Former world darts champion Michael Smith crashes out at first hurdle
Michael Smith's alarming run of form continued as he crashed out of the World Championship at the first hurdle in a stunning defeat to Kevin Doets.
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Michael Smith's alarming run of form continued as he crashed out of the World Championship at the first hurdle in a stunning defeat to Kevin Doets.
Hosts India will face arch rivals Pakistan in the opening match of the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup on January 13, the organisers announced on Wednesday. As many as 24 countries have confirmed their participation in the week-long event (January 13-19), which will be organised at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the national capital and at the Noida Indoor Stadium. "The league matches will start on January 13. There will be an opening ceremony on that day and after that the most exciting match of the season, the match between India and Pakistan men's teams will be played," Kho Kho World Cup CEO Vikram Dev Dogra said during a media interaction.
Richa Ghosh smashed a record-equalling fastest fifty while Smriti Mandhana made a graceful fifty to propel India to a 60-run victory over the West Indies in the third and final women's T20I in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. Thus India clinched the three-match series 2-1, and it was also the home side's first T20I series win at home since October 2019. Ghosh struck a 21-ball 54 (3x4s, 5x6s) while bringing up her fifty off a mere 18 balls and Mandhana made a robust 77 to power India to their highest ever T20I total of 217 for four.
Veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami will be rested for Bengal's Vijay Hazare Trophy opener against Delhi on Saturday in Hyderabad, the Cricket Association of Bengal announced on Thursday. Shami, who last played for India at the 2023 ODI World Cup, recently returned to domestic cricket after a lengthy injury layoff due to ankle surgery. He has since been recuperating at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. While Shami made an impressive comeback taking seven wickets to help Bengal clinch their first win of in this season's Ranji Trophy, he took nine wickets in the recently-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Ravichandran Ashwin has retired. The sudden announcement that came after India drew with Australia in the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy has left a big void in the team. Not only was Ashwin the world's highest active wicket-taker (537 scalps in 106 matches) but he was an able batter and a shrewd tactician too. But now, India will have to manage without him starting from the Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne. So who is going to be Ashwin's successor in the Indian team? Washington Sundar looks to be the obvious choice. He played the first Test in Perth, while Ravichandran Ashwin played the second in Adelaide. Ravindra Jadeja played the third Test in Brisbane as the lone spinner.
Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement announcement might have sent shockwaves across the cricketing fraternity but it isn't a decision that Ashwin made in an instant. His recent performances, status in the team, age, fitness, and emerging players, are some of the factors that would've likely impacted Ashwin's decision. When former India spinner Harbhajan Singh was asked about Ashwin's decision, he did admit that it was a big shock. The 'Turbanator' thinks that a doubt in Ashwin's mind over his selection for India's Tour of England next year may have played a part.
Major Dhyan Chand Scholarship Award worth Rs 28.80 lakh will be offered to 48 zonal winners of the SOG Grandmasters Series, the organisers of the mind sports events announced after the South Zone finals on Thursday. The competition, organised by Skillhub Online Games Federation, was held in three categories -- eChess, Blind Chess and Rummy and a total of 132 players competed for the top spots.
Former Australia cricketers Brett Lee and Brad Haddin speculated about the reasons that led to legendary India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's sudden retirement midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. Ashwin announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket upon the conclusion of the third Test, with two Tests still remaining in the series. Lee and Haddin speculated that Ashwin may have already been communicated about his future in the side, and that he may have been frustrated with the constant uncertainty regarding his place.