Category: Sports

Cricket Australia (CA) has unveiled the schedule for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25, featuring five Tests between India and Australia. The series will start on November 22 with a high-stakes match at Perth Stadium. In early December, there will be a day-night pink-ball test at Adelaide Oval. India will play their second day-night Test match against Australia since 2020 and their fifth overall. 

Australia and India will play a five-match series as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 1991–1992, allowing both teams to secure their spots in the ICC World Test Championship final.

A three-match ODI and T20I series will follow Pakistan’s visit, which will mark the start of Australia’s domestic summer. India’s women’s team will also tour Australia, playing three ODIs in December.

Australia will play three one-day internationals (ODIs) against New Zealand after the Women’s T20 World Cup, and then on December 5, they will play against India in Brisbane and Perth. The Women’s Ashes series against England, which consists of three ODIs, three T20Is, and a historic day-night Test at the MCG in January, will thereafter take the front stage.

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has secured the television and digital broadcasting rights for all New Zealand-based men’s (blackcaps) and women’s (white Ferns) matches in India and related territories for the next seven years. From May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2031, this agreement will cover India’s summer tours to New Zealand in 2026–27 and 2030–31, as well as bilateral Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

All matches will be live telecast on SPNI’s sports channels and streamed on Sony LIV. The deal, valued between $90 million and $100 million (Rs 749-Rs 833 crore), enhances SPNI’s sports portfolio. Additionally, it already includes agreements with the ECB and SLC.

Sony Pictures Networks India’s managing director and CEO, NP Singh, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting New Zealand’s esteemed cricket team and its passionate fan base in India. NZC CEO Scott Weenink emphasised the shared values between the two organisations, while NZC GM Commercial Chris Smith highlighted India’s significance as a key market and the substantial nature of the partnership.

The deal allows Indian cricket enthusiasts to witness matches against top teams like India, Australia, England, and Pakistan until 2031. Furthermore, SPNI’s digital rights in India will be co-exclusive with Amazon Prime for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons.

Virat Kohli made history by notching his 100th fifty-plus score in T20 cricket, a feat unmatched by any other Indian player and achieved by only two others globally. During the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli’s outstanding 77 off 49 balls, including 11 boundaries and two sixes, highlighted his return to form after a previous disappointing performance.

Throughout his brilliant 378-match T20 career, Kohli has accumulated 12,092 runs at an average of 41.26, adorned with eight hundred and 92 fifties. His best score to date is an undefeated 122. Australia’s David Warner (109) and the West Indies’ Chris Gayle (110) are two of the finest players with the most fifty-plus scores.

Batting first, PBKS failed to build on their beginnings and finished at 176/6. Glenn Maxwell (2/29) and Mohammed Siraj (2/26), of the RCB bowling team, made significant strides. Kohli’s starring performance and late-inning heroics from Dinesh Karthik (28*) and Mahipal Lomror (17*) saw RCB secure a four-wicket victory with four balls remaining, despite mistakes in their chase.

Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna, alongside his Australian partner Matthew Ebden, showcased their skill at the Miami Open, securing a hard-fought victory against Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski, propelling them into the men’s doubles quarterfinals. The formidable duo endured a challenging battle lasting one hour and thirty-nine minutes before clinching a 7-5, 7-6 (3) win over Monaco’s Nys and Poland’s Zielinski in the ATP Masters 1000 event on Monday night.

Despite facing formidable opposition, the 43-year-old Bopanna and Ebden exhibited remarkable resilience and skill throughout the match. With four aces and 84% first serve points won their partnership demonstrated their dominance on the court, highlighting their daunting presence in the men’s doubles circuit.

It was Bopanna and Ebden who seized a crucial opportunity, breaking Nys and Zielinski in the 11th game to claim a pivotal lead and subsequently secure the opening set. In the second set, neither team yielded serve until the match reached a climactic tiebreaker. A double blunder by Nys and Zielinski proved costly at an important point, allowing the Indo-Australian pair to take advantage of the mistake and win the set and the match.

John Patrick Smith of Australia and Sem Verbeek of the Netherlands will be their next opponents.

Dinesh Karthik has distinguished himself as one of the most effective finishers in the IPL, particularly in the crucial death-over phase. During IPL 2024, representing RCB, Karthik showcased his strength yet again, elevating himself to the esteemed position of the second-highest run scorer in the death overs since 2022.

In a gripping encounter against PBKS in Bengaluru, Karthik played a crucial role in RCB’s thrilling victory. His blistering cameo, characterised by an unbeaten 28 runs from a mere 10 deliveries, adorned with three boundaries and two towering sixes, highlighted his ability to accelerate the scoring rate under pressure. This remarkable inning escalated Karthik to a staggering strike rate of 280, solidifying his reputation as a formidable force in the late stages of innings.

Karthik’s cumulative tally of 372 runs in the death overs at an impressive strike rate of 203.27 firmly establishes his credentials among the elite in IPL cricket. While he currently trails behind the Rajasthan Royals’ Shimron Hetmyer, the slender margin reflects Karthik’s consistency and impact in crunch situations. Beyond his personal achievements, Karthik was beneficial in ensuring that RCB defeated PBKS by four wickets.

Virat Kohli’s exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Match accolade, yet Karthik’s invaluable contribution cannot be understated.

On Friday, Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto made history in Montreal by clinching her third consecutive figure skating world title, a feat not seen since Peggy Fleming’s achievement in 1968. Despite starting in fourth place after the short programme, Sakamoto’s captivating free skate, set to music by Lauryn Hill, escalated her to victory with an impressive score of 222.96 points.

American skater Isabeau Levito secured the silver medal, while South Korea’s Chaeyeon Kim claimed bronze. Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx, initially leading, finished fourth after a fall during her routine.

In the ice dance competition, Madison Chock and Evan Bates from the United States performed an enthralling rhythm dance number that put them one step closer to winning a second straight global title. Their performance, which scored 90.08, impressed the audience with its smooth and charismatic performance. Following closely behind were Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri in second place, with Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier in third.

Chock and Bates, who relocated to Montreal after the 2018 Olympics, expressed their joy at participating in their 11th world championship and emphasised their love for the sport. Their previous victories include winning the world championship in Japan in 2023 and claiming their first Grand Prix Final title in December.

Chennai is all set to host its first IPL final in 12 years at Chepauk on May 26, with the stadium having hosted finals in 2011 and 2012. The city will also host the second qualifier on May 24. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad will host the first qualifier on May 21 and the eliminator on May 22.

The second phase of IPL 2024 is scheduled to begin on April 8, with CSK playing the Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai. All playoff matches will be evening games. The ten teams are split into two groups, playing a mix of intra and inter-group matches.

CSK’s group includes the Gujarat Titans, RCB, Sunrisers, and Punjab Kings, while the other comprises the Mumbai Indians, KKR, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants. The league phase will have 11 double-header days.

Initially, a partial schedule for 21 matches was released from March 22 to April 7, awaiting the announcement of general election dates. Apart from home grounds, matches will be held in Visakhapatnam, Dharamsala, and Guwahati, where Guwahati is set to host the final league match between the Royals and KKR on May 19.

The IPL this year is clashing with the elections, which are scheduled to be held between April 19 and June 1.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the exceptional performance of 15-year-old badminton prodigy Tanvi Sharma from Punjab. Sharma’s stellar displays at both national and international levels during the 2023 Badminton Championships have captured the nation’s attention, particularly her gold medal triumph at the Senior Asian Championship in Malaysia.

PM Modi conveyed heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the entire nation, recognising her outstanding achievements on the global stage. Through initiatives like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), he stressed the government’s commitment to supporting athletes through access to top-tier training facilities and global coaching expertise.

In praising Sharma’s profound influence on the younger generation, PM Modi acknowledged her crucial contribution to inspiring hundreds of ambitious athletes throughout the nation. He stressed how Sharma’s accomplishments not only promote a flourishing athletic ethos but also align with the Fit India movement.

Sharma, deeply moved by the Prime Minister’s acknowledgement, expressed immense pride and happiness, viewing the letter as a testament to her dedication and hard work in badminton. She vowed to continue striving for excellence in the sport and looked forward to representing India in future international competitions.

PM Modi wished Sharma the best of luck for upcoming events, including the Paris Olympics in 2024.

The introduction of a Smart Replay System (SRS) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) aims to revolutionise decision-making processes, enhancing both speed and accuracy.

According to a report, SRS will integrate the TV umpire directly with operators of the Hawk-Eye system, who will be stationed alongside, providing inputs based on images captured from eight high-speed cameras strategically positioned around the ground.

This innovative setup eliminates the need for a TV broadcast director to act as an intermediary between the umpire and the Hawk-Eye operators, streamlining the decision-making process. With access to more visuals, including split-screen images, the TV umpire will be equipped to make well-informed decisions promptly. Furthermore, live broadcasting of interactions between the TV umpire and Hawk-Eye operators will offer viewers insight into the decision-making rationale.

The SRS promises to enhance decision-making across various scenarios, such as judging catches near boundary ropes, instances of caught behind, leg-before-wicket decisions, stumpings, and even catches taken inches above the turf. To prepare for its implementation, the BCCI organised a comprehensive two-day workshop for a select group of umpires, encompassing both Indian and overseas officials, who will be involved in utilising the system during the IPL.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is urging national federations to detach from the suspended International Boxing Association (IBA) and form a new governing body to ensure boxing’s place in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Since 2019, the IOC has disavowed the IBA due to financial and governance issues, with the Paris 2024 boxing events overseen by the IOC. However, boxing’s inclusion in LA28 remains uncertain without a recognised governing body.

IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell emphasised the need for a new body driven by national federations to facilitate the sport’s future participation in the Olympics. The Paris 2024 Boxing Unit, established by the IOC, currently manages Olympic qualifiers, but the IOC insists this interim measure should not be repeated.

Even if boxing is included in the 2028 Olympics, the IBA won’t be involved. Notably, a coalition of federations, including the US and UK, formed World Boxing to secure boxing’s Olympic future, seeking IOC recognition.

Meanwhile, the IBA is contesting its expulsion in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The IOC’s stance emphasises the urgency for a reformed governance structure to safeguard boxing’s Olympic presence, highlighting the ongoing upheaval in the sport’s administration.