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India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI: India look to seal ODI series

Welcome to Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, which will stage its maiden international game and become the country’s landmark 50th ODI venue when India take on New Zealand in the second ODI at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on Saturday night. A sellout crowd of 50,000 spectators is expected. India have some white-ball issues to sort out before they dive into the much-awaited four-Test series against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February-March. There is, after all, an ODI World Cup later in the year, and every game will give the team some answers about the ideal team combination.

Hockey World Cup: India's game of 'numbers' in race to quarters, but Wales have nothing to lose

The word 'easy' had a lot of context. The draw against England was thrilling, but both teams had just a point to show for it. No goals. Hardik Singh's injury made India more jittery about a top-place finish in Pool D for a direct spot in the last-eight. And England had their noses slightly in front with a better goal difference, thanks to their 5-0 hammering of Wales.Spain are not out yet either. They lost 0-2 to India but came back to wallop Wales 5-1 and covered some of the lost ground in the race to the quarterfinals.

Rafael Nadal sidelined for 6-8 weeks with hip flexor injury

Nadal's title defence ended bitterly on Wednesday as he slumped to a 6-4 6-4 7-5 defeat by Mackenzie McDonald, the latest chapter in a long history of fitness problems at Melbourne Park.The 36-year-old had an MRI scan on his left leg in Melbourne on Thursday, which revealed a grade 2 injury in the Illiopsoas, the primary hip flexor."He will be resting the next days once back in Spain and will start with anti-inflammatory physiotherapy," his team said in a statement.

Ailing defending champion Rafael Nadal bows out of Australian Open

Nadal's elimination shakes up the men's draw and puts a twist in the Grand Slam titles race, with nine-times champion Novak Djokovic able to draw level with the Spaniard's 22 major championships should he take a 10th crown at Melbourne Park.Nadal appeared to suffer a strain in his left hip area while running for a backhand deep in the second set at Rod Laver Arena and after receiving attention from a trainer he took an off-court medical time-out when trailing 6-4, 5-3.

Hockey World Cup: We know how to handle pressure, says Hardik Singh

India's opening win of the Men's Hockey World Cup against Spain was celebrated amid a festival-like atmosphere both in and outside the BMHS, while the 2-0 victory allowed skipper Harmanpreet Singh and his team to settle their nerves.But their toughest test in the pool stage arrives Sunday evening when England will try to pull out all stops and follow their 5-0 hammering of Wales by upsetting the hosts in front of a packed stadium.

India light up the Hockey World Cup, beat Spain to open campaign

India dominated the game, but it will be only fair to add that the scoreline could have been a lot more dominating had India's circle penetrations and relentless pressure turned into goals, some of which were agonizingly close.

Emma Raducanu suffers injury scare ahead of Australian Open

Former US Open champion Raducanu swept the first set in 22 minutes but faltered in the second and had her left ankle examined during a medical time-out, before leaving the court in tears after being unable to complete the first point of the decider.The Australian Open begins on January 16.Earlier, Coco Gauff beat fellow American Sofia Kenin 6-4, 6-4 to set up a quarter-final match against China's Zhu Lin, who outlasted Venus Williams 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in a rain-hit match that ran two hours and 23 minutes.

I like to turn a deaf ear to criticism and keep things simple. Ignorance is bliss, says Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer talks to TOI about coping with criticism, honing his skills & how he and Ashwin steered India to safety in Mirpur...Unlike most cricket fans who were navigating through insane Mumbai traffic enroute to the Wankhede to watch the thrilling first T20I between India and Sri Lanka on Tuesday, India's most consistent ODI batter from last year, and the hero of the Test win in Mirpur in December along with R Ashwin, Shreyas Iyer, was busy finding a cricket ground to practise. After an exhausting net session and an arduous drive back to his residence in Parel, Iyer caught up with TOI for a freewheeling chat.Excerpts from an interview:

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Timesofindia.indiatimes.com Sport News

India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI: India look to seal ODI series

Hockey World Cup: India's game of 'numbers' in race to quarters, but Wales have nothing to lose

Rafael Nadal sidelined for 6-8 weeks with hip flexor injury

Ailing defending champion Rafael Nadal bows out of Australian Open

Hockey World Cup: We know how to handle pressure, says Hardik Singh

India light up the Hockey World Cup, beat Spain to open campaign

Emma Raducanu suffers injury scare ahead of Australian Open

I like to turn a deaf ear to criticism and keep things simple. Ignorance is bliss, says Shreyas Iyer