Sports
India-England ODIs in Pune to be played without spectators
The three-match ODI series between India and England in Pune will be played without spectators due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, the state cricket association said on Saturday. The three matches are slated to be played at the MCA Stadium in Gahunje on the outskirts of the city on March 23, 26 and 28.
Off-the-field 'doosra': Ashwin lashes out at pitch critics
India off-spinner R Ashwin's media interaction on Saturday turned a bit bitter at one point after an English journalist asked him about the pitch and whether the cricketer thought the pitch for the third Test was good. Ashwin called on people to stop buying the narrative of pitches that help turn from the first day not being good, from players and media abroad.
Mentality of this Indian team is like Australia in the 90s: Darren Gough
Former England pacer Darren Gough has compared the mentality of the current Indian side to the Australian outfit of the 1990s, saying Virat Kohli's men know how to "get a team by the throat and win, win, win". Gough, who had captured seven wickets to help England beat West Indies in two days at Headingley in 2000, said the recent twin defeats in India will leave England mentally "fragile".
Foreign skeet coach abandons Indian shooters before Olympics
Italian skeet coach Ennio Falco will not train Indian shooters preparing for this year's Olympic Games as he has joined the Qatar national squad, an official of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) said on Saturday.
Vijay Hazare: Prerak slams 174 as Saurashtra thrash Chandigarh by 62 runs
Middle-order batsman Prerak Mankad on Saturday took Eden Gardens by storm with a sensational 174 to power Saurashtra to a 62-run win over Chandigarh in a group E clash of the Vijay Hazare Trophy here.
Talk about the surface getting out of hand, says Ashwin
India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Saturday said that talks regarding the pitch are getting out of hand and he once again reiterated that one should be talking about the quality of play rather than the 22 yards. India batsman Rohit Sharma clarified that he did not think the pitch had any demons. Even skipper Virat Kohli was vocal about the dreadful batting display from the two teams.
From being mocked & doubted, Bumrah's 'action' takes him far
When Jasprit Bumrah started troubling young batsmen with pace generated by his quick arm action and short run-up at his school's cricket academy, a few other pace-bowling trainees approached their coach, mocking and doubting his action. Bumrah's mother was initially a teacher at this school and had graduated to become the vice-principal.
India vs England: Motera likely to escape ICC 'Red Eye'
The Motera track may have received a lot of flak after the pink ball Test ended inside two days but it is unlikely to attract any severe sanctions from the game's governing body ICC with the pitch for the final game set to be a batting beauty. Also the Indian team management doesn't want to prepare a track that can ideally backfire on them in a very high-stake game of cricket.
An eye on IPL expansion, BCCI says not in favour of ICC's cycle
If an eight-event cycle, over a period of eight years, goes ahead as proposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), it will lead to a T20 World Cup being organised every alternate year. And the BCCI - which runs the world's hottest T20 property in the Indian Premier League (IPL) - fears the move will eat into its market going forward.
NZ vs Aus: Third and fourth T20Is to be played behind closed doors
The upcoming third and fourth T20Is between New Zealand and Australia will be played behind closed doors, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed on Saturday. The decision regarding the fifth T20I between New Zealand and Australia and the third T20I between White Ferns and England will be taken later on.
Iga Swiatek crushes Belinda Bencic to win Adelaide title
French Open champion Iga Swiatek crushed world number 12 Belinda Bencic in straight sets to claim the Adelaide International at Memorial Drive on Saturday. Swiatek burst onto the tennis scene at Roland Garros last year when she claimed the French Open crown, defeating then world number six Sofia Kenin in the final.
Tendulkar, Jayasuriya to feature in Road Safety World Series
Former India cricketers Yusuf Pathan, Naman Ojha and Vinay Kumar, all of whom recently announced their retirements, will feature in the India Legends team, which includes Sachin Tendulkar, in the 'Road Safety World Series' starting here on March 5.