Spinners Lasith Embuldeniya (5/35) and Ramesh Mendis (5/66) claimed five wickets each to trigger a massive collapse in the second innings and help Sri Lanka register a big 164-run win over West Indies in the second Test and wrap the series 2-0, here on Friday. 
 
West Indies had lost only two wickets in the morning session and they seemed to have a good chance of escaping with a draw. However, their batters had no answers to the brilliant spin bowling from Lasith and Ramesh, who wreaked havoc on the final day of the second Test. 
 
Mendis took seven wickets in the first Test and followed that up with sensational match figures of 11/136 in this Test. He was adjudged Player of the Series while Dhananjaya de Silva was named Player of the Match for scoring a fantastic unbeaten 155. 
 
With two wins in two games, Sri Lanka sit on top of the ICC World Test Championship table.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sri-lanka-cricketers-write-emotional-messages-for-outgoing-coach-mickey-arthur-430206">Sri Lanka cricketers write emotional messages for outgoing coach Mickey Arthur</a> 
 
Sri Lanka started the day on 328/8 with de Silva on 153 not out and Embuldeniya keeping him company on 25 not out. Embuldeniya hit a couple of boundaries before he was cleaned up, for 39, by Jason Holder in the third over of the day. 
 
That dismissal called for a declaration from the Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, setting West Indies a target of 297. The de Silva-Embuldeniya partnership of 124 is the highest for the ninth wicket by a Sri Lanka pair in Tests. 
 
Chasing the target, West Indies got off to a shaky start, as Mendis struck early, dismissing Kraigg Brathwaite lbw for 6. Jermaine Blackwood was joined by Nkrumah Bonner, the No 3 batter and together they steadied the proceedings. 
 
However, on the stroke of lunch, West Indies lost Blackwood for 36. Embuldeniya induced an edge, caught at first slip by de Silva, when the West Indies opener tried to drive an outside-off delivery, and that ended the 50-run second-wicket association. The visitors went to lunch at 65/2, needing 232 more runs. 
 
In the second session, Shai Hope shared a 27-run stand with Bonner, but his wicket sparked a collapse. Mendis had him caught for 16 and on the next ball, he struck again to send Roston Chase back for a golden duck. He finished the same over with another wicket, with Kyle Mayers becoming his fourth victim. 
 
Embuldeniya joined the party shortly after, snaring Jason Holder`s wicket, who fell for 3. In his next over, he removed West Indies last hope - set batter Bonner - for 44. The spinner spun his web, trapping the West Indies batter nicely with an inside edge that pegged back his off-stump.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mickey-arthur-to-quit-sri-lanka-job-will-join-derbyshire-as-head-coach-430022">Mickey Arthur to quit Sri Lanka job, will join Derbyshire as head coach</a> 
 
Kemar Roach hit three boundaries but it was too late with wickets falling at regular intervals. No other batter provided resistance as the rest of the line-up crumbled. In no time, the spin duo of Mendis and Embuldeniya wrapped up the West Indies innings, setting up a sensational win. 
 
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 204 (Pathum Nissanka 73; Veerasammy Permaul 5-35) and 345/9 decl (Dhananjaya de Silva 155*, Pathum Nissanka 66; V Permaul 3-100) beat West Indies 253 (Kraigg Brathwaite 72; Ramesh Mendis 6-70) and 132 (Nkrumah Bonner 44; Lasith Embuldeniya 5-35 Ramesh Mendis 5-66) by 164 runs.

Spinners Lasith Embuldeniya (5/35) and Ramesh Mendis (5/66) claimed five wickets each to trigger a massive collapse in the second innings and help Sri Lanka register a big 164-run win over West Indies in the second Test and wrap the series 2-0, here on Friday.

Spinners Lasith Embuldeniya (5/35) and Ramesh Mendis (5/66) claimed five wickets each to trigger a massive collapse in the second innings and help Sri Lanka register a big 164-run win over West Indies in the second Test and wrap the series 2-0, here on Friday. West Indies had lost only two wickets in the morning session and they seemed to have a good chance of escaping with a draw. However, their batters had no answers to the brilliant spin bowling from Lasith and Ramesh, who wreaked havoc on the final day of the second Test. Mendis took seven wickets in the first Test and followed that up with sensational match figures of 11/136 in this Test. He was adjudged Player of the Series while Dhananjaya de Silva was named Player of the Match for scoring a fantastic unbeaten 155. With two wins in two games, Sri Lanka sit on top of the ICC World Test Championship table. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka cricketers write emotional messages for outgoing coach Mickey Arthur Sri Lanka started the day on 328/8 with de Silva on 153 not out and Embuldeniya keeping him company on 25 not out. Embuldeniya hit a couple of boundaries before he was cleaned up, for 39, by Jason Holder in the third over of the day. That dismissal called for a declaration from the Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, setting West Indies a target of 297. The de Silva-Embuldeniya partnership of 124 is the highest for the ninth wicket by a Sri Lanka pair in Tests. Chasing the target, West Indies got off to a shaky start, as Mendis struck early, dismissing Kraigg Brathwaite lbw for 6. Jermaine Blackwood was joined by Nkrumah Bonner, the No 3 batter and together they steadied the proceedings. However, on the stroke of lunch, West Indies lost Blackwood for 36. Embuldeniya induced an edge, caught at first slip by de Silva, when the West Indies opener tried to drive an outside-off delivery, and that ended the 50-run second-wicket association. The visitors went to lunch at 65/2, needing 232 more runs. In the second session, Shai Hope shared a 27-run stand with Bonner, but his wicket sparked a collapse. Mendis had him caught for 16 and on the next ball, he struck again to send Roston Chase back for a golden duck. He finished the same over with another wicket, with Kyle Mayers becoming his fourth victim. Embuldeniya joined the party shortly after, snaring Jason Holder`s wicket, who fell for 3. In his next over, he removed West Indies last hope - set batter Bonner - for 44. The spinner spun his web, trapping the West Indies batter nicely with an inside edge that pegged back his off-stump. ALSO READ: Mickey Arthur to quit Sri Lanka job, will join Derbyshire as head coach Kemar Roach hit three boundaries but it was too late with wickets falling at regular intervals. No other batter provided resistance as the rest of the line-up crumbled. In no time, the spin duo of Mendis and Embuldeniya wrapped up the West Indies innings, setting up a sensational win. Brief scores: Sri Lanka 204 (Pathum Nissanka 73; Veerasammy Permaul 5-35) and 345/9 decl (Dhananjaya de Silva 155*, Pathum Nissanka 66; V Permaul 3-100) beat West Indies 253 (Kraigg Brathwaite 72; Ramesh Mendis 6-70) and 132 (Nkrumah Bonner 44; Lasith Embuldeniya 5-35 Ramesh Mendis 5-66) by 164 runs.

Lasith Embuldeniya, Ramesh Mendis help SL beat WI by 164 runs in final Test, clinch series 2-0

Peng Shuai, former World No. 1 in doubles category, has made heads turn ever since she posted on social media,&nbsp;in early November, that China`s former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her. Soon after the earthshattering revelations, Shuai had vanished from public eyes amid huge concerns over her whereabouts and safety.

Shuai's video call with Olympic chief, in late November, did lead to a sigh of relief for her fans and followers. However, the World Tennis Association (WTA) had claimed that her chat didn't address the organisation's concerns about her well-being. Back then, a WTA spokesperson stated, "It was good to see Peng Shuai in recent videos, but they don`t alleviate or address the WTA`s concern about her well-being and ability to communicate without censorship or coercion.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/peng-shuai-sexual-assault-row-wta-announces-immediate-suspension-of-all-tournaments-in-china-433406">Peng Shuai sexual assault row: WTA announces immediate suspension of all tournaments in China</a>

On Thursday (December 2), China was dealt with a huge blow as the WTA announced the immediate suspension of all tennis tournaments in the country in the aftermath of the Shuai sexual assault allegations. "I don`t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault," WTA Chief Executive Steve Simon said in a statement.

"Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nine-time-australian-open-winner-novak-djokovic-likely-to-skip-tournament-over-vaccine-mandate-says-father-432967">Nine-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic likely to skip tournament over vaccine mandate, says father</a>

The development hasn't been received well as foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin reacted to the suspension news.

"We are firmly opposed to acts politicising sport," Wenbin said in a brief comment to reporters when asked about the WTA boycott.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: #MeToo: China punished for protecting a predator

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-metoo-china-punished-for-protecting-a-predator-433640/embed" width="560"></iframe>

For the unversed, the WTA announcement comes as a huge shock as Beijing is gearing up to host the Winter Olympics in February, 2022. On the other hand, China's human rights record, international rights organisations and others have demanded a boycott of the Beijing Olympics altogether.

Peng Shuai, former World No. 1 in doubles category, has made heads turn ever since she posted on social media, in early November, that China`s former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her.

Peng Shuai, former World No. 1 in doubles category, has made heads turn ever since she posted on social media, in early November, that China`s former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her. Soon after the earthshattering revelations, Shuai had vanished from public eyes amid huge concerns over her whereabouts and safety. Shuai's video call with Olympic chief, in late November, did lead to a sigh of relief for her fans and followers. However, the World Tennis Association (WTA) had claimed that her chat didn't address the organisation's concerns about her well-being. Back then, a WTA spokesperson stated, "It was good to see Peng Shuai in recent videos, but they don`t alleviate or address the WTA`s concern about her well-being and ability to communicate without censorship or coercion. ALSO READ | Peng Shuai sexual assault row: WTA announces immediate suspension of all tournaments in China On Thursday (December 2), China was dealt with a huge blow as the WTA announced the immediate suspension of all tennis tournaments in the country in the aftermath of the Shuai sexual assault allegations. "I don`t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault," WTA Chief Executive Steve Simon said in a statement. "Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022," he added. ALSO READ | Nine-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic likely to skip tournament over vaccine mandate, says father The development hasn't been received well as foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin reacted to the suspension news. "We are firmly opposed to acts politicising sport," Wenbin said in a brief comment to reporters when asked about the WTA boycott. Watch | Gravitas: #MeToo: China punished for protecting a predator For the unversed, the WTA announcement comes as a huge shock as Beijing is gearing up to host the Winter Olympics in February, 2022. On the other hand, China's human rights record, international rights organisations and others have demanded a boycott of the Beijing Olympics altogether.

Peng Shuai row: China hits back at WTA for 'politicising sport' after it suspends all tournaments in country

All the eight existing IPL franchises revealed their list of retained players on Tuesday evening (November 30). While some big names were retained, many popular names got released. Though many are set to enter the auction pool, some big players are expected to be picked by the two new IPL franchises -- Lucknow and Ahmedabad -- as the two new additions have a license to pick three players each prior to IPL 2022 mega auction.

For the unversed, the big players such as KL Rahul, David Warner, Hardik Pandya, Quinton de Kock, Ben Stokes, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan, etc. have been released. Hence, the two new IPL teams have quite a few options to pick from.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rashid-khan-to-ben-stokes-top-5-overseas-players-released-by-their-teams-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-433867">Rashid Khan to Ben Stokes: Top 5 overseas players released by their teams ahead of IPL mega auction</a>

Before the mega auction, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra named six players who are most likely to be picked by Lucknow and Ahmedabad. Speaking on his Youtube channel, "My first pick is KL Rahul. I feel he will not be able to reach the auction. Punjab Kings wanted to retain him but he didn’t want to. I think he is going to Lucknow and will become the captain of the new team. Rashid Khan is second in the pecking order. I don’t think his name will reach the auction table. He did not want to stay at SunRisers Hyderabad as he has been already approached by a new franchise with a better salary.

My third pick is Shreyas Iyer. He is likely to become captain of the Ahmedabad franchise. He is an important player and will be drafted to a new team. I won’t be surprised to see him lead Ahmedabad as he has already captained Delhi Capitals. Yuzvendra Chahal is another player who might go to Ahmedabad. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya might not be a part of the auction, but Ishan Kishan’s stocks are a bit high at the moment," he opined.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-rahul-iyer-or-warner-aakash-chopra-suggests-virat-kohlis-successor-at-rcb-ahead-of-ipl-2022-433845">Not Rahul, Iyer or Warner! Aakash Chopra suggests Virat Kohli's successor at RCB ahead of IPL 2022</a>

“David Warner will not make it to the auction either. He is a proven match-winner. He has a lot of experience, has won a lot of games, and has scored 600 odds runs in so many seasons. You won’t find a more consistent player than him,” Chopra added.

The IPL 2022 mega auction is likely to be held in early 2022. On the other hand, BCCI secretary Jay Shah had confirmed that the next edition will be held in India.

All the eight existing IPL franchises revealed their list of retained players on Tuesday evening (November 30). While some big names were retained, many popular names got released.

All the eight existing IPL franchises revealed their list of retained players on Tuesday evening (November 30). While some big names were retained, many popular names got released. Though many are set to enter the auction pool, some big players are expected to be picked by the two new IPL franchises -- Lucknow and Ahmedabad -- as the two new additions have a license to pick three players each prior to IPL 2022 mega auction. For the unversed, the big players such as KL Rahul, David Warner, Hardik Pandya, Quinton de Kock, Ben Stokes, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan, etc. have been released. Hence, the two new IPL teams have quite a few options to pick from. ALSO READ | Rashid Khan to Ben Stokes: Top 5 overseas players released by their teams ahead of IPL mega auction Before the mega auction, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra named six players who are most likely to be picked by Lucknow and Ahmedabad. Speaking on his Youtube channel, "My first pick is KL Rahul. I feel he will not be able to reach the auction. Punjab Kings wanted to retain him but he didn’t want to. I think he is going to Lucknow and will become the captain of the new team. Rashid Khan is second in the pecking order. I don’t think his name will reach the auction table. He did not want to stay at SunRisers Hyderabad as he has been already approached by a new franchise with a better salary. My third pick is Shreyas Iyer. He is likely to become captain of the Ahmedabad franchise. He is an important player and will be drafted to a new team. I won’t be surprised to see him lead Ahmedabad as he has already captained Delhi Capitals. Yuzvendra Chahal is another player who might go to Ahmedabad. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya might not be a part of the auction, but Ishan Kishan’s stocks are a bit high at the moment," he opined. ALSO READ | Not Rahul, Iyer or Warner! Aakash Chopra suggests Virat Kohli's successor at RCB ahead of IPL 2022 “David Warner will not make it to the auction either. He is a proven match-winner. He has a lot of experience, has won a lot of games, and has scored 600 odds runs in so many seasons. You won’t find a more consistent player than him,” Chopra added. The IPL 2022 mega auction is likely to be held in early 2022. On the other hand, BCCI secretary Jay Shah had confirmed that the next edition will be held in India.

Aakash Chopra predicts 6 players who will be picked by Lucknow and Ahmedabad before IPL 2022 auction

Virat Kohli-led Team India locked horns with New Zealand in the second and final Test on Friday (December 3) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Winning the toss, Kohli &amp; Co. opted to bat first and were off to a great start. From 80 for no loss, India slipped to 80 for 2 with Shubman Gill (44) and Cheteshwar Pujara (0) returning back to the pavillion in no time.&nbsp;

Kohli, who returned to action for the first time since the T20 World Cup, walked out to bat with the team in crisis. However, he failed to open his account and was controversially deemed out lbw, off Ajaz Patel, to walk back for a 4-ball 0. Following his dismissal, the 33-year-old achieved two unwanted records under his belt.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-rahul-iyer-or-warner-aakash-chopra-suggests-virat-kohlis-successor-at-rcb-ahead-of-ipl-2022-433845">Not Rahul, Iyer or Warner! Aakash Chopra suggests Virat Kohli's successor at RCB ahead of IPL 2022</a>

With another duck in Tests, Kohli now is the only Indian captain to have failed to open his account on ten occasions. During the England tour early this year, the right-hander had leapfrogged his predecessor MS Dhoni (8) to have nine ducks as Indian captain in the purest format. With this, he is joint-second -- along with former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith -- in the overall list of most ducks by Test captains whereas NZ's Stephen Fleming leads the chart (13). Dhoni, Michael Artheron and Hansie Cronje are tied at the third position with 8 ducks each.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-said-nothing-about-it-laxman-surprised-with-rahane-jadeja-and-ishants-injuries-for-2nd-test-433773">Virat Kohli said nothing about it: Laxman surprised with Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant's injuries for 2nd Test</a>

In addition, Kohli now has registered 6 ducks (the most) while playing at home as Indian captain. He shared the top spot with MK Pataudi prior to the Mumbai Test and now has gone onto take the numero uno position in the unwanted list.

Talking about the opening day's play of the Mumbai Test, India rode on Mayank Agarwal's fourth ton (120 not out) and valuable knocks from Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Wriddhiman Saha (unbeaten on 25) to reach 221-4 at stumps on Friday. From NZ's perspective, Ajaz Patel claimed all four wickets.

Virat Kohli-led Team India locked horns with New Zealand in the second and final Test on Friday (December 3) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Winning the toss, Kohli & Co.

Virat Kohli-led Team India locked horns with New Zealand in the second and final Test on Friday (December 3) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Winning the toss, Kohli & Co. opted to bat first and were off to a great start. From 80 for no loss, India slipped to 80 for 2 with Shubman Gill (44) and Cheteshwar Pujara (0) returning back to the pavillion in no time. Kohli, who returned to action for the first time since the T20 World Cup, walked out to bat with the team in crisis. However, he failed to open his account and was controversially deemed out lbw, off Ajaz Patel, to walk back for a 4-ball 0. Following his dismissal, the 33-year-old achieved two unwanted records under his belt. ALSO READ | Not Rahul, Iyer or Warner! Aakash Chopra suggests Virat Kohli's successor at RCB ahead of IPL 2022 With another duck in Tests, Kohli now is the only Indian captain to have failed to open his account on ten occasions. During the England tour early this year, the right-hander had leapfrogged his predecessor MS Dhoni (8) to have nine ducks as Indian captain in the purest format. With this, he is joint-second -- along with former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith -- in the overall list of most ducks by Test captains whereas NZ's Stephen Fleming leads the chart (13). Dhoni, Michael Artheron and Hansie Cronje are tied at the third position with 8 ducks each. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli said nothing about it: Laxman surprised with Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant's injuries for 2nd Test In addition, Kohli now has registered 6 ducks (the most) while playing at home as Indian captain. He shared the top spot with MK Pataudi prior to the Mumbai Test and now has gone onto take the numero uno position in the unwanted list. Talking about the opening day's play of the Mumbai Test, India rode on Mayank Agarwal's fourth ton (120 not out) and valuable knocks from Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Wriddhiman Saha (unbeaten on 25) to reach 221-4 at stumps on Friday. From NZ's perspective, Ajaz Patel claimed all four wickets.

Virat Kohli achieves two unwanted records after failing to open his account on Day 1 of Mumbai Test

All the eight IPL franchises revealed their list of retained players on Tuesday evening (November 30). While some big names were retained by their respective franchises, some known faces got released. As two more teams have been added to the IPL, in the form of Lucknow and Ahmedabad, they will get a chance to pick three players each prior to the IPL 2022 mega auction.

Hence, six players will find themselves being part of the two new teams. On the other hand, the IPL 2022 mega auction will see some marquee players enter the auction pool. Among them, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra feels ex-Mumbai Indians (MI) player Rahul Chahar is likely to get acquired by the Virat Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/robin-uthappa-hints-at-ms-dhonis-successor-as-csk-captain-they-have-given-him-the-due-he-deserved-433772">Robin Uthappa hints at MS Dhoni's successor as CSK captain: 'They have given him the due he deserved'</a>

Chopra said during a Q/A session on his Youtube channel, "RCB will not get Rashid, they can forget about that. Instead, they will go after Rahul Chahar, big time. No spinners apart from leg spinners work at the Chinnaswamy stadium. He also bowls a lot quicker in the air. Ravi Bishnoi is also an option, but I’m thinking Rahul Chahar, they will break the bank for him. Chahal might not make it to the auctions."

It is important to note that RCB have retained Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj. Hence, with no Yuzvendra Chahal, RCB will like to rope in a quality spinner. While Rashid Khan will be very costly, Chopra feels Rahul Chahar can be a handy pick for the Bengaluru franchise.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-rcb-co-are-you-listening-jamacian-sprinter-usain-bolt-eyeing-cricket-career-keen-to-play-in-ipl-433511">CSK, RCB &amp; Co. are you listening? Jamacian sprinter Usain Bolt eyeing cricket career, keen to play in IPL</a>

Talking about the MI franchise, they have released plenty of star players such as Pandya brothers, Trent Boult, Rahul Chahar, Quinton de Kock, Ishan Kishan. All of them are expected to get whopping deals in the forthcoming auction, which is slated to be held early in 2022.

All the eight IPL franchises revealed their list of retained players on Tuesday evening (November 30). While some big names were retained by their respective franchises, some known faces got released.

All the eight IPL franchises revealed their list of retained players on Tuesday evening (November 30). While some big names were retained by their respective franchises, some known faces got released. As two more teams have been added to the IPL, in the form of Lucknow and Ahmedabad, they will get a chance to pick three players each prior to the IPL 2022 mega auction. Hence, six players will find themselves being part of the two new teams. On the other hand, the IPL 2022 mega auction will see some marquee players enter the auction pool. Among them, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra feels ex-Mumbai Indians (MI) player Rahul Chahar is likely to get acquired by the Virat Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). ALSO READ | Robin Uthappa hints at MS Dhoni's successor as CSK captain: 'They have given him the due he deserved' Chopra said during a Q/A session on his Youtube channel, "RCB will not get Rashid, they can forget about that. Instead, they will go after Rahul Chahar, big time. No spinners apart from leg spinners work at the Chinnaswamy stadium. He also bowls a lot quicker in the air. Ravi Bishnoi is also an option, but I’m thinking Rahul Chahar, they will break the bank for him. Chahal might not make it to the auctions." It is important to note that RCB have retained Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj. Hence, with no Yuzvendra Chahal, RCB will like to rope in a quality spinner. While Rashid Khan will be very costly, Chopra feels Rahul Chahar can be a handy pick for the Bengaluru franchise. ALSO READ | CSK, RCB & Co. are you listening? Jamacian sprinter Usain Bolt eyeing cricket career, keen to play in IPL Talking about the MI franchise, they have released plenty of star players such as Pandya brothers, Trent Boult, Rahul Chahar, Quinton de Kock, Ishan Kishan. All of them are expected to get whopping deals in the forthcoming auction, which is slated to be held early in 2022.

Not Hardik! Aakash Chopra feels RCB can 'break the bank' for ex-MI player in IPL 2022 mega auction

The three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) revealed their list of retained players on Tuesday evening (November 30), along with the other seven existing IPL teams. The Bengaluru franchise retained the likes of former skipper Virat Kohli, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and pacer Mohammed Siraj.

Thus, many star players were releases from the franchise, such as Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel, Devdutt Padikkal, etc. While the RCB franchise have to rebuild and form a new set of core players, the Bengaluru unit will also have to name a new captain after Kohl stepped aside from the top job post IPL 2021. While some believe Maxwell will land up with the top job, many are of the opinion that KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, David Warner or some new face will be added and made the next RCB captain.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-gets-the-best-out-of-csk-nobody-can-doubt-his-skills-as-captain-yellow-armys-ceo-k-viswanathan-433822">MS Dhoni gets the best out of CSK, nobody can doubt his skills as captain: Yellow Army's CEO K Viswanathan</a>

Former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra suggested an interesting name who can captain RCB. On his Youtube channel, he stated, "For RCB, Jason Holder is also an option for captaincy. They need to buy a new captain and it could be Holder. When I think about the pitch over there and other things, I think Holder could be a valuable player. He does well in all the teams."

For the unversed, IPL 2022 will also see two new teams in the form of Lucknow and Ahmedabad. Chopra opened on the probable captaincy options for the new entrants and said, "Teams ideally go towards Indian captains, so the obvious captaincy candidates for the two new teams are KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. But KL Rahul and Warner are also a possibility. Apart from them, I don’t see anybody. Don’t see teams picking Ishan Kishan or R Ashwin for captaincy."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-hardik-aakash-chopra-feels-rcb-can-break-the-bank-for-ex-mi-player-in-ipl-2022-mega-auction-433796">Not Hardik! Aakash Chopra feels RCB can 'break the bank' for ex-MI player in IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

Before the next edition, a mega auction is slated to be held in early 2022. Prior to the auction, the two new teams will also have a chance to pick three players each from the list of released players. Hence, some big names won't even go to the auction.&nbsp;

The three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) revealed their list of retained players on Tuesday evening (November 30), along with the other seven existing IPL teams.

The three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) revealed their list of retained players on Tuesday evening (November 30), along with the other seven existing IPL teams. The Bengaluru franchise retained the likes of former skipper Virat Kohli, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and pacer Mohammed Siraj. Thus, many star players were releases from the franchise, such as Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel, Devdutt Padikkal, etc. While the RCB franchise have to rebuild and form a new set of core players, the Bengaluru unit will also have to name a new captain after Kohl stepped aside from the top job post IPL 2021. While some believe Maxwell will land up with the top job, many are of the opinion that KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, David Warner or some new face will be added and made the next RCB captain. ALSO READ | MS Dhoni gets the best out of CSK, nobody can doubt his skills as captain: Yellow Army's CEO K Viswanathan Former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra suggested an interesting name who can captain RCB. On his Youtube channel, he stated, "For RCB, Jason Holder is also an option for captaincy. They need to buy a new captain and it could be Holder. When I think about the pitch over there and other things, I think Holder could be a valuable player. He does well in all the teams." For the unversed, IPL 2022 will also see two new teams in the form of Lucknow and Ahmedabad. Chopra opened on the probable captaincy options for the new entrants and said, "Teams ideally go towards Indian captains, so the obvious captaincy candidates for the two new teams are KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. But KL Rahul and Warner are also a possibility. Apart from them, I don’t see anybody. Don’t see teams picking Ishan Kishan or R Ashwin for captaincy." ALSO READ | Not Hardik! Aakash Chopra feels RCB can 'break the bank' for ex-MI player in IPL 2022 mega auction Before the next edition, a mega auction is slated to be held in early 2022. Prior to the auction, the two new teams will also have a chance to pick three players each from the list of released players. Hence, some big names won't even go to the auction.

Not Rahul, Iyer or Warner! Aakash Chopra suggests Virat Kohli's successor at RCB ahead of IPL 2022

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu on Friday lost her third and final Group A game in the women's singles event of the ongoing BWF World Tour Finals in Bali.

Playing at the Mangupura Hall - 1, Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand defeated reigning world champion by 21-12, 19-21, 21-14 in a match that lasted for one hour and 11 minutes. With this win, the Thai player has topped Group A. Chochuwong has already qualified for the knockouts alongside PV Sindhu.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-tour-finals-pv-sindhu-enters-semis-with-straight-sets-win-vs-germanys-yvonne-li-433523">BWF World Tour Finals: PV Sindhu enters semis with straight sets win vs Germany's Yvonne Li</a>

In a dead rubber match, the Thailand player stormed to an 11-6 lead in the first interval and closed out the game by 21-12 against the Indian.

The second game interval was the reversal of the first one as Sindhu lead Chochuwong 11-6. But the top-seed battled back and levelled the game at 19-19. Sindhu then held her nerve to force the decider by winning two straight points.

The Indian had a terrific start to the decider but Chochuwong came storming back. The Thai shuttler went from 5-6 to 11-7 at interval. Chochuwong faced no problem in clinching the game and match from thereon.

Earlier, Kidambi Srikanth lost his third and final Group B game in the men's singles as he was defeated by Lee Zii Jia by 21-19, 21-14 in a game that lasted for 37 minutes.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pv-sindhu-set-to-contest-bwf-athletes-commission-election-in-december-431337">PV Sindhu set to contest BWF Athletes' Commission election in December</a>

Meanwhile, India's women's doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy on Friday beat the British duo of Chloe Birch and Lauren Smith in a hard-fought three-game encounter to end their campaign at the BWF World Tour Finals with a consolation win.&nbsp;

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu on Friday lost her third and final Group A game in the women's singles event of the ongoing BWF World Tour Finals in Bali. Playing at the Mangupura Hall - 1, Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand defeated reigning world champion by 21-12, 19-21, 21-14 in a match that lasted for one hour and 11 minutes.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu on Friday lost her third and final Group A game in the women's singles event of the ongoing BWF World Tour Finals in Bali. Playing at the Mangupura Hall - 1, Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand defeated reigning world champion by 21-12, 19-21, 21-14 in a match that lasted for one hour and 11 minutes. With this win, the Thai player has topped Group A. Chochuwong has already qualified for the knockouts alongside PV Sindhu. ALSO READ: BWF World Tour Finals: PV Sindhu enters semis with straight sets win vs Germany's Yvonne Li In a dead rubber match, the Thailand player stormed to an 11-6 lead in the first interval and closed out the game by 21-12 against the Indian. The second game interval was the reversal of the first one as Sindhu lead Chochuwong 11-6. But the top-seed battled back and levelled the game at 19-19. Sindhu then held her nerve to force the decider by winning two straight points. The Indian had a terrific start to the decider but Chochuwong came storming back. The Thai shuttler went from 5-6 to 11-7 at interval. Chochuwong faced no problem in clinching the game and match from thereon. Earlier, Kidambi Srikanth lost his third and final Group B game in the men's singles as he was defeated by Lee Zii Jia by 21-19, 21-14 in a game that lasted for 37 minutes. ALSO READ: PV Sindhu set to contest BWF Athletes' Commission election in December Meanwhile, India's women's doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy on Friday beat the British duo of Chloe Birch and Lauren Smith in a hard-fought three-game encounter to end their campaign at the BWF World Tour Finals with a consolation win.

BWF World Tour Finals: PV Sindhu goes down to Pornpawee Chochuwong in dead rubber

While MS Dhoni has gone past his prime, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend remains a big name in IPL. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has amassed 4,746 runs in 220 IPL games, eighth-most overall, and also accounts for most dismissals (161) behind the stumps.

Apart from Dhoni's batting and keeping, his finishing skills and captaincy have been hailed by many in the IPL (and also during his stint with Indian cricket). Thus, it wasn't any surprise when the four-time winners retained the 40-year-old Dhoni ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. For the unversed, Dhoni wasn't CSK's first-choice but was retained for a whopping 120 million (12 crores).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-suresh-raina-csk-ceo-names-ex-player-ms-dhoni-co-will-try-to-get-back-in-ipl-2022-mega-auction-433581">Not Suresh Raina! CSK CEO names ex-player MS Dhoni &amp; Co. will try to 'get back' in IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

Opining on Dhoni's retention and what he brings to the table overall, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan hailed the 'Thala' and told in a video posted by the franchise on social media, "Thala has been the mainstay of CSK. He has been a captain who has delivered for us. He gets the best out of the team every time he plays. As far as we are concerned, Thala plays a major role because he controls the team, and the team is benefitted by his experience. Nobody can doubt his skills as a captain."

He added, "Chennai has been a very lucky ground for us, we had a good home advantage. That is because of the support we get from the CSK fans who throng to the stadium. I hope that this year, we get the entire MA Chidambaram Stadium for our use,”&nbsp;he stated.

The next edition of the IPL is slated to be held in India. Meanwhile, the mega auction is likely in early 2022.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-rcb-co-are-you-listening-jamacian-sprinter-usain-bolt-eyeing-cricket-career-keen-to-play-in-ipl-433511">CSK, RCB &amp; Co. are you listening? Jamacian sprinter Usain Bolt eyeing cricket career, keen to play in IPL</a>

Despite his low returns with the bat, Dhoni remained a vital cog for CSK in IPL 2021 edition. He led the franchise brilliantly and took them to their ninth IPL final in the last edition. In the summit clash, Dhoni-led CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 27 runs to clinch the coveted title after three years.

While MS Dhoni has gone past his prime, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend remains a big name in IPL. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has amassed 4,746 runs in 220 IPL games, eighth-most overall, and also accounts for most dismissals (161) behind the stumps.

While MS Dhoni has gone past his prime, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend remains a big name in IPL. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has amassed 4,746 runs in 220 IPL games, eighth-most overall, and also accounts for most dismissals (161) behind the stumps. Apart from Dhoni's batting and keeping, his finishing skills and captaincy have been hailed by many in the IPL (and also during his stint with Indian cricket). Thus, it wasn't any surprise when the four-time winners retained the 40-year-old Dhoni ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. For the unversed, Dhoni wasn't CSK's first-choice but was retained for a whopping 120 million (12 crores). ALSO READ | Not Suresh Raina! CSK CEO names ex-player MS Dhoni & Co. will try to 'get back' in IPL 2022 mega auction Opining on Dhoni's retention and what he brings to the table overall, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan hailed the 'Thala' and told in a video posted by the franchise on social media, "Thala has been the mainstay of CSK. He has been a captain who has delivered for us. He gets the best out of the team every time he plays. As far as we are concerned, Thala plays a major role because he controls the team, and the team is benefitted by his experience. Nobody can doubt his skills as a captain." He added, "Chennai has been a very lucky ground for us, we had a good home advantage. That is because of the support we get from the CSK fans who throng to the stadium. I hope that this year, we get the entire MA Chidambaram Stadium for our use,” he stated. The next edition of the IPL is slated to be held in India. Meanwhile, the mega auction is likely in early 2022. ALSO READ | CSK, RCB & Co. are you listening? Jamacian sprinter Usain Bolt eyeing cricket career, keen to play in IPL Despite his low returns with the bat, Dhoni remained a vital cog for CSK in IPL 2021 edition. He led the franchise brilliantly and took them to their ninth IPL final in the last edition. In the summit clash, Dhoni-led CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 27 runs to clinch the coveted title after three years.

MS Dhoni gets the best out of CSK, nobody can doubt his skills as captain: Yellow Army's CEO K Viswanathan

Hyderabad FC came from a goal down against Jamshedpur to earn a point in their third Indian Super League clash here on Thursday.

Greg Stewart scored a fine solo goal in the 41st minute while Bart Ogbeche (56') found the net after a well worked move at the edge of the box with Joao Victor.

With just a point in the bag, HFC remain in 6th place with four points from their first three league games of the current campaign.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-scores-a-double-to-surpass-800-goal-mark-as-manchester-united-beat-arsenal-3-2-433768">Cristiano Ronaldo scores a double to surpass 800-goal mark as Manchester United beat Arsenal 3-2</a>

Manolo Marquez's men started off brightly and had a couple of chances to score early in the game that fell to Juanan and Joel Chianese but it was the Red Miners who found a foothold in the game and started to test Laxmikant Kattimani's goal with increased consistency as the half grew old.

And finally, thanks to a bit of skill and a superb finish from Stewart, the hosts took a lead going into the break as Manolo had a tough team talk waiting for the men in yellow.

Hyderabad did come out a stronger unit, and put pressure on the Jamshedpur backline, that wilted with some superb passing just outside the box. A move that ended with a composed Ogbeche finish gave Hyderabad the equalizer with more than half an hour to play.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/isl-2021-22-vikram-pratap-singh-strikes-twice-as-mumbai-city-fc-thrash-atk-mohun-bagan-5-1-433497">ISL 2021-22: Vikram Pratap Singh strikes twice as Mumbai City FC thrash ATK Mohun Bagan 5-1</a>

Both teams pushed hard for the winner, as Manolo introduced the likes of Rohit Danu (at half time) and Javi Siverio to push for a win but Owen Coyle's men showed good resistance and managed to even test Kattimani at the other end.

The likes of Joao Victor, Juanan, Asish Rai and Bart Ogbeche were superb for Hyderabad but the efforts were just not enough to register back-to-back wins for the club.&nbsp;

Hyderabad FC came from a goal down against Jamshedpur to earn a point in their third Indian Super League clash here on Thursday. Greg Stewart scored a fine solo goal in the 41st minute while Bart Ogbeche (56') found the net after a well worked move at the edge of the box with Joao Victor.

Hyderabad FC came from a goal down against Jamshedpur to earn a point in their third Indian Super League clash here on Thursday. Greg Stewart scored a fine solo goal in the 41st minute while Bart Ogbeche (56') found the net after a well worked move at the edge of the box with Joao Victor. With just a point in the bag, HFC remain in 6th place with four points from their first three league games of the current campaign. ALSO READ: Cristiano Ronaldo scores a double to surpass 800-goal mark as Manchester United beat Arsenal 3-2 Manolo Marquez's men started off brightly and had a couple of chances to score early in the game that fell to Juanan and Joel Chianese but it was the Red Miners who found a foothold in the game and started to test Laxmikant Kattimani's goal with increased consistency as the half grew old. And finally, thanks to a bit of skill and a superb finish from Stewart, the hosts took a lead going into the break as Manolo had a tough team talk waiting for the men in yellow. Hyderabad did come out a stronger unit, and put pressure on the Jamshedpur backline, that wilted with some superb passing just outside the box. A move that ended with a composed Ogbeche finish gave Hyderabad the equalizer with more than half an hour to play. ALSO READ: ISL 2021-22: Vikram Pratap Singh strikes twice as Mumbai City FC thrash ATK Mohun Bagan 5-1 Both teams pushed hard for the winner, as Manolo introduced the likes of Rohit Danu (at half time) and Javi Siverio to push for a win but Owen Coyle's men showed good resistance and managed to even test Kattimani at the other end. The likes of Joao Victor, Juanan, Asish Rai and Bart Ogbeche were superb for Hyderabad but the efforts were just not enough to register back-to-back wins for the club.

ISL 2021-22: Hyderabad FC held by Jamshedpur FC 1-1 in Bambolim

Team India have locked horns with New Zealand in the second and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Friday (December 3). After the drawn Kanpur Test, both sides have all to play for with the series on the line. While regular captain Virat Kohli returned to the playing XI, after being rested for the series opener, the home side have gone into the final Test without the likes of vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma.

The famed trio have not been dropped but got ruled out due to injury concerns. At the toss, the 33-year-old Kohli opined on Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Jadeja's absence and told, "We're batting first. Looks like a hard wicket and not a lot of grass. With the sun out, it should be the best time to bat. Rahane had a hammie niggle on Day 5, Jadeja has a swollen right forearm, and Ishant has an injury too. We just have to do the basics right like in Kanpur. NZ must be given credit for batting out the overs on Day 5. We can be in positions to capitalize at home if we play well."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rofl-wasim-jaffer-shares-hilarious-post-as-virat-kohli-manages-to-win-the-toss-in-final-test-vs-nz-433738">ROFL! Wasim Jaffer shares hilarious post as Virat Kohli manages to win the toss in final Test vs NZ</a>

India&nbsp;playing XI: Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

As soon as the news broke out of Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant being injured, former Indian Test specialist-turned-NCA head VVS Laxman was left surprised with the development. He told on Byju's Cricket Live on Star Sports, "Did something happen this morning? But Virat Kohli said nothing about in the press conference yesterday. It is obviously a big blow."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-rahane-jadeja-and-ishant-sharma-heres-why-team-india-are-without-famed-trio-in-2nd-test-vs-nz-433727">No Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant Sharma: Here's why Team India are without famed trio in 2nd Test vs NZ</a>

For the unversed, New Zealand were also dealt with a major blow as regular captain Kane Williamson missed out due to injury. Stand-in captain Tom Latham told at the toss, "Unfortunate for Kane, his elbow is acting up again, but good chance for Mitchell."

Opting to bat first, India were off to a great start in the deciding Test before losing three quick wickets. Hence, their middle and lower-order need to rebuild the innings for the hosts to post anything over 300.

Team India have locked horns with New Zealand in the second and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Friday (December 3). After the drawn Kanpur Test, both sides have all to play for with the series on the line.

Team India have locked horns with New Zealand in the second and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Friday (December 3). After the drawn Kanpur Test, both sides have all to play for with the series on the line. While regular captain Virat Kohli returned to the playing XI, after being rested for the series opener, the home side have gone into the final Test without the likes of vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma. The famed trio have not been dropped but got ruled out due to injury concerns. At the toss, the 33-year-old Kohli opined on Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Jadeja's absence and told, "We're batting first. Looks like a hard wicket and not a lot of grass. With the sun out, it should be the best time to bat. Rahane had a hammie niggle on Day 5, Jadeja has a swollen right forearm, and Ishant has an injury too. We just have to do the basics right like in Kanpur. NZ must be given credit for batting out the overs on Day 5. We can be in positions to capitalize at home if we play well." ALSO READ | ROFL! Wasim Jaffer shares hilarious post as Virat Kohli manages to win the toss in final Test vs NZ India playing XI: Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj As soon as the news broke out of Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant being injured, former Indian Test specialist-turned-NCA head VVS Laxman was left surprised with the development. He told on Byju's Cricket Live on Star Sports, "Did something happen this morning? But Virat Kohli said nothing about in the press conference yesterday. It is obviously a big blow." ALSO READ | No Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant Sharma: Here's why Team India are without famed trio in 2nd Test vs NZ For the unversed, New Zealand were also dealt with a major blow as regular captain Kane Williamson missed out due to injury. Stand-in captain Tom Latham told at the toss, "Unfortunate for Kane, his elbow is acting up again, but good chance for Mitchell." Opting to bat first, India were off to a great start in the deciding Test before losing three quick wickets. Hence, their middle and lower-order need to rebuild the innings for the hosts to post anything over 300.

Virat Kohli said nothing about it: Laxman surprised with Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant's injuries for 2nd Test

Beijing took umbrage on Thursday at the suspension of Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournaments in China in solidarity with Peng Shuai after the player made a sexual assault accusation then disappeared from public view.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin did not directly mention the WTA but pointedly said China "opposes the politicization of sports".

In an editorial, the Global Times newspaper, published by the ruling Communist Party`s People's Daily, said the WTA was betraying the Olympic spirit and bringing politics into tennis.

"Some forces in the West are instigating a boycott against the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics," it added, referring to the February event which some rights groups want boycotted over China's human rights record.

Peng, a former world No. 1 doubles player, was unseen in public for nearly three weeks after she posted a message on social media in early November accusing China's former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli of forcing her into sex.

Neither Zhang, who retired in 2018, nor the government have commented on Peng's accusation and the topic has been blocked on China`s heavily censored internet.

The men's equivalent body, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), weighed in on Thursday saying Peng's situation raised serious concerns within and beyond the sport.

"The response to those concerns has so far fallen short. We again urge for a line of open direct communication between the player and the WTA in order to establish a clearer picture of her situation," said ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-urges-for-communication-between-peng-shuai-and-wta-after-suspension-of-tennis-tournaments-in-china-433661">ATP urges for 'communication' between Peng Shuai and WTA after suspension of tennis tournaments in China</a>

Peng, a three-time Olympian, did appear in mid-November at a dinner with friends and a children's tennis tournament in Beijing, photographs and videos published by Chinese state media and by the tournament's organisers showed.

And the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it had held a second video call with the 35-year-old player on Wednesday following one late last month.

The IOC said it had offered her support, would stay in regular touch, and had agreed a personal meeting in January. She appeared to be "safe and well, given the difficult situation she is in", it added in its statement on Thursday.

BIGGER THINGS THAN TENNIS

Unconvinced, however, the U.S.-headquartered WTA wants further assurances of her wellbeing and an investigation before it returns to the lucrative Chinese market.

"While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe, and not subject to censorship, coercion, and intimidation," chief executive Steve Simon said on Wednesday, suggesting she was pressured to retract her allegation.

Equality for women would suffer a setback if powerful people could suppress accusations of assault, he added. "I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022."

Simon told CNN on Thursday that he had received an email from Peng but said he thought it was "100% orchestrated" and did not reflect her "true position."

From former women's greats Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova to men's No. 1 Novak Djokovic, many in the tennis world applauded the WTA, which stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in TV and sponsorship revenue.&nbsp;

"Really strong stance. Far bigger things in the world than a game of tennis," said Australian player John Millman.

The WTA had been fast expanding into China, where local interest was fuelled when Li Na won the 2011 French Open.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/peng-shuai-row-china-hits-back-at-wta-for-politicising-sport-after-it-suspends-all-tournaments-in-country-433494">Peng Shuai row: China hits back at WTA for 'politicising sport' after it suspends all tournaments in country</a>

China hosted just two WTA events in 2008 but 11 years later was staging nine - including the WTA Tour finals - though the pandemic forced the cancellation of all but one this year and last.

Another major global tennis body, the International Tennis Federation, also said it stood with women`s rights and that Peng`s allegations must be addressed.

Peng posted in early November that Gaoli had coerced her into sex and they later had an on-off consensual relationship. The message was deleted half an hour later.

Sexual harassment and assault were for years rarely broached in public in China until a #MeToo movement began in 2018, when a student accused her professor of sexual harassment.

Beijing took umbrage on Thursday at the suspension of Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournaments in China in solidarity with Peng Shuai after the player made a sexual assault accusation then disappeared from public view.

Beijing took umbrage on Thursday at the suspension of Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournaments in China in solidarity with Peng Shuai after the player made a sexual assault accusation then disappeared from public view. Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin did not directly mention the WTA but pointedly said China "opposes the politicization of sports". In an editorial, the Global Times newspaper, published by the ruling Communist Party`s People's Daily, said the WTA was betraying the Olympic spirit and bringing politics into tennis. "Some forces in the West are instigating a boycott against the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics," it added, referring to the February event which some rights groups want boycotted over China's human rights record. Peng, a former world No. 1 doubles player, was unseen in public for nearly three weeks after she posted a message on social media in early November accusing China's former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli of forcing her into sex. Neither Zhang, who retired in 2018, nor the government have commented on Peng's accusation and the topic has been blocked on China`s heavily censored internet. The men's equivalent body, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), weighed in on Thursday saying Peng's situation raised serious concerns within and beyond the sport. "The response to those concerns has so far fallen short. We again urge for a line of open direct communication between the player and the WTA in order to establish a clearer picture of her situation," said ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi. ALSO READ: ATP urges for 'communication' between Peng Shuai and WTA after suspension of tennis tournaments in China Peng, a three-time Olympian, did appear in mid-November at a dinner with friends and a children's tennis tournament in Beijing, photographs and videos published by Chinese state media and by the tournament's organisers showed. And the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it had held a second video call with the 35-year-old player on Wednesday following one late last month. The IOC said it had offered her support, would stay in regular touch, and had agreed a personal meeting in January. She appeared to be "safe and well, given the difficult situation she is in", it added in its statement on Thursday. BIGGER THINGS THAN TENNIS Unconvinced, however, the U.S.-headquartered WTA wants further assurances of her wellbeing and an investigation before it returns to the lucrative Chinese market. "While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe, and not subject to censorship, coercion, and intimidation," chief executive Steve Simon said on Wednesday, suggesting she was pressured to retract her allegation. Equality for women would suffer a setback if powerful people could suppress accusations of assault, he added. "I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022." Simon told CNN on Thursday that he had received an email from Peng but said he thought it was "100% orchestrated" and did not reflect her "true position." From former women's greats Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova to men's No. 1 Novak Djokovic, many in the tennis world applauded the WTA, which stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in TV and sponsorship revenue. "Really strong stance. Far bigger things in the world than a game of tennis," said Australian player John Millman. The WTA had been fast expanding into China, where local interest was fuelled when Li Na won the 2011 French Open. ALSO READ | Peng Shuai row: China hits back at WTA for 'politicising sport' after it suspends all tournaments in country China hosted just two WTA events in 2008 but 11 years later was staging nine - including the WTA Tour finals - though the pandemic forced the cancellation of all but one this year and last. Another major global tennis body, the International Tennis Federation, also said it stood with women`s rights and that Peng`s allegations must be addressed. Peng posted in early November that Gaoli had coerced her into sex and they later had an on-off consensual relationship. The message was deleted half an hour later. Sexual harassment and assault were for years rarely broached in public in China until a #MeToo movement began in 2018, when a student accused her professor of sexual harassment.

'WTA betraying Olympic spirit', China annoyed at exit of women's tennis body in solidarity with Peng Shuai

Team India won the toss and elected to bat first versus New Zealand in the second and final Test at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Friday (December 3). With this, India have the toss on all five occasions in the home series versus the Black Caps, including the three T20Is and Test series opener.

The home series versus New Zealand has been a unique one for India, with three different captains. While Rohit led the national side in T20Is after becoming the full-time captain in the shortest format, Rahane led the charge in the Test series opener with Kohli being rested. While Kohli returned, and Rahane missed the final Test due to injury, the 33-year-old maintained India's clean record&nbsp;in terms of winning the coin toss in the entire series versus the Kiwis.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-rahane-jadeja-and-ishant-sharma-heres-why-team-india-are-without-famed-trio-in-2nd-test-vs-nz-433727">No Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant Sharma: Here's why Team India are without famed trio in 2nd Test vs NZ</a>

For the unversed, Kohli doesn't have a great record when it comes to winning the toss. In 2021, the India batter has lost 17 tosses and won only 6 (including the Mumbai Test). While he has now won three tosses in a row, including India's last two games in the T20 World Cup, his record with the coin toss isn't one to cherish. Hence, former Indian opener-turned-meme-specialist Wasim Jaffer left netizens laughing out loud with a hilarious post:

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-2nd-test-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-india-vs-new-zealand-match-live-online-433587">IND vs NZ, 2nd Test live streaming: When and where to watch India vs New Zealand match live online?</a>

For the unversed, even Kohli was pleasantly surprised after winning the toss. At the toss, he opined on Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja's absence and told, "We're batting first. Looks like a hard wicket and not a lot of grass. With the sun out, it should be the best time to bat. Rahane had a hammie niggle on Day 5, Jadeja has a swollen right forearm, and Ishant has an injury too. We just have to do the basics right like in Kanpur. NZ must be given credit for batting out the overs on Day 5. We can be in positions to capitalize at home if we play well."

With no Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant in the playing XI, India's line-up for the deciding Test is as follows:

<p ng-bind-html="comm[ts].comm" ng-class="get_comm_class(comm[ts]) " ng-hide="comm[ts].geo != null &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.length &gt; 0 &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">India&nbsp;playing XI: Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

<p ng-bind-html="comm[ts].comm" ng-class="get_comm_class(comm[ts]) " ng-hide="comm[ts].geo != null &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.length &gt; 0 &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">On the other hand, New Zealand are without their regular captain Kane Williamson for the series decider. Hence, Tom Latham is leading the visitors.&nbsp;

<p ng-bind-html="comm[ts].comm" ng-class="get_comm_class(comm[ts]) " ng-hide="comm[ts].geo != null &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.length &gt; 0 &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">NZ playing XI:&nbsp;Tom Latham(c), Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell(w), Rachin Ravindra, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, William Somerville, Ajaz Patel

Team India won the toss and elected to bat first versus New Zealand in the second and final Test at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Friday (December 3). With this, India have the toss on all five occasions in the home series versus the Black Caps, including the three T20Is and Test series opener.

Team India won the toss and elected to bat first versus New Zealand in the second and final Test at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Friday (December 3). With this, India have the toss on all five occasions in the home series versus the Black Caps, including the three T20Is and Test series opener. The home series versus New Zealand has been a unique one for India, with three different captains. While Rohit led the national side in T20Is after becoming the full-time captain in the shortest format, Rahane led the charge in the Test series opener with Kohli being rested. While Kohli returned, and Rahane missed the final Test due to injury, the 33-year-old maintained India's clean record in terms of winning the coin toss in the entire series versus the Kiwis. ALSO READ | No Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant Sharma: Here's why Team India are without famed trio in 2nd Test vs NZ For the unversed, Kohli doesn't have a great record when it comes to winning the toss. In 2021, the India batter has lost 17 tosses and won only 6 (including the Mumbai Test). While he has now won three tosses in a row, including India's last two games in the T20 World Cup, his record with the coin toss isn't one to cherish. Hence, former Indian opener-turned-meme-specialist Wasim Jaffer left netizens laughing out loud with a hilarious post: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wasim Jaffer (@wasimjaffer14) × ALSO READ | IND vs NZ, 2nd Test live streaming: When and where to watch India vs New Zealand match live online? For the unversed, even Kohli was pleasantly surprised after winning the toss. At the toss, he opined on Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja's absence and told, "We're batting first. Looks like a hard wicket and not a lot of grass. With the sun out, it should be the best time to bat. Rahane had a hammie niggle on Day 5, Jadeja has a swollen right forearm, and Ishant has an injury too. We just have to do the basics right like in Kanpur. NZ must be given credit for batting out the overs on Day 5. We can be in positions to capitalize at home if we play well." With no Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant in the playing XI, India's line-up for the deciding Test is as follows: India playing XI: Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj On the other hand, New Zealand are without their regular captain Kane Williamson for the series decider. Hence, Tom Latham is leading the visitors. NZ playing XI: Tom Latham(c), Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell(w), Rachin Ravindra, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, William Somerville, Ajaz Patel

ROFL! Wasim Jaffer shares hilarious post as Virat Kohli manages to win the toss in final Test vs NZ

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