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Ishan Kishan returned to the Indian team as the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar announced the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup on Saturday (Dec 20). Much to the surprise, Shubman Gill, India’s T20 vice-captain in T20Is, was dropped alongside Jitesh Sharma in the 15-man squad. Ishan’s return to the T20I fold comes after he led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) win on Thursday.<h2>Gill, Jitesh dropped from India squad</h2>The announcement made on Saturday saw chief of selectors Agarkar and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia announce the squad for both the T20 World Cup and the New Zealand series. Gill, who was struggling for form, was dropped in favour of Sanju Samson, who excelled in his opener’s position on Friday in the final T20I against South Africa. Gill was also suffering from a minor injury but was expected to be fit for the series and the T20 World Cup.&nbsp;On the other hand, Jitesh’s exclusion comes after Ishan’s rise in the domestic circuit, as selectors clearly went for form. Samson and Ishan will be the team’s two wicketkeeper options, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer not even considered.&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>Rinku Singh back, Axar Patel to be vice-captain</h2>In an interesting choice, Rinku Singh returned to the fold despite being dropped from the South Africa series. However, needing back-up in the tail end of the innings, Rinku’s name came as a surprise inclusion. On the other hand, with Gill missing out, Axar Patel was given the vice-captain’s role and will act as deputy to Suryakumar Yadav.&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>India's squad for T20 World Cup and T20I series against New Zealand</h2>Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan.

Much to the surprise, Shubman Gill, India’s T20 vice-captain in T20Is, was dropped alongside Jitesh Sharma in the 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.  

Ishan Kishan returned to the Indian team as the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar announced the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup on Saturday (Dec 20). Much to the surprise, Shubman Gill, India’s T20 vice-captain in T20Is, was dropped alongside Jitesh Sharma in the 15-man squad. Ishan’s return to the T20I fold comes after he led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) win on Thursday. Gill, Jitesh dropped from India squad The announcement made on Saturday saw chief of selectors Agarkar and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia announce the squad for both the T20 World Cup and the New Zealand series. Gill, who was struggling for form, was dropped in favour of Sanju Samson, who excelled in his opener’s position on Friday in the final T20I against South Africa. Gill was also suffering from a minor injury but was expected to be fit for the series and the T20 World Cup. On the other hand, Jitesh’s exclusion comes after Ishan’s rise in the domestic circuit, as selectors clearly went for form. Samson and Ishan will be the team’s two wicketkeeper options, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer not even considered. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Rinku Singh back, Axar Patel to be vice-captain In an interesting choice, Rinku Singh returned to the fold despite being dropped from the South Africa series. However, needing back-up in the tail end of the innings, Rinku’s name came as a surprise inclusion. On the other hand, with Gill missing out, Axar Patel was given the vice-captain’s role and will act as deputy to Suryakumar Yadav. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes India's squad for T20 World Cup and T20I series against New Zealand Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan.

Much to the surprise, Shubman Gill, India’s T20 vice-captain in T20Is, was dropped alongside Jitesh Sharma in the 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. &nbsp;

T20 World Cup 2026: Ishan Kishan returns to Team India after SMAT heroics, Shubman Gill dropped amid poor form

Former India captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been picked in Mumbai and Delhi’s squads for the first two matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The BCCI has asked senior players to take part in domestic cricket to stay in the race for ODI selection. MCA secretary Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar told The Indian Express that Rohit Sharma has confirmed his availability for the first two matches. Rohit will join the Mumbai team in Jaipur on Dec 23. He further added that Jaiswal will inform the association once he is ready to play.&nbsp;“He informed us that he will be available to play the first two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches and he will be joining the Mumbai team on December 23 in Jaipur. As far as Jaiswal is concerned, he needs some more rest and he has told us that whenever he is fit, he will inform MCA," said Khanvilkar.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Delhi’s squad includes Virat Kohli, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, and fast bowlers Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini and Harshit Rana. Pant has been named captain, with Ayush Badoni as vice-captain.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ind-vs-sa-not-jasprit-bumrah-but-hardik-pandya-man-was-the-difference-says-proteas-coach-shukri-conrad-in-ahmedabad-1766206867001">IND vs SA: Not Bumrah, but THIS man was the difference, says Shukri Conrad</a>&nbsp;Mumbai will face Sikkim on Dec 24 and Uttarakhand on Dec 26 in Jaipur. On the same days, Delhi will play against Andhra and Gujarat in Bengaluru.&nbsp;Rohit and Kohli retired from T20 internationals after India won the 2024 World Cup and later stepped away from Test cricket after the 2024-25 Australia tour. Both have played only one Ranji Trophy match last season, Kohli for Delhi after 12 years and Rohit for Mumbai after 10 years. At present, they are only playing in ODIs.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-australia-edge-closer-to-retaining-ashes-as-england-survive-day-4-after-zak-crawley-s-resistance-1766214211735">Australia edge closer to retaining Ashes as England survive Day 4 after Zak Crawley's resistance</a><h2>Shami to lead Bengal's pace attack</h2>Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has been included in the Bengal squad after a strong comeback to domestic cricket this season. After returning from a long injury break, Shami has been in excellent form, taking 36 wickets across formats.&nbsp;&nbsp;Shami was especially impressive in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he was Bengal’s top wicket-taker. He picked up 16 wickets in seven matches, at an average of 14.93.<h2>Squads</h2>Delhi Squad: Rishabh Pant (C) Ayush Badoni V.C., Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini, Harshit Rana, Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Sarthak Ranjan, Priyansh Arya, Tejasvi Singh (WK), Nitish Rana, Hritik Shokeen, Harsh Tyagi, Simarjeet Singh, Prince Yadav, Divij Mehra, Ayush Doseja, Vaibhav Kandpal, Rohan Rana and Anuj Rawat&nbsp;Mumbai Squad: Shardul Thakur (C), Rohit Sharma, Ishan Mulchandani, Musheer Khan, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sarfaraz Khan, Siddhesh Lad, Chimay Sutar, Akash Anand, Hardik Tamore, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Onkar Tarmale, Sylvester Dsouza, Sairaj Patil and Suryansh Shedge&nbsp;Bengal Squad: Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Anustup Majumdar, Abishek Porel (WK), Sudip Kr Gharami, Sumanta Gupta, Sumit Nag (WK), Chandrahas Dash, Shahbaz Ahmed, Karan Lal, Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Sayan Ghosh, Ravi Kumar, Aamir Gani, Vishal Bhati and Ankit Mishra&nbsp;

Mumbai will face Sikkim on Dec 24 and Uttarakhand on Dec 26 in Jaipur. On the same days, Delhi will play against Andhra and Gujarat in Bengaluru.

Former India captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been picked in Mumbai and Delhi’s squads for the first two matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The BCCI has asked senior players to take part in domestic cricket to stay in the race for ODI selection. MCA secretary Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar told The Indian Express that Rohit Sharma has confirmed his availability for the first two matches. Rohit will join the Mumbai team in Jaipur on Dec 23. He further added that Jaiswal will inform the association once he is ready to play. “He informed us that he will be available to play the first two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches and he will be joining the Mumbai team on December 23 in Jaipur. As far as Jaiswal is concerned, he needs some more rest and he has told us that whenever he is fit, he will inform MCA," said Khanvilkar. Meanwhile, Delhi’s squad includes Virat Kohli, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, and fast bowlers Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini and Harshit Rana. Pant has been named captain, with Ayush Badoni as vice-captain. Also Read - IND vs SA: Not Bumrah, but THIS man was the difference, says Shukri Conrad Mumbai will face Sikkim on Dec 24 and Uttarakhand on Dec 26 in Jaipur. On the same days, Delhi will play against Andhra and Gujarat in Bengaluru. Rohit and Kohli retired from T20 internationals after India won the 2024 World Cup and later stepped away from Test cricket after the 2024-25 Australia tour. Both have played only one Ranji Trophy match last season, Kohli for Delhi after 12 years and Rohit for Mumbai after 10 years. At present, they are only playing in ODIs. Also Read - Australia edge closer to retaining Ashes as England survive Day 4 after Zak Crawley's resistance Shami to lead Bengal's pace attack Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has been included in the Bengal squad after a strong comeback to domestic cricket this season. After returning from a long injury break, Shami has been in excellent form, taking 36 wickets across formats. Shami was especially impressive in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he was Bengal’s top wicket-taker. He picked up 16 wickets in seven matches, at an average of 14.93. Squads Delhi Squad: Rishabh Pant (C) Ayush Badoni V.C., Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini, Harshit Rana, Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Sarthak Ranjan, Priyansh Arya, Tejasvi Singh (WK), Nitish Rana, Hritik Shokeen, Harsh Tyagi, Simarjeet Singh, Prince Yadav, Divij Mehra, Ayush Doseja, Vaibhav Kandpal, Rohan Rana and Anuj Rawat Mumbai Squad: Shardul Thakur (C), Rohit Sharma, Ishan Mulchandani, Musheer Khan, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sarfaraz Khan, Siddhesh Lad, Chimay Sutar, Akash Anand, Hardik Tamore, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Onkar Tarmale, Sylvester Dsouza, Sairaj Patil and Suryansh Shedge Bengal Squad: Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Anustup Majumdar, Abishek Porel (WK), Sudip Kr Gharami, Sumanta Gupta, Sumit Nag (WK), Chandrahas Dash, Shahbaz Ahmed, Karan Lal, Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Sayan Ghosh, Ravi Kumar, Aamir Gani, Vishal Bhati and Ankit Mishra

Mumbai will face Sikkim on Dec 24 and Uttarakhand on Dec 26 in Jaipur. On the same days, Delhi will play against Andhra and Gujarat in Bengaluru.

Rohit, Virat return to domestic circuit, named in Vijay Hazare Trophy squads

Australia have taken a giant step towards retaining the Ashes after a dominating Day 4 of the ongoing Adelaide Test on Saturday (Dec 20). Playing at the Adelaide Oval, Australia need four more wickets on Day 5 of the Test to win the Ashes 3-0 with two matches to go. At Stumps on Day 4, England closed at 207/6, needing 228 more runs to win. This comes after Australia were bowled out for 349 runs in their second innings in the opening session of Day 4.<h2>Australia on Ashes brink</h2>England lost Zak Crawley (85), Joe Root (39), Harry Brook (30), and Ben Stokes (5) in the final session, with Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins doing the damage. England must win to keep the five-match series alive after being crushed by eight wickets at Perth and Brisbane. Australia, as holders, only need a draw to retain the urn. With attendance over the first four days swelling to more than 200,000 -- a record for the Adelaide Oval, which has been hosting Tests since 1884 -- they faced a daunting task.&nbsp;No team has ever chased down more than 316 at the venue, while the biggest successful run chase in Test history was 418 by the West Indies against Australia at St. Johns in 2003. England took six wickets before lunch to wrap up Australia's second innings for 349, with Travis Head slamming 170 and Alex Carey 72.&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;It left them with 10 minutes to bat before the break, but disaster struck in the second over when Ben Duckett, on four, edged Cummins to Marnus Labuschagne at second slip. Number three, Ollie Pope has struggled all series and was widely seen as on his last chance with Jacob Bethell waiting in the wings.&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;He failed to deliver again, gone for 17 with Labuschagne taking a stunning one-handed catch at full stretch in the slips, again off Cummins. Watchful opener Crawley built a 78-run stand with Root, who needed a big score to save his side but had no answer to Cummins again. The Australian skipper removed him for a 13th time in Tests, more than any other bowler, with a furious Root berating himself after prodding at a full delivery and feathering to Carey.

Playing at the Adelaide Oval, Australia need four more wickets on Day 5 of the Test to win the Ashes 3-0 with two matches to go. At Stumps on Day 4, England closed at 207/6, needing 228 more runs to win. 

Australia have taken a giant step towards retaining the Ashes after a dominating Day 4 of the ongoing Adelaide Test on Saturday (Dec 20). Playing at the Adelaide Oval, Australia need four more wickets on Day 5 of the Test to win the Ashes 3-0 with two matches to go. At Stumps on Day 4, England closed at 207/6, needing 228 more runs to win. This comes after Australia were bowled out for 349 runs in their second innings in the opening session of Day 4. Australia on Ashes brink England lost Zak Crawley (85), Joe Root (39), Harry Brook (30), and Ben Stokes (5) in the final session, with Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins doing the damage. England must win to keep the five-match series alive after being crushed by eight wickets at Perth and Brisbane. Australia, as holders, only need a draw to retain the urn. With attendance over the first four days swelling to more than 200,000 -- a record for the Adelaide Oval, which has been hosting Tests since 1884 -- they faced a daunting task. No team has ever chased down more than 316 at the venue, while the biggest successful run chase in Test history was 418 by the West Indies against Australia at St. Johns in 2003. England took six wickets before lunch to wrap up Australia's second innings for 349, with Travis Head slamming 170 and Alex Carey 72. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes It left them with 10 minutes to bat before the break, but disaster struck in the second over when Ben Duckett, on four, edged Cummins to Marnus Labuschagne at second slip. Number three, Ollie Pope has struggled all series and was widely seen as on his last chance with Jacob Bethell waiting in the wings. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes He failed to deliver again, gone for 17 with Labuschagne taking a stunning one-handed catch at full stretch in the slips, again off Cummins. Watchful opener Crawley built a 78-run stand with Root, who needed a big score to save his side but had no answer to Cummins again. The Australian skipper removed him for a 13th time in Tests, more than any other bowler, with a furious Root berating himself after prodding at a full delivery and feathering to Carey.

Playing at the Adelaide Oval, Australia need four more wickets on Day 5 of the Test to win the Ashes 3-0 with two matches to go. At Stumps on Day 4, England closed at 207/6, needing 228 more runs to win.&nbsp;

Australia edge closer to retaining Ashes as England survive Day 4 after Zak Crawley's resistance

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in their controversial Netflix-backed bout in Miami on Friday.&nbsp;The fight at the Kaseya Center, which saw both men reportedly splitting a mammoth purse of $184 million, had triggered alarm across boxing due to the gulf in physical size and class between Britain's two-time former world champion Joshua and Paul, an internet personality who has forged a lucrative career through a handful of novelty boxing contests.&nbsp;In the event, however, Joshua made hard work of defeating his vastly less accomplished opponent, before his superior size and power eventually told in the later stages of the eight-round fight, with a sixth-round knockout.&nbsp;A lackluster contest descended into farce at times, with Paul repeatedly dropping to the canvas and grappling at Joshua's legs.&nbsp;At one stage even referee Christopher Young appeared to be losing patience, warning the fighters in the fourth round: "The fans did not pay to see this crap."&nbsp;As Paul tired, the 6ft 6in (1.85m) tall Joshua began to land punches with more regularity, and after knocking down the 6ft 1in American twice in the fifth round, the end came swiftly in the sixth.&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;Joshua backed the 28-year-old into a corner and, after teeing up Paul with a crunching left, delivered the knockout blow with a right to the chin that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.&nbsp;"It wasn't the best performance," Joshua, 36, admitted afterwards. "But the end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him.&nbsp;"That was the request leading up, and that was on my mind. It took a bit longer than expected but the right hand finally found its destination."&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>Praise for Paul</h2>Joshua meanwhile praised Paul for lasting into the later rounds.&nbsp;"I want to give him his props -- he got up time and time again," Joshua said. "It was difficult in there for him, but he kept on trying to find a way. It takes a real man to do that."&nbsp;Paul, meanwhile, his mouth bloodied from Joshua's final assault, said he believed his jaw had been broken -- but was satisfied with his performance.&nbsp;"That was fun. I gave it my all," Paul said. "I had a blast. I think my jaw is broken by the way. But Anthony's one of the best to ever do it so. I'm gonna come back and get a world championship.&nbsp;"I just got tired to be honest -- like it was so much handling his weight. I think with better cardio I could have kept it up and kept on fighting. But he hits really hard."&nbsp;Friday's made-for-streaming contest, which came just over a year after Paul had fought a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a much-derided Netflix fight, had been widely panned throughout boxing, with many warning that Paul risked serious injury.&nbsp;Yet the devastating first or second round knockout by Joshua that most had predicted failed to materialize as Paul scrambled desperately to stay outside of the 2012 Olympic champion Joshua's range.&nbsp;Joshua, fighting for the first time in 15 months, always looked the more threatening fighter, landing 48 of 146 punches thrown compared to Paul's meagre total of 16 punches landed.&nbsp;The Briton is now turning his attention towards a money-spinning bout against compatriot and fellow former world champion Tyson Fury next year.&nbsp;"We shook off the cobwebs and I can't wait to roll into 2026," Joshua said. "And if Tyson Fury is as serious as he thinks he is, let's put on some gloves and fight." 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.

Anthony Joshua backed the 28-year-old into a corner and, after teeing up Jake Paul with a crunching left, delivered the knockout blow with a right to the chin that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in their controversial Netflix-backed bout in Miami on Friday. The fight at the Kaseya Center, which saw both men reportedly splitting a mammoth purse of $184 million, had triggered alarm across boxing due to the gulf in physical size and class between Britain's two-time former world champion Joshua and Paul, an internet personality who has forged a lucrative career through a handful of novelty boxing contests. In the event, however, Joshua made hard work of defeating his vastly less accomplished opponent, before his superior size and power eventually told in the later stages of the eight-round fight, with a sixth-round knockout. A lackluster contest descended into farce at times, with Paul repeatedly dropping to the canvas and grappling at Joshua's legs. At one stage even referee Christopher Young appeared to be losing patience, warning the fighters in the fourth round: "The fans did not pay to see this crap." As Paul tired, the 6ft 6in (1.85m) tall Joshua began to land punches with more regularity, and after knocking down the 6ft 1in American twice in the fifth round, the end came swiftly in the sixth. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Joshua backed the 28-year-old into a corner and, after teeing up Paul with a crunching left, delivered the knockout blow with a right to the chin that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas. "It wasn't the best performance," Joshua, 36, admitted afterwards. "But the end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him. "That was the request leading up, and that was on my mind. It took a bit longer than expected but the right hand finally found its destination." ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Praise for Paul Joshua meanwhile praised Paul for lasting into the later rounds. "I want to give him his props -- he got up time and time again," Joshua said. "It was difficult in there for him, but he kept on trying to find a way. It takes a real man to do that." Paul, meanwhile, his mouth bloodied from Joshua's final assault, said he believed his jaw had been broken -- but was satisfied with his performance. "That was fun. I gave it my all," Paul said. "I had a blast. I think my jaw is broken by the way. But Anthony's one of the best to ever do it so. I'm gonna come back and get a world championship. "I just got tired to be honest -- like it was so much handling his weight. I think with better cardio I could have kept it up and kept on fighting. But he hits really hard." Friday's made-for-streaming contest, which came just over a year after Paul had fought a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a much-derided Netflix fight, had been widely panned throughout boxing, with many warning that Paul risked serious injury. Yet the devastating first or second round knockout by Joshua that most had predicted failed to materialize as Paul scrambled desperately to stay outside of the 2012 Olympic champion Joshua's range. Joshua, fighting for the first time in 15 months, always looked the more threatening fighter, landing 48 of 146 punches thrown compared to Paul's meagre total of 16 punches landed. The Briton is now turning his attention towards a money-spinning bout against compatriot and fellow former world champion Tyson Fury next year. "We shook off the cobwebs and I can't wait to roll into 2026," Joshua said. "And if Tyson Fury is as serious as he thinks he is, let's put on some gloves and fight." 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.

Anthony Joshua backed the 28-year-old into a corner and, after teeing up Jake Paul with a crunching left, delivered the knockout blow with a right to the chin that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.

Anthony Joshua knocks out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul to win boxing bout

South Africa coach Shukri Conrad was full of praise for the Indian team after they pocketed the T20I series 3-1 with a 30-run win in Ahmedabad on Friday (Dec 19). Playing at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, India won after the heroics of Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma; however, Conrad was in awe of Hardik Pandya, who played a match-winning knock. According to the Proteas coach, Hardik was the difference-maker for the hosts and will be a key weapon for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.<h2>Conrad in awe of Hardik</h2>“If I were brutally honest, in taking nothing away from Bumrah, I think Hardik’s been the difference between the two teams. I think his knock tonight was the difference between us winning and losing. I think he played a knock in the first one as well, where he just walked in, and we had him in a little bit of trouble,” Conrad said after the match.&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;Pandya led India's batting assault with his 16-ball 50 to set up a 30-run win over South Africa and clinch the series 3-1 in the fifth T20 on Friday. A punishing 105-run fourth partnership between Pandya, who hammered 63 off 25 balls, and Tilak Varma (73) swept India to 231-5 at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.&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;In reply, South Africa started strongly thanks to a 35-ball 65 by Quinton de Kock, who played his 100th T20 for the national team, but the opener's departure triggered a collapse, and the Proteas ended on 201-8.&nbsp;The win sealed India's eighth consecutive T20 series triumph, a streak that began in December 2023. South Africa began the tour with a stunning 2-0 triumph in the Test series, but the white-ball contests proved disappointing as they also lost the one-day series 2-1.

Playing at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, India won after the heroics of Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma; however, Shukri Conrad was in awe of Hardik Pandya, who played a match-winning knock.

South Africa coach Shukri Conrad was full of praise for the Indian team after they pocketed the T20I series 3-1 with a 30-run win in Ahmedabad on Friday (Dec 19). Playing at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, India won after the heroics of Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma; however, Conrad was in awe of Hardik Pandya, who played a match-winning knock. According to the Proteas coach, Hardik was the difference-maker for the hosts and will be a key weapon for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Conrad in awe of Hardik “If I were brutally honest, in taking nothing away from Bumrah, I think Hardik’s been the difference between the two teams. I think his knock tonight was the difference between us winning and losing. I think he played a knock in the first one as well, where he just walked in, and we had him in a little bit of trouble,” Conrad said after the match. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Pandya led India's batting assault with his 16-ball 50 to set up a 30-run win over South Africa and clinch the series 3-1 in the fifth T20 on Friday. A punishing 105-run fourth partnership between Pandya, who hammered 63 off 25 balls, and Tilak Varma (73) swept India to 231-5 at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes In reply, South Africa started strongly thanks to a 35-ball 65 by Quinton de Kock, who played his 100th T20 for the national team, but the opener's departure triggered a collapse, and the Proteas ended on 201-8. The win sealed India's eighth consecutive T20 series triumph, a streak that began in December 2023. South Africa began the tour with a stunning 2-0 triumph in the Test series, but the white-ball contests proved disappointing as they also lost the one-day series 2-1.

Playing at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, India won after the heroics of Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma; however, Shukri Conrad was in awe of Hardik Pandya, who played a match-winning knock.

IND vs SA: Not Bumrah, but THIS man was the difference, says Proteas coach Shukri Conrad in Ahmedabad

Former India player and commentator Robin Uthappa has backed India to defend its T20 World Cup title as they face stern competition ahead of the tournament. India, which won the 2024 T20 World Cup going undefeated in the edition, will enter the latest tournament under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav. JioStar expert Robin Uthappa has backed the Men in Blue to win the World Cup, comparing them to the Women’s team as 50 days remain until the start of the 2026 T20 World Cup.<h2>Can India break the hosts' jinx?</h2>“We’ve broken the host curse before, with the Women’s World Cup, and I believe India can do it again. It’s possible when everything aligns: team unity, playing for each other, building camaraderie during the tournament, and sheer collective desire to win,” Uthappa said while speaking in JioStar Press Room.&nbsp;No team in the history of the T20 World Cup has won the tournament on home soil, with Sri Lanka being the closest in 2012 when they lost to the West Indies. According to Uthappa, India have all the necessary tools in the arsenal to win the T20 World Cup.<h2>When is the squad announcement?</h2>The selection committee, led by Agarkar, will have a huge call to make on Saturday (Dec 20) with eyes firmly on a few big names, including Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer. “India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad will be announced on Saturday with the same squad being named for the New Zealand series,” a BCCI source told WION.&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 is one of the favourites to win the World Cup, with home advantage being a crucial factor. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is expected to travel to Mumbai overnight with India playing in the final T20I against South Africa on Friday. Gill, despite struggling with form and injury, is expected to be picked up, while Rinku Singh, who was dropped from the South Africa series, will face an anxious wait.&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 bowling department will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to be available for the series and the World Cup. He played a key role in India’s triumph at the T20 World Cup in 2024 alongside Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel.&nbsp;Catch all the reactions from India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad announcement, on December 20, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

India is one of the favourites to win the World Cup, with home advantage being a crucial factor. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is expected to travel to Mumbai overnight with India playing in the final T20I against South Africa on Friday.

Former India player and commentator Robin Uthappa has backed India to defend its T20 World Cup title as they face stern competition ahead of the tournament. India, which won the 2024 T20 World Cup going undefeated in the edition, will enter the latest tournament under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav. JioStar expert Robin Uthappa has backed the Men in Blue to win the World Cup, comparing them to the Women’s team as 50 days remain until the start of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Can India break the hosts' jinx? “We’ve broken the host curse before, with the Women’s World Cup, and I believe India can do it again. It’s possible when everything aligns: team unity, playing for each other, building camaraderie during the tournament, and sheer collective desire to win,” Uthappa said while speaking in JioStar Press Room. No team in the history of the T20 World Cup has won the tournament on home soil, with Sri Lanka being the closest in 2012 when they lost to the West Indies. According to Uthappa, India have all the necessary tools in the arsenal to win the T20 World Cup. When is the squad announcement? The selection committee, led by Agarkar, will have a huge call to make on Saturday (Dec 20) with eyes firmly on a few big names, including Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer. “India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad will be announced on Saturday with the same squad being named for the New Zealand series,” a BCCI source told WION. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes India is one of the favourites to win the World Cup, with home advantage being a crucial factor. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is expected to travel to Mumbai overnight with India playing in the final T20I against South Africa on Friday. Gill, despite struggling with form and injury, is expected to be picked up, while Rinku Singh, who was dropped from the South Africa series, will face an anxious wait. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes The bowling department will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to be available for the series and the World Cup. He played a key role in India’s triumph at the T20 World Cup in 2024 alongside Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel. Catch all the reactions from India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad announcement, on December 20, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

India is one of the favourites to win the World Cup, with home advantage being a crucial factor. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is expected to travel to Mumbai overnight with India playing in the final T20I against South Africa on Friday.

'We’ve broken the host curse before': Robin Uthappa backs India to defend T20 World Cup on home soil

Goals from Julian Brandt and Maximilian Beier lifted Borussia Dortmund to a nervy 2-0 home win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday and up to second in the Bundesliga table.&nbsp;Brandt's early strike put Dortmund ahead but the hosts, who have dropped a number of points from winning positions this season, once again struggled with the lead.&nbsp;Gladbach's teenage midfielder Wael Mohya forced a reflex save from Dortmund 'keeper Gregor Kobel with 10 minutes remaining, before Beier sealed the victory deep into stoppage time.&nbsp;"It felt good to score a late goal of our own this time and not concede an equaliser," Brandt said to Sky Germany.&nbsp;"A lot of games have ended in draws, so it was extremely important for us to win."&nbsp;The victory took Dortmund six points behind leaders Bayern Munich and three clear of third-placed RB Leipzig, who can return to second with a win at home against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.&nbsp;Dortmund coach Niko Kovac praised his side, saying: "We had a short summer break because of the Club World Cup, but we came out of it well.&nbsp;"Of course we'd like to have a few more points, but I think the team is fighting hard."Dortmund came into the match having won 18 of their past 19 home meetings with Gladbach.&nbsp;Former Dortmund midfielder and United States international Gio Reyna returned to the Westfalenstadion for the first time since joining Gladbach in the summer.&nbsp;Handed just his second league start of the season, defender Niklas Suele created Dortmund's opener, drifting in a cross for Brandt to volley home 10 minutes in.&nbsp;The goal was the in-form Brandt's fourth in his past three games.&nbsp;Often criticised for his fitness and workrate, Suele was then on the spot to snuff out a Florian Neuhaus shot with an excellent challenge late in the opening half.&nbsp;Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, with just one goal in his past 10 league games, looked to have broken through when he had the ball in the net just after the break but was offside.&nbsp;Having made his senior debut last week, Gladbach's 16-year-old midfielder Mohya almost levelled right after coming on, but his shot was diverted over the crossbar by Kobel.&nbsp;In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Beier -- who had missed a golden chance minutes earlier -- was set up by fellow substitute Fabio Silva, tapping in from close range to wrap up the match for the hosts.&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.

Julian Brandt's early strike put Borussia Dortmund ahead but the hosts, who have dropped a number of points from winning positions this season, once again struggled with the lead.

Goals from Julian Brandt and Maximilian Beier lifted Borussia Dortmund to a nervy 2-0 home win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday and up to second in the Bundesliga table. Brandt's early strike put Dortmund ahead but the hosts, who have dropped a number of points from winning positions this season, once again struggled with the lead. Gladbach's teenage midfielder Wael Mohya forced a reflex save from Dortmund 'keeper Gregor Kobel with 10 minutes remaining, before Beier sealed the victory deep into stoppage time. "It felt good to score a late goal of our own this time and not concede an equaliser," Brandt said to Sky Germany. "A lot of games have ended in draws, so it was extremely important for us to win." The victory took Dortmund six points behind leaders Bayern Munich and three clear of third-placed RB Leipzig, who can return to second with a win at home against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. Dortmund coach Niko Kovac praised his side, saying: "We had a short summer break because of the Club World Cup, but we came out of it well. "Of course we'd like to have a few more points, but I think the team is fighting hard." Dortmund came into the match having won 18 of their past 19 home meetings with Gladbach. Former Dortmund midfielder and United States international Gio Reyna returned to the Westfalenstadion for the first time since joining Gladbach in the summer. Handed just his second league start of the season, defender Niklas Suele created Dortmund's opener, drifting in a cross for Brandt to volley home 10 minutes in. The goal was the in-form Brandt's fourth in his past three games. Often criticised for his fitness and workrate, Suele was then on the spot to snuff out a Florian Neuhaus shot with an excellent challenge late in the opening half. Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, with just one goal in his past 10 league games, looked to have broken through when he had the ball in the net just after the break but was offside. Having made his senior debut last week, Gladbach's 16-year-old midfielder Mohya almost levelled right after coming on, but his shot was diverted over the crossbar by Kobel. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Beier -- who had missed a golden chance minutes earlier -- was set up by fellow substitute Fabio Silva, tapping in from close range to wrap up the match for the hosts. 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.

Julian Brandt's early strike put Borussia Dortmund ahead but the hosts, who have dropped a number of points from winning positions this season, once again struggled with the lead.

Bundesliga: Julian Brandt, Maximilian Beier send Borussia Dortmund second after nervy home

Stan Wawrinka says the 2026 season will be his last as the three-time Grand Slam singles champion aims to finish his career "on the best note possible".&nbsp;"Every book needs an ending. It's time to write the final chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. 2026 will be my last year on tour," Wawrinka posted Friday on social media.&nbsp;Wawrinka, who turns 41 in March, won the Australian Open in 2014, the French Open a year later and the US Open in 2016, at a time when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were dominating men's tennis.&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;He has 16 career ATP titles although the last came in Geneva in 2017.&nbsp;Wawrinka reached a high of third in the world in 2014, but he has struggled with injuries in past years and is now ranked 157th.&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;His 582 tour-level wins are fourth most among active players, just behind Gael Monfils, who also plans to retire at the end of next year.&nbsp;Wawrinka won Olympic gold in doubles alongside Federer at Beijing in 2008 and helped deliver a first Davis Cup triumph for Switzerland in 2014.&nbsp;He is due to begin his final season in Perth at the United Cup, which starts on January 2.&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.

Stanislas Wawrinka reached a high of third in the world in 2014, but he has struggled with injuries in past years and is now ranked 157th.

Stan Wawrinka says the 2026 season will be his last as the three-time Grand Slam singles champion aims to finish his career "on the best note possible". "Every book needs an ending. It's time to write the final chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. 2026 will be my last year on tour," Wawrinka posted Friday on social media. Wawrinka, who turns 41 in March, won the Australian Open in 2014, the French Open a year later and the US Open in 2016, at a time when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were dominating men's tennis. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes He has 16 career ATP titles although the last came in Geneva in 2017. Wawrinka reached a high of third in the world in 2014, but he has struggled with injuries in past years and is now ranked 157th. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes His 582 tour-level wins are fourth most among active players, just behind Gael Monfils, who also plans to retire at the end of next year. Wawrinka won Olympic gold in doubles alongside Federer at Beijing in 2008 and helped deliver a first Davis Cup triumph for Switzerland in 2014. He is due to begin his final season in Perth at the United Cup, which starts on January 2. 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.

Stanislas Wawrinka reached a high of third in the world in 2014, but he has struggled with injuries in past years and is now ranked 157th.

Three-time Grand Slam winner Stanislas Wawrinka to retire in 2026

In a night packed with momentum swings and nervous energy, the World Tennis League delivered its most gripping contest yet. The Game Changers Falcons and the Aussie Mavericks Kites went toe-to-toe for a place in Saturday’s final, but it was India’s rising star Dhakshineswar Suresh who seized the moment. Representing the Kites, Suresh stunned Grand Slam winner Daniil Medvedev 6-4 in the concluding set, sealing his team’s dramatic surge into the championship match. The Kites, who began the day anchored to the bottom of the table, produced an astonishing turnaround to beat the Falcons 24-19 and clinch second place with 58 points. Waiting for them in the decider are the AOS Eagles, who cruised past VB Realty Hawks 22-12 to finish atop the standings with 65 points.&nbsp;The evening also carried a strong emotional current, as India’s doubles legend Rohan Bopanna played what could be his final match on home soil. Teaming up with Medvedev for the Falcons, he battled Nick Kyrgios and Suresh in a high-voltage doubles duel, edging out the Kites pair 7-6. In its first edition on Indian soil, the World Tennis League has attracted marquee global names to Bengaluru. Yet, Day 3 belonged to the homegrown talent. Sumit Nagal, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, and Suresh drew the loudest cheers at the SM Krishna Stadium, each delivering standout performances.&nbsp;Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, tennis's fan-favorite couple, kicked off Friday’s action but found themselves competing on opposite sides in mixed doubles. Svitolina and Yuki Bhambri, representing the Hawks, edged out Monfils and Shrivalli 6-4 in a high-energy opener. India’s No. 1 singles player, Nagal, then swung the pendulum firmly in the Falcons’ favour. Playing with fierce intent, the 28-year-old overpowered Wimbledon finalist Denis Shapovalov 6-1, giving his side a crucial push.&nbsp;Shrivalli, who had spent the first two days rallying her teammates from the sidelines, embraced the spotlight with poise. After a spirited mixed doubles showing, she took on Rafa Nadal Academy prodigy Maaya and dominated the contest 6-2 with crisp, fearless ball-striking. She later paired with Paula Badosa to defeat Svitolina and Maaya 6-3. Badosa, impressed by Shrivalli’s composure and firepower, didn’t hold back her praise.&nbsp;“India, you have a future star here,” the Australian Open semi-finalist told the Bengaluru crowd. “She was our driving force today. From the first session we hit together, I knew she had the game.” The Kites’ push toward the final had begun earlier in the day when Marta Kostyuk overcame Magda Linette 6-4. Winning three of the four sets, the Kites leapfrogged both the Falcons and Hawks to clinch the last championship berth.<h2>Results</h2>AOS Eagles 22-12 VB Realty HawksYuki Bhambri-Elina Svitolina (Hawks) bt Gael Monfils-Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (Eagles) 6-4; Sumit Nagal (Eagles) bt Denis Shapovalov (Hawks) 6-1; Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (Eagles) bt Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi (Hawks) 6-2; Shrivalli Bhamidipaty-Paula Badosa (Eagles) bt Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi-Elina Svitolina (Hawks) 6-3&nbsp;Aussie Maverick Kites 24-19 Game Changer FalconsMarta Kostyuk (Kites) bt Magda Linette (Falcons) 6-4; Marta Kostyuk-Dhakshineswar Suresh (Kites) bt Sahaja Yamalapalli-Rohan Bopanna 6-4; Rohan Bopanna-Daniil Medvedev (Falcons) bt Dhakshineswar Suresh-Nick Kyrgios (Kites) 7-6; Dhakshineswar Suresh (Kites) bt Daniil Medvedev 6-4

World Tennis League: Aussie Mavericks Kites storm into final after Suresh’s stunning win over Medvedev, will lock horns against Eagles in summit clash

In a night packed with momentum swings and nervous energy, the World Tennis League delivered its most gripping contest yet. The Game Changers Falcons and the Aussie Mavericks Kites went toe-to-toe for a place in Saturday’s final, but it was India’s rising star Dhakshineswar Suresh who seized the moment. Representing the Kites, Suresh stunned Grand Slam winner Daniil Medvedev 6-4 in the concluding set, sealing his team’s dramatic surge into the championship match. The Kites, who began the day anchored to the bottom of the table, produced an astonishing turnaround to beat the Falcons 24-19 and clinch second place with 58 points. Waiting for them in the decider are the AOS Eagles, who cruised past VB Realty Hawks 22-12 to finish atop the standings with 65 points. The evening also carried a strong emotional current, as India’s doubles legend Rohan Bopanna played what could be his final match on home soil. Teaming up with Medvedev for the Falcons, he battled Nick Kyrgios and Suresh in a high-voltage doubles duel, edging out the Kites pair 7-6. In its first edition on Indian soil, the World Tennis League has attracted marquee global names to Bengaluru. Yet, Day 3 belonged to the homegrown talent. Sumit Nagal, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, and Suresh drew the loudest cheers at the SM Krishna Stadium, each delivering standout performances. Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, tennis's fan-favorite couple, kicked off Friday’s action but found themselves competing on opposite sides in mixed doubles. Svitolina and Yuki Bhambri, representing the Hawks, edged out Monfils and Shrivalli 6-4 in a high-energy opener. India’s No. 1 singles player, Nagal, then swung the pendulum firmly in the Falcons’ favour. Playing with fierce intent, the 28-year-old overpowered Wimbledon finalist Denis Shapovalov 6-1, giving his side a crucial push. Shrivalli, who had spent the first two days rallying her teammates from the sidelines, embraced the spotlight with poise. After a spirited mixed doubles showing, she took on Rafa Nadal Academy prodigy Maaya and dominated the contest 6-2 with crisp, fearless ball-striking. She later paired with Paula Badosa to defeat Svitolina and Maaya 6-3. Badosa, impressed by Shrivalli’s composure and firepower, didn’t hold back her praise. “India, you have a future star here,” the Australian Open semi-finalist told the Bengaluru crowd. “She was our driving force today. From the first session we hit together, I knew she had the game.” The Kites’ push toward the final had begun earlier in the day when Marta Kostyuk overcame Magda Linette 6-4. Winning three of the four sets, the Kites leapfrogged both the Falcons and Hawks to clinch the last championship berth. Results AOS Eagles 22-12 VB Realty Hawks Yuki Bhambri-Elina Svitolina (Hawks) bt Gael Monfils-Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (Eagles) 6-4; Sumit Nagal (Eagles) bt Denis Shapovalov (Hawks) 6-1; Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (Eagles) bt Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi (Hawks) 6-2; Shrivalli Bhamidipaty-Paula Badosa (Eagles) bt Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi-Elina Svitolina (Hawks) 6-3 Aussie Maverick Kites 24-19 Game Changer Falcons Marta Kostyuk (Kites) bt Magda Linette (Falcons) 6-4; Marta Kostyuk-Dhakshineswar Suresh (Kites) bt Sahaja Yamalapalli-Rohan Bopanna 6-4; Rohan Bopanna-Daniil Medvedev (Falcons) bt Dhakshineswar Suresh-Nick Kyrgios (Kites) 7-6; Dhakshineswar Suresh (Kites) bt Daniil Medvedev 6-4

Dhakshineswar Suresh stunned Daniil Medvedev to propel the Aussie Mavericks Kites into the World Tennis League final, where they will face the AOS Eagles

India signed off their home season in style with a commanding 30-run win over South Africa in the fifth and final T20I in Ahmedabad on Friday (Dec 19), clinching the series 3–1. A strong batting show, led by Hardik Pandya (63) and Tilak Varma (73), helped India post a big total of 231 &nbsp;at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Pandya played a blazing knock, while Tilak provided solid support at the other end. In reply, South Africa started well but lost momentum as India’s bowlers tightened the grip. Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah led the bowling attack with timely wickets, triggering a collapse and sealing a convincing win for the hosts.&nbsp;India were put in to bat first and got off to a quick start even without Shubman Gill. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson played freely in the power play, attacking the bowlers and keeping the scoreboard moving. The pair added 63 runs in quick time, giving India the early push they needed. Abhishek looked in good touch before getting out, while Samson made the most of his opportunity at the top with a confident knock.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pbks-may-approach-bcci-over-josh-inglis-availability-after-ipl-2026-auction-twist-1766152988462">PBKS may approach BCCI over Josh Inglis availability after IPL 2026 auction twist</a>&nbsp;After Samson’s dismissal, India slowed down briefly, but Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya soon took control. Tilak batted with calm and confidence, finding gaps and rotating the strike well. Hardik brought the power, clearing the boundary with ease and putting the South African bowlers under pressure. His quick half-century changed the mood of the game and lifted the crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium.&nbsp;The partnership between Hardik and Tilak proved to be the turning point. The duo added 105 runs in no time, turning a strong position into a massive total. Their attacking approach in the final overs helped India cross 230, setting South Africa a very tough target under lights.&nbsp;South Africa began the chase on a positive note, with Quinton de Kock leading from the front. The visitors scored quickly in the power play and stayed in the hunt early on. However, things changed once Jasprit Bumrah was brought back into the attack. His disciplined bowling broke the flow and brought India the crucial breakthrough.&nbsp;Varun Chakravarthy then stepped in and made full use of the pressure. His clever variations earned him four key wickets as South Africa started losing momentum. With wickets falling regularly, the required run rate climbed quickly. Despite some late hitting, South Africa could not recover. India’s bowlers stayed calm and closed out the match comfortably, sealing a 3–1 series win in front of the home crowd.

A strong batting show, led by Hardik Pandya (63) and Tilak Varma (73), helped India post a big total of 231  at the Narendra Modi Stadium. 

India signed off their home season in style with a commanding 30-run win over South Africa in the fifth and final T20I in Ahmedabad on Friday (Dec 19), clinching the series 3–1. A strong batting show, led by Hardik Pandya (63) and Tilak Varma (73), helped India post a big total of 231 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Pandya played a blazing knock, while Tilak provided solid support at the other end. In reply, South Africa started well but lost momentum as India’s bowlers tightened the grip. Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah led the bowling attack with timely wickets, triggering a collapse and sealing a convincing win for the hosts. India were put in to bat first and got off to a quick start even without Shubman Gill. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson played freely in the power play, attacking the bowlers and keeping the scoreboard moving. The pair added 63 runs in quick time, giving India the early push they needed. Abhishek looked in good touch before getting out, while Samson made the most of his opportunity at the top with a confident knock. Also read | PBKS may approach BCCI over Josh Inglis availability after IPL 2026 auction twist After Samson’s dismissal, India slowed down briefly, but Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya soon took control. Tilak batted with calm and confidence, finding gaps and rotating the strike well. Hardik brought the power, clearing the boundary with ease and putting the South African bowlers under pressure. His quick half-century changed the mood of the game and lifted the crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The partnership between Hardik and Tilak proved to be the turning point. The duo added 105 runs in no time, turning a strong position into a massive total. Their attacking approach in the final overs helped India cross 230, setting South Africa a very tough target under lights. South Africa began the chase on a positive note, with Quinton de Kock leading from the front. The visitors scored quickly in the power play and stayed in the hunt early on. However, things changed once Jasprit Bumrah was brought back into the attack. His disciplined bowling broke the flow and brought India the crucial breakthrough. Varun Chakravarthy then stepped in and made full use of the pressure. His clever variations earned him four key wickets as South Africa started losing momentum. With wickets falling regularly, the required run rate climbed quickly. Despite some late hitting, South Africa could not recover. India’s bowlers stayed calm and closed out the match comfortably, sealing a 3–1 series win in front of the home crowd.

A strong batting show, led by Hardik Pandya (63) and Tilak Varma (73), helped India post a big total of 231 &nbsp;at the Narendra Modi Stadium.&nbsp;

IND vs SA, 5th T20I: India secure series 3-1 with 30-run victory in Ahmedabad

From Varun Chakravarthy to Kuldeep Yadav, here's a look at the top five Indian bowlers with most T20I wickets in 2025. This list also includes Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah

From Varun Chakravarthy to Kuldeep Yadav, here's a look at the top five Indian bowlers with most T20I wickets in 2025. This list also includes Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah

Meet top 5 Indian bowlers with most T20I wickets in 2025, check who tops the list

From Abhishek Sharma to Tilak Varma, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most T20I runs in 2025. This list also includes Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson

From Abhishek Sharma to Tilak Varma, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most T20I runs in 2025. This list also includes Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson

Meet top 5 Indian batters with most T20I runs in 2025, check who tops the list

Hardik Pandya ranks second among Indian batters with the fastest T20I fifties. Yuvraj Singh holds the record, while Abhishek Sharma, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav complete the top five.


Hardik Pandya ranks second among Indian batters with the fastest T20I fifties. Yuvraj Singh holds the record, while Abhishek Sharma, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav complete the top five.

5 Indian batters with fastest T20I fifties: Hardik ranks second, check the leader

Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya lit up the Narendra Modi Stadium with an explosive performance during the fifth T20I between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday (December 19). Coming in at No. 5 after quick wickets of Sanju Samson and skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Pandya turned the game completely with his fearless batting. Pandya smashed an unbeaten fifty off just 16 balls, showing a mix of timing and power. His innings included four crisp boundaries and five huge sixes, taking his strike rate to over 340.&nbsp;&nbsp;He brought up the half-century with a flat six over deep midwicket off Corbin Bosch in the 17th over of India’s innings, leaving fans and commentators stunned. The Indian all-rounder wasted no time settling into his innings. He started with a six over long-off on the very first ball he faced. In the next over, he targeted spinner George Linde, hitting two fours and two sixes. Pandya then attacked Bosch, hitting another six and a four, before reaching his half-century with yet another maximum.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/5-indian-batters-with-fastest-t20i-fifties-hardik-ranks-second-check-the-leader-1766158058858">5 Indian batters with fastest T20I fifties: Hardik ranks second, check the leader</a>&nbsp;Pandya also shared a brilliant partnership with Tilak Varma. The duo stitched together a 105-run partnership for the fourth wicket, giving India a massive boost in the middle overs. With this fifty, Hardik Pandya recorded the second-fastest T20I half-century by an Indian batter. Only Yuvraj Singh has achieved a faster fifty for India, reaching the mark in just 12 balls against England during the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Yuvraj’s innings is still remembered for the iconic six sixes he hit in an over off Stuart Broad.<h2>Fastest fifties in T20Is by Indians</h2><ul><li>Yuvraj Singh - 12 balls - India vs England - 2007</li><li>Hardik Pandya - 16 balls - India vs South Africa - 2025</li><li>Abhishek Sharma - 17 balls - India vs England - 2025</li><li>KL Rahul - 18 balls - India vs Scotland - 2021</li><li>Suryakumar Yadav - 18 balls - India vs South Africa - 2022</li></ul>&nbsp;&nbsp;More to follow

Pandya smashed an unbeaten half-century off just 16 balls, changing the course of the match after India lost the quick wickets of Sanju Samson and skipper Suryakumar Yadav. 

Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya lit up the Narendra Modi Stadium with an explosive performance during the fifth T20I between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday (December 19). Coming in at No. 5 after quick wickets of Sanju Samson and skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Pandya turned the game completely with his fearless batting. Pandya smashed an unbeaten fifty off just 16 balls, showing a mix of timing and power. His innings included four crisp boundaries and five huge sixes, taking his strike rate to over 340. He brought up the half-century with a flat six over deep midwicket off Corbin Bosch in the 17th over of India’s innings, leaving fans and commentators stunned. The Indian all-rounder wasted no time settling into his innings. He started with a six over long-off on the very first ball he faced. In the next over, he targeted spinner George Linde, hitting two fours and two sixes. Pandya then attacked Bosch, hitting another six and a four, before reaching his half-century with yet another maximum. Also read | 5 Indian batters with fastest T20I fifties: Hardik ranks second, check the leader Pandya also shared a brilliant partnership with Tilak Varma. The duo stitched together a 105-run partnership for the fourth wicket, giving India a massive boost in the middle overs. With this fifty, Hardik Pandya recorded the second-fastest T20I half-century by an Indian batter. Only Yuvraj Singh has achieved a faster fifty for India, reaching the mark in just 12 balls against England during the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Yuvraj’s innings is still remembered for the iconic six sixes he hit in an over off Stuart Broad. Fastest fifties in T20Is by Indians Yuvraj Singh - 12 balls - India vs England - 2007 Hardik Pandya - 16 balls - India vs South Africa - 2025 Abhishek Sharma - 17 balls - India vs England - 2025 KL Rahul - 18 balls - India vs Scotland - 2021 Suryakumar Yadav - 18 balls - India vs South Africa - 2022 More to follow

Pandya smashed an unbeaten half-century off just 16 balls, changing the course of the match after India lost the quick wickets of Sanju Samson and skipper Suryakumar Yadav.&nbsp;

IND vs SA, 5th T20I: Hardik Pandya slams 16-ball fifty in Ahmedabad

Sanju Samson made a strong comeback to international cricket with an important achievement in T20s. In the fifth T20I between India and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the 31-year-old on Friday (Dec 19) completed 8,000 runs in T20 cricket. He became the seventh Indian player to reach this mark, joining Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suryakumar Yadav, Suresh Raina and KL Rahul in the elite list. Samson also reached another landmark, becoming the 14th Indian to score 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals. Ahead of the match, Sanju has scored 995 matches in 51 matches, at an average of 25.51 and a strike rate of 147.40. Interestingly, he reached both the milestones in style by hitting Marco Jansen for a six.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pbks-may-approach-bcci-over-josh-inglis-availability-after-ipl-2026-auction-twist-1766152988462">PBKS may approach BCCI over Josh Inglis availability after IPL 2026 auction twist</a><h3>Indian batters with 8000 runs in T20s</h3><ul><li>Virat Kohli - 13,543 runs in 414 matches</li><li>Rohit Sharma - 12,248 runs in 463 matches</li><li>Shikhar Dhawan - 9,797 runs in 334 matches</li><li>Suryakumar Yadav - 8,970 runs in 345 matches</li><li>Suresh Raina - 8,654 runs in 336 matches</li><li>KL Rahul - 8,125 runs in 239 matches</li><li>Sanju Samson - 8000* in 319 matches</li></ul><h2>IND vs SA, 5th T20I&nbsp;</h2>At the time of writing, India were 131 for three in 13 overs. Hardik Pandya (11) and Tilak Varma (39) were batting at the crease. Earlier, openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson gave India a solid start. Sharma scored 34 before being dismissed by Corbin Bosch, while Samson scored 37. Captain Suryakumar Yadav came in next but could only manage five runs before falling to Bosch.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sa-5th-t20i-sanju-samson-in-but-why-shubman-gill-isn-t-playing-1766150475646">IND VS SA, 5th T20I: Samson in but why Shubman Gill isn't playing?</a>&nbsp;For South Africa, Corbin Bosch was the standout bowler with two wickets for 27 runs in two overs. George Linde also took one wicket.&nbsp;&nbsp;With seven wickets still in hand, it will be interesting to see if India can push past the 200-run mark. Meanwhile, the Proteas bowlers will aim to slow down India’s strong batting line-up and keep the total under 200.

Samson also reached another landmark, becoming the 14th Indian to score 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals. Ahead of the match, Sanju has scored 995 matches in 51 matches, at an average of 25.51 and a strike rate of 147.40.

Sanju Samson made a strong comeback to international cricket with an important achievement in T20s. In the fifth T20I between India and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the 31-year-old on Friday (Dec 19) completed 8,000 runs in T20 cricket. He became the seventh Indian player to reach this mark, joining Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suryakumar Yadav, Suresh Raina and KL Rahul in the elite list. Samson also reached another landmark, becoming the 14th Indian to score 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals. Ahead of the match, Sanju has scored 995 matches in 51 matches, at an average of 25.51 and a strike rate of 147.40. Interestingly, he reached both the milestones in style by hitting Marco Jansen for a six. Also Read - PBKS may approach BCCI over Josh Inglis availability after IPL 2026 auction twist Indian batters with 8000 runs in T20s Virat Kohli - 13,543 runs in 414 matches Rohit Sharma - 12,248 runs in 463 matches Shikhar Dhawan - 9,797 runs in 334 matches Suryakumar Yadav - 8,970 runs in 345 matches Suresh Raina - 8,654 runs in 336 matches KL Rahul - 8,125 runs in 239 matches Sanju Samson - 8000* in 319 matches IND vs SA, 5th T20I At the time of writing, India were 131 for three in 13 overs. Hardik Pandya (11) and Tilak Varma (39) were batting at the crease. Earlier, openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson gave India a solid start. Sharma scored 34 before being dismissed by Corbin Bosch, while Samson scored 37. Captain Suryakumar Yadav came in next but could only manage five runs before falling to Bosch. Also Read - IND VS SA, 5th T20I: Samson in but why Shubman Gill isn't playing? For South Africa, Corbin Bosch was the standout bowler with two wickets for 27 runs in two overs. George Linde also took one wicket. With seven wickets still in hand, it will be interesting to see if India can push past the 200-run mark. Meanwhile, the Proteas bowlers will aim to slow down India’s strong batting line-up and keep the total under 200.

Samson also reached another landmark, becoming the 14th Indian to score 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals. Ahead of the match, Sanju has scored 995 matches in 51 matches, at an average of 25.51 and a strike rate of 147.40.

IND vs SA, 5th T20I: Sanju Samson joins Kohli, Rohit, Rahul in elite list, becomes seventh Indian to achieve THIS milestone

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are considering approaching the BCCI after fresh developments around Josh Inglis’ availability for the IPL 2026 season. The Australian wicketkeeper-batter was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the auction after he informed the franchise that he would not be available for the full season due to his wedding and honeymoon plans. Inglis had told PBKS that his wedding was scheduled for April 18 and that he would be available for only 10 to 14 days later in the tournament.&nbsp;Based on this information, the BCCI reportedly informed all franchises before the auction that Inglis would be available for just four matches. Despite this, Lucknow Super Giants picked him up for INR 8.6 crore after a bidding war with SunRisers Hyderabad in the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rafael-nadal-to-andy-murray-6-potential-candidates-to-coach-carlos-alcaraz-1766147824842">From Rafael Nadal to Andy Murray: 6 potential candidates to coach Carlos Alcaraz</a>&nbsp;This move has not gone down well with Punjab Kings. According to media reports, PBKS believe there may have been a miscommunication regarding Inglis’ availability, especially after fresh indications that the player could feature for a longer period in the tournament.&nbsp;The report further states that Inglis is now considering postponing his honeymoon and joining the IPL immediately after his wedding. Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer is said to be in talks with the player regarding the revised plan.&nbsp;“Now that he has got such a bid, he might even come at the start of the season, leave for the wedding, and come back soon after,” a source was quoted as saying in the report. Punjab Kings had informed the BCCI about releasing Inglis just 45 minutes before the retention deadline on November 15. The franchise feels that other teams may have had more clarity on the player’s plans than they did.&nbsp;The report also mentioned that LSG’s coaching group, including Langer and director Tom Moody, and the SRH combination of Daniel Vettori and Pat Cummins, appeared to have more information than PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting.&nbsp;In the IPL 2025 season, Inglis scored 278 runs in 11 matches at an average of 30.88 and a strike rate of 162.6. He played a key role in PBKS’ run to the final, including crucial knocks in the league stage and Qualifier 2.

The Australian wicketkeeper-batter was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the auction after he informed the franchise that he would not be available for the full season due to his wedding and honeymoon plans.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are considering approaching the BCCI after fresh developments around Josh Inglis’ availability for the IPL 2026 season. The Australian wicketkeeper-batter was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the auction after he informed the franchise that he would not be available for the full season due to his wedding and honeymoon plans. Inglis had told PBKS that his wedding was scheduled for April 18 and that he would be available for only 10 to 14 days later in the tournament. Based on this information, the BCCI reportedly informed all franchises before the auction that Inglis would be available for just four matches. Despite this, Lucknow Super Giants picked him up for INR 8.6 crore after a bidding war with SunRisers Hyderabad in the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi. Also read | From Rafael Nadal to Andy Murray: 6 potential candidates to coach Carlos Alcaraz This move has not gone down well with Punjab Kings. According to media reports, PBKS believe there may have been a miscommunication regarding Inglis’ availability, especially after fresh indications that the player could feature for a longer period in the tournament. The report further states that Inglis is now considering postponing his honeymoon and joining the IPL immediately after his wedding. Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer is said to be in talks with the player regarding the revised plan. “Now that he has got such a bid, he might even come at the start of the season, leave for the wedding, and come back soon after,” a source was quoted as saying in the report. Punjab Kings had informed the BCCI about releasing Inglis just 45 minutes before the retention deadline on November 15. The franchise feels that other teams may have had more clarity on the player’s plans than they did. The report also mentioned that LSG’s coaching group, including Langer and director Tom Moody, and the SRH combination of Daniel Vettori and Pat Cummins, appeared to have more information than PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting. In the IPL 2025 season, Inglis scored 278 runs in 11 matches at an average of 30.88 and a strike rate of 162.6. He played a key role in PBKS’ run to the final, including crucial knocks in the league stage and Qualifier 2.

The Australian wicketkeeper-batter was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the auction after he informed the franchise that he would not be available for the full season due to his wedding and honeymoon plans.

PBKS may approach BCCI over Josh Inglis availability after IPL 2026 auction twist

Sanju Samson has finally been given a chance to prove himself to the team management and selectors, as he comes into the side in place of the struggling Shubman Gill for the fifth and final T20I match against South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday (Dec 19). Gill missed the match after picking up an injury ahead of the fourth T20I in Lucknow. This game marks Samson’s first T20I appearance since the tour of Australia, with Gill having been preferred for the first three matches of the series. In the ongoing series, Gill has scored only 32 runs, drawing criticism across social media for his poor form.<h2>Why Gill isn't playing?</h2>Shubman Gill suffered an impact injury to his right foot while batting in the nets ahead of the Lucknow T20I.&nbsp;"Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right foot while batting in the nets on 16th December in Lucknow. After consulting a specialist and getting treatment with the BCCI medical team, he is improving but will be unavailable for selection for the final T20I in Ahmedabad," read the statement from BCCI.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-to-announce-india-s-2026-t20-world-cup-squad-on-saturday-eyes-on-sanju-samson-shreyas-iyer-source-1766131458537">BCCI to announce India's 2026 T20 World Cup squad on Saturday - Source</a><h2>What happened at the toss?</h2>South African captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to field first. They made only one change to their playing XI, bringing in George Linde in place of Anrich Nortje. India, on the other hand, made three changes, with Jasprit Bumrah replacing Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson coming in for Gill and Washington Sundar replacing Kuldeep Yadav.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afc-bans-india-s-mohun-bagan-imposes-fine-after-club-declines-iran-fixture-1766144274391">AFC bans India's Mohun Bagan, imposes fine after club declines Iran fixture</a><h3>Playing XIs</h3>South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi and Ottneil Baartman&nbsp;India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah

In the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, Gill managed to score only 32 runs, drawing criticism on social media for his poor form.

Sanju Samson has finally been given a chance to prove himself to the team management and selectors, as he comes into the side in place of the struggling Shubman Gill for the fifth and final T20I match against South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday (Dec 19). Gill missed the match after picking up an injury ahead of the fourth T20I in Lucknow. This game marks Samson’s first T20I appearance since the tour of Australia, with Gill having been preferred for the first three matches of the series. In the ongoing series, Gill has scored only 32 runs, drawing criticism across social media for his poor form. Why Gill isn't playing? Shubman Gill suffered an impact injury to his right foot while batting in the nets ahead of the Lucknow T20I. "Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right foot while batting in the nets on 16th December in Lucknow. After consulting a specialist and getting treatment with the BCCI medical team, he is improving but will be unavailable for selection for the final T20I in Ahmedabad," read the statement from BCCI. Also Read - BCCI to announce India's 2026 T20 World Cup squad on Saturday - Source What happened at the toss? South African captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to field first. They made only one change to their playing XI, bringing in George Linde in place of Anrich Nortje. India, on the other hand, made three changes, with Jasprit Bumrah replacing Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson coming in for Gill and Washington Sundar replacing Kuldeep Yadav. Also Read - AFC bans India's Mohun Bagan, imposes fine after club declines Iran fixture Playing XIs South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi and Ottneil Baartman India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah

In the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, Gill managed to score only 32 runs, drawing criticism on social media for his poor form.

IND VS SA, 5th T20I: Samson in but why Shubman Gill isn't playing?

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) look to have one of the strongest squads going into the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. Here's who all made it to their final 25 for IPL 2026

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) look to have one of the strongest squads going into the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. Here's who all made it to their final 25 for IPL 2026.

IPL 2026 auction: Check out SRH final squad; batters, bowlers, keepers and more

Carlos Alcaraz is searching for a new coach for 2026. Explore 6 potential candidates, from Rafael Nadal’s to Andy Murray’s mentors, who could guide the young tennis star to future success.


Carlos Alcaraz is searching for a new coach for 2026. Explore 6 potential candidates, from Rafael Nadal’s to Andy Murray’s mentors, who could guide the young tennis star to future success.

From Rafael Nadal to Andy Murray: 6 potential candidates to coach Carlos Alcaraz

There is a certain familiarity to the sight of Sikandar Raza walking in when the game has tilted, wobbling, leaning away from his side. Across leagues and continents, he has become the man, teams turn to when situations slide into the uncomfortable and the improbable. Five matches into Sharjah Warriors’ ILT20 season, with 113 runs and four wickets already, Raza has quietly slipped back into that role, the crisis man, the balancer, the one who absorbs pressure so the team can exhale.&nbsp;What makes him valuable, though, isn’t a rigid job description but the opposite: the willingness to shift gears at will. “I’m batting at five, pretty much where I’ve spent most of my career,” he said in an exclusive conversation with WION. “But when the situation changes, you change. If it’s 100/3 after 15 overs, that’s one mindset. If it’s 30/3 after five, that’s another. The situation tells you what role you need to play.”&nbsp;ILT20, with its mix of styles and its impact-player rule, adds another layer of complexity. Raza sees it not as a hurdle but as a space where adaptability is currency. “You work with 14–15 different nationalities here,” he explains. “Understanding people quickly, working hand-in-hand, that’s the beauty of this league.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afc-bans-india-s-mohun-bagan-imposes-fine-after-club-declines-iran-fixture-1766144274391">AFC bans India's Mohun Bagan, imposes fine after club declines Iran fixture</a><h2>Understanding Sharjah and the rhythm of winning</h2>Sharjah’s pitch, once predictably spin-friendly, has acquired a split personality over recent seasons. Some days it grips and turns; others, it behaves like a flat trampoline with boundaries that mock bowlers. Raza has learned not to trust assumptions. “Sharjah is changing,” he says. “Sometimes it’s spin-friendly, sometimes it’s flat. You have to read the surface well because you cannot fight the conditions. Make your combinations accordingly, hope you’ve read it right, and go from there.”&nbsp;“Once you start winning, the team graph goes up,” Raza reflects. “You start understanding each other better. We’ve been together for two weeks now, and that culture, helping each other, trusting each other, starts reflecting on the field.” It’s a reminder that teams don’t gel instantly; they develop, session by session, conversation by conversation. And in those moments, senior players become soundboards, stabilisers, sometimes emotional anchors. Raza, though, resists speaking of his role in leadership terms. “I find it difficult to talk about myself,” he smiles. “I try to respect everyone, understand everyone, so that when you need them, they run through a wall for you.”<h2>Working with JP Duminy and backing Tom Abell</h2>A big part of his comfort this season comes from head coach JP Duminy, someone who understands the grind of batting at number five and six. “For the first time, I’m working with a coach who has done the same role,” Raza says. “JP knows what I’m thinking, what I might do. After a win or a loss, I go to him and review my performance because he gets it, being a spinner, a middle-order batter, the whole combination.”&nbsp;Raza also reserves a warm word for Tom Abell, the understated performer he believes deserves more attention. “Tom is incredibly underrated, a hardworking cricketer, a great leader, someone who understands the game well,” he says. “He hasn’t hogged the limelight yet, but he’s someone everyone should keep an eye on.”&nbsp;As for his own game, Raza’s preparation has been characteristically broad: batting skills, bowling skills, power hitting, death bowling, fitness, all of it. “Each venue in ILT20 has a different challenge. And fitness isn’t just for ILT20, it’s for every league. It gives you half a chance of being successful.”

In an exclusive interview with WION, Sikandar Raza discusses his role in ILT20, adapting to Sharjah conditions, team culture, and Sharjah Warriors’ momentum after strong all-round performances

There is a certain familiarity to the sight of Sikandar Raza walking in when the game has tilted, wobbling, leaning away from his side. Across leagues and continents, he has become the man, teams turn to when situations slide into the uncomfortable and the improbable. Five matches into Sharjah Warriors’ ILT20 season, with 113 runs and four wickets already, Raza has quietly slipped back into that role, the crisis man, the balancer, the one who absorbs pressure so the team can exhale. What makes him valuable, though, isn’t a rigid job description but the opposite: the willingness to shift gears at will. “I’m batting at five, pretty much where I’ve spent most of my career,” he said in an exclusive conversation with WION. “But when the situation changes, you change. If it’s 100/3 after 15 overs, that’s one mindset. If it’s 30/3 after five, that’s another. The situation tells you what role you need to play.” ILT20, with its mix of styles and its impact-player rule, adds another layer of complexity. Raza sees it not as a hurdle but as a space where adaptability is currency. “You work with 14–15 different nationalities here,” he explains. “Understanding people quickly, working hand-in-hand, that’s the beauty of this league.” Also Read: AFC bans India's Mohun Bagan, imposes fine after club declines Iran fixture Understanding Sharjah and the rhythm of winning Sharjah’s pitch, once predictably spin-friendly, has acquired a split personality over recent seasons. Some days it grips and turns; others, it behaves like a flat trampoline with boundaries that mock bowlers. Raza has learned not to trust assumptions. “Sharjah is changing,” he says. “Sometimes it’s spin-friendly, sometimes it’s flat. You have to read the surface well because you cannot fight the conditions. Make your combinations accordingly, hope you’ve read it right, and go from there.” “Once you start winning, the team graph goes up,” Raza reflects. “You start understanding each other better. We’ve been together for two weeks now, and that culture, helping each other, trusting each other, starts reflecting on the field.” It’s a reminder that teams don’t gel instantly; they develop, session by session, conversation by conversation. And in those moments, senior players become soundboards, stabilisers, sometimes emotional anchors. Raza, though, resists speaking of his role in leadership terms. “I find it difficult to talk about myself,” he smiles. “I try to respect everyone, understand everyone, so that when you need them, they run through a wall for you.” Working with JP Duminy and backing Tom Abell A big part of his comfort this season comes from head coach JP Duminy, someone who understands the grind of batting at number five and six. “For the first time, I’m working with a coach who has done the same role,” Raza says. “JP knows what I’m thinking, what I might do. After a win or a loss, I go to him and review my performance because he gets it, being a spinner, a middle-order batter, the whole combination.” Raza also reserves a warm word for Tom Abell, the understated performer he believes deserves more attention. “Tom is incredibly underrated, a hardworking cricketer, a great leader, someone who understands the game well,” he says. “He hasn’t hogged the limelight yet, but he’s someone everyone should keep an eye on.” As for his own game, Raza’s preparation has been characteristically broad: batting skills, bowling skills, power hitting, death bowling, fitness, all of it. “Each venue in ILT20 has a different challenge. And fitness isn’t just for ILT20, it’s for every league. It gives you half a chance of being successful.”

In an exclusive interview with WION, Sikandar Raza discusses his role in ILT20, adapting to Sharjah conditions, team culture, and Sharjah Warriors’ momentum after strong all-round performances

WION Exclusive: 'Batting at no 5 isn’t easy', says Sikandar Raza as he talks about challenges in ILT20 and Sharjah Warriors’ momentum

Indian cricket enjoyed a historic 2025 with an unbeaten Champions Trophy win, Asia Cup glory, maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title, Blind Women’s T20 World Cup triumph, and a memorable Test series draw in England.


Indian cricket enjoyed a historic 2025 with an unbeaten Champions Trophy win, Asia Cup glory, maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title, Blind Women’s T20 World Cup triumph, and a memorable Test series draw in England.

A year to remember: Women’s ODI World Cup, CT win and India’s 5 best cricket moments of 2025

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has banned Indian club Mohun Bagan Super Giant from all its competitions and fined the club for more than $100,000 after it refused to play a match in Iran. The club did not travel for its Asian Champions League Two group match against Sepahan in September, citing that they do not receive proper security guarantees or medical insurance coverage. In a statement released on Wednesday, the AFC said its disciplinary and ethics committee has banned Mohun Bagan from the next edition of the competition, with the ban lasting until the 2027-28 season.&nbsp;One of Asia’s oldest football clubs, Mohun Bagan, was also fined for $50,000 and ordered to pay an additional $50,729 to cover the losses faced by the AFC and Sepahan.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wada-names-india-as-worst-doping-offender-for-third-straight-year-here-s-what-number-say-1766124197134">WADA names India as worst doping offender for third straight year, here's what number say</a>&nbsp;After the team failed to show up in the competition, the AFC removed Mohun Bagan from the tournament and cancelled all their match results.&nbsp;Earlier, the club had asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to move the match to a neutral location, but the request was turned down.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The players decided they can’t take this risk, where lives and their families’ future are at stake. So we have to stand with them,” a senior Mohun Bagan official told the Reuters news agency.&nbsp;“Mohun Bagan have five players from Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom, countries that have advised their citizens against travel to Iran,” the official added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/clashes-after-colombia-football-final-leaves-59-injured-1766078822087">Clashes after Nacional vs Independiente final leaves 59 injured - WATCH</a>&nbsp;The Indian club had also skipped a match in Iran last year against Tractor SC, scheduled for Oct 2, 2024, following Iran’s ballistic missiles launch towards Israel. As a result, they were withdrawn from the tournament.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

The Indian club had also skipped a match in Iran last year against Tractor SC, scheduled for Oct 2, 2024, following Iran’s ballistic missiles launch towards Israel. As a result, they were withdrawn from the tournament.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has banned Indian club Mohun Bagan Super Giant from all its competitions and fined the club for more than $100,000 after it refused to play a match in Iran. The club did not travel for its Asian Champions League Two group match against Sepahan in September, citing that they do not receive proper security guarantees or medical insurance coverage. In a statement released on Wednesday, the AFC said its disciplinary and ethics committee has banned Mohun Bagan from the next edition of the competition, with the ban lasting until the 2027-28 season. One of Asia’s oldest football clubs, Mohun Bagan, was also fined for $50,000 and ordered to pay an additional $50,729 to cover the losses faced by the AFC and Sepahan. Also Read - WADA names India as worst doping offender for third straight year, here's what number say After the team failed to show up in the competition, the AFC removed Mohun Bagan from the tournament and cancelled all their match results. Earlier, the club had asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to move the match to a neutral location, but the request was turned down. “The players decided they can’t take this risk, where lives and their families’ future are at stake. So we have to stand with them,” a senior Mohun Bagan official told the Reuters news agency. “Mohun Bagan have five players from Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom, countries that have advised their citizens against travel to Iran,” the official added. Also Read - Clashes after Nacional vs Independiente final leaves 59 injured - WATCH The Indian club had also skipped a match in Iran last year against Tractor SC, scheduled for Oct 2, 2024, following Iran’s ballistic missiles launch towards Israel. As a result, they were withdrawn from the tournament. With inputs from agencies

The Indian club had also skipped a match in Iran last year against Tractor SC, scheduled for Oct 2, 2024, following Iran’s ballistic missiles launch towards Israel. As a result, they were withdrawn from the tournament.

AFC bans India's Mohun Bagan, imposes fine after club declines Iran fixture

Gujarat Titans (GT) look to have one of the strongest squads going into the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. Here's who all made it to their final 25 for IPL 2026.

Gujarat Titans (GT) look to have one of the strongest squads going into the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. Here's who all made it to their final 25 for IPL 2026.

IPL 2026 auction: Check out GT final squad; batters, bowlers, keepers and more

Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and England stars dominate T20I batting records at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. A look at the top five run-scorers at this iconic venue.


Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and England stars dominate T20I batting records at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. A look at the top five run-scorers at this iconic venue.

5 players with most T20I runs in Ahmedabad: Gill ahead of Samson here

India’s squads for the 2026 T20 World Cup is set to be announced on Saturday (Dec 20) as the hosts look to become first nation to defend their prestigious trophy. India, having won the T20 World Cup in 2024 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy are one of the favourites to win the tournament. The selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is set to meet in Mumbai on Saturday, as eyes will be on key players like Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer and others.<h2>India squad set to be announced on Saturday</h2>The selection committee, led by Agarkar, will have a huge call to make on Saturday with eyes firmly on a few big names, including Samson and Iyer. “India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad will be announced on Saturday with the same squad being named for the New Zealand series,” a BCCI source told WION.&nbsp;India is one of the favourites to win the &nbsp;World Cup, with home advantage being a crucial factor. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is expected to travel to Mumbai overnight with India playing in the final T20I against South Africa on Friday. Gill, despite struggling with form and injury, is expected to be picked up, while Rinku Singh, who was dropped from the South Africa series, will face an anxious wait.&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;The bowling department will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to be available for the series and the World Cup. He played a key role in India’s triumph at the T20 World Cup in 2024 alongside Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel.&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;India is placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup alongside the USA, Namibia, the Netherlands and arch-rivals Pakistan. The champions begin their title defence against the USA on Feb 7 before taking on Namibia in Delhi on Feb 12. The high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan is set to take place on Feb 15 in Colombo as part of the neutral venue agreement between the nations.<h2>India’s schedule for T20 World Cup</h2>India vs USA - February 7 - Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai)India vs Namibia - February 12 - Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi)India vs Pakistan - February 15 - R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo)India vs Netherlands - February 18 - Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad)

India, having won the T20 World Cup in 2024 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy are one of the favourites to win the tournament.

India’s squads for the 2026 T20 World Cup is set to be announced on Saturday (Dec 20) as the hosts look to become first nation to defend their prestigious trophy. India, having won the T20 World Cup in 2024 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy are one of the favourites to win the tournament. The selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is set to meet in Mumbai on Saturday, as eyes will be on key players like Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer and others. India squad set to be announced on Saturday The selection committee, led by Agarkar, will have a huge call to make on Saturday with eyes firmly on a few big names, including Samson and Iyer. “India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad will be announced on Saturday with the same squad being named for the New Zealand series,” a BCCI source told WION. India is one of the favourites to win the World Cup, with home advantage being a crucial factor. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is expected to travel to Mumbai overnight with India playing in the final T20I against South Africa on Friday. Gill, despite struggling with form and injury, is expected to be picked up, while Rinku Singh, who was dropped from the South Africa series, will face an anxious wait. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes The bowling department will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to be available for the series and the World Cup. He played a key role in India’s triumph at the T20 World Cup in 2024 alongside Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes India is placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup alongside the USA, Namibia, the Netherlands and arch-rivals Pakistan. The champions begin their title defence against the USA on Feb 7 before taking on Namibia in Delhi on Feb 12. The high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan is set to take place on Feb 15 in Colombo as part of the neutral venue agreement between the nations. India’s schedule for T20 World Cup India vs USA - February 7 - Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai) India vs Namibia - February 12 - Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi) India vs Pakistan - February 15 - R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo) India vs Netherlands - February 18 - Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad)

India, having won the T20 World Cup in 2024 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy are one of the favourites to win the tournament.

BCCI to announce India's 2026 T20 World Cup squad on Saturday, eyes on Samson, Iyer - Source

Australia are in pole position to clinch the Adelaide Test as the hosts were fired to a 300-plus lead on Day 3 of the Ashes 2025-26 contest. Playing at the Adelaide Oval, Australia’s Travis Head smashed a brilliant unbeaten 142 at Stumps on Day 3, meaning the hosts now lead by 356 runs in the second innings as the Aussies closed at 271/4. This came after England were earlier bowled out for 286 runs, meaning they surrendered an 85-run lead to Australia.<h2>Head leads Australia into pole position</h2>Having failed to impress in the first innings of the Test match, Head had other ideas on Friday as he seized advantage for the hosts. Despite losing Jake Weatherald (1) in the second over of the innings, Head and Co recovered well before Marnus Labuschagne (13) was dismissed by Josh Tongue in the second session of the day.&nbsp;Later, it was Usman Khawaja (40) and Cameron Green (7) who departed quickly as Australia were 149/4 at one stage. However, first innings centurion Alex Carey joined Head as they stitched an unbeaten stand of 122 runs for the fifth wicket before Stumps.&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;This was Head’s 11th century in the Test format and second of the ongoing Ashes, having also scored 123 runs in the second innings of the opening Test in Perth. Carey, on the other hand, is unbeaten on 52 as he looks to build on his hundred in the first innings.&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>What happened in England’s innings?</h2>In the opening session of Day 3, England captain Ben Stokes was dismissed on 83 and missed out on a ton. He, along with Jofra Archer, put together 106 runs for the ninth wicket, meaning England significantly reduced Australia’s first innings advantage. Four overs after Stokes’s dismissal, Archer was also dismissed as England were bowled out for 286. Apart from Stokes and Archer, Harry Brook played a key role with a 45-run knock on Day 2.&nbsp;For Australia, both Scott Boland and captain Pat Cummins bagged three wickets each while Nathan Lyon bagged a brace on Day 2, which also saw him surpass Glenn McGrath for most Test wickets.

Playing at the Adelaide Oval, Australia’s Travis Head smashed a brilliant unbeaten 142 at Stumps on Day 3, meaning the hosts now lead by 356 runs in the second innings as the Aussies closed at 271/4. 

Australia are in pole position to clinch the Adelaide Test as the hosts were fired to a 300-plus lead on Day 3 of the Ashes 2025-26 contest. Playing at the Adelaide Oval, Australia’s Travis Head smashed a brilliant unbeaten 142 at Stumps on Day 3, meaning the hosts now lead by 356 runs in the second innings as the Aussies closed at 271/4. This came after England were earlier bowled out for 286 runs, meaning they surrendered an 85-run lead to Australia. Head leads Australia into pole position Having failed to impress in the first innings of the Test match, Head had other ideas on Friday as he seized advantage for the hosts. Despite losing Jake Weatherald (1) in the second over of the innings, Head and Co recovered well before Marnus Labuschagne (13) was dismissed by Josh Tongue in the second session of the day. Later, it was Usman Khawaja (40) and Cameron Green (7) who departed quickly as Australia were 149/4 at one stage. However, first innings centurion Alex Carey joined Head as they stitched an unbeaten stand of 122 runs for the fifth wicket before Stumps. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes This was Head’s 11th century in the Test format and second of the ongoing Ashes, having also scored 123 runs in the second innings of the opening Test in Perth. Carey, on the other hand, is unbeaten on 52 as he looks to build on his hundred in the first innings. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes What happened in England’s innings? In the opening session of Day 3, England captain Ben Stokes was dismissed on 83 and missed out on a ton. He, along with Jofra Archer, put together 106 runs for the ninth wicket, meaning England significantly reduced Australia’s first innings advantage. Four overs after Stokes’s dismissal, Archer was also dismissed as England were bowled out for 286. Apart from Stokes and Archer, Harry Brook played a key role with a 45-run knock on Day 2. For Australia, both Scott Boland and captain Pat Cummins bagged three wickets each while Nathan Lyon bagged a brace on Day 2, which also saw him surpass Glenn McGrath for most Test wickets.

Playing at the Adelaide Oval, Australia’s Travis Head smashed a brilliant unbeaten 142 at Stumps on Day 3, meaning the hosts now lead by 356 runs in the second innings as the Aussies closed at 271/4.&nbsp;

Ashes: Travis Head leads Australia into pole position as England fight to save Adelaide Test

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