<p>The Indian doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty reached a career-best world number five while HS Prannoy regained his place in the top 10 in men's singles in the BWF world rankings issued on Tuesday. Satwik and Chirag have been on a stellar run this year with two world tour titles at Indian Open Super 500 and French Open Super 750 and also claimed a maiden gold at the Commonwealth Games and a bronze at the World Championships.</p>

<p>Their unprecedented success reflected in the ranking as the duo jumped two places to the top five with 75,806 rating points from 15 tournaments. Prannoy, too, made gains in the latest ranking as he once again broke into the top 10, grabbing the world number 9 place after starting the year at world number 26.<br />
The 30-year-old from Kerala, who had first cracked the elite bracket in 2016, dished out some memorable performances in the season with seven quarterfinals, two semifinals and a runner-up finish at the Swiss Open.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tata-open-us-open-champions-rajeev-ram-joe-salisbury-to-headline-star-studded-doubles-field-544866">Tata Open: US Open champions Rajeev Ram, Joe Salisbury to headline star-studded doubles field</a></strong></p>

<p>He also shepherded the Indian team to a historic Thomas Cup win in Bangkok but an individual title eluded him. His consistent run, however, was enough to earn him a place in the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals and a nomination for the BWF Player of the year award. Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen continued to be the best-placed Indian at number seven while former world no. 1 Kidambi Srikanth gained a rung to the 11th position.</p>

<p>Double Olympic medallist P V Sindhu continued to hold on to the number six position in women's singles while the women's doubles combination of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, who had won a bronze in Birmingham, climbed two places to world number 18. In mixed doubles, Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto also jumped three places to reach the 21st spot.</p>


The Indian doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty reached a career-best world number five while HS Prannoy regained his place in the top 10 in men's singles in the BWF world rankings issued on Tuesday.

The Indian doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty reached a career-best world number five while HS Prannoy regained his place in the top 10 in men's singles in the BWF world rankings issued on Tuesday. Satwik and Chirag have been on a stellar run this year with two world tour titles at Indian Open Super 500 and French Open Super 750 and also claimed a maiden gold at the Commonwealth Games and a bronze at the World Championships. Their unprecedented success reflected in the ranking as the duo jumped two places to the top five with 75,806 rating points from 15 tournaments. Prannoy, too, made gains in the latest ranking as he once again broke into the top 10, grabbing the world number 9 place after starting the year at world number 26. The 30-year-old from Kerala, who had first cracked the elite bracket in 2016, dished out some memorable performances in the season with seven quarterfinals, two semifinals and a runner-up finish at the Swiss Open. Also read: Tata Open: US Open champions Rajeev Ram, Joe Salisbury to headline star-studded doubles field He also shepherded the Indian team to a historic Thomas Cup win in Bangkok but an individual title eluded him. His consistent run, however, was enough to earn him a place in the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals and a nomination for the BWF Player of the year award. Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen continued to be the best-placed Indian at number seven while former world no. 1 Kidambi Srikanth gained a rung to the 11th position. Double Olympic medallist P V Sindhu continued to hold on to the number six position in women's singles while the women's doubles combination of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, who had won a bronze in Birmingham, climbed two places to world number 18. In mixed doubles, Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto also jumped three places to reach the 21st spot.

BWF world rankings: Indian pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty achieve career-best No.5 spot

<p>The reigning US Open champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury will headline the star-studded doubles field at the fifth edition of Tata Open Maharashtra along with four Indians, including the defending champions Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan. South Asia’s only ATP 250 event will take place at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune from December 31 to January 7.</p>

<p>The pair of World No. 3 Ram and Salisbury, the World No. 4, has entered Tata Open Maharashtra with a combined team ranking of seven. The three-time Grand Slam champion American-British duo enjoyed an incredibly successful 2022 season, winning the US Open title for the second time in a row and also won two ATP Masters 1000 titles before capping off the year by clinching the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.</p>

<p>“We look forward to welcoming the reigning US Open champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury to Tata Open Maharashtra. It’s a strong field which also has four Indians including Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan, who won the title together last year. It’s always great to watch our players dominating at the tournament in front of home fans and we expect similar gameplay in the upcoming edition as well,” said Prashant Sutar, Tournament Director of Tata Open Maharashtra. &nbsp;</p>

<p>“I’m delighted to see four Indians in the main draw along with top stars from the tennis world, including champion duo, Ram and Salisbury. It’s going to be exciting. We have seen what Indians are capable of last year and I hope the upcoming edition will also give our players an edge, playing in front of home fans. Indians doing well at the big events like this has always been pleasing for us,” said Sunder Iyer, the Joint Secretary of All India Tennis Association and Secretary of MSLTA.</p>

<p>Among other notable foreign stars to receive direct entries are: American duo Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow, who won their first ATP Tour doubles title together at the 2022 Southern California Open in San Diego, and French duo of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul. The former World No. 24 Sander Gille and former World No. 28 Joran Vliegen also made the cut with a combined ranking of 121.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-have-roger-federer-lauds-lionel-messi-with-a-heartfelt-post-after-argentina-win-fifa-world-cup-544521">'You have....' - Roger Federer lauds Lionel Messi with a heartfelt post after Argentina win FIFA World Cup</a></strong></p>

<p>The Tata Open Maharashtra, owned by IMG and managed by RISE Worldwide, will be conducted by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) for the fifth year in Pune. The tournament, sponsored by Tata Motors, serves as a lead-up to the Australian Open—first Grand Slam of the season.</p>

<p>Bopanna and Ramkumar, who clinched the title last year, will play along with different partners this time. The two-time champion Bopanna, who is also the top-ranked Indian doubles player in the world at 19, will team up with Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. Ramanathan, on the other hand, will join forces with Mexico’s Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela.</p>

<p>Saketh Myneni and Yuki Bhambri are the other two Indians to feature in the doubles main draw. Playing together, Myneni and Bhambri have won six titles on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2022.</p>

<p>The 16-team draw will have two wild card entries, which are yet to be announced. The former US Open champion Marin Cilic and the last edition’s runner-up Emil Ruusuvuori will lead a strong field in the singles main draw, which also includes 17 Top-100 players.</p>

<p>The qualifying event will begin on December 31 while the main draw will be played from January 2-7.</p>


The reigning US Open champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury will headline the star-studded doubles field at the fifth edition of Tata Open Maharashtra along with four Indians, including the defending champions Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan.

The reigning US Open champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury will headline the star-studded doubles field at the fifth edition of Tata Open Maharashtra along with four Indians, including the defending champions Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan. South Asia’s only ATP 250 event will take place at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune from December 31 to January 7. The pair of World No. 3 Ram and Salisbury, the World No. 4, has entered Tata Open Maharashtra with a combined team ranking of seven. The three-time Grand Slam champion American-British duo enjoyed an incredibly successful 2022 season, winning the US Open title for the second time in a row and also won two ATP Masters 1000 titles before capping off the year by clinching the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin. “We look forward to welcoming the reigning US Open champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury to Tata Open Maharashtra. It’s a strong field which also has four Indians including Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan, who won the title together last year. It’s always great to watch our players dominating at the tournament in front of home fans and we expect similar gameplay in the upcoming edition as well,” said Prashant Sutar, Tournament Director of Tata Open Maharashtra. “I’m delighted to see four Indians in the main draw along with top stars from the tennis world, including champion duo, Ram and Salisbury. It’s going to be exciting. We have seen what Indians are capable of last year and I hope the upcoming edition will also give our players an edge, playing in front of home fans. Indians doing well at the big events like this has always been pleasing for us,” said Sunder Iyer, the Joint Secretary of All India Tennis Association and Secretary of MSLTA. Among other notable foreign stars to receive direct entries are: American duo Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow, who won their first ATP Tour doubles title together at the 2022 Southern California Open in San Diego, and French duo of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul. The former World No. 24 Sander Gille and former World No. 28 Joran Vliegen also made the cut with a combined ranking of 121. Also read: 'You have....' - Roger Federer lauds Lionel Messi with a heartfelt post after Argentina win FIFA World Cup The Tata Open Maharashtra, owned by IMG and managed by RISE Worldwide, will be conducted by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) for the fifth year in Pune. The tournament, sponsored by Tata Motors, serves as a lead-up to the Australian Open—first Grand Slam of the season. Bopanna and Ramkumar, who clinched the title last year, will play along with different partners this time. The two-time champion Bopanna, who is also the top-ranked Indian doubles player in the world at 19, will team up with Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. Ramanathan, on the other hand, will join forces with Mexico’s Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela. Saketh Myneni and Yuki Bhambri are the other two Indians to feature in the doubles main draw. Playing together, Myneni and Bhambri have won six titles on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2022. The 16-team draw will have two wild card entries, which are yet to be announced. The former US Open champion Marin Cilic and the last edition’s runner-up Emil Ruusuvuori will lead a strong field in the singles main draw, which also includes 17 Top-100 players. The qualifying event will begin on December 31 while the main draw will be played from January 2-7.

Tata Open: US Open champions Rajeev Ram, Joe Salisbury to headline star-studded doubles field

<p>India's ongoing tour of Bangladesh saw Ishan Kishan create history. Kishan featured in India's playing XI in the third and final ODI, with regular captain Rohit Sharma being injured, and opened the innings with Shikhar Dhawan. He looked in his elements from the word go and smashed a magnificent 131-ball 210, laced with 24 fours and 10 sixes, to become the fourth Indian to enter the 200-run club in ODIs.</p>

<p>Kishan became the youngster and fastest to score an ODI double ton. Overall, he became only the seventh to join the elite club -- comprising legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit, etc. Despite his recent heroics, the 24-year-old remains grounded and is destined for more success. Recently, a fan requested Ishan to give an autograph on his cellphone -- above MS Dhoni's. To this, the youngster won hearts with his gesture.</p>

<p>Kishan said in a video shared on Twitter, “<em>Mahi bhai ka hai signature aur uske upar bol rahe hain mera karne…mereko thoda ho nahi raha hai</em>&nbsp;(This is Mahi bhai’s signature and you are telling me to sign above it. I can’t do this). "Mahi bhai ka signature hai upar, abhi humlog utna pahunche nahi hai wahan par…neeche karta hun “I have not reached the level of MS Dhoni, I will sign in the bottom)," added the Indian keeper-batter. Here's the viral clip:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Sorry I can't sign above <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MSDhoni</a>'s Autograph" - Ishan Kishan ❤️<a href="https://t.co/5b5yhuEC3X">pic.twitter.com/5b5yhuEC3X</a></p>
— DHONI Era™ 🤩 (@TheDhoniEra) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDhoniEra/status/1605046399644700674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-a-big-zero-as-captain-dont-compare-him-to-virat-kohli-former-pakistan-spinner-slams-babar-azam-544847">He is a big zero as captain, don't compare him to Virat Kohli: Former Pakistan spinner slams Babar Azam</a></strong></p>

<p>Dhoni retired from international cricket in mid-2020. However, he remains a big name in world cricket. During his illustrious career from 2004-2019, the former Indian captain earned accolades for his glovework, tactical acumen as a leader, finishing, and unorthodox keeping skills along with his ability to stay calm under pressure.</p>

<p>Dhoni ended with 17,266 international runs, 108 half-centuries, 16 tons -- including a double century in Tests -- 359 sixes, 634 catches, 195 stumpings and led India to all three major ICC titles. He remains active in the IPL and will lead Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2023 edition.</p>


India's ongoing tour of Bangladesh saw Ishan Kishan create history. Kishan featured in India's playing XI in the third and final ODI, with regular captain Rohit Sharma being injured, and opened the innings with Shikhar Dhawan.

India's ongoing tour of Bangladesh saw Ishan Kishan create history. Kishan featured in India's playing XI in the third and final ODI, with regular captain Rohit Sharma being injured, and opened the innings with Shikhar Dhawan. He looked in his elements from the word go and smashed a magnificent 131-ball 210, laced with 24 fours and 10 sixes, to become the fourth Indian to enter the 200-run club in ODIs. Kishan became the youngster and fastest to score an ODI double ton. Overall, he became only the seventh to join the elite club -- comprising legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit, etc. Despite his recent heroics, the 24-year-old remains grounded and is destined for more success. Recently, a fan requested Ishan to give an autograph on his cellphone -- above MS Dhoni's. To this, the youngster won hearts with his gesture. Kishan said in a video shared on Twitter, “Mahi bhai ka hai signature aur uske upar bol rahe hain mera karne…mereko thoda ho nahi raha hai (This is Mahi bhai’s signature and you are telling me to sign above it. I can’t do this). "Mahi bhai ka signature hai upar, abhi humlog utna pahunche nahi hai wahan par…neeche karta hun “I have not reached the level of MS Dhoni, I will sign in the bottom)," added the Indian keeper-batter. Here's the viral clip: "Sorry I can't sign above @MSDhoni's Autograph" - Ishan Kishan ❤️pic.twitter.com/5b5yhuEC3X — DHONI Era™ 🤩 (@TheDhoniEra) December 20, 2022 × Also read: He is a big zero as captain, don't compare him to Virat Kohli: Former Pakistan spinner slams Babar Azam Dhoni retired from international cricket in mid-2020. However, he remains a big name in world cricket. During his illustrious career from 2004-2019, the former Indian captain earned accolades for his glovework, tactical acumen as a leader, finishing, and unorthodox keeping skills along with his ability to stay calm under pressure. Dhoni ended with 17,266 international runs, 108 half-centuries, 16 tons -- including a double century in Tests -- 359 sixes, 634 catches, 195 stumpings and led India to all three major ICC titles. He remains active in the IPL and will lead Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2023 edition.

WATCH - 'I can’t do this': Ishan Kishan wins hearts, refuses to sign autograph above MS Dhoni's

<p>2022 is coming to an end. The calendar year has been an eventful one for sports lovers across the globe. The cricketing fans have had plenty to cheer for with a plethora of big events passing by. Talking about the Indian cricket team, it was another action-packed year with plenty of highs and some glaring lows. The calendar year is set to end after a few international assignments left for both senior men's and women's teams. <strong>Let's have a quick recap of 2022:</strong></p>

<p><strong>Men in Blue in 2022</strong></p>

<p>The year started with India continuing their tour of South Africa. After winning the Boxing Day Test match, Virat Kohli-led India had a 1-0 lead against Dean Elgar-led Proteas and was aiming for an unassailable 2-0 scoreline, which would've meant&nbsp;their&nbsp;maiden Test series triumph in the African nation. The second and penultimate Test started with skipper Kohli ruled out, due to upper back spasm, and KL Rahul led the side as they lost the match by seven wickets.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/pakistan-vs-england-rawalpindi-run-feast-most-runs-scored-on-a-single-day-of-a-test-539499">Pakistan vs England, Rawalpindi run-feast: Most runs scored on a single day of a Test</a></strong></p>

<p>The same fate followed suit for India in the third and final Test, once again&nbsp;losing by seven wickets, despite Kohli's return. After the series, the 33-year-old dropped a bombshell by resigning as the Test captain. He wrote on Twitter, "It's been 7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance everyday to take the team in the right direction. I've done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there. Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test Captain of India, it's now."</p>

<p>"There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey, but never has there been a lack of effort or lack of belief. I have always believed in giving my 120 percent in everything I do, and if I can't do that, I know it's not the right thing to do. I have absolute clarity in my heart and I cannot be dishonest to my team," Kohli added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="und">🇮🇳 <a href="https://t.co/huBL6zZ7fZ">pic.twitter.com/huBL6zZ7fZ</a></p>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1482340422987169794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>By then, Kohli's fallout with the top brass at the BCCI had already made the headlines; following the 2021 T20 World Cup and his sacking as the ODI captain in early December. While news channels ran plenty of shows on Kohli vs BCCI alleged spat, Team India embarked upon a new journey under full-time captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid.</p>

<p>With Rohit unfit for the SA ODIs, Rahul led India in three ODIs as the visitors were whitewashed 3-0 with several questions being raised on their outdated approach in the format.</p>

<p><strong>Home comforts</strong></p>

<p>After the miserable SA tour, India switched to home comforts by&nbsp;hosting&nbsp;West Indies in a white-ball series, comprising three T20Is and ODIs each, followed by three T20Is and two Tests versus Sri Lanka. As expected, India stream rolled both the oppositions by whitewashing all four series. Amid injury concerns to Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul, etc., India got busy in preparing a team for the T20 World Cup&nbsp;in Australia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>IPL 2022</strong></p>

<p>The action shifted to the 15th season of IPL in March-May. While top cricketers such as Virat, Rohit, Jadeja, Bumrah, etc. struggled or didn't perform as per expectations, the likes of Umran Malik, Mohsin Khan, Rajat Patidar, Rahul Tripathi, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Hooda, etc. made a mark; spoiling the national selectors and team management with more choices for the T20 WC Down Under.</p>

<p><strong>India host South Africa</strong></p>

<p>After the IPL, Team India captaincy became a game of musical chairs. With Rohit rested and KL injured, Rishabh Pant led India in a five-match T20I series which ended in a 2-2 stalemate. Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, and Harshal Patel were the most impressive.</p>

<p><strong>India tour of Ireland, England</strong></p>

<p>With Rohit and other senior players busy preparing for the one-off Test versus England, i.e. the series finale of the five Tests from the incomplete 2021 tour, Hardik led India in two T20Is against Ireland. Coach Dravid was also involved with the red-ball side, leading NCA chief VVS Laxman to fill in for him in Dublin. India beat the Irish camp&nbsp;1-0. In the series finale versus England, India was led by pacer Jasprit Bumrah with Rohit ruled out due to Covid concerns.</p>

<p>Under Bumrah, India achieved a sizeable 132-run lead in the Edgbaston face-off, however, failed to defend a challenging 378-run target to lose by seven wickets. After&nbsp;SA, Team India faltered and lost a&nbsp;big opportunity&nbsp;to win a memorable series overseas.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/queen-of-womens-cricket-top-6-records-held-by-mithali-raj-486290"><strong>Queen of women's cricket: Top 6 records held by Mithali Raj</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>White-ball dominance</strong></p>

<p>After the disappointments of Edgbaston, India played hosts England in three T20Is and ODIs each. The likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik, Rishabh Pant, Bumrah, etc., impressed as Rohit &amp; Co. won both the series 2-1. Post the England trip, India travelled to West Indies with a second-stringed Shikhar Dhawan-led team playing the Windies in three ODIs and winning every game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the five T20Is, Rohit returned and led India to a 4-1 series win. The tour saw impressive performances from Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Surya, Arshdeep Singh, and Ravi Bishnoi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Asia Cup</strong></p>

<p>After a short tour of Zimbabwe, where Rahul led India to a 3-0 ODI series win, the dress rehearsal began for the T20 WC. With less than two months left, India&nbsp;entirely shifted to the T20 mode with the continental tournament in the UAE. Winning two back-to-back games, India topped their group and proceeded to the Super Four round. After losing to Pakistan in a closely-fought match, the Men in Blue succumbed to a shocking six-wicket loss to eventual winners Sri Lanka and bowed out of the competition without booking a place in the final. It was a big jolt&nbsp;before the ICC event in Australia.</p>

<p><strong>Once again, home series to the rescue!</strong></p>

<p>The Australia and South Africa home series wins worked as a balm following India's Asia Cup debacle. The three T20Is versus Aaron Finch-led Australia was an intense affair where India emerged on top (2-1). The series win was followed by another top-class performance versus the Proteas, winning&nbsp;2-1 in three T20Is. India had some inconsistency to address at the top, debates continued with regard to one or two spots but the national side left for Australia as the No. 1 ranked side and a strong contender to end their 15-year-long wait for the T20 WC trophy.&nbsp;Nonetheless, they had lost the services of Bumrah and Deepak Chahar due to injury concerns.</p>

<p><strong>Similar issues push India back in the mega event...</strong></p>

<p>India started the tournament by winning a warm-up game versus hosts and defending champions Australia. Their warm-up game versus New Zealand was washed out. On October 23, Rohit-led India played their tournament opener versus arch-rivals Pakistan. In a nerve-wracking contest at the MCG, Melbourne, the one-time winners India rode on Virat Kohli's masterclass 82 to beat Pakistan on the last ball, chasing&nbsp;160, with four wickets.</p>

<p>Rohit &amp; Co. comfortably beat the Netherlands by 56 runs before losing to South Africa by five wickets in an intense low-scoring thriller at Perth. This followed with a dramatic and controversial win over Bangladesh, by 5 runs (DLS method), before India thrashed Zimbabwe by 71 runs to top their group and storm into the semi-finals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the semis, India faced eventual winners England who gave them a reality check. Playing timid cricket with the bat, not backing a seasoned wrist spinner in Yuzvendra Chahal (who warmed the bench in the entire tournament), and lacking spice and variety in their bowling attack led to India's exit as they lost to England by ten wickets while defending a moderate 168/6 in Adelaide.</p>

<p><strong>A new dawn with the 2023 ODI WC in mind</strong></p>

<p>After the T20 WC, India toured NZ for three T20Is and ODIs each. While Hardik led the side in T20Is, winning 1-0, Dhawan &amp; Co. lost the ODIs by same the margin which exposed India's lack of extra bowling options and their muddled approach at the top along with several takers for the middle-order spots. Currently, India is in Bangladesh for the three ODIs and two Tests (having&nbsp;lost the ODIs 2-1 and leading the Test series&nbsp;1-0 with the final Test on December 22).</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-tour-of-bangladesh-full-squads-schedule-timings-telecast-all-you-need-to-know-539445"><strong>India tour of Bangladesh: Full squads, schedule, timings, telecast - All you need to know</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Women in Blue in 2022</strong></p>

<p>The senior women's team completely outplayed their male counterparts in the calendar year. India started the year with a tour of New Zealand; a final preparatory series before the 2022 ODI World Cup in the Kiwi land. It was a miserable series with India losing the only T20I and going down in the five ODIs (1-4).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>CWC 2022</strong></p>

<p>In Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami's final WC appearance, India never achieved consistency to go all the way. There were some moments of brilliance met by some below-par performances but the Indian eves' Achilles heel remained their knack of succumbing under pressure; leading to an early exit. India beat the likes of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and West Indies but lost against all big teams such as England, NZ, Australia and South Africa to end in the fifth position.</p>

<p><strong>The big retirement</strong></p>

<p>After the World Cup, it was only a matter of time before Mithali would've hung up her boots. On June 08, she announced her international retirement, bringing an end to a stellar career.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you for all your love &amp; support over the years!<br />
I look forward to my 2nd innings with your blessing and support. <a href="https://t.co/OkPUICcU4u">pic.twitter.com/OkPUICcU4u</a></p>
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) <a href="https://twitter.com/M_Raj03/status/1534454266324205568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>In her illustrious 23-year-long international career, Mithali&nbsp;ended with the most runs in women's ODIs (7,805).&nbsp;In 89 T20Is, the 39-year-old returned with&nbsp;2,364 runs and amassed&nbsp;699 runs in 12 Tests, comprising a double ton. Under Mithali's leadership, India&nbsp;reached the ODI World Cup final&nbsp;in the 2005 and 2017 editions.</p>

<p><strong>A promising&nbsp;first impression in CWG 2022</strong></p>

<p>Cricket was re-included in the Commonwealth Games during the 2022 edition in Birmingham, England. This was the first time that women's teams competed in the mega event where Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian eves returned with a silver medal. While they once again fell flat in the final hurdle, Harman &amp; Co. impressed enough to end with&nbsp;silver; beating the likes of Pakistan, Barbados, and England but closely&nbsp;losing&nbsp;twice to gold medallists Australia.</p>

<p>Smriti Mandhana, Harman, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, and Sneh Rana were the top performers in India's inspiring campaign.</p>

<p><strong>India create history in England</strong></p>

<p>India toured England for a white-ball series comprising three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs. While the tourists went down in the T20Is, losing 1-2, they created history as the women's team won its first ODI series in England since 1999. Moreover, India went on to whitewash the 2017 champions in their own backyard.</p>

<p>The third and final ODI was, however, marred with controversy as Deepti Sharma running Charlie Dean out became a big talking point. It opened a pandora's box leading to much talk on the spirit of cricket, the laws of the game, etc. Nonetheless, nothing can be taken away from India's clinical&nbsp;performance in the ODIs.</p>

<p><strong>Asia Cup dominance</strong></p>

<p>While their male counterparts failed to even reach the final, Harmanpreet-led India stormed into the summit clash winning six out of seven games. In the final, India thrashed Sri Lanka by eight wickets to win the title for the seventh time. They buried the ghosts of the 2018 edition, in Kuala Lampur, (the only time they missed the glory) to make a strong statement.</p>

<p>Apart from the highs of the women's team and some golden opportunities missed by the Men in Blue, the U-19 boys also shined by winning the&nbsp;ODI World Cup&nbsp;early this year. Overall, it was a mixed bag for the senior men's side along with&nbsp;plenty of highs -- amid the retirements of stalwarts Mithali and Jhulan -- for their women counterparts in 2022.</p>

<p>With some assignments still left, both men's and women's line-ups will hope to end the year on a high as 2023 awaits with a new set of challenges.</p>


2022 is coming to an end. The calendar year has been an eventful one for sports lovers across the globe. The cricketing fans have had plenty to cheer for with a plethora of big events passing by.

2022 is coming to an end. The calendar year has been an eventful one for sports lovers across the globe. The cricketing fans have had plenty to cheer for with a plethora of big events passing by. Talking about the Indian cricket team, it was another action-packed year with plenty of highs and some glaring lows. The calendar year is set to end after a few international assignments left for both senior men's and women's teams. Let's have a quick recap of 2022: Men in Blue in 2022 The year started with India continuing their tour of South Africa. After winning the Boxing Day Test match, Virat Kohli-led India had a 1-0 lead against Dean Elgar-led Proteas and was aiming for an unassailable 2-0 scoreline, which would've meant their maiden Test series triumph in the African nation. The second and penultimate Test started with skipper Kohli ruled out, due to upper back spasm, and KL Rahul led the side as they lost the match by seven wickets. Also read: Pakistan vs England, Rawalpindi run-feast: Most runs scored on a single day of a Test The same fate followed suit for India in the third and final Test, once again losing by seven wickets, despite Kohli's return. After the series, the 33-year-old dropped a bombshell by resigning as the Test captain. He wrote on Twitter, "It's been 7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance everyday to take the team in the right direction. I've done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there. Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test Captain of India, it's now." "There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey, but never has there been a lack of effort or lack of belief. I have always believed in giving my 120 percent in everything I do, and if I can't do that, I know it's not the right thing to do. I have absolute clarity in my heart and I cannot be dishonest to my team," Kohli added. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/huBL6zZ7fZ — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 15, 2022 × By then, Kohli's fallout with the top brass at the BCCI had already made the headlines; following the 2021 T20 World Cup and his sacking as the ODI captain in early December. While news channels ran plenty of shows on Kohli vs BCCI alleged spat, Team India embarked upon a new journey under full-time captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid. With Rohit unfit for the SA ODIs, Rahul led India in three ODIs as the visitors were whitewashed 3-0 with several questions being raised on their outdated approach in the format. Home comforts After the miserable SA tour, India switched to home comforts by hosting West Indies in a white-ball series, comprising three T20Is and ODIs each, followed by three T20Is and two Tests versus Sri Lanka. As expected, India stream rolled both the oppositions by whitewashing all four series. Amid injury concerns to Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul, etc., India got busy in preparing a team for the T20 World Cup in Australia. IPL 2022 The action shifted to the 15th season of IPL in March-May. While top cricketers such as Virat, Rohit, Jadeja, Bumrah, etc. struggled or didn't perform as per expectations, the likes of Umran Malik, Mohsin Khan, Rajat Patidar, Rahul Tripathi, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Hooda, etc. made a mark; spoiling the national selectors and team management with more choices for the T20 WC Down Under. India host South Africa After the IPL, Team India captaincy became a game of musical chairs. With Rohit rested and KL injured, Rishabh Pant led India in a five-match T20I series which ended in a 2-2 stalemate. Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, and Harshal Patel were the most impressive. India tour of Ireland, England With Rohit and other senior players busy preparing for the one-off Test versus England, i.e. the series finale of the five Tests from the incomplete 2021 tour, Hardik led India in two T20Is against Ireland. Coach Dravid was also involved with the red-ball side, leading NCA chief VVS Laxman to fill in for him in Dublin. India beat the Irish camp 1-0. In the series finale versus England, India was led by pacer Jasprit Bumrah with Rohit ruled out due to Covid concerns. Under Bumrah, India achieved a sizeable 132-run lead in the Edgbaston face-off, however, failed to defend a challenging 378-run target to lose by seven wickets. After SA, Team India faltered and lost a big opportunity to win a memorable series overseas. Also read: Queen of women's cricket: Top 6 records held by Mithali Raj White-ball dominance After the disappointments of Edgbaston, India played hosts England in three T20Is and ODIs each. The likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik, Rishabh Pant, Bumrah, etc., impressed as Rohit & Co. won both the series 2-1. Post the England trip, India travelled to West Indies with a second-stringed Shikhar Dhawan-led team playing the Windies in three ODIs and winning every game. In the five T20Is, Rohit returned and led India to a 4-1 series win. The tour saw impressive performances from Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Surya, Arshdeep Singh, and Ravi Bishnoi. Asia Cup After a short tour of Zimbabwe, where Rahul led India to a 3-0 ODI series win, the dress rehearsal began for the T20 WC. With less than two months left, India entirely shifted to the T20 mode with the continental tournament in the UAE. Winning two back-to-back games, India topped their group and proceeded to the Super Four round. After losing to Pakistan in a closely-fought match, the Men in Blue succumbed to a shocking six-wicket loss to eventual winners Sri Lanka and bowed out of the competition without booking a place in the final. It was a big jolt before the ICC event in Australia. Once again, home series to the rescue! The Australia and South Africa home series wins worked as a balm following India's Asia Cup debacle. The three T20Is versus Aaron Finch-led Australia was an intense affair where India emerged on top (2-1). The series win was followed by another top-class performance versus the Proteas, winning 2-1 in three T20Is. India had some inconsistency to address at the top, debates continued with regard to one or two spots but the national side left for Australia as the No. 1 ranked side and a strong contender to end their 15-year-long wait for the T20 WC trophy. Nonetheless, they had lost the services of Bumrah and Deepak Chahar due to injury concerns. Similar issues push India back in the mega event... India started the tournament by winning a warm-up game versus hosts and defending champions Australia. Their warm-up game versus New Zealand was washed out. On October 23, Rohit-led India played their tournament opener versus arch-rivals Pakistan. In a nerve-wracking contest at the MCG, Melbourne, the one-time winners India rode on Virat Kohli's masterclass 82 to beat Pakistan on the last ball, chasing 160, with four wickets. Rohit & Co. comfortably beat the Netherlands by 56 runs before losing to South Africa by five wickets in an intense low-scoring thriller at Perth. This followed with a dramatic and controversial win over Bangladesh, by 5 runs (DLS method), before India thrashed Zimbabwe by 71 runs to top their group and storm into the semi-finals. In the semis, India faced eventual winners England who gave them a reality check. Playing timid cricket with the bat, not backing a seasoned wrist spinner in Yuzvendra Chahal (who warmed the bench in the entire tournament), and lacking spice and variety in their bowling attack led to India's exit as they lost to England by ten wickets while defending a moderate 168/6 in Adelaide. A new dawn with the 2023 ODI WC in mind After the T20 WC, India toured NZ for three T20Is and ODIs each. While Hardik led the side in T20Is, winning 1-0, Dhawan & Co. lost the ODIs by same the margin which exposed India's lack of extra bowling options and their muddled approach at the top along with several takers for the middle-order spots. Currently, India is in Bangladesh for the three ODIs and two Tests (having lost the ODIs 2-1 and leading the Test series 1-0 with the final Test on December 22). Also read: India tour of Bangladesh: Full squads, schedule, timings, telecast - All you need to know Women in Blue in 2022 The senior women's team completely outplayed their male counterparts in the calendar year. India started the year with a tour of New Zealand; a final preparatory series before the 2022 ODI World Cup in the Kiwi land. It was a miserable series with India losing the only T20I and going down in the five ODIs (1-4). CWC 2022 In Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami's final WC appearance, India never achieved consistency to go all the way. There were some moments of brilliance met by some below-par performances but the Indian eves' Achilles heel remained their knack of succumbing under pressure; leading to an early exit. India beat the likes of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and West Indies but lost against all big teams such as England, NZ, Australia and South Africa to end in the fifth position. The big retirement After the World Cup, it was only a matter of time before Mithali would've hung up her boots. On June 08, she announced her international retirement, bringing an end to a stellar career. Thank you for all your love & support over the years! I look forward to my 2nd innings with your blessing and support. pic.twitter.com/OkPUICcU4u — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) June 8, 2022 × In her illustrious 23-year-long international career, Mithali ended with the most runs in women's ODIs (7,805). In 89 T20Is, the 39-year-old returned with 2,364 runs and amassed 699 runs in 12 Tests, comprising a double ton. Under Mithali's leadership, India reached the ODI World Cup final in the 2005 and 2017 editions. A promising first impression in CWG 2022 Cricket was re-included in the Commonwealth Games during the 2022 edition in Birmingham, England. This was the first time that women's teams competed in the mega event where Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian eves returned with a silver medal. While they once again fell flat in the final hurdle, Harman & Co. impressed enough to end with silver; beating the likes of Pakistan, Barbados, and England but closely losing twice to gold medallists Australia. Smriti Mandhana, Harman, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, and Sneh Rana were the top performers in India's inspiring campaign. India create history in England India toured England for a white-ball series comprising three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs. While the tourists went down in the T20Is, losing 1-2, they created history as the women's team won its first ODI series in England since 1999. Moreover, India went on to whitewash the 2017 champions in their own backyard. The third and final ODI was, however, marred with controversy as Deepti Sharma running Charlie Dean out became a big talking point. It opened a pandora's box leading to much talk on the spirit of cricket, the laws of the game, etc. Nonetheless, nothing can be taken away from India's clinical performance in the ODIs. Asia Cup dominance While their male counterparts failed to even reach the final, Harmanpreet-led India stormed into the summit clash winning six out of seven games. In the final, India thrashed Sri Lanka by eight wickets to win the title for the seventh time. They buried the ghosts of the 2018 edition, in Kuala Lampur, (the only time they missed the glory) to make a strong statement. Apart from the highs of the women's team and some golden opportunities missed by the Men in Blue, the U-19 boys also shined by winning the ODI World Cup early this year. Overall, it was a mixed bag for the senior men's side along with plenty of highs -- amid the retirements of stalwarts Mithali and Jhulan -- for their women counterparts in 2022. With some assignments still left, both men's and women's line-ups will hope to end the year on a high as 2023 awaits with a new set of challenges.

From World Cup heartbreaks to CWG'22 silver medal: Reliving Team India's 2022

<p>Ben Stokes' England Test team completed a historic whitewash over hosts Pakistan in the third and final Test on Tuesday (December 20). Resuming Day 4 at 112-2 with only 55 more required for a win, Stokes-Ben Duckett (82 not out) ended the proceedings in the first session with eight wickets in hand as England won the series 3-0, resulting in Pakistan being whitewashed for the first time at home.</p>

<p>After this performance, Pakistan have slipped to the seventh position in the ICC World Test Championship points table -- with them pretty much of the race for WTC final spot (alive by the barest of margins). Post the humiliating series loss at home, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria slammed captain Babar Azam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaneria said, "People should stop comparing Babar Azam to Virat Kohli. The likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are very big players. Pakistan have nobody in their team who can be compared to them. If you make them talk, they will be a king. When you ask them to produce results, they'll be zero."</p>

<section><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-icc-world-test-championship-points-table-after-england-whitewash-pakistan-in-karachi-544786">Updated ICC World Test Championship points table after England whitewash Pakistan in Karachi</a></strong>

<p>Kaneria didn't mince his words and feels Babar should step aside as the Test captain and asked for someone else to take charge. He opined that the Pakistan captain had a good chance of learning captaincy by looking at&nbsp;Stokes and England coach Brendon McCullum. Kaneria added, "Babar Azam is a big zero as captain. He doesn't deserve to lead the team. He is not capable of leading the team, especially when it comes to Test cricket. He had a good chance of learning captaincy by looking at Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum during the series. Or, he could have kept his ego aside and asked Sarfaraz Ahmed how to captain, who was sidelined as soon as Babar came into the team."</p>

<p>Talking about the third Test, in Karachi, Pakistan opted to bat first and only made 304. Harry Brooks' ton propelled England to 354 all-out before Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed's five-fer dismissed the hosts to 216 in their second essay; setting up a paltry 167-run target which was easily achieved by the English line-up.</p>
</section>


Ben Stokes' England Test team completed a historic whitewash over hosts Pakistan in the third and final Test on Tuesday (December 20). Resuming Day 4 at 112-2 with only 55 more required for a win, Stokes-Ben Duckett (82 not out) ended the proceedings in the first session with eight wickets in hand as England won the series 3-0, resulting in Pakistan being whitewashed for the first time at home.

Ben Stokes' England Test team completed a historic whitewash over hosts Pakistan in the third and final Test on Tuesday (December 20). Resuming Day 4 at 112-2 with only 55 more required for a win, Stokes-Ben Duckett (82 not out) ended the proceedings in the first session with eight wickets in hand as England won the series 3-0, resulting in Pakistan being whitewashed for the first time at home. After this performance, Pakistan have slipped to the seventh position in the ICC World Test Championship points table -- with them pretty much of the race for WTC final spot (alive by the barest of margins). Post the humiliating series loss at home, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria slammed captain Babar Azam. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaneria said, "People should stop comparing Babar Azam to Virat Kohli. The likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are very big players. Pakistan have nobody in their team who can be compared to them. If you make them talk, they will be a king. When you ask them to produce results, they'll be zero." Also read: Updated ICC World Test Championship points table after England whitewash Pakistan in Karachi Kaneria didn't mince his words and feels Babar should step aside as the Test captain and asked for someone else to take charge. He opined that the Pakistan captain had a good chance of learning captaincy by looking at Stokes and England coach Brendon McCullum. Kaneria added, "Babar Azam is a big zero as captain. He doesn't deserve to lead the team. He is not capable of leading the team, especially when it comes to Test cricket. He had a good chance of learning captaincy by looking at Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum during the series. Or, he could have kept his ego aside and asked Sarfaraz Ahmed how to captain, who was sidelined as soon as Babar came into the team." Talking about the third Test, in Karachi, Pakistan opted to bat first and only made 304. Harry Brooks' ton propelled England to 354 all-out before Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed's five-fer dismissed the hosts to 216 in their second essay; setting up a paltry 167-run target which was easily achieved by the English line-up.

He is a big zero as captain, don't compare him to Virat Kohli: Former Pakistan spinner slams Babar Azam

<p>On Friday (December 23), the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 mini-auction will take place in Kochi. This will be the 16th IPL auction and will take place in Kochi for the first time. Early this year, the IPL 2022 mega auction had taken place in February.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The final auction pool will comprise&nbsp;405 players -- from the originally registered 991. A maximum&nbsp;of 87 slots will&nbsp;be filled by&nbsp;the ten IPL franchises. Of these, 30 will be overseas players. It is to be noted that&nbsp;there will be a total of 273 Indian players&nbsp;and 132 overseas - including four from associate nations. Moreover, there are 119 capped&nbsp;and another 286&nbsp;players who are uncapped.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before the start of the proceedings in Kochi, a former Indian cricketer and an IPL legend is the oldest player to have registered for the mini-auction. He is none other than Amit Mishra. Mishra, who represented India in 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and 12 T20Is,&nbsp;is one of the most successful bowlers in the IPL. He remains the third highest wicket-taker, bagging 166 scalps in 154 matches at 23.95, and is&nbsp;the&nbsp;only bowler to claim three hat-tricks in the franchise-based tournament.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-remaining-purse-of-all-10-teams-ahead-of-mini-auction-in-kochi-544772">IPL 2023: Remaining purse of all 10 teams ahead of mini-auction in Kochi</a></strong></p>

<p>Ahead of the IPL auction, Mishra told PTI, "I have some 2-3 years of cricket left in me. I am keeping myself fit and my performance in domestic cricket last and this season have not been bad either. I am hopeful to be bought by a franchise at this week’s IPL auction."</p>

<p>Thus, the leg-spinner remains optimistic about his chances of finding a franchise in the forthcoming mini-auction. So far, he has represented now-defunct Delhi Daredevils (now known as Delhi Capitals), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and now-defunct Deccan Chargers.&nbsp;</p>


On Friday (December 23), the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 mini-auction will take place in Kochi. This will be the 16th IPL auction and will take place in Kochi for the first time.

On Friday (December 23), the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 mini-auction will take place in Kochi. This will be the 16th IPL auction and will take place in Kochi for the first time. Early this year, the IPL 2022 mega auction had taken place in February. The final auction pool will comprise 405 players -- from the originally registered 991. A maximum of 87 slots will be filled by the ten IPL franchises. Of these, 30 will be overseas players. It is to be noted that there will be a total of 273 Indian players and 132 overseas - including four from associate nations. Moreover, there are 119 capped and another 286 players who are uncapped. Before the start of the proceedings in Kochi, a former Indian cricketer and an IPL legend is the oldest player to have registered for the mini-auction. He is none other than Amit Mishra. Mishra, who represented India in 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and 12 T20Is, is one of the most successful bowlers in the IPL. He remains the third highest wicket-taker, bagging 166 scalps in 154 matches at 23.95, and is the only bowler to claim three hat-tricks in the franchise-based tournament. Also read: IPL 2023: Remaining purse of all 10 teams ahead of mini-auction in Kochi Ahead of the IPL auction, Mishra told PTI, "I have some 2-3 years of cricket left in me. I am keeping myself fit and my performance in domestic cricket last and this season have not been bad either. I am hopeful to be bought by a franchise at this week’s IPL auction." Thus, the leg-spinner remains optimistic about his chances of finding a franchise in the forthcoming mini-auction. So far, he has represented now-defunct Delhi Daredevils (now known as Delhi Capitals), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and now-defunct Deccan Chargers.

IPL 2023: 'I’ve two-three years of cricket left in me' - Know the OLDEST player at the mini-auction

<p>On Sunday evening (December 18), Lionel Messi-led Argentina went past defending champions France to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 final at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar. In what was a riveting encounter, Argentina had a 2-0 lead and were later leading 3-2, during the extra time, before Kylian Mbappe's treble kept the scores tied at 3-3 with the action moving towards the penalty shootout.</p>

<p>In the shootout, Argentina edged past France 4-2 to win their first-ever WC title since 1986. After the match, Messi won the Golden Ball Award whereas Mbappe returned with the Golden Boot Award. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, on the other hand, won the Golden Glove Award -- with some brilliant saves during the penalties -- but his gesture after receiving the trophy made heads turn. He has now opened up on his lewd gesture.</p>

<p>"It was a very complicated match, they came back to equalise in the game but it was our destiny to suffer," the Aston Villa keeper told Argentine radio station La Red. He further asserted, "All that I have dreamed of has been achieved. I have no words for it. I was calm during the penalty shoot-out, and everything went as we wanted."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/argentinas-world-cup-heroes-touch-down-in-buenos-aires-ahead-of-the-grand-parade-544730">Argentina's World Cup heroes touch down in Buenos Aires ahead of the grand parade</a></strong></p>

<p>"It's a moment that I've always dreamed of living, I have no words for it. I left very young to go and live in England and I would like to dedicate this victory to my family," Martinez concluded.</p>

<p>Coming to the Qatar World Cup champions, they started off on a poor note with a loss against Saudi Arabia. Nonetheless, everything clicked for them from there on and they went on to win six games in a row to life the World Cup trophy. On Tuesday (December 20), Argentina returned home after landing in Buenos Aires followed by a grand parade.</p>


On Sunday evening (December 18), Lionel Messi-led Argentina went past defending champions France to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 final at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar.

On Sunday evening (December 18), Lionel Messi-led Argentina went past defending champions France to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 final at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar. In what was a riveting encounter, Argentina had a 2-0 lead and were later leading 3-2, during the extra time, before Kylian Mbappe's treble kept the scores tied at 3-3 with the action moving towards the penalty shootout. In the shootout, Argentina edged past France 4-2 to win their first-ever WC title since 1986. After the match, Messi won the Golden Ball Award whereas Mbappe returned with the Golden Boot Award. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, on the other hand, won the Golden Glove Award -- with some brilliant saves during the penalties -- but his gesture after receiving the trophy made heads turn. He has now opened up on his lewd gesture. "It was a very complicated match, they came back to equalise in the game but it was our destiny to suffer," the Aston Villa keeper told Argentine radio station La Red. He further asserted, "All that I have dreamed of has been achieved. I have no words for it. I was calm during the penalty shoot-out, and everything went as we wanted." Also read: Argentina's World Cup heroes touch down in Buenos Aires ahead of the grand parade "It's a moment that I've always dreamed of living, I have no words for it. I left very young to go and live in England and I would like to dedicate this victory to my family," Martinez concluded. Coming to the Qatar World Cup champions, they started off on a poor note with a loss against Saudi Arabia. Nonetheless, everything clicked for them from there on and they went on to win six games in a row to life the World Cup trophy. On Tuesday (December 20), Argentina returned home after landing in Buenos Aires followed by a grand parade.

Argentina's Emiliano Martinez explains reason behind his lewd gesture with FIFA Golden Glove award

<p>England completed a historic Test series whitewash over hosts Pakistan on Tuesday (December 20). Resuming Day 4 needing just 55 more to chase down a paltry 167, with eight wickets in hand, opener Ben Duckett (82 not out) and Ben Stokes' 35 not out took England to a convincing win. In addition, this became the first time that hosts&nbsp;Pakistan were whitewashed in whites at&nbsp;home.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about the third and final Test, England already had an unassailable 2-0 lead. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first at their happy hunting ground; i.e. the&nbsp;National Stadium, Karachi. Riding on captain Babar Azam's 78 and Agha Salman's 56, Pakistan only managed 304. In reply, Harry Brooks scored yet another century in the series -- his third overall -- whereas fifties from Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes took England to 354 all-out, grabbing a vital 50-run lead.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the third innings, Pakistan once again fell flat with many of their batters getting starts but none managing to stay for long. Babar (54), Saud Shakeel (53) were the top scorers but Jack Leach (ending with a seven-fer in the match) and debutant Rehan Ahmed (returning with a five-fer in only his second innings) rattled the hosts for 216 before England chased down 167 on the penultimate day's morning session.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Here's the updated ICC World Test Championship points table after England humiliate Pakistan at home:</strong></p>

<p><img alt="Updated Points Table ENG-PAK Test series" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4c4f2813-5cf4-4194-946c-3237d9f45a26" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Points%20table_0.png" /></p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-vs-england-3rd-test-england-humiliate-pakistan-by-8-wickets-complete-series-whitewash-544687"><strong>Pakistan v England 3rd Test: Pakistan suffer first-ever home Test series whitewash as England win by 8 wickets</strong></a></p>

<p>At the post-match presentation, England captain Stokes said, "Perfect (sums up the Test series). We got a process in which we want to play, the challenge is to play on different kinds of pitches and we stuck to our gameplan and adapted really well with bat and ball. Everyone delivered. Lot spoken about the way we bat, but our bowling stood up as well. It comes down to belief. The belief we have on the team in what we were trying to do and it resonates around everybody, it's unbelievable and to be able to lead the group full of confidence, it's amazing. Every person stood up at some point and put on some kind of match winning performance."</p>

<p>Pakistan are out of the race for a spot in the WTC final whereas England -- eliminated much before -- ended their run in the second cycle with a historic Test series triumph on Pakistani soil. This was their first Test series in Pakistan since 2005.</p>


England completed a historic Test series whitewash over hosts Pakistan on Tuesday (December 20). Resuming Day 4 needing just 55 more to chase down a paltry 167, with eight wickets in hand, opener Ben Duckett (82 not out) and Ben Stokes' 35 not out took England to a convincing win.

England completed a historic Test series whitewash over hosts Pakistan on Tuesday (December 20). Resuming Day 4 needing just 55 more to chase down a paltry 167, with eight wickets in hand, opener Ben Duckett (82 not out) and Ben Stokes' 35 not out took England to a convincing win. In addition, this became the first time that hosts Pakistan were whitewashed in whites at home. Talking about the third and final Test, England already had an unassailable 2-0 lead. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first at their happy hunting ground; i.e. the National Stadium, Karachi. Riding on captain Babar Azam's 78 and Agha Salman's 56, Pakistan only managed 304. In reply, Harry Brooks scored yet another century in the series -- his third overall -- whereas fifties from Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes took England to 354 all-out, grabbing a vital 50-run lead. In the third innings, Pakistan once again fell flat with many of their batters getting starts but none managing to stay for long. Babar (54), Saud Shakeel (53) were the top scorers but Jack Leach (ending with a seven-fer in the match) and debutant Rehan Ahmed (returning with a five-fer in only his second innings) rattled the hosts for 216 before England chased down 167 on the penultimate day's morning session. Here's the updated ICC World Test Championship points table after England humiliate Pakistan at home: Also read: Pakistan v England 3rd Test: Pakistan suffer first-ever home Test series whitewash as England win by 8 wickets At the post-match presentation, England captain Stokes said, "Perfect (sums up the Test series). We got a process in which we want to play, the challenge is to play on different kinds of pitches and we stuck to our gameplan and adapted really well with bat and ball. Everyone delivered. Lot spoken about the way we bat, but our bowling stood up as well. It comes down to belief. The belief we have on the team in what we were trying to do and it resonates around everybody, it's unbelievable and to be able to lead the group full of confidence, it's amazing. Every person stood up at some point and put on some kind of match winning performance." Pakistan are out of the race for a spot in the WTC final whereas England -- eliminated much before -- ended their run in the second cycle with a historic Test series triumph on Pakistani soil. This was their first Test series in Pakistan since 2005.

Updated ICC World Test Championship points table after England whitewash Pakistan in Karachi

<p>While there is a lot of cricketing action taking place across the globe, the&nbsp;focus has also shifted toward the upcoming IPL 2023 mini-auction. Just like in every auction, many lives will change as teams will break the bank to acquire their services in the forthcoming auction. While the core group of players has been identified in every ten teams, their owners and team management will like to strengthen their respective squads by shopping smartly and adding some vital names to their arsenal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is to be noted that this will be the 16th IPL auction and will take place on December 23 (Friday) in Kochi -- which will be the host for the first time ever. Earlier, the IPL 2022 auction had taken place early this year, in February, in Bengaluru.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-auction-live-streaming-for-free-how-to-watch-ipl-auction-2023-live-stream-online-apps-mobile-tv-544695">IPL 2023 Auction Live Streaming Online App: Easy Ways to watch IPL Mini Auction LIVE Stream for free in India</a></strong></p>

<p>The final auction pool is set to have&nbsp;405 players -- from the originally registered 991. A maximum&nbsp;of 87 slots will&nbsp;be filled by&nbsp;the&nbsp;franchises. Of these, 30 will be overseas recruits. Notably, there will be a total of 273 Indian players, and 132 overseas - including four from associate nations. In addition, there are 119 capped&nbsp;as well as a whopping 286 uncapped players. Prior to the auction, <strong>here's a look at the remaining purse of all ten teams:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td><strong>Team</strong></td>
			<td><strong>Purse</strong></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)</td>
			<td>INR 42.25 crore (422.5 million)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Punjab Kings (PBKS)</td>
			<td>INR 32.20 crore (322 million)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)</td>
			<td>INR 23.35 crore (233.5 million)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mumbai Indians (MI)</td>
			<td>INR 20.55 crore (205.5 million)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings (CSK)</td>
			<td>INR 20.45 crore (204.5 million)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Delhi Capitals (DC)</td>
			<td>INR 19.45 crore (194.5 million)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gujarat Titans (GT)</td>
			<td>INR 19.25 crore (192.5 million)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rajasthan Royals (RR)</td>
			<td>INR 13.2 crore (132 million)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)</td>
			<td>INR 8.75 crore (87.5 million)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)</td>
			<td>INR 7.05 crore (70.5 million)</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<p><strong>Who will be the auctioneer?</strong></p>

<p>Ever since he took over from Richard Madley, Hugh Edmeades has been in charge. While he suffered a fall -- due to Postural Hypotension -- and Indian commentator Charu Sharma took over, Edmeades came back and ended the last auction. He will be back for the IPL 2023 mini-auction.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>


While there is a lot of cricketing action taking place across the globe, the focus has also shifted toward the upcoming IPL 2023 mini-auction. Just like in every auction, many lives will change as teams will break the bank to acquire their services in the forthcoming auction.

While there is a lot of cricketing action taking place across the globe, the focus has also shifted toward the upcoming IPL 2023 mini-auction. Just like in every auction, many lives will change as teams will break the bank to acquire their services in the forthcoming auction. While the core group of players has been identified in every ten teams, their owners and team management will like to strengthen their respective squads by shopping smartly and adding some vital names to their arsenal. It is to be noted that this will be the 16th IPL auction and will take place on December 23 (Friday) in Kochi -- which will be the host for the first time ever. Earlier, the IPL 2022 auction had taken place early this year, in February, in Bengaluru. Also read: IPL 2023 Auction Live Streaming Online App: Easy Ways to watch IPL Mini Auction LIVE Stream for free in India The final auction pool is set to have 405 players -- from the originally registered 991. A maximum of 87 slots will be filled by the franchises. Of these, 30 will be overseas recruits. Notably, there will be a total of 273 Indian players, and 132 overseas - including four from associate nations. In addition, there are 119 capped as well as a whopping 286 uncapped players. Prior to the auction, here's a look at the remaining purse of all ten teams: Team Purse Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) INR 42.25 crore (422.5 million) Punjab Kings (PBKS) INR 32.20 crore (322 million) Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) INR 23.35 crore (233.5 million) Mumbai Indians (MI) INR 20.55 crore (205.5 million) Chennai Super Kings (CSK) INR 20.45 crore (204.5 million) Delhi Capitals (DC) INR 19.45 crore (194.5 million) Gujarat Titans (GT) INR 19.25 crore (192.5 million) Rajasthan Royals (RR) INR 13.2 crore (132 million) Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) INR 8.75 crore (87.5 million) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) INR 7.05 crore (70.5 million) Who will be the auctioneer? Ever since he took over from Richard Madley, Hugh Edmeades has been in charge. While he suffered a fall -- due to Postural Hypotension -- and Indian commentator Charu Sharma took over, Edmeades came back and ended the last auction. He will be back for the IPL 2023 mini-auction.

IPL 2023: Remaining purse of all 10 teams ahead of mini-auction in Kochi

<p>Three&nbsp;Kenyan athletes have been banned for two to three years for using prohibited substances, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on Monday. Sprinter Mark Otieno Odhiambo, who tested positive during the Tokyo Olympics, has been given a two-year ban for use of Methasterone. His suspension dates back to July 31, 2021 and all his results from June 24, 2021 will be disqualified.</p>

<p>Road runners Maiyo Johnstone Kibet and Alice Jepkemboi Kimutai have been suspended for three years for presence of EPO and Testosterone, respectively. All the decisions may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.</p>


Three Kenyan athletes have been banned for two to three years for using prohibited substances, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on Monday. Sprinter Mark Otieno Odhiambo, who tested positive during the Tokyo Olympics, has been given a two-year ban for use of Methasterone.

Three Kenyan athletes have been banned for two to three years for using prohibited substances, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on Monday. Sprinter Mark Otieno Odhiambo, who tested positive during the Tokyo Olympics, has been given a two-year ban for use of Methasterone. His suspension dates back to July 31, 2021 and all his results from June 24, 2021 will be disqualified. Road runners Maiyo Johnstone Kibet and Alice Jepkemboi Kimutai have been suspended for three years for presence of EPO and Testosterone, respectively. All the decisions may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

AIU suspends three Kenyan athletes on doping charges

<p>On Sunday (December 18), Argentina and France locked horns in one of the greatest World Cup finals. After a riveting group stage, Round of 16, quarters and semi-finals, the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition's finale saw the defending champions France take on Lionel Messi's Argentina at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar. The momentum shifted from one side to another and the regular and extra time ended with nothing separating the two nations, with the scoreline reading 3-3. In the penalty shootout, Messi &amp; Co. emerged on top, 4-2, to win their first-ever World Cup in 36 years (after 1986) as the Argentine captain's WC run ended in a dream fashion.</p>

<p>Following the epic finale, reactions have been pouring in from all corners. From the likes of Google CEO Sundar Pichai,&nbsp; Sachin Tendulkar, Brazil legend Pele, tennis sensation Andy Murray, Neymar and many others, wishes have been flowing in for the victorious Argentine team. <strong>Here are some of the reactions:</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Many congratulations to Argentina on doing this for Messi! Wonderful comeback from the way they started the campaign.<br />
<br />
Special mention to Martinez for the spectacular save towards the end of extra time. That was a clear indication to me that Argentina would clinch this. <a href="https://t.co/KoXOTl1fSE">pic.twitter.com/KoXOTl1fSE</a></p>
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1604539359893409792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are living in the time of one of the best World Cup Finals ever. I remember watching WC with my mom on a small tv….now the same excitement with my kids!! And thank u <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> for making us all believe in talent, hard work &amp; dreams!!</p>
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamsrk/status/1604544029076557825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">One of the greatest games ever. Well played Argentina and France. Jogo Bonito. Nobody deserves it more than <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/messi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#messi</a>, imho the greatest ever to play the game. What a swansong. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a></p>
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) <a href="https://twitter.com/sundarpichai/status/1604536052068122624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Duel in the Desert.<br />
Couldn’t ask for a better game. Incredible play by 🇦🇷 &amp; 🇫🇷 !!!! <a href="https://t.co/XUZxjymAx0">pic.twitter.com/XUZxjymAx0</a></p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1604537674878042112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Fantastic Final. Fitting end. Congratulations to Argentina and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a></p>
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) <a href="https://twitter.com/anilkumble1074/status/1604537829564243969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Is messi the best athlete of all time? Forget just football. What a man.</p>
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) <a href="https://twitter.com/andy_murray/status/1604537446343266304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Felicidades Hermano 👏🏽 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/leomessi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#leomessi</a> <a href="https://t.co/5XClpQf15y">pic.twitter.com/5XClpQf15y</a></p>
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) <a href="https://twitter.com/neymarjr/status/1604552030541996034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-who-won-the-golden-boot-golden-glove-and-golden-ball-awards-544342"><strong>FIFA World Cup 2022: Who won the Golden Boot, Golden Glove and Golden Ball awards?</strong></a></p>

<p>Speaking about the match, Argentina had a 2-0 lead till the 80th minute before France -- courtesy of Kylian Mbappe's twin strikes -- brought the 2018 winners back in the game and levelled the score 2-2. Messi found the back of the net in the 108th minute before Mbappe completed a treble to push the contest into the shootouts. In the shootouts, it was Argentina who held their nerves to win 4-2.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the end of the game, Messi -- who had revealed the Qatar final will be his last appearance in the World Cup event -- spoke about his international future and told TyC Sports, as quoted by Goal.com, "No, I'm not going to retiring from the Argentina national team. I want to continue playing as a champion." The 35-year-old returned with the Golden Ball Award, becoming the&nbsp;first player to win it twice (he won it in 2014).</p>


On Sunday (December 18), Argentina and France locked horns in one of the greatest World Cup finals. After a riveting group stage, Round of 16, quarters and semi-finals, the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition's finale saw the defending champions France take on Lionel Messi's Argentina at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar.

On Sunday (December 18), Argentina and France locked horns in one of the greatest World Cup finals. After a riveting group stage, Round of 16, quarters and semi-finals, the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition's finale saw the defending champions France take on Lionel Messi's Argentina at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar. The momentum shifted from one side to another and the regular and extra time ended with nothing separating the two nations, with the scoreline reading 3-3. In the penalty shootout, Messi & Co. emerged on top, 4-2, to win their first-ever World Cup in 36 years (after 1986) as the Argentine captain's WC run ended in a dream fashion. Following the epic finale, reactions have been pouring in from all corners. From the likes of Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Sachin Tendulkar, Brazil legend Pele, tennis sensation Andy Murray, Neymar and many others, wishes have been flowing in for the victorious Argentine team. Here are some of the reactions: Many congratulations to Argentina on doing this for Messi! Wonderful comeback from the way they started the campaign. Special mention to Martinez for the spectacular save towards the end of extra time. That was a clear indication to me that Argentina would clinch this. pic.twitter.com/KoXOTl1fSE — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 18, 2022 × We are living in the time of one of the best World Cup Finals ever. I remember watching WC with my mom on a small tv….now the same excitement with my kids!! And thank u #Messi for making us all believe in talent, hard work & dreams!! — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 18, 2022 × One of the greatest games ever. Well played Argentina and France. Jogo Bonito. Nobody deserves it more than #messi, imho the greatest ever to play the game. What a swansong. #FIFAWorldCup — Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) December 18, 2022 × Duel in the Desert. Couldn’t ask for a better game. Incredible play by 🇦🇷 & 🇫🇷 !!!! pic.twitter.com/XUZxjymAx0 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 18, 2022 × Fantastic Final. Fitting end. Congratulations to Argentina and #Messi #FIFAWorldCup — Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) December 18, 2022 × Is messi the best athlete of all time? Forget just football. What a man. — Andy Murray (@andy_murray) December 18, 2022 × Felicidades Hermano 👏🏽 #leomessi pic.twitter.com/5XClpQf15y — Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) December 18, 2022 × View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pelé (@pele) × Also read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Who won the Golden Boot, Golden Glove and Golden Ball awards? Speaking about the match, Argentina had a 2-0 lead till the 80th minute before France -- courtesy of Kylian Mbappe's twin strikes -- brought the 2018 winners back in the game and levelled the score 2-2. Messi found the back of the net in the 108th minute before Mbappe completed a treble to push the contest into the shootouts. In the shootouts, it was Argentina who held their nerves to win 4-2. After the end of the game, Messi -- who had revealed the Qatar final will be his last appearance in the World Cup event -- spoke about his international future and told TyC Sports, as quoted by Goal.com, "No, I'm not going to retiring from the Argentina national team. I want to continue playing as a champion." The 35-year-old returned with the Golden Ball Award, becoming the first player to win it twice (he won it in 2014).

From Pele, SRT to Sundar Pichai: Reactions galore as Messi's dream comes true with Argentina winning FIFA WC

From Japan-Germany to Argentina-France final: Reliving top 5 matches of FIFA World Cup 2022

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