NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: With the four-match T20 International (T20I) series tied at 1-1, India head into a must-win game against South Africa on Wednesday at Supersport Park. A victory would give India a vital 2-1 lead, putting them on course for a series win. South Africa levelled the series with a gritty three-wicket win in Gqeberha, taking advantage of a few missed opportunities from India. The Proteas will look to maintain their momentum on home soil, but India is determined to reclaim the lead in this pivotal game. 

In South Africa’s recent win, Tristan Stubbs once again proved instrumental, building on his Test form with a composed 47 not out to steer his team across the line. Stubbs has added stability to the South African side, especially as other batters have struggled to find rhythm in this series. 

India, meanwhile, has seen mixed results at the crease. Sanju Samson’s innings of 107 in the first match was a highlight, but he was dismissed for a duck in the second game. The team will be looking for a consistent batting performance to keep their hopes alive. With SuperSport Park’s pitch generally favoring batsmen, the stage is set for a high-scoring affair. The stakes are high for both teams, and a win here could shape the series outcome as they head towards the final match.

Teams
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Patrick Kruger, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Mihlali Mpongwana, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla (3rd and 4th T20Is), Tristan Stubbs 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Pakistan registered a historic 9-wicket win over Australia in the second ODI of the three-match series on Friday, November 8 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. After opting to bowl first, fast bowlers Haris Rauf (5/29) and Shaheen Afridi (3/26) vindicated captain Mohammad Rizwan’s decision as they bundled out Australia for just 163 in 35 overs.

In reply, Pakistan comfortably chased down the target in 26.3 overs as Saim Ayub played a breathtaking knock of 82 (71) guiding his team to a 9-wicket win. The 22-year-old playing just his second ODI, showed no qualms whatsoever as he took on the star-studded bowling attack of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

The southpaw started his innings cautiously scoring 15 off 30 balls but broke free 11th over by smashing a six against Pat Cummins and further smacked Mitchell Starc for 14 runs in the very next over. The youngster even got a life on 47 being dropped by Zampa and brought up his half century off 52 balls. The swashbuckling batter looked determined to get to his maiden century as he launched an onslaught whacking the ball to all corners to the Adelaide Oval.

Earlier in the day, Australia got off to a brisk start with openers Jake Fraser McGurk (13 off 10) and Matthew Short (19 off 15) adding 20 runs in the first overs. However, Afridi quickly removed Fraser-McGurk in the third over getting him out lbw. Short got a life in the fourth over after being dropped by Afridi at fine leg but the left-arm seamer made amends by getting him caught at cover point in the 7th over to leave Australia on 41/2.

Following the dismissal, Josh Inglis joined Steve Smith at the crease and the duo added quick 38 runs for the third wicket with a flurry of boundaries. The dangerous-looking stand was nipped in the bud by Haris Rauf who got Inglis (18 off 25) caught down the leg side while he was trying to pull the Pakistan speedster.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Australian Open winners Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden of Australia have been placed in the same group that includes top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic in the doubles section of the ATP Finals.

As per the doubles draw revealed on Thursday, they will joined in the Bob Bryan Group by Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori and Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz. Teams in each group will play in a round-robin format before the top two make it to the semifinals. The Indo-Australian pair is seeded sixth in this event.

Second seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos will be the top contenders from the Mike Bryan Group with Wesley Koolhof/Nikola Mektic, Max Purcell/Jordan Thompson, and Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten the other teams in contention for the semifinal spots from this group.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Arjun Erigaisi, India’s rising chess sensation, has made history by climbing to No. 2 on the FIDE World Chess Rankings after his impressive third-round victory over Alexey Sarana at the Chennai Grand Masters yesterday. This remarkable achievement is the latest milestone in the 21-year-old’s meteoric rise. 

Erigaisi’s triumph against Sarana not only boosted his ranking but also propelled him to the lead in the Masters category, where he is tied at the top of the table with Iranian grandmaster Amin Tabatabaei after three rounds of intense competition. In his game against Sarana, Erigaisi, playing with the black pieces, showcased his signature boldness and tactical acumen. Sarana’s Queen’s Pawn Opening quickly transformed into the Indian Game but it was Erigaisi’s decision to transition into the East Indian Defense, a relatively rare and strategic line that took his opponent by surprise. His victory marked another key moment in a year filled with exceptional performances, further solidifying his reputation as one of the brightest young talents in global chess.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Having started his T20I captaincy stint with two series wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Suryakumar Yadav will aim to make it three in a row when the Men in Blue take on South Africa in the first of three games on Friday at the Kingsmead in Durban. It will also be a repeat of the T20 World Cup 2024 final where Rohit Sharma’s men defeated the Proteas by five runs.

With head coach Gautam Gambhir busy making plans for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, starting later this month, National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman has been sent to look after the coaching duties in South Africa.

Meanwhile, pressure will be on South Africa. Post T20 World Cup, the Proteas suffered a 0-3 whitewash against West Indies while they drew 1-1 against Ireland, both in T20Is. In fact, South Africa gave a lot of youngsters opportunities against West Indies and Ireland.

On the other hand, India have also named a couple of new names in the squad against South Africa. Hard-hitting all-rounder Ramandeep Singh impressed with Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024 and Emerging Asia Cup while Vijaykumar Vyshak got rewarded for his show at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the previous IPL season.

In a pre-match press conference, Markram noted the significance of playing in front of local fans and emphasized that the team is not treating the opening game as a rematch. 'Personnel has changed for both teams,' Markram stated, adding that despite the promotional narratives, the focus remains on providing an exciting series for fans.

The series kicks off on November 8 at Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban. Following that, matches will be held at St George's Park in Gqeberha, SuperSport Park in Centurion, and conclude at Wanderers Stadium. The series promises thrilling cricket action between two of the sport's prominent teams.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Captain Harmanpreet Kaur is the lone entry from India in the 50-player shortlist for the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) Team of the Decade, which was released on Thursday.

The shortlist comprises cricketers who have played a minimum of 60 WBBL matches prior to this season.

The list will be pruned to 12 by a selection panel of experts after taking into account public voting.

Cricket Australia Director Clea Smith leads the selection panel, which comprises esteemed cricket authorities like Mel Jones and Lisa Sthalekar. The process honors the remarkable talents contributing to the league's 10-year history.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: As India takes on South Africa in the opening T20I in Durban on Friday, all eyes are on the reigning World Champions to see if they can continue their winning streak against a South African side eager to reclaim its footing. Billed as a high-stakes rematch of the T20 World Cup final, where India emerged victorious, this series offers both teams an opportunity to redefine their T20 ambitions in contrasting circumstances. 

For India, the series is a chance to reinforce their status as the top T20 side and put the recent home series loss to New Zealand firmly behind them. With several senior players retired or on rotation, India’s new lineup is packed with rising stars hungry for their moment on the big stage. This setup has allowed emerging players like Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma a golden opportunity to establish themselves as first-choice players in a competitive T20 squad. Samson, whose explosive 47-ball century against Bangladesh as an opener left fans in awe, is particularly determined to secure a regular spot in the absence of Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from T20Is. 

Abhishek Sharma, too, has shown flashes of brilliance, including a swift 47-ball hundred against Zimbabwe in July. Both will be looking to prove they are ready to fill the big shoes left by veteran players and contribute consistently on the international stage. Tilak Varma, a promising batsman with one fifty in 12 T20I outings, finds himself under pressure to show his worth at this level. His talent in the IPL and domestic circuits is undeniable, but he faces a challenging road to replicate that success in the international arena. This series is also a golden opportunity for wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma, who impressed in previous matches, and Varun Chakravarthy, the spinner who claimed five wickets against Bangladesh. Both are eager to solidify their places in a team always on the hunt for  reliable T20 specialists.

India’s bowling unit has also undergone a significant overhaul, with a new-look pace attack eager to make an impact. Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan bring international experience, while newcomers Vyshak Vijaykumar and Yash Dayal add fresh energy to the squad. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Real Madrid's qualification for the knockout stage of the Champions League suffered a major setback as they were beaten 3-1 at home to AC Milan.

The defeat leaves Real Madrid with six points from its first four matches in the tournament, with a visit to play Liverpool at Anfield next on the agenda, and more than the result, coach Carlo Ancelotti will be worried by a poor performance from his side, who had a rest at the weekend.

The game was just 12 minutes old when Malick Thiaw put Milan ahead with a near-post finish from a corner that was poorly defended by the home side, reports Xinhua.

Real Madrid reacted well and was level after 23 minutes when the VAR decreed a penalty against Vinicius Jr committed by Emerson, who left his foot high to bring down the winger.

Vinicius picked himself up and scored with a chipped penalty into the middle of the Milan goal.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Viktor Gyokeres' hat-trick helped Sporting CP come from behind to crush Manchester City in the Champions League.

This Sporting's first win in 27 Champions League matches on Manchester City.

Phil Foden's strike had given the English champions an early lead, before Geovany Quenda found Gyokeres for the equaliser.

The hosts scored twice in quick succession at the start of the second half, Maximiliano Araujo finishing off a well-worked team goal straight from kick-off before Gyokeres converted a penalty.

Erling Haaland hit the crossbar from another penalty, before Gyokeres converted his second spot kick of the evening to wrap up a memorable final home game in charge for outgoing coach Ruben Amorim.

City slip down to sixth in the Champions League table with seven points from four games at what is the halfway stage of our league programme.

“Congratulations to Sporting Lisbon for the game. We had a fantastic first half, now we are struggling to score. We create and concede when the opponents don’t do much. The first half was really good, we scored a goal, but every pass, the simple things we missed sometimes," City boss Pep Guardiola said.

“It can happen. After the third and the fourth we have to avoid it. Emotionally we were not stable enough and in this competition you have to be stable. At 2-1, many things can happen. We have to be emotionally more stable," he added.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday named the outstanding performers that have been shortlisted for the ICC Player of the Month awards for October. 

An action-packed month saw a host of international stars light up both the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE, and several key battles in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship. 

The shortlist for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award features three individuals honoured in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Team of the Tournament. New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr is nominated thanks to a memorable string of performances in which she set a new wicket-taking record as the White Ferns secured their maiden T20 World up triumph in the UAE. 

Deandra Dottin made her return to the West Indies’ lineup in October, and made an immediate impact, inspiring her side to reach the semi-final of the competition with valuable runs and wickets. Laura Wolvaardt completes the shortlist after topping the run-scoring charts and captaining South Africa to their second successive Women’s T20 World Cup final. The nominees for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award include three impactful wickettakers who starred in their respective ICC World Test Championship encounters last month. Noman Ali is shortlisted for the first time after his wicket-taking exploits on home soil helped akistan secure a memorable comeback victory over England.

Joining him among the October nominees is Mitchell Santner, after the left-arm spinner bowled New Zealand to victory in the second Test against India at Pune. Kagiso Rabada reclaimed top spot in the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings during the month and his outstanding efforts during South Africa’s series triumph in Bangladesh earns him his latest nomination. 

An independent ICC Voting Academy and fans around the world will now be invited to cast their votes to decide the winners, which will be announced next week.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: World No. 4 Indian chess grandmaster and top seed Arjun Erigaisi will open his Chennai Grand Masters campaign against compatriot Vidit Gujarathi, starting here on Tuesday.

Erigaisi will be playing for the first time in India after crossing the historic 2800 ELO ranking mark when he takes the board.

The eight-player strong classical event will see Aravindh Chithambaram take on Iranian Amin Tabatabaei, Vachier-Lagrave Maxime will face Maghsoodloo Parham, and American Grandmaster Levon Aronian will play Alexey Sarana in the opening round.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: In a significant move towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in India in 2036, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has officially expressed the nation's interest. The IOA submitted a Letter of Intent to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Future Host Commission on October 1, marking India's formal bid for this prestigious global event.

"This monumental opportunity could bring substantial benefits, fostering economic growth, social progress, and youth empowerment across the country," a source confirmed to India Today.

Los Angeles in the USA will host the 2028 Summer Olympics, and Brisbane, Australia, will host the 2032 Games. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has said interest in hosting 2036 has so far attracted cities in the double digits.

Paralympics, underscoring the importance of this bid to the country's sporting future. During the Independence Day celebrations at his New Delhi residence, he invited feedback from Indian athletes who participated in the Paris Olympics, stating that their experiences would be instrumental in the planning and preparation efforts for the 2036 Games.

"India is preparing to host the 2036 Olympics. In this regard, the input from athletes who have played in previous Olympics is very important. You all must have observed and experienced many things. We want to document this and share it with the government so that we don't miss out on any small details in the preparation for 2036," PM Modi said at the gathering.

India's commitment to hosting the 2036 Games was further emphasized at the IOC's 141st session in Mumbai last year, where PM Modi declared, "We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to organize the Olympics on Indian soil in the year 2036. This is the age-old dream and aspiration of 140 crore Indians."

IOC President Thomas Bach has also lent his support, remarking that there is a "strong case" for India to host the Olympics, further solidifying India's candidature. With a diverse and growing interest in sports across the nation, hosting the Olympics is seen as a transformative opportunity that could elevate India's sports infrastructure, boost tourism, and inspire the next generation of athletes.

India joins nine other nations in vying for the 2036 Olympics, including Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey, Poland, Egypt, and South Korea. The competition among these countries will go through a rigorous selection process, led by the IOC's Future Host Commission.

If selected, the 2036 Olympics would be a landmark moment for India, realizing a dream held by millions and putting India firmly on the global sports stage.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India's cricket team, led by Captain Rohit Sharma, is focusing on mental preparation after a surprising 3-0 defeat by New Zealand at home. The recent series exposed significant batting weaknesses that they hope to address before embarking on a challenging Australian tour.

With the shift from Indian turning tracks to the fast, bouncy pitches in Australia, opening in Perth on November 22, the team faces a tough transition. Sharma highlights the critical need to create a supportive atmosphere to prepare inexperienced players for the intensity of Australian Test matches.

India aims to build confidence through extensive match simulations at WACA, close to the bouncy Optus Stadium, hoping to capitalize on the preparation. Success in the five-match series is crucial for reaching another World Test Championship final, following past victories over Australia.

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Veteran India wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha has announced his retirement from cricket, saying that the ongoing Ranji Trophy season will be his last.

The 40-year-old Bengal stumper has featured in 40 Tests and nine ODIs since making his international debut in 2010.

"After a cherished journey in cricket, this season will be my last. I am honoured to represent Bengal one final time, playing only in the Ranji Trophy before I retire," Saha said in a social media post.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India delivered an impressive performance at the Under-19 World Boxing Championships in Colorado, USA, securing 17 medals, including four golds, across the men’s and women’s categories. The Indian squad, featuring 19 boxers, 9 men and 10 women, saw 12 athletes reach the finals, with every female boxer winning a medal.

The four gold medalists included Hemant Sangwan, the only male champion, and female champions Krisha Verma, Parthavi Grewal, and Vanshika Goswami. Of the medalists, 11 were Khelo India athletes, eight of whom trained at the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) National Center of Excellence (NCOE) Rohtak, which claimed 10 medals overall. NCOE Aurangabad contributed one gold by Krisha Verma. India now looks to further establish itself in boxing, hoping for the sport’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has ousted Indian counterpart Jasprit Bumrah to claim the top position in the latest ICC Men's Test Player Rankings announced Wednesday.

Rabada's recent exceptional form during the World Test Championship, including reaching his 300th Test wicket in a victory over Bangladesh in Mirpur, secured his ascent to number one.

Kagiso Rabada's achievement came amid significant shifts in player rankings, impacting cricketers such as Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Santner, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, with various players making strides in bowling and batting positions globally.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: In Tennis, India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Australian companion Matthew Ebden have advanced to the Men’s Doubles quarterfinals of the Paris Masters in France last night.

The Indian-Australian duo, seeded third, defeated Alexander Zverev of Germany and Marcelo Melo of Brazil in the pre-quarterfinal in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6.
    
Bopanna and Ebden have also clinched a spot in the ATP Finals, which will be held from November 10 at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy. The ace shuttlers sealed their place in the Finals after the United States’ pair of Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow were eliminated at the Paris Masters in the Round of 32. This will be Bopanna’s fourth appearance at the ATP Finals. Last year, they reached the semi-finals before being defeated by Granollers and Zeballos.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Kane Williamson will not travel to India for the third Test in Mumbai to ensure he is fit for the upcoming three-Test series against England, the New Zealand Cricket said on Tuesday.

Williamson has been battling a groin complaint he picked up against Sri Lanka last month and hasn't featured for the BlackCaps through their drought-breaking victories in the opening two matches of the series against India.

"A cautious approach will instead be taken which will see Williamson continue his groin injury rehabilitation in New Zealand ahead of the first England Test starting at Hagley Oval on November 28," it said in a statement.

Head coach Gary Stead said Williamson had made good progress, but the cautious approach would give him time to be fully fit for the England series.

“Kane continues to show good signs, but isn’t quite ready to jump on a plane and join us. While things are looking promising, we think the best course of action is for him to stay in New Zealand and focus on the final part of his rehabilitation so he’ll be good to go for England," said Stead.

“The England series is still a month away so taking the cautious approach now will ensure he is ready for the first Test in Christchurch," he added.

The wins over India have boosted New Zealand's hopes of reaching next year's ICC World Test Championship Final. currently occupy fourth place on the World Test Championship standings and can still reach the 2025 final with positive results over their remaining fixtures against India and England.

The third and final Test against India begins on Friday at the Wankhede Stadium.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: In Table Tennis, India’s Yashaswini Ghorpade and Krittwika Roy clinched the women’s doubles title at the WTT Feeder Cagliari 2024 table tennis tournament in Italy, yesterday. The star Indian duo defeated the South Korean pair of Yoo Siwoo and Kim Haeun 3-1 in the final to capture the crown. 

Earlier, the Indian table tennis players, seeded second in the tournament, beat the Italian team of Arianna Barani and Maria Picu 3-0 in the first round before downing Japan’s Sachi Aoki and Sakura Yokoi by the same scoreline in the quarter-finals.

The duo earned its place in the final with a 3-1 win over German fourth seeds Sophia Klee and Franziska Schreiner. Ghorpade also made the semi-finals of the mixed doubles event with Harmeet Desai. The Indian top seeds, however, bowed out following a 3-0 loss to the Italian pair of John Oyebode and Gaia Monfardini.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Chirag Chikkara became only the third Indian to become Under-23 world champion as India capped a rich haul of nine medals, including a gold and silver each, at the age group tournament here

Chikkara, competing in the men's freestyle 57kg category, eked out a narrow 4-3 in the closing seconds of the final win over Abdymalik Karachov of Kyrgyzstan.

He becomes the second Indian man, after Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat, to win the gold at the U23 Championships.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: New Zealand women’s all-rounder Amelia Kerr has been ruled out of remaining ODIs against India after tearing her left quadricep muscle in the series opener at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

In that match, Amelia suffered the injury during her spell of 4-42 and had come out to bat at number nine, where she remained unbeaten on 25, as New Zealand were bowled out for 168 in 40.4 overs in a chase of 227.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said in a statement that Amelia was taken for scans the morning after the game held on October 24, where New Zealand lost by 59 runs. The scans revealed a grade one quadricep tear requiring approximately three weeks of recovery.

NZC added that Amelia will return home on October 27 to start rehabilitation, with the side not going to call for a replacement in their squad with the final game of the series to be played on October 29.

“We’re really gutted for Melie. Injuries are always a challenging time for a player and we know how disappointed she is to not be able to play these games. Everyone knows how much of an integral part of this team Melie is so we’ll certainly miss her but we’re wishing her a speedy recovery,” said head coach Ben Sawyer.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Indian golfers Sneha Singh and Avani Prashanth, who skipped the Hero Women’s Indian Open as it clashed with the LPGA Q-Series Qualifying, failed to reach the the Final Stage.

Sneha, the 2023 domestic Order of Merit winner, shot rounds of 73-72-73-78 to finish at 8-over and was Tied-144th, while Avani with rounds of 80-74-72-72 was 10-over and T-167 at the Plantation Golf and Country Club.

Meanwhile, first-generation Indian-American, Gurleen Kaur, who had a low key first year on the LPGA, will make an attempt to get back to the Tour as she made the Q-Series finals.
 

PUNE [Maha Media]: Mitchell Santner's fiery spell helped New Zealand defeat India by 113 runs in the second Test of the three-match series in Pune. 

Chasing 359, India lost the wicket of their skipper Rohit Sharma for 8 but Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill's partnership brought them back into the game, However, Santner kept on striking at regular intervals as India got bundled out for 245 and lost the game by 113 runs. 

For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner scalped seven and six wickets while Ajaz Patel scalped two. For India, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 77 while Ravindra Jadeja scored 42. 

With this win, New Zealand have clinched the three-match Test series 2-0. This is the first time since 2012 that India lost a Test series at home

Earlier, top-notch spells for Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja helped India bundle out New Zealand for 255 on Day 3 of the second Test in Pune. 

After getting bowled out for 156, India got off to a terrible start with the ball as the Kiwi batters thrashed many runs. 

Tom Latham scored 86 while Glenn Phillips 48* runs. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: New Zealand are 85 for 2 at Tea on Day 2 with a lead of 188 runs against India in the ongoing second Test at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. 

Rachin Ravindra and Will Young are unbeaten at the moment. 

Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar both have picked a wicket each for the hosts. 

Earlier, India's star-studded batting line-up could not stand up to the challenge posed by New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner as the hosts were bundled out for 156 in 45.3 overs, giving the Tom Latham-led side a crucial first-innings lead of 103 runs on the second day of the second Test in Pune on Friday. 

Left-arm spinner Santner (7/53 in 19.3 overs) and off-spinner Glenn Phillips (2/26 in 6 overs) took nine wickets to demolish India.

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]:  Liverpool made it three wins on the bounce as Darwin's lone goal secured a narrow 1-0 victory over a tenacious RB Leipzig side in the third round.

Leipzig came into the game highly motivated and put Liverpool on the back foot as Amadou Haidara tested goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, while Benjamin Sesko's dangerous curled shot went just wide in the opening stages.

It took Liverpool some time to get going, but they shocked the home side with their first chance in the 27th minute when Darwin tapped home Mo Salah's header from close range, reports Xinhua.

Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi was forced to tip promising headers from Darwin and Virgil van Dijk over the bar as the visitors gained momentum.

The Reds almost doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time, but Cody Gakpo shot wide from close range after Dominik Szoboszlai's good build-up work.

Leipzig tried to respond after the restart but were too hasty in the final third to create any clear-cut chances against the well-organized visitors.

Liverpool were the more threatening side in front of the goal as Alexis Mac Allister hit the woodwork with a shot from 16 meters in 70 minutes.

Leipzig came to life and created good chances, with Kelleher saving Sesko's effort two minutes later before Lois Openda's 83rd-minute equalizer was ruled out for offside.

The home side continued to search for an equalizer but failed to create any further chances, while Gakpo was denied a goal in the closing stages.
 

PUNE [Maha Media]: All-rounder Washington Sundar justified his selection with a career-best 7/59 to help India bowl out New Zealand for 259, but the hosts lost skipper Rohit Sharma early in their first innings when stumps were drawn on day of the second Test, here on Thursday.

India crawled to 16 for one in 11 overs with Yashasvi Jaiswal (6 not out) and Shubman Gill (10 not out) at the crease, trailing by another 243 runs in the first innings.

Tim Southee cleaned up Rohit for a nine-ball duck, forcing the hosts to be extra cautious with the debacle of first innings in the Bengaluru Test still fresh in the mind.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Former world No.1 doubles shuttler Chirag Shetty termed the exclusion of badminton from the 2026 Commonwealth Games curriculum a wrong decision, and questioned how the organisers could do away with the most popular sport in the event.

The 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games on Tuesday unveiled a heavily scaled-down roster, excluding hockey, shooting, cricket, badminton and wrestling from the curriculum, a move which will severely hurt India's medal prospects at the quadrennial event.

"I think it's a very bad decision, to be honest. I can say for badminton, I think it's the most watched sport. It's definitely one of the most watched sports in the Commonwealth Games," said Chirag, who along with partner Satwiksairaj Rankireddy is the 2022 Birmingham CWG men's doubles champions, besides being the mixed team gold medallist at Gold Coast in 2018.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India's cricket team has received encouraging news as pace bowler Mohammed Shami is now pain-free following a heel surgery earlier this year. The seasoned cricketer is set to participate in domestic matches to fine-tune his game ahead of India's anticipated tour of Australia starting next month.

Shami, who hasn't represented the national team since the World Cup final against Australia last year due to injuries, was seen practicing on the final day of the first test against New Zealand. Despite a separate knee injury ruling him out of the ongoing New Zealand series, hopes are high for his return.

In an interview, Shami confirmed his recovery and readiness to put additional effort into his practice. He emphasized the importance of playing domestic matches to prepare for the challenging series in Australia. The tour is scheduled to begin on November 22 in Perth.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Opener Abhishek Sharma struck a scintillating half-century after an excellent performance by the bowlers as a dominant India defeated UAE by seven wickets to enter the semifinals of the Emerging Teams Asia Cup here on Monday.

This was the Indian team's second win in as many matches in the tournament, having beaten traditional rivals Pakistan by seven runs in the opener.

Abhishek smashed 58 in 24 balls before Ayush Badoni completed the formality of chasing down a target of 108 with a six and four. India won with as many as 55 balls still left to be bowled.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]:  Kane Williamson will not be available for the second Test match against India, as he continues his rehabilitation from a groin strain, New Zealand Cricket said on Tuesday.

Williamson, who suffered the injury during the recent Test series against Sri Lanka last month and was sidelined for their drought-breaking victory over India in Bengaluru earlier this week, will remain in New Zealand to continue working towards full fitness.

Head coach Gary Stead said that while Williamson was making progress, he wasn't yet ready to return to Test cricket.

“We're monitoring Kane and he's tracking in the right direction, but isn't yet 100% fit. We're hopeful to see further improvement over the coming days and have him available for the third Test. We'll give him as much time as possible to get himself ready, but certainly continue to take a cautious approach," said Stead.

New Zealand's victory over India in the first Test was their first in the Asian country since 1988 and moved them up to fourth place on the current World Test Championship standings.

India remain in top spot on the standings despite the loss, with their lead on second-placed Australia and third-placed Sri Lanka reduced as a result.

The second Test against India begins on Thursday in Pune.

New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Monegasque Charles Leclerc of the Ferrari team won the 19th round of the Formula 1 championship, the US Grand Prix, which took place on the Austin track. 

Leclerc started from the fourth position and completed 56 laps faster than anyone else. His teammate, Spaniard Carlos Sainz, finished second (8.562 seconds behind). The current world champion, Dutchman Max Verstappen (+19.412) of the Red Bull team rounded out the top three. The top ten following the US Grand Prix included: 4. Lando Norris (Great Britain, McLaren, +20.354); 5. Oscar Piastri (Australia, McLaren, +21.921); 6. George Russell (Great Britain, Mercedes, +56.072); 7. Sergio Perez (Mexico, Red Bull, +59.072); 8. Nico Hulkenberg (Germany, Haas, +1.02.957); 9. Liam Lawson (New Zealand, RB, +1.10.563); 10. Franco Colapinto (Argentina, Williams, +1.11.979). 

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain from the Mercedes team retired early in the race. The next race of the Formula 1 championship will be held on October 27 in Mexico. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant on Sunday said there will always be ups and downs in the game but what is important is to "rise stronger every time" after a setback.

India suffered a rare defeat at home on Sunday when they went down against New Zealand by eight wickets in the first Test. It was New Zealand's first Test win in India in 36 years.

"This game will test your limits, knock you down, lift you up and throw you back again. But those who love it rise stronger every time," wrote Pant on X.

The southpaw scored a blazing 99 off 105 balls in India's second innings score of 462.

He applauded the Bengaluru crowd for their support and vowed to come back stronger in the second Test in Pune beginning October 24.

"Thanks to the amazing Bengaluru crowd for the love, support and cheers. We will be back stronger," he wrote.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: There will be a firsttime winner of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup when New Zealand play South Africa in Sunday’s final in Dubai. Sophie Devine’s New Zealand completed a narrow win over West Indies here on Fridaynight to seal their place in Sunday’s  showpiece, where they will hope to lift the trophy for the first time. Their opponents South Africa defeated six-time champions Australia in the first semi-final on Thursday, and will be looking to go one better than the last edition, when they were losing finalists on home soil.

This will be just the second time that the Proteas have reached the final of a major tournament, following their run in 2023, which ended with a 19-run loss to Australia in Cape Town. For the White Ferns, Sunday’s final will be their first appearance in a T20 World Cup final in 14 years. The Kiwis were losing finalists in each of the first two editions of the tournament, beaten by England in 2009 and Australia in 2010, an ICC report said. Only three teams have ever won the Women’s T20 World Cup across its eight previous editions. England won the inaugural event on home soil at Lord’s, and West Indies triumphed at Eden Gardens in 2016. Beaten semi-finalists Australia have won the other six titles, including at each of the three previous tournaments. Neither New Zealand nor South Africa have won a T20 World Cup title across the men's and women's tournaments.

Sunday’s final is scheduled for 18:00 local time and will be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

ITANAGAR [Maha Media]: Preparations for the second edition of the Tawang International Marathon are in full swing, a defence official said.

The high-altitude marathon, dubbed the 'Queen of High-Altitude Runs', is being jointly organised by the Indian Army and the Arunachal Pradesh government on October 24, defence spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said.

He said it is a key event in promoting the civil-military bonhomie in the scenic border town of Tawang.
 

BENGALURU [Maha Media]: India got bowled out for 462 runs and gave New Zealand a target of 107 to win the first Test at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. 

New Zealand pace bowlers William O'Rourke and Matt Henry took three wickets each. 

Earlier, Rishabh Pant missed his century by one run. Pant played on a delivery from William O'Rourke. KL Rahul too failed to impress amid increasing pressure on his place in the team, especially after Sarfaraz Khan smashed 150 earlier in the day. Sarfaraz, who hit his maiden Test ton, scored a career best 150 off just 194 balls. 

Meanwhile, Pant became the fastest Indian wicketkeeper to score 2500 Test runs.

Earlier, rain delayed the resumption of the game by over two hours. Meanwhile, Pant has become the fastest Indian wicketkeeper to score 2500 Test runs. He achieved the milestone in just 62 innings, surpassing the previous record held by former captain MS Dhoni, who reached the landmark in 69 innings. 

Earlier, India went into the lunch break at 344/3, reducing the deficit to just 12 runs. Sarfaraz and Pant were instrumental in India’s morning recovery, adding 113 runs off just 132 balls. 

Sarfaraz, playing in only his third Test, displayed grit and impeccable shot selection, reaching his maiden Test century with a beautifully timed punch through the covers. His poise was complemented by Pant's typical flamboyance, as the wicketkeeper-batter raced to a half-century with audacious strokes all around the ground. The only scare came when a mix-up between the two nearly resulted in a run-out, but they survived the moment of panic. With Pant’s aggressive intent and Sarfaraz’s steady accumulation, India looked set to take command of the match. However, a sudden downpour at Bengaluru brought an early halt to proceedings, with the players forced off the field for an extended break. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: In Badminton, Olympic medalist PV Sindhu will face China’s Han Yue in the pre-quarterfinal of the women’s singles at the Denmark Open today. The match is scheduled to start at 1:50 PM IST. 

In her opening match, Sindhu advanced after her opponent, Pai Yu Po of Taipei, retired midway through the game.
 

BENGALURU [Maha Media]: India were on Thursday bowled for just 46 runs in their first innings, their lowest total in a home Test on the second day of the rain-hit opening Test against New Zealand here.

India's previous lowest score at home was 75, recorded against West Indies in New Delhi in 1987.

The Indian batters struggled to negotiate the conditions, folding in 31.1 overs. As many as five Indian batters returned without bothering the scorer Rishabh Pant top-scored for the hosts with his 20 off 49 balls.

India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat against New Zealand on Day 2 of the first Test in Bengaluru. India have included Sarfaraz Khan and spinner Kuldeep Yadav in their Playing XI. 

The duo has replaced Shubman Gill and Akash Deep respectively. Gill has been rested, due to a stiff neck. 

In case the Test turns out to be a draw, it might hamper India’s chances, if only slightly, to qualify for the WTC final so the Rohit Sharma-led crew would hope to get a result in this series before travelling Down Under in what promises to be a nail-biting affair.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: After three days of intense bidding wars, eight Men’s and four Women’s Teams are ready to face each other in the Hockey India League 2024-25 in December.

Indian Hockey Team defenders Harmanpreet Singh and Udita were the most wanted players in the Auction of the muchanticipated return of the Hockey India League. 

Udita was acquired by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for 32 lakh while Soorma Hockey Club bagged Harmanpreet Singh for 78 lakh. Hyderabad Toofans, Soorma Hockey Club, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, Delhi SG Pipers, Tamil Nadu Dragons, UP Rudras, Kalinga Lancers and Team Gonasika were the Men’s franchises that sought to outbid each other in the Men’s Auction on October 13 and 14.

In the Women’s Auction, on October 15, Soorma Hockey Club, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, Delhi SG Pipers and Odisha Warriors faced off in a bid to form the strongest squad of 24 players in the league. 

While the Hockey India League is restarting after a seven-year hiatus, the return of the league is accompanied by the commencement of a Women’s Hockey India League, the very first of its kind in India.

The Women’s Hockey India League will run concurrently with the Men’s, and its Final will be held in Ranchi on January 26. Indian Women’s Hockey Team defender Udita outsold multiple famous international hockey stars to become the highest buy of the Auction at 32 lakh for Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers. 

At the end of the Auction, some of her notable teammates were triple Olympics Gold medallist Eva Roma Maria Drummond from the Netherlands and Vandana Katariya, the highest-capped player in the history of Indian Women’s Hockey. 

“Hockey India is breaking barriers and setting new standards by holding a Women’s Hockey India League at the same time as the Men’s Hockey India League. It was the first time most of us registered for an Auction and the whole team was excited to be a part of it,” Udita commented. 

“This will be a good opportunity to showcase our skills and grow as athletes by playing with players from different nationalities. All of us are eager to give our 100 per cent to the League. I am happy to be the highest buy of the Hockey India League and I would like to thank the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for putting their faith in me. They have formed an impressive team and I cannot wait to get on the pitch and aim to win the League,” she added. 
 

BENGALURU [Maha Media]: Unrelenting rain wiped out play on day one of the opening Test between India and New Zealand here on Wednesday.

The play was called off at 2.34 PM as heavy rain lashed the M Chinnaswamy Stadium after relenting for about half an hour earlier.

The match officials came out to inspect the pitch around 2 PM after outfield and first layer of covers were removed around 1.50 PM.

But there were large damp areas on either side of the pitch as hessians were brought out in a last-ditch attempt to get some game time.

However, it was a futile effort as extensive damage was already done by rains of varying intensity from early morning.

Earlier, even the toss, which was scheduled at 9 AM, could not take place as rain came down relentlessly over the city from morning.

There was a smattering of spectators at the stadium despite the inclement weather.

But the only moment of excitement for them was the sighting of star batter Virat Kohli and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who went for an indoor net session along with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar.

They might have to wait further for action even on the second day as the current forecast is for more rain on Thursday at least till noon.

It may be recalled that even the training sessions of both teams were washed away by heavy downpour on Tuesday.

Play on day two is scheduled at 9.15 am and toss at 8.45 am.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India were eliminated from the Women's T20 World Cup after New Zealand scripted a commanding 54-run victory over Pakistan here on Monday to reach the semifinals for the first time since the 2016 edition.

India's only chance to make the semifinals was depended on a Pakistan win with an inferior Net Run-rate compared to theirs.

Pakistan were very much in the game after restricting New Zealand to a meagre 110 for six in 20 overs.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India's Lakshya Sen battled hard against China's Lu Guang Zu but ultimately lost in three games to make an early exit from the Denmark Open Super 750 badminton tournament here on Tuesday.

Lakshya, a 2021 World championship bronze medallist, squandered an opening game advantage, losing 21-12 19-21 14-21 to Lu in a men's singles opening round match which lasted 70 minutes.

The 22-year-old from Almora, who finished fourth at the Paris Olympics, had previously lost in the second round of the Arctic Open in Finland last week.
 

BENGALURU [Maha Media]: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, the torchbearers of India's transition phase, will have to be the team's driving force in its quest to lord over an unsettled New Zealand when the two sides square off in a three-Test series, beginning here on Wednesday.

The baton has not been completely passed, but Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are certainly running their last lap and these two young superstars will have to show that they can carry forward the legacy of the titans.

Since a productive series against England earlier this year, Gill is now more familiar and comfortable with the rigours of Test cricket.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will be eager to bounce back from a disappointing resumption to their season when they compete in the USD 850,000 Denmark Open Super 750, starting Tuesday.

Both players found the going tough in the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, last week where former world champion Sindhu suffered a first-round exit, while 2021 world bronze winner Sen bowed out in the second round.

At Arena Fyn in Odense, they will hope for better results as they lead India's challenge in this prestigious tournament, the 13th event of the 2024 BWF World Tour.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 133 international goals as Portugal beat Poland 3-1 for their third straight Nations League win, media reports said. 

The 39-year-old Ronaldo has now struck in all three games of this Nations League campaign for Portugal scored the goal on Saturday, the Express Tribune reported. Bernardo Silva volleyed Portugal ahead in the 26th minute in Warsaw as Bruno Fernandes  cleverly nodded a cross from Ruben Neves back towards the Manchester City midfielder. Ronaldo then found himself in the right place at the right time to turn in the rebound for Portugal's second after Rafael Leao's shot came back off the post following a brilliant surging run by the AC Milan winger.

Piotr Zielinski cut the deficit for Poland but Jan Bednarek's own goal sealed victory for Portugal, the lone remaining team in League A with a 100 percent record, and they could secure a place in the quarter-finals next week. 
 

BENGALURU [Maha Media]: India head coach Gautam Gambhir is not too concerned about the recent lukewarm form of Virat Kohli, insisting that the star batter remains as hungry as he was when he made his debut and should not be judged after every match.

Kohli has made only one fifty, a 76 against South Africa at Centurion in December 2023, in his last eight innings, and him regaining his touch is crucial for India against New Zealand in a three-Test rubber starting on Wednesday and during the five-match series against Australia next month.

Gambhir is confident that Kohli will come good very soon.