Second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino earned Liverpool a 2-0 win at Arsenal that took them within a point of leaders Manchester City in the Premier League.

Liverpool started brightly and it took a strong hand from Aaron Ramsdale to keep out Virgil van Dijk's third-minute header. Arsenal grew in confidence and had good spells of dominance, but a quickfire double shortly after half-time gave Liverpool full control.

Thiago Alcantara's brilliant through-ball played in Jota, who squeezed a shot past Ramsdale at the near post to open the scoring on 54 minutes.

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Eight minutes later Andrew Robertson chased a loose ball and crossed low for substitute Firmino to finish.

A ninth successive league win moves Liverpool on to 69 points. Arsenal stay fourth on 51 points, a point above Manchester United in the top-four race and with two matches in hand.

At Amex Stadium, Harry Kane became the Premier League's all-time top scorer of away goals as Tottenham Hotspur won 2-0 at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Kane's second-half strike took his tally on the road to 95, overtaking Wayne Rooney's total of 94.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-villarreal-knock-juventus-out-with-3-0-victory-to-enter-quarter-finals-463110">Champions League: Villarreal knock Juventus out with 3-0 victory to enter quarter-finals</a>

Spurs had gone ahead on 37 minutes when Dejan Kulusevski's shot took a deflection off Cristian Romero and went in, giving the Argentinian defender his first goal for the club.

Kane then got his record-breaking goal in the 57th minute, running on to a through-ball from Rodrigo Bentancur and firing low past Robert Sanchez.

Second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino earned Liverpool a 2-0 win at Arsenal that took them within a point of leaders Manchester City in the Premier League.

Second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino earned Liverpool a 2-0 win at Arsenal that took them within a point of leaders Manchester City in the Premier League. Liverpool started brightly and it took a strong hand from Aaron Ramsdale to keep out Virgil van Dijk's third-minute header. Arsenal grew in confidence and had good spells of dominance, but a quickfire double shortly after half-time gave Liverpool full control. Thiago Alcantara's brilliant through-ball played in Jota, who squeezed a shot past Ramsdale at the near post to open the scoring on 54 minutes. ALSO READ: Champions League: Christian Pulisic, Cesar Azpilicueta score as Chelsea ease past Lille to enter quater-finals Eight minutes later Andrew Robertson chased a loose ball and crossed low for substitute Firmino to finish. A ninth successive league win moves Liverpool on to 69 points. Arsenal stay fourth on 51 points, a point above Manchester United in the top-four race and with two matches in hand. At Amex Stadium, Harry Kane became the Premier League's all-time top scorer of away goals as Tottenham Hotspur won 2-0 at Brighton and Hove Albion. Kane's second-half strike took his tally on the road to 95, overtaking Wayne Rooney's total of 94. ALSO READ: Champions League: Villarreal knock Juventus out with 3-0 victory to enter quarter-finals Spurs had gone ahead on 37 minutes when Dejan Kulusevski's shot took a deflection off Cristian Romero and went in, giving the Argentinian defender his first goal for the club. Kane then got his record-breaking goal in the 57th minute, running on to a through-ball from Rodrigo Bentancur and firing low past Robert Sanchez.

PL: Liverpool win to narrow gap with toppers Man City; Harry Kane strikes as Spurs ease past Brighton

MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. Ever since his international retirement, his ardent fans eagerly wait for the 40-year-old's presence on the 22-yard cricket strip during the IPL. Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India, Dhoni opened up on his fascination for jersey number 7 and revealed why he sports the same&nbsp;number&nbsp;since his early days in international cricket.

For the unversed, Dhoni sports the No. 7 jersey since he made his debut for Team India. Even in the IPL, the superstar cricketer has donned the same&nbsp;number -- for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). Thus, the wicketkeeper-batter revealed why he likes to retain&nbsp;the exact&nbsp;jersey number.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/success-is-theirs-failure-is-mine-captain-hardik-pandya-shares-his-philosophy-ahead-of-ipl-2022-463170">Success is theirs, failure is mine: Captain Hardik Pandya shares his philosophy ahead of IPL 2022</a>

Speaking at a CSK&nbsp;event on Wednesday (March 16), the ex-Team India captain Dhoni revealed the "simple reason" behind choosing the specific shirt number.

"A lot of people initially thought that 7 is a lucky number for me and all of that. But I chose the number for a very simple reason. I was born on the 7th of July. So it's the 7th day of the 7th month, that was the reason. Rather than getting to all the different things as to what number is a good number and all, I thought I will use my date of birth as the number," Dhoni said.

"A lot of people said 7 is a neutral number and even if it doesn't work for you, it doesn't really go against you. That also I added to my answer. I am not very superstitious about it, but it's one number that is close to my heart and I have kept it over the years with me," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/morris-one-ball-was-more-expensive-than-aakash-chopra-responds-to-ramiz-rajas-claims-on-ipl-vs-psl-463158">'Morris' one ball was more expensive than....': Aakash Chopra responds to Ramiz Raja's remark on IPL vs PSL</a>

After leading CSK to their fourth title in the IPL 2021 edition, the defending champions Dhoni-led Chennai side will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus last year's runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The Yellow Army have revamped and brought back several of their regular members for the forthcoming season and, thus, will aim to retain their title in the 15th edition of the cash-rich league.

Complete squad of CSK for IPL 2022

Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c &amp; wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. Ever since his international retirement, his ardent fans eagerly wait for the 40-year-old's presence on the 22-yard cricket strip during the IPL.

MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. Ever since his international retirement, his ardent fans eagerly wait for the 40-year-old's presence on the 22-yard cricket strip during the IPL. Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India, Dhoni opened up on his fascination for jersey number 7 and revealed why he sports the same number since his early days in international cricket. For the unversed, Dhoni sports the No. 7 jersey since he made his debut for Team India. Even in the IPL, the superstar cricketer has donned the same number -- for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). Thus, the wicketkeeper-batter revealed why he likes to retain the exact jersey number. ALSO READ | Success is theirs, failure is mine: Captain Hardik Pandya shares his philosophy ahead of IPL 2022 Speaking at a CSK event on Wednesday (March 16), the ex-Team India captain Dhoni revealed the "simple reason" behind choosing the specific shirt number. "A lot of people initially thought that 7 is a lucky number for me and all of that. But I chose the number for a very simple reason. I was born on the 7th of July. So it's the 7th day of the 7th month, that was the reason. Rather than getting to all the different things as to what number is a good number and all, I thought I will use my date of birth as the number," Dhoni said. "A lot of people said 7 is a neutral number and even if it doesn't work for you, it doesn't really go against you. That also I added to my answer. I am not very superstitious about it, but it's one number that is close to my heart and I have kept it over the years with me," he added. ALSO READ | 'Morris' one ball was more expensive than....': Aakash Chopra responds to Ramiz Raja's remark on IPL vs PSL After leading CSK to their fourth title in the IPL 2021 edition, the defending champions Dhoni-led Chennai side will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus last year's runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The Yellow Army have revamped and brought back several of their regular members for the forthcoming season and, thus, will aim to retain their title in the 15th edition of the cash-rich league. Complete squad of CSK for IPL 2022 Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

Why does MS Dhoni don No. 7 jersey? CSK veteran answers the big question ahead of IPL 2022

Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail's fiery spell backed by Laura Wolvaardt's blistering knock helped South Africa to defeat New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Women's ODI World Cup here at Seddon Park on Thursday.

Sophie Devine's innings of 93 went in vain as South Africa bowlers Ismail and Khaka scalped three wickets respectively that bowled out New Zealand on 228.

Chasing 229, South Africa had a quick start but opener Lizelle Lee was run out in the fifth over with 25 runs on the board.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-heres-how-mithali-rajs-india-can-make-it-to-cwc-2022-semi-finals-after-england-drubbing-462886">EXPLAINED! Here's how Mithali Raj's India can make it to CWC 2022 semi-finals after England drubbing</a>

Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits then steadied the ship for the second wicket.

They mixed caution with aggression perfectly to ensure that there was no further damage.

But later Brits was sent back to the pavilion by Amelia Kerr on 18 runs. At the halfway stage, South Africa were 105/2, needing 124 more runs for victory.

Skipper Sune Luus took her side to the 150-run mark with Wolvaardt. Laura Wolvaardt smashed a brilliant 50, her 3rd in a row.

Their partnership was broken in the 35th over by Amelia Kerr as Wolvaardt got dismissed after scoring 67 runs.

Mignon du Preez joined the skipper but she was sent back by Kerr after scoring one run.

Luus smashed a crucial fifty in 38th over. Luus departed soon after reaching her fifty as Hannah Rowe gave her side a big breakthrough in the 40th over.

Later, Marizanne Kapp ensured that there was no further damage. She kept on thrashing the New Zealand bowlers and brought her side home with two wickets and their fourth consecutive win in the ongoing tournament.

Earlier hosts failed to register a big score against a disciplined South African attack.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/womens-wc-charlotte-dean-heather-knight-shine-as-england-beat-india-by-4-wickets-to-register-first-win-462785">Women's WC: Charlotte Dean, Heather Knight shine as England beat India by 4 wickets to register first win</a>

An excellent innings of 93 from Sophie Devine has helped New Zealand post a decent total in the match against South Africa.

Devine's 101-ball innings included 12 fours and one massive six, as her partnership with Amelia Kerr (42) and Maddy Green (30) formed the backbone of the New Zealand innings.

Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka did not allow the hosts to settle or accelerate their innings.

Brief score: New Zealand 228 all out (Sophie Devine 93, Amelia Kerr 42; Shabnim Ismail 3/27) South Africa 229/8 (Laura Wolvaardt 67, Sune Luus 51; Amelia Kerr 3/50).

Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail's fiery spell backed by Laura Wolvaardt's blistering knock helped South Africa to defeat New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Women's ODI World Cup here at Seddon Park on Thursday.

Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail's fiery spell backed by Laura Wolvaardt's blistering knock helped South Africa to defeat New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Women's ODI World Cup here at Seddon Park on Thursday. Sophie Devine's innings of 93 went in vain as South Africa bowlers Ismail and Khaka scalped three wickets respectively that bowled out New Zealand on 228. Chasing 229, South Africa had a quick start but opener Lizelle Lee was run out in the fifth over with 25 runs on the board. ALSO READ: EXPLAINED! Here's how Mithali Raj's India can make it to CWC 2022 semi-finals after England drubbing Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits then steadied the ship for the second wicket. They mixed caution with aggression perfectly to ensure that there was no further damage. But later Brits was sent back to the pavilion by Amelia Kerr on 18 runs. At the halfway stage, South Africa were 105/2, needing 124 more runs for victory. Skipper Sune Luus took her side to the 150-run mark with Wolvaardt. Laura Wolvaardt smashed a brilliant 50, her 3rd in a row. Their partnership was broken in the 35th over by Amelia Kerr as Wolvaardt got dismissed after scoring 67 runs. Mignon du Preez joined the skipper but she was sent back by Kerr after scoring one run. Luus smashed a crucial fifty in 38th over. Luus departed soon after reaching her fifty as Hannah Rowe gave her side a big breakthrough in the 40th over. Later, Marizanne Kapp ensured that there was no further damage. She kept on thrashing the New Zealand bowlers and brought her side home with two wickets and their fourth consecutive win in the ongoing tournament. Earlier hosts failed to register a big score against a disciplined South African attack. ALSO READ: Women's WC: Charlotte Dean, Heather Knight shine as England beat India by 4 wickets to register first win An excellent innings of 93 from Sophie Devine has helped New Zealand post a decent total in the match against South Africa. Devine's 101-ball innings included 12 fours and one massive six, as her partnership with Amelia Kerr (42) and Maddy Green (30) formed the backbone of the New Zealand innings. Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka did not allow the hosts to settle or accelerate their innings. Brief score: New Zealand 228 all out (Sophie Devine 93, Amelia Kerr 42; Shabnim Ismail 3/27) South Africa 229/8 (Laura Wolvaardt 67, Sune Luus 51; Amelia Kerr 3/50).

Women's WC: Shabnim Ismail, Laura Wolvaardt star as undefeated South Africa beat New Zealand by 2 wickets

The stage is set for the commencement of the next edition of the IPL. The IPL 2022 edition will get underway on March 26 with the four-time winners and defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) up against last edition's runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

This time around, the cash-rich league will see two more teams be a part of the tournament, such as the Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Talking about the Gujarat franchise, they have a good mix of youth and experience and will be captained by Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Hardik, who soon became a regular in the Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians' (MI) camp since his debut in IPL 2015, recently revealed his philosophy as captain ahead of the upcoming season.

"My philosophy for this season is that success is theirs and failure is mine," Hardik said during GT's&nbsp;jersey launch event recently. Here's the video of the same shared by the official Twitter handle of GT:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Boht Hard, captain! 🤘😎 
Apna time aa gaya…<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratTitans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratTitans</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeasonOfFirsts?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SeasonOfFirsts</a> <a href="https://t.co/fM4dTGxsDN">pic.twitter.com/fM4dTGxsDN</a>
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) <a href="https://twitter.com/gujarat_titans/status/1504357584165240832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

For the unversed, this will be the 28-year-old Hardik's&nbsp;first-ever season as an IPL captain. Hence, he will like to impress as a leader and also showcase his credentials once again as an all-round player. He has been out of action at the international level since the 2021 T20 World Cup, due to fitness concerns, and, thus, the forthcoming edition is really important for him to make a comeback into the Indian team at the earliest.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;

The GT camp will open its season against KL Rahul-led LSG on March 28. Here's their full schedule:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Some call it a schedule, we call it a Hit List! 😈 
 
Mark your 🗓️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratTitans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratTitans</a> <a href="https://t.co/FTGifl5qUY">pic.twitter.com/FTGifl5qUY</a>
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) <a href="https://twitter.com/gujarat_titans/status/1500476879371120640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gujarat-titans-complete-squad-for-ipl-2022-hardik-pandya-led-line-up-invest-in-all-rounders-pacers-453170">Gujarat Titans Complete squad for IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya-led line-up filled with all-rounders, star pacers</a>

Gujarat Titans Squad:&nbsp;Hardik Pandya (C), Rashid Khan, Shubamn Gill, Lockie Ferguson, Rahul Tewatia, Mohammad Shami, Yash Dayal, David Miller, Sai Kishore, Abhinav Sadarangani, Matthew Wade, Alzarri Joseph, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wriddhiman Saha, Jayant Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Dominic Drakes, Varun Aaron, Gurkeerat Singh, Noor Ahmad, Darshan Nalkande, Pradeep Sangwan.

The stage is set for the commencement of the next edition of the IPL. The IPL 2022 edition will get underway on March 26 with the four-time winners and defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) up against last edition's runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The stage is set for the commencement of the next edition of the IPL. The IPL 2022 edition will get underway on March 26 with the four-time winners and defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) up against last edition's runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. This time around, the cash-rich league will see two more teams be a part of the tournament, such as the Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Talking about the Gujarat franchise, they have a good mix of youth and experience and will be captained by Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Hardik, who soon became a regular in the Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians' (MI) camp since his debut in IPL 2015, recently revealed his philosophy as captain ahead of the upcoming season. "My philosophy for this season is that success is theirs and failure is mine," Hardik said during GT's jersey launch event recently. Here's the video of the same shared by the official Twitter handle of GT: Boht Hard, captain! 🤘😎 Apna time aa gaya…#GujaratTitans #SeasonOfFirsts pic.twitter.com/fM4dTGxsDN — Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) March 17, 2022 × For the unversed, this will be the 28-year-old Hardik's first-ever season as an IPL captain. Hence, he will like to impress as a leader and also showcase his credentials once again as an all-round player. He has been out of action at the international level since the 2021 T20 World Cup, due to fitness concerns, and, thus, the forthcoming edition is really important for him to make a comeback into the Indian team at the earliest. ALSO READ | The GT camp will open its season against KL Rahul-led LSG on March 28. Here's their full schedule: Some call it a schedule, we call it a Hit List! 😈 Mark your 🗓️#GujaratTitans pic.twitter.com/FTGifl5qUY — Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) March 6, 2022 × ALSO READ | Gujarat Titans Complete squad for IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya-led line-up filled with all-rounders, star pacers Gujarat Titans Squad: Hardik Pandya (C), Rashid Khan, Shubamn Gill, Lockie Ferguson, Rahul Tewatia, Mohammad Shami, Yash Dayal, David Miller, Sai Kishore, Abhinav Sadarangani, Matthew Wade, Alzarri Joseph, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wriddhiman Saha, Jayant Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Dominic Drakes, Varun Aaron, Gurkeerat Singh, Noor Ahmad, Darshan Nalkande, Pradeep Sangwan.

Success is theirs, failure is mine: Captain Hardik Pandya shares his philosophy ahead of IPL 2022

Rafael Nadal continued his unbeaten run in 2022 as he extended his winning streak to 18 matches on trot after beating Reilly Opelka of America in two tight sets both going to tie-breaks to enter the quarter-final here at the Indian Wells.

The 21-time grand slam champion Nadal won 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5). The 35-year-old Spaniard became just the second player to start a season 18-0 after Novak Djokovic who has done it twice starting 41-0 in 2011 and 26-0 in 2020.

The Spaniard surpassed Pete Sampras'&nbsp;and Roger Federer's record of 17 wins in 1997 and 2018 respectively.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/isl-kerala-edge-past-league-shield-winner-jamshedpur-2-1-over-two-legs-to-book-first-final-berth-since-2016-462799">ISL: Kerala edge past League Shield winner Jamshedpur 2-1 over two legs to book first final berth since 2016</a>

In the quarterfinals, the reigning Australian Open champion will lock horns against Australia's Nick Kyrgios, who got a walkover from Jannik Sinner due to illness. Nadal leads 5-3 against the Australian in head-to-head encounters.

Defending champion Cameron Norrie continued his Indian Wells title defence with a win over Jenson Brooksby of America to reach the quarter-finals.

World no.12 Norrie from Great Britain beats Jenson Brooksby of America 6-2 6-4 to enter last-8. Norrie will take on 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Gael Monfils of France 7-5 6-1.

Rafael Nadal continued his unbeaten run in 2022 as he extended his winning streak to 18 matches on trot after beating Reilly Opelka of America in two tight sets both going to tie-breaks to enter the quarter-final here at the Indian Wells.

Rafael Nadal continued his unbeaten run in 2022 as he extended his winning streak to 18 matches on trot after beating Reilly Opelka of America in two tight sets both going to tie-breaks to enter the quarter-final here at the Indian Wells. The 21-time grand slam champion Nadal won 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5). The 35-year-old Spaniard became just the second player to start a season 18-0 after Novak Djokovic who has done it twice starting 41-0 in 2011 and 26-0 in 2020. The Spaniard surpassed Pete Sampras' and Roger Federer's record of 17 wins in 1997 and 2018 respectively. ALSO READ: ISL: Kerala edge past League Shield winner Jamshedpur 2-1 over two legs to book first final berth since 2016 In the quarterfinals, the reigning Australian Open champion will lock horns against Australia's Nick Kyrgios, who got a walkover from Jannik Sinner due to illness. Nadal leads 5-3 against the Australian in head-to-head encounters. Defending champion Cameron Norrie continued his Indian Wells title defence with a win over Jenson Brooksby of America to reach the quarter-finals. World no.12 Norrie from Great Britain beats Jenson Brooksby of America 6-2 6-4 to enter last-8. Norrie will take on 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Gael Monfils of France 7-5 6-1.

Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal extends unbeaten streak to 18 after beating USA's Reilly Opelka to enter quarters

In 2013 he achieved one of the great shocks in tennis history, knocking defending champion Roger Federer out of Wimbledon.

Today, the Ukranian player Sergiy Stakhovsky is a volunteer fighter on a military patrol in Kyiv, which he vows to defend "to the end" against Russian forces.

Now 36, he looks much the same as the journeyman player ranked 116 in the world who lay stretched out in his tennis whites on the hallowed London turf after toppling Federer in the second round nine years ago.

But his outfit now could not be more different as he patrols Maidan Square, symbol of Ukraine's "fight for democracy", armed with a Kalashnikov, a pistol in his belt and his 1.93 metre (6 ft 4 in) frame dressed in khaki camouflage.

"I cannot say that I feel comfortable around a rifle. I am not sure how I am going to react to shooting at somebody," he tells AFP. "I wish I would never have to be preoccupied with these things."

It's been just over two weeks since he returned to Ukraine and signed up for the territorial brigade, the volunteers tasked with helping the army against the Russian invasion launched on February 24.

"I knew I had to go there", he says.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-gujarat-titans-skipper-hardik-pandya-fit-to-play-prithvi-shaw-fails-yo-yo-test-463066">IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya fit to play, Delhi Capitals' Prithvi Shaw fails Yo-Yo Test</a>

"Despair"

On the eve of the invasion Stakhovsky was on holiday in Dubai with his wife and three children aged four, six and eight, having hung up his racquet as a professional player in January after the Australian Open.

The next day, after seeing the television images of Russian bombs falling on his homeland, he says he was plunged into a mixture of "despair" and "misery".

Much of his family still lived in Ukraine. He spent the next three days at the hotel in a blur as he tried to get information about the situation on the ground, to find shelter for people

"I was full of adrenaline, I slept three or four hours (overall), I didn't eat".

He then told his wife he had decided to go back.

"My wife was really upset, I mean, she knew, she understood but she was really upset," he said. But "now she understands that I couldn't really do it other way".

The heartbreaking decision torments him every time he thinks of his family.

"Leaving the kids is not something I'm proud of," he says.

"My kids don't know that I'm here, well, they know that I'm not at home, but they don't know what war is and I'm trying to not get them involved. I told them I'd be right back, it's been 15 days now... And God knows how many more it's going to be".

Like all Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60, Stakhovsky is eligible for call-up by the army and cannot leave the country when the country is at war.

He says that he finds the strength to go because of his countrymen, whom he has seen sign up "in their thousands".

"If we don't stand up, we don't have a country to live in," he said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-wells-simona-halep-registers-clinical-win-over-petra-martic-iga-swiatek-storms-into-semifinal-463092">Indian Wells: Simona Halep registers clinical win over Petra Martic, Iga Swiatek storms into semifinal</a>

Federer hopes for peace

The former tennis pro now carries out two patrols a day lasting two hours each to guard the centre of Kyiv from possible infiltrations, particularly around the palace of President Volodymyr Zelensky, the hero of the resistance against Moscow.

"Listen, I am here on foot patrolling," he said, adding of Zelensky that he was "remarkably brave and knows what he's doing, and we all believe he knows what he's doing."

People from "India to South America" have sent thousands of messages of support and asking how they can help Ukraine, says Stakhovsky.

Among those are "hundreds" of professional tennis players who have not forgotten their former colleague, who rose to a world ranking of 31 in 2010 and was an unofficial spokesman for junior players.

Tennis legends have also offered their support -- including the man he stunned at Wimbledon, Roger Federer himself.

"He said that he wishes that there will be peace soon," said the Ukranian, adding that Federer and his wife were trying to help Ukranian children through their foundation.

One message that particularly touched him came from Serbian world number two Novak Djokovic.

"He lived through this when he was young so he knows exactly what our kids are going through. So from him that message is, I would say, more heavy in terms of meaning."

As the Russians close in on Kyiv there are fears it could face the same fate as destroyed cities like Kharkiv and Mariupol.

"That's disturbing", he said, because "they don't care whether they're going to kill a child or military personel, they just don't care".

In 2013 he achieved one of the great shocks in tennis history, knocking defending champion Roger Federer out of Wimbledon. Today, the Ukranian player Sergiy Stakhovsky is a volunteer fighter on a military patrol in Kyiv, which he vows to defend "to the end" against Russian forces.

In 2013 he achieved one of the great shocks in tennis history, knocking defending champion Roger Federer out of Wimbledon. Today, the Ukranian player Sergiy Stakhovsky is a volunteer fighter on a military patrol in Kyiv, which he vows to defend "to the end" against Russian forces. Now 36, he looks much the same as the journeyman player ranked 116 in the world who lay stretched out in his tennis whites on the hallowed London turf after toppling Federer in the second round nine years ago. But his outfit now could not be more different as he patrols Maidan Square, symbol of Ukraine's "fight for democracy", armed with a Kalashnikov, a pistol in his belt and his 1.93 metre (6 ft 4 in) frame dressed in khaki camouflage. "I cannot say that I feel comfortable around a rifle. I am not sure how I am going to react to shooting at somebody," he tells AFP. "I wish I would never have to be preoccupied with these things." It's been just over two weeks since he returned to Ukraine and signed up for the territorial brigade, the volunteers tasked with helping the army against the Russian invasion launched on February 24. "I knew I had to go there", he says. ALSO READ: IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya fit to play, Delhi Capitals' Prithvi Shaw fails Yo-Yo Test "Despair" On the eve of the invasion Stakhovsky was on holiday in Dubai with his wife and three children aged four, six and eight, having hung up his racquet as a professional player in January after the Australian Open. The next day, after seeing the television images of Russian bombs falling on his homeland, he says he was plunged into a mixture of "despair" and "misery". Much of his family still lived in Ukraine. He spent the next three days at the hotel in a blur as he tried to get information about the situation on the ground, to find shelter for people "I was full of adrenaline, I slept three or four hours (overall), I didn't eat". He then told his wife he had decided to go back. "My wife was really upset, I mean, she knew, she understood but she was really upset," he said. But "now she understands that I couldn't really do it other way". The heartbreaking decision torments him every time he thinks of his family. "Leaving the kids is not something I'm proud of," he says. "My kids don't know that I'm here, well, they know that I'm not at home, but they don't know what war is and I'm trying to not get them involved. I told them I'd be right back, it's been 15 days now... And God knows how many more it's going to be". Like all Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60, Stakhovsky is eligible for call-up by the army and cannot leave the country when the country is at war. He says that he finds the strength to go because of his countrymen, whom he has seen sign up "in their thousands". "If we don't stand up, we don't have a country to live in," he said. ALSO READ: Indian Wells: Simona Halep registers clinical win over Petra Martic, Iga Swiatek storms into semifinal Federer hopes for peace The former tennis pro now carries out two patrols a day lasting two hours each to guard the centre of Kyiv from possible infiltrations, particularly around the palace of President Volodymyr Zelensky, the hero of the resistance against Moscow. "Listen, I am here on foot patrolling," he said, adding of Zelensky that he was "remarkably brave and knows what he's doing, and we all believe he knows what he's doing." People from "India to South America" have sent thousands of messages of support and asking how they can help Ukraine, says Stakhovsky. Among those are "hundreds" of professional tennis players who have not forgotten their former colleague, who rose to a world ranking of 31 in 2010 and was an unofficial spokesman for junior players. Tennis legends have also offered their support -- including the man he stunned at Wimbledon, Roger Federer himself. "He said that he wishes that there will be peace soon," said the Ukranian, adding that Federer and his wife were trying to help Ukranian children through their foundation. One message that particularly touched him came from Serbian world number two Novak Djokovic. "He lived through this when he was young so he knows exactly what our kids are going through. So from him that message is, I would say, more heavy in terms of meaning." As the Russians close in on Kyiv there are fears it could face the same fate as destroyed cities like Kharkiv and Mariupol. "That's disturbing", he said, because "they don't care whether they're going to kill a child or military personel, they just don't care".

Tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky swaps racket for rifle, joins Ukraine army amid Russian invasion

Just ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition's season-opener, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got a big blow as Englishman Alex Hales has withdrawn from the ten-team tournament citing bio-bubble fatigue. Earlier, Gujarat Titans' (GT) Jason Roy had also pulled out of the upcoming season of the cash-rich league, due to bubble fatigue.&nbsp;

With Hales not participating in the IPL 15 season, he was been replaced by Australia's white-ball captain Aaron Finch. It is to be noted that Finch had gone unsold in the IPL 2022 mega auction, which was held in mid-February, after he wasn't part of the previous edition. Prior to the last year's season, he had also failed to draw a single bid in the IPL 2021 auction. By joining KKR, Finch is all set to play for his 9th IPL franchise. He is joining the two-time winners for INR 15 million (INR 1.5 crore); the same price for which Hales was roped in during the mega auction.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/kolkata-knight-riders-complete-squad-for-ipl-2022-shreyas-iyer-joins-galaxy-of-knights-cummins-returns-453041">Kolkata Knight Riders complete squad for IPL 2022: Shreyas Iyer joins Galaxy of Knights, Cummins returns</a>

Finch's IPL career has been a rollercoaster ride. He has so far represented&nbsp;Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Gujarat Lions (GL), Delhi Capitals (then known as Delhi Daredevils), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Pune Warriors, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI). In T20s, he has over 10,000 runs with an average of over 30 and a strike rate close to 140.

The Shreyas Iyer-led KKR unit will play the opening game of the season, versus four-time champions and defenders MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-set-to-earn-a-whopping-rs-8-billion-from-ipl-2022-sponsorship-and-other-deals-report-461341">BCCI set to earn a whopping Rs 8 billion from IPL 2022 sponsorship and other deals - Report</a>

Complete squad of KKR for IPL 2022:&nbsp;

Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer, Sheldon Jackson, Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Baba Indrajith, Abhijit Tomar,&nbsp;Sam Billings, Aaron Finch, Rasikh Dar, Ashok Sharma, Tim Southee,&nbsp;Pat Cummins, Nitish Rana,&nbsp;Shivam Mavi, Anukul Roy, Chamika Karunaratne, Pratham Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Md Nabi

Just ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition's season-opener, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got a big blow as Englishman Alex Hales has withdrawn from the ten-team tournament citing bio-bubble fatigue.

Just ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition's season-opener, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got a big blow as Englishman Alex Hales has withdrawn from the ten-team tournament citing bio-bubble fatigue. Earlier, Gujarat Titans' (GT) Jason Roy had also pulled out of the upcoming season of the cash-rich league, due to bubble fatigue. With Hales not participating in the IPL 15 season, he was been replaced by Australia's white-ball captain Aaron Finch. It is to be noted that Finch had gone unsold in the IPL 2022 mega auction, which was held in mid-February, after he wasn't part of the previous edition. Prior to the last year's season, he had also failed to draw a single bid in the IPL 2021 auction. By joining KKR, Finch is all set to play for his 9th IPL franchise. He is joining the two-time winners for INR 15 million (INR 1.5 crore); the same price for which Hales was roped in during the mega auction. ALSO READ | Kolkata Knight Riders complete squad for IPL 2022: Shreyas Iyer joins Galaxy of Knights, Cummins returns Finch's IPL career has been a rollercoaster ride. He has so far represented Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Gujarat Lions (GL), Delhi Capitals (then known as Delhi Daredevils), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Pune Warriors, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI). In T20s, he has over 10,000 runs with an average of over 30 and a strike rate close to 140. The Shreyas Iyer-led KKR unit will play the opening game of the season, versus four-time champions and defenders MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. ALSO READ | BCCI set to earn a whopping Rs 8 billion from IPL 2022 sponsorship and other deals - Report Complete squad of KKR for IPL 2022: Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer, Sheldon Jackson, Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Baba Indrajith, Abhijit Tomar, Sam Billings, Aaron Finch, Rasikh Dar, Ashok Sharma, Tim Southee, Pat Cummins, Nitish Rana, Shivam Mavi, Anukul Roy, Chamika Karunaratne, Pratham Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Md Nabi

IPL 2022: Aaron Finch replaces Alex Hales in Shreyas Iyer-led KKR squad after Englishman's withdrawal

The Indian Premier League (IPL) led to being a huge booster for T20 cricket worldwide. It led to the expansion of the shortest format and the formation of various T20 leagues across the globe. While IPL remains miles ahead of other competitors, Pakistan Cricket Board's President (PCB) made heads turn with his recent claims of making the Pakistan Super League (PSL) the biggest league of all, making it every player's top priority even ahead of IPL.

"When the cricket economy grows in Pakistan, our respect will rise. The main driver of that financial economy is PSL. If we take PSL to an auction model, increase the purse, then I'll put it in IPL bracket. Then we'll see who goes to play IPL over the PSL," the PCB chief had said.

To this, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has reacted and schooled Ramiz. Chopra made an entire video, comparing PSL and IPL, on his Youtube channel and responded to Ramiz's claims by saying, "Even if you do an auction instead of drafts, it is not going to happen, you will not see a player playing for 16 crores in the PSL. It cannot happen at all, market dynamics are not going to allow that to happen, it's as simple as that."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bowlers-shouldnt-have-any-r-ashwin-reacts-as-mankading-moved-from-unfair-play-section-to-run-out-463118">'Bowlers shouldn't have any....: R Ashwin reacts as 'Mankading' moved from 'unfair play' section to 'run out'</a>

Chopra was brutal in his assessment and further asserted, "To be very honest, Chris Morris' one ball, when he played last time, was more expensive than the players' salary in other leagues. Is it even possible to compete or compare yourself with the IPL, whether it is PSL, BBL, The Hundred or the CPL? Is it a slightly misplaced judgment?"

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"The price is decided based on how much money you get from the rights, at what price the teams are sold and then there is a total purse according to which you play. All these are interlinked, they are not separate. If someone sees them separately, he is going to get defeated," opined the former India player.

"The story starts with the broadcaster on what value it puts on a property. The biggest thing India has is the people who watch, they are the ones who pay a lot of money, our 130 crores public. That is the asset we have that nobody else has," added Chopra.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/huge-sigh-of-relief-for-csk-ruturaj-gaikwad-joins-ms-dhoni-co-before-ipl-2022-opener-see-post-462869">Huge sigh of relief for CSK! Ruturaj Gaikwad joins MS Dhoni &amp; Co. before IPL 2022 opener - see post</a>

Talking about the IPL, the 15th edition of the cash-rich league is set to get underway on March 26 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. This time around, the competition will comprise two more teams (i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans) and the tournament is set to be played in Maharashtra and Ahmedabad (likely venue for playoffs and final).
</section>

The Indian Premier League (IPL) led to being a huge booster for T20 cricket worldwide. It led to the expansion of the shortest format and the formation of various T20 leagues across the globe.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) led to being a huge booster for T20 cricket worldwide. It led to the expansion of the shortest format and the formation of various T20 leagues across the globe. While IPL remains miles ahead of other competitors, Pakistan Cricket Board's President (PCB) made heads turn with his recent claims of making the Pakistan Super League (PSL) the biggest league of all, making it every player's top priority even ahead of IPL. "When the cricket economy grows in Pakistan, our respect will rise. The main driver of that financial economy is PSL. If we take PSL to an auction model, increase the purse, then I'll put it in IPL bracket. Then we'll see who goes to play IPL over the PSL," the PCB chief had said. To this, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has reacted and schooled Ramiz. Chopra made an entire video, comparing PSL and IPL, on his Youtube channel and responded to Ramiz's claims by saying, "Even if you do an auction instead of drafts, it is not going to happen, you will not see a player playing for 16 crores in the PSL. It cannot happen at all, market dynamics are not going to allow that to happen, it's as simple as that." ALSO READ | 'Bowlers shouldn't have any....: R Ashwin reacts as 'Mankading' moved from 'unfair play' section to 'run out' Chopra was brutal in his assessment and further asserted, "To be very honest, Chris Morris' one ball, when he played last time, was more expensive than the players' salary in other leagues. Is it even possible to compete or compare yourself with the IPL, whether it is PSL, BBL, The Hundred or the CPL? Is it a slightly misplaced judgment?" "The price is decided based on how much money you get from the rights, at what price the teams are sold and then there is a total purse according to which you play. All these are interlinked, they are not separate. If someone sees them separately, he is going to get defeated," opined the former India player. "The story starts with the broadcaster on what value it puts on a property. The biggest thing India has is the people who watch, they are the ones who pay a lot of money, our 130 crores public. That is the asset we have that nobody else has," added Chopra. ALSO READ | Huge sigh of relief for CSK! Ruturaj Gaikwad joins MS Dhoni & Co. before IPL 2022 opener - see post Talking about the IPL, the 15th edition of the cash-rich league is set to get underway on March 26 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. This time around, the competition will comprise two more teams (i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans) and the tournament is set to be played in Maharashtra and Ahmedabad (likely venue for playoffs and final).

'Morris' one ball was more expensive than....': Aakash Chopra responds to Ramiz Raja's remark on IPL vs PSL

Recently, the&nbsp;New Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced its new code of Laws for 2022, which will come into force from October 1. Among the new code of laws introduced, one significant change that is set to come into play is that the controversial mode of dismissal, i.e. Mankading has been&nbsp;moved from 'unfair play' section to 'run out'.

One of the advocates of the controversial dismissal, R Ashwin has now finally opened up on the significant change brought forward by the MCC. For the unversed, the 35-year-old wily off-spinner had mankaded Jos Buttler during IPL 2019 edition, leading to a huge debate on the controversial mode of dismissal. Now, Ashwin has shared his reaction and also has an important message for the bowlers.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mankad-use-of-saliva-dogs-running-on-field-crickets-new-code-of-laws-for-2022-460436">Cricket is changing: New code covers 'Mankad', use of saliva, dogs invading pitch</a>

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, "Non-striker leaving the crease early is the actual unfair play in this whole scenario. Not the bowler running them out."

“Earlier, it was termed a Mankad. But it has been changed now to run out. They (MCC) have destigmatized the entire concept and have termed it run-out law. The bowler was earlier expected to give a warning when the batsman leaves the crease at the non-striker's end. Now they have announced that what the non-striker is doing is wrong and, therefore, bowlers can actually run them out if the non-striker tries to leave the crease before the ball is delivered by the bowler. Bowlers used to feel bad about doing this, wondering how our team batsman would feel and what the cricketing world would think if we did it. Thinking about these consequences, they used to not run them out," he further pointed out.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/listing-mccs-fresh-changes-to-the-laws-of-cricket-461023">Listing MCC's fresh changes to the laws of cricket</a>

Ashwin asserted, "the extra step the non-striker is taking might end up destroying your entire career. If the non-striker ends up on strike because of that extra step he is taking, he might smash a six, whereas the current striker might have gotten out. So, if you take a wicket, your career will advance, whereas if you are smashed for a six, your career may suffer. The impact is huge. So, the bowlers should not have any second thoughts on running the non-striker out, in my opinion," he added.

It is to be noted that Ashwin is gearing up for the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, where he will team up with Buttler -- whom he had mankaded -- in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) camp.&nbsp;

Recently, the New Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced its new code of Laws for 2022, which will come into force from October 1. Among the new code of laws introduced, one significant change that is set to come into play is that the controversial mode of dismissal, i.

Recently, the New Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced its new code of Laws for 2022, which will come into force from October 1. Among the new code of laws introduced, one significant change that is set to come into play is that the controversial mode of dismissal, i.e. Mankading has been moved from 'unfair play' section to 'run out'. One of the advocates of the controversial dismissal, R Ashwin has now finally opened up on the significant change brought forward by the MCC. For the unversed, the 35-year-old wily off-spinner had mankaded Jos Buttler during IPL 2019 edition, leading to a huge debate on the controversial mode of dismissal. Now, Ashwin has shared his reaction and also has an important message for the bowlers. ALSO READ | Cricket is changing: New code covers 'Mankad', use of saliva, dogs invading pitch Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, "Non-striker leaving the crease early is the actual unfair play in this whole scenario. Not the bowler running them out." “Earlier, it was termed a Mankad. But it has been changed now to run out. They (MCC) have destigmatized the entire concept and have termed it run-out law. The bowler was earlier expected to give a warning when the batsman leaves the crease at the non-striker's end. Now they have announced that what the non-striker is doing is wrong and, therefore, bowlers can actually run them out if the non-striker tries to leave the crease before the ball is delivered by the bowler. Bowlers used to feel bad about doing this, wondering how our team batsman would feel and what the cricketing world would think if we did it. Thinking about these consequences, they used to not run them out," he further pointed out. ALSO READ | Listing MCC's fresh changes to the laws of cricket Ashwin asserted, "the extra step the non-striker is taking might end up destroying your entire career. If the non-striker ends up on strike because of that extra step he is taking, he might smash a six, whereas the current striker might have gotten out. So, if you take a wicket, your career will advance, whereas if you are smashed for a six, your career may suffer. The impact is huge. So, the bowlers should not have any second thoughts on running the non-striker out, in my opinion," he added. It is to be noted that Ashwin is gearing up for the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, where he will team up with Buttler -- whom he had mankaded -- in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) camp.

'Bowlers shouldn't have any....: R Ashwin reacts as 'Mankading' moved from 'unfair play' section to 'run out'

Injury-ravaged India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has got the all-clear to lead Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL after a general assessment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru where he bowled and also passed the 'Yo-Yo' Test comfortably.

The BCCI is checking on all its centrally contracted players -- injured or otherwise -- before the IPL and Pandya's performance, during his two days at the NCA, can also be seen as a good sign for Indian cricket.

"Let's make it clear. Fitness test clearance is only for those who are coming back from injury. In case of Hardik, it was about getting a general fitness assessment going into the gruelling IPL season," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-led-delhi-capitals-parked-team-bus-allegedly-attacked-in-mumbai-before-ipl-2022-opener-462843">Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals' parked team bus allegedly attacked in Mumbai before IPL 2022 opener</a>

"He is an asset and one needed to check his current fitness standards," he added.

In fact, in his fitness assessment module, the NCA team didn't even mandate him to bowl but the all-rounder apparently "insisted" on it to show that he is on track to make a comeback into the Indian team.

"He didn't need to bowl at NCA but he has bowled for considerable time and in the range of 135 kmph. On the second day, he crossed the Yo-Yo test with flying colours with a 17-plus score which is much above the cut-off level," the source said. 
 
Prithvi Shaw fails 'Yo-Yo' test 
 
However, as per information received one player, who would be slightly disappointed with his current fitness status is out-of-favour opener Prithvi Shaw.

The former U-19 World Cup winning captain, who is not a part of the central contract was also at the NCA to provide an update on his fitness status and the result wasn't exactly satisfactory.

The current Yo-Yo test qualification score is 16.5 for men and it has been learnt that the Mumbai opener has scored less than 15.

"These are just fitness updates. Obviously, it doesn't stop Prithvi from playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL. It's just a fitness parameter and not the be all and end all," the source said.

"Look, he has played three Ranji matches back-to-back. Once you play three first-class games on the bounce, the fatigue can also affect your Yo-Yo score," he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/huge-blow-for-mumbai-indians-suryakumar-yadav-unlikely-to-feature-in-ipl-opener-against-delhi-capitals-462615">Huge blow for Mumbai Indians! Suryakumar Yadav unlikely to feature in IPL 2022 opener against Delhi Capitals</a>

Shaw, of late, hasn't been among the fittest of Indian players and perhaps that is one of the reasons that of late, he has not been considered in any of the current senior teams across formats.

Even as a replacement, the team management, in the white-ball format, has preferred Mayank Agarwal as a reserve opener despite some underwhelming performances by the Karnataka man.

"If Prithvi is not being repeatedly considered, then perhaps his fitness standards aren't up to the mark, as in what is expected of a Team India player," the source said.

Injury-ravaged India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has got the all-clear to lead Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL after a general assessment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru where he bowled and also passed the 'Yo-Yo' Test comfortably.

Injury-ravaged India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has got the all-clear to lead Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL after a general assessment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru where he bowled and also passed the 'Yo-Yo' Test comfortably. The BCCI is checking on all its centrally contracted players -- injured or otherwise -- before the IPL and Pandya's performance, during his two days at the NCA, can also be seen as a good sign for Indian cricket. "Let's make it clear. Fitness test clearance is only for those who are coming back from injury. In case of Hardik, it was about getting a general fitness assessment going into the gruelling IPL season," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity. ALSO READ: Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals' parked team bus allegedly attacked in Mumbai before IPL 2022 opener "He is an asset and one needed to check his current fitness standards," he added. In fact, in his fitness assessment module, the NCA team didn't even mandate him to bowl but the all-rounder apparently "insisted" on it to show that he is on track to make a comeback into the Indian team. "He didn't need to bowl at NCA but he has bowled for considerable time and in the range of 135 kmph. On the second day, he crossed the Yo-Yo test with flying colours with a 17-plus score which is much above the cut-off level," the source said. Prithvi Shaw fails 'Yo-Yo' test However, as per information received one player, who would be slightly disappointed with his current fitness status is out-of-favour opener Prithvi Shaw. The former U-19 World Cup winning captain, who is not a part of the central contract was also at the NCA to provide an update on his fitness status and the result wasn't exactly satisfactory. The current Yo-Yo test qualification score is 16.5 for men and it has been learnt that the Mumbai opener has scored less than 15. "These are just fitness updates. Obviously, it doesn't stop Prithvi from playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL. It's just a fitness parameter and not the be all and end all," the source said. "Look, he has played three Ranji matches back-to-back. Once you play three first-class games on the bounce, the fatigue can also affect your Yo-Yo score," he added. ALSO READ: Huge blow for Mumbai Indians! Suryakumar Yadav unlikely to feature in IPL 2022 opener against Delhi Capitals Shaw, of late, hasn't been among the fittest of Indian players and perhaps that is one of the reasons that of late, he has not been considered in any of the current senior teams across formats. Even as a replacement, the team management, in the white-ball format, has preferred Mayank Agarwal as a reserve opener despite some underwhelming performances by the Karnataka man. "If Prithvi is not being repeatedly considered, then perhaps his fitness standards aren't up to the mark, as in what is expected of a Team India player," the source said.

IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya fit to play, Delhi Capitals' Prithvi Shaw fails Yo-Yo Test

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Ahead of the season, CSK had been dealt with a big blow when their most-expensive signing Deepak Chahar got injured during the India-West Indies T20Is at home in late February.

Chahar also missed out on the India-Sri Lanka T20Is and was expected to be out of action for the&nbsp;majority of the upcoming IPL season, to be held in India. Nonetheless, there is a big sigh of relief for the CSK franchise and their ardent fans as Chahar is likely to be available from mid-April.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ms-dhoni-turns-back-the-clock-goes-bonkers-and-slams-big-sixes-in-csk-nets-before-ipl-2022-460458">Watch: MS Dhoni turns back the clock, goes bonkers and slams big sixes in CSK nets before IPL 2022</a>

As per a report in the&nbsp;Times of India, the 29-year-old Chahar&nbsp;had to undergo surgery to treat a quadricep tear that he had incurred during the WI T20Is. Much to the delight of the CSK loyalists, it now seems that a surgery wouldn't be required&nbsp;and, hence, the fast-bowling all-rounder can return to action&nbsp;from mid-April.

For the unversed, Chahar is currently&nbsp;at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), in Bengaluru, for his 8-week long rehab. The Dhoni-led Chennai team isn't rushing the pacer into action and are closely monitoring his progress.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-ms-dhonis-csk-as-deepak-chahar-set-to-miss-majority-of-ipl-2022-edition-reports-458194">Big blow to MS Dhoni's CSK as Deepak Chahar set to miss majority of IPL 2022 edition - Reports</a>

In the IPL 2022 mega auction, Chahar created history by becoming CSK's most expensive buy ever, when he was brought back into the franchise for a whopping INR 140 million (INR 14 crore). Thus, he will like to repay the team management's faith with a flurray of good performances on his return.

At present, the CSK squad is involved in a practice camp, being held in Surat, Gujarat.

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Ahead of the season, CSK had been dealt with a big blow when their most-expensive signing Deepak Chahar got injured during the India-West Indies T20Is at home in late February. Chahar also missed out on the India-Sri Lanka T20Is and was expected to be out of action for the majority of the upcoming IPL season, to be held in India. Nonetheless, there is a big sigh of relief for the CSK franchise and their ardent fans as Chahar is likely to be available from mid-April. ALSO READ | Watch: MS Dhoni turns back the clock, goes bonkers and slams big sixes in CSK nets before IPL 2022 As per a report in the Times of India, the 29-year-old Chahar had to undergo surgery to treat a quadricep tear that he had incurred during the WI T20Is. Much to the delight of the CSK loyalists, it now seems that a surgery wouldn't be required and, hence, the fast-bowling all-rounder can return to action from mid-April. For the unversed, Chahar is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), in Bengaluru, for his 8-week long rehab. The Dhoni-led Chennai team isn't rushing the pacer into action and are closely monitoring his progress. ALSO READ | Big blow to MS Dhoni's CSK as Deepak Chahar set to miss majority of IPL 2022 edition - Reports In the IPL 2022 mega auction, Chahar created history by becoming CSK's most expensive buy ever, when he was brought back into the franchise for a whopping INR 140 million (INR 14 crore). Thus, he will like to repay the team management's faith with a flurray of good performances on his return. At present, the CSK squad is involved in a practice camp, being held in Surat, Gujarat.

IPL 2022: Relief for Dhoni & Co.! CSK pacer Deepak Chahar likely to be available from mid-April - Report

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) can rejoice as their superstar opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has joined the squad in Surat on Wednesday (March 16). Ahead of the season-opener, where CSK face two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26, there were doubts about&nbsp;Ruturaj's fitness. For the unversed, the 25-year-old had sustained a&nbsp;wrist injury before the home series against Sri Lanka. Thus, he was at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and has recovered just in time before CSK's first game (at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai).

The official Twitter handle of the CSK franchise shared an update after Ruturaj reached Surat and joined the squad before their departure to Mumbai. Here's the post:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-led-delhi-capitals-parked-team-bus-allegedly-attacked-in-mumbai-before-ipl-2022-opener-462843">Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals' parked team bus allegedly attacked in Mumbai before IPL 2022 opener</a>

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Hi <a href="https://twitter.com/Ruutu1331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ruutu1331</a>! 👋🏼😍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SingamsInSurat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SingamsInSurat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> 💛🦁 <a href="https://t.co/gbiSG2rfYP">pic.twitter.com/gbiSG2rfYP</a>
— Chennai Super Kings - Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1504034964655943682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/huge-blow-for-mumbai-indians-suryakumar-yadav-unlikely-to-feature-in-ipl-opener-against-delhi-capitals-462615">Huge blow for Mumbai Indians! Suryakumar Yadav unlikely to feature in IPL 2022 opener against Delhi Capitals</a>

Ruturaj was retained by the four-time winners CSK before the mega auction, held in Bengaluru in mid-February. He has become one of the mainstays of the Yellow Army post his resounding success in the latter half of IPL 2020 and dream run in IPL 2021, where he amassed 635 runs and ended with the Orange Cap in Dhoni &amp; Co.'s title-winning campaign.

With a T20 World Cup round the corner, to be held in Australia later this year, Ruturaj will hope for another memorable season with CSK. Another good season will not only grow his stature as a Chennai player and help them retain the title, but it will also help him get more chances in Rohit Sharma-led India's T20I squad before the World Cup, in October-November.

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) can rejoice as their superstar opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has joined the squad in Surat on Wednesday (March 16). Ahead of the season-opener, where CSK face two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26, there were doubts about Ruturaj's fitness.

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) can rejoice as their superstar opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has joined the squad in Surat on Wednesday (March 16). Ahead of the season-opener, where CSK face two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26, there were doubts about Ruturaj's fitness. For the unversed, the 25-year-old had sustained a wrist injury before the home series against Sri Lanka. Thus, he was at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and has recovered just in time before CSK's first game (at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai). The official Twitter handle of the CSK franchise shared an update after Ruturaj reached Surat and joined the squad before their departure to Mumbai. Here's the post: ALSO READ | Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals' parked team bus allegedly attacked in Mumbai before IPL 2022 opener Hi @Ruutu1331! 👋🏼😍#SingamsInSurat #WhistlePodu 💛🦁 pic.twitter.com/gbiSG2rfYP — Chennai Super Kings - Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) March 16, 2022 × ALSO READ | Huge blow for Mumbai Indians! Suryakumar Yadav unlikely to feature in IPL 2022 opener against Delhi Capitals Ruturaj was retained by the four-time winners CSK before the mega auction, held in Bengaluru in mid-February. He has become one of the mainstays of the Yellow Army post his resounding success in the latter half of IPL 2020 and dream run in IPL 2021, where he amassed 635 runs and ended with the Orange Cap in Dhoni & Co.'s title-winning campaign. With a T20 World Cup round the corner, to be held in Australia later this year, Ruturaj will hope for another memorable season with CSK. Another good season will not only grow his stature as a Chennai player and help them retain the title, but it will also help him get more chances in Rohit Sharma-led India's T20I squad before the World Cup, in October-November.

Huge sigh of relief for CSK! Ruturaj Gaikwad joins MS Dhoni & Co. before IPL 2022 opener - see post

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