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The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has expanded to eight teams after addition of Hyderabad and Sialkot as the two new franchises on Thursday (Jan 8). The new teams will take part in the PSL 2026. Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen was also expected to bid for one of the team but pulled out at the last minute. The two franchise were sold for a combined total of US $ 12.75 million (INR 115 crore approx) - less than the money spent to buy top 9 players at the recently concluded IPL 2026 auction.<h2>Two new PSL franchises sold for less top 9 IPL 2026 buys</h2>The two new PSL franchises, Hyderabad and Sialkot, were sold for US $6.2 million (Pakistan Rupees 175 crore) and US $6.55 million (Pakistan Rupees 185 crore), respectively. The price of two franchise in Indian Rupees stand at 55.57 crore for Hyderabad and 58.38 crore for Sialkot. For comparison, below are the price tags of top 9 players sold at the IPL 2026 auction:Cameron Green: ₹25.20 crore (KKR) Matheesha Pathirana: ₹18.00 crore (KKR) Prashant Veer: ₹14.20 crore (CSK) Kartik Sharma: ₹14.20 crore (CSK) Liam Livingstone: ₹13.00 crore (SRH) Mustafizur Rahman: ₹9.20 crore (KKR) Josh Inglis: ₹8.60 crore (LSG) Shahrukh Khan: ₹8.00 crore (MI) Riyan Parag: ₹7.80 crore (RR)The price of top 9 players in IPL 2026 auction was INR 118.2 crore - nearly INR 3 crore more than the price of two new PSL franchises.<h2>Who owns the two new PSL franchises?</h2>OZ Developers own the Sialkot franchise after successfully winning the bid while FSK developers are the owners of Hyderabad franchise in PSL.<h2>What is drama around Ali Tareen?</h2>Multan Sultan' former owner Ali Tareen had a fallout with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and no longer owns a franchise in PSL. He was expected to bid for one of the two new franchises but pulled out at the last moment with a post on X which read: :If I come back to PSL, it has to be for the same reason. South Punjab is where my heart is. It is home. When the Multan team is being sold, we'll be ready. Wishing all the bidders the best."

The two PSL franchise, Hyderabad and Sialkot, were sold for a combined total of US $ 12.75 million (INR 115 crore approx) - less than the money spent to buy top 9 players at the recently concluded IPL 2026 auction - INR 118 crore.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has expanded to eight teams after addition of Hyderabad and Sialkot as the two new franchises on Thursday (Jan 8). The new teams will take part in the PSL 2026. Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen was also expected to bid for one of the team but pulled out at the last minute. The two franchise were sold for a combined total of US $ 12.75 million (INR 115 crore approx) - less than the money spent to buy top 9 players at the recently concluded IPL 2026 auction. Two new PSL franchises sold for less top 9 IPL 2026 buys The two new PSL franchises, Hyderabad and Sialkot, were sold for US $6.2 million (Pakistan Rupees 175 crore) and US $6.55 million (Pakistan Rupees 185 crore), respectively. The price of two franchise in Indian Rupees stand at 55.57 crore for Hyderabad and 58.38 crore for Sialkot. For comparison, below are the price tags of top 9 players sold at the IPL 2026 auction: Cameron Green: ₹25.20 crore (KKR) Matheesha Pathirana: ₹18.00 crore (KKR) Prashant Veer: ₹14.20 crore (CSK) Kartik Sharma: ₹14.20 crore (CSK) Liam Livingstone: ₹13.00 crore (SRH) Mustafizur Rahman: ₹9.20 crore (KKR) Josh Inglis: ₹8.60 crore (LSG) Shahrukh Khan: ₹8.00 crore (MI) Riyan Parag: ₹7.80 crore (RR) The price of top 9 players in IPL 2026 auction was INR 118.2 crore - nearly INR 3 crore more than the price of two new PSL franchises. Who owns the two new PSL franchises? OZ Developers own the Sialkot franchise after successfully winning the bid while FSK developers are the owners of Hyderabad franchise in PSL. What is drama around Ali Tareen? Multan Sultan' former owner Ali Tareen had a fallout with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and no longer owns a franchise in PSL. He was expected to bid for one of the two new franchises but pulled out at the last moment with a post on X which read: :If I come back to PSL, it has to be for the same reason. South Punjab is where my heart is. It is home. When the Multan team is being sold, we'll be ready. Wishing all the bidders the best."

The two PSL franchise, Hyderabad and Sialkot, were sold for a combined total of US $ 12.75 million (INR 115 crore approx) - less than the money spent to buy top 9 players at the recently concluded IPL 2026 auction - INR 118 crore.

PSL Expansion: New Hyderabad & Sialkot teams cost less than IPL 2026’s top 9 players combined

Defending champions Mumbai Indians will kick start their Women’s Premier League (WPL 2026) campaign on Friday (Jan 9) as they take on 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Flooded with a galaxy of star names in their ranks, Mumbai will walk into the season as one of the favourites with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur trying to add another feather into her already impressive hat. While the team remains at the top, some unsung heroes have also contributed to the team’s success in recent times.&nbsp;Having been released from the Mumbai Indians squad after WPL 2025, it won’t be a long journey back for Kerala’s Sajeevan Sajana. Sajana was bought for ₹75 lakhs ($83,000) by the Mumbai Indians in the mega auctions held in November, as she will have a point to prove in the upcoming season. Ahead of the season opener, she caught up with WION’s Aditya Pimpale and opened up on the season and challenges while also addressing a potential place in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.&nbsp;Question: How does it feel to be back at the Mumbai Indians ahead of WPL 2026?I'm very happy to be part of the Mumbai Indians family again. I was a bit worried about the auction and so I didn't watch it. However, I was really happy as I always wanted to be part of the Mumbai Indians, a franchise where I played last year. I know the management, who have given me unparalleled support during my time at the franchise in the past.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Question: You have played a crucial role in the Mumbai Indians winning the WPL 2025. Do you think you can elevate your game this time as well?I'm a good all-rounder and can contribute in my batting, bowling and fielding as well. So this year I don’t want to miss any chances. I really got the fame only after I hit a match-winning six against the Delhi Capitals in the opening match of WPL 2024. However, that was not a fluke and I want to continue working hard and earn a place in the Playing XI. I am very confident that I will play a crucial role in the team’s success and defend the crown.&nbsp;Question: What was the moment like when MI bid for you and you returned to the side? What were you doing during the auctions?I was actually not watching that auction and felt very nervous while my brothers and friends were like how could you miss such a big occasion while I went for fishing. Fortunately, things went smoothly, and I was later informed that I was returning to the Mumbai Indians. I took a sigh of relief and was pleased after learning that I will be back with the best franchise in the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Question: Do you think the Mumbai Indians have enough to win the WPL 2026 title?Yes, Harman didi (Harmanpreet Kaur) is leading from the front and she has the firepower to help us motivate. We also have the likes of Shabnim Ismail, Hayley Matthews and Milly Illingworth who come with international experience. So I definitely think we could be in the mix for the WPL title and hopefully we retain it as well.&nbsp;Question: The Women’s T20 World Cup is not far away and your performance has paid dividends in the past. Do you aspire to be on the plane to England when the edition kicks off?I am not chasing that T20 World Cup squad spot for now; I am keeping my targets short-term. I just want to perform right now and focus on both batting and bowling. Of course, it is a dream to play in the Indian team, but focus remains on WPL. It was the WPL performance in 2024 that got me into the Indian team, so I am living in the current moment and keeping fingers crossed when the opportunity arrives.

Ahead of the WPL 2026 season opener, Mumbai Indians all-rounder Sajeevan Sajana caught up with WION’s Aditya Pimpale and opened up on the season and challenges while also addressing a potential place in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians will kick start their Women’s Premier League (WPL 2026) campaign on Friday (Jan 9) as they take on 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Flooded with a galaxy of star names in their ranks, Mumbai will walk into the season as one of the favourites with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur trying to add another feather into her already impressive hat. While the team remains at the top, some unsung heroes have also contributed to the team’s success in recent times. Having been released from the Mumbai Indians squad after WPL 2025, it won’t be a long journey back for Kerala’s Sajeevan Sajana. Sajana was bought for ₹75 lakhs ($83,000) by the Mumbai Indians in the mega auctions held in November, as she will have a point to prove in the upcoming season. Ahead of the season opener, she caught up with WION’s Aditya Pimpale and opened up on the season and challenges while also addressing a potential place in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup. Question: How does it feel to be back at the Mumbai Indians ahead of WPL 2026? I'm very happy to be part of the Mumbai Indians family again. I was a bit worried about the auction and so I didn't watch it. However, I was really happy as I always wanted to be part of the Mumbai Indians, a franchise where I played last year. I know the management, who have given me unparalleled support during my time at the franchise in the past. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Question: You have played a crucial role in the Mumbai Indians winning the WPL 2025. Do you think you can elevate your game this time as well? I'm a good all-rounder and can contribute in my batting, bowling and fielding as well. So this year I don’t want to miss any chances. I really got the fame only after I hit a match-winning six against the Delhi Capitals in the opening match of WPL 2024. However, that was not a fluke and I want to continue working hard and earn a place in the Playing XI. I am very confident that I will play a crucial role in the team’s success and defend the crown. Question: What was the moment like when MI bid for you and you returned to the side? What were you doing during the auctions? I was actually not watching that auction and felt very nervous while my brothers and friends were like how could you miss such a big occasion while I went for fishing. Fortunately, things went smoothly, and I was later informed that I was returning to the Mumbai Indians. I took a sigh of relief and was pleased after learning that I will be back with the best franchise in the world. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Question: Do you think the Mumbai Indians have enough to win the WPL 2026 title? Yes, Harman didi (Harmanpreet Kaur) is leading from the front and she has the firepower to help us motivate. We also have the likes of Shabnim Ismail, Hayley Matthews and Milly Illingworth who come with international experience. So I definitely think we could be in the mix for the WPL title and hopefully we retain it as well. Question: The Women’s T20 World Cup is not far away and your performance has paid dividends in the past. Do you aspire to be on the plane to England when the edition kicks off? I am not chasing that T20 World Cup squad spot for now; I am keeping my targets short-term. I just want to perform right now and focus on both batting and bowling. Of course, it is a dream to play in the Indian team, but focus remains on WPL. It was the WPL performance in 2024 that got me into the Indian team, so I am living in the current moment and keeping fingers crossed when the opportunity arrives.

Ahead of the WPL 2026 season opener, Mumbai Indians all-rounder Sajeevan Sajana caught up with WION’s Aditya Pimpale and opened up on the season and challenges while also addressing a potential place in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.

Exclusive: Sajeevan Sajana backs Mumbai Indians to retain WPL title; determined for place in India T20 WC squad

&nbsp;Veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli is all set for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand as he was seen breaking a sweat in the mild heat of Vadodara on Friday (Jan 9). Virat, part of the Indian team for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, took to his Instagram account to share pictures of his training, showcasing his hunger with the bat. India play New Zealand in the first of three ODI matches on Sunday (Jan 11) at the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) Stadium in Vadodara with high expectations from former India captain. &nbsp;

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<h2>Virat breaks sweat in Vadodara</h2>While he posted only an emoji of a bat and a ball, it was this action in the training ground that did the talking. The former skipper was seen practicing in the nets, running and doing fielding drills to prepare for the series opener. Virat has been in red-hot form for India and also for Delhi (whom he represented during the Vijay Hazare Trophy). His form has already been a huge talking point with India reaping rewards in the South Africa series.&nbsp;Virat scored an unbeaten fifty in Sydney before smashing back-to-back hundreds in the South Africa ODI series. He also scored an unbeaten in the final ODI against South Africa, which saw him win Player of the Series. During the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Virat scored 131 against Andhra Pradesh, followed by a 77-run knock against Gujarat in Bengaluru.<h2>India set for major boost</h2>Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer was cleared for the ODI series against New Zealand and will join the squad on Friday. Iyer, who has been out of international action since October after sustaining a rib injury in Australia, will link with the rest of the squad in Vadodara.<h2>India ODI squad&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>Shubman Gill (capt), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vice-capt), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten fifty in Sydney before smashing back-to-back hundreds in the South Africa ODI series. He also scored an unbeaten in the final ODI against South Africa, which saw him win Player of the Series. 

Veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli is all set for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand as he was seen breaking a sweat in the mild heat of Vadodara on Friday (Jan 9). Virat, part of the Indian team for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, took to his Instagram account to share pictures of his training, showcasing his hunger with the bat. India play New Zealand in the first of three ODI matches on Sunday (Jan 11) at the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) Stadium in Vadodara with high expectations from former India captain.

Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten fifty in Sydney before smashing back-to-back hundreds in the South Africa ODI series. He also scored an unbeaten in the final ODI against South Africa, which saw him win Player of the Series.&nbsp;

IND vs NZ, 1st ODI: Virat Kohli breaks sweat in Vadodara ahead of New Zealand series, shares pics on social media

Former South Africa player JP Duminy has high hopes for SA20 as the latest season yet again provides thrills and spills for cricket fans around the globe. Duminy, who spoke to the media on the sidelines of the SA20, stated that the league has a long-term vision that could benefit players and South African players. He also believes comparing IPL and SA20 would be unfair; however, both are helping young cricketers grow.<h2>Duminy backs SA20 for long-term success</h2>“SA20 is a long-term vision and, more importantly, there's a strong focus on South African talent with a world-class framework. I think it is a perfect opportunity for the youngsters to unearth their talent and get a platform. The SA20 is such a platform where it's a high-pressure environment and top-class environment where South African selectors get to choose the best talent available,” Duminy said while speaking virtually to WION’s Aditya Pimpale on the sidelines of SA20.&nbsp;Comparing the SA20 with IPL, Duminy reckons South African players will also reap rewards, but will take time. According to him, IPL set the benchmark, which started in 2008 and SA20 can follow a similar pattern in the coming years.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;“You're rubbing shoulders, as you've seen in IPL. You think back to when IPL started in 2008-2009. Particularly, Indian players got to rub shoulders with some of the best players in the world. And what does that do for your performance and your thinking? It elevates it. And I think this is also what the opportunity now lies within SA20,” the former South Africa player added.&nbsp;“SA20 is rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the world, playing against some of the best in the world. You need to rise to the occasion, to stand a chance in putting in good performances and also warranting some selection opportunities, not only for South Africa, but also globally. And I think that just provides another great platform for young players,” Duminy said.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Currently in its third season, SA20’s latest season has already been in headlines as SunRisers Eastern Cape are at the summit. They are closely challenged by Joburg Super Kings, who are also on 17 points in the league. Pretoria Capitals are also on 15 points from five matches and have lost only one match so far in SA20.

Comparing the SA20 with IPL, JP Duminy reckons South African players will also reap rewards, but will take time. According to him, IPL set the benchmark, which started in 2008 and SA20 can follow a similar pattern in the coming years.

Former South Africa player JP Duminy has high hopes for SA20 as the latest season yet again provides thrills and spills for cricket fans around the globe. Duminy, who spoke to the media on the sidelines of the SA20, stated that the league has a long-term vision that could benefit players and South African players. He also believes comparing IPL and SA20 would be unfair; however, both are helping young cricketers grow. Duminy backs SA20 for long-term success “SA20 is a long-term vision and, more importantly, there's a strong focus on South African talent with a world-class framework. I think it is a perfect opportunity for the youngsters to unearth their talent and get a platform. The SA20 is such a platform where it's a high-pressure environment and top-class environment where South African selectors get to choose the best talent available,” Duminy said while speaking virtually to WION’s Aditya Pimpale on the sidelines of SA20. Comparing the SA20 with IPL, Duminy reckons South African players will also reap rewards, but will take time. According to him, IPL set the benchmark, which started in 2008 and SA20 can follow a similar pattern in the coming years. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes “You're rubbing shoulders, as you've seen in IPL. You think back to when IPL started in 2008-2009. Particularly, Indian players got to rub shoulders with some of the best players in the world. And what does that do for your performance and your thinking? It elevates it. And I think this is also what the opportunity now lies within SA20,” the former South Africa player added. “SA20 is rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the world, playing against some of the best in the world. You need to rise to the occasion, to stand a chance in putting in good performances and also warranting some selection opportunities, not only for South Africa, but also globally. And I think that just provides another great platform for young players,” Duminy said. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Currently in its third season, SA20’s latest season has already been in headlines as SunRisers Eastern Cape are at the summit. They are closely challenged by Joburg Super Kings, who are also on 17 points in the league. Pretoria Capitals are also on 15 points from five matches and have lost only one match so far in SA20.

Comparing the SA20 with IPL, JP Duminy reckons South African players will also reap rewards, but will take time. According to him, IPL set the benchmark, which started in 2008 and SA20 can follow a similar pattern in the coming years.

JP Duminy backs South African cricket to reap rewards, says 'SA20 is a long-term vision'

The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 is set to begin on Friday (Jan 9) with two-time champion Mumbai Indians facing WPL 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The Smriti Mandhana-led side, however, will be without ace Aussie all-rounder Ellyse Perry who withdrew days before the start of the tournament. Former India women's team skipper Anjum Chopra, in conversation with WION's Athira Sasidharan, spoke about how Perry's absence will impact RCB's season.<h2>Anjum Chopra on Perry missing for RCB-W in WPL 2026</h2>"It's a massive blow. She (Perry) is a match winner," Chopra conceded. "I still remember the 2024 campaign. 3 games back to back outstanding performances and there RCB was winning the title coming from an eliminator to holding the title in their hands. That was a Elyse Perry show very much. So, I guess even if she is not there in those two departments that's a massive blow."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2026-guide-full-squads-new-captains-and-full-schedule-for-navi-mumbai-vadodara-1767882744205">WPL 2026 Guide: Full squads, new Captains, two venues, and complete schedule</a>The former India skipper, however, also opined that Perry's absence opens up opporutinities for other players to 'stand up and get noticed.'

"Here lies the opportunity for others to maybe stand up and stand counted. It is haed to replace the skill and experience of Ellyse Perry with any player but at the end of the day, you have to find probably another two players to fit in the role that Perry does. So they will find that," Chopra added.Speaking on RCB-W squad composition for the WPL 2026, Chopra reckoned: "They have relied largely on their Indian talent specially in there bowling department. The coach said we picked up the best bowlers. They do have an Indian bowling lineup, they do rely on that and they feel if these players can deliver the goods for the team, why not. At the end of the day they have also one a WPL title. So, you can't count them out of the championship."<h2>Why is Perry not playing in WPL 2026?</h2>Perry withdrew from the tournament because of the personal reasons along with her Aussie teammate Annabel Sutherland who was picked up by Gujarat Giants in the WPL auction.

ormer India women's team skipper Anjum Chopra, in conversation with WION's Athira Sasidharan, opined that Perry's absence for RCB-W in WPL 2026 opens up opporutinities for other players to 'stand up and get noticed.'

The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 is set to begin on Friday (Jan 9) with two-time champion Mumbai Indians facing WPL 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The Smriti Mandhana-led side, however, will be without ace Aussie all-rounder Ellyse Perry who withdrew days before the start of the tournament. Former India women's team skipper Anjum Chopra, in conversation with WION's Athira Sasidharan, spoke about how Perry's absence will impact RCB's season. Anjum Chopra on Perry missing for RCB-W in WPL 2026 "It's a massive blow. She (Perry) is a match winner," Chopra conceded. "I still remember the 2024 campaign. 3 games back to back outstanding performances and there RCB was winning the title coming from an eliminator to holding the title in their hands. That was a Elyse Perry show very much. So, I guess even if she is not there in those two departments that's a massive blow." Also Read - WPL 2026 Guide: Full squads, new Captains, two venues, and complete schedule The former India skipper, however, also opined that Perry's absence opens up opporutinities for other players to 'stand up and get noticed.'

ormer India women's team skipper Anjum Chopra, in conversation with WION's Athira Sasidharan, opined that Perry's absence for RCB-W in WPL 2026 opens up opporutinities for other players to 'stand up and get noticed.'

WION EXCLUSIVE | WPL 2026: Former India captain Anjum Chopra on strategic impact of Ellyse Perry missing for RCB

Veteran Indian shuttler PV Sindhu has reached the semifinal of the Malaysia Open 2026 after her quarterfinal opponent, Akane Yamaguchi, retired on Friday (Jan 9). Playing at the Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil in Malaysia, Sindhu was given a walkover after winning the opening game 21-11. This means Sindhu will now face the winner of Wang Zhiyi vs. P. K. Wardani, who will square off later on in the day.<h2>Sindu reaches semis</h2>The two-time Olympic medalist entered the quarterfinal contest against Yamaguchi with a task in hand. In a tight head-to-head record between the two, it was tough to call in the quarterfinal contest. However, the two-time Olympic medalist brought her A game onto the court and pocketed the opening game 21-11. While Sindhu was on top of her game, Yamaguchi’s struggles on the court were evident, which later saw her retire from the quarterfinal contest.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;The walkover win for Sindu means the 30-year-old will now bid to reach her second final at the BWF500 event. The Indian shuttler finished as a runner-up in the Malaysia Open 2024, where she lost to Wang Zhiyi of China. Interestingly, she will have the opportunity to get her revenge with the Chinese in line for a semifinal spot.&nbsp;Zhiyi will play against Indonesia’s P. K. Wardani, who will be in action later in the day. On the other hand, Sindhu will keep a close eye on the contest. She is yet to drop a game at the Malaysia Open 2026, having already got the better of Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki (21-8, 21-13) in R16 while also beating Taiwan’s Sung Shuo-yun (21-13, 22-20) in R64.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a><h2>Satwik-Chirag up and running in 2026</h2>On Thursday, in men’s doubles, third seeds Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also advanced after securing a 21-18, 21-11 win over Malaysia’s Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap in 39 minutes. With the victory, the Indians extended their head-to-head record against the Malaysian pair to 4–0. They will next face the winners of the clash between Chinese Taipei’s Chen Zhi Ray/Lin Yu Chieh and sixth seeds Fajar Alfian/Fikri Muhammad of Indonesia.

Playing at the Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil in Malaysia, PV Sindhu was given a walkover after winning the opening game 21-11. This means Sindhu will now face the winner of Wang Zhiyi vs. P. K. Wardani, who will square off later on in the day.

Veteran Indian shuttler PV Sindhu has reached the semifinal of the Malaysia Open 2026 after her quarterfinal opponent, Akane Yamaguchi, retired on Friday (Jan 9). Playing at the Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil in Malaysia, Sindhu was given a walkover after winning the opening game 21-11. This means Sindhu will now face the winner of Wang Zhiyi vs. P. K. Wardani, who will square off later on in the day. Sindu reaches semis The two-time Olympic medalist entered the quarterfinal contest against Yamaguchi with a task in hand. In a tight head-to-head record between the two, it was tough to call in the quarterfinal contest. However, the two-time Olympic medalist brought her A game onto the court and pocketed the opening game 21-11. While Sindhu was on top of her game, Yamaguchi’s struggles on the court were evident, which later saw her retire from the quarterfinal contest. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes The walkover win for Sindu means the 30-year-old will now bid to reach her second final at the BWF500 event. The Indian shuttler finished as a runner-up in the Malaysia Open 2024, where she lost to Wang Zhiyi of China. Interestingly, she will have the opportunity to get her revenge with the Chinese in line for a semifinal spot. Zhiyi will play against Indonesia’s P. K. Wardani, who will be in action later in the day. On the other hand, Sindhu will keep a close eye on the contest. She is yet to drop a game at the Malaysia Open 2026, having already got the better of Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki (21-8, 21-13) in R16 while also beating Taiwan’s Sung Shuo-yun (21-13, 22-20) in R64. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Satwik-Chirag up and running in 2026 On Thursday, in men’s doubles, third seeds Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also advanced after securing a 21-18, 21-11 win over Malaysia’s Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap in 39 minutes. With the victory, the Indians extended their head-to-head record against the Malaysian pair to 4–0. They will next face the winners of the clash between Chinese Taipei’s Chen Zhi Ray/Lin Yu Chieh and sixth seeds Fajar Alfian/Fikri Muhammad of Indonesia.

Playing at the Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil in Malaysia, PV Sindhu was given a walkover after winning the opening game 21-11. This means Sindhu will now face the winner of Wang Zhiyi vs. P. K. Wardani, who will square off later on in the day.

Malaysia Open 2026: Veteran PV Sindhu books semis berth as third seed Akane Yamaguchi retires

India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been cleared for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand as he will join the squad on Friday (Jan 9). Iyer, who has been out of international action since October after sustaining a rib injury in Australia will link with the rest of the squad in Vadodara. The Indian team will take on New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday as the Men in Blue kick start their 2026 campaign.&nbsp;<h2>Iyer set join Indian squad</h2>Having returned to action for the Vijay Hazare Trophy (India’s domestic 50-over competition), eyes were on the Mumbai batter as he was on the road to recovery. Initially named in the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series, doubts surrounded the availability of the batter for the opening match in Vadodara. However, he was at his full fitness during the VHT, meaning he was cleared to join the Indian squad.&nbsp;In doing so, Iyer will also take over as the vice-captain of the Indian side with Shubman Gill set to lead. KL Rahul was the designated vice-captain in Iyer’s absence, while the former also took over the captain’s armband in the South Africa ODI series.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;India will enter the ODI series with heads held high, with eyes once again on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Virat scored back-to-back hundreds against South Africa before scoring an unbeaten fifty in the third ODI. He will be eager to add to his impressive tally, while Rohit has also aged well in recent outings.&nbsp;For the ODI series, India have included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Rishabh Pant, while Mohammed Shami yet again misses out.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a><h2>India ODI squad</h2>Shubman Gill (capt), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vice-capt), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Shreyas Iyer will also take over as the vice-captain of the Indian side with Shubman Gill set to lead in New Zealand ODI series. KL Rahul was the designated vice-captain in Iyer’s absence, while the former also took over the captain’s armband in the South Africa ODI series.

India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been cleared for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand as he will join the squad on Friday (Jan 9). Iyer, who has been out of international action since October after sustaining a rib injury in Australia will link with the rest of the squad in Vadodara. The Indian team will take on New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday as the Men in Blue kick start their 2026 campaign. Iyer set join Indian squad Having returned to action for the Vijay Hazare Trophy (India’s domestic 50-over competition), eyes were on the Mumbai batter as he was on the road to recovery. Initially named in the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series, doubts surrounded the availability of the batter for the opening match in Vadodara. However, he was at his full fitness during the VHT, meaning he was cleared to join the Indian squad. In doing so, Iyer will also take over as the vice-captain of the Indian side with Shubman Gill set to lead. KL Rahul was the designated vice-captain in Iyer’s absence, while the former also took over the captain’s armband in the South Africa ODI series. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes India will enter the ODI series with heads held high, with eyes once again on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Virat scored back-to-back hundreds against South Africa before scoring an unbeaten fifty in the third ODI. He will be eager to add to his impressive tally, while Rohit has also aged well in recent outings. For the ODI series, India have included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Rishabh Pant, while Mohammed Shami yet again misses out. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes India ODI squad Shubman Gill (capt), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vice-capt), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Shreyas Iyer will also take over as the vice-captain of the Indian side with Shubman Gill set to lead in New Zealand ODI series. KL Rahul was the designated vice-captain in Iyer’s absence, while the former also took over the captain’s armband in the South Africa ODI series.

IND vs NZ: Shreyas Iyer passed fit for ODI series, set to join Indian squad on Friday

Joburg Super Kings moved to joint top of the SA20 table with Sunrisers Eastern Cape after their clash against Paarl Royals at the Wanderers on Thursday evening was abandoned due to inclement weather.&nbsp;Both teams were awarded two points, lifting Super Kings up to 17 points, while Royals remained in third position on 15 points.&nbsp;Royals captain David Miller had earlier won the toss under clear skies and elected to bowl. His Super Kings counterpart stated that he too would have taken first strike, and certainly took advantage early on.&nbsp;Du Plessis and his new opening partner James Vince struck a sweet note from the outset as they followed up their rapid 32-run stand against MI Cape Town with a more substantial 73 from only 7.3 overs.&nbsp;Despite not quite middling the ball, Du Plessis still managed to hack his way to 39 off only 24 balls (6x4, 1x6) as he taught Royals teenage seamer Nqobani Mokoena a few harsh lessons on his Bullring debut.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Du Plessis took two boundaries off Mokoena’s first over before really putting his foot down in the second with three boundaries and a six in the follow up over.&nbsp;With Vince also taking care of left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin through a six and four in the third over, the Super Kings raced to 64 without loss when the Powerplay drew to a close.&nbsp;Faf du Plessis, James Vince, Sikandar Raza and Matthew de Villiers all made an impresssion at Wanderers before inclement weather intervened...&nbsp;But the Royals tossed their ball to their golden arm Sikander Raza in the seventh over and the Zimbabwe T20 captain made an immediate impact with his very first ball of his spell when he clean bowled Du Plessis with a gorgeous off-spinner that drifted in the air before gripping and turning through the gate to crash into the stumps.&nbsp;The dismissal did not stem JSK’s momentum though with Matthew de Villiers and Vince adding a further 56 from 39 deliveries for the second wicket. De Villiers upstaged his senior partner, who had settled into the anchor role after reaching his maiden SA20 50 off 33 balls, with a rapid 30 off 22 balls.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;At this stage JSK were targeting a total in the region of 200 before Raza (2/26) intervened again, having De Villiers caught on the long-off boundary, to pick up his ninth wicket of the competition in just three matches.&nbsp;The JSK innings fell away a bit from hereon, especially after Wiaan Mulder, Vince and Shubham Ranjane all fell in quick succession before a floodlight failure further halted their momentum with Donovan Ferreira also perishing immediately after the resumption.&nbsp;Royals had done well to claw their way back into the contest and would have felt confident of chasing JSK’s eventual 187/6, but ultimately had to settle for a share of the spoils when the lightning intervened.

Royals captain David Miller had won the toss under clear skies and elected to bowl. His Super Kings counterpart Faf du Plessis stated that he too would have taken first strike, and certainly took advantage early on.

Joburg Super Kings moved to joint top of the SA20 table with Sunrisers Eastern Cape after their clash against Paarl Royals at the Wanderers on Thursday evening was abandoned due to inclement weather. Both teams were awarded two points, lifting Super Kings up to 17 points, while Royals remained in third position on 15 points. Royals captain David Miller had earlier won the toss under clear skies and elected to bowl. His Super Kings counterpart stated that he too would have taken first strike, and certainly took advantage early on. Du Plessis and his new opening partner James Vince struck a sweet note from the outset as they followed up their rapid 32-run stand against MI Cape Town with a more substantial 73 from only 7.3 overs. Despite not quite middling the ball, Du Plessis still managed to hack his way to 39 off only 24 balls (6x4, 1x6) as he taught Royals teenage seamer Nqobani Mokoena a few harsh lessons on his Bullring debut. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Du Plessis took two boundaries off Mokoena’s first over before really putting his foot down in the second with three boundaries and a six in the follow up over. With Vince also taking care of left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin through a six and four in the third over, the Super Kings raced to 64 without loss when the Powerplay drew to a close. Faf du Plessis, James Vince, Sikandar Raza and Matthew de Villiers all made an impresssion at Wanderers before inclement weather intervened... But the Royals tossed their ball to their golden arm Sikander Raza in the seventh over and the Zimbabwe T20 captain made an immediate impact with his very first ball of his spell when he clean bowled Du Plessis with a gorgeous off-spinner that drifted in the air before gripping and turning through the gate to crash into the stumps. The dismissal did not stem JSK’s momentum though with Matthew de Villiers and Vince adding a further 56 from 39 deliveries for the second wicket. De Villiers upstaged his senior partner, who had settled into the anchor role after reaching his maiden SA20 50 off 33 balls, with a rapid 30 off 22 balls. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes At this stage JSK were targeting a total in the region of 200 before Raza (2/26) intervened again, having De Villiers caught on the long-off boundary, to pick up his ninth wicket of the competition in just three matches. The JSK innings fell away a bit from hereon, especially after Wiaan Mulder, Vince and Shubham Ranjane all fell in quick succession before a floodlight failure further halted their momentum with Donovan Ferreira also perishing immediately after the resumption. Royals had done well to claw their way back into the contest and would have felt confident of chasing JSK’s eventual 187/6, but ultimately had to settle for a share of the spoils when the lightning intervened.

Royals captain David Miller had won the toss under clear skies and elected to bowl. His Super Kings counterpart Faf du Plessis stated that he too would have taken first strike, and certainly took advantage early on.

SA20: Du Plessis, Vince shine before lightning strikes at the Bullring

Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a tight Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Saudi Arabia on Thursday to set up a Clasico final clash against rivals Barcelona.&nbsp;Fede Valverde's blistering free-kick and a Rodrygo Goes strike helped Madrid claim a fifth consecutive victory across all competitions, with Alexander Sorloth pulling one back for Diego Simeone's Atletico, who came up short in Jeddah.&nbsp;Alonso was close to the sack after a run of inconsistent form towards the end of 2025 but his team have slowly found their footing in the shape of positive results, even if some performances have not been entirely convincing.&nbsp;The Spanish coach led Madrid to a win over Barcelona in his first Clasico at the helm in October, before his team began to slump.&nbsp;"After so many games without scoring, today was a great game to get back to it, to help the team win," Valverde told Movistar after netting his first goal of the campaign.&nbsp;"We have to keep being self-critical too, we had chances but they had more and played much better than us, we have to keep correcting that and improving."&nbsp;Alonso did not agree with Valverde's analysis.&nbsp;"It's a semi-final, having scored early gives you that advantage that you want to defend," said the coach.&nbsp;"There were phases where we were defending but the objective was to go through to the final, and we're happy to be playing that on Sunday."&nbsp;With French superstar Kylian Mbappe out as he recovers from a knee sprain, Alonso kept young striker Gonzalo Garcia in the centre of the attack after his hat-trick against Real Betis on Sunday.&nbsp;Atletico beat their city rivals 5-2 when the teams met in September in a La Liga derby but this was a far closer affair.&nbsp;Los Blancos took the lead after just two minutes when Valverde's ferocious free-kick flew past Sorloth in a poorly-positioned wall and rocketed past Jan Oblak.&nbsp;The Norwegian Atletico forward might have done more to block it and Oblak got his hand to the shot but could not keep it out because of the sheer power.&nbsp;Valverde celebrated vehemently, slapping his own head, clearly delighted at breaking his duck in a difficult season to date.&nbsp;By taking the lead Real Madrid earned the right to sit deeper and force Atletico to try and attack them to pull back level.&nbsp;Madrid hit the Rojiblancos when they could on the counter, with Oblak saving well from Rodrygo after he floated inside from the right.&nbsp;Atletico began to create some chances and could have pulled level before the interval.&nbsp;Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois tipped away Sorloth's header and then the target man clumsily nodded Conor Gallagher's cross off-target from close range.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a><h2>Rodrygo's hot streak</h2>Rodrygo extended Madrid's lead in the 55th minute with his third goal in five games, continuing a rich vein of form across the past few weeks after a run where he failed to score for 32 games straight.&nbsp;The Brazilian found a gap to burst through in the middle of Atletico's defence and kept his cool to sweep the ball past Oblak.&nbsp;Three minutes later Atletico hit back, with Sorloth finally finding the net with a header from Giuliano Simeone's cross.&nbsp;The striker gave defender Raul Asencio just enough of a shove to put him off without being penalised for it before nodding in.&nbsp;"Valverde scored a great goal, it was an extraordinary free-kick," said Atletico coach Simeone.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;"Despite that my team played very well, but we had to win and didn't, they had the quality to be able to finish (their chances)."&nbsp;The Atletico coach goaded Madrid winger Vinicius Junior when he was substituted, with the Brazilian failing to score for a 16th consecutive game.&nbsp;"I didn't like that, I saw (Simeone) said something to Vinicius, and for me that goes against the respect that you should have for opponents... you can't just do anything (you want)," said Alonso.&nbsp;Madrid face Barcelona on Sunday in the final at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium after the Catalans thrashed Athletic Bilbao 5-0 on Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fede Valverde's blistering free-kick and a Rodrygo Goes strike helped Madrid claim a fifth consecutive victory across all competitions, with Alexander Sorloth pulling one back for Diego Simeone's Atletico, who came up short in Jeddah.

Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a tight Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Saudi Arabia on Thursday to set up a Clasico final clash against rivals Barcelona. Fede Valverde's blistering free-kick and a Rodrygo Goes strike helped Madrid claim a fifth consecutive victory across all competitions, with Alexander Sorloth pulling one back for Diego Simeone's Atletico, who came up short in Jeddah. Alonso was close to the sack after a run of inconsistent form towards the end of 2025 but his team have slowly found their footing in the shape of positive results, even if some performances have not been entirely convincing. The Spanish coach led Madrid to a win over Barcelona in his first Clasico at the helm in October, before his team began to slump. "After so many games without scoring, today was a great game to get back to it, to help the team win," Valverde told Movistar after netting his first goal of the campaign. "We have to keep being self-critical too, we had chances but they had more and played much better than us, we have to keep correcting that and improving." Alonso did not agree with Valverde's analysis. "It's a semi-final, having scored early gives you that advantage that you want to defend," said the coach. "There were phases where we were defending but the objective was to go through to the final, and we're happy to be playing that on Sunday." With French superstar Kylian Mbappe out as he recovers from a knee sprain, Alonso kept young striker Gonzalo Garcia in the centre of the attack after his hat-trick against Real Betis on Sunday. Atletico beat their city rivals 5-2 when the teams met in September in a La Liga derby but this was a far closer affair. Los Blancos took the lead after just two minutes when Valverde's ferocious free-kick flew past Sorloth in a poorly-positioned wall and rocketed past Jan Oblak. The Norwegian Atletico forward might have done more to block it and Oblak got his hand to the shot but could not keep it out because of the sheer power. Valverde celebrated vehemently, slapping his own head, clearly delighted at breaking his duck in a difficult season to date. By taking the lead Real Madrid earned the right to sit deeper and force Atletico to try and attack them to pull back level. Madrid hit the Rojiblancos when they could on the counter, with Oblak saving well from Rodrygo after he floated inside from the right. Atletico began to create some chances and could have pulled level before the interval. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois tipped away Sorloth's header and then the target man clumsily nodded Conor Gallagher's cross off-target from close range. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Rodrygo's hot streak Rodrygo extended Madrid's lead in the 55th minute with his third goal in five games, continuing a rich vein of form across the past few weeks after a run where he failed to score for 32 games straight. The Brazilian found a gap to burst through in the middle of Atletico's defence and kept his cool to sweep the ball past Oblak. Three minutes later Atletico hit back, with Sorloth finally finding the net with a header from Giuliano Simeone's cross. The striker gave defender Raul Asencio just enough of a shove to put him off without being penalised for it before nodding in. "Valverde scored a great goal, it was an extraordinary free-kick," said Atletico coach Simeone. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes "Despite that my team played very well, but we had to win and didn't, they had the quality to be able to finish (their chances)." The Atletico coach goaded Madrid winger Vinicius Junior when he was substituted, with the Brazilian failing to score for a 16th consecutive game. "I didn't like that, I saw (Simeone) said something to Vinicius, and for me that goes against the respect that you should have for opponents... you can't just do anything (you want)," said Alonso. Madrid face Barcelona on Sunday in the final at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium after the Catalans thrashed Athletic Bilbao 5-0 on Wednesday.

Fede Valverde's blistering free-kick and a Rodrygo Goes strike helped Madrid claim a fifth consecutive victory across all competitions, with Alexander Sorloth pulling one back for Diego Simeone's Atletico, who came up short in Jeddah.

Spanish Super Cup: Real Madrid edge Atletico to set up El Clasico final against Barcelona

Arsenal wasted the chance to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League as Liverpool came to life in a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium.&nbsp;The Reds are one of only two sides to beat Mikel Arteta's men this season and came closest to breaking the deadlock when Conor Bradley hit the crossbar.&nbsp;Arsenal failed to score for the first time at home all season but did enough to extend their advantage over second-placed Manchester City to six points.&nbsp;Three consecutive draws for City over the past week had opened the door for Arsenal to close in on their first league title in 22 years.&nbsp;The Emirates was bouncing before a ball was kicked in anticipation, but the spectacle between the defending champions and apparent champions elect fell flat.&nbsp;Both sides struggled to deal with the treacherous conditions as Storm Goretti unleashed torrential rain and swirling winds.&nbsp;Liverpool have long since fallen out of the title race since beating the Gunners at Anfield in August, but are now 10 games unbeaten to consolidate their place in the top four.&nbsp;The visitors were penned in for much of the first 45 minutes but still came closest to opening the scoring before the break.&nbsp;William Saliba's backpass nearly caught out David Raya and, with the Spanish goalkeeper stranded, Conor Bradley's lob came back off the underside of the crossbar.&nbsp;The roles were reversed in the second period as Liverpool dominated possession and territory.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;However, the Reds were shorn of three of their biggest attacking threats with Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike out injured and Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations.&nbsp;That lack of firepower in the final third showed as Arsenal were only ever troubled by the pace of Jeremie Frimpong, who lacked the final ball to make his dangerous bursts count.&nbsp;Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning free-kick separated the sides when the last met and nearly repeated the trick with a powerful effort that dipped just too late.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;At the other end, Viktor Gyokeres was hauled off by Arteta after another poor performance as his goal drought from open play extended to 10 games.&nbsp;Arteta had to turn to his wealth of options off the bench to try and turn the tide as Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli were all introduced in the hunt for a winner.&nbsp;But they took until stoppage time to register a shot on goal in the second half as Jesus and Martinelli fired too close to Alisson Becker.&nbsp;A point edges fourth-placed Liverpool three points clear of Newcastle and Manchester United in the battle for a place in next season's Champions League.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Arsenal failed to score for the first time at home all season but did enough to extend their advantage over second-placed Manchester City to six points.

Arsenal wasted the chance to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League as Liverpool came to life in a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium. The Reds are one of only two sides to beat Mikel Arteta's men this season and came closest to breaking the deadlock when Conor Bradley hit the crossbar. Arsenal failed to score for the first time at home all season but did enough to extend their advantage over second-placed Manchester City to six points. Three consecutive draws for City over the past week had opened the door for Arsenal to close in on their first league title in 22 years. The Emirates was bouncing before a ball was kicked in anticipation, but the spectacle between the defending champions and apparent champions elect fell flat. Both sides struggled to deal with the treacherous conditions as Storm Goretti unleashed torrential rain and swirling winds. Liverpool have long since fallen out of the title race since beating the Gunners at Anfield in August, but are now 10 games unbeaten to consolidate their place in the top four. The visitors were penned in for much of the first 45 minutes but still came closest to opening the scoring before the break. William Saliba's backpass nearly caught out David Raya and, with the Spanish goalkeeper stranded, Conor Bradley's lob came back off the underside of the crossbar. The roles were reversed in the second period as Liverpool dominated possession and territory. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes However, the Reds were shorn of three of their biggest attacking threats with Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike out injured and Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations. That lack of firepower in the final third showed as Arsenal were only ever troubled by the pace of Jeremie Frimpong, who lacked the final ball to make his dangerous bursts count. Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning free-kick separated the sides when the last met and nearly repeated the trick with a powerful effort that dipped just too late. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes At the other end, Viktor Gyokeres was hauled off by Arteta after another poor performance as his goal drought from open play extended to 10 games. Arteta had to turn to his wealth of options off the bench to try and turn the tide as Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli were all introduced in the hunt for a winner. But they took until stoppage time to register a shot on goal in the second half as Jesus and Martinelli fired too close to Alisson Becker. A point edges fourth-placed Liverpool three points clear of Newcastle and Manchester United in the battle for a place in next season's Champions League. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Arsenal failed to score for the first time at home all season but did enough to extend their advantage over second-placed Manchester City to six points.

Premier League: Arsenal miss chance to stretch lead in Liverpool stalemate

Former Ranji Trophy cricketer from Mizoram, K Lalremruata, died after collapsing during a local cricket match on Wednesday (Jan 7). His sudden death deeply shocked the cricket community in the state and led to the cancellation of all scheduled matches as a mark of respect. The incident took place during a Khaled Memorial 2nd Division Screening Tournament match between Venghnuai Raiders CC and Chawnpui ILMOV CC. Lalremruata, who was playing for Venghnuai Raiders CC, suddenly fell while the game was underway. He was given immediate help and taken for medical treatment, but doctors could not save him.&nbsp;Lalremruata had earlier represented Mizoram in the Ranji Trophy and stayed closely connected with cricket even after his playing days. He served on the Senior Tournament Committee and was known for his honest and dedicated work for the sport.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-sri-lanka-appoints-former-india-coach-as-new-batting-consultant-1767886384534">T20 WC 2026: Sri Lanka appoints former India coach as new batting consultant</a>&nbsp;Many officials and players said he worked quietly but tirelessly to help to organise tournaments and support young cricketers at the grassroots level.&nbsp;After his death, the Cricket Association of Mizoram announced that all matches scheduled for Thursday would be cancelled. This included games in the 2nd Division Screening Tournament at SCG, Sihhmui, the 3rd Division Screening Tournament semi-finals at Lawipu Playground and the Samagra Inter-School Cricket Tournament for boys and girls at the PUC Ground and MAP Ground in Mualpui. The association said the matches would be played later under a revised schedule.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vijay-hazare-trophy-how-did-they-lose-sarfaraz-khan-s-historic-15-ball-fifty-in-vain-as-mumbai-botch-chase-vs-punjab-in-1-run-thriller-1767881016393">How did they lose? Sarfaraz's hits 20-ball 62 but Mumbai botch chase vs Punjab</a>&nbsp;In a statement, the Cricket Association of Mizoram expressed deep sorrow over Lalremruata’s passing and recognised his valuable contribution to cricket in the state. The association also offered its condolences to his family and prayed for strength during this difficult time.&nbsp;Players, officials and members of the local cricket community paid tribute to Lalremruata, remembering him as a passionate cricketer and a reliable administrator who always put the game first.

In a statement, the Cricket Association of Mizoram expressed deep sorrow over Lalremruata’s passing and recognised his valuable contribution to cricket in the state. 

Former Ranji Trophy cricketer from Mizoram, K Lalremruata, died after collapsing during a local cricket match on Wednesday (Jan 7). His sudden death deeply shocked the cricket community in the state and led to the cancellation of all scheduled matches as a mark of respect. The incident took place during a Khaled Memorial 2nd Division Screening Tournament match between Venghnuai Raiders CC and Chawnpui ILMOV CC. Lalremruata, who was playing for Venghnuai Raiders CC, suddenly fell while the game was underway. He was given immediate help and taken for medical treatment, but doctors could not save him. Lalremruata had earlier represented Mizoram in the Ranji Trophy and stayed closely connected with cricket even after his playing days. He served on the Senior Tournament Committee and was known for his honest and dedicated work for the sport. Also Read - T20 WC 2026: Sri Lanka appoints former India coach as new batting consultant Many officials and players said he worked quietly but tirelessly to help to organise tournaments and support young cricketers at the grassroots level. After his death, the Cricket Association of Mizoram announced that all matches scheduled for Thursday would be cancelled. This included games in the 2nd Division Screening Tournament at SCG, Sihhmui, the 3rd Division Screening Tournament semi-finals at Lawipu Playground and the Samagra Inter-School Cricket Tournament for boys and girls at the PUC Ground and MAP Ground in Mualpui. The association said the matches would be played later under a revised schedule. Also Read - How did they lose? Sarfaraz's hits 20-ball 62 but Mumbai botch chase vs Punjab In a statement, the Cricket Association of Mizoram expressed deep sorrow over Lalremruata’s passing and recognised his valuable contribution to cricket in the state. The association also offered its condolences to his family and prayed for strength during this difficult time. Players, officials and members of the local cricket community paid tribute to Lalremruata, remembering him as a passionate cricketer and a reliable administrator who always put the game first.

In a statement, the Cricket Association of Mizoram expressed deep sorrow over Lalremruata’s passing and recognised his valuable contribution to cricket in the state.&nbsp;

Ex-Mizoram Ranji Trophy player dies after collapsing during match

The Women's Premier League 2026 is here. This is the first WPL edition after India's maiden ODI World Cup win in November last year. WPL 2026 will see a lot of Indian and international stars playing for five franchises. Some of the biggest names in this edition are India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, ODI World Cup player of the series Deepti Sharma, Player of the Final Shefali Verma, South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt, Aussie veteran Meg Lanning to name a few.<h2>As the season gears up for start, here's all you need to know about WPL 2026</h2>Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals are the five teams in the tournament which is being played from Janaury 9 to February 5.Mumbai Indians are the defending champions, having won the WPL 2025 by beating three-time finalists Delhi Capitals by eight runs in the last year's final. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the only other side to have won a WPL title - they had beaten Delhi Capitals in WPL 2024 to lift their maiden title.<h2>Who are the captain in WPL 2026?</h2>Mumbai Indians are led by India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur Royal Challengers Bengaluru are being led dashing India opener Smriti Mandhana Aussie all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner is leading Gujarat Giants India batter Jemimah Rodrigues has been captain of Delhi Capitals Aussie veteran Meg Lanning will be leading UP Warriorz<h2>WPL 2026 all squads</h2>Mumbai Indians: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Hayley Mathews, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini, Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti Gupta, Sajeevan Sajana, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, Saika Ishaque, Rahila Firdous, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar and Milly IllingworthDelhi Capitals: Jemimah Rodrigues (C), Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad, Laura Wolvaardt, Chinelle Henry, Sree Charani , Sneh Rana, Lizelee Lee, Deeya Yadav, Taniyaa Bhatia, Mamatha Madiwala, Nandani Sharma, Lucy Hamilton and Minnu ManiRoyal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (C), Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Prema Rawat, Arundathi Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Prathyoosha Kumar and D HemalathaGujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner (C), Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh, Bharti Fulmali, Titas Sadhu, Kashvee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwar, Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Yastika Bhatia, Shivani Singh, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Ayushi SoniUP Warriorz: Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Meg Lanning (C), Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol, Kranti Goud, Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Tara Norris, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, G Trisha and Pratika Rawal<h2>How the tournament is played?</h2>There will a totol of 20 league matches with each team playing every other team twice. The second and third placed team will play the eliminator at the end of league stage. The winner of the eliminator will face the league topper team in the final.<h2>Where the matches are being played?</h2>Out of 22 matches, including the eliminator and the final, first 11 matches will played at DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai while the rest of 11 matches will played in Vadodara.<h2>WPL 2026 Full Schedule –</h2><h3>Navi Mumbai leg</h3>Jan 9: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Jan 10: UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants Jan 10: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Jan 11: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants Jan 12: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz Jan 13: Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants Jan 14: UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals Jan 15: Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz Jan 16: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants Jan 17: UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians Jan 17: Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru<h3>Vadodara leg</h3>Jan 19: Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Jan 20: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians Jan 22: Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz Jan 24: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals Jan 26: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians Jan 27: Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals Jan 29: UP Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Jan 30: Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians Feb 1: Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz Feb 3: Eliminator Feb 5: Final<h2>What time the matches start?</h2>The matches will start 7:30 PM India time with toss taking places at 7 PM. On double-header days, the first match will start at 3:30 pm in the afternoon while and second match at 7:30 pm. There are only tow double-header days in WPL 2026, on January 10 and 17.In the first match, Harmanpreet Kaur will face off Smriti Mandhana as two-time champions Mumbai Indians take on WPL 2024 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Navi Mumbai.

This is the first WPL edition after India's maiden ODI World Cup win in November last year. Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals are the five teams in the tournament which is being played from Janaury 9 to February 5.

The Women's Premier League 2026 is here. This is the first WPL edition after India's maiden ODI World Cup win in November last year. WPL 2026 will see a lot of Indian and international stars playing for five franchises. Some of the biggest names in this edition are India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, ODI World Cup player of the series Deepti Sharma, Player of the Final Shefali Verma, South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt, Aussie veteran Meg Lanning to name a few. As the season gears up for start, here's all you need to know about WPL 2026 Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals are the five teams in the tournament which is being played from Janaury 9 to February 5. Mumbai Indians are the defending champions, having won the WPL 2025 by beating three-time finalists Delhi Capitals by eight runs in the last year's final. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the only other side to have won a WPL title - they had beaten Delhi Capitals in WPL 2024 to lift their maiden title. Who are the captain in WPL 2026? Mumbai Indians are led by India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur Royal Challengers Bengaluru are being led dashing India opener Smriti Mandhana Aussie all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner is leading Gujarat Giants India batter Jemimah Rodrigues has been captain of Delhi Capitals Aussie veteran Meg Lanning will be leading UP Warriorz WPL 2026 all squads Mumbai Indians: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Hayley Mathews, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini, Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti Gupta, Sajeevan Sajana, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, Saika Ishaque, Rahila Firdous, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar and Milly Illingworth Delhi Capitals: Jemimah Rodrigues (C), Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad, Laura Wolvaardt, Chinelle Henry, Sree Charani , Sneh Rana, Lizelee Lee, Deeya Yadav, Taniyaa Bhatia, Mamatha Madiwala, Nandani Sharma, Lucy Hamilton and Minnu Mani Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (C), Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Prema Rawat, Arundathi Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Prathyoosha Kumar and D Hemalatha Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner (C), Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh, Bharti Fulmali, Titas Sadhu, Kashvee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwar, Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Yastika Bhatia, Shivani Singh, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Ayushi Soni UP Warriorz: Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Meg Lanning (C), Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol, Kranti Goud, Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Tara Norris, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, G Trisha and Pratika Rawal How the tournament is played? There will a totol of 20 league matches with each team playing every other team twice. The second and third placed team will play the eliminator at the end of league stage. The winner of the eliminator will face the league topper team in the final. Where the matches are being played? Out of 22 matches, including the eliminator and the final, first 11 matches will played at DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai while the rest of 11 matches will played in Vadodara. WPL 2026 Full Schedule – Navi Mumbai leg Jan 9: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Jan 10: UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants Jan 10: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Jan 11: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants Jan 12: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz Jan 13: Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants Jan 14: UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals Jan 15: Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz Jan 16: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants Jan 17: UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians Jan 17: Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Vadodara leg Jan 19: Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Jan 20: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians Jan 22: Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz Jan 24: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals Jan 26: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians Jan 27: Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals Jan 29: UP Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Jan 30: Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians Feb 1: Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz Feb 3: Eliminator Feb 5: Final What time the matches start? The matches will start 7:30 PM India time with toss taking places at 7 PM. On double-header days, the first match will start at 3:30 pm in the afternoon while and second match at 7:30 pm. There are only tow double-header days in WPL 2026, on January 10 and 17. In the first match, Harmanpreet Kaur will face off Smriti Mandhana as two-time champions Mumbai Indians take on WPL 2024 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Navi Mumbai.

This is the first WPL edition after India's maiden ODI World Cup win in November last year. Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals are the five teams in the tournament which is being played from Janaury 9 to February 5.

WPL 2026 Guide: Full squads, new Captains, and complete schedule for Navi Mumbai & Vadodara

Thirteen-year-old Tanishka Kalbhairav made the most of the wild card in qualifying to top Group 5 with an all-win record to make it to the women’s singles main draw while Parth Magar, Jash Modi and Shankhadip Das upset higher ranked opponents to make it to the men’s singles main draw in the WTT Feeder Series 2026 on Thursday (Jan 8). In the women’s qualifying round, Tanishka had won two matches in her group on Wednesday and was up against Evana Thapa of Nepal in the final match on Thursday. The Belgavi-born paddler was on a roll beating Evana 11-9, 11-6, 12-10 to top the group. Also making it to the main draw were, Selena Selvakumar, Anusha Kutumbale, Sampada Bhiwandkar, Ananya Muralidharan and Pritha Vartikar.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-sri-lanka-appoints-former-india-coach-as-new-batting-consultant-1767886384534">T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka appoints former India coach as new batting consultant</a>&nbsp;In the men’s qualifying knock-out match, Parth Magar defeated Mehan Senthil 12-10, 15-13, 13-15, 11-8, Jash thrashed Sriram Sivam 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 while Shankhdip got the better of Kumar Harshit 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8.&nbsp;In the women’s doubles qualifying, Kavya Bhaskar and Pranati Paramesh got the better of Senhora Dsouza and Naisha Rewaskar 11-13, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 to qualify. All the other three pairs qualified directly as they had a bye in the qualifying round.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vijay-hazare-trophy-sarfraz-khan-scripts-history-becomes-fastest-to-achieve-this-record-1767866054137">VHT: Sarfraz Khan scripts history, becomes fastest to achieve THIS record</a>&nbsp;In the mixed doubles qualifying, top seeds Raegan Albuquerque and Suhana Saini had to work hard to beat Sriram Sivan and Ananya Muralidharan 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10 while second seed Abhinandh Pradhivadhi and Nithya Mani ended the run of Dhairya Parmar and Anusha Kutumbale 11-0, 11-0, 11-0.

In the women’s doubles qualifying, Kavya Bhaskar and Pranati Paramesh got the better of Senhora Dsouza and Naisha Rewaskar 11-13, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 to qualify. All the other three pairs qualified directly as they had a bye in the qualifying round.

Thirteen-year-old Tanishka Kalbhairav made the most of the wild card in qualifying to top Group 5 with an all-win record to make it to the women’s singles main draw while Parth Magar, Jash Modi and Shankhadip Das upset higher ranked opponents to make it to the men’s singles main draw in the WTT Feeder Series 2026 on Thursday (Jan 8). In the women’s qualifying round, Tanishka had won two matches in her group on Wednesday and was up against Evana Thapa of Nepal in the final match on Thursday. The Belgavi-born paddler was on a roll beating Evana 11-9, 11-6, 12-10 to top the group. Also making it to the main draw were, Selena Selvakumar, Anusha Kutumbale, Sampada Bhiwandkar, Ananya Muralidharan and Pritha Vartikar. Also Read - T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka appoints former India coach as new batting consultant In the men’s qualifying knock-out match, Parth Magar defeated Mehan Senthil 12-10, 15-13, 13-15, 11-8, Jash thrashed Sriram Sivam 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 while Shankhdip got the better of Kumar Harshit 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8. In the women’s doubles qualifying, Kavya Bhaskar and Pranati Paramesh got the better of Senhora Dsouza and Naisha Rewaskar 11-13, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 to qualify. All the other three pairs qualified directly as they had a bye in the qualifying round. Also Read - VHT: Sarfraz Khan scripts history, becomes fastest to achieve THIS record In the mixed doubles qualifying, top seeds Raegan Albuquerque and Suhana Saini had to work hard to beat Sriram Sivan and Ananya Muralidharan 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10 while second seed Abhinandh Pradhivadhi and Nithya Mani ended the run of Dhairya Parmar and Anusha Kutumbale 11-0, 11-0, 11-0.

In the women’s doubles qualifying, Kavya Bhaskar and Pranati Paramesh got the better of Senhora Dsouza and Naisha Rewaskar 11-13, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 to qualify. All the other three pairs qualified directly as they had a bye in the qualifying round.

WTT 2026: Tanishka Kalbhairav, Parth Magar, Shankhadip Das qualify for main draw

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) named former India batting coach Vikram Rathour as its new batting coach on a consultancy basis. The appointment was announced on Thursday (January 8). Rathour has been brought in to help the team to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held from February to March. He will take charge from January 18 and his contract will last until March 10, two days after the World Cup ends.&nbsp;Earlier, Rathour was an important member of Rahul Dravid’s coaching staff with India from September 2019 to July 2024 and during this period, India reached the finals of the ODI World Cup in 2023 and the T20 World Cup in 2024.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2026-guide-full-squads-new-captains-and-full-schedule-for-navi-mumbai-vadodara-1767882744205">WPL 2026 Guide: Full squads, new Captains, two venues, and complete schedule</a>&nbsp;After leaving the Indian team setup, Rathour joined Dravid at Rajasthan Royals, where he continues to work as the batting coach. Rathour has also represented India on international stage, playing six Test matches and seven ODIs.&nbsp;Sri Lanka’s decision to appoint Rathour comes as the team looks to move on from a disappointing 2024 T20 World Cup, where they were knocked out in the group stage. Since then, Sri Lanka have won only two of the six bilateral series they have played and recently lost the first T20I against Pakistan.&nbsp;Sri Lanka are placed in Group B of the T20 World Cup alongside Australia, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe and will begin their campaign against Ireland on February 8.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vijay-hazare-trophy-how-did-they-lose-sarfaraz-khan-s-historic-15-ball-fifty-in-vain-as-mumbai-botch-chase-vs-punjab-in-1-run-thriller-1767881016393">How did they lose? Sarfaraz's hits 20-ball 62 but Mumbai botch chase vs Punjab</a>&nbsp;The ongoing series against Pakistan will be Sri Lanka’s final preparation before the World Cup. With Rathour joining the setup, it will be interesting to see how the team performs under new guidance in the upcoming T20I matches.&nbsp;

Sri Lanka are placed in Group B of the T20 World Cup alongside Australia, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe and will begin their campaign against Ireland on February 8. 

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) named former India batting coach Vikram Rathour as its new batting coach on a consultancy basis. The appointment was announced on Thursday (January 8). Rathour has been brought in to help the team to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held from February to March. He will take charge from January 18 and his contract will last until March 10, two days after the World Cup ends. Earlier, Rathour was an important member of Rahul Dravid’s coaching staff with India from September 2019 to July 2024 and during this period, India reached the finals of the ODI World Cup in 2023 and the T20 World Cup in 2024. Also Read - WPL 2026 Guide: Full squads, new Captains, two venues, and complete schedule After leaving the Indian team setup, Rathour joined Dravid at Rajasthan Royals, where he continues to work as the batting coach. Rathour has also represented India on international stage, playing six Test matches and seven ODIs. Sri Lanka’s decision to appoint Rathour comes as the team looks to move on from a disappointing 2024 T20 World Cup, where they were knocked out in the group stage. Since then, Sri Lanka have won only two of the six bilateral series they have played and recently lost the first T20I against Pakistan. Sri Lanka are placed in Group B of the T20 World Cup alongside Australia, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe and will begin their campaign against Ireland on February 8. Also Read - How did they lose? Sarfaraz's hits 20-ball 62 but Mumbai botch chase vs Punjab The ongoing series against Pakistan will be Sri Lanka’s final preparation before the World Cup. With Rathour joining the setup, it will be interesting to see how the team performs under new guidance in the upcoming T20I matches.

Sri Lanka are placed in Group B of the T20 World Cup alongside Australia, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe and will begin their campaign against Ireland on February 8.&nbsp;

T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka appoints former India coach as new batting consultant

Punjab and Mumbai played one of the most dramatic matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy history. Chasing a modest 216-run target, Mumbai botched the chase and fell short by 1 run on Thursday (Jan 8) in Jaipur. Mumbai were bowled out for 215 in just 26.2 overs despite being 139/2 in 14.3 overs at one stage. Punjab's one-run victory margin is the joint-lowest in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and first such instance since 2021. The 216-run target is also the fouth lowest total defended by a team in the tournament history.<h2>Mumbai botch easy chase vs Punjab</h2>Chasing 216, Mumbai had a brilliant start as Musheer Khan and Angkrish Raghuvanshi added 57 runs for the first wicket in 8.1 overs before Khan was dimissed. Raghuvanshi was next to go 33 runs later before Sarfaraz began his carnage. His 15-ball 50 - the fastest in Lisa A cricket for India - put Mumbai at 139/2 in 14.3 overs. Needing just 77 runs in nearly 35 overs, Mumbai suffered a dramatic collapse.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-starc-to-stokes-meet-top-5-bowlers-with-most-wickets-in-ashes-2025-26-1767873278653">From Starc to Stokes: Meet top 5 bowlers with most wickets in Ashes 2025-26</a>Skipper Shreyas Iyer, however, tried to hold one end with his 34-ball 45 and took his team to 201 before getting out but it was not enough in the end. Mumbai lost as four wickets for just 14 runs and were dismissed for 215 runs in 26.2 overs. Gurnoor Brar and Mayank Markende starred for Punjab with each bowler taking a four-wicket haul.<h2>Sarfaraz shows fiery batting before IPL 2026</h2>Out of favour with BCCI, Sarfaraz was recently picked up at the IPL 2026 auction by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for INR 75 lakh. He showed that he can bat aggresively druing his innings of 20-ball 62 which included seven four and five sixes. He also smashed India T20I opener Abhishek Sharma for 30 runs in an over during his fiery innings but alas, failed to make his team win.Over of mayhem: Sarfaraz samshed Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma for 30 runs in the 10th over (6, 4, 6, 4, 6, 4).Record Broken: He eclipsed the previous Indian record of fastest List A fifty of 16 balls (held by Atit Sheth and Abhijit Kale).Final Stat: Sarfaraz finished with 62 off 20 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes) before being trapped LBW by Mayank Markande who took 4/31.The dramatic Collapse: Mumbai were in commond at 201/5 chasing 217, but lost their final 5 wickets for just 14 runs to finish at 215 all out in 26.2 overs.

Mumbai were bowled out for 215 in just 26.2 overs druing chase of 216 despite being 139/2 in 14.3 overs at one stage.  Sarfaraz finished with 62 off 20 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes) before being trapped LBW by Mayank Markande who took 4/31.

Punjab and Mumbai played one of the most dramatic matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy history. Chasing a modest 216-run target, Mumbai botched the chase and fell short by 1 run on Thursday (Jan 8) in Jaipur. Mumbai were bowled out for 215 in just 26.2 overs despite being 139/2 in 14.3 overs at one stage. Punjab's one-run victory margin is the joint-lowest in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and first such instance since 2021. The 216-run target is also the fouth lowest total defended by a team in the tournament history. Mumbai botch easy chase vs Punjab Chasing 216, Mumbai had a brilliant start as Musheer Khan and Angkrish Raghuvanshi added 57 runs for the first wicket in 8.1 overs before Khan was dimissed. Raghuvanshi was next to go 33 runs later before Sarfaraz began his carnage. His 15-ball 50 - the fastest in Lisa A cricket for India - put Mumbai at 139/2 in 14.3 overs. Needing just 77 runs in nearly 35 overs, Mumbai suffered a dramatic collapse. Also Read - From Starc to Stokes: Meet top 5 bowlers with most wickets in Ashes 2025-26 Skipper Shreyas Iyer, however, tried to hold one end with his 34-ball 45 and took his team to 201 before getting out but it was not enough in the end. Mumbai lost as four wickets for just 14 runs and were dismissed for 215 runs in 26.2 overs. Gurnoor Brar and Mayank Markende starred for Punjab with each bowler taking a four-wicket haul. Sarfaraz shows fiery batting before IPL 2026 Out of favour with BCCI, Sarfaraz was recently picked up at the IPL 2026 auction by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for INR 75 lakh. He showed that he can bat aggresively druing his innings of 20-ball 62 which included seven four and five sixes. He also smashed India T20I opener Abhishek Sharma for 30 runs in an over during his fiery innings but alas, failed to make his team win. Over of mayhem: Sarfaraz samshed Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma for 30 runs in the 10th over (6, 4, 6, 4, 6, 4). Record Broken: He eclipsed the previous Indian record of fastest List A fifty of 16 balls (held by Atit Sheth and Abhijit Kale). Final Stat: Sarfaraz finished with 62 off 20 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes) before being trapped LBW by Mayank Markande who took 4/31. The dramatic Collapse: Mumbai were in commond at 201/5 chasing 217, but lost their final 5 wickets for just 14 runs to finish at 215 all out in 26.2 overs.

Mumbai were bowled out for 215 in just 26.2 overs druing chase of 216 despite being 139/2 in 14.3 overs at one stage. &nbsp;Sarfaraz finished with 62 off 20 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes) before being trapped LBW by Mayank Markande who took 4/31.

Vijay Hazare Trophy: How did they lose? Sarfaraz Khan’s historic 15-ball fifty in vain as Mumbai botch chase vs Punjab in 1 run thriller

Australia comfortably chased a target of 160 runs in 31.2 overs on Thursday (Jan 8) to win the fifth and final Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series. The match was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Earlier, England were bowled out for 342 in their second innings, setting Australia a small target on the final day. The home team had no trouble reaching it, as openers Travis Head (29) and Jake Weatherald (34) gave Australia a quick start by putting on 62 runs in just 63 balls. Josh Tongue then dismissed both batters before the lunch.&nbsp;&nbsp;After that, captain Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the innings for their team before getting out. In the end, Alex Carey scored 16*, while Cameron Green remained unbeaten on 22 as Australia completed the chase. With this win, Australia claimed their fourth victory of the series and sealed the Ashes 4-1.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vijay-hazare-trophy-sarfraz-khan-scripts-history-becomes-fastest-to-achieve-this-record-1767866054137">Vijay Hazare Trophy: Sarfraz Khan scripts history, becomes fastest to achieve THIS record</a>&nbsp;Australia have now won seven of their eight matches in the current World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle and continue to lead the points table. Their win in Sydney improved their points percentage from 85.71 to 87.5. &nbsp;Whereas, England are struggling in the WTC standings, as they sit seventh on the table, with their points percentage dropping from 35.19 to 31.66. They have won only three of their 10 Tests so far in this cycle. As a result, their chances of finishing in the top two and reaching the WTC final in 2027 are now under serious threat.&nbsp;Also Check - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-starc-to-stokes-meet-top-5-bowlers-with-most-wickets-in-ashes-2025-26-1767873278653">From Starc to Stokes: Meet top 5 bowlers with most wickets in Ashes 2025-26</a>&nbsp;For England to qualify for the WTC final for the first time, they must win all of their remaining matches and avoid losing any more points.<h2>Updated WTC 2025-27 points table after Australia beat England in 5th Ashes&nbsp;</h2>

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Position</td><td>Team</td><td>Matches</td><td>Won</td><td>Lost</td><td>Draw</td><td>Points</td><td>PCT%</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Australia</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>1</td><td>–</td><td>84</td><td>87.5</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>New Zealand</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>–</td><td>1</td><td>28</td><td>77.78</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>South Africa</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>–</td><td>36</td><td>75.00</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Sri Lanka</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>–</td><td>1</td><td>16</td><td>66.67</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Pakistan</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>–</td><td>12</td><td>50.00</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>India</td><td>9</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>52</td><td>48.15</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>England</td><td>10</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>32</td><td>31.66</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Bangladesh</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>16.67</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>West Indies</td><td>8</td><td>0</td><td>7</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>4.17</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



For England to qualify for the WTC final for the first time, they must win all of their remaining matches and avoid losing any more points.

Australia comfortably chased a target of 160 runs in 31.2 overs on Thursday (Jan 8) to win the fifth and final Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series. The match was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Earlier, England were bowled out for 342 in their second innings, setting Australia a small target on the final day. The home team had no trouble reaching it, as openers Travis Head (29) and Jake Weatherald (34) gave Australia a quick start by putting on 62 runs in just 63 balls. Josh Tongue then dismissed both batters before the lunch. After that, captain Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the innings for their team before getting out. In the end, Alex Carey scored 16*, while Cameron Green remained unbeaten on 22 as Australia completed the chase. With this win, Australia claimed their fourth victory of the series and sealed the Ashes 4-1. Also Read - Vijay Hazare Trophy: Sarfraz Khan scripts history, becomes fastest to achieve THIS record Australia have now won seven of their eight matches in the current World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle and continue to lead the points table. Their win in Sydney improved their points percentage from 85.71 to 87.5. Whereas, England are struggling in the WTC standings, as they sit seventh on the table, with their points percentage dropping from 35.19 to 31.66. They have won only three of their 10 Tests so far in this cycle. As a result, their chances of finishing in the top two and reaching the WTC final in 2027 are now under serious threat. Also Check - From Starc to Stokes: Meet top 5 bowlers with most wickets in Ashes 2025-26 For England to qualify for the WTC final for the first time, they must win all of their remaining matches and avoid losing any more points. Updated WTC 2025-27 points table after Australia beat England in 5th Ashes

For England to qualify for the WTC final for the first time, they must win all of their remaining matches and avoid losing any more points.

Updated WTC 2025-27 Points Table: Australia consolidate top spot, England's woes continue

Australia's Mitchell Starc took 31 wickets in Ashes 2025-26 - the most by any bowler. The next are Brydon Carse (22 wickets), Scott Boland (20 wickets), Josh Tongue (18 wickets), Michale Neser & Ben Stokes - 15 wickets each.

Australia's Mitchell Starc took 31 wickets in Ashes 2025-26 - the most by any bowler. The next are Brydon Carse (22 wickets), Scott Boland (20 wickets), Josh Tongue (18 wickets), Michael Neser &amp; Ben Stokes - 15 wickets each.

From Starc to Stokes: Meet top 5 bowlers with most wickets in Ashes 2025-26

In the Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Mumbai and Punjab, star batter Sarfaraz Khan made history on Thursday (Jan 8) by scoring the fastest half-century in the tournament’s history. He reached the milestone in just 15 balls, surpassing the previous record of 16 balls set by Atit Sheth for Baroda against Chhattisgarh in the 2020-21 season. Sarfaraz came in to bat after his brother Musheer Khan was dismissed, with Mumbai at 57/1 in 8.2 overs. He began aggressively, smashing 30 runs off his very first over while taking on Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma. Sarfaraz went on to score a blistering 62 off 20 balls, striking seven fours and five sixes. Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer also contributed with a fine knock of 45 off 34 balls, including four fours and two sixes.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/end-of-bazball-ecb-vows-to-make-necessary-changes-what-it-means-for-mccullum-and-stokes-1767859655345">End of bazball? ECB vows to make ‘necessary changes.’ What it means for McCullum and Stokes</a>&nbsp;So far, Sarfaraz has been in excellent form in this Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has scored 303 runs in five innings at an average of 75.75 and a strike rate of 190.56, including one century and two half-centuries.<h2>Mumbai vs Punjab, Group C, Vijay Hazare Trophy&nbsp;</h2>After winning the toss and choose to bowl first, Mumbai bowled out Punjab for 216 in 45.1 overs. Ramandeep Singh top-scored for his team with 72 off 74 balls, while Anmolpreet Singh added 57 off 75.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-ben-stokes-dismisses-quitting-captaincy-talks-vows-to-turn-wrongs-to-right-after-crushing-ashes-beat-1767849863099"> Ashes: Stokes dismisses quitting captaincy talks, vows to turn ‘wrongs to right’</a>&nbsp;For Mumbai, Musheer Khan was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for 37 runs. Onkar Tarmale (2/38), Shivam Dube (2/20) and Shashank Attarde (2/57) also picked up two wickets each.&nbsp;Despite strong batting efforts from Sarfaraz and Iyer, Mumbai narrowly lost the match by one run. Chasing 217, they were bowled out for 215 in 26.2 overs. Gurnoor Brar took four wickets for 57 runs, while Mayank Markande claimed four for 31, as Mumbai lost their last five wickets for just 14 runs.

Sarfaraz has been in excellent form in this Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has scored 303 runs in five innings at an average of 75.75 and a strike rate of 190.56, including one century and two half-centuries.

In the Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Mumbai and Punjab, star batter Sarfaraz Khan made history on Thursday (Jan 8) by scoring the fastest half-century in the tournament’s history. He reached the milestone in just 15 balls, surpassing the previous record of 16 balls set by Atit Sheth for Baroda against Chhattisgarh in the 2020-21 season. Sarfaraz came in to bat after his brother Musheer Khan was dismissed, with Mumbai at 57/1 in 8.2 overs. He began aggressively, smashing 30 runs off his very first over while taking on Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma. Sarfaraz went on to score a blistering 62 off 20 balls, striking seven fours and five sixes. Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer also contributed with a fine knock of 45 off 34 balls, including four fours and two sixes. Also Read - End of bazball? ECB vows to make ‘necessary changes.’ What it means for McCullum and Stokes So far, Sarfaraz has been in excellent form in this Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has scored 303 runs in five innings at an average of 75.75 and a strike rate of 190.56, including one century and two half-centuries. Mumbai vs Punjab, Group C, Vijay Hazare Trophy After winning the toss and choose to bowl first, Mumbai bowled out Punjab for 216 in 45.1 overs. Ramandeep Singh top-scored for his team with 72 off 74 balls, while Anmolpreet Singh added 57 off 75. Also Read - Ashes: Stokes dismisses quitting captaincy talks, vows to turn ‘wrongs to right’ For Mumbai, Musheer Khan was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for 37 runs. Onkar Tarmale (2/38), Shivam Dube (2/20) and Shashank Attarde (2/57) also picked up two wickets each. Despite strong batting efforts from Sarfaraz and Iyer, Mumbai narrowly lost the match by one run. Chasing 217, they were bowled out for 215 in 26.2 overs. Gurnoor Brar took four wickets for 57 runs, while Mayank Markande claimed four for 31, as Mumbai lost their last five wickets for just 14 runs.

Sarfaraz has been in excellent form in this Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has scored 303 runs in five innings at an average of 75.75 and a strike rate of 190.56, including one century and two half-centuries.

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Sarfraz Khan scripts history, becomes fastest to achieve THIS record

From Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma, here's a look at the five Indian batters fastest to 7000 runs in One Day Internationals. This list also includes MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar

From Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma, here's a look at the five Indian batters fastest to 7,000 runs in One Day Internationals. This list also includes MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar

Meet top 5 Indian batters fastest to 7,000 runs in ODIs

India suffered a major setback ahead of the T20I series against the Black Caps, with batter Tilak Varma having undergone surgery for testicular torsion and expected to be sidelined for a few weeks. The five-match T20I series starting on January 21 will be India’s final assignment before they start their World Cup title defence at home. Tilak’s injury has raised serious concerns within the camp, as he is likely to miss the entire series and could also be unavailable for the early phase of upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 preparations.&nbsp;The 23-year-old left-hand batter was in Rajkot, representing Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy when he suddenly felt severe pain (acute testicular pain). He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where scans diagnosed him with testicular torsion and doctors recommended immediate surgery. &nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vijay-hazare-trophy-sarfraz-khan-scripts-history-becomes-fastest-to-achieve-this-record-1767866054137">VHT: Sarfraz Khan scripts history, becomes fastest to achieve THIS record</a>&nbsp;This injury is a major setback for India, as Tilak has been a key player for the team in the T20Is over the past year. He played a crucial role in India’s Asia Cup 2025 win, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls in the final against Pakistan.&nbsp;&nbsp;He was also the top run-scorer in the recent home series against South Africa, with 187 runs in four innings. His absence will be strongly felt in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/end-of-bazball-ecb-vows-to-make-necessary-changes-what-it-means-for-mccullum-and-stokes-1767859655345">End of bazball? ECB vows to make ‘necessary changes' in aftermath of Ashes</a><h2>IND vs NZ, T20Is - Full schedule</h2><ul><li>1st T20I: 21 Jan, 2026, at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur (7:00 PM IST)</li><li>2nd T20I: 23 Jan, 2026, at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur (7:00 PM IST)</li><li>3rd T20I: 25 Jan, 2026, at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati (7:00 PM IST)</li><li>4th T20I: 28 Jan, 2026, at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam (7:00 PM IST)</li><li>5th T20I: 31 Jan, 2026, at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram (7:00 PM IST)</li></ul><h2>India’s squad for T20I series against New Zealand</h2>Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar and Ishan Kishan (WK)

This injury is a major setback for India, as Tilak has been a key player for the team in the T20Is over the past year. He played a crucial role in India’s Asia Cup 2025 win, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls in the final against Pakistan. 

India suffered a major setback ahead of the T20I series against the Black Caps, with batter Tilak Varma having undergone surgery for testicular torsion and expected to be sidelined for a few weeks. The five-match T20I series starting on January 21 will be India’s final assignment before they start their World Cup title defence at home. Tilak’s injury has raised serious concerns within the camp, as he is likely to miss the entire series and could also be unavailable for the early phase of upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 preparations. The 23-year-old left-hand batter was in Rajkot, representing Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy when he suddenly felt severe pain (acute testicular pain). He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where scans diagnosed him with testicular torsion and doctors recommended immediate surgery. Also Read - VHT: Sarfraz Khan scripts history, becomes fastest to achieve THIS record This injury is a major setback for India, as Tilak has been a key player for the team in the T20Is over the past year. He played a crucial role in India’s Asia Cup 2025 win, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls in the final against Pakistan. He was also the top run-scorer in the recent home series against South Africa, with 187 runs in four innings. His absence will be strongly felt in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. Also Read - End of bazball? ECB vows to make ‘necessary changes' in aftermath of Ashes IND vs NZ, T20Is - Full schedule 1st T20I: 21 Jan, 2026, at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur (7:00 PM IST) 2nd T20I: 23 Jan, 2026, at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur (7:00 PM IST) 3rd T20I: 25 Jan, 2026, at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati (7:00 PM IST) 4th T20I: 28 Jan, 2026, at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam (7:00 PM IST) 5th T20I: 31 Jan, 2026, at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram (7:00 PM IST) India’s squad for T20I series against New Zealand Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar and Ishan Kishan (WK)

This injury is a major setback for India, as Tilak has been a key player for the team in the T20Is over the past year. He played a crucial role in India’s Asia Cup 2025 win, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls in the final against Pakistan.&nbsp;

India batter Tilak Varma undergoes surgery, doubtful for New Zealand series

England’s Test vice-captain Harry Brook is on a final warning by his cricket board (ECB) over an incident involving his brawl with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand before he assumed One-Day captaincy. Ahead of the marquee Ashes, England toured New Zealand for a white-ball series, and just ahead of the ODI opener, Brook found himself in hot water, later feeling ‘deeply sorry’ for that episode. Brook’s statement came shortly after England conceded the away Ashes (1-4) after losing the fifth and final Test in Sydney by five wickets on the fifth day.&nbsp;The Daily Telegraph reported that Brook, the limited-overs skipper and vice-captain of the Test side in Australia, was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer on October 31. England lost to hosts New Zealand the next day in the third ODI in Wellington with Brook scoring six. The 26-year-old Brook was fined £30,000 ($40,000) after reporting the incident to team management and was given a final warning about his behaviour, the newspaper said.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-ben-stokes-dismisses-quitting-captaincy-talks-vows-to-turn-wrongs-to-right-after-crushing-ashes-beat-1767849863099">Stokes dismisses quitting captaincy talks, vows to turn ‘wrongs to right’ after crushing Ashes beat</a>&nbsp;"I want to apologise for my actions. I fully accept that my behaviour was wrong and brought embarrassment to both myself and the England team," he said in a statement. “Representing England is the greatest honour of all, which I take seriously and I am deeply sorry for letting down my team-mates, coaches and supporters.”&nbsp;“I am determined to learn from this mistake and to rebuild trust through my future actions, both on and off the field. I apologise unreservedly and will work hard to ensure this does not happen again.”&nbsp;The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has launched an immediate review into the Ashes defeat, with off-field behaviour one of its priorities following a team drinking session during the series.<h3>Brook's first away Ashes</h3>On his first tour of Australia, Brook had plenty of missed chances, for most of which he was to be blamed. The right-handed batter never looked in rhythm during the five contested Tests, barring a couple of innings, where he completed his twin fifties – the joint-most by an Englishman against Australia this time.&nbsp;With 358 runs in 10 innings, at an average of just below 40, Brook is England’s second-highest run getter after Joe Root (400) and third overall.&nbsp;&nbsp;Brook’s next assignment is the away white-ball series against Sri Lanka, after which he will lead England at the 2026 T20 World Cup in the subcontinent. Brook’s England is placed in Group C alongside the West Indies, Nepal, Bangladesh and Italy.&nbsp;&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

The 26-year-old Brook was fined £30,000 ($40,000) after reporting the incident to team management and was given a final warning about his behaviour, the latest report added.

England’s Test vice-captain Harry Brook is on a final warning by his cricket board (ECB) over an incident involving his brawl with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand before he assumed One-Day captaincy. Ahead of the marquee Ashes, England toured New Zealand for a white-ball series, and just ahead of the ODI opener, Brook found himself in hot water, later feeling ‘deeply sorry’ for that episode. Brook’s statement came shortly after England conceded the away Ashes (1-4) after losing the fifth and final Test in Sydney by five wickets on the fifth day. The Daily Telegraph reported that Brook, the limited-overs skipper and vice-captain of the Test side in Australia, was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer on October 31. England lost to hosts New Zealand the next day in the third ODI in Wellington with Brook scoring six. The 26-year-old Brook was fined £30,000 ($40,000) after reporting the incident to team management and was given a final warning about his behaviour, the newspaper said. Also read | Stokes dismisses quitting captaincy talks, vows to turn ‘wrongs to right’ after crushing Ashes beat "I want to apologise for my actions. I fully accept that my behaviour was wrong and brought embarrassment to both myself and the England team," he said in a statement. “Representing England is the greatest honour of all, which I take seriously and I am deeply sorry for letting down my team-mates, coaches and supporters.” “I am determined to learn from this mistake and to rebuild trust through my future actions, both on and off the field. I apologise unreservedly and will work hard to ensure this does not happen again.” The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has launched an immediate review into the Ashes defeat, with off-field behaviour one of its priorities following a team drinking session during the series. Brook's first away Ashes On his first tour of Australia, Brook had plenty of missed chances, for most of which he was to be blamed. The right-handed batter never looked in rhythm during the five contested Tests, barring a couple of innings, where he completed his twin fifties – the joint-most by an Englishman against Australia this time. With 358 runs in 10 innings, at an average of just below 40, Brook is England’s second-highest run getter after Joe Root (400) and third overall. Brook’s next assignment is the away white-ball series against Sri Lanka, after which he will lead England at the 2026 T20 World Cup in the subcontinent. Brook’s England is placed in Group C alongside the West Indies, Nepal, Bangladesh and Italy. (With inputs from AFP)

The 26-year-old Brook was fined £30,000 ($40,000) after reporting the incident to team management and was given a final warning about his behaviour, the latest report added.

Harry Brook on last warning over brawl with nightclub bouncer ahead of Ashes

Ruturaj Gaikwad now has 15 centuries in Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's premier domestic 50-over tournament. His 15 centuries are now the joint-most in the tournament, along with Ankit Bawne's 15 as well.

Ruturaj Gaikwad now has 15 centuries in Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's premier domestic 50-over tournament. His 15 centuries are now the joint-most in the tournament, along with Ankit Bawne's 15 as well.

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 15th Century in Vijay Hazare Trophy: Breaking records after being dropped from India’s ODI squad for NZ series

The Ashes 2025-26 is done and England's hopes of winning the urn Down Under took 1-4 beating. The five-Test series, which had 25 playing days, was decided in just 11 days with five of those coming in the last Test in Sydney. In the aftermath, England Cricket Board (ECB) has launched a full review of the tour. Head coach Brendon McCullum's position, which came under intense scrutiny mid-way in the series, appears to be safe for the time being. Skipper Ben Stokes, who found himself at the wrong end of discussions, has also thrown full backing to the coach.<h2>Ashes aftermath: What ECB, McCullum, and Stokes said</h2>Speaking on the performance of the team, ECB chief executive Richard Gould, in a statement, has assued of making "necessary changes" after the throrough review of England's "tour planning and preparation, individual performance and behaviours, and our ability to adapt and respond effectively as circumstances require."Head coach McCullum, meanwhile, has accepted there are "some areas where you want to keep improving, and some areas where you think you can evolve.""From my point of view, I'll look at it individually and say, 'Right, what could I have done better?' and 'What could I improve on?' Am I for being told what to do? Of course I'm not," he added while talking on BBC.Skipper Stokes, however, has thrown his full support behind the coach. "It's not my decision [but] I'm sure if something ever comes to it, I'll be asked my opinion and he'll be getting my full support and backing," Stokes said.<h2>What next for England?</h2>England's next assignment is white-ball tour of Sri Lanka before they head into the T20 World Cup 2026 which begins February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. McCullum, who has two more years on his contract, is also the white-ball coach and the upcoming ICC event will could be an important one for him.

The five-Test series, which had 25 playing days, was decided in just 11 days with five of those coming in the last Test in Sydney with England losing 1-4, winning only the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

The Ashes 2025-26 is done and England's hopes of winning the urn Down Under took 1-4 beating. The five-Test series, which had 25 playing days, was decided in just 11 days with five of those coming in the last Test in Sydney. In the aftermath, England Cricket Board (ECB) has launched a full review of the tour. Head coach Brendon McCullum's position, which came under intense scrutiny mid-way in the series, appears to be safe for the time being. Skipper Ben Stokes, who found himself at the wrong end of discussions, has also thrown full backing to the coach. Ashes aftermath: What ECB, McCullum, and Stokes said Speaking on the performance of the team, ECB chief executive Richard Gould, in a statement, has assued of making "necessary changes" after the throrough review of England's "tour planning and preparation, individual performance and behaviours, and our ability to adapt and respond effectively as circumstances require." Head coach McCullum, meanwhile, has accepted there are "some areas where you want to keep improving, and some areas where you think you can evolve." "From my point of view, I'll look at it individually and say, 'Right, what could I have done better?' and 'What could I improve on?' Am I for being told what to do? Of course I'm not," he added while talking on BBC. Skipper Stokes, however, has thrown his full support behind the coach. "It's not my decision [but] I'm sure if something ever comes to it, I'll be asked my opinion and he'll be getting my full support and backing," Stokes said. What next for England? England's next assignment is white-ball tour of Sri Lanka before they head into the T20 World Cup 2026 which begins February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. McCullum, who has two more years on his contract, is also the white-ball coach and the upcoming ICC event will could be an important one for him.

The five-Test series, which had 25 playing days, was decided in just 11 days with five of those coming in the last Test in Sydney with England losing 1-4, winning the only Test in Melbourne.

End of bazball? ECB vows to make ‘necessary changes.’ What it means for McCullum and Stokes

World number one Aryna Sabalenka accused tennis authorities on Thursday (Jan 8) of failing to put player welfare first over what she called an "insane" tennis season. Speaking at the year-opening Brisbane International, the Belarusian said she was prepared to be fined for missing mandatory tournaments in the months ahead. The number of events in the tennis calendar has been a frequent complaint in recent months among the sport's biggest names.&nbsp;Men's world number one Carlos Alcaraz is another to have voiced concern about the amount of tennis he plays, although he has also signed up to feature in lucrative exhibition matches. He faces great rival Jannik Sinner in one such event on Saturday in South Korea, barely a week before the Australian Open.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sexual-assault-allegations-against-coach-fir-filed-in-faridabad-over-threats-to-national-shooter-1767814149847">Sexual assault allegations against coach: FIR filed in Faridabad over threats to national shooter</a>&nbsp;"The season is definitely insane, and that's not good for all of us, as you see so many players getting injured and also the balls are quite heavy, so it's a lot of struggle for all of us," four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said. “The rules are quite tricky with mandatory events, but I'm still doing that, I'm skipping a couple of events in order to protect my body because I struggled a lot last season.”&nbsp;She added, "So this season we will try to manage it a little bit better, even though they are going to fine me by the end of the season.&nbsp;"I think they just follow their interests," she said. "But they're not focusing on protecting all of us."&nbsp;There was no immediate response from the WTA Tour.&nbsp;However, in a statement to AFP in October, it said that "athlete welfare is always a top priority".&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.&nbsp;

The number of events in the tennis calendar has been a frequent complaint in recent months among the sport's biggest names, including Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka accused tennis authorities on Thursday (Jan 8) of failing to put player welfare first over what she called an "insane" tennis season. Speaking at the year-opening Brisbane International, the Belarusian said she was prepared to be fined for missing mandatory tournaments in the months ahead. The number of events in the tennis calendar has been a frequent complaint in recent months among the sport's biggest names. Men's world number one Carlos Alcaraz is another to have voiced concern about the amount of tennis he plays, although he has also signed up to feature in lucrative exhibition matches. He faces great rival Jannik Sinner in one such event on Saturday in South Korea, barely a week before the Australian Open. Also read | Sexual assault allegations against coach: FIR filed in Faridabad over threats to national shooter "The season is definitely insane, and that's not good for all of us, as you see so many players getting injured and also the balls are quite heavy, so it's a lot of struggle for all of us," four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said. “The rules are quite tricky with mandatory events, but I'm still doing that, I'm skipping a couple of events in order to protect my body because I struggled a lot last season.” She added, "So this season we will try to manage it a little bit better, even though they are going to fine me by the end of the season. "I think they just follow their interests," she said. "But they're not focusing on protecting all of us." There was no immediate response from the WTA Tour. However, in a statement to AFP in October, it said that "athlete welfare is always a top priority". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The number of events in the tennis calendar has been a frequent complaint in recent months among the sport's biggest names, including Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz.

Sabalenka accuses tour chiefs of failing to put players’ welfare over ‘insane’ schedule

Bangladesh is not ready to settle with ICC’s latest verdict on their request for a venue change at the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup. The country’s sports advisor, Asif Nazrul, has doubled down on BCB’s request to move Bangladesh’s league stage matches out of India (to Sri Lanka), citing security concerns. Asif said the BCB would chase the apex body, trying to convince them of the gravity of the issue, related to its players’ safety and ‘country’s dignity’ – something they are unwilling to compromise an inch on.&nbsp;After the ICC rejected BCB’s plea of staging their matches in Sri Lanka, the co-host of the 20-team tournament, Asif said, "Today (on Wednesday), after reading the letter from the ICC, we understand that the ICC doesn't fully realise the scale of the security issue regarding Bangladeshi cricketers in India.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I believe it's not only a matter of security but also that of national humiliation. We are looking at it as a security issue, where the BCCI itself is telling the Kolkata [Knight Riders] team that this player can't be given security, [so] leave him out from your team. This in itself is a tacit recognition that it isn't very safe to play in India,” he added.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bangladesh-not-first-6-teams-which-refused-to-play-at-allotted-venue-in-an-icc-event-india-australia-wi-nz-england-zimbabwe-1767795019341">Bangladesh not first - 6 teams which refused to play at allotted venue in an ICC event</a> &nbsp;In the now-released ICC schedule, Bangladesh will play their first three league matches in Kolkata before moving south to Mumbai for their last group game. Although there were no concerns around it at the start, it all became an issue after the BCCI instructed the IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, to release Bangladeshi seamer Mustafizur Rahman (bought at the December auction for INR 9.2 crore) over recent chaos in Bangladesh and regular attacks on the minorities. &nbsp;While ‘latest developments’ across the border did hurt the relations between the two countries, not receiving a proper and reasonable explanation (from the BCCI) over Mustafizur’s release irked BCB and cricket fans, which further escalated the situation.&nbsp; &nbsp;The BCB first banned all IPL-related broadcasts in the country before formally writing to the ICC, raising their concerns. Now, while reverting to ICC’s decision, the BCB said they will continue ‘constructive engagement’ to find a solution, also reiterating its intentions not to play in India.&nbsp;&nbsp;"We don't want to say anything about the bigger picture, the communal situation in India," Nazrul said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.&nbsp; &nbsp;"But when it comes to our cricketers' safety, Bangladesh's safety, and Bangladesh's dignity, we won't make any compromise. We want to play cricket, we want to play the World Cup - but we want to play in Sri Lanka, which is the other host country. We are honouring our position on this because we hope we are able to convince the ICC, and that the ICC considers our logic with an open heart, and neutrally, to let us deservingly play in the World Cup. &nbsp;"Whatever happens next, we'll take a stand accordingly. For now, we have taken this stand very clearly that we'll convince the ICC that the atmosphere isn't [right] for us to play in India,” he added.

Bangladesh's sports advisor said the BCB would chase ICC, trying to convince them of the gravity of this issue, related to its players’ safety and ‘country’s dignity’ – something they are unwilling to compromise an inch on.

Bangladesh is not ready to settle with ICC’s latest verdict on their request for a venue change at the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup. The country’s sports advisor, Asif Nazrul, has doubled down on BCB’s request to move Bangladesh’s league stage matches out of India (to Sri Lanka), citing security concerns. Asif said the BCB would chase the apex body, trying to convince them of the gravity of the issue, related to its players’ safety and ‘country’s dignity’ – something they are unwilling to compromise an inch on. After the ICC rejected BCB’s plea of staging their matches in Sri Lanka, the co-host of the 20-team tournament, Asif said, "Today (on Wednesday), after reading the letter from the ICC, we understand that the ICC doesn't fully realise the scale of the security issue regarding Bangladeshi cricketers in India. "I believe it's not only a matter of security but also that of national humiliation. We are looking at it as a security issue, where the BCCI itself is telling the Kolkata [Knight Riders] team that this player can't be given security, [so] leave him out from your team. This in itself is a tacit recognition that it isn't very safe to play in India,” he added. Also read | Bangladesh not first - 6 teams which refused to play at allotted venue in an ICC event In the now-released ICC schedule, Bangladesh will play their first three league matches in Kolkata before moving south to Mumbai for their last group game. Although there were no concerns around it at the start, it all became an issue after the BCCI instructed the IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, to release Bangladeshi seamer Mustafizur Rahman (bought at the December auction for INR 9.2 crore) over recent chaos in Bangladesh and regular attacks on the minorities. While ‘latest developments’ across the border did hurt the relations between the two countries, not receiving a proper and reasonable explanation (from the BCCI) over Mustafizur’s release irked BCB and cricket fans, which further escalated the situation. The BCB first banned all IPL-related broadcasts in the country before formally writing to the ICC, raising their concerns. Now, while reverting to ICC’s decision, the BCB said they will continue ‘constructive engagement’ to find a solution, also reiterating its intentions not to play in India. "We don't want to say anything about the bigger picture, the communal situation in India," Nazrul said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. "But when it comes to our cricketers' safety, Bangladesh's safety, and Bangladesh's dignity, we won't make any compromise. We want to play cricket, we want to play the World Cup - but we want to play in Sri Lanka, which is the other host country. We are honouring our position on this because we hope we are able to convince the ICC, and that the ICC considers our logic with an open heart, and neutrally, to let us deservingly play in the World Cup. "Whatever happens next, we'll take a stand accordingly. For now, we have taken this stand very clearly that we'll convince the ICC that the atmosphere isn't [right] for us to play in India,” he added.

Bangladesh's sports advisor said the BCB would chase ICC, trying to convince them of the gravity of this issue, related to its players’ safety and ‘country’s dignity’ – something they are unwilling to compromise an inch on.

‘No compromise with Bangladesh’s dignity,’ BCB on not travelling to India for T20 World Cup

Riding high on Bazball’s success under the leadership of coach Brendon McCullum and Test captain Ben Stokes, England gave themselves the best chance to beat Australia this time; however, what transpired over the past two months exposed the disparity in quality between both teams. While Australia missed most of their first-team bowlers due to respective injuries, England had (at least) all available for selection for the first two Tests, which ended inside six days. England captain Ben Stokes said on Thursday (Jan 8) that there were a lot of "wrongs to put right" after a crushing 4-1 Ashes series defeat to Australia, while also dismissing talks around relinquishing Test captaincy. &nbsp;England arrived for their long tour in November confident of a first series win in Australia since 2010-11. But they quickly imploded, despite facing a depleted attack missing key quicks Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. &nbsp;A two-day defeat in Perth by eight wickets and another by the same margin at the pink-ball clash in Brisbane left them reeling and in the firing line at home. An 82-run loss in Adelaide meant the Ashes were over within three Tests, with England's ultra-aggressive "Bazball" style ruthlessly exposed by the Australian conditions. Stokes, who was a standout for England and intends to carry on as captain, acknowledged they were beaten by the better side. &nbsp;"Australia is a great team, they play incredible cricket, they have some outstanding bowlers, so we have to give them a lot of credit," he said after losing the fifth and final Test in Sydney by five wickets.<h3>‘We could have played much better’</h3>England at least won the fourth Test in Melbourne to avoid a whitewash.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/weakest-australian-team-beat-strongest-english-side-internet-reacts-to-ashes-2025-26-result-1767848793836">‘Weakest’ Australian team beat ‘strongest’ English side: Internet reacts to Ashes result</a> &nbsp;"We could have played much better than what we did," Stokes added. "The time for reflection is not right now. We've got a long time away to reflect on it. Come June, when we next play (Tests), hopefully we can put the wrongs right." &nbsp;Despite the bitter series defeat, there were some bright lights for England, who lost fast bowlers Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson to injury at various points. Seamer Josh Tongue came in and was admirable, while 22-year-old Jacob Bethell produced a magnificent 154 in Sydney after replacing the out-of-form Ollie Pope. &nbsp;"Incredible for Beth to get his opportunity in the last game of the series," said Stokes. "To come out in the fifth game of the series and the way he batted was a terrific effort. &nbsp;“Josh also put in his best and bowled really well, so we have good talents coming through.” &nbsp;England will face an inquisition when they get home, with coach Brendon McCullum's job in the spotlight. Stokes said he had no thoughts of relinquishing the captaincy, replying "absolutely" when asked if he was keen to carry on. &nbsp;"I have been in this role for four years now, and it has been a consistent team," he told the BBC. “I have a group of men that I have helped to find levels of ability to unlock. We need to put more pressure on everyone's shoulders.” &nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Ben Stokes dismissed talks around relinquishing Test captaincy after a crushing Ashes defeat but vowed to turn more ‘wrongs into right’. 

Riding high on Bazball’s success under the leadership of coach Brendon McCullum and Test captain Ben Stokes, England gave themselves the best chance to beat Australia this time; however, what transpired over the past two months exposed the disparity in quality between both teams. While Australia missed most of their first-team bowlers due to respective injuries, England had (at least) all available for selection for the first two Tests, which ended inside six days. England captain Ben Stokes said on Thursday (Jan 8) that there were a lot of "wrongs to put right" after a crushing 4-1 Ashes series defeat to Australia, while also dismissing talks around relinquishing Test captaincy. England arrived for their long tour in November confident of a first series win in Australia since 2010-11. But they quickly imploded, despite facing a depleted attack missing key quicks Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. A two-day defeat in Perth by eight wickets and another by the same margin at the pink-ball clash in Brisbane left them reeling and in the firing line at home. An 82-run loss in Adelaide meant the Ashes were over within three Tests, with England's ultra-aggressive "Bazball" style ruthlessly exposed by the Australian conditions. Stokes, who was a standout for England and intends to carry on as captain, acknowledged they were beaten by the better side. "Australia is a great team, they play incredible cricket, they have some outstanding bowlers, so we have to give them a lot of credit," he said after losing the fifth and final Test in Sydney by five wickets. ‘We could have played much better’ England at least won the fourth Test in Melbourne to avoid a whitewash. Also read | ‘Weakest’ Australian team beat ‘strongest’ English side: Internet reacts to Ashes result "We could have played much better than what we did," Stokes added. "The time for reflection is not right now. We've got a long time away to reflect on it. Come June, when we next play (Tests), hopefully we can put the wrongs right." Despite the bitter series defeat, there were some bright lights for England, who lost fast bowlers Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson to injury at various points. Seamer Josh Tongue came in and was admirable, while 22-year-old Jacob Bethell produced a magnificent 154 in Sydney after replacing the out-of-form Ollie Pope. "Incredible for Beth to get his opportunity in the last game of the series," said Stokes. "To come out in the fifth game of the series and the way he batted was a terrific effort. “Josh also put in his best and bowled really well, so we have good talents coming through.” England will face an inquisition when they get home, with coach Brendon McCullum's job in the spotlight. Stokes said he had no thoughts of relinquishing the captaincy, replying "absolutely" when asked if he was keen to carry on. "I have been in this role for four years now, and it has been a consistent team," he told the BBC. “I have a group of men that I have helped to find levels of ability to unlock. We need to put more pressure on everyone's shoulders.” (With inputs from AFP)

Ben Stokes dismissed talks around relinquishing Test captaincy after a crushing Ashes defeat but vowed to turn more ‘wrongs into right’.&nbsp;

Stokes dismisses quitting captaincy talks, vows to turn ‘wrongs to right’ after crushing Ashes beat

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Ashes: Stokes dismisses quitting captaincy talks, vows to turn ‘wrongs to right’