Players.bio is a large online platform sharing the best live coverage of your favourite sports: Football, Golf, Rugby, Cricket, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA, plus the latest sports news, transfers & scores. Exclusive interviews, fresh photos and videos, breaking news. Stay tuned to know everything you wish about your favorite stars 24/7. Check our daily updates and make sure you don't miss anything about celebrities' lives.
The sprinkling of stardust over the Champions Trophy may appear somewhat thin on its return to the calendar after eight years but fans can expect a wide open one-day international tournament in the absence of an overwhelming favourite.
The Champions Trophy is being revived after eight years with holders and hosts Pakistan playing New Zealand in the opening game of the ninth edition on Wednesday.
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif admitted that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) caught him off guard with the appointment of Rajat Patidar as there new captain. Earlier this week, RCB named Patidar as their new captain ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Kaif suggested that the move was a bit surprising as he thought Kohli would be the one to lead RCB, especially after the franchises decided not to retain Faf du Plessis, who led the team for three seasons.
Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the opening match of the Champions Trophy on Wednesday, February 19, at the National Stadium in Karachi. The hosts head into the competition on the back of a 5-wicket loss to the same side in the final of a tri-nation series, also involving South Africa. Days after chasing a 350 plus target against South Africa in Karachi, Pakistan opted to bat at the same venue, but were restricted to under 250 by the Black Caps, who chased down the total without any discomfort.
One of the most promising young cricketers in the game, Yashasvi Jaiswal has rapidly grown into an all-format player for the Indian team. The left-handed opening batter made his ODI debut for India in the recently-concluded 3-match series against Englan. Though Jaiswal only played one game in the series, he is widely seen as one of the future cricketing superstars for the nation. Jaiswal was also selected for India's preliminary Champions Trophy squad but was later removed as the selectors wanted to make space for spinner Varun Chakravarthy's inclusion.
Spain took sweet revenge for their defeat against India in the bronze-medal match at the Paris Olympics, overcoming Harmanpreet Singh's side 3-1 in a FIH men's Pro League game in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. India put up a lackluster show in their first Pro League match this season, even as Spain showed loads of determination with Borja Lacalle (28th), Ignacio Cobos (38th) and Bruno Avila (56th) slotting home the goals after the hosts had taken the lead in the 25th minute through Sukhjeet Singh.
Harshit Rana has been the flavour of the season as far as India's emerging crop of fast bowlers is concerned but one of head coach Gautam Gambhir's finds is unlikely to start in India's playing eleven in the Champions Trophy with Arshdeep Singh still considered way ahead in terms of talent and quality. The Indian team management gave Harshit all three ODIs against England, and if one is absolutely fair to the burly 6-feet-2-inch tall Delhi speedster, he has not looked out of place.
The Indian men's hockey team made a brilliant comeback to down Spain 2-0 in a return leg match of the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. India lost to Spain 1-3 in the first match of the leg on Saturday despite taking the lead through Sukhjeet Singh's goal. On Sunday, however, it was a completely different looking Indian side as it dominated for most part of the match and scored two field goals through Mandeep Singh (32nd minute) and Dilpreet Singh (39th) to pocket full three points. India will next play Germany on Tuesday.