a 17-year-old.
“While his father has almost surrendered his career. His mother has been supporting the family while his father has been travelling, and they hardly get to see each other,” he recalled. Gukesh became the third youngest Grandmaster in the history of chess when he achieved the feat at 12 years 7 months and 17 days. The Chennai-lad is also the third youngest to enter the elite 2700 Elo rating club and the youngest ever to scale the 2750 rating mark.The year 2024 is without a shred of doubt the best of Gukesh’s career. He won the Candidates, was dominant on the top board to take team India to a gold medal in the recent chess Olympiad at Budapest, and the icing on the cake was his world title triumph in Singapore on Thursday, December 12.
His chess journey started with one hour and thrice-a-week lessons in 2013, the year Viswanathan Anand lost his world title to Norwegian maverick Magnus Carlsen.
Multiple-times age group championship winner, Gukesh became an International Master after a tournament in 2017 after a tournament in Cannes, France.
Early success of the young champion included gold-winning performance in under-9 Asian school championship and the World Youth Chess Championships in 2018 in the Under 12 category. Gukesh’s passion for the 64-square chess board prompted his parents to stop him from attending school full-time after Class IV.
It was in 2019 during a tournament in New Delhi that Gukesh became the second youngest Grandmaster in the history, a record that was then surpassed by only Sergey Karjakin of Russia but was later also broken by Abhimanyu Mishra, the Indian origin talent from USA. -
Pat Cummins says Josh Hazlewood will replace Scott Boland at Gabba
Australia captain Pat Cummins has confirmed that fit-again Josh Hazlewood will replace Scott Boland in the playing XI for the third Test, starting on Saturday at Gabba. Hazlewood missed out the pink-ball Test at Adelaide due to side strain. “Hazlewood will play. Shame for Scotty (Boland), he has missed out often in the past. Big series, he might still get his chances. Josh bowled yesterday (at Allan Border field and not at nets at Gabba),” Cummins told reporters ahead of the third Test. “Josh didn’t bowl at nets here Purely because of the lengths of run up wasn’t enough. So we took him to Allan Border field,” he added. The Australian captain also revealed why Hazelwood was underbowled in the second innings of the opening Test at Perth.
“In the second innings at Perth, game was beginning to slip away, we made the call then that it was not worth the risk pushing Josh to bowl more,” he said.
Cummins showered praise on Scott Boland, who did a terrific job with the ball at Adelaide.
“Boland is amazing how he is in the group, how he prepares. Showed his standard is still super high,” he said.
With the series locked at 1-1, Cummins is hopeful that team’s senior pro Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja will get back in form at Gabba.
“Smithy is looking fantastic at nets. Looking sharp. He got caught behind leg, I won’t read much on it. He is a leader in the group, been fantastic,” said Cummins.
“Khawaja is somewhat like Smithy. Has looked good at nets. He loves batting at Gabba, he knows it really well. Hopefully he scores runs,” he said.
The current Australian cricket team has been labelled as an ageing team by the former cricketers and the experts. -
Hybrid model finalised for Champions Trophy?
The International Cricket Council has reached a consensus to conduct next year’s Champions Trophy in a hybrid model, allowing India to play its share of matches in Dubai while agreeing “in principle” to a similar arrangement in multi-lateral events till 2027. According to a top ICC source, the decision was more or less finalised during an informal meeting between the body’s new president Jay Shah and the Board of Directors, including Pakistan, at its headquarters in Dubai on Thursday, December 5.
“It’s been agreed in principle by all parties that the Champions Trophy will be held in the UAE and Pakistan with India playing its matches in Dubai. It’s a win-win situation for all,” the source said.
The Champions Trophy is to be held in February-March next year. Pakistan, while withdrawing its boycott threat and agreeing to go hybrid in the previous ICC meet last week, had demanded a reciprocal arrangement for itself till 2031. However, the ICC has agreed to a hybrid model for all its events till 2027. During this period, India will be hosting the women’s ODI World Cup in October next year and the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup jointly with Sri Lanka.
Source: PTI -
India-Australia Women’s ODI Series: Australia win opener after Indian batters fall like ninepins
Brisbane (TIP)- India put up a dismal show with the bat as Australia stamped their superiority over the visitors with a five-wicket win in the first Women’s ODI.
Opting to bat, India collapsed from 62/3 to 100 all out in 34.2 overs with Australia pacer Megan Schutt picking up an impressive five-wicket haul. Jemimah Rodrigues, who batted at No. 5, top-scored for India with a 23 off 42 balls.
Australia did experience a minor stutter in the run chase, when Renuka Thakur struck twice in the same over, but coasted to victory in 16.2 overs. Debutant opener Georgia Voll (46 not out off 42 balls) produced a measured knock to ensure a comfortable win. Her effort included a six off Renuka in the cow corner region. Her opening partner Phoebe Litchfield (35 off 29 balls) was the aggressor in their 48-run stand, smashing six fours in a row — four coming off Renuka and two off debutant pacer Titas Sadhu.
“We bowled well even though it was a disappointing total on board,” India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said.
“A few of us got starts in the batting but we were not able to take the batting till the end and we should work on the partnerships. We know the pitch now and hopefully have some clear ideas for the next ODI,” she added.
The second ODI will be played here on Sunday, December 7.
India coach Amol Muzumdar picked out lack of application on the part of the batters for his team’s disappointing start to the series. “Definitely, I am disappointed because we were expecting some more runs. It wasn’t the best wicket as they also lost wickets chasing 100 runs,” Muzumdar said. “If we could have applied ourselves a little bit better with the bat, we could have got more runs on the board.”
Muzumdar, though, was happy with the bowlers. “The bowlers, especially young ones, did a fantastic job which is a good sign for Indian cricket. Priya (Mishra) is in her second series in international cricket. She did well against New Zealand and was really impressive today,” he said.
Brief scores: India: 100 all out in 34.2 overs (Rodrigues 23; Schutt 5/19); Australia: 102/5 in 16.2 overs (Voll 46*; Renuka 3/45, Priya 2/11). -
Pink Ball Vs Red Ball in Test: How pink ball is different?
India and Australia are locking horns in the second Test of the ongoing five-match Test series between the two teams at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. The match is a highly-anticipated affair amongst cricket fans being a day/night fixture. Notably, a day/night Test is played with a pink ball rather than the usual red ball used in Test cricket which adds to the excitement of the game.
The pink ball is known to assist bowlers a lot more than the red ball even more so during the night session played under flood lights. Hence, it’s often a herculean task for the batters to see off the bowlers under lights making their stay at the crease all the more miserable. Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee also recently explained how does a pink ball behave differently than a red ball calling it a Rosé.
The legendary fast bowler recalled how he loved to bowl under lights with the white ball and explained how the humidity at night makes the ball shape a lot more.
“It is the pink ball test of what I like to call the Rosé. Not quite red, not quite white, right in the middle rose. It definitely swings around a lot more, it shapes around. The pink ball test is under light, so generally when you’re playing the lights it’s a bit more movement, it’s cooler by night time as well in terms of heat. It can be a little bit more humid sometimes which makes the ball shape. So, I actually really enjoyed bowling with the white ball under lights. The pink ball, I’m heard and I’m hearing it’s actually a lot better. So that would be a lot of fun for the fast bowlers,” said Lee on his Youtube Channel.
Among Indian batters, Virat Kohli is the leading run scorer in the pink ball Tests having 277 runs from five matches at an average of 46.16 with one hundred and one fifty to his name. Among bowlers, Ravichandran Ashwin is most successful having picked 18 wickets from five matches at an average of 13.83 with best figures of 4/48.
For Australia, Marnus Labuschagne is the leading run scorer in the day/night Tests with 894 runs from nine matches at an average of 63.85 with four hundreds and three fifties to his name. On the other hand, Mitchell Starc is the highest wicket taker with 67 scalps from 13 matches at an average of 18.80 with three five wicket hauls to his name.
With two heavyweight sides, set to collide against each other, the pink ball Test promises to be a mouth-watering affair for the cricketing fraternity. -
Hockey: India completes a hat-trick of triumphs in Asia Cup for Junior Men
- By Prabhjot Singh
TORONTO (TIP): Defeating its traditional rivals and neighbor Pakistan 5-3 in the final, India won its third successive Asia Cup for Junior Men hockey title in Muscat. Araijit Singh Hundal, who scored four goals in the final, was declared player of the match. India were the winners of the 2004, 2008, 2015 and 2023 editions of the event as well. It was the fifth title triumph for India in the 11 editions of the tournament held so far. Hockey India would be closing the year on a cheerful note as Indian men’s and women’s teams have already retained their Asian Champions Trophy titles while Junior Men have completed a hat-trick of triumphs in the Asia Junior Cup.
With this win, India gets direct entry to the FIH Hockey World Cup for Junior Men. It is the first title triumph for former Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as a coach. Though he took the Indian Colts to the Sultan Hockey Tournament in Malaysia early this year, the Indian team had finished with a bronze medal.
Araijeet Singh Hundal (4’, 18’, 47’, 54’) was in top form for India while Dilraj Singh (19’) scored the other goal. Pakistan’s captain Shahid Hannan (3’) and Sufyan Khan (30’, 39’) did their utmost to keep their team in the tie for the majority of the game.
The win handed the Indian colts, currently coached by two-time Olympic medalist. PR Sreejesh, a record-extending fifth title (2024, 2023, 2015, 2008 and 2004) in the competition and also helped keep arch-rivals Pakistan from winning its fourth crown.
As Indian players were getting into their groove, Pakistan skipper Shahid Hannan pounced on a stray ball in the shooting circle and beat Bikramjeet Singh in a one-on-one situation to put Pakistan ahead.
India responded immediately by earning a penalty corner and Araijeet Singh Hundal unleashed a powerful drag flick to the right top corner to restore parity. Both teams went on to trade circle entries without finding the back of the net till the end of the first quarter.
Within three minutes of the second quarter, India was awarded another penalty corner and Araijeet stepped up again, finding the gap between Pakistan’s goalkeeper Muhammad Janjua and another defender with a thunderous drag flick to give India the lead.
Following this, the Indian forwards relentlessly pressured Pakistan’s defense. Soon, Dilraj weaved past two defenders on the left wing and struck the board, extending India’s lead to 3-1.
As the first half was drawing to a close, Pakistan’s Sufyan Khan showcased his drag-flicking skills, beating Bikramjit Singh in goal to make it 3-2.
Araijeet created two chances in quick succession as the third quarter began but Pakistani goalkeeper Muhammad Janjua pulled out amazing saves on both occasions to keep Pakistan in the match
Both teams went back and forth until Sufyan Khan, with six minutes left in the quarter, flicked the ball into the Indian goal from a penalty corner and ensured Pakistan headed into the last quarter level on the score.
As soon as the final quarter began, India seized the initiative. Manmeet Singh skillfully dribbled past his marker and found an unmarked Araijeet in front of the goal, who deflected the ball into the goal to restore India’s lead and complete his hat-trick.
With ten minutes to go, Zikriya Hayat tried to launch a counter-attack but Indian goalie Prince Deep Singh rushed out to avert any danger.
With six minutes left in the game, India earned a penalty corner and employed a variation to free up Araijeet, who smashed the ball into the top right corner with his flick, making it 5-3 for India.
As the game headed to a close, Hannan Shahid carved out a significant goal-scoring opportunity but Prince Deep stood firm in goal, swatting away the attempt and sealing India’s victory.
Earlier, India defeated Thailand 11-0, Japan 3-2, Chinese Taipei 16-0, Korea 8-1 before getting better of Malaysia at 3-1 in the semi-finals and 5-3 against Pakistan in the final.
(Prabhjot Singh is a Toronto-based award-winning senior sports journalist. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)
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100 Years of Indian Hockey
- By Shiv Naresh
This centenary year pays tribute to a century of excellence and future aspirations, highlighted by the relaunch of the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) and the historic inauguration of the Women’s HIL. The national body for hockey, formed on November 7, 1925, in Gwalior, laid the foundation for India’s prominent position in the sport, evidenced by eight Olympic Gold medals and a Hockey World Cup victory. Indian Hockey has also witnessed a resurgence in recent years, with the Men’s Team clinching back-to-back medals at the Olympics after a 52 year long wait.
The return of HIL symbolizes the union of past achievements and future ambitions, with Indian hockey continually evolving and adapting. The league’s comeback, featuring equal opportunities for men and women, demonstrates Hockey India’s dedication to progress and gender equality, solidifying its legacy and forward-looking vision for the sport.
About HOCKEY INDIA
HOCKEY INDIA (HI) is the governing body with exclusive mandate to direct and conduct all activities for both men and women’s hockey in India. It is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India as the sole body responsible towards promoting Hockey in India.
Headquartered in New Delhi, Hockey India was established on 20th May, 2009 and is affiliated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).
Committed to the development of Hockey in the country, Hockey India with the assistance of Sports Authority of India and Department of Sports, Government of India, trains players at sub-junior, junior and senior level. The governing body engages in Coaching the coaches with International Standard certification programs, educates and equips technical officials and umpires to find a foothold in international arena, provides world-class infrastructure and International exposure for the players besides regular international competition. Hockey India has also pioneered in bringing top International hockey events to India such as the FIH Men’s World Cup in 2010 and 2018, FIH Champions Trophy in 2014, FIH Junior Men’s World Cup in 2016 and 2021, FIH Hockey World League Final in 2017. With its vision to popularize the game and constantly promote it, Hockey India brought the Indian Men’s Hockey Team into the top three in the world. Hockey India is also dedicated to getting the Indian Women’s Hockey Team into the top three in the world.
Follow us on:
www.hockeyindia.org | Twitter: @TheHockeyIndia | Facebook: Hockey India | Instagram: hockeyindiaAbout ODISHA
Odisha – the Eastern State of India – is known for its love for Hockey and over the years it has evolved to be the Global Hub of Hockey. The State successfully hosted the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, followed by the FIH Men’s Series Finals Bhubaneswar Odisha, FIH Olympic Qualifiers Odisha, and FIH Hockey Pro League 2020-21. Odisha has previously hosted the Champions Trophy 2014 and the Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017. Odisha also hosted the FIH Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup in 2021.
Kalinga Lancers, the team owned by the State, were the winners in the Hockey India League 2017. Taking a step further towards realizing the dream of restoring the glory of Indian Hockey at the global level, the State is sponsoring the Indian Hockey Teams till 2033.
Odisha also hosted the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 and the Rourkela and Bhubaneswar legs of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Follow us on:
http://odishatourism.gov.in
http://department.sportsodisha.gov. -
India beat Japan 3-2 in men’s junior Asia Cup hockey
Muscat (TIP)- Defending champions India toiled hard before registering a narrow 3-2 win over Japan, their second win on the trot, in a Pool A match of the men’s Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament here on Thursday, November 28. India, who thrashed lowly Thailand 11-0 in their opener on Wednesday, scored through Thockchom Kingson Singh (12th minute), Rohit (36th) and Araijeet Singh Hundal (39th).
Japan’s both goals came from penalty corner conversions by Neo Sato (15th, 38th).
India will next play Chinese Taipei on Saturday, November 30. It was a subdued start from the Indians as Japan went on the early offensive, securing two penalty corners in quick time but on both occasions, India goalkeeper Bikramjit Singh came to his side’s rescue with fine saves.
The Indians slowly and steadily got into the rhythm with controlled possession.
Even though Japan were the better side on display in most part of the first quarter, it was India who took the lead in the 12th minute through Thokchom Kingson Singh’s rebound attempt from a penalty corner.
Japan were not to be left behind as they equalised three minutes later through Neo Sato’s perfect flick into the right corner of the Indian goal.
Soon after the start of the second quarter, India custodian Bikramjit made a fine save.
The Indians too were not to be left behind but Japan goalkeeper Koki Orogasa made two fine double saves.
Japan secured their third penalty corner at the fag end of the second quarter but failed to execute the opportunity once again as both the teams were locked 1-1 at half-time.
The Japanese were on the front foot after the change of ends as they secured three back-to-back penalty corners but Indian goalkeeper Bikramjit was upto the task.
With nine minutes left from the end of third quarter, India secured a penalty corner and Rohit converted the chance with a nice drag-flick to hand his side the lead. Source: PTI -
Bumrah regains top spot in ICC Test bowling rankings
Dubai (TIP)- India pacer Jasprit Bumrah on Wednesday, November 27, toppled Kagiso Rabada and Josh Hazlewood to regain the top spot in ICC Test bowling rankings on the back of his match-winning spell against Australia in the first Test at Perth.
Stand-in skipper Bumrah returned with excellent match figures of 8 for 72 as India crushed Australia by 295 runs to take 1-0 lead in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Bumrah, who was at No. 3 ahead of the Perth Test, now has career-best 883 ranking points while moving ahead of South African Rabada (872 points) and Aussie Hazlewood (860 points).
Bumrah’s teammate Mohammed Siraj also made good ground, moving up three places to 25th following his five scalps against the Aussies.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made a scintillating 161, leaped to second spot with career-best 825 points behind England’s Joe Root (903 points) in the rankings for batters.
Star batter Virat Kohli continued charting his way up as he improved nine spots to reach 13th following his 30th Test century.
India wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant maintained his sixth slot with 736 points.
Indian duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin remained the top players in the Test all-rounders ranking despite not featuring against Australia in the Perth Test. -
Uncapped Webster called into Australia squad for India series
Sydney: Australia have added uncapped all-rounder Beau Webster to the squad for the second Test against India as cover for Mitchell Marsh, whose fitness remains a concern. Marsh had pulled up “sore” following Australia’s 295-run hammering in the series opener in Perth earlier this week.
Webster, also a right-hand pace all-rounder like Marsh, has been the stand out performer in the Sheffield Shield over the past two years.
The 30-year-old has collected 1788 runs including five hundreds and nine fifties. He starred in Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales earlier this week, striking a 61 and 49 besides taking five wickets.
“To get a few runs and wickets (for Australia A) was pleasing against a strong Indian side,” Webster was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au ahead of the announcement.
“Any time you’re playing ‘A’ cricket, it’s the one step below Test level, so it does hold you in good stead. To get the call from ‘Bails’ (men’s selection chair George Bailey) at the end of the NSW game was a really proud moment and I can’t wait to get stuck in.
“There’s a tight turnaround between the Adelaide and Gabba Test so I think (I’m there) just to have some cover there for that middle-order role, whichever way they go,” he added.