Category: Sports

Tickets for India’s T20 World Cup matches, notably against Pakistan and Canada, have sold out, with resale prices soaring to over double the original cost, reaching a staggering ₹1.86 crore on platforms like StubHub and SeatGeek. Initially priced between ₹497 and ₹33,148, these VIP tickets are now fetching close to ₹33.15 lakh, ballooning to ₹41.44 lakh with platform fees.

Comparatively, the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup’s highest-priced secondary market ticket for India vs. Pakistan was ₹57.15 lakh. Phase 1 sales for the 2024 T20 World Cup began on February 22, with tickets quickly entering the resale market. The demand, especially for the India-Pakistan match, has inflated prices, rivalling those of NBA and Major League Baseball games.

According to USA Today, World Series tickets averaged ₹91,175, NBA Finals courtside seats neared ₹20 lakh, and Super Bowl 58 tickets were ₹7.45 lakh. The anticipation for the marquee clash between India and Pakistan in the USA has generated significant buzz well ahead of the tournament.

Despite the event being months away, the fervour around ticket sales highlights the enduring appeal of cricket’s most celebrated rivalry on the global stage.

On February 24, the promising Indian batsman, Yashasvi Jaiswal, achieved a significant milestone by becoming the fifth Indian cricketer to surpass 600 runs in a Test series. He reached this landmark during the ongoing fourth Test against England in Ranchi.

Jaiswal, who made his India debut in July 2023, accomplished the feat in his seventh inning by scoring 73 runs off 117 balls before Shoaib Bashir dismissed him. The left-handed batter from Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, impressed with two double centuries in the series against England, aiding India to a 2-1 lead. His total tally stands at 618 runs in seven innings, averaging 103 with a strike rate of 78.32.

Jaiswal now joins a prestigious list including Sunil Gavaskar, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, and Dilip Sardesai, who have scored over 600 runs in a Test series. Notably, Gavaskar holds the record for the most runs by an Indian in a Test series, with 774 runs during a series against the West Indies, achieving this twice. He remains the only Indian to surpass 700 runs in a Test series twice.

Australian legend Donald Bradman holds the world record for the most runs in a Test series, by achieving 974 runs against England in 1930.

The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season is scheduled to kick off on March 22, according to IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, with all matches set to be played in India despite coinciding with general elections. The BCCI is closely coordinating with government agencies and stakeholders to ensure the smooth conduct of the IPL.

The tournament schedule will be revealed in stages, with the first 15 days being revealed first, followed by the remaining days when election dates are confirmed. IPL has occasionally taken place overseas, but this time around, special efforts are being made to make sure the entire event happens in India.

The season’s final is projected to be on May 26, preceding the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, which begins on June 1. The tournament opener will feature last year’s finalists, the Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans.

Preparatory camps for teams are expected to begin soon after India’s Test series against England concludes on March 11. To streamline logistics, BCCI will host the Women’s Premier League in Bengaluru and Delhi, concluding on March 17. This provides a five-day gap for arrangements before the IPL commences.

Manika Batra secured victories in both her singles matches as the Indian women’s team narrowly overcame Hungary 3-2, marking its inaugural win at the World Table Tennis Championships.

In a commendable turnaround, Manika rebounded from her previous defeats against China on Friday, where India narrowly missed a significant upset, falling short at 2-3. Facing off against Dora Madaras in the opening singles, Manika displayed resilience, clinching a hard-fought 8-11, 11-5, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4 victory on Sunday.

Despite Manika’s triumph, Georgina Pota levelled the tie by securing an 11-3, 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8 win over Sreeja Akula in the second singles, following Sreeja’s earlier stunning victory against world number 2 Wang Yidi.

Ayhika Mukherkjee, who defeated world number one Sun Yinghsa on Friday, propelled India to a 2-1 lead with a 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 triumph over Bernadett Balint. However, the competition intensified as Madaras overcame Sreeja 11-4, 11-6, 5-11, 11-7 in the fourth singles, extending the contest to a decisive finale.

In the crucial decider against Pota, Manika maintained her composure, clinching an 11-5, 14-12, 13-11 victory. India’s upcoming group matches include encounters against Spain and Uzbekistan, while China, with three consecutive wins, remains the anticipated group leader.

India’s dominant performance against England in the third test highlighted flaws in the touring side’s aggressive batting strategy.

Joe Root’s doubtful dismissal caused England to collapse from 224-2 to 319 all out, squandering a 126-run lead, despite Ben Duckett’s gallant century. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s spectacular 214 not out led India to declare at 430-4, setting England a daunting target of 557. Sarfaraz Khan and Shubman Gill both made substantial contributions.

Prior to Mark Wood’s courageous 33 leading them past 100, England stumbled in their pursuit, falling to 50-7.

India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma, highlighted the determination of his bowlers and underlined the significance of maintaining composure during Test matches. England’s best batsmen struggled against spin in the second inning, casting questions on manager Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum’s and captain Stokes’ aggressive style.

Stokes defended the team’s approach, highlighting its emphasis on internal dynamics. England hopes to recover in the remaining games, beginning with the fourth test in Ranchi, with the series now tied at 2-1.

Ravindra Jadeja was named player of the match for his 5-41 century in the first inning. The game highlighted England’s need to strike a balance between stability and aggression, as well as India’s dominance.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced that Rahul Dravid will continue to be India’s head coach until the T20 World Cup. For the second time in the competition’s history, Rohit Sharma will captain India in the men’s T20 World Cup in 2024.

Shah acknowledged that Rohit led the team during the T20 World Cup, as suggested by his comeback to the lead against Afghanistan. Even if India loses the ODI World Cup final, Rohit’s leadership is still very important. The long-term option is still Hardik Pandya, who captained India in the Twenty20s in 2023.

After discussions, Dravid’s contract was extended, guaranteeing his position as coach until the T20 World Cup. Shah acknowledged the need for more communication with Dravid and stressed the importance of continuing conversations in the midst of a hectic cricket schedule.

In addition to highlighting Rohit’s temporary reinstatement as a result of Hardik’s injury sustained during the ODI World Cup, Shah emphasised Hardik’s potential as a T20 captain.

Even though contract talks are still ongoing, the choice to keep Dravid shows faith in his coaching ability. Shah’s remarks demonstrate the BCCI’s dedication to strategic planning in the face of India’s busy cricket schedule, which includes upcoming matches against England and other commitments.

On Wednesday, India shocked China 3-2 in the women’s badminton Asia Team Championships, marking the comeback from the injury of two-time Olympic medalist P V Sindhu. Despite having been guaranteed a ticket in the knockout phase, India left its imprint by triumphing over the Chinese team ranked first.

India led 1-0 after Sindhu, who hasn’t played since October because of a knee injury, defeated Han Yue 21-17, 21-15. Ranked 11th, Sindhu outplayed world number eight Yue. Ashmita Chaliha lost to Wang Zhi Yi, behind 1-2, and Tanisha Castro/Ashwini Ponappa lost, both causing setbacks for India.

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min to tie the match for India. In the deciding match, Anmol Kharb, ranked 472nd, defeated Wu Luo Yu 22-20 14-21 21-18, securing India’s memorable win.

India, the current Thomas Cup champions, triumphed against Hong Kong in the men’s division. In the doubles division, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty prevailed, while Lakshya Sen defeated Chan Yin Chak. After M R Arjun and Dhruv Kapila’s victories, India led 3-1, and Kidambi Srikanth’s victory over Jason Gunawan completed the victory.

At the renaming ceremony in the Saurashtra Cricket Association’s stadium in Rajkot, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced that Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team in the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA-West Indies. In consideration of the team’s outstanding performance, Shah’s declaration echoed his expectation for India’s triumph in the Barbados 2024 T20 World Cup under Rohit’s captaincy.

Jay Shah emphasized the importance of supporting their skipper and allowing him to relax. He highlighted Rohit’s past experience in captaincy across different formats and his return for the Afghanistan match as significant points to consider in their approach. Shah stressed the need for confidence-building measures around Rohit’s leadership role, indicating a strategic stance towards team dynamics and performance optimization.

Owing to injury concerns, Hardik Pandya, who was named captain before, will now be vice-captain. Additionally, Rahul Dravid will take on the team’s training duties.

Along with supporting Virat Kohli’s decision to take a personal leave, Shah emphasised the BCCI’s power to control player workloads both before and during international competitions. In its strategic planning, the Indian Cricket Board continues to place a high priority on striking a balance between player welfare and performance optimisation.

Indian women’s batter Smriti Mandhana has jumped to fourth place in the ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings for batters, surpassing South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt. England’s Nat Sciver Brunt, Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, and Australia’s Beth Mooney hold the top three positions, while India’s Harmanpreet Kaur remains at 10th.

Mandhana last played ODIs in a series against Australia, scoring 63 runs at an average of 31.50. In the bowling chart, England’s Sophie Ecclestone leads, with Deepti Sharma slipping to fourth. Mandhana has also risen to fifth on the ODI all-rounder list.

South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp climbed to second among bowlers after an outstanding performance against Australia. Kapp’s all-round effort helped South Africa secure their first-ever ODI victory over Australia. She retained the eighth position in batting and consolidated her top ranking among all-rounders. Chloe-Tryon moved up in rankings, advancing to 20th among batters, 43rd among bowlers, and entering the top 10 for all-rounders.

Australia saw players move up in rankings after a 2-1 win, with all-rounder Tahlia McGrath rising to 30th among batters, 60th among bowlers, and 21st among all-rounders after being named ‘Player of the Match’ in the final ODI. Alana King and Kim Garth also made notable progress.

Glenn Maxwell’s phenomenal 120-run knock against West Indies in the 2nd T20 match at Adelaide Oval not only powered Australia to a monumental 241-4 but also drew him level with Rohit Sharma’s T20I century record.

Maxwell displayed his exceptional hand speed and bowler-dominating abilities during his blazing performance, which included 12 boundaries and 8 sixes. Together, he and Tim David scored 92 runs, which strengthened Australia’s dominant lead.

Rovman Powell’s resilient 63 off 36 and Andre Russell’s stunning 37 off 16 gave West Indies optimism despite a rocky start. However, the relentless pressure from Marcus Stoinis (3-36) and debutant Spencer Johnson (2-39) ultimately stifled their chase, restricting them to 207-9 in 20 overs. With the wickets of Josh Inglis, Marsh (29 off 12), and David Warner (22 off 19), Australia’s batting suffered early blows, falling to 64-3 in 6.4 overs.

Nevertheless, Maxwell’s heroics and contributions from other batsmen powered Australia to an imposing total. Australia is ready for the T20 series to be successful after winning the opening game in Hobart by 11 runs. The third game between the two clubs is scheduled for Perth, and it should be an exciting one.