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The founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Lalit Modi, hits back at former Indian seamer S Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari, after she lashed out at him and Michael Clarke for posting the infamous ‘slapgate video’, involving Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh from the inaugural edition in 2008. The incident, which saw Harbhajan slapping Sreesanth following the Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) game in Mohali, remains the most-talked-about controversy in this cash-rich league. Lalit Modi also claims to punish Harbhajan Singh for his intolerable act, slapping an 11-match ban on him. However, years later, Modi publicly released that unseen video of Harbhajan slapping Sreesanth, irking the latter’s wife.&nbsp;Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari, slammed Modi and Clarke in a series of Instagram stories, calling it (the act) disgusting, heartless and inhuman. &nbsp;“Shame on you @lalitkmodi and @michaelclarkeofficial. You people are not even human to drag up something from 2008 just for your own cheap publicity and views. Both @sreesanthnair36 and Harbhajan have long moved on, they are fathers now with school-going children, and yet you try to throw them back into an old wound. Absolutely disgusting, heartless, and inhuman," one of Bhuvneshwari’s now-unavailable Instagram stories read.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/there-was-no-shoulder-to-cry-on-bharat-arun-recalls-how-mohammed-siraj-dealt-with-father-death-during-bgt-2020-21-1756637622137">‘There was no shoulder to cry on,’ Bharat Arun recalls how Siraj dealt with father’s death during BGT 2020/21</a> &nbsp;Modi, replying to her remarks, hits back, stressing that he merely shared the truth, further describing the former Indian quick as a victim of that instance. &nbsp;"I don’t know why she (Sreesanth’s wife Bhuvneshwari) is getting angry. I was asked a question, and I shared the truth. I can’t do anything about that. I am known to speak the truth. Sree was the victim, and that’s exactly what I said. No one had asked me this question earlier, so when Clarke quipped, I responded," Lalit Modi said, as quoted by Times of India (TOI).<h3>Reopening of scars &nbsp;</h3>Continuing her rant over this slapgate video, Sreesanth’s wife also wrote, "@sreesanthnair36 has rebuilt his life with dignity and grace after every hardship he faced. Families are being forced to relive trauma that was buried decades ago. This doesn’t just hurt the players; it scars their innocent children who now have to face questions and shame for no fault of theirs.” &nbsp;Meanwhile, both cricketers have shared their regrets and repercussions of this particular instance, with Harbhajan Singh going on record apologising for slapping Sreesanth, which he even claims to erase from his life (should he be given a chance), while speaking on Ravi Ashwin’s YouTube channel.&nbsp;

Years later, Modi publicly released that unseen video of Harbhajan slapping Sreesanth, irking the latter’s wife.

The founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Lalit Modi, hits back at former Indian seamer S Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari, after she lashed out at him and Michael Clarke for posting the infamous ‘slapgate video’, involving Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh from the inaugural edition in 2008. The incident, which saw Harbhajan slapping Sreesanth following the Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) game in Mohali, remains the most-talked-about controversy in this cash-rich league. Lalit Modi also claims to punish Harbhajan Singh for his intolerable act, slapping an 11-match ban on him. However, years later, Modi publicly released that unseen video of Harbhajan slapping Sreesanth, irking the latter’s wife. Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari, slammed Modi and Clarke in a series of Instagram stories, calling it (the act) disgusting, heartless and inhuman. “Shame on you @lalitkmodi and @michaelclarkeofficial. You people are not even human to drag up something from 2008 just for your own cheap publicity and views. Both @sreesanthnair36 and Harbhajan have long moved on, they are fathers now with school-going children, and yet you try to throw them back into an old wound. Absolutely disgusting, heartless, and inhuman," one of Bhuvneshwari’s now-unavailable Instagram stories read. Also read | ‘There was no shoulder to cry on,’ Bharat Arun recalls how Siraj dealt with father’s death during BGT 2020/21 Modi, replying to her remarks, hits back, stressing that he merely shared the truth, further describing the former Indian quick as a victim of that instance. "I don’t know why she (Sreesanth’s wife Bhuvneshwari) is getting angry. I was asked a question, and I shared the truth. I can’t do anything about that. I am known to speak the truth. Sree was the victim, and that’s exactly what I said. No one had asked me this question earlier, so when Clarke quipped, I responded," Lalit Modi said, as quoted by Times of India (TOI). Reopening of scars Continuing her rant over this slapgate video, Sreesanth’s wife also wrote, "@sreesanthnair36 has rebuilt his life with dignity and grace after every hardship he faced. Families are being forced to relive trauma that was buried decades ago. This doesn’t just hurt the players; it scars their innocent children who now have to face questions and shame for no fault of theirs.” Meanwhile, both cricketers have shared their regrets and repercussions of this particular instance, with Harbhajan Singh going on record apologising for slapping Sreesanth, which he even claims to erase from his life (should he be given a chance), while speaking on Ravi Ashwin’s YouTube channel.

Years later, Modi publicly released that unseen video of Harbhajan slapping Sreesanth, irking the latter’s wife.

IPL founder Lalit Modi hits back at Sreesanth’s wife for her outburst over viral slapgate video

England attacking opener Alex Hales has created history in T20 cricket by becoming only the third player to cross 14,000 runs in the format. Playing for Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Hales achieved this milestone with a fine innings (74 runs off 43 balls, including three fours and seven sixes). This innings also helped him move past West Indies' Kieron Pollard in the all-time run charts.&nbsp;The 36-year-old now has 14,024 T20 runs in total, which includes both franchise and international matches. He is just behind West Indies' Chris Gayle, who leads the list with 14,562 runs.&nbsp;Known for his fearless hitting and ability to adjust in any conditions, Hales has been a key player in almost every big T20 league, including the CPL, PSL, BPL, ILT20 and more. His career shows how consistent he has been in a format that demands both power and patience. Hales has played 500-plus matches (509) in T20 cricket and is second on the list of batters with the most runs in T20 cricket.&nbsp;Also Check - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/6-players-who-played-in-five-or-more-icc-finals-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-ravindra-jadeja-yuvraj-singh-steve-smith-ricky-ponting-1756628400526">From Virat Kohli to Steve Smith, 6 players who played in five or more ICC finals</a><h2>Knight Riders’ big win</h2>In the CPL match between Trinbago Knight Riders and Guyana Amazon Warriors, Hales smashed 74 runs, while his opening partner, Colin Munro, added 52 runs. Later, Andre Russell remained not out with 27 runs, guiding the Knight Riders to victory in 17.2 overs with six wickets in hand.&nbsp;For the Guyana Amazon Warriors, only Imran Tahir impressed with his spin bowling, taking four important wickets. With this win, the Knight Riders strengthened their hold at the top of the table and will look to continue their strong form.<h2>Players with the most T20 runs</h2><ul><li>Chris Gayle (West Indies) - 14,562 runs</li><li>Alex Hales (England) - 14,024 runs&nbsp;</li><li>Kieron Pollard (West Indies) - 14,012 runs</li><li>David Warner (Australia) - 13,595 runs</li><li>Shoaib Malik (Pakistan) - &nbsp;13,571 runs</li></ul>

With the win over Amazon Warriors, the Knight Riders strengthened their hold at the top of the table and will look to continue their strong form.

England attacking opener Alex Hales has created history in T20 cricket by becoming only the third player to cross 14,000 runs in the format. Playing for Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Hales achieved this milestone with a fine innings (74 runs off 43 balls, including three fours and seven sixes). This innings also helped him move past West Indies' Kieron Pollard in the all-time run charts. The 36-year-old now has 14,024 T20 runs in total, which includes both franchise and international matches. He is just behind West Indies' Chris Gayle, who leads the list with 14,562 runs. Known for his fearless hitting and ability to adjust in any conditions, Hales has been a key player in almost every big T20 league, including the CPL, PSL, BPL, ILT20 and more. His career shows how consistent he has been in a format that demands both power and patience. Hales has played 500-plus matches (509) in T20 cricket and is second on the list of batters with the most runs in T20 cricket. Also Check - From Virat Kohli to Steve Smith, 6 players who played in five or more ICC finals Knight Riders’ big win In the CPL match between Trinbago Knight Riders and Guyana Amazon Warriors, Hales smashed 74 runs, while his opening partner, Colin Munro, added 52 runs. Later, Andre Russell remained not out with 27 runs, guiding the Knight Riders to victory in 17.2 overs with six wickets in hand. For the Guyana Amazon Warriors, only Imran Tahir impressed with his spin bowling, taking four important wickets. With this win, the Knight Riders strengthened their hold at the top of the table and will look to continue their strong form. Players with the most T20 runs Chris Gayle (West Indies) - 14,562 runs Alex Hales (England) - 14,024 runs Kieron Pollard (West Indies) - 14,012 runs David Warner (Australia) - 13,595 runs Shoaib Malik (Pakistan) - 13,571 runs

With the win over Amazon Warriors, the Knight Riders strengthened their hold at the top of the table and will look to continue their strong form in CPL.&nbsp;

England's Alex Hales joins Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, becomes third player to achieve THIS milestone

For not telecasting the ongoing 2025 Duleep Trophy quarterfinals, the BCCI faced plenty of flak on social media, with the fans bashing the Indian Cricket Board for not honouring the premier domestic tournament as much as they claim they do. However, in the latest development, the BCCI has promised to live telecast the Duleep Trophy final, scheduled (September 11-15) at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.&nbsp;"There will be a live telecast of the final of the Duleep Trophy. We have an agreement with our broadcaster to ensure live telecast of 100 days of domestic cricket, which means that all our domestic tournaments are covered live. The BCCI gives utmost importance to domestic cricket, which is why you will see that almost all the India players are in action in these matches," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a chat with the Times of India (TOI) on Sunday (Aug 31).&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/there-was-no-shoulder-to-cry-on-bharat-arun-recalls-how-mohammed-siraj-dealt-with-father-death-during-bgt-2020-21-1756637622137">‘There was no shoulder to cry on,’ Bharat Arun recalls how Siraj dealt with father’s death during BGT 2020/21</a> &nbsp;The Indian cricket fans were looking forward to watching the Duleep Trophy quarters, which began with North Zone playing East Zone and Central Delhi taking on North East Zone, both games starting on Thursday (Aug 28). Deprived of watching top-level cricket since the conclusion of India’s away tour of England, the countless fans took to social media to bash the BCCI for not telecasting Duleep Trophy games across any platform. &nbsp;Meanwhile, this edition of the Duleep Trophy, featuring several A-listers, marks the return to the traditional zonal format after last year’s switch to India A, B, C and D teams. Besides, this tournament also sees BCCI carrying out its ‘serious substitution rule’ trials, where players who suffer injuries during the game are substituted with players of similar attributes, like in the case of a concussion. &nbsp;The board, however, ensured that the fans had live access to all Duleep Trophy games last year, held in Anantapur and Bengaluru.&nbsp;

Deprived of watching top-level cricket since the conclusion of India’s away tour of England, the countless fans took to social media to bash the BCCI for not telecasting Duleep Trophy games across any platform.

For not telecasting the ongoing 2025 Duleep Trophy quarterfinals, the BCCI faced plenty of flak on social media, with the fans bashing the Indian Cricket Board for not honouring the premier domestic tournament as much as they claim they do. However, in the latest development, the BCCI has promised to live telecast the Duleep Trophy final, scheduled (September 11-15) at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. "There will be a live telecast of the final of the Duleep Trophy. We have an agreement with our broadcaster to ensure live telecast of 100 days of domestic cricket, which means that all our domestic tournaments are covered live. The BCCI gives utmost importance to domestic cricket, which is why you will see that almost all the India players are in action in these matches," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a chat with the Times of India (TOI) on Sunday (Aug 31). Also read | ‘There was no shoulder to cry on,’ Bharat Arun recalls how Siraj dealt with father’s death during BGT 2020/21 The Indian cricket fans were looking forward to watching the Duleep Trophy quarters, which began with North Zone playing East Zone and Central Delhi taking on North East Zone, both games starting on Thursday (Aug 28). Deprived of watching top-level cricket since the conclusion of India’s away tour of England, the countless fans took to social media to bash the BCCI for not telecasting Duleep Trophy games across any platform. Meanwhile, this edition of the Duleep Trophy, featuring several A-listers, marks the return to the traditional zonal format after last year’s switch to India A, B, C and D teams. Besides, this tournament also sees BCCI carrying out its ‘serious substitution rule’ trials, where players who suffer injuries during the game are substituted with players of similar attributes, like in the case of a concussion. The board, however, ensured that the fans had live access to all Duleep Trophy games last year, held in Anantapur and Bengaluru.

Deprived of watching top-level cricket since the conclusion of India’s away tour of England, the countless fans took to social media to bash the BCCI for not telecasting Duleep Trophy games across any platform.

Cricket fans win as social media backlash forces BCCI to live telecast Duleep Trophy final

The 2020/21 Test series between India and Australia was special for so many reasons. India stood tall for the second time on the trot Down Under, defending the BGT title and creating history. Although unprecedented conditions, considering the Covid-19 pandemic that gripped the world during that time, were already taking a toll on everyone, there was one Indian player who received the heartbreaking news of the passing of his father. Ace seamer Mohammed Siraj lost his father, and due to COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, he was not even allowed to travel to India to perform his last rites, leaving him stranded in his hotel room, which the former India bowling coach Bharat Arun called the ‘five-star jail.’&nbsp;India beat Australia 2-1 across four Tests, and Siraj, who played three games, was the highest wicket-taker for India with 13 scalps to his name, with one five-for during the famous Gabba Test, which India won to clinch the series. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Bharat, in his latest interaction, revealed how challenging it became for everyone, including the management, to communicate with Siraj and keep him motivated and hooked to on-field cricket.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/is-ms-dhoni-joining-team-india-backroom-staff-for-2026-t20-world-cup-manoj-tiwary-addresses-rumour-1756629548289">Is MS Dhoni joining India's backroom staff for 2026 T20 World Cup? Ex-teammate addresses rumour</a> &nbsp;“It was the five-star jail. The manager was the only one to go. He got special permission, but none of us could visit him. It was really tough. We spoke a lot on the phone. We spoke on WhatsApp calls,” Arun said, speaking on the Bombay Sport Exchange. “But that was it. There’s nothing like human touch. Shoulder to cry on, at that point, would have meant a lot to Siraj, but there was no shoulder to cry on,” he continued. &nbsp;Siraj, who delivered a match-winning performance in Brisbane, helping India breach Australia’s fortress, remembered his late father after the game, saying, “It was a tough situation, dad’s demise. I got strength after talking to mom, and my focus was to realise dad’s dream. I got mentally strong with their support. I felt that whatever was Dad’s desire, I have to fulfil that. It got fulfilled.” &nbsp;Meanwhile, Siraj has been India’s premier pacer at least in Tests. During India’s latest UK tour, which they drew, Siraj returned with 23 wickets in five Tests – the most by anyone across both camps. He, however, was not picked for the upcoming eight-team 2025 Asia Cup tournament in the UAE starting September 9.

Bharat, in his latest interaction, revealed how challenging it became for everyone, including the management, to communicate with Siraj and keep him motivated and hooked to on-field cricket.

The 2020/21 Test series between India and Australia was special for so many reasons. India stood tall for the second time on the trot Down Under, defending the BGT title and creating history. Although unprecedented conditions, considering the Covid-19 pandemic that gripped the world during that time, were already taking a toll on everyone, there was one Indian player who received the heartbreaking news of the passing of his father. Ace seamer Mohammed Siraj lost his father, and due to COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, he was not even allowed to travel to India to perform his last rites, leaving him stranded in his hotel room, which the former India bowling coach Bharat Arun called the ‘five-star jail.’ India beat Australia 2-1 across four Tests, and Siraj, who played three games, was the highest wicket-taker for India with 13 scalps to his name, with one five-for during the famous Gabba Test, which India won to clinch the series. Meanwhile, Bharat, in his latest interaction, revealed how challenging it became for everyone, including the management, to communicate with Siraj and keep him motivated and hooked to on-field cricket. Also read | Is MS Dhoni joining India's backroom staff for 2026 T20 World Cup? Ex-teammate addresses rumour “It was the five-star jail. The manager was the only one to go. He got special permission, but none of us could visit him. It was really tough. We spoke a lot on the phone. We spoke on WhatsApp calls,” Arun said, speaking on the Bombay Sport Exchange. “But that was it. There’s nothing like human touch. Shoulder to cry on, at that point, would have meant a lot to Siraj, but there was no shoulder to cry on,” he continued. Siraj, who delivered a match-winning performance in Brisbane, helping India breach Australia’s fortress, remembered his late father after the game, saying, “It was a tough situation, dad’s demise. I got strength after talking to mom, and my focus was to realise dad’s dream. I got mentally strong with their support. I felt that whatever was Dad’s desire, I have to fulfil that. It got fulfilled.” Meanwhile, Siraj has been India’s premier pacer at least in Tests. During India’s latest UK tour, which they drew, Siraj returned with 23 wickets in five Tests – the most by anyone across both camps. He, however, was not picked for the upcoming eight-team 2025 Asia Cup tournament in the UAE starting September 9.

Bharat, in his latest interaction, revealed how challenging it became for everyone, including the management, to communicate with Siraj and keep him motivated and hooked to on-field cricket.

‘There was no shoulder to cry on,’ Bharat Arun recalls how Siraj dealt with father’s death during BGT 2020/21

From Virat Kohli to Steve Smith, here's a look at the top six players who played in five or more ICC finals.

From Virat Kohli to Steve Smith, here's a look at the top six players who played in five or more ICC finals.

From Virat Kohli to Steve Smith, 6 players who played in five or more ICC finals

The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has apparently asked MS Dhoni to take up the mentorship role with the men’s team for the 2026 T20 World Cup, per the latest reports. With India and Sri Lanka co-hosting this edition (in February-March next year), Dhoni’s inputs could come in handy for the Men in Blue in their title defence. Addressing this rumour, Dhoni’s former India and IPL teammate and all-rounder Manoj Tiwary cheekily replied, saying, ‘Did he pick up the phone? Because it is difficult to reach him on the phone.'&nbsp;“Woh phone uthaye hain na? Jahaan tak mujhe pataa hain phone pe milna bohot mushkil hai woh! Message ka reply bhi milta bohot kam hai. Bohot players apne samay main kahaa bhi hai. Pataa nahi woh reply kya karenge…woh message padhenge ki nahi padhenge (Did he pick up the phone? Because it is difficult to reach him on the phone. Replies to messages from him are also sporadic; many players have said this. Will he read the message or not? We don’t know,” Tiwary said when asked by news agency ANI. &nbsp;“The first thing is whether he will accept the role or not. It’s very difficult for me to predict what impact he will have. His experience as a captain and as a player will be very useful, as the new players emerging today and becoming stars of the Indian team give him a lot of respect. The pairing of MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir will also be worth watching,” Tiwary added.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2025-uae-heat-forces-change-in-match-timings-check-out-india-pakistan-game-time-1756572453054">Asia Cup: UAE heat forces change in match timings; check out what time the IND-PAK game will start</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, Dhoni had earlier taken over a similar role during the 2021 edition of the T20 WC (in the UAE), where Virat Kohli-led Indian Team failed to advance to the next round after losing two of their four contested group stage matches.&nbsp; &nbsp;On the contrary, as a former Indian captain, Dhoni won all ICC white-ball trophies and is the only man to date to accomplish this feat. Even in the Indian Premier League, Dhoni is the joint-most successful skipper, with five IPL trophies to his name. He also won two now-defunct Champions League T20 competitions, a testament to his greatness as a leader. &nbsp;The Men in Blue will next feature in the 2025 Asia Cup, the eight-team tournament to be played in the T20 format starting September 9 in the UAE. India is placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, the hosts and Oman.&nbsp;

With India and Sri Lanka co-hosting this edition (in February-March next year), Dhoni’s inputs could come in handy for the Men in Blue in their title defence.

The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has apparently asked MS Dhoni to take up the mentorship role with the men’s team for the 2026 T20 World Cup, per the latest reports. With India and Sri Lanka co-hosting this edition (in February-March next year), Dhoni’s inputs could come in handy for the Men in Blue in their title defence. Addressing this rumour, Dhoni’s former India and IPL teammate and all-rounder Manoj Tiwary cheekily replied, saying, ‘Did he pick up the phone? Because it is difficult to reach him on the phone.' “Woh phone uthaye hain na? Jahaan tak mujhe pataa hain phone pe milna bohot mushkil hai woh! Message ka reply bhi milta bohot kam hai. Bohot players apne samay main kahaa bhi hai. Pataa nahi woh reply kya karenge…woh message padhenge ki nahi padhenge (Did he pick up the phone? Because it is difficult to reach him on the phone. Replies to messages from him are also sporadic; many players have said this. Will he read the message or not? We don’t know,” Tiwary said when asked by news agency ANI. “The first thing is whether he will accept the role or not. It’s very difficult for me to predict what impact he will have. His experience as a captain and as a player will be very useful, as the new players emerging today and becoming stars of the Indian team give him a lot of respect. The pairing of MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir will also be worth watching,” Tiwary added. Also read | Asia Cup: UAE heat forces change in match timings; check out what time the IND-PAK game will start Meanwhile, Dhoni had earlier taken over a similar role during the 2021 edition of the T20 WC (in the UAE), where Virat Kohli-led Indian Team failed to advance to the next round after losing two of their four contested group stage matches. On the contrary, as a former Indian captain, Dhoni won all ICC white-ball trophies and is the only man to date to accomplish this feat. Even in the Indian Premier League, Dhoni is the joint-most successful skipper, with five IPL trophies to his name. He also won two now-defunct Champions League T20 competitions, a testament to his greatness as a leader. The Men in Blue will next feature in the 2025 Asia Cup, the eight-team tournament to be played in the T20 format starting September 9 in the UAE. India is placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, the hosts and Oman.

With India and Sri Lanka co-hosting this edition (in February-March next year), Dhoni’s inputs could come in handy for the Men in Blue in their title defence.

Is MS Dhoni joining India's backroom staff for 2026 T20 World Cup? Ex-teammate addresses rumour

Jannik Sinner kept his US Open title defence on track on Saturday (Aug 30) as Iga Swiatek struggled through to the last 16 and home favourite Coco Gauff booked a blockbuster clash with Naomi Osaka. Sinner rallied from a set down to beat Canadian 27th seed Denis Shapovalov 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 and is trying to become the first man to retain the title in New York since Roger Federer in 2008.&nbsp;"I was in a very difficult moment," said Sinner. "The scoreline was a bit against me today, but I just tried to stay there mentally."&nbsp;World number one Sinner will face Alexander Bublik next after the mercurial Kazakh put out US 14th seed Tommy Paul in a late-night thriller, winning in five sets.&nbsp;"Week two is completely different. It's getting tougher and tougher," said Sinner.&nbsp;Third seed Alexander Zverev fell to his earliest US Open exit in seven years at the hands of an inspired Felix Auger-Aliassime. Canada's Auger-Aliassime belted 50 winners but was a point away from going two sets down before outduelling Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, 6-4.&nbsp;"I didn't play a good match, and not a good tournament in general," said 2020 runner-up Zverev.&nbsp;Auger-Aliassime next takes on Andrey Rublev, who put an end to the fairytale run of Hong Kong's Coleman Wong in five sets.&nbsp;There were three more retirements in the men's draw on Saturday after the injury-induced exit of sixth seed Ben Shelton the day before. Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti and 435th-ranked Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi all moved on when their opponents threw in the towel. Eighth seed De Minaur led Daniel Altmaier 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 6-4, 2-0 when the German retired, while 10th seed Musetti held a two-set lead over Flavio Cobolli before the latter quit because of an arm injury.&nbsp;"I didn't want to finish like that, especially against Flavio. He's probably one of my best friends on tour," said Musetti.&nbsp;Riedi became the lowest-ranked man to reach the fourth round of a major since 2002 as Polish opponent Kamil Majchrzak retired after eight games due to injury.<h3>Swiatek fights back</h3>&nbsp;Swiatek showed great resolve to dig herself out of trouble against Russian 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The world number two slid 5-1 behind in the opening set but saved four set points and won a tie-break before eventually seeing off Kalinskaya 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion and six-time major winner, was far from her best but scrambled through to a last-16 meeting with Ekaterina Alexandrova.&nbsp;"I felt like I had nothing to lose because I was losing pretty bad. So in the end I just went for it because what else can you do?" Swiatek said of her fightback.&nbsp;Russian 13th seed Alexandrova has never made it past the fourth round at a Grand Slam but destroyed Laura Siegemund 6-0, 6-1 and has surrendered just 10 games en route to the second week at Flushing Meadows.&nbsp;Gauff swept past Polish 28th seed Magdalena Frech 6-3, 6-1 in her most polished display of the tournament to boost her hopes of collecting a second US Open title. After battling to a tearful victory in the previous round, a much more composed Gauff dispatched Frech with relative ease.&nbsp;"It's been an emotional week, but I think I needed those tough moments to move forward. I was putting so much pressure on myself," said Gauff, through to the last 16 in New York for the fourth year in a row.&nbsp;Gauff heads into a showdown on Monday with former world number one Osaka after the Japanese star beat Australian 15th seed Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.&nbsp;Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka is enjoying her best US Open showing since winning the tournament for the second time in 2020.&nbsp;The last-16 match will be a repeat of the duo's first meeting at the US Open in 2019, when Osaka overpowered the then 15-year-old Gauff in straight sets.&nbsp;"Everyone will be watching. That's what tennis needs," said Venus Williams, who progressed to round three of the the women's doubles on Saturday with partner Leylah Fernandez.&nbsp;Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova beat Romania's Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Karolina Muchova, Beatriz Haddad Maia and Marta Kostyuk all won as well.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

World number one Sinner will face Alexander Bublik next after the mercurial Kazakh put out US 14th seed Tommy Paul in a late-night thriller, winning in five sets.

Jannik Sinner kept his US Open title defence on track on Saturday (Aug 30) as Iga Swiatek struggled through to the last 16 and home favourite Coco Gauff booked a blockbuster clash with Naomi Osaka. Sinner rallied from a set down to beat Canadian 27th seed Denis Shapovalov 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 and is trying to become the first man to retain the title in New York since Roger Federer in 2008. "I was in a very difficult moment," said Sinner. "The scoreline was a bit against me today, but I just tried to stay there mentally." World number one Sinner will face Alexander Bublik next after the mercurial Kazakh put out US 14th seed Tommy Paul in a late-night thriller, winning in five sets. "Week two is completely different. It's getting tougher and tougher," said Sinner. Third seed Alexander Zverev fell to his earliest US Open exit in seven years at the hands of an inspired Felix Auger-Aliassime. Canada's Auger-Aliassime belted 50 winners but was a point away from going two sets down before outduelling Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, 6-4. "I didn't play a good match, and not a good tournament in general," said 2020 runner-up Zverev. Auger-Aliassime next takes on Andrey Rublev, who put an end to the fairytale run of Hong Kong's Coleman Wong in five sets. There were three more retirements in the men's draw on Saturday after the injury-induced exit of sixth seed Ben Shelton the day before. Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti and 435th-ranked Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi all moved on when their opponents threw in the towel. Eighth seed De Minaur led Daniel Altmaier 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 6-4, 2-0 when the German retired, while 10th seed Musetti held a two-set lead over Flavio Cobolli before the latter quit because of an arm injury. "I didn't want to finish like that, especially against Flavio. He's probably one of my best friends on tour," said Musetti. Riedi became the lowest-ranked man to reach the fourth round of a major since 2002 as Polish opponent Kamil Majchrzak retired after eight games due to injury. Swiatek fights back Swiatek showed great resolve to dig herself out of trouble against Russian 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The world number two slid 5-1 behind in the opening set but saved four set points and won a tie-break before eventually seeing off Kalinskaya 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion and six-time major winner, was far from her best but scrambled through to a last-16 meeting with Ekaterina Alexandrova. "I felt like I had nothing to lose because I was losing pretty bad. So in the end I just went for it because what else can you do?" Swiatek said of her fightback. Russian 13th seed Alexandrova has never made it past the fourth round at a Grand Slam but destroyed Laura Siegemund 6-0, 6-1 and has surrendered just 10 games en route to the second week at Flushing Meadows. Gauff swept past Polish 28th seed Magdalena Frech 6-3, 6-1 in her most polished display of the tournament to boost her hopes of collecting a second US Open title. After battling to a tearful victory in the previous round, a much more composed Gauff dispatched Frech with relative ease. "It's been an emotional week, but I think I needed those tough moments to move forward. I was putting so much pressure on myself," said Gauff, through to the last 16 in New York for the fourth year in a row. Gauff heads into a showdown on Monday with former world number one Osaka after the Japanese star beat Australian 15th seed Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 4-6, 6-3. Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka is enjoying her best US Open showing since winning the tournament for the second time in 2020. The last-16 match will be a repeat of the duo's first meeting at the US Open in 2019, when Osaka overpowered the then 15-year-old Gauff in straight sets. "Everyone will be watching. That's what tennis needs," said Venus Williams, who progressed to round three of the the women's doubles on Saturday with partner Leylah Fernandez. Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova beat Romania's Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Karolina Muchova, Beatriz Haddad Maia and Marta Kostyuk all won as well. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

World number one Sinner will face Alexander Bublik next after the mercurial Kazakh put out US 14th seed Tommy Paul in a late-night thriller, winning in five sets.

US Open 2025: Sinner, Swiatek advance as Gauff sets up Osaka showdown

From Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli, meet the top five players with the most Player of the Match awards in international cricket. The elite list comprises Sanath Jayasuriya, Jacques Kallis and Kumar Sangakkara as well.

From Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli, meet the top five players with the most Player of the Match awards in international cricket.

From Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli, meet 5 players with most Player of the Match awards

Bruno Fernandes eased the pressure on Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim as his last-gasp penalty sealed a 3-2 win over Burnley, while Thomas Frank suffered his first Premier League defeat as Tottenham manager on Saturday (Aug 29). Just days after a humiliating League Cup second-round loss at fourth-tier Grimsby, United were on the brink of another damaging result after promoted Burnley twice came from behind at Old Trafford. Amorim had admitted after the Grimsby debacle that he sometimes thinks about quitting and often hates his players. His mood would have been even darker before United captain Fernandes came to the rescue seven minutes into stoppage time.&nbsp;United's first win in three league games this season will give Amorim some much-needed respite heading into the international break, although questions will still be asked of the Portuguese coach after his side's latest erratic display.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chelsea-extends-unbeaten-pl-run-to-three-games-with-win-over-fulham-1756564246440">Chelsea extends unbeaten PL run to three games with win over Fulham</a>&nbsp;Luck was on United's side when they took the lead in the 26th minute.&nbsp;Casemiro's header thumped off the crossbar and hit Burnley captain Josh Cullen on the back, ricocheting over the line before Martin Dubravka could claw it away.&nbsp;Lyle Foster hauled Burnley level with a 55th-minute finish from Jacob Bruun Larsen's cross.&nbsp;Bryan Mbeumo put United back in the lead just 15 seconds later when he slammed in Diogo Dalot's cutback for his first league goal since his summer move from Brentford.&nbsp;United's frailties were punished again as Jaidon Anthony equalised in the 66th minute.&nbsp;It was a shambolic goal, with Altay Bayindir spilling Loum Tchaouna's shot and Anthony poking the loose ball goalwards before Kobbie Mainoo's attempted clearance rebounded in off the United goalkeeper. But in the final moments, Anthony pulled Amad Diallo, with a lengthy VAR check concluding the foul continued inside the area, conceding a controversial penalty that Fernandes gratefully tucked away to Amorim's immense relief.&nbsp;Tottenham were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth to end Frank's strong start since he arrived from Brentford to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou in the close-season.&nbsp;Tottenham had won their first two league games under the Dane without conceding a goal, including a 2-0 win at Manchester City last weekend. But Evanilson struck in the fifth minute with a deflected shot as Bournemouth left north London with their second win this term.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Just days after a humiliating League Cup second-round loss at fourth-tier Grimsby, United were on the brink of another damaging result after promoted Burnley twice came from behind at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes eased the pressure on Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim as his last-gasp penalty sealed a 3-2 win over Burnley, while Thomas Frank suffered his first Premier League defeat as Tottenham manager on Saturday (Aug 29). Just days after a humiliating League Cup second-round loss at fourth-tier Grimsby, United were on the brink of another damaging result after promoted Burnley twice came from behind at Old Trafford. Amorim had admitted after the Grimsby debacle that he sometimes thinks about quitting and often hates his players. His mood would have been even darker before United captain Fernandes came to the rescue seven minutes into stoppage time. United's first win in three league games this season will give Amorim some much-needed respite heading into the international break, although questions will still be asked of the Portuguese coach after his side's latest erratic display. Also read | Chelsea extends unbeaten PL run to three games with win over Fulham Luck was on United's side when they took the lead in the 26th minute. Casemiro's header thumped off the crossbar and hit Burnley captain Josh Cullen on the back, ricocheting over the line before Martin Dubravka could claw it away. Lyle Foster hauled Burnley level with a 55th-minute finish from Jacob Bruun Larsen's cross. Bryan Mbeumo put United back in the lead just 15 seconds later when he slammed in Diogo Dalot's cutback for his first league goal since his summer move from Brentford. United's frailties were punished again as Jaidon Anthony equalised in the 66th minute. It was a shambolic goal, with Altay Bayindir spilling Loum Tchaouna's shot and Anthony poking the loose ball goalwards before Kobbie Mainoo's attempted clearance rebounded in off the United goalkeeper. But in the final moments, Anthony pulled Amad Diallo, with a lengthy VAR check concluding the foul continued inside the area, conceding a controversial penalty that Fernandes gratefully tucked away to Amorim's immense relief. Tottenham were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth to end Frank's strong start since he arrived from Brentford to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou in the close-season. Tottenham had won their first two league games under the Dane without conceding a goal, including a 2-0 win at Manchester City last weekend. But Evanilson struck in the fifth minute with a deflected shot as Bournemouth left north London with their second win this term. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Just days after a humiliating League Cup second-round loss at fourth-tier Grimsby, United were on the brink of another damaging result after promoted Burnley twice came from behind at Old Trafford.

Captain Bruno lifts Manchester United with late winner as Thomas Frank loses first PL game as Spurs manager

The 2025 Asia Cup is just around the corner, and plenty of stuff continues to happen on the sidelines. While the BCCI is working on finalising the lead sponsor for Team India before the eight-team tournament gets underway in the UAE (from September 9 onwards), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has altered timings for 18 out of 19 scheduled matches to beat the UAE heat during this month, with the tournament concluding on September 28. The start time for all games, barring the UAE-Oman (day game on September 15), has been pushed by half an hour from the original schedule due to extreme heat.&nbsp;"The start time for 18 out of the 19 DP World Asia Cup 2025 matches has been updated. These matches will now begin at 6:30 pm local time (Gulf Standard Time)," the Emirates Cricket Board said in a statement on its website. "The Monday, 15 September match between UAE and Oman will start at 4 pm local time at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi - the only day game of the tournament."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/salman-nizar-tears-record-books-with-6-sixes-and-40-runs-in-one-over-in-kcl-2025-watch-1756560702967">Salman Nizar tears record books with 6 sixes, 40 runs in one over in KCL 2025 - WATCH</a> &nbsp;Per the earlier schedule released by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), all matches were supposed to start by 6 pm local time (7:30 pm IST), with now 18 games to begin at 6:30 pm local time (8 pm IST); the marquee India-Pakistan Group A game to get underway in Dubai at the same time.<h3>India-Pakistan situation &nbsp;</h3>Considering tense cross-border relations between the arch-rivals, the two boards – the BCCI and the PCB decided against touring each other’s country, even for ICC events, with the apex body bringing in a neutral venue concept for every tournament the two teams are part of, be it in men’s or women’s cricket. &nbsp;Despite the latest events, India and Pakistan are placed in the same group, alongside the hosts UAE and Oman, with the remaining four teams (Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Bangladesh) consisting of Group B. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Team India will open their 2025 Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10 before facing Pakistan in the blockbuster clash on September 14. Their last group game is against Oman in Abu Dhabi on September 19. &nbsp;Should India and Pakistan top Group A, both are likely to face each other again in the next stage, and with that, the chances of them meeting for the third time in this tournament (in the finale) also increase.&nbsp;

The start time for all games, barring the UAE-Oman (day game on September 15), has been pushed by half an hour from the original schedule due to extreme heat.

The 2025 Asia Cup is just around the corner, and plenty of stuff continues to happen on the sidelines. While the BCCI is working on finalising the lead sponsor for Team India before the eight-team tournament gets underway in the UAE (from September 9 onwards), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has altered timings for 18 out of 19 scheduled matches to beat the UAE heat during this month, with the tournament concluding on September 28. The start time for all games, barring the UAE-Oman (day game on September 15), has been pushed by half an hour from the original schedule due to extreme heat. "The start time for 18 out of the 19 DP World Asia Cup 2025 matches has been updated. These matches will now begin at 6:30 pm local time (Gulf Standard Time)," the Emirates Cricket Board said in a statement on its website. "The Monday, 15 September match between UAE and Oman will start at 4 pm local time at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi - the only day game of the tournament." Also read | Salman Nizar tears record books with 6 sixes, 40 runs in one over in KCL 2025 - WATCH Per the earlier schedule released by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), all matches were supposed to start by 6 pm local time (7:30 pm IST), with now 18 games to begin at 6:30 pm local time (8 pm IST); the marquee India-Pakistan Group A game to get underway in Dubai at the same time. India-Pakistan situation Considering tense cross-border relations between the arch-rivals, the two boards – the BCCI and the PCB decided against touring each other’s country, even for ICC events, with the apex body bringing in a neutral venue concept for every tournament the two teams are part of, be it in men’s or women’s cricket. Despite the latest events, India and Pakistan are placed in the same group, alongside the hosts UAE and Oman, with the remaining four teams (Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Bangladesh) consisting of Group B. Meanwhile, Team India will open their 2025 Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10 before facing Pakistan in the blockbuster clash on September 14. Their last group game is against Oman in Abu Dhabi on September 19. Should India and Pakistan top Group A, both are likely to face each other again in the next stage, and with that, the chances of them meeting for the third time in this tournament (in the finale) also increase.

The start time for all games, barring the UAE-Oman (day game on September 15), has been pushed by half an hour from the original schedule due to extreme heat.

Asia Cup: UAE heat forces change in match timings; check out what time the IND-PAK game will start

Chelsea took advantage of VAR controversy to beat Fulham 2-0 as the visitors were left to rue a series of costly decisions awarded against them at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Enzo Maresca's side were fortunate not to fall behind in the west London derby when Fulham were harshly denied a first half opener. Josh King's strike was ruled out after VAR deemed Rodrigo Muniz's accidental collision with Trevoh Chalobah was worthy of a foul. As if that wasn't infuriating enough for Fulham boss Marco Silva, Joao Pedro put Chelsea ahead beyond the scheduled eight minutes of stoppage-time at the end of the first half.&nbsp;Adding to Silva's anger, Chelsea's second goal was also VAR-influenced as Ryan Sessegnon was adjudged to have handled a cross, leading to Enzo Fernandez converting from the penalty spot.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/alexander-isak-nears-liverpool-moves-after-newcastle-sign-6-6-striker-woltemade-1756556146726">Alexander Isak nears Liverpool moves after Newcastle sign 6’6 striker Woltemade</a>&nbsp;After drawing with Crystal Palace and routing West Ham 5-1, Chelsea's third successive Premier League clash with a London rival extended their unbeaten start to three games.&nbsp;Alejandro Garnacho watched from the stands at Stamford Bridge after the Argentine winger travelled to Chelsea's training ground on Friday to finalise his move from Manchester United.&nbsp;Garnacho's impending arrival comes with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson set for a loan switch to Bayern Munich, while Christopher Nkunku signed for AC Milan on Saturday.&nbsp;Liam Delap, leading Chelsea's overhauled attack, lasted less than 15 minutes before he was forced off after appearing to pull his hamstring while chasing a long pass.&nbsp;The striker's exit was another blow for Maresca after Blues forward Cole Palmer was sidelined by a groin injury that will keep him out of England's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.&nbsp;King thought he had broken the deadlock with his first professional goal in the 21st minute.<h3>Silva seethes</h3>&nbsp;The 18-year-old forward had accelerated away from the Chelsea defence and slotted low past Robert Sanchez in composed fashion. But, in the process of spinning away from Chalobah's tackle on the halfway line to launch the attack, Muniz made contact with the Chelsea defender's foot.&nbsp;Chalobah crumpled to the turf but play initially continued, allowing King to score. Told to consult the pitchside monitor to review the incident, referee Rob Jones disallowed the goal for a "careless challenge".&nbsp;Silva exploded at that explanation, berating the fourth official in a furious rant on the touchline.&nbsp;Teenager Tyrique George, on for the injured Delap, almost made the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time with a close-range effort that Bernd Leno saved at his near post.&nbsp;From the resulting corner, Chelsea took the lead in the ninth minute of what should have been eight minutes of stoppage-time.&nbsp;Fernandez curled the set-piece towards Pedro and the Brazilian rose unchallenged to head home from close-range for his second goal this season.&nbsp;Silva was seething again, this time over the costly additional seconds added on.&nbsp;He tried in vain to confront Jones when the half-time whistle blew as Fulham's fans chanted "1-0 to the referee".&nbsp;There was more VAR angst for Silva and Fulham in the 56th minute.&nbsp;Sessegnon's arm was away from his body when he blocked Chalobah's cross in the area.&nbsp;However, the penalty was only awarded after VAR ruled Pedro's challenge on Joachim Anderson and a potential handball by the Brazilian in the build-up were not fouls.&nbsp;Fernandez ignored the fuss to stroke home the spot-kick, leaving Silva fuming once more.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

After drawing with Crystal Palace and routing West Ham 5-1, Chelsea's third successive Premier League clash with a London rival extended their unbeaten start to three games.

Chelsea took advantage of VAR controversy to beat Fulham 2-0 as the visitors were left to rue a series of costly decisions awarded against them at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Enzo Maresca's side were fortunate not to fall behind in the west London derby when Fulham were harshly denied a first half opener. Josh King's strike was ruled out after VAR deemed Rodrigo Muniz's accidental collision with Trevoh Chalobah was worthy of a foul. As if that wasn't infuriating enough for Fulham boss Marco Silva, Joao Pedro put Chelsea ahead beyond the scheduled eight minutes of stoppage-time at the end of the first half. Adding to Silva's anger, Chelsea's second goal was also VAR-influenced as Ryan Sessegnon was adjudged to have handled a cross, leading to Enzo Fernandez converting from the penalty spot. Also read | Alexander Isak nears Liverpool moves after Newcastle sign 6’6 striker Woltemade After drawing with Crystal Palace and routing West Ham 5-1, Chelsea's third successive Premier League clash with a London rival extended their unbeaten start to three games. Alejandro Garnacho watched from the stands at Stamford Bridge after the Argentine winger travelled to Chelsea's training ground on Friday to finalise his move from Manchester United. Garnacho's impending arrival comes with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson set for a loan switch to Bayern Munich, while Christopher Nkunku signed for AC Milan on Saturday. Liam Delap, leading Chelsea's overhauled attack, lasted less than 15 minutes before he was forced off after appearing to pull his hamstring while chasing a long pass. The striker's exit was another blow for Maresca after Blues forward Cole Palmer was sidelined by a groin injury that will keep him out of England's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. King thought he had broken the deadlock with his first professional goal in the 21st minute. Silva seethes The 18-year-old forward had accelerated away from the Chelsea defence and slotted low past Robert Sanchez in composed fashion. But, in the process of spinning away from Chalobah's tackle on the halfway line to launch the attack, Muniz made contact with the Chelsea defender's foot. Chalobah crumpled to the turf but play initially continued, allowing King to score. Told to consult the pitchside monitor to review the incident, referee Rob Jones disallowed the goal for a "careless challenge". Silva exploded at that explanation, berating the fourth official in a furious rant on the touchline. Teenager Tyrique George, on for the injured Delap, almost made the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time with a close-range effort that Bernd Leno saved at his near post. From the resulting corner, Chelsea took the lead in the ninth minute of what should have been eight minutes of stoppage-time. Fernandez curled the set-piece towards Pedro and the Brazilian rose unchallenged to head home from close-range for his second goal this season. Silva was seething again, this time over the costly additional seconds added on. He tried in vain to confront Jones when the half-time whistle blew as Fulham's fans chanted "1-0 to the referee". There was more VAR angst for Silva and Fulham in the 56th minute. Sessegnon's arm was away from his body when he blocked Chalobah's cross in the area. However, the penalty was only awarded after VAR ruled Pedro's challenge on Joachim Anderson and a potential handball by the Brazilian in the build-up were not fouls. Fernandez ignored the fuss to stroke home the spot-kick, leaving Silva fuming once more. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

After drawing with Crystal Palace and routing West Ham 5-1, Chelsea's third successive Premier League clash with a London rival extended their unbeaten start to three games.

Chelsea extends unbeaten PL run to three games with win over Fulham

Former India cricketer Rahul Dravid stepped down as the head coach of Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, Aug 30. Despite being offered a broader role in the franchise’s leadership, Dravid chose to decline. This marks the end of his impactful tenure with the team, which began in 2011. Dravid’s resignation from Rajasthan Royals comes at a time when his career, both on and off the field, continues to flourish. His estimated net worth in 2025 is around Rs 320 crore ($40 million), reflecting his successful transition from player to coach and brand ambassador.&nbsp;Apart from his role as head coach of the Indian cricket team, where he earned Rs 12 crore annually, Dravid also made significant earnings through his IPL coaching role with Rajasthan Royals, which brought him around Rs 5 crore for the 2025 season. Despite stepping down, his coaching income remains a major source of wealth.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lalit-modi-drops-harbhajan-sreesanth-slap-video-from-ipl-2008-watch-now-1756463607630">Lalit Modi drops Harbhajan–Sreesanth slap video from IPL 2008 – Watch now</a>&nbsp;In addition to his coaching salary, Dravid has long been a sought-after figure for endorsements. The former India head coach's brand portfolio includes high-profile names like Reebok, Pepsi, HDFC Life, and PUMA, which bring in approximately Rs 3.5 crore annually.&nbsp;Dravid also invests wisely in real estate. He owns a luxurious bungalow in Bengaluru’s Indiranagar, which is valued at Rs 10 crore. His car collection includes high-end models like a Porsche 911 Carrera S and a Mercedes-Benz GLE 350, showcasing his refined taste.&nbsp;Dravid’s financial success reflects his strategic approach to life after cricket. His post-retirement ventures, including selective brand partnerships and wise investments, have enabled him to maintain a steady income stream. With his wealth continuing to grow, Dravid’s legacy extends beyond cricket, marking him as one of India’s wealthiest sports icons.&nbsp;

Rahul Dravid’s net worth in 2025 reflects his successful career as a coach, brand ambassador, and investor. His wealth comes from coaching roles, endorsements, and valuable assets.

Former India cricketer Rahul Dravid stepped down as the head coach of Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, Aug 30. Despite being offered a broader role in the franchise’s leadership, Dravid chose to decline. This marks the end of his impactful tenure with the team, which began in 2011. Dravid’s resignation from Rajasthan Royals comes at a time when his career, both on and off the field, continues to flourish. His estimated net worth in 2025 is around Rs 320 crore ($40 million), reflecting his successful transition from player to coach and brand ambassador. Apart from his role as head coach of the Indian cricket team, where he earned Rs 12 crore annually, Dravid also made significant earnings through his IPL coaching role with Rajasthan Royals, which brought him around Rs 5 crore for the 2025 season. Despite stepping down, his coaching income remains a major source of wealth. Also read | Lalit Modi drops Harbhajan–Sreesanth slap video from IPL 2008 – Watch now In addition to his coaching salary, Dravid has long been a sought-after figure for endorsements. The former India head coach's brand portfolio includes high-profile names like Reebok, Pepsi, HDFC Life, and PUMA, which bring in approximately Rs 3.5 crore annually. Dravid also invests wisely in real estate. He owns a luxurious bungalow in Bengaluru’s Indiranagar, which is valued at Rs 10 crore. His car collection includes high-end models like a Porsche 911 Carrera S and a Mercedes-Benz GLE 350, showcasing his refined taste. Dravid’s financial success reflects his strategic approach to life after cricket. His post-retirement ventures, including selective brand partnerships and wise investments, have enabled him to maintain a steady income stream. With his wealth continuing to grow, Dravid’s legacy extends beyond cricket, marking him as one of India’s wealthiest sports icons.

Rahul Dravid’s net worth in 2025 reflects his successful career as a coach, brand ambassador, and investor. His wealth comes from coaching roles, endorsements, and valuable assets.

What is the net worth of former RR head coach Rahul Dravid?

Hitting six sixes in an over remains a rarity and luxury for any batter. Calicut Globsters’ batter Salman Nizar, in Kerala Cricket League (KCL) 2025, took it to another level, scoring 40 runs in an over, including smashing six shots over the boundary lines. The left-handed batter entered the record books with his momentous outing, hitting 11 sixes in 12 balls faced, remaining unbeaten on 86 off 26 balls, including 12 maximums and no boundaries. Taking on the medium pacer, Abhijeet Praveen of Adani Trivandrum Royals in the last over of the innings, Salman did the unthinkable.&nbsp;The left-hander began the over with an overhead six to long off. One wide and two off a no ball on the next two deliveries added four runs to the tally before Salman went berserk on the remaining five balls. He hit his second six of that over at deep backward point before timing the next across the deep cover, much to loud cheers from the dressing room. He hit the fourth six over deep midwicket before launching onto the off side off a wide Yorker to make it five in a row.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/digvesh-rathi-nitish-rana-slapped-heavy-fines-for-verbal-brawls-in-dpl-eliminator-1756551832162">Digvesh Rathi, Nitish Rana slapped heavy fines for verbal brawls in DPL Eliminator</a> &nbsp;Having already smashed 34 runs off five balls, he had a chance to rewrite history books, and with a final six in the same area (over deep backward point), Salman created KCL and cricket history.&nbsp;WATCH -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The final over was pure annihilation! Salman rewrote the final over with six brutal signatures. 🖋️💣<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KCLSeason2?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KCLSeason2</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KCL2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KCL2025</a> <a href="https://t.co/gVYjHxhp3H">pic.twitter.com/gVYjHxhp3H</a>&mdash; Kerala Cricket League (@KCL_t20) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCL_t20/status/1961764579962450183?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That, however, wasn’t only the highest point of his inning, as before that over, he had smashed IPL fame Basil&nbsp;Thampi for five consecutive sixes in the penultimate over to all parts of the ground.&nbsp; &nbsp;Salman started with a six at deep backward point before hitting the next over extra cover; two on deep midwicket and one on long off saw him complete 30 off just boundaries in that over. He took a single on the last ball and took strike in the final over to tear the record books. &nbsp;His out-of-the-world innings helped his team post a fighting 186 for six in 20 overs, which they also defended, winning the game by 13 runs.&nbsp; &nbsp;This win, however, takes them to fourth on the points table with three wins and as many losses in six contested matches.

Taking on the medium pacer, Abhijeet Praveen of Adani Trivandrum Royals in the last over of the innings, Salman did the unthinkable.

Hitting six sixes in an over remains a rarity and luxury for any batter. Calicut Globsters’ batter Salman Nizar, in Kerala Cricket League (KCL) 2025, took it to another level, scoring 40 runs in an over, including smashing six shots over the boundary lines. The left-handed batter entered the record books with his momentous outing, hitting 11 sixes in 12 balls faced, remaining unbeaten on 86 off 26 balls, including 12 maximums and no boundaries. Taking on the medium pacer, Abhijeet Praveen of Adani Trivandrum Royals in the last over of the innings, Salman did the unthinkable. The left-hander began the over with an overhead six to long off. One wide and two off a no ball on the next two deliveries added four runs to the tally before Salman went berserk on the remaining five balls. He hit his second six of that over at deep backward point before timing the next across the deep cover, much to loud cheers from the dressing room. He hit the fourth six over deep midwicket before launching onto the off side off a wide Yorker to make it five in a row. Also read | Digvesh Rathi, Nitish Rana slapped heavy fines for verbal brawls in DPL Eliminator Having already smashed 34 runs off five balls, he had a chance to rewrite history books, and with a final six in the same area (over deep backward point), Salman created KCL and cricket history. WATCH -

Taking on the medium pacer, Abhijeet Praveen of Adani Trivandrum Royals in the last over of the innings, Salman did the unthinkable.

Salman Nizar tears record books with 6 sixes, 40 runs in one over in KCL 2025 - WATCH

Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool moved a step closer on Saturday (Aug 30) after Newcastle United signed German international striker Nick Woltemade for a club record fee reported to be worth up to £69 million ($93 million). The two-times capped Woltemade, 23, signed "a long term deal" Newcastle said in a statement and his fee outstrips the £63 million the Magpies paid La Liga side Real Sociedad for Isak three years ago. Isak, 25, has been targeted by Liverpool and the Premier League champions are ready to make an improved offer for the Sweden striker after their initial £110 million bid was rejected.&nbsp;Woltemade, who is Newcastle's fifth signing since the end of last season, said it was a seismic change for him but the giant striker -- he is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres) -- was looking forward to it.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-to-host-de-bruyne-s-napoli-in-first-champions-league-tie-1756552832692">Manchester City to host De Bruyne’s Napoli in first Champions League tie</a>&nbsp;"From the first contact, I felt like the club really wanted me and had big plans for me," said Woltemade, who scored 17 goals in 33 matches across all competitions last term. "It's a big step in my life to leave Germany but everybody has welcomed me so well and it already feels like family.&nbsp;"I have a really good feeling from speaking to the head coach that this is the right place for me to find my best level.&nbsp;"I know the stadium from watching games on television -- it looks amazing and I know the atmosphere is crazy."&nbsp;Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who has had a frustrating time in the transfer market, said Woltemade, who was top scorer with six goals at this summer's Under-21 European Championships, was an ideal fit.&nbsp;"He fits the profile for exactly what we have been looking to add to our attacking options," said Howe. "He's strong in a lot of areas -- he has great technical ability and has proven himself to be a real threat in one of Europe's top leagues -- but he's also still at an age where he has plenty of room to develop and grow here.&nbsp;"Nick is a great character too."&nbsp;Isak, whose goals fired Newcastle to Champions League qualification and League Cup victory last season, has been training on his own since making clear his desire to move to Anfield.&nbsp;Howe had hinted for the first time on Friday he might reluctantly be open to allowing Isak to leave, because of the impact a sale would have on Newcastle's profit and sustainability calculations.&nbsp;Newcastle were forced to sell Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh last year in order to avoid a points deduction, and a sizeable return on their investment in Isak would ease any Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) concerns.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Woltemade, who is Newcastle's fifth signing since the end of last season, said it was a seismic change for him but the giant striker -- he is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres) -- was looking forward to it.

Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool moved a step closer on Saturday (Aug 30) after Newcastle United signed German international striker Nick Woltemade for a club record fee reported to be worth up to £69 million ($93 million). The two-times capped Woltemade, 23, signed "a long term deal" Newcastle said in a statement and his fee outstrips the £63 million the Magpies paid La Liga side Real Sociedad for Isak three years ago. Isak, 25, has been targeted by Liverpool and the Premier League champions are ready to make an improved offer for the Sweden striker after their initial £110 million bid was rejected. Woltemade, who is Newcastle's fifth signing since the end of last season, said it was a seismic change for him but the giant striker -- he is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres) -- was looking forward to it. Also read | Manchester City to host De Bruyne’s Napoli in first Champions League tie "From the first contact, I felt like the club really wanted me and had big plans for me," said Woltemade, who scored 17 goals in 33 matches across all competitions last term. "It's a big step in my life to leave Germany but everybody has welcomed me so well and it already feels like family. "I have a really good feeling from speaking to the head coach that this is the right place for me to find my best level. "I know the stadium from watching games on television -- it looks amazing and I know the atmosphere is crazy." Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who has had a frustrating time in the transfer market, said Woltemade, who was top scorer with six goals at this summer's Under-21 European Championships, was an ideal fit. "He fits the profile for exactly what we have been looking to add to our attacking options," said Howe. "He's strong in a lot of areas -- he has great technical ability and has proven himself to be a real threat in one of Europe's top leagues -- but he's also still at an age where he has plenty of room to develop and grow here. "Nick is a great character too." Isak, whose goals fired Newcastle to Champions League qualification and League Cup victory last season, has been training on his own since making clear his desire to move to Anfield. Howe had hinted for the first time on Friday he might reluctantly be open to allowing Isak to leave, because of the impact a sale would have on Newcastle's profit and sustainability calculations. Newcastle were forced to sell Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh last year in order to avoid a points deduction, and a sizeable return on their investment in Isak would ease any Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) concerns. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Woltemade, who is Newcastle's fifth signing since the end of last season, said it was a seismic change for him but the giant striker -- he is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres) -- was looking forward to it.

Alexander Isak nears Liverpool moves after Newcastle sign 6’6 striker Woltemade

Manchester City are set for a quick reunion with Kevin De Bruyne as the English side were handed a home fixture with the Belgian's new club Napoli to kick off their Champions League campaign. City will welcome Italian champions Napoli to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday (Sep 18), as the first matchday of this season's league phase stretches over three days.&nbsp;De Bruyne joined Napoli in June after a highly successful decade in Manchester, which included winning the Champions League with Pep Guardiola's side in 2023.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-to-not-play-in-fifa-world-cup-2026-argentina-star-gears-up-for-very-special-match-at-home-1756472960276">Messi to not play in FIFA World Cup 2026? Argentina star gears up for 'very special match' at home</a>&nbsp;The draw for the 36-team league phase of the competition took place on Thursday, but European football's governing body UEFA only released the full fixture list on Saturday.&nbsp;Club World Cup winners Chelsea start on Wednesday, September 17, with a meeting with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, the stadium where they defeated the German side in the 2012 Champions League final.&nbsp;Premier League champions Liverpool will begin their campaign at home to Atletico Madrid the same night, while Newcastle United will mark their return to Europe's elite club competition by welcoming Spanish champions Barcelona to St James' Park the following day.&nbsp;Arsenal, semi-finalists last season, will be on the road for their first fixture away to Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday, September 16.&nbsp;Tottenham Hotspur, who qualified for the Champions League after beating Manchester United in last season's Europa League final in Bilbao, start with a home game against Villarreal.&nbsp;Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain begin with a home game against Atalanta in the French capital, with other notable opening fixtures including Juventus against Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid at home to Marseille, and Ajax against last season's beaten finalists Inter Milan.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The draw for the 36-team league phase of the competition took place on Thursday, but European football's governing body UEFA only released the full fixture list on Saturday (Aug 30). 

Manchester City are set for a quick reunion with Kevin De Bruyne as the English side were handed a home fixture with the Belgian's new club Napoli to kick off their Champions League campaign. City will welcome Italian champions Napoli to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday (Sep 18), as the first matchday of this season's league phase stretches over three days. De Bruyne joined Napoli in June after a highly successful decade in Manchester, which included winning the Champions League with Pep Guardiola's side in 2023. Also read | Messi to not play in FIFA World Cup 2026? Argentina star gears up for 'very special match' at home The draw for the 36-team league phase of the competition took place on Thursday, but European football's governing body UEFA only released the full fixture list on Saturday. Club World Cup winners Chelsea start on Wednesday, September 17, with a meeting with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, the stadium where they defeated the German side in the 2012 Champions League final. Premier League champions Liverpool will begin their campaign at home to Atletico Madrid the same night, while Newcastle United will mark their return to Europe's elite club competition by welcoming Spanish champions Barcelona to St James' Park the following day. Arsenal, semi-finalists last season, will be on the road for their first fixture away to Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday, September 16. Tottenham Hotspur, who qualified for the Champions League after beating Manchester United in last season's Europa League final in Bilbao, start with a home game against Villarreal. Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain begin with a home game against Atalanta in the French capital, with other notable opening fixtures including Juventus against Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid at home to Marseille, and Ajax against last season's beaten finalists Inter Milan. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The draw for the 36-team league phase of the competition took place on Thursday, but European football's governing body UEFA only released the full fixture list on Saturday (Aug 30).&nbsp;

Manchester City to host De Bruyne’s Napoli in first Champions League tie

IPL fame Digvesh Rathi was again in the news for similar reasons he made headlines for during IPL 2025. He got involved in an ugly verbal brawl with Nitish Rana during the DPL 2025 Eliminator on Friday (Aug 29). Following their heated exchange during the South Delhi Superstarz and West Delhi Lions clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, DPL slapped Rana and Rathi, alongside others, with massive fines. The match, in which Rana hit an unbeaten 134 off 55 balls to see his team home, was also marred by uncalled-for confrontations and aggressive exchanges, the clips of which are circulating on the internet.&nbsp;While the DPL fined Rathi 80 per cent of his match fees for breaching the tournament’s Code of Conduct (Article 2.2 (Level 2), it handed Rana a 50 per cent fine for a breach under Article 2.6 (Level 1) for using a gesture that was considered obscene, offensive and insulting.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-rejects-broader-position-steps-down-as-rajasthan-royals-head-coach-ahead-of-ipl-2026-1756544168547">Rahul Dravid rejects 'broader position,' steps down as Rajasthan Royals head coach ahead of IPL 2026</a> &nbsp;Besides, Aman Bharti received a 30 per cent fine for a breach under Article 2.3 (Level 1) for using obscene language during the game; on the other hand, Sumit Mathur was fined 50 per cent under Article 2.5 (Level 1) for using gestures that could provoke an aggressive reaction from an opposition player. DPL, however, handed the harshest penalty to Krish Yadav, slapping him with 100 per cent of his match fees under Article 2.3 (Level 2), for audible obscenity and pointing his bat towards an opposition player following the use of abusive language. &nbsp;Meanwhile, these disciplinary actions followed tense verbal volleys between several players, the most famous of which included Digvesh Rathi and Nitish Rana.&nbsp; &nbsp;During the run chase, Rathi and Rana tried playing with each other’s ego, with Rana, the man in form, winning it in the end with a reverse sweep for a six. That shot led to both taking jabs at each other, with things getting heated within a fraction of a second. It got so ugly that players and on-field umpires had to intervene to separate the two, with DPL slapping penalties to ensure no one crosses the line again and breaches the game’s spirit.<h3>WATCH VIDEO –</h3>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s all happening here! 🔥🏏 Nitish Rana | Digvesh Singh Rathi | West Delhi Lions | South Delhi Superstarz | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DPL2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DPL2025</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AdaniDPL2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AdaniDPL2025</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/OfDZQGhOlr">pic.twitter.com/OfDZQGhOlr</a>&mdash; Delhi Premier League T20 (@DelhiPLT20) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiPLT20/status/1961514944106828059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There, however, was another instance involving Bharti, Sumit, and Yadav, the video of which is viral all over the internet. &nbsp;WATCH Here –&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">An intense moment in the middle! 🏏 Nitish Rana | Digvesh Singh Rathi | West Delhi Lions | South Delhi Superstarz | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DPL2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DPL2025</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AdaniDPL2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AdaniDPL2025</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/dX5E5wFDqd">pic.twitter.com/dX5E5wFDqd</a>&mdash; Delhi Premier League T20 (@DelhiPLT20) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiPLT20/status/1961531508000211371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, the West Delhi Lions will now face East Delhi Riders in Qualifier 2, with the winner advancing to the season finale to face Central Delhi Kings.

Digvesh Rathi made headlines during IPL 2025 for his heated exchanges, earning him a reputation as an on-field brat. 

IPL fame Digvesh Rathi was again in the news for similar reasons he made headlines for during IPL 2025. He got involved in an ugly verbal brawl with Nitish Rana during the DPL 2025 Eliminator on Friday (Aug 29). Following their heated exchange during the South Delhi Superstarz and West Delhi Lions clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, DPL slapped Rana and Rathi, alongside others, with massive fines. The match, in which Rana hit an unbeaten 134 off 55 balls to see his team home, was also marred by uncalled-for confrontations and aggressive exchanges, the clips of which are circulating on the internet. While the DPL fined Rathi 80 per cent of his match fees for breaching the tournament’s Code of Conduct (Article 2.2 (Level 2), it handed Rana a 50 per cent fine for a breach under Article 2.6 (Level 1) for using a gesture that was considered obscene, offensive and insulting. Also read | Rahul Dravid rejects 'broader position,' steps down as Rajasthan Royals head coach ahead of IPL 2026 Besides, Aman Bharti received a 30 per cent fine for a breach under Article 2.3 (Level 1) for using obscene language during the game; on the other hand, Sumit Mathur was fined 50 per cent under Article 2.5 (Level 1) for using gestures that could provoke an aggressive reaction from an opposition player. DPL, however, handed the harshest penalty to Krish Yadav, slapping him with 100 per cent of his match fees under Article 2.3 (Level 2), for audible obscenity and pointing his bat towards an opposition player following the use of abusive language. Meanwhile, these disciplinary actions followed tense verbal volleys between several players, the most famous of which included Digvesh Rathi and Nitish Rana. During the run chase, Rathi and Rana tried playing with each other’s ego, with Rana, the man in form, winning it in the end with a reverse sweep for a six. That shot led to both taking jabs at each other, with things getting heated within a fraction of a second. It got so ugly that players and on-field umpires had to intervene to separate the two, with DPL slapping penalties to ensure no one crosses the line again and breaches the game’s spirit. WATCH VIDEO –

Digvesh Rathi made headlines during IPL 2025 for his heated exchanges, earning him a reputation as an on-field brat.&nbsp;

Digvesh Rathi, Nitish Rana slapped heavy fines for verbal brawls in DPL Eliminator

Former India cricketer Rahul Dravid has decided to step down as head coach of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of IPL 2026. The franchise announced his exit on Saturday (Aug 30), ending a long stint that began in 2011 when he joined RR as captain. Dravid later mentored the team in 2014 and 2015, and returned last season as head coach after finishing his term with Team India. While the Royals offered him a broader position, Dravid has declined. The franchise has thanked him for his leadership and the values he brought to the team.&nbsp;In a statement on social media, the Royals wrote, “Rahul has been central to the Royals’ journey for many years. His leadership has influenced a generation of players, instilled strong values within the squad, and left an indelible mark on the culture of the franchise. The Rajasthan Royals, its players and fans worldwide extend heartfelt thanks to Rahul for his remarkable service.”&nbsp;Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-from-new-zealand-or-west-indies-cheteshwar-pujara-reveals-the-toughest-bowlers-from-these-countries-steyn-morkel-anderson-cummins-1756118888753"> Not from New Zealand or West Indies. Cheteshwar Pujara reveals toughest bowlers from THESE countries</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Official Statement <a href="https://t.co/qyHYVLVewz">pic.twitter.com/qyHYVLVewz</a>&mdash; Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1961703320625844330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>A full-circle moment with RR</h2>Dravid’s return to the Royals as head coach in IPL 2025 was viewed as a full-circle moment. Having earlier played for the side, then mentored them, he came back to lead from the dugout. Though the franchise couldn’t secure the title during his tenure, Dravid invested heavily in youth development, nurturing young Indian players and shaping the team’s future core.<h2>What’s next for the Royals?</h2>With Dravid stepping aside, the Rajasthan Royals now face the task of finding a new head coach ahead of IPL 2026. The management might search both Indian and overseas candidates as they look for the right successor to guide the team forward. The new coach will have big shoes to fill and the responsibility of carrying the Royals’ legacy forward.

Rahul Dravid has decided to step down as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach after enjoying a successful second spell with the IPL franchise on Saturday (Aug 30). The franchise offered him a broader role, but he declined, ending his long association with the Royals.

Former India cricketer Rahul Dravid has decided to step down as head coach of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of IPL 2026. The franchise announced his exit on Saturday (Aug 30), ending a long stint that began in 2011 when he joined RR as captain. Dravid later mentored the team in 2014 and 2015, and returned last season as head coach after finishing his term with Team India. While the Royals offered him a broader position, Dravid has declined. The franchise has thanked him for his leadership and the values he brought to the team. In a statement on social media, the Royals wrote, “Rahul has been central to the Royals’ journey for many years. His leadership has influenced a generation of players, instilled strong values within the squad, and left an indelible mark on the culture of the franchise. The Rajasthan Royals, its players and fans worldwide extend heartfelt thanks to Rahul for his remarkable service.” Also read | Not from New Zealand or West Indies. Cheteshwar Pujara reveals toughest bowlers from THESE countries

Rahul Dravid has decided to step down as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach after enjoying a successful second spell with the IPL franchise on Saturday (Aug 30). The franchise offered him a broader role, but he declined, ending his long association with the Royals.

Rahul Dravid rejects 'broader position,' steps down as Rajasthan Royals head coach ahead of IPL 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday announced a financial aid of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of 11 victims who lost their lives in a stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the team's IPL 2025 title win celebrations on June 4. "Our hearts broke on June 4, 2025. We lost eleven members of the RCB family. They were part of us. Part of what makes our city, our community &amp; our team unique. Their absence will echo in the memories of each one of us. No amount of support can ever fill the space they’ve left behind," RCB wrote in a post on social media.&nbsp;"But as a first step, and with the deepest respect, RCB has extended ₹25 lakh each to their families. Not just as financial aid, but as a promise of compassion, unity, and ongoing care. This is also the beginning of 𝗥𝗖𝗕 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗦: a long-term commitment for meaningful action that begins by honouring their memory. Every step forward will reflect what the fans feel, expect, and deserve," it added.&nbsp;RCB’s long-awaited IPL triumph on June 3, clinched with a six-run win over Punjab Kings at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, quickly turned tragic. Less than 24 hours later, celebrations in Bengaluru spiralled into chaos as a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured over 50. While the team celebrated inside, heartbreak unfolded on the streets, sparking national outrage.&nbsp;Eighty-four days later, following public criticism, arrests and multiple complaints, RCB launched its 'RCB Cares' initiative, pledging Rs 25 lakh to each bereaved family and support for the injured. Many, however, viewed the move as delayed damage control rather than genuine compassion.&nbsp;The Karnataka government squarely placed the blame on the franchise for the lapses that led to the tragedy. While RCB issued a brief condolence message shortly after the incident, it was soon overshadowed by their prolonged silence. Their three-month absence from the conversation left many supporters feeling neglected and abandoned during one of the darkest moments in the team’s history.&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.

RCB extends $28,000 each to families of 11 stampede victims

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday announced a financial aid of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of 11 victims who lost their lives in a stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the team's IPL 2025 title win celebrations on June 4. "Our hearts broke on June 4, 2025. We lost eleven members of the RCB family. They were part of us. Part of what makes our city, our community & our team unique. Their absence will echo in the memories of each one of us. No amount of support can ever fill the space they’ve left behind," RCB wrote in a post on social media. "But as a first step, and with the deepest respect, RCB has extended ₹25 lakh each to their families. Not just as financial aid, but as a promise of compassion, unity, and ongoing care. This is also the beginning of 𝗥𝗖𝗕 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗦: a long-term commitment for meaningful action that begins by honouring their memory. Every step forward will reflect what the fans feel, expect, and deserve," it added. RCB’s long-awaited IPL triumph on June 3, clinched with a six-run win over Punjab Kings at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, quickly turned tragic. Less than 24 hours later, celebrations in Bengaluru spiralled into chaos as a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured over 50. While the team celebrated inside, heartbreak unfolded on the streets, sparking national outrage. Eighty-four days later, following public criticism, arrests and multiple complaints, RCB launched its 'RCB Cares' initiative, pledging Rs 25 lakh to each bereaved family and support for the injured. Many, however, viewed the move as delayed damage control rather than genuine compassion. The Karnataka government squarely placed the blame on the franchise for the lapses that led to the tragedy. While RCB issued a brief condolence message shortly after the incident, it was soon overshadowed by their prolonged silence. Their three-month absence from the conversation left many supporters feeling neglected and abandoned during one of the darkest moments in the team’s history. 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.

RCB’s long-awaited IPL triumph on June 3, clinched with a six-run win over Punjab Kings quickly turned tragic. Less than 24 hours later, celebrations in Bengaluru spiralled into chaos as a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured over 50

India’s star men’s doubles duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, continued their sparkling run at the ongoing BWF World Championships 2025, sealing a semifinal spot with a commanding win over Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in Paris on Friday (August 29). At the Adidas Arena, the world no. 3 pair produced a clinical performance to register a straight-games win (21-12, 21-19) against their long-time rivals.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pkl-2025-puneri-paltan-clinch-thriller-against-bengaluru-bulls-in-first-ever-league-stage-tie-breaker-1756524081563">PKL 2025: Puneri Paltan clinch thriller against Bengaluru&nbsp;Bulls in first-ever league stage tie-breaker</a>&nbsp;The triumph carried added weight—just a year ago, at the Paris Olympics 2024, Chia and Soh had ended India’s medal hopes in the quarterfinals. This time, Satwik and Chirag turned the script around with poise and authority. “It was a rematch of sorts from the Olympics, same arena, same stage. We finally got some redemption,” the pair said after the win. “We’ve always had tough battles with them at the biggest events, and we’re really happy we could win today.”&nbsp;For the Indians, it was not only about revenge but also about history. The victory guarantees them a second World Championships medal after their maiden podium finish in 2022, where, ironically, they lost in the semifinals to the same Malaysian duo.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl-news-cowboys-parsons-trade-jerry-jones-says-deal-in-best-interest-of-our-organization-1756479126243">Cowboys trade Micah Parsons: Jerry Jones says deal in 'best interest of our organization'</a>&nbsp;Satwik credited their composure in pressure moments. “Even when they were closing the gap, I told myself not to hurry. One point at a time. We sensed they were under pressure, so we just stuck to our A game,” he explained. With confidence soaring, the Indians will next face China’s Liu Yi and Chen Bo Yang, the world no. 11 pair, in the semifinals on Saturday. While many may tag the Chinese duo as underdogs, Chirag remained cautious: “At this stage, there are no underdogs. We’ll take it one match at a time and focus on ourselves.”

BWF World Championships I think we finally got some redemption Satwik Chirag after booking spot in semis

India’s star men’s doubles duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, continued their sparkling run at the ongoing BWF World Championships 2025, sealing a semifinal spot with a commanding win over Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in Paris on Friday (August 29). At the Adidas Arena, the world no. 3 pair produced a clinical performance to register a straight-games win (21-12, 21-19) against their long-time rivals. Also Read: PKL 2025: Puneri Paltan clinch thriller against Bengaluru Bulls in first-ever league stage tie-breaker The triumph carried added weight—just a year ago, at the Paris Olympics 2024, Chia and Soh had ended India’s medal hopes in the quarterfinals. This time, Satwik and Chirag turned the script around with poise and authority. “It was a rematch of sorts from the Olympics, same arena, same stage. We finally got some redemption,” the pair said after the win. “We’ve always had tough battles with them at the biggest events, and we’re really happy we could win today.” For the Indians, it was not only about revenge but also about history. The victory guarantees them a second World Championships medal after their maiden podium finish in 2022, where, ironically, they lost in the semifinals to the same Malaysian duo. Also Read: Cowboys trade Micah Parsons: Jerry Jones says deal in 'best interest of our organization' Satwik credited their composure in pressure moments. “Even when they were closing the gap, I told myself not to hurry. One point at a time. We sensed they were under pressure, so we just stuck to our A game,” he explained. With confidence soaring, the Indians will next face China’s Liu Yi and Chen Bo Yang, the world no. 11 pair, in the semifinals on Saturday. While many may tag the Chinese duo as underdogs, Chirag remained cautious: “At this stage, there are no underdogs. We’ll take it one match at a time and focus on ourselves.”

The Indian pair outplayed Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in straight sets with a score line of 21-12 and 21-19 in the quarterfinals

BWF World Championships — 'I think we finally got some redemption': Satwik-Chirag avenge Olympic heartbreak, book semis spot

In the opening game of the season 12, Puneri Paltan and Bengaluru Bulls scripted history by playing the first-ever tie-breaker in the Pro Kabaddi League. After the match ended 32-32 in regulation time, Puneri Paltan, the PKL Season 10 champions, won the tie-breaker 6-4 at the Vishwanadh Sports Club in Vizag on Friday (August 29). Aditya Shinde was the star for Pune with 9 points, while Gaurav Khatri picked up a High Five in defense.&nbsp;Also Read: US Open 2025: Novak Djokovic into last 16 as Sabalenka avenges defeat&nbsp;Akash Shinde shone for Bengaluru Bulls with his first Super 10 of the season, but Ankush Rathee’s High Five for the Bulls went in vain. The game began at a fast pace, with Aslam Inamdar and Akash Shinde scoring the first points for their teams. Aditya Shinde’s Super Raid gave Puneri Paltan an early edge, but Akash Shinde fought back with a double raid that also brought up his 300th raid point in PKL. The defenses stayed strong, and the score was tied 13-13 at half-time.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chennai-gears-up-for-india-s-first-all-armageddon-chess-tournament-1756484949505">Chennai gears up for India’s first all-Armageddon chess tournament</a>&nbsp;In the second half, Akash Shinde’s sharp raiding gave the Bulls a three-point lead, but Pankaj Mohite turned the game with a big 4-point raid for Pune. A Super Tackle from Aashish Malik put Bengaluru back ahead, only for Aslam Inamdar to level the scores again. Pune then grabbed a lead by inflicting an All Out, but Akash Shinde’s brilliance brought Bengaluru right back. After 40 minutes, the teams were still tied at 32-32, taking the match into a tie-breaker for the first time in PKL history.&nbsp;Both teams exchanged successful raids in the tie-breaker, staying neck-and-neck. But Aslam Inamdar’s crucial raid and Dheeraj’s decisive tackle gave Puneri Paltan a 6-4 win in the tie-breaker, sealing their place in history.

PKL 2025: Puneri Paltan clinch thriller against Bengaluru Bulls in first-ever league stage tie-breaker

In the opening game of the season 12, Puneri Paltan and Bengaluru Bulls scripted history by playing the first-ever tie-breaker in the Pro Kabaddi League. After the match ended 32-32 in regulation time, Puneri Paltan, the PKL Season 10 champions, won the tie-breaker 6-4 at the Vishwanadh Sports Club in Vizag on Friday (August 29). Aditya Shinde was the star for Pune with 9 points, while Gaurav Khatri picked up a High Five in defense. Also Read: US Open 2025: Novak Djokovic into last 16 as Sabalenka avenges defeat Akash Shinde shone for Bengaluru Bulls with his first Super 10 of the season, but Ankush Rathee’s High Five for the Bulls went in vain. The game began at a fast pace, with Aslam Inamdar and Akash Shinde scoring the first points for their teams. Aditya Shinde’s Super Raid gave Puneri Paltan an early edge, but Akash Shinde fought back with a double raid that also brought up his 300th raid point in PKL. The defenses stayed strong, and the score was tied 13-13 at half-time. Also Read: Chennai gears up for India’s first all-Armageddon chess tournament In the second half, Akash Shinde’s sharp raiding gave the Bulls a three-point lead, but Pankaj Mohite turned the game with a big 4-point raid for Pune. A Super Tackle from Aashish Malik put Bengaluru back ahead, only for Aslam Inamdar to level the scores again. Pune then grabbed a lead by inflicting an All Out, but Akash Shinde’s brilliance brought Bengaluru right back. After 40 minutes, the teams were still tied at 32-32, taking the match into a tie-breaker for the first time in PKL history. Both teams exchanged successful raids in the tie-breaker, staying neck-and-neck. But Aslam Inamdar’s crucial raid and Dheeraj’s decisive tackle gave Puneri Paltan a 6-4 win in the tie-breaker, sealing their place in history.

On Saturday (August 30),Telugu Titans will lock horns against UP Yoddhas, while in the second match, U Mumba will face Gujarat Giants

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic edged closer to a semi-final showdown at the US Open on Friday as Aryna Sabalenka avenged the memory of a bitter defeat to power into the last 16. Spanish second seed Alcaraz and Serbian legend Djokovic both booked their passage into the last 16 with comfortable victories and now stand just two wins away from meeting in the last four.&nbsp;Alcaraz breezed past Italian 32nd seed Luciano Darderi in emphatic fashion, winning 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 on the Arthur Ashe Stadium while Djokovic, who is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, took care of Britain's Cam Norrie 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-3. Alcaraz's one hour 44-minute victory sends the 2022 US Open champion into a meeting on Sunday against France's Arthur Rinderknech, who defeated compatriot Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.&nbsp;The five-time Grand Slam singles champion admitted he had been nervous about having to open the day's play at 11.30am local time. "I'm not an early morning person so it's difficult for me to wake up in the morning," Alcaraz said. “One of the good things today though I woke up early, did the warm up and felt good.” Alcaraz needed a medical timeout while leading 5-4 in the second set for treatment on his right knee, but later said he had no injury concerns.<h2>Djokovic milestone</h2>Djokovic, 38, meanwhile was clinical in his win over Norrie in the evening session, which sends him into a fourth round tie against German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff. "Coming into any match you really want to win in straight sets without any drama but obviously that's not possible," said Djokovic after becoming the oldest man to reach the US Open last 16 since Jimmy Connors in 1991.&nbsp;"It's good that I get tested," he added. “I'm still trying to find my rhythm and my groove on the court.” Djokovic's fourth round opponent Struff dealt a blow to American hopes of a first home US Open champion since 2003 with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) defeat of popular 17th seed Frances Tiafoe. "I don't know how to recover from this, to be honest with you," Tiafoe said. "I haven't been this down in a very, very long time."&nbsp;Tiafoe's exit came after another disappointing loss for US fans, with big-serving Ben Shelton departing the Louis Armstrong Stadium in tears after being forced to retire after the fourth set of his match against French veteran Adrian Mannarino. Shelton, 22, was leading 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 when he began to feel pain in his left shoulder. He played on but threw in the towel after Mannarino took the fourth set. "I'm not a guy who would retire if I could continue," said a dejected Shelton.<h2>Sabalenka revenge</h2>In the women's draw, meanwhile, world number one and defending champion Sabalenka avenged her 2021 US Open semi-final defeat to Leylah Fernandez with a straight-sets victory over the Canadian 31st seed on Armstrong. Sabalenka was left distraught after being upset by the unheralded Fernandez four years ago with a place in what would have been her first Grand Slam final there for the taking.&nbsp;But the 27-year-old from Belarus made sure there was no repeat on Friday, seeing off Fernandez 6-3, 7-6 (7/2). Sabalenka's victory saw her extend her incredible winning streak in tie-breaks to 18. "I wanted this revenge badly," Sabalenka said afterwards. "It was a tough lesson for me back then. Since then, we never played again.&nbsp;"I just wanted to prove to myself that the lesson was learned and that I developed as a player and I could get this win."Sabalenka faces unseeded Spaniard Cristina Bucsa in the next round. Bucsa moved on Friday with an upset 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Belgian 19th seed Elise Mertens.&nbsp;Elsewhere, Kazakh ninth seed Elena Rybakina outclassed Britain's Emma Raducanu, winning 6-1, 6-2 to move into a last 16 tie against 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, a 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 victory over Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini. In other women's draw matches, American fourth seed Jessica Pegula comfortably defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 7-5 to reach the fourth round, where she will face compatriot Ann Li.

US Open 2025: Novak Djokovic into last 16 as Sabalenka avenges defeat

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic edged closer to a semi-final showdown at the US Open on Friday as Aryna Sabalenka avenged the memory of a bitter defeat to power into the last 16. Spanish second seed Alcaraz and Serbian legend Djokovic both booked their passage into the last 16 with comfortable victories and now stand just two wins away from meeting in the last four. Alcaraz breezed past Italian 32nd seed Luciano Darderi in emphatic fashion, winning 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 on the Arthur Ashe Stadium while Djokovic, who is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, took care of Britain's Cam Norrie 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-3. Alcaraz's one hour 44-minute victory sends the 2022 US Open champion into a meeting on Sunday against France's Arthur Rinderknech, who defeated compatriot Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. The five-time Grand Slam singles champion admitted he had been nervous about having to open the day's play at 11.30am local time. "I'm not an early morning person so it's difficult for me to wake up in the morning," Alcaraz said. “One of the good things today though I woke up early, did the warm up and felt good.” Alcaraz needed a medical timeout while leading 5-4 in the second set for treatment on his right knee, but later said he had no injury concerns. Djokovic milestone Djokovic, 38, meanwhile was clinical in his win over Norrie in the evening session, which sends him into a fourth round tie against German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff. "Coming into any match you really want to win in straight sets without any drama but obviously that's not possible," said Djokovic after becoming the oldest man to reach the US Open last 16 since Jimmy Connors in 1991. "It's good that I get tested," he added. “I'm still trying to find my rhythm and my groove on the court.” Djokovic's fourth round opponent Struff dealt a blow to American hopes of a first home US Open champion since 2003 with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) defeat of popular 17th seed Frances Tiafoe. "I don't know how to recover from this, to be honest with you," Tiafoe said. "I haven't been this down in a very, very long time." Tiafoe's exit came after another disappointing loss for US fans, with big-serving Ben Shelton departing the Louis Armstrong Stadium in tears after being forced to retire after the fourth set of his match against French veteran Adrian Mannarino. Shelton, 22, was leading 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 when he began to feel pain in his left shoulder. He played on but threw in the towel after Mannarino took the fourth set. "I'm not a guy who would retire if I could continue," said a dejected Shelton. Sabalenka revenge In the women's draw, meanwhile, world number one and defending champion Sabalenka avenged her 2021 US Open semi-final defeat to Leylah Fernandez with a straight-sets victory over the Canadian 31st seed on Armstrong. Sabalenka was left distraught after being upset by the unheralded Fernandez four years ago with a place in what would have been her first Grand Slam final there for the taking. But the 27-year-old from Belarus made sure there was no repeat on Friday, seeing off Fernandez 6-3, 7-6 (7/2). Sabalenka's victory saw her extend her incredible winning streak in tie-breaks to 18. "I wanted this revenge badly," Sabalenka said afterwards. "It was a tough lesson for me back then. Since then, we never played again. "I just wanted to prove to myself that the lesson was learned and that I developed as a player and I could get this win." Sabalenka faces unseeded Spaniard Cristina Bucsa in the next round. Bucsa moved on Friday with an upset 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Belgian 19th seed Elise Mertens. Elsewhere, Kazakh ninth seed Elena Rybakina outclassed Britain's Emma Raducanu, winning 6-1, 6-2 to move into a last 16 tie against 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, a 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 victory over Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini. In other women's draw matches, American fourth seed Jessica Pegula comfortably defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 7-5 to reach the fourth round, where she will face compatriot Ann Li.

Djokovic, 38, meanwhile was clinical in his win over Norrie in the evening session, which sends him into a fourth round tie against German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff

Carlos Alcaraz coasted into the last 16 of the US Open on Friday with a straight-sets win despite sparking fitness concerns as he received treatment for a knee issue. Alcaraz beat Italian 32nd seed Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 and will face Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the next round. The Spaniard took a medical timeout late in the second set after complaining of knee pain but won the final seven games once play resumed and said he was "not worried about it".Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/osaka-calls-ostapenko-comments-on-townsend-at-us-open-worst-thing-to-say-to-a-black-player-1756469179283">Osaka calls Ostapenko comments on Townsend at US Open 'worst thing to say to a Black player'</a>Alcaraz surrendered only two points on serve in the opening set but Darderi put up more of a challenge in the second, battling back from a break down before his rival summoned the trainer at 5-4."I'm feeling good - I just asked for him when he (Darderi) broke my serve because I felt something wasn't working great in the knee but after five or six points it was gone," said Alcaraz."I just asked the physio to have a look at it because I wanted to be feeling good physically for that last set."Darderi doubled-faulted while trying to stay in the second set and Alcaraz wrapped up a 42nd win in his last 44 matches, quickly rattling through the third set."I just tried to start awake, that was important. Starting at 11:30 my first goal is to start well with a good energy and rhythm," said Alcaraz, who was first in action on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.“I'm not an early morning person so it's difficult for me to wake up in the morning. One of the good things today though I woke up early, did the warm up and felt good.”<h2>Elena Rybakina routs Raducanu</h2>Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina demolished Britain's Emma Raducanu to reach the fourth round of the US Open for the first time on Friday.The Moscow-born ninth seed from Kazakhstan, whose previous best result in New York was a pair of third round appearances, overpowered Raducanu to win 6-1, 6-2 in one hour two minutes."Throughout the whole years, for some reason the US Open wasn't a success for me but hopefully this year that will change," Rybakina said in her on-court interview.The unseeded Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, had looked in confident form en route to Friday's clash with Rybakina on the Louis Armstrong Stadium showcourt.But the 22-year-old was in trouble from the outset against Rybakina, the Kazakh breaking her serve right away to seize the early advantage.Raducanu had no answer to Rybakina's superior power as the Kazakh reeled off a series of thumping forehand winners before completing a convincing win.Rybakina is playing in New York with controversial coach Stefano Rukov restored to her viewing box after the WTA lifted a suspension against the Croat earlier this month.Vukov had been barred from attending all tournaments by the WTA after being found to have breached the tour's code of conduct.He had been fired by Rybakina just before last year's US Open, and subsequently bombarded the player with requests to return which left her fearing for her safety according to details of a WTA investigation reported by The Athletic.Vukov was banned for a year in January after the WTA ruled he had engaged in "abuse of authority and abusive behaviour" towards Rybakina.However Rybakina subsequently reunited with Vukov, who has coached her this season between events. He was allowed to return to courtside at the Cincinnati Open after successfully appealing against his suspension.

US Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz beat Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in men's singles while Elena Rybakina routed Britain's Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in women's singles R3 matches to advance.

Carlos Alcaraz coasted into the last 16 of the US Open on Friday with a straight-sets win despite sparking fitness concerns as he received treatment for a knee issue. Alcaraz beat Italian 32nd seed Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 and will face Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the next round. The Spaniard took a medical timeout late in the second set after complaining of knee pain but won the final seven games once play resumed and said he was "not worried about it". Also Read - Osaka calls Ostapenko comments on Townsend at US Open 'worst thing to say to a Black player' Alcaraz surrendered only two points on serve in the opening set but Darderi put up more of a challenge in the second, battling back from a break down before his rival summoned the trainer at 5-4. "I'm feeling good - I just asked for him when he (Darderi) broke my serve because I felt something wasn't working great in the knee but after five or six points it was gone," said Alcaraz. "I just asked the physio to have a look at it because I wanted to be feeling good physically for that last set." Darderi doubled-faulted while trying to stay in the second set and Alcaraz wrapped up a 42nd win in his last 44 matches, quickly rattling through the third set. "I just tried to start awake, that was important. Starting at 11:30 my first goal is to start well with a good energy and rhythm," said Alcaraz, who was first in action on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. “I'm not an early morning person so it's difficult for me to wake up in the morning. One of the good things today though I woke up early, did the warm up and felt good.” Elena Rybakina routs Raducanu Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina demolished Britain's Emma Raducanu to reach the fourth round of the US Open for the first time on Friday. The Moscow-born ninth seed from Kazakhstan, whose previous best result in New York was a pair of third round appearances, overpowered Raducanu to win 6-1, 6-2 in one hour two minutes. "Throughout the whole years, for some reason the US Open wasn't a success for me but hopefully this year that will change," Rybakina said in her on-court interview. The unseeded Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, had looked in confident form en route to Friday's clash with Rybakina on the Louis Armstrong Stadium showcourt. But the 22-year-old was in trouble from the outset against Rybakina, the Kazakh breaking her serve right away to seize the early advantage. Raducanu had no answer to Rybakina's superior power as the Kazakh reeled off a series of thumping forehand winners before completing a convincing win. Rybakina is playing in New York with controversial coach Stefano Rukov restored to her viewing box after the WTA lifted a suspension against the Croat earlier this month. Vukov had been barred from attending all tournaments by the WTA after being found to have breached the tour's code of conduct. He had been fired by Rybakina just before last year's US Open, and subsequently bombarded the player with requests to return which left her fearing for her safety according to details of a WTA investigation reported by The Athletic. Vukov was banned for a year in January after the WTA ruled he had engaged in "abuse of authority and abusive behaviour" towards Rybakina. However Rybakina subsequently reunited with Vukov, who has coached her this season between events. He was allowed to return to courtside at the Cincinnati Open after successfully appealing against his suspension.

US Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz beat Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in men's singles while Elena Rybakina routed Britain's Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in women's singles R3 matches to advance.

US Open 2025: Alcaraz, Rybakina win round 3 matches in straight sets to advance

A total of eight players have taken an ODI hattrick for Sri Lanka. Chaminda Vaas was the first one to take one in 2001 while Dilshan Madushanka is the latest one. Check all players to take a hattrick in ODIs for Sri Lanka.

A total of eight players have taken an ODI hattrick for Sri Lanka. Chaminda Vaas was the first one to take one in 2001 while Dilshan Madushanka is the latest one. Check all players to take a hattrick in ODIs for Sri Lanka.

From Chaminda Vaas to Farveez Maharoof: Meet 8 players to take ODI hattrick for Sri Lanka, only one against India

Chennai, the heart of Indian chess, is set to witness a bold new format of the game with Red Bull Armageddon, India’s first-ever all-Armageddon chess tournament, on Sunday (August 31) at the Chennai Convention Centre. Unlike traditional formats, the all-Armageddon format leaves no room for draws. Every game must produce a winner — White plays with six minutes, Black with five, and in case of a tie, Black takes the win. The unique pyramid-style competition ensures that players keep advancing until a single champion emerges, making the contest both visually gripping and spectator-friendly.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sl-vs-zim-1st-odi-madushanka-hattrick-takes-sri-lanka-home-by-7-runs-in-thriller-1756485751882">SL vs ZIM, 1st ODI: Madushanka hattrick takes Sri Lanka home by 7 runs in thriller</a>&nbsp;The tournament celebrates mental performance, showcasing the power of focus, strategy, and handling pressure under intense time controls. Leading the experience will be two of India’s finest chess personalities — International Master Tania Sachdev and Grandmaster M. Shyam Sundar.&nbsp;A Commonwealth Gold medalist and one of the most recognised chess commentators globally, Tania will guide audiences through live commentary, puzzles, and interactive “Hand &amp; Brain” sessions with fans. GM Shyam Sundar, India’s 31st Grandmaster and coach of the Indian women’s team that recently clinched historic medals at the World Cup, will add his expertise and energy to the event.&nbsp;&nbsp;Both will also interact with the media and fans during the tournament. Chennai — home to legends like Viswanathan Anand and young prodigies such as Gukesh — has long been regarded as India’s chess capital. Having hosted the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad in 2022, the city is the perfect stage for this thrilling new chapter in chess.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl-news-cowboys-parsons-trade-jerry-jones-says-deal-in-best-interest-of-our-organization-1756479126243">Cowboys trade Micah Parsons: Jerry Jones says deal in 'best interest of our organization'</a>&nbsp;With its no-draws, high-pressure battles, the tournament promises to bring chess closer to the excitement of a live sport, engaging both enthusiasts and casual fans alike.

Chennai gears up for India’s first all-Armageddon chess tournament

Chennai, the heart of Indian chess, is set to witness a bold new format of the game with Red Bull Armageddon, India’s first-ever all-Armageddon chess tournament, on Sunday (August 31) at the Chennai Convention Centre. Unlike traditional formats, the all-Armageddon format leaves no room for draws. Every game must produce a winner — White plays with six minutes, Black with five, and in case of a tie, Black takes the win. The unique pyramid-style competition ensures that players keep advancing until a single champion emerges, making the contest both visually gripping and spectator-friendly. Also Read: SL vs ZIM, 1st ODI: Madushanka hattrick takes Sri Lanka home by 7 runs in thriller The tournament celebrates mental performance, showcasing the power of focus, strategy, and handling pressure under intense time controls. Leading the experience will be two of India’s finest chess personalities — International Master Tania Sachdev and Grandmaster M. Shyam Sundar. A Commonwealth Gold medalist and one of the most recognised chess commentators globally, Tania will guide audiences through live commentary, puzzles, and interactive “Hand & Brain” sessions with fans. GM Shyam Sundar, India’s 31st Grandmaster and coach of the Indian women’s team that recently clinched historic medals at the World Cup, will add his expertise and energy to the event. Both will also interact with the media and fans during the tournament. Chennai — home to legends like Viswanathan Anand and young prodigies such as Gukesh — has long been regarded as India’s chess capital. Having hosted the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad in 2022, the city is the perfect stage for this thrilling new chapter in chess. Also Read: Cowboys trade Micah Parsons: Jerry Jones says deal in 'best interest of our organization' With its no-draws, high-pressure battles, the tournament promises to bring chess closer to the excitement of a live sport, engaging both enthusiasts and casual fans alike.

Chennai set to host India’s first all-Armageddon chess tournament on Aug 31, 2025 — a no-draw, fast-paced format led by Tania Sachdev &amp; Grand Master Shyam Sundar

Sri Lanka pacer Dilshan Madushanka entered the ODI history record books on Friday (Aug 29) after taking a hattrick in the first of three matches against Zimbabwe in Harare. Madushanka's hattrick came in the last over the match and ensured that a valiant Zimbabwe fall seven-runs short during the 299-run chase. Madushanka is the eighth Sri Lanka bowler to take a hattrick in ODIs with retired pacer Chaminda Vaas being the first one and spinner Maheesh Theekshana being the last one before him. Madushanka finished with the figures of 4/62 and was named Player of the Match as well.<h2>Madushanka hattrick denies Zimbabwe win</h2>Zimbabwe needed 10 runs off the last six balls with skipper Sikandar Raza on crease at 92 along with Tony Munyonga (42). The duo had already added 128 runs for the sixth wicket and looked comfortable to take the team home. Madushanka, however, had other plans.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-to-undergo-newly-introduced-bronco-test-at-bcci-coe-ahead-of-australia-odis-1756464464298">Rohit to undergo newly-introduced Bronco test at BCCI’s CoE ahead of AUS ODIs</a>The SL pacer uprooted Raza's middle stump with a perfect yorker before removing Brad Evans on the next ball. Richard Ngarava then tried to give strike to Munyonga but found his stumps shattered as well. Madushanka gave just two runs on the next three balls and brought his team home in a thriller.Earlier, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first. The home team kept striking at regular intervals but fifties from opener Pathum Nissanka (76), Janith Liyanage (70 not out), and Kusal Mendis (57) took Sri Lanka to 298/6 in 50 overs on a not-so-easy pitch.<h2>Players to take ODI hattrick for Sri Lanka</h2>Chaminda Vaas - 2001 (vs Zimbabwe) and 2003 (vs Bangladesh) Lasith Malinga - 2007 (vs South Africa), 2011 (vs Kenya), 2011 (vs Australia) Farveez Maharoof - 2010 (vs India) Thisara Perera - 2012 (vs Pakistan) Wanindu Hasaranga - 2017 (vs Zimbabwe) Shehan Madushanka - 2018 (vs Bangladesh) Maheesh Theekshana - 2025 (vs New Zealand) Dilshan Madushanka - 2025 (vs Zimbabwe)&nbsp;

SL vs ZIM, 1st ODI: Defending 10 runs in last over, Madushanka took three wickets on first three balls to take Sri Lanka home by seven runs in Harare to help the team take 1-0 lead in three-match series.

Sri Lanka pacer Dilshan Madushanka entered the ODI history record books on Friday (Aug 29) after taking a hattrick in the first of three matches against Zimbabwe in Harare. Madushanka's hattrick came in the last over the match and ensured that a valiant Zimbabwe fall seven-runs short during the 299-run chase. Madushanka is the eighth Sri Lanka bowler to take a hattrick in ODIs with retired pacer Chaminda Vaas being the first one and spinner Maheesh Theekshana being the last one before him. Madushanka finished with the figures of 4/62 and was named Player of the Match as well. Madushanka hattrick denies Zimbabwe win Zimbabwe needed 10 runs off the last six balls with skipper Sikandar Raza on crease at 92 along with Tony Munyonga (42). The duo had already added 128 runs for the sixth wicket and looked comfortable to take the team home. Madushanka, however, had other plans. Also Read - Rohit to undergo newly-introduced Bronco test at BCCI’s CoE ahead of AUS ODIs The SL pacer uprooted Raza's middle stump with a perfect yorker before removing Brad Evans on the next ball. Richard Ngarava then tried to give strike to Munyonga but found his stumps shattered as well. Madushanka gave just two runs on the next three balls and brought his team home in a thriller. Earlier, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first. The home team kept striking at regular intervals but fifties from opener Pathum Nissanka (76), Janith Liyanage (70 not out), and Kusal Mendis (57) took Sri Lanka to 298/6 in 50 overs on a not-so-easy pitch. Players to take ODI hattrick for Sri Lanka Chaminda Vaas - 2001 (vs Zimbabwe) and 2003 (vs Bangladesh) Lasith Malinga - 2007 (vs South Africa), 2011 (vs Kenya), 2011 (vs Australia) Farveez Maharoof - 2010 (vs India) Thisara Perera - 2012 (vs Pakistan) Wanindu Hasaranga - 2017 (vs Zimbabwe) Shehan Madushanka - 2018 (vs Bangladesh) Maheesh Theekshana - 2025 (vs New Zealand) Dilshan Madushanka - 2025 (vs Zimbabwe)

SL vs ZIM, 1st ODI: Defending 10 runs in last over, Madushanka took three wickets on first three balls to take Sri Lanka home by seven runs in Harare to help the team take 1-0 lead in three-match series.

SL vs ZIM, 1st ODI: Madushanka hattrick takes Sri Lanka home by 7 runs in thriller

Following a series of disappointing performances with the bat and in captaincy, Mohammad Rizwan’s role as Pakistan’s ODI captain is at risk. The PCB is planning a leadership change, with three possible successors already in the conversation.

Following a series of disappointing performances with the bat and in captaincy, Mohammad Rizwan’s role as Pakistan’s ODI captain is at risk. The PCB is planning a leadership change, with three possible successors already in the conversation.

Three players who could replace Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain — No.2 might shock you

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