Sports

Kolkata: India has made a major change in their playing XI for the opening Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens on Friday, 14 November. With Rishabh Pant returning to the side as wicketkeeper-batsman, the team management has also opted for a significant batting adjustment. Sai Sudharsan Dropped from Playing XI Young batsman Sai Sudharsan has been left out of the playing XI for this match. Sudharsan had impressed in the recent Delhi Test against West Indies, scoring a brilliant 87-run innings, but he has now been omitted for the first Test against South Africa. Washington Sundar to Bat at No. 3 India has decided to promote all-rounder Washington Sundar to the crucial No. 3 batting position, replacing Sai Sudharsan. Sundar, who has previously scored a magnificent century in ...

Kolkata: The much-anticipated first Test of the two-match series between India and South Africa is set to begin on Friday, 14 November, at the historic Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. With South Africa being the current World Test Champions and having impressed recently on Pakistani pitches, all eyes are on this opening match of the series. Weather Outlook: No Rain Threat Kolkata is expected to remain clear throughout the match. On Thursday, the sun shone brightly, and the skies were clear. Meteorologists have confirmed no rain forecast from 14–18 November, ensuring uninterrupted play. Temperatures are likely to range from 18°C in the morning to 30°C during the afternoon, with humidity levels around 60–70%, typical for November. Light winds may provide bowlers with some assistance, ...

New Delhi: Indian all-rounder Axar Patel, who currently represents India across all three formats and captains Delhi Capitals in the IPL, has shared his thoughts on what makes a successful captain. Patel challenged the common perception that a captain must be fluent in English to lead effectively. What Axar Patel Said In an interview with The Indian Express, Patel stated:"People often say, 'He can’t speak English, how will he captain the team? How can he lead?' But a captain’s job isn’t just to speak. It’s about understanding the players, bringing out their best, knowing their strengths and weaknesses, and figuring out how to get the best performance from them." He further added:"The notion that a captain must have a certain personality or speak good English is a misconception. Pe...

Kolkata: The first Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, saw a combination of skill and on-field banter, as India’s pace ace Jasprit Bumrah made headlines not just for his bowling but also for a comment that went viral. Bavuma Falls Cheaply Electing to bat after winning the toss, South Africa got off to a promising start with Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton putting together a half-century partnership. However, the innings faltered thereafter, with captain Temba Bavuma dismissed cheaply for just 3 runs. Bumrah’s Viral Comment During the 13th over of South Africa’s first innings, Bumrah trapped Bavuma LBW but the on-field umpire did not give him out. While discussing DRS with his teammates, Bumrah was heard on the stump mic making a remark about Bavuma, c...

Sylhet: Bangladesh registered a commanding victory over Ireland by an innings and 47 runs in the first Test match of the two-match series in Sylhet. With this win, the hosts take a 1-0 lead in the series. Mahmudul Hasan Joy was the star of the match, scoring a brilliant 171 runs as an opener in Bangladesh’s first innings, earning him the Player of the Match award. Ireland’s First Innings Collapse Electing to bat after winning the toss, Ireland managed only 286 runs in their first innings. The team’s start was shaky, with captain Andrew Balbirnie dismissed for a duck. Paul Stirling and Caed Carmichael steadied the innings with a 96-run partnership for the second wicket, scoring 60 and 59 runs respectively. Contributions also came from Curtis Campher (44) and Lauren Tucker (41). For...

Kolkata: On the first day of the India vs South Africa Test series at Eden Gardens, India’s fast bowling ace Jasprit Bumrah etched his name in the record books. In a remarkable display, Bumrah surpassed Ravichandran Ashwin to become the third-highest bowled wicket-taker in international cricket for India. A Record-Breaking Spell During the opening day of the match, Bumrah claimed three crucial wickets — Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, and Tony de Zorzi. His first wicket was Rickelton, who was clean bowled for 23 runs, marking Bumrah’s 152nd bowled dismissal in international cricket, surpassing Ashwin’s tally of 151. Now, only legends Kapil Dev (167) and Anil Kumble (186) remain ahead of him in this category. Match Situation At lunch on day one, South Africa was 105 for 3 wickets...

Kolkata: In a spectacular start to the India vs South Africa two-match Test series at Eden Gardens, Kuldeep Yadav created history by dismissing South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma on the first day. This wicket marked a significant milestone in Kuldeep’s career and impressed fans worldwide. A Historic Achievement Kuldeep’s wicket of Bavuma made him the ninth Indian bowler across formats to take 150 international wickets on home soil, accomplishing this feat in just 87 innings. This milestone puts him alongside legends such as Anil Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, and Mohammed Shami. Following Bavuma, Kuldeep also dismissed Wiaan Mulder, further strengthening India’s position. With South Africa struggling at 6 wi...

The Indian Premier League (IPL), now 18 seasons old, has witnessed some jaw-dropping records that may remain untouched for generations. From Virat Kohli’s avalanche of runs to Chris Gayle’s thunderous batting storms, these milestones have become part of cricketing folklore — achievements that define the very spirit of IPL’s high-octane cricket. Here are five iconic records that may never be broken. 1. Chris Gayle’s Hurricane Knock – 175* in a Single Match When it comes to power hitting, Chris Gayle sits on a throne of his own. In 2013, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gayle smashed an unbelievable 175* off just 66 balls against Pune Warriors India.His innings featured 17 sixes and 13 fours, and he reached his century in just 30 balls, still the fastest hundred in IPL hist...

Former Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has opened up about one of the most emotional and challenging phases of her life — her divorce from Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. Speaking candidly on the first episode of her new YouTube talk show, “Serving It Up with Sania,” the 37-year-old revealed how she suffered panic attacks during that time and how filmmaker Farah Khan stood by her as a pillar of strength. “I Was Shaking, But Farah Held Me Together” Sania recalled the dark days following her separation, saying, “It was one of the lowest points of my life. I don’t usually say these things on camera, but there was a moment when I was completely broken. Farah came to my set that day, and I had a live show right after. I was shaking… I wouldn’t have been able to go through with it if ...

As the IPL 2026 retention deadline approaches on November 15, all ten franchises are finalizing their lists of retained and released players. While several names are expected to be let go due to poor performances in the previous season, a few underperformers are surprisingly set to be retained — thanks to their reputation, potential, and strategic importance to their teams. Here are five players who had an ordinary IPL 2025 season but are unlikely to be released: 1. Liam Livingstone (Punjab Kings) One of the most explosive batters in T20 cricket, Liam Livingstone had a forgettable IPL 2025. In 8 innings, he managed only 112 runs, and had to leave before the final due to national duty. Despite his dip in form, the Punjab Kings — who went on to win the title — value his match-wi...