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Jude Bellingham scored the winner in stoppage time as Real Madrid twice came from behind to inflict more misery on Manchester City with a 3-2 Champions League play-off, first leg win at the Etihad on Tuesday.
Erling Haaland twice put City in front with his first goals in five games against Madrid.
But the holders hit back through Kylian Mbappe and Brahim Diaz before Bellingham stroked home in the 92nd minute on his return to England.
"It was a weird one. We played some of our best football of the season and ended up behind," said Bellingham
"I don't care what form City are in they are still an unbelievable team. It's always tricky to play against them and we finally took the chance at the end."
City now have a monumental task ahead to progress to the last 16 when the sides meet again in the Spanish capital on February 19.
"It's a feeling of anger and frustration," said City defender John Stones.
"We need to see games out better. The manager said we need to take accountability for what we do on the pitch. We need to step up when these bad moments happen."
The clubs were meeting for the fourth consecutive season in the Champions League, with the winners in each of the previous three years going on to lift the trophy.
If that familiarity did not breed enough contempt, Madrid's decision to boycott City midfielder Rodri's crowning as Ballon d'Or winner last year added extra animosity as the Spanish giants took umbrage at Vinicius Junior being overlooked for the prize.
Rodri's absence since September with a season-ending knee injury has played a major role in City's decline this season as the English champions sit 15 points off the pace in the Premier League.
In recent years Madrid have been pegged back on the ropes at the Etihad, twice conceding four times in three visits.
This time the visitors had a series of early chances to sow more doubt in City minds.
Vinicius' every touch was booed and the home fans were delighted when he had a penalty ruled out for straying offside before he was wiped out by Ederson.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-trophy-2025-jasprit-bumrah-ruled-out-due-to-back-injury-harshit-rana-roped-in-as-replacement-8712214" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Champions Trophy 2025: Jasprit Bumrah ruled out due to back injury; Harshit Rana roped in as replacement</a>
<h2>City punished late</h2>
Pep Guardiola's men hit the visitors with a sucker punch on 19 minutes thanks to a brilliant team goal.
Jack Grealish's dinked cross was chested down by Josko Gvardiol into Haaland's path, who stayed millimetres onside before stroking home his 26th goal of the season.
Real came roaring back as Vinicius' effort came back off the bar.
City also hit the woodwork through Manuel Akanji and Thibaut Courtois was forced into a spectacular save from Phil Foden.
Haaland remained a constant threat to Madrid's injury-ravaged defence.
Ancelotti was forced to name midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni in his backline alongside the inexperienced Raul Asencio.
Haaland's deflected effort that came back off the crossbar seconds into the second half proved a turning point as Madrid again took control.
Bellingham headed wide and Ederson denied Mbappe as the pressure built before it finally told on the hour mark.
Mbappe's finish was far from his cleanest but his mishit from Dani Ceballos' cross deceived Ederson and looped into the net.
Madrid smelt blood and went for the kill. Valverde drilled inches wide before Bellingham should have scored when he shot low into the legs of Ederson.
But it was City who got the third goal when Foden was brought down by Ceballos as he weaved a way into the penalty area and French referee Clement Turpin pointed to the spot.
Haaland sent Courtois the wrong way for his 49th goal in 48 Champions League appearances.
Yet, by full-time the Norwegian was a disconsolate figure as City's poor campaign took another turn for the worse.
Diaz had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds when he fired in against his old club after Ederson parried Vinicius' effort into his path.
Moments later the Brazilian goalkeeper was caught in no man's land as Vinicius ran through and, even as his attempt was heading wide, Bellingham stole in for a simple finish.
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.

Sports, Football: Jude Bellingham scored the winner in stoppage time as Real Madrid twice came from behind to inflict more misery on Man City with a 3-2 Champions League play-off.

Jude Bellingham scored the winner in stoppage time as Real Madrid twice came from behind to inflict more misery on Manchester City with a 3-2 Champions League play-off, first leg win at the Etihad on Tuesday. Erling Haaland twice put City in front with his first goals in five games against Madrid. But the holders hit back through Kylian Mbappe and Brahim Diaz before Bellingham stroked home in the 92nd minute on his return to England. "It was a weird one. We played some of our best football of the season and ended up behind," said Bellingham "I don't care what form City are in they are still an unbelievable team. It's always tricky to play against them and we finally took the chance at the end." City now have a monumental task ahead to progress to the last 16 when the sides meet again in the Spanish capital on February 19. "It's a feeling of anger and frustration," said City defender John Stones. "We need to see games out better. The manager said we need to take accountability for what we do on the pitch. We need to step up when these bad moments happen." The clubs were meeting for the fourth consecutive season in the Champions League, with the winners in each of the previous three years going on to lift the trophy. If that familiarity did not breed enough contempt, Madrid's decision to boycott City midfielder Rodri's crowning as Ballon d'Or winner last year added extra animosity as the Spanish giants took umbrage at Vinicius Junior being overlooked for the prize. Rodri's absence since September with a season-ending knee injury has played a major role in City's decline this season as the English champions sit 15 points off the pace in the Premier League. In recent years Madrid have been pegged back on the ropes at the Etihad, twice conceding four times in three visits. This time the visitors had a series of early chances to sow more doubt in City minds. Vinicius' every touch was booed and the home fans were delighted when he had a penalty ruled out for straying offside before he was wiped out by Ederson. ALSO READ | Champions Trophy 2025: Jasprit Bumrah ruled out due to back injury; Harshit Rana roped in as replacement City punished late Pep Guardiola's men hit the visitors with a sucker punch on 19 minutes thanks to a brilliant team goal. Jack Grealish's dinked cross was chested down by Josko Gvardiol into Haaland's path, who stayed millimetres onside before stroking home his 26th goal of the season. Real came roaring back as Vinicius' effort came back off the bar. City also hit the woodwork through Manuel Akanji and Thibaut Courtois was forced into a spectacular save from Phil Foden. Haaland remained a constant threat to Madrid's injury-ravaged defence. Ancelotti was forced to name midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni in his backline alongside the inexperienced Raul Asencio. Haaland's deflected effort that came back off the crossbar seconds into the second half proved a turning point as Madrid again took control. Bellingham headed wide and Ederson denied Mbappe as the pressure built before it finally told on the hour mark. Mbappe's finish was far from his cleanest but his mishit from Dani Ceballos' cross deceived Ederson and looped into the net. Madrid smelt blood and went for the kill. Valverde drilled inches wide before Bellingham should have scored when he shot low into the legs of Ederson. But it was City who got the third goal when Foden was brought down by Ceballos as he weaved a way into the penalty area and French referee Clement Turpin pointed to the spot. Haaland sent Courtois the wrong way for his 49th goal in 48 Champions League appearances. Yet, by full-time the Norwegian was a disconsolate figure as City's poor campaign took another turn for the worse. Diaz had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds when he fired in against his old club after Ederson parried Vinicius' effort into his path. Moments later the Brazilian goalkeeper was caught in no man's land as Vinicius ran through and, even as his attempt was heading wide, Bellingham stole in for a simple finish. 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.

Champions League: Jude Bellingham strikes late as Real Madrid pile misery on Man City

Star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 due to a back issue sustained during the Australia tour in January. The announcement that came late Tuesday (Feb 11) evening saw the star pacer replaced by Harshit Rana in the coveted ICC tournament which starts on Feb 19 in Pakistan. Yashasvi Jaiswal also gets replaced by Varun Chakaravarthy in India&rsquo;s final 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy 2025.<o:p></o:p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 NEWS 🚨 Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. Harshit Rana named replacement. Other squad updates 🔽 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampionsTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChampionsTrophy</a> <a href="https://t.co/RML5I79gKL">https://t.co/RML5I79gKL</a>
&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1889372858058744075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Bumrah ruled out of CT 2025<o:p></o:p></h2>
&ldquo;Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. Harshit Rana named a replacement,&rdquo; a statement on BCCI&rsquo;s social media handle read. <o:p></o:p>
As the deadline to finalise the squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 was set for Tuesday (Feb 11), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India&rsquo;s squad with two changes. The biggest alteration came in the form of Bumrah who had to sit out of the Champions Trophy 2025 with a back injury. The pacer had initial scans in Bengaluru&rsquo;s National Cricket Academy (NCA) in the build-up to the tournament before being ruled out of the Champions Trophy.<o:p></o:p>
This is not the first time he would be sitting out of a major ICC event. He was also on the sidelines during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia where India lost in the semifinal to England.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-england-3rd-odi-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-ind-vs-eng-live-on-laptop-tv-8709719" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India vs England 3rd ODI live streaming: When and where to watch IND vs ENG live on laptop, TV</a> 
On the other hand, Varun Chakaravarthy and Harshit Rana remain the biggest beneficiaries of the absentees as they earned a place in the Champions Trophy squad. Rana comes in as a direct replacement for Bumrah while Chakaravarthy comes in for Yashasvi Jaiswal as the Mumbai batter will now return to play in the Ranji Trophy before participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025).<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India's squad for ICC Champions Trophy, 2025</h2>
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Sports, Cricket: Star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 due to a back issue sustained during the Australia tour in January.

Star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 due to a back issue sustained during the Australia tour in January. The announcement that came late Tuesday (Feb 11) evening saw the star pacer replaced by Harshit Rana in the coveted ICC tournament which starts on Feb 19 in Pakistan. Yashasvi Jaiswal also gets replaced by Varun Chakaravarthy in India’s final 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. 🚨 NEWS 🚨 Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. Harshit Rana named replacement. Other squad updates 🔽 #TeamIndia | #ChampionsTrophy https://t.co/RML5I79gKL — BCCI (@BCCI) February 11, 2025 Bumrah ruled out of CT 2025 “Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. Harshit Rana named a replacement,” a statement on BCCI’s social media handle read. As the deadline to finalise the squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 was set for Tuesday (Feb 11), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s squad with two changes. The biggest alteration came in the form of Bumrah who had to sit out of the Champions Trophy 2025 with a back injury. The pacer had initial scans in Bengaluru’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) in the build-up to the tournament before being ruled out of the Champions Trophy. This is not the first time he would be sitting out of a major ICC event. He was also on the sidelines during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia where India lost in the semifinal to England. ALSO READ | India vs England 3rd ODI live streaming: When and where to watch IND vs ENG live on laptop, TV On the other hand, Varun Chakaravarthy and Harshit Rana remain the biggest beneficiaries of the absentees as they earned a place in the Champions Trophy squad. Rana comes in as a direct replacement for Bumrah while Chakaravarthy comes in for Yashasvi Jaiswal as the Mumbai batter will now return to play in the Ranji Trophy before participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). India's squad for ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Champions Trophy 2025: Jasprit Bumrah ruled out due to back injury; Harshit Rana roped in as replacement

The Women&rsquo;s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season is all set to kickoff as five teams will compete for the prestigious title starting Friday (Feb 14). One of the contenders to win the WPL 2025 title are former champions Mumbai Indians, as they look more than ready. One of the hidden gems of the Mumbai Indians squad is their new recruit, Akshita Maheshwari, who spoke exclusively to WION&rsquo;s Aditya Pimpale.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Akshita speaks to WION<o:p></o:p></h2>
Born in Jaipur, Akshita is the first female cricketer from Rajasthan to play in the WPL as she looks to step up for Mumbai Indians. The 24-year-old comes from a humble background as her father is a businessman while mother is a homemaker. Currently pursuing B Ed from Chandigarh she now targets glory with Mumbai. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Question: What made you pursue cricket as a career?<o:p></o:p></h2>
My father is a big cricket fan while I had interest in cricket and other sports. However, there came a moment in my life where I started to take cricket seriously and this is where I took it as a career. My coaches and mentors also guided me to take cricket as an option in career. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Question: Did you ever dream of playing with legends like Harmanpreet Kaur and others?<o:p></o:p></h2>
To be honest, even sharing the dressing room with a player like Harmanpreet Kaur is a big thing for me. You generally see them on TV and in big matches, but to now share the dressing room with them is a feeling I can&rsquo;t describe in words. I find myself honoured to be surrounded by players like Yastika Bhatia and Amelia Kerr.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Question: What is the atmosphere like in the MI camp?<o:p></o:p></h2>
Well we are very chilled at the moment, but when it comes to on-field battles, there is always fierce competition. To have world class players around you helps improve your quality both on and off field. The senior guys especially helped all the new girls like me settle in well which helps in creating a positive atmosphere.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-england-3rd-odi-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-ind-vs-eng-live-on-laptop-tv-8709719" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India vs England 3rd ODI live streaming: When and where to watch IND vs ENG live on laptop, TV</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Question: Where do you see yourself in next few years, may be donning an Indian shirt as well?<o:p></o:p></h2>
For now, my focus is to win with Mumbai Indians and take one step at a time. Yes, donning the Indian kit has always been my dream, but for now I am focusing on the present. I am glad that I am part of such a unit which could help me grow in future.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Question: Who played a major part in your cricketing journey?<o:p></o:p></h2>
My father and mother will always be an inspiration to me, without their support I may not have been a player that I am today. They remain the biggest inspiration for me along with my brother as they helped me grow in the difficult period post-Covid.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: One of the hidden gems of the Mumbai Indians squad is their new recruit, Akshita Maheshwari, as she spoke exclusively to WION’s Aditya Pimpale.

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season is all set to kickoff as five teams will compete for the prestigious title starting Friday (Feb 14). One of the contenders to win the WPL 2025 title are former champions Mumbai Indians, as they look more than ready. One of the hidden gems of the Mumbai Indians squad is their new recruit, Akshita Maheshwari, who spoke exclusively to WION’s Aditya Pimpale. Akshita speaks to WION Born in Jaipur, Akshita is the first female cricketer from Rajasthan to play in the WPL as she looks to step up for Mumbai Indians. The 24-year-old comes from a humble background as her father is a businessman while mother is a homemaker. Currently pursuing B Ed from Chandigarh she now targets glory with Mumbai. Question: What made you pursue cricket as a career? My father is a big cricket fan while I had interest in cricket and other sports. However, there came a moment in my life where I started to take cricket seriously and this is where I took it as a career. My coaches and mentors also guided me to take cricket as an option in career. Question: Did you ever dream of playing with legends like Harmanpreet Kaur and others? To be honest, even sharing the dressing room with a player like Harmanpreet Kaur is a big thing for me. You generally see them on TV and in big matches, but to now share the dressing room with them is a feeling I can’t describe in words. I find myself honoured to be surrounded by players like Yastika Bhatia and Amelia Kerr. Question: What is the atmosphere like in the MI camp? Well we are very chilled at the moment, but when it comes to on-field battles, there is always fierce competition. To have world class players around you helps improve your quality both on and off field. The senior guys especially helped all the new girls like me settle in well which helps in creating a positive atmosphere. ALSO READ | India vs England 3rd ODI live streaming: When and where to watch IND vs ENG live on laptop, TV Question: Where do you see yourself in next few years, may be donning an Indian shirt as well? For now, my focus is to win with Mumbai Indians and take one step at a time. Yes, donning the Indian kit has always been my dream, but for now I am focusing on the present. I am glad that I am part of such a unit which could help me grow in future. Question: Who played a major part in your cricketing journey? My father and mother will always be an inspiration to me, without their support I may not have been a player that I am today. They remain the biggest inspiration for me along with my brother as they helped me grow in the difficult period post-Covid.

Exclusive: Mumbai Indians rising star Akshita Maheshwari ready to clinch WPL glory

PAK vs SA, 3rd ODI Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;Pakistan and South Africa will look to build momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 as the two collide in the final group stage match of the ongoing tri-series involving New Zealand. Both Pakistan and South Africa lost to New Zealand in the initial stage, meaning Wednesday's contest at the National Stadium in Karachi will be a virtual semifinal. Ahead of the final ODI between hosts Pakistan and South Africa, here are all the details, including live streaming, squads, and more.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Where to watch the &nbsp;Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match on TV?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The India vs England 3rd ODI match will be telecast on Sony Sports Network in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Where to watch the Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI Live Streaming online on OTT?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match will be live-streamed on the Sony LIV app and website in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">When is the Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The &nbsp;Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match will be played on Wednesday (Feb 12).
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Which stadium will host the Pakistan vs South Africa&nbsp;3rd ODI match?</h2>
The &nbsp;Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match will be played at the newly renovated National Stadium in Karachi.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">What time will the Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match start?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The &nbsp;Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match will start at 2:30 PM local time on Wednesday (Feb 12) with the toss taking place at 2:00 PM local time.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-england-3rd-odi-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-ind-vs-eng-live-on-laptop-tv-8709719" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India vs England 3rd ODI live streaming: When and where to watch IND vs ENG live on laptop, TV</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Squads<o:p></o:p></h2>
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Usman Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Faheem Ashraf, Saud Shakeel
South Africa: Matthew Breetzke, Temba Bavuma(c), Jason Smith, Kyle Verreynne(w), Wiaan Mulder, Eathan Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, Mihlali Mpongwana, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Heinrich Klaasen, Tony de Zorzi, Corbin Bosch, Meeka eel Prince, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Gideon Peters

Sports, Cricket: Pakistan and South Africa will look to build momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 as the two collide in the final group stage match. 

PAK vs SA, 3rd ODI Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Pakistan and South Africa will look to build momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 as the two collide in the final group stage match of the ongoing tri-series involving New Zealand. Both Pakistan and South Africa lost to New Zealand in the initial stage, meaning Wednesday's contest at the National Stadium in Karachi will be a virtual semifinal. Ahead of the final ODI between hosts Pakistan and South Africa, here are all the details, including live streaming, squads, and more. Where to watch the Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match on TV? The India vs England 3rd ODI match will be telecast on Sony Sports Network in India. Where to watch the Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI Live Streaming online on OTT? The Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match will be live-streamed on the Sony LIV app and website in India. When is the Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match? The Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match will be played on Wednesday (Feb 12). Which stadium will host the Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match? The Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match will be played at the newly renovated National Stadium in Karachi. What time will the Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match start? The Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI match will start at 2:30 PM local time on Wednesday (Feb 12) with the toss taking place at 2:00 PM local time. ALSO READ | India vs England 3rd ODI live streaming: When and where to watch IND vs ENG live on laptop, TV Squads Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Usman Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Faheem Ashraf, Saud Shakeel South Africa: Matthew Breetzke, Temba Bavuma(c), Jason Smith, Kyle Verreynne(w), Wiaan Mulder, Eathan Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, Mihlali Mpongwana, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Heinrich Klaasen, Tony de Zorzi, Corbin Bosch, Meeka eel Prince, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Gideon Peters

Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI live streaming: When and where to watch PAK vs SA live on laptop, TV

IND vs ENG, 3rd ODI Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;Team India will look for a clean sweep against England as they take on the visitors in the final ODI on Wednesday (Feb 12). The contest at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will be the last one for both sides before the Champions Trophy 2025. Ahead of the final ODI between hosts India and England, here are all the details, including live streaming, squads, and more.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Where to watch the India vs England 3rd ODI match on TV?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The India vs England 3rd ODI match will be telecast on Sports 18 and Star Sports Network in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Where to watch the India vs England 3rd ODI Live Streaming online on OTT?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The India vs England 3rd ODI match will be live-streamed on the Disney+Hotstar app and website in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">When is the India vs England 3rd ODI match?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The India vs England 3rd ODI match will be played on Wednesday (Feb 12).
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Which stadium will host the India vs England 3rd ODI match?</h2>
The India vs England 3rd ODI match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal">What time will the India vs England 3rd ODI match start?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The India vs England 3rd ODI match will start at 1:30 PM local time on Wednesday (Feb 12) with the toss taking place at 1:00 PM local time.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afghan-cricketer-rashid-khan-rewrites-record-books-becomes-highest-wicket-taker-in-t20-history-8691777" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan rewrites record books, becomes highest wicket-taker in T20 history</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Squads<o:p></o:p></h2>
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana (first two ODIs), Jasprit Bumrah (third ODI), Varun Chakravarthy
England:&nbsp;Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Philip Salt, Jamie Smith, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Sports, Cricket: Team India will look for a clean sweep against England as they take on the visitors in the final ODI on Wednesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

IND vs ENG, 3rd ODI Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Team India will look for a clean sweep against England as they take on the visitors in the final ODI on Wednesday (Feb 12). The contest at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will be the last one for both sides before the Champions Trophy 2025. Ahead of the final ODI between hosts India and England, here are all the details, including live streaming, squads, and more. Where to watch the India vs England 3rd ODI match on TV? The India vs England 3rd ODI match will be telecast on Sports 18 and Star Sports Network in India. Where to watch the India vs England 3rd ODI Live Streaming online on OTT? The India vs England 3rd ODI match will be live-streamed on the Disney+Hotstar app and website in India. When is the India vs England 3rd ODI match? The India vs England 3rd ODI match will be played on Wednesday (Feb 12). Which stadium will host the India vs England 3rd ODI match? The India vs England 3rd ODI match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. What time will the India vs England 3rd ODI match start? The India vs England 3rd ODI match will start at 1:30 PM local time on Wednesday (Feb 12) with the toss taking place at 1:00 PM local time. ALSO READ | Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan rewrites record books, becomes highest wicket-taker in T20 history Squads India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana (first two ODIs), Jasprit Bumrah (third ODI), Varun Chakravarthy England: Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Philip Salt, Jamie Smith, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

India vs England 3rd ODI live streaming: When and where to watch IND vs ENG live on laptop, TV

India&rsquo;s Ajinkya Rahane made a fitting statement in the domestic circuit on Tuesday (Feb 11) after the batter scored a hundred on his landmark appearance for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy knockout stage. Leading the record-holding Ranji Trophy champions in Shreyas Iyer&rsquo;s absence, Rahane scored 108 on his 200th first-class appearance. As a result, Mumbai set a target of 354 runs to win for Haryana on Day 4 of the quarterfinal contest.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Rahane shines for Mumbai<o:p></o:p></h2>
As India tour England in June in the Test format, Rahane&rsquo;s latest ton has possibly rejuvenated his hopes of a return to the senior side. The former India vice-captain looked full of intent in the second innings for Mumbai as he scored 108 off 180 deliveries. He was given a good helping hand by India&rsquo;s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, as he scored 70 off 86, while Shivam Dube contributed with 48 off 65. <o:p></o:p>
Rahane&rsquo;s innings consisted of 13 fours and kept the scoreboard moving despite Mumbai losing wickets at regular intervals. The valiant knock helped Mumbai put 339 on the board, having earned a 15-run lead in the first innings. <o:p></o:p>
As a result, Haryana now need 354 runs to win and have made a decent start to their second innings on Day 4 of the contest.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/comeback-loading-shardul-thakur-confident-of-india-return-8708411" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Comeback loading? Shardul Thakur confident of India return</a> 
At the time of writing, Haryana were 24/1 in 7 overs with Lakshhya Dalal (11) and Yash Vardhan Dalal (0) in the middle. Skipper Ankit Kumar was dismissed by Shardul Thakur on 11 as Mumbai looked to book their place in the semis. <o:p></o:p>
Having earned a first-innings lead, Mumbai are in pole position to reach the Ranji Trophy semis in case the match ends in a draw. This means Haryana will have to chase down the 354-run target if they are to reach the Ranji Trophy semis. Haryana&rsquo;s only Ranji Trophy success came in 1991, meaning they will have to win against Mumbai at the Eden Gardens if they are to end the drought.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: Leading the record Ranji Trophy champions in Shreyas Iyer’s absence, Ajinkya Rahane scored 108 on his 200th first-class appearance.

India’s Ajinkya Rahane made a fitting statement in the domestic circuit on Tuesday (Feb 11) after the batter scored a hundred on his landmark appearance for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy knockout stage. Leading the record-holding Ranji Trophy champions in Shreyas Iyer’s absence, Rahane scored 108 on his 200th first-class appearance. As a result, Mumbai set a target of 354 runs to win for Haryana on Day 4 of the quarterfinal contest. Rahane shines for Mumbai As India tour England in June in the Test format, Rahane’s latest ton has possibly rejuvenated his hopes of a return to the senior side. The former India vice-captain looked full of intent in the second innings for Mumbai as he scored 108 off 180 deliveries. He was given a good helping hand by India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, as he scored 70 off 86, while Shivam Dube contributed with 48 off 65. Rahane’s innings consisted of 13 fours and kept the scoreboard moving despite Mumbai losing wickets at regular intervals. The valiant knock helped Mumbai put 339 on the board, having earned a 15-run lead in the first innings. As a result, Haryana now need 354 runs to win and have made a decent start to their second innings on Day 4 of the contest. ALSO READ | Comeback loading? Shardul Thakur confident of India return At the time of writing, Haryana were 24/1 in 7 overs with Lakshhya Dalal (11) and Yash Vardhan Dalal (0) in the middle. Skipper Ankit Kumar was dismissed by Shardul Thakur on 11 as Mumbai looked to book their place in the semis. Having earned a first-innings lead, Mumbai are in pole position to reach the Ranji Trophy semis in case the match ends in a draw. This means Haryana will have to chase down the 354-run target if they are to reach the Ranji Trophy semis. Haryana’s only Ranji Trophy success came in 1991, meaning they will have to win against Mumbai at the Eden Gardens if they are to end the drought.

Ranji Trophy: Ajinkya Rahane hits 109 on 200th first-class appearance as Mumbai-Haryana tie hangs in balance

The selectors of the Indian cricket team will have a tough decision on their hands as they have to submit the final squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday (Feb 11). With India sweating on the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah, the selectors panel led by Ajit Agarkar will have to take a call on the star bowler&rsquo;s fitness. In case Bumrah is not available, the Indian side is likely to pick Varun Chakravarthy in the final 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy 2025.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Bumrah or Chakravarthy?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The ICC&rsquo;s deadline to submit the final 15-member squad is on Tuesday, meaning the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its selectors will no longer be allowed to make changes (unless an injury or unavoidable situation arises). According to reports, Bumrah&rsquo;s selection in the final squad is a tight call after he had scans on a back injury at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) last week. The star bowler has not played since the Sydney Test in January when he left the field on the final day. <o:p></o:p>
On the other hand, Varun Chakravarthy has taken the spotlight with Player of the Series performances in the England T20I series. His game has caught the eye of the selectors, which saw him get drafted into the ODI side. He made his debut for India in the ODIs in Cuttack and ended with figures of 54/1.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/comeback-loading-shardul-thakur-confident-of-india-return-8708411" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Comeback loading? Shardul Thakur confident of India return</a> 
He comes in handy with the bat as well and was one of the expensive players in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp, having been retained for $1.6mn (INR 140 million). <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India&rsquo;s current Champions Trophy 2025 squad<o:p></o:p></h2>
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: The selectors of the Indian cricket team will have a tough decision on their hands as they have to submit the final squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday.

The selectors of the Indian cricket team will have a tough decision on their hands as they have to submit the final squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday (Feb 11). With India sweating on the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah, the selectors panel led by Ajit Agarkar will have to take a call on the star bowler’s fitness. In case Bumrah is not available, the Indian side is likely to pick Varun Chakravarthy in the final 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. Bumrah or Chakravarthy? The ICC’s deadline to submit the final 15-member squad is on Tuesday, meaning the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its selectors will no longer be allowed to make changes (unless an injury or unavoidable situation arises). According to reports, Bumrah’s selection in the final squad is a tight call after he had scans on a back injury at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) last week. The star bowler has not played since the Sydney Test in January when he left the field on the final day. On the other hand, Varun Chakravarthy has taken the spotlight with Player of the Series performances in the England T20I series. His game has caught the eye of the selectors, which saw him get drafted into the ODI side. He made his debut for India in the ODIs in Cuttack and ended with figures of 54/1. ALSO READ | Comeback loading? Shardul Thakur confident of India return He comes in handy with the bat as well and was one of the expensive players in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp, having been retained for $1.6mn (INR 140 million). India’s current Champions Trophy 2025 squad Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.

Champions Trophy 2025: Jasprit Bumrah or Varun Chakravarthy? Indian selectors to take call on deadline day

Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has reached an agreement with Al Nassr to extend his contract by another year until June 2026, an official with the Saudi club told AFP on Monday.
<h2>Ronaldo to extend contract?</h2>
The official said the sides have agreed on the renewable extension of Ronaldo's contract, "but it has not been signed yet. An announcement will be made over the coming days".
Ronaldo turned 40 last week with his current contract due to end in June 2025.&nbsp;
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star joined Al Nassr in January 2023 and has since scored 82 goals in 90 matches.&nbsp;
In August, Ronaldo said he would stay with Al Nassr through the end of his professional career, which may be "soon or in two or three years".
"But it'll most likely happen with Al Nassr, in the team that makes me happy... and where I feel good."
The Portuguese great appeared to trade an end-of-career payday for football obscurity when he moved to Riyadh's Al Nassr two years ago in a deal said to be worth $250 million.
But his influence became clear when he was followed by a parade of ageing superstars to the big-spending Saudi Pro League.
Saudi Arabia was then awarded the 2034 World Cup in December, the crowning glory for the oil-rich kingdom's strategy of revamping its image through sports, tourism and culture.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-trophy-2025-former-cricketer-in-awe-of-rohit-sharma-says-returning-to-form-was-a-8708791" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Champions Trophy 2025: Former cricketer in awe of Rohit Sharma, says 'returning to form was a ...'</a>
When Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel in August, he gained one million subscribers in just 90 minutes and 20 million within 24 hours. He currently has 73.5 million.
Although World Cup glory has probably eluded him, unlike his Argentine rival Lionel Messi, records still dangle in front of the five-time Ballon d'Or and Champions League winner.
Despite his prodigious form as he closes in on 1,000 professional goals in official matches, Ronaldo is yet to win a Saudi or continental trophy with Al Nassr, with the Arab Club Champions Cup of 2023 his only triumph with the club.
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.

Sports, Football: Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has reached an agreement with Al Nassr to extend his contract by another year until June 2026.

Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has reached an agreement with Al Nassr to extend his contract by another year until June 2026, an official with the Saudi club told AFP on Monday. Ronaldo to extend contract? The official said the sides have agreed on the renewable extension of Ronaldo's contract, "but it has not been signed yet. An announcement will be made over the coming days". Ronaldo turned 40 last week with his current contract due to end in June 2025. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star joined Al Nassr in January 2023 and has since scored 82 goals in 90 matches. In August, Ronaldo said he would stay with Al Nassr through the end of his professional career, which may be "soon or in two or three years". "But it'll most likely happen with Al Nassr, in the team that makes me happy... and where I feel good." The Portuguese great appeared to trade an end-of-career payday for football obscurity when he moved to Riyadh's Al Nassr two years ago in a deal said to be worth $250 million. But his influence became clear when he was followed by a parade of ageing superstars to the big-spending Saudi Pro League. Saudi Arabia was then awarded the 2034 World Cup in December, the crowning glory for the oil-rich kingdom's strategy of revamping its image through sports, tourism and culture. ALSO READ | Champions Trophy 2025: Former cricketer in awe of Rohit Sharma, says 'returning to form was a ...' When Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel in August, he gained one million subscribers in just 90 minutes and 20 million within 24 hours. He currently has 73.5 million. Although World Cup glory has probably eluded him, unlike his Argentine rival Lionel Messi, records still dangle in front of the five-time Ballon d'Or and Champions League winner. Despite his prodigious form as he closes in on 1,000 professional goals in official matches, Ronaldo is yet to win a Saudi or continental trophy with Al Nassr, with the Arab Club Champions Cup of 2023 his only triumph with the club. 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.

Cristiano Ronaldo agrees new deal with Saudi club Al Nassr to extend contract - Report

Plymouth will travel to Manchester City in the FA Cup fifth round as the Championship strugglers landed a dream draw to follow their stunning win against Liverpool.<o:p></o:p>
The Pilgrims shocked Premier League leaders Liverpool as Ryan Hardie's second half penalty sealed a memorable 1-0 win at Home Park on Sunday.<o:p></o:p>
Miron Muslic's side are bottom of the second tier, with only one league win in three months.<o:p></o:p>
But they have eliminated Liverpool and Brentford to earn a shot at Pep Guardiola's spluttering Premier League champions.<o:p></o:p>
FA Cup holders Manchester United will face Fulham at Old Trafford after beating Leicester 2-1 on Friday thanks to Harry Maguire's controversial last-gasp winner.<o:p></o:p>
League Cup finalists Newcastle meet Brighton, who knocked out Chelsea on Saturday, while Bournemouth take on Wolves in another all-Premier League tie.<o:p></o:p>
Aston Villa, 2-1 winners against Tottenham on Sunday, will host Championship team Cardiff.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-trophy-2025-former-cricketer-in-awe-of-rohit-sharma-says-returning-to-form-was-a-8708791" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Champions Trophy 2025: Former cricketer in awe of Rohit Sharma, says 'returning to form was a ...'</a>
Exeter or Nottingham play Ipswich and Crystal Palace, 2-0 winners at fourth tier Doncaster on Monday, will be at home to south London rivals Millwall.<o:p></o:p>
There will also be an all-Championship tie with Preston hosting Lancashire rivals Burnley.<o:p></o:p>
There was no VAR in operation during the fourth round ties, but the technology will come into play from the next round onwards.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Draw for the FA Cup fifth round made on Monday:<o:p></o:p></h2>
Preston v Burnley<o:p></o:p>
Aston Villa v Cardiff<o:p></o:p>
Crystal Palace v Millwall<o:p></o:p>
Manchester United v Fulham<o:p></o:p>
Newcastle v Brighton<o:p></o:p>
Bournemouth v Wolves<o:p></o:p>
Manchester City v Plymouth<o:p></o:p>
Exeter or Nottingham Forest v Ipswich<o:p></o:p>
Ties to be played on the weekend of March 1 and 2.<o:p></o:p>
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.

Sports, Football: The Pilgrims shocked Premier League leaders Liverpool as Ryan Hardie's second half penalty sealed a memorable 1-0 win at Home Park on Sunday.

Plymouth will travel to Manchester City in the FA Cup fifth round as the Championship strugglers landed a dream draw to follow their stunning win against Liverpool. The Pilgrims shocked Premier League leaders Liverpool as Ryan Hardie's second half penalty sealed a memorable 1-0 win at Home Park on Sunday. Miron Muslic's side are bottom of the second tier, with only one league win in three months. But they have eliminated Liverpool and Brentford to earn a shot at Pep Guardiola's spluttering Premier League champions. FA Cup holders Manchester United will face Fulham at Old Trafford after beating Leicester 2-1 on Friday thanks to Harry Maguire's controversial last-gasp winner. League Cup finalists Newcastle meet Brighton, who knocked out Chelsea on Saturday, while Bournemouth take on Wolves in another all-Premier League tie. Aston Villa, 2-1 winners against Tottenham on Sunday, will host Championship team Cardiff. ALSO READ | Champions Trophy 2025: Former cricketer in awe of Rohit Sharma, says 'returning to form was a ...' Exeter or Nottingham play Ipswich and Crystal Palace, 2-0 winners at fourth tier Doncaster on Monday, will be at home to south London rivals Millwall. There will also be an all-Championship tie with Preston hosting Lancashire rivals Burnley. There was no VAR in operation during the fourth round ties, but the technology will come into play from the next round onwards. Draw for the FA Cup fifth round made on Monday: Preston v Burnley Aston Villa v Cardiff Crystal Palace v Millwall Manchester United v Fulham Newcastle v Brighton Bournemouth v Wolves Manchester City v Plymouth Exeter or Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Ties to be played on the weekend of March 1 and 2. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

FA Cup draw: Giant-killers Plymouth handed Man City tie in FA Cup fifth round

Former cricketer Atul Wassan has backed Team India as one of the favourites to win the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 just days before the start of the tournament. India, one of the favourites to win the title, have been backed by Wassan, as he reckons the Men in Blue have a perfect combination. India begin their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh before taking on Pakistan on February 23.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India favourites to win Champions Trophy<o:p></o:p></h2>
&ldquo;I think India have a good combination of players, especially in the all-rounder&rsquo;s department. Rohit Sharma returning to form was a positive sign for the Indian team and could be a huge factor in the Champions Trophy 2025,&rdquo; Wassan said on the sidelines of the trophy inauguration of Restaurant Cricket League 2025 (RCL) on Monday (Feb 10).&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
According to Wassan, India have the perfect balance in the middle order, as they have the likes of Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, and now Varun Chakaravarthy. <o:p></o:p>
The RCL supported by Incredible India, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is all set to redefine the role of cricket from a source of entertainment to a driver of societal change. The third edition of the RCL has been scheduled to be held from 17th to 22nd February 2025 at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, New Delhi.<o:p></o:p>
The event was attended by former Union Minister &amp; Chairman Governing Council, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) President, Chef Manjit Singh Gill, Managing Director of Bikanervala Foods Pvt. Ltd. Shyam Sundar Aggarwal, and other dignitaries.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/kane-williamsons-century-guides-new-zealand-into-final-despite-breetzkes-record-8708524" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kane Williamson's century guides New Zealand into final despite Breetzke's record</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India chase Champions Trophy glory<o:p></o:p></h2>
Having reached the Champions Trophy final in the last two tournaments, India will look to bid for another title this time. The Men in Blue shared the Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka in 2002 and then won it in 2013 in England. Rohit Sharma will lead India, while Shubman Gill will act as his deputy during the tournament.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
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Sports, Cricket: Former cricketer Atul Wassan has backed Team India as one of the favourites to win the upcoming CT 2025just days before the start of the tournament.

Former cricketer Atul Wassan has backed Team India as one of the favourites to win the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 just days before the start of the tournament. India, one of the favourites to win the title, have been backed by Wassan, as he reckons the Men in Blue have a perfect combination. India begin their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh before taking on Pakistan on February 23. India favourites to win Champions Trophy “I think India have a good combination of players, especially in the all-rounder’s department. Rohit Sharma returning to form was a positive sign for the Indian team and could be a huge factor in the Champions Trophy 2025,” Wassan said on the sidelines of the trophy inauguration of Restaurant Cricket League 2025 (RCL) on Monday (Feb 10). According to Wassan, India have the perfect balance in the middle order, as they have the likes of Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, and now Varun Chakaravarthy. The RCL supported by Incredible India, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is all set to redefine the role of cricket from a source of entertainment to a driver of societal change. The third edition of the RCL has been scheduled to be held from 17th to 22nd February 2025 at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, New Delhi. The event was attended by former Union Minister & Chairman Governing Council, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) President, Chef Manjit Singh Gill, Managing Director of Bikanervala Foods Pvt. Ltd. Shyam Sundar Aggarwal, and other dignitaries. ALSO READ | Kane Williamson's century guides New Zealand into final despite Breetzke's record India chase Champions Trophy glory Having reached the Champions Trophy final in the last two tournaments, India will look to bid for another title this time. The Men in Blue shared the Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka in 2002 and then won it in 2013 in England. Rohit Sharma will lead India, while Shubman Gill will act as his deputy during the tournament.

Champions Trophy 2025: Former cricketer in awe of Rohit Sharma, says 'returning to form was a ...'

Zimbabwe&rsquo;s star all-rounder Sikandar Raza, 38, helped his team (Dubai Capitals) complete an improbable chase (38 off 19 balls) and helped them lift their maiden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/international-league-t20" rel="dofollow">ILT20</a> title on Sunday in the UAE.
Raza is a popular name in the T20 circuit, having fared for several franchise-based T20 leagues worldwide for a long time. On Sunday, walking in as a finisher when his team needed double (of the balls left) in a crucial final, Raza smacked five fours and a six to win it for his team with four balls remaining.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/shastri-ponting-warn-teams-against-discounting-pakistan-in-champions-trophy-call-hosts-dangerous-8706618" rel="dofollow">Shastri, Ponting warn teams against discounting Pakistan in Champions Trophy</a>
The right-handed batter kept his cool and found gaps at will to cut the deficit, and in the final over, smashed one to the point off Khuzaima Tanveer to complete the chase and win the title for his team.
<h2>Watch Video &ndash;</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6ysvasu-90je97w7-u7c2hvkc">
Jo Jitaye Wahi Sikandar! 🤩 His 12-ball 34* turned the final on its head and ensured Dubai Capitals lifted their maiden <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ILT20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ILT20</a> trophy in some style! 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ILT20onFanCode?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ILT20onFanCode</a> <a href="https://t.co/Uu3qZLjyWh">pic.twitter.com/Uu3qZLjyWh</a>
&mdash; FanCode (@FanCode) <a href="https://twitter.com/FanCode/status/1888833443972124828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
Earlier, Dubai Capitals won the toss and elected to bowl first, reducing Desert Vipers to 34 for two inside the Powerplay. England&rsquo;s Max Holden smashed a brilliant 76 off 51 balls, including 12 fours, before his side's captain and seasoned campaigner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sam-curran" rel="dofollow">Sam Curran</a> played a blinder (unbeaten 62 off 33 balls),&nbsp;hitting three sixes and five fours, to see his team score 189 for five in 20 overs.&nbsp;
The star-studded Dubai side lost three wickets inside the first six overs, including former Australia opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/david-warner" rel="dofollow">David Warner</a> on just four. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib and skipper Sam Billings departed soon after, with Dubai&rsquo;s scorecard reading 31 for three in five overs.
The West Indian duo of Shai Hope and Rovman Powell added 80 runs for the fourth wicket before Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Dasun Shanaka&rsquo;s 21 off 10 balls pushed them closer to the target. Following his dismissal, Raza entered the scene and made the whole evening about himself.&nbsp;
Off the 38 runs needed to win, he hit 34 off 12 balls, including hitting the winning run to his see side clinch their maiden ILT20 title.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: On Sunday, walking in as a finisher when his team needed 38 off 19 balls, Raza smacked five fours and a six to win it for his team with four balls remaining.

Zimbabwe’s star all-rounder Sikandar Raza, 38, helped his team (Dubai Capitals) complete an improbable chase (38 off 19 balls) and helped them lift their maiden ILT20 title on Sunday in the UAE. Raza is a popular name in the T20 circuit, having fared for several franchise-based T20 leagues worldwide for a long time. On Sunday, walking in as a finisher when his team needed double (of the balls left) in a crucial final, Raza smacked five fours and a six to win it for his team with four balls remaining. Also read | Shastri, Ponting warn teams against discounting Pakistan in Champions Trophy The right-handed batter kept his cool and found gaps at will to cut the deficit, and in the final over, smashed one to the point off Khuzaima Tanveer to complete the chase and win the title for his team. Watch Video – Jo Jitaye Wahi Sikandar! 🤩 His 12-ball 34* turned the final on its head and ensured Dubai Capitals lifted their maiden #ILT20 trophy in some style! 🔥#ILT20onFanCode pic.twitter.com/Uu3qZLjyWh — FanCode (@FanCode) February 10, 2025 Earlier, Dubai Capitals won the toss and elected to bowl first, reducing Desert Vipers to 34 for two inside the Powerplay. England’s Max Holden smashed a brilliant 76 off 51 balls, including 12 fours, before his side's captain and seasoned campaigner Sam Curran played a blinder (unbeaten 62 off 33 balls), hitting three sixes and five fours, to see his team score 189 for five in 20 overs. The star-studded Dubai side lost three wickets inside the first six overs, including former Australia opener David Warner on just four. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib and skipper Sam Billings departed soon after, with Dubai’s scorecard reading 31 for three in five overs. The West Indian duo of Shai Hope and Rovman Powell added 80 runs for the fourth wicket before Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka’s 21 off 10 balls pushed them closer to the target. Following his dismissal, Raza entered the scene and made the whole evening about himself. Off the 38 runs needed to win, he hit 34 off 12 balls, including hitting the winning run to his see side clinch their maiden ILT20 title. (With inputs from agencies)

When 38-year-old Sikandar Raza helped Dubai Capitals chase 38 in 19 balls to lift maiden ILT20 title – Watch

Ace Indian all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ravindra-jadeja" rel="dofollow">Ravindra Jadeja</a> enjoyed a thorough outing in the recently concluded second ODI against England in Cuttack; he returned with three wickets in the first innings before hitting the winning runs to see his team home by four wickets. Playing his first ODI series since the World Cup Final loss to Australia in November 2023, Jadeja credited his brief spell in the Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra for his match-winning performance.
Although Indian captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-eng-2nd-odi-rohit-sharma-hits-100-as-hosts-in-driving-seat-8705296" rel="dofollow">Rohit Sharma&rsquo;s first ODI hundred in months made headlines as India clinched the series</a>, Jadeja&rsquo;s tight spell in the first innings helped India restrict England to 304 despite an outstanding start. He began by removing opener Ben Duckett in his first over before accounting for Joe Root, who scored a gritty 69 and Jamie Overton later for just six, returning with three wickets for 35 runs, including a maiden in ten overs.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-eng-2nd-odi-broke-it-down-to-pieces-about-how-i-wanted-to-bat-says-rohit-after-hitting-32nd-century-8705607" rel="dofollow">IND vs ENG 2nd ODI: Broke it down to pieces about how I wanted to bat, says Rohit after hitting 32nd century</a>
Addressing the media following the conclusion of the second match of this three-match series, Jadeja admitted feeling good about his performance, later crediting his performance (for Saurashtra) against Delhi, wherein he picked 12 wickets in the match for helping him return to form in time for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">ICC Champions Trophy</a> starting February 19.
"Feeling very good," Jadeja said.&nbsp;
"Especially playing ODIs after almost two years. You have to adapt quickly in this format. I believe that the domestic game that I played [against Delhi] helped me a lot. I bowled almost 30 overs in that match.&nbsp;
&ldquo;So, I never lost my rhythm. And I am trying to bowl Test lines and lengths in ODIs as well. What we call the rhythm, the continuity, was in place because my break from cricket wasn't that long. So, in my view, I have benefited from the domestic match that I played,&rdquo; he continued.
<h2>Ranji Trophy back in the headlines</h2>
Following losing the away Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in ten years, the BCCI put on several restrictions, including making it mandatory for all centrally contracted cricketers to return to the drawing board. From Rohit to Yashasvi Jaiswal, from Jadeja, Rishabh Pant to batting great Virat Kohli, everyone represented their respective states in the Ranji Trophy ahead of England ODIs.&nbsp;
While the Mumbai batters (Rohit and Jaiswal) failed across two innings against the touring Jammu &amp; Kashmir side, which beat Mumbai in the tournament&rsquo;s upset this season, Delhi batters Pant and Kohli got out cheaply against Railways at a home game.&nbsp;
KL Rahul also failed to score big in his return game for Karnataka, while the new ODI vice-captain Shubman Gill impressed everyone with his gritty hundred against Karnataka.&nbsp;
Jadeja, however, was among a few Champions Trophy-bound players to taste success during this short window playing in the Ranji Trophy.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Playing his first ODI series since the World Cup Final in November 2023, Jadeja credited his brief spell in the Ranji Trophy for his match-winning performance.

Ace Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja enjoyed a thorough outing in the recently concluded second ODI against England in Cuttack; he returned with three wickets in the first innings before hitting the winning runs to see his team home by four wickets. Playing his first ODI series since the World Cup Final loss to Australia in November 2023, Jadeja credited his brief spell in the Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra for his match-winning performance. Although Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s first ODI hundred in months made headlines as India clinched the series, Jadeja’s tight spell in the first innings helped India restrict England to 304 despite an outstanding start. He began by removing opener Ben Duckett in his first over before accounting for Joe Root, who scored a gritty 69 and Jamie Overton later for just six, returning with three wickets for 35 runs, including a maiden in ten overs. Also read | IND vs ENG 2nd ODI: Broke it down to pieces about how I wanted to bat, says Rohit after hitting 32nd century Addressing the media following the conclusion of the second match of this three-match series, Jadeja admitted feeling good about his performance, later crediting his performance (for Saurashtra) against Delhi, wherein he picked 12 wickets in the match for helping him return to form in time for the ICC Champions Trophy starting February 19. "Feeling very good," Jadeja said. "Especially playing ODIs after almost two years. You have to adapt quickly in this format. I believe that the domestic game that I played [against Delhi] helped me a lot. I bowled almost 30 overs in that match. “So, I never lost my rhythm. And I am trying to bowl Test lines and lengths in ODIs as well. What we call the rhythm, the continuity, was in place because my break from cricket wasn't that long. So, in my view, I have benefited from the domestic match that I played,” he continued. Ranji Trophy back in the headlines Following losing the away Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in ten years, the BCCI put on several restrictions, including making it mandatory for all centrally contracted cricketers to return to the drawing board. From Rohit to Yashasvi Jaiswal, from Jadeja, Rishabh Pant to batting great Virat Kohli, everyone represented their respective states in the Ranji Trophy ahead of England ODIs. While the Mumbai batters (Rohit and Jaiswal) failed across two innings against the touring Jammu & Kashmir side, which beat Mumbai in the tournament’s upset this season, Delhi batters Pant and Kohli got out cheaply against Railways at a home game. KL Rahul also failed to score big in his return game for Karnataka, while the new ODI vice-captain Shubman Gill impressed everyone with his gritty hundred against Karnataka. Jadeja, however, was among a few Champions Trophy-bound players to taste success during this short window playing in the Ranji Trophy. (With inputs from agencies)

How Ranji Trophy aided Ravindra Jadeja in finding form in Cuttack ODI

Record 15-time Champions League winners Real Madrid face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Tuesday wondering how to keep powerhouse striker Erling Haaland at bay. The Norwegian juggernaut is back in form with seven goals in his last eight games across all competitions and will be aiming to capitalise on Madrid's crumbling defence.<o:p></o:p>
Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao's long-term injury absences have been compounded by new injuries for Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Lucas Vazquez.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/la-liga-10-man-barcelona-rout-sevilla-to-maintain-title-charge-8706008" rel="dofollow">La Liga: 10-man Barcelona rout Sevilla to maintain title charge</a>
Along with veteran Nacho's departure last summer, Madrid are short at the back heading into the play-off round tie against City.<o:p></o:p>
Madrid did not reinforce in the winter transfer window and Ancelotti said his team must "bear out" the tough spot they are in.<o:p></o:p>
The coach is also still seeking the perfect balance between defence and attack after superstar French striker Kylian Mbappe's arrival last summer.<o:p></o:p>
The holders have often struggled defensively when using Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes together as starters.<o:p></o:p>
However, Ancelotti deployed his 'fantastic four' in a 1-1 La Liga draw against Atletico on Saturday and they worked hard when called upon to track back for the leaders.<o:p></o:p>
That has not always been the case, with veteran midfielder Luka Modric rowing with Vinicius last week in a 3-2 Copa del Rey quarter-final win over Leganes to get the Brazilian winger to help out more in defence.<o:p></o:p>
"You always have to respect what Modric says," said Ancelotti, siding with the Croatian, and Vinicius seemed to take note.<o:p></o:p>
Ancelotti spent the early months of the season complaining about a lack of balance and defensive work ethic from his side, as Madrid initially fell behind Barcelona domestically and were beaten by Brest, Liverpool and AC Milan in Europe.<o:p></o:p>
Along with a surge in Mbappe's confidence and, subsequently, his goalscoring, Madrid have improved as the season progressed.<o:p></o:p>
Ancelotti heralded his team's commitment against Atletico, ahead of the visit to the Etihad Stadium.<o:p></o:p>
"Everyone sacrificed, battled, fought and retrieved a tricky game," said the coach, with Mbappe scoring in the second half after Julian Alvarez put Atletico ahead. &nbsp;"Mbappe and Vinicius made an effort to be closer to the rest of the team... it was a good performance in terms of the players' commitment."<o:p></o:p>
Bellingham put in the hard yards in particular, dropping to the left to help his team when Atletico were in possession.<o:p></o:p>
It was a far cry from Madrid's 5-2 thrashing in the Spanish Super Cup final by Barcelona in January, with Ancelotti highly critical of his side's defending.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>'Despite the difficulties'<o:p></o:p></h2>
French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, playing out-of-position at centre-back, conceded the penalty for Atletico's opener by treading on Samuel Lino's foot.<o:p></o:p>
Despite the mistake he is set to retain his place against City, alongside 21-year-old defender Raul Asencio.<o:p></o:p>
The young Spanish centre-back has become a regular for Ancelotti this season, largely down to Madrid's injury problems, and facing Haaland will be the biggest test of his career to date.<o:p></o:p>
Asencio has risen to the challenge and is well-liked by fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, who enjoy his occasional piques with opposition attackers.<o:p></o:p>
Ancelotti highlighted that his team is thriving despite their various absentees at the back.<o:p></o:p>
"Before the (derby) I saw an image in which Carvajal, Alaba, Militao and Rudiger greeted their team-mates before they took the field," the Italian coach pointed out.<o:p></o:p>
"Despite the difficulties, we are doing very well."<o:p></o:p>
Vazquez is the latest casualty, hurt towards the end of the Atletico draw and it means Uruguayan box-to-box midfielder Federico Valverde will likely fill in at right-back.<o:p></o:p>
Even though Guardiola's side have been far below their best this season, Madrid's makeshift defence is an appealing prospect for City's attacking stars.<o:p></o:p>
Ancelotti will hope his team can compete well enough to avoid a thrashing like those they have suffered against Barcelona this season, shipping nine goals in two matches, and take advantage of having the second leg at the Bernabeu.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Sports, Football: Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao's long-term injury absences have been compounded by new injuries for Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Lucas Vazquez.

Record 15-time Champions League winners Real Madrid face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Tuesday wondering how to keep powerhouse striker Erling Haaland at bay. The Norwegian juggernaut is back in form with seven goals in his last eight games across all competitions and will be aiming to capitalise on Madrid's crumbling defence. Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao's long-term injury absences have been compounded by new injuries for Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Lucas Vazquez. Also read | La Liga: 10-man Barcelona rout Sevilla to maintain title charge Along with veteran Nacho's departure last summer, Madrid are short at the back heading into the play-off round tie against City. Madrid did not reinforce in the winter transfer window and Ancelotti said his team must "bear out" the tough spot they are in. The coach is also still seeking the perfect balance between defence and attack after superstar French striker Kylian Mbappe's arrival last summer. The holders have often struggled defensively when using Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes together as starters. However, Ancelotti deployed his 'fantastic four' in a 1-1 La Liga draw against Atletico on Saturday and they worked hard when called upon to track back for the leaders. That has not always been the case, with veteran midfielder Luka Modric rowing with Vinicius last week in a 3-2 Copa del Rey quarter-final win over Leganes to get the Brazilian winger to help out more in defence. "You always have to respect what Modric says," said Ancelotti, siding with the Croatian, and Vinicius seemed to take note. Ancelotti spent the early months of the season complaining about a lack of balance and defensive work ethic from his side, as Madrid initially fell behind Barcelona domestically and were beaten by Brest, Liverpool and AC Milan in Europe. Along with a surge in Mbappe's confidence and, subsequently, his goalscoring, Madrid have improved as the season progressed. Ancelotti heralded his team's commitment against Atletico, ahead of the visit to the Etihad Stadium. "Everyone sacrificed, battled, fought and retrieved a tricky game," said the coach, with Mbappe scoring in the second half after Julian Alvarez put Atletico ahead. "Mbappe and Vinicius made an effort to be closer to the rest of the team... it was a good performance in terms of the players' commitment." Bellingham put in the hard yards in particular, dropping to the left to help his team when Atletico were in possession. It was a far cry from Madrid's 5-2 thrashing in the Spanish Super Cup final by Barcelona in January, with Ancelotti highly critical of his side's defending. 'Despite the difficulties' French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, playing out-of-position at centre-back, conceded the penalty for Atletico's opener by treading on Samuel Lino's foot. Despite the mistake he is set to retain his place against City, alongside 21-year-old defender Raul Asencio. The young Spanish centre-back has become a regular for Ancelotti this season, largely down to Madrid's injury problems, and facing Haaland will be the biggest test of his career to date. Asencio has risen to the challenge and is well-liked by fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, who enjoy his occasional piques with opposition attackers. Ancelotti highlighted that his team is thriving despite their various absentees at the back. "Before the (derby) I saw an image in which Carvajal, Alaba, Militao and Rudiger greeted their team-mates before they took the field," the Italian coach pointed out. "Despite the difficulties, we are doing very well." Vazquez is the latest casualty, hurt towards the end of the Atletico draw and it means Uruguayan box-to-box midfielder Federico Valverde will likely fill in at right-back. Even though Guardiola's side have been far below their best this season, Madrid's makeshift defence is an appealing prospect for City's attacking stars. Ancelotti will hope his team can compete well enough to avoid a thrashing like those they have suffered against Barcelona this season, shipping nine goals in two matches, and take advantage of having the second leg at the Bernabeu. 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.

Champions League Preview: Injury-hit Madrid readies for Manchester City in blockbuster clash

Barcelona cut the gap on La Liga's top two with an entertaining 4-1 win over Sevilla on Sunday, despite playing out the final half-hour with 10 men after Fermin Lopez's red card.<o:p></o:p>
Robert Lewandowski, Lopez, Raphinha and Eric Garcia struck for the Catalans, who were able to capitalise on leaders Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with second-placed Atletico Madrid on Saturday.<o:p></o:p>
Hansi Flick's Barca climbed within two points of Los Blancos and moved one behind Atletico to crank up the tension in the title race.<o:p></o:p>
Lewandowski's early strike was cancelled out by Sevilla's Ruben Vargas, with Lopez and Raphinha pouncing early in the second half.<o:p></o:p>
Lopez was sent off for a high tackle but Barcelona held out and extended their lead when Garcia nodded home late on.<o:p></o:p>
"Today we had to win to stay in the title race and now we're putting the pressure on," Barca defender Inigo Martinez told DAZN. "I think the team played a brilliant match and this is the way forward...<o:p></o:p>
"If we stay secure and solid at the back, up front we all know what our forwards are capable of."<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/fa-cup-liverpool-knocked-out-by-second-tier-plymouth-8705557" rel="dofollow">FA Cup: Liverpool knocked out by second-tier Plymouth</a>
The match at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium got off to an explosive start with teenage winger Lamine Yamal forcing Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland into a superb save with a curling effort.<o:p></o:p>
Barcelona took the lead moments later from the resulting corner, played short, with Raphinha eventually crossing for Martinez to nod the ball across goal.<o:p></o:p>
Veteran Polish striker Lewandowski prodded home from close range after seven minutes to reach 19 league goals and extend his lead as the division's top goalscorer.<o:p></o:p>
Sevilla were level almost instantly, with Ronald Araujo playing Saul Niguez onside and the Spaniard crossed for Vargas to turn home in the eighth minute.<o:p></o:p>
Araujo's unfortunate evening was compounded by an injury sustained when fouled by Saul, with Pau Cubarsi replacing him in the 22nd minute.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>Lopez's short stay<o:p></o:p></h2>
Barca stopper Wojciech Szczesny made a good save from an acrobatic Dodi Lukebakio effort as the hosts, 13th, gave as good as they got in the first half.<o:p></o:p>
Flick sent on Lopez at half-time for Gavi and the midfielder scored and got sent off within the space of 15 minutes.<o:p></o:p>
Lopez netted at the start of the second half, heading home from playmaker Pedri's inviting cross.<o:p></o:p>
Vargas netted from an offside position at the other end before Raphinha extended Barcelona's lead with a vicious effort from distance in the 55th minute.<o:p></o:p>
Lopez was dismissed for a rash high challenge on Djibril Sow on the hour mark, leaving the Catalans the job of protecting their lead with a man fewer.<o:p></o:p>
Szczesny saved low from Suso's drive but Sevilla created little else of note as Barcelona largely kept the Andalucians at arm's length.<o:p></o:p>
Garcia nodded home at the far post in the final stages as Raphinha's deflected cross fell kindly to him to wrap up Barcelona's emphatic victory.
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.

Sports, Football: Lewandowski, Lopez and Raphinha struck for the Catalans, who were able to capitalise on leaders Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with second-placed Atletico on Saturday.

Barcelona cut the gap on La Liga's top two with an entertaining 4-1 win over Sevilla on Sunday, despite playing out the final half-hour with 10 men after Fermin Lopez's red card. Robert Lewandowski, Lopez, Raphinha and Eric Garcia struck for the Catalans, who were able to capitalise on leaders Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with second-placed Atletico Madrid on Saturday. Hansi Flick's Barca climbed within two points of Los Blancos and moved one behind Atletico to crank up the tension in the title race. Lewandowski's early strike was cancelled out by Sevilla's Ruben Vargas, with Lopez and Raphinha pouncing early in the second half. Lopez was sent off for a high tackle but Barcelona held out and extended their lead when Garcia nodded home late on. "Today we had to win to stay in the title race and now we're putting the pressure on," Barca defender Inigo Martinez told DAZN. "I think the team played a brilliant match and this is the way forward... "If we stay secure and solid at the back, up front we all know what our forwards are capable of." Also read | FA Cup: Liverpool knocked out by second-tier Plymouth The match at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium got off to an explosive start with teenage winger Lamine Yamal forcing Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland into a superb save with a curling effort. Barcelona took the lead moments later from the resulting corner, played short, with Raphinha eventually crossing for Martinez to nod the ball across goal. Veteran Polish striker Lewandowski prodded home from close range after seven minutes to reach 19 league goals and extend his lead as the division's top goalscorer. Sevilla were level almost instantly, with Ronald Araujo playing Saul Niguez onside and the Spaniard crossed for Vargas to turn home in the eighth minute. Araujo's unfortunate evening was compounded by an injury sustained when fouled by Saul, with Pau Cubarsi replacing him in the 22nd minute. Lopez's short stay Barca stopper Wojciech Szczesny made a good save from an acrobatic Dodi Lukebakio effort as the hosts, 13th, gave as good as they got in the first half. Flick sent on Lopez at half-time for Gavi and the midfielder scored and got sent off within the space of 15 minutes. Lopez netted at the start of the second half, heading home from playmaker Pedri's inviting cross. Vargas netted from an offside position at the other end before Raphinha extended Barcelona's lead with a vicious effort from distance in the 55th minute. Lopez was dismissed for a rash high challenge on Djibril Sow on the hour mark, leaving the Catalans the job of protecting their lead with a man fewer. Szczesny saved low from Suso's drive but Sevilla created little else of note as Barcelona largely kept the Andalucians at arm's length. Garcia nodded home at the far post in the final stages as Raphinha's deflected cross fell kindly to him to wrap up Barcelona's emphatic victory. 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.

La Liga: 10-man Barcelona rout Sevilla to maintain title charge

Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag recently spoke to WION about ILT20 Season 3, praising the tournament's competitive spirit and highlighting standout performances from both international stars and emerging talents. Don't miss this exclusive conversation!

Virender Sehwag speaks to WION, highlights top performers in ILT20 season 3

The Kansas City Chiefs aim for a historic hat-trick of Super Bowl titles on Sunday when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles in front of a star-studded crowd in New Orleans headed by US President Donald Trump.<o:p></o:p>
Trump, a strident critic of the National Football League over the years, will become the first sitting president ever to attend the Super Bowl when he takes his seat among a sell-out crowd of around 74,000 fans at the Caesars Superdome for the biggest annual event in the American sporting calendar.<o:p></o:p>
Pop superstar Taylor Swift will also be in the VIP seats to watch as her boyfriend Travis Kelce and his Chiefs team-mates bid to become the first team in history to lift three consecutive Vince Lombardi Trophies.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/carlos-alcaraz-sets-up-rotterdam-open-final-date-with-australias-de-minaur-8703661" rel="dofollow">Alcaraz sets up Rotterdam Open final date with Australia&rsquo;s de Minaur</a>
Trump's presence at the NFL showpiece will heighten security around an event which was already protected by a heavy police presence following the New Year's Day attack which left 14 people dead and many more injured in the Big Easy's famous Bourbon Street district.<o:p></o:p>
"I'm confident the safest place this weekend will be under the security umbrella we have in place around (the Superdome)," Cathy Lanier, the NFL's chief security officer, said this week. "We have reviewed, and re-reviewed, all the events of January 1."<o:p></o:p>
Trump's groundbreaking attendance at the game comes against a backdrop of a strained relationship with the NFL stretching back several decades, when he sought to join the league as an owner in the early 1980s only to be rebuffed.<o:p></o:p>
Trump also triggered uproar during his first term as president when in 2017 he criticized NFL players who knelt during the playing of the US national anthem to draw attention to issues of racial injustice.<o:p></o:p>
Players in Sunday's game have so far walked a diplomatic line when asked about Trump's presence, with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes saying playing in front of the US leader would be "cool."<o:p></o:p>
Fans in New Orleans meanwhile expressed hope that Trump does not politicize the occasion.<o:p></o:p>
"I'm hoping that basically he comes in and he's at his seat and they kind of like keep it quiet. I just want it to be a fun game and not be political," Debra Ward, a teacher from Virginia, told AFP.<o:p></o:p>
As always, the Super Bowl crosses over into popular culture and the half-time show this year will feature hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar, who had a clean sweep at last Sunday's Grammys, winning in all five categories for which he received nominations.<o:p></o:p>
Bookmakers and casinos meanwhile are taking odds on whether Chiefs star Kelce will propose to pop icon Swift after what might be his final game in the NFL. Reports late Saturday said the 35-year-old is considering retirement after the Super Bowl. <o:p></o:p>
American sports books, now legal in 38 states, could take an estimated $1.39 billion in bets on the Super Bowl according to an annual report from the American Gaming Association (AGA).<o:p></o:p>
<h2>Chiefs&rsquo; favourites<o:p></o:p></h2>
For the more serious punters, the oddsmakers have the Chiefs as slight favourite for the game, a rematch of the Super Bowl from two years ago which the Chiefs won by three points.<o:p></o:p>
The Chiefs defended their title last year, beating the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas and putting them one win away from an unprecedented "three-peat".<o:p></o:p>
The 29-year-old Mahomes will become one of just four quarterbacks in the history of the NFL to have won more than three Super Bowls should he triumph again, having first led the Chiefs to Super Bowl glory in 2020.<o:p></o:p>
But the Eagles have added serious offensive firepower since their defeat two years ago with mobile quarterback Jalen Hurts joined by the game-changing speed and power of running back Saquon Barkley.<o:p></o:p>
The Chiefs put the finishing touches to their Super Bowl preparations on Saturday with a 30-minute walkthrough of a mock game.<o:p></o:p>
Chiefs coach Andy Reid saluted his team's attitude to training over the whole week since arriving in Louisiana.<o:p></o:p>
"I thought the guys worked hard, they got done what they needed to get done," Reid said.<o:p></o:p>
The Eagles had a similarly relaxed final session before heading to the Superdome on Saturday for a team photo.<o:p></o:p>
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said his players were "hungry" and "ready to roll."<o:p></o:p>
"We're ready for the challenge against a really good team," Sirianni said.<o:p></o:p>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Sports, NFL: Taylor Swift will also be in the VIP seats to watch Travis Kelce and his Chiefs team-mates bid to become the first team to lift three consecutive Trophies.

The Kansas City Chiefs aim for a historic hat-trick of Super Bowl titles on Sunday when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles in front of a star-studded crowd in New Orleans headed by US President Donald Trump. Trump, a strident critic of the National Football League over the years, will become the first sitting president ever to attend the Super Bowl when he takes his seat among a sell-out crowd of around 74,000 fans at the Caesars Superdome for the biggest annual event in the American sporting calendar. Pop superstar Taylor Swift will also be in the VIP seats to watch as her boyfriend Travis Kelce and his Chiefs team-mates bid to become the first team in history to lift three consecutive Vince Lombardi Trophies. Also read | Alcaraz sets up Rotterdam Open final date with Australia’s de Minaur Trump's presence at the NFL showpiece will heighten security around an event which was already protected by a heavy police presence following the New Year's Day attack which left 14 people dead and many more injured in the Big Easy's famous Bourbon Street district. "I'm confident the safest place this weekend will be under the security umbrella we have in place around (the Superdome)," Cathy Lanier, the NFL's chief security officer, said this week. "We have reviewed, and re-reviewed, all the events of January 1." Trump's groundbreaking attendance at the game comes against a backdrop of a strained relationship with the NFL stretching back several decades, when he sought to join the league as an owner in the early 1980s only to be rebuffed. Trump also triggered uproar during his first term as president when in 2017 he criticized NFL players who knelt during the playing of the US national anthem to draw attention to issues of racial injustice. Players in Sunday's game have so far walked a diplomatic line when asked about Trump's presence, with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes saying playing in front of the US leader would be "cool." Fans in New Orleans meanwhile expressed hope that Trump does not politicize the occasion. "I'm hoping that basically he comes in and he's at his seat and they kind of like keep it quiet. I just want it to be a fun game and not be political," Debra Ward, a teacher from Virginia, told AFP. As always, the Super Bowl crosses over into popular culture and the half-time show this year will feature hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar, who had a clean sweep at last Sunday's Grammys, winning in all five categories for which he received nominations. Bookmakers and casinos meanwhile are taking odds on whether Chiefs star Kelce will propose to pop icon Swift after what might be his final game in the NFL. Reports late Saturday said the 35-year-old is considering retirement after the Super Bowl. American sports books, now legal in 38 states, could take an estimated $1.39 billion in bets on the Super Bowl according to an annual report from the American Gaming Association (AGA). Chiefs’ favourites For the more serious punters, the oddsmakers have the Chiefs as slight favourite for the game, a rematch of the Super Bowl from two years ago which the Chiefs won by three points. The Chiefs defended their title last year, beating the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas and putting them one win away from an unprecedented "three-peat". The 29-year-old Mahomes will become one of just four quarterbacks in the history of the NFL to have won more than three Super Bowls should he triumph again, having first led the Chiefs to Super Bowl glory in 2020. But the Eagles have added serious offensive firepower since their defeat two years ago with mobile quarterback Jalen Hurts joined by the game-changing speed and power of running back Saquon Barkley. The Chiefs put the finishing touches to their Super Bowl preparations on Saturday with a 30-minute walkthrough of a mock game. Chiefs coach Andy Reid saluted his team's attitude to training over the whole week since arriving in Louisiana. "I thought the guys worked hard, they got done what they needed to get done," Reid said. The Eagles had a similarly relaxed final session before heading to the Superdome on Saturday for a team photo. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said his players were "hungry" and "ready to roll." "We're ready for the challenge against a really good team," Sirianni said. 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.

Donald Trump, Taylor Swift to attend Super Bowl showdown as Chiefs chase 'three-peat'

In a blow to the incentive scheme for junior athletes winning international medals, none would be rewarded with cash prizes under major Sports Ministry policy shift, which came into effect on February 1. This policy aims at dealing with twin menace of age fraud and doping while keeping youngster&rsquo;s hunger alive.
Per an older incentive scheme, an athlete winning a gold medal at the Junior World Championship would pocket a cash prize worth INR 13 lakh, while those achieving a podium finish would be rewarded with an INR 5 lakh incentive. However, per a source close to the information, the government has taken this step to promote junior competitions as developmental events rather than making it about the podium finish.
&ldquo;We noticed that only India follows a model where junior championships are given over-importance. As a result, we have noticed that athletes work so hard at this level that by the time they reach the elite stage, they are either burnt out or have lost the hunger,&rdquo; an unnamed Sports Ministry official said, as quoted by the Indian Express.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-eng-2nd-odi-shreyas-iyer-or-yashasvi-jaiswal-who-sits-out-when-virat-kohli-returns-to-playing-xi-in-cuttack-8703976" rel="dofollow">IND vs ENG 2nd ODI: Iyer or Jaiswal, who sits out when Kohli returns to playing XI in Cuttack?</a>
Besides, the award policies for the senior athletes have also been rewritten. The Sports Ministry has removed two mega events &ndash; the Commonwealth Championships and the South Asian Games - from the awards list, with the Chess players winning Grandmaster or International Master will no longer be awarded.
This step, however, was taken to ensure the senior athletes remain focused to compete in tougher and important international events such as continental and world cups/championships.&nbsp;
<h2>More changes</h2>
Following shooter Manu Bhaker&rsquo;s twin medal wins at the Summer Olympics in Paris last year, the Ministry will now reward the sportsperson and their respective coaches for &lsquo;each medal won&rsquo; at the Olympic Games and World Championships. Outside of this, the akhara or academy where a medalist trained will also be eligible for awards.
Another impactful pointer from the revised policy includes the scrapping of a clause that barred an athlete&rsquo;s &ldquo;spouse, father, mother, brother and sister&rdquo; from receiving the award.
Meanwhile, cash incentives from the government pushed the athletes and their coaches into committing age fraud and getting involved in the doping scene. Per a report, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) data tells a worrying story, which states as of January 13, more than 10% of the dope offenders in the country since 2022 are minors &ndash; 22 out of 104.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It can be said that the cash awards are one of the reasons athletes are lured into adopting unfair means. Most of them come from humble backgrounds, so it is a case of high risk, high reward for them,&rdquo; another unnamed official said.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports: An impactful pointer from the revised policy includes scrapping of a clause that barred an athlete’s “spouse, father, mother, brother, and sister” from receiving the award.

In a blow to the incentive scheme for junior athletes winning international medals, none would be rewarded with cash prizes under major Sports Ministry policy shift, which came into effect on February 1. This policy aims at dealing with twin menace of age fraud and doping while keeping youngster’s hunger alive. Per an older incentive scheme, an athlete winning a gold medal at the Junior World Championship would pocket a cash prize worth INR 13 lakh, while those achieving a podium finish would be rewarded with an INR 5 lakh incentive. However, per a source close to the information, the government has taken this step to promote junior competitions as developmental events rather than making it about the podium finish. “We noticed that only India follows a model where junior championships are given over-importance. As a result, we have noticed that athletes work so hard at this level that by the time they reach the elite stage, they are either burnt out or have lost the hunger,” an unnamed Sports Ministry official said, as quoted by the Indian Express. Also read | IND vs ENG 2nd ODI: Iyer or Jaiswal, who sits out when Kohli returns to playing XI in Cuttack? Besides, the award policies for the senior athletes have also been rewritten. The Sports Ministry has removed two mega events – the Commonwealth Championships and the South Asian Games - from the awards list, with the Chess players winning Grandmaster or International Master will no longer be awarded. This step, however, was taken to ensure the senior athletes remain focused to compete in tougher and important international events such as continental and world cups/championships. More changes Following shooter Manu Bhaker’s twin medal wins at the Summer Olympics in Paris last year, the Ministry will now reward the sportsperson and their respective coaches for ‘each medal won’ at the Olympic Games and World Championships. Outside of this, the akhara or academy where a medalist trained will also be eligible for awards. Another impactful pointer from the revised policy includes the scrapping of a clause that barred an athlete’s “spouse, father, mother, brother and sister” from receiving the award. Meanwhile, cash incentives from the government pushed the athletes and their coaches into committing age fraud and getting involved in the doping scene. Per a report, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) data tells a worrying story, which states as of January 13, more than 10% of the dope offenders in the country since 2022 are minors – 22 out of 104. “It can be said that the cash awards are one of the reasons athletes are lured into adopting unfair means. Most of them come from humble backgrounds, so it is a case of high risk, high reward for them,” another unnamed official said. (With inputs from agencies)

Junior Indian athletes to lose out on cash prize for international medals under new policy

India and England are back against each other for the second ODI of this three-match series, scheduled on Sunday (Feb 9) in Cuttack. The two powerhouses of world cricket have plenty at stake and to offer in this cracker of a One-Dayer. While the focus remains on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli" rel="dofollow">Virat Kohli</a>&rsquo;s return to the Indian Team, England will aim for an improved performance to save the series. Here is the match preview and result prediction of the 2nd ODI between India and England in Cuttack.
<h2>Match Preview&nbsp;</h2>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-eng-1st-odi-live-india-vs-england-1st-odi-nagpur-live-score-today-playing-xi-match-prediction-toss-pitch-report-liveblog-8694678" rel="dofollow">India made light work of England in the series-opener in Nagpur</a>, beating them by four wickets and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODIs. The hosts will look to maintain their winning run against England in the second game, having won 25 of the last 31 matches played at home against them in the past 20 years.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/new-zealands-rachin-ravindra-suffers-sickening-head-injury-during-tri-series-clash-against-pakistan-in-lahore-watch-8703677" rel="dofollow">Rachin Ravindra suffers sickening head injury during tri-series clash against Pakistan &ndash; Watch</a>
Kohli, who missed the Nagpur tie due to a last-minute discomfort in his knee, will return to the playing XI for the second match; the question here arises who sits out? India could bench Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made his ODI debut in Nagpur, bringing Shubman Gill at the top, Kohli back to his favourite position at three, and Shreyas Iyer at four.
Meanwhile, after his previous-game heroics, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-eng-shreyas-iyer-reveals-he-wasnt-supposed-to-play-1st-odi-in-nagpur-virat-kohli-injury-update-8698266" rel="dofollow">Iyer admitted he only made it to the playing XI after Virat&rsquo;s injury news got out</a> and might retain his place in the side in Cuttack, a venue that favours batting.
On the other hand, England will want their middle order to come good in this second game. Despite their openers providing a blistering start in Nagpur, England managed a mere 240. However, Jacob Bethell&rsquo;s knock was the one that impressed everyone, with the visitors hoping for a similar show from the rookie all-rounder in Cuttack.&nbsp;
Besides, Harry Brook&rsquo;s form remains a worry for England, while Mark Wood&rsquo;s return to the XI for the must-win clash remains imminent.&nbsp;
<h3>Result Prediction &ndash;</h3>
Despite England wanting to make a desperate comeback in this series, they might fall short of crushing the upbeat Indian Team.
Predicted Playing XIs &ndash;
India &ndash; Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami
England &ndash; Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (Captain), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood

Sports, Cricket: While the focus remains on Virat Kohli’s return to the Indian Team for the second ODI, England will aim for an improved performance to save the series.

India and England are back against each other for the second ODI of this three-match series, scheduled on Sunday (Feb 9) in Cuttack. The two powerhouses of world cricket have plenty at stake and to offer in this cracker of a One-Dayer. While the focus remains on Virat Kohli’s return to the Indian Team, England will aim for an improved performance to save the series. Here is the match preview and result prediction of the 2nd ODI between India and England in Cuttack. Match Preview India made light work of England in the series-opener in Nagpur, beating them by four wickets and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODIs. The hosts will look to maintain their winning run against England in the second game, having won 25 of the last 31 matches played at home against them in the past 20 years. Also read | Rachin Ravindra suffers sickening head injury during tri-series clash against Pakistan – Watch Kohli, who missed the Nagpur tie due to a last-minute discomfort in his knee, will return to the playing XI for the second match; the question here arises who sits out? India could bench Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made his ODI debut in Nagpur, bringing Shubman Gill at the top, Kohli back to his favourite position at three, and Shreyas Iyer at four. Meanwhile, after his previous-game heroics, Iyer admitted he only made it to the playing XI after Virat’s injury news got out and might retain his place in the side in Cuttack, a venue that favours batting. On the other hand, England will want their middle order to come good in this second game. Despite their openers providing a blistering start in Nagpur, England managed a mere 240. However, Jacob Bethell’s knock was the one that impressed everyone, with the visitors hoping for a similar show from the rookie all-rounder in Cuttack. Besides, Harry Brook’s form remains a worry for England, while Mark Wood’s return to the XI for the must-win clash remains imminent. Result Prediction – Despite England wanting to make a desperate comeback in this series, they might fall short of crushing the upbeat Indian Team. Predicted Playing XIs – India – Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami England – Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (Captain), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood

India vs England 2025 2nd ODI, Cuttack: Match preview and result prediction

Carlos Alcaraz scrapped his way into the final of the Rotterdam Open on Saturday with a hard-fought and entertaining three-set win over Hubert Hurkacz. <o:p></o:p>Superior court coverage and retrieving from the Spanish world number three overcame stubborn resistance from the Pole for a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win to set up a clash with Australia's Alex de Minaur in Sunday's final.<o:p></o:p>
"It was a very tight first set. I think he had chances to make it 6-0 so I just tried to fight every ball, every point," said Alcaraz. "I just tried to stay in there, keep fighting all the time and it paid off," he added.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kylian-mbappe-helps-real-madrid-play-1-1-draw-against-atletico-in-tense-liga-derby-8703645" rel="dofollow">Mbappe helps Real Madrid play 1-1 draw against Atletico in tense Liga derby</a>
Alcaraz got off to a slow start, broken to love in his very first service game and allowing Hurkacz to race into a 3-0 lead in the first set. <o:p></o:p>He faced another break point in his next service game but saved it with a glorious crosscourt forehand and managed to hold onto serve.<o:p></o:p>
Alcaraz survived another three break points and then fought his way back into the match with a break of his own, seizing the game with a forehand smash after a lengthy rally.<o:p></o:p>
The momentum shifted in the Spaniard's favour and a double-fault from Hurkacz gave the top seed the opportunity to serve out the set. <o:p></o:p>Again Hurkacz had the opportunity to break, but Alcaraz held firm and sealed the set with a forehand drive volley winner.<o:p></o:p>
After the topsy-turvy first set, the second proceeded more conventionally, on serve until the tie-break.<o:p></o:p>
The tie-break was also nip and tuck, both players squandering chances to seize the advantage. <o:p></o:p>
But a double-fault from Alcaraz at 5-4 up gave Hurkacz an opportunity, and the Pole needed no second invitation, taking the set as the Spaniard netted a simple backhand groundstroke.<o:p></o:p>
The decisive set started the same way as the first, with an early break of serve -- this time to Alcaraz who brought the crowd to its feet.<o:p></o:p>
That eventually proved enough to break the Polish resistance, as Hurkacz failed to make inroads into the Alcaraz serve.<o:p></o:p>
Serving for the set at 5-3, Alcaraz booked his place in his 22nd ATP tour final with a trademark forehand winner up the line.<o:p></o:p>
"I want to be the first Spanish player to be able to win this tournament. I'm going to go for it. I'm really happy to be able to play a final in Rotterdam," said the 21-year-old.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>'Happy with level'<o:p></o:p></h2>
In Saturday's first semi-final, De Minaur brought to an end the extraordinary giant-killing run of Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci with a straight-sets win.<o:p></o:p>
De Minaur was too consistent for the error-prone Bellucci, who was unable to repeat his earlier heroics against Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, going down 6-1, 6-2.<o:p></o:p>
"I'm very happy with the level today," said De Minaur. "He's been playing with a lot of confidence this whole week, so I knew it was going to be a very tough battle," added the third-seeded Australian.<o:p></o:p>
Runner-up last year to world number one Jannik Sinner, De Minaur has enjoyed comfortable passage to the final, winning all his matches in straight sets.<o:p></o:p>
"The Dutch crowd always treats me very well, and I love coming back here. So hopefully I can get a title this time," he said.<o:p></o:p>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Sports, Tennis: Runner-up last year to world number one Jannik Sinner, De Minaur has enjoyed comfortable passage to the final, winning all his matches in straight sets.

Carlos Alcaraz scrapped his way into the final of the Rotterdam Open on Saturday with a hard-fought and entertaining three-set win over Hubert Hurkacz. Superior court coverage and retrieving from the Spanish world number three overcame stubborn resistance from the Pole for a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win to set up a clash with Australia's Alex de Minaur in Sunday's final. "It was a very tight first set. I think he had chances to make it 6-0 so I just tried to fight every ball, every point," said Alcaraz. "I just tried to stay in there, keep fighting all the time and it paid off," he added. Also read | Mbappe helps Real Madrid play 1-1 draw against Atletico in tense Liga derby Alcaraz got off to a slow start, broken to love in his very first service game and allowing Hurkacz to race into a 3-0 lead in the first set. He faced another break point in his next service game but saved it with a glorious crosscourt forehand and managed to hold onto serve. Alcaraz survived another three break points and then fought his way back into the match with a break of his own, seizing the game with a forehand smash after a lengthy rally. The momentum shifted in the Spaniard's favour and a double-fault from Hurkacz gave the top seed the opportunity to serve out the set. Again Hurkacz had the opportunity to break, but Alcaraz held firm and sealed the set with a forehand drive volley winner. After the topsy-turvy first set, the second proceeded more conventionally, on serve until the tie-break. The tie-break was also nip and tuck, both players squandering chances to seize the advantage. But a double-fault from Alcaraz at 5-4 up gave Hurkacz an opportunity, and the Pole needed no second invitation, taking the set as the Spaniard netted a simple backhand groundstroke. The decisive set started the same way as the first, with an early break of serve -- this time to Alcaraz who brought the crowd to its feet. That eventually proved enough to break the Polish resistance, as Hurkacz failed to make inroads into the Alcaraz serve. Serving for the set at 5-3, Alcaraz booked his place in his 22nd ATP tour final with a trademark forehand winner up the line. "I want to be the first Spanish player to be able to win this tournament. I'm going to go for it. I'm really happy to be able to play a final in Rotterdam," said the 21-year-old. 'Happy with level' In Saturday's first semi-final, De Minaur brought to an end the extraordinary giant-killing run of Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci with a straight-sets win. De Minaur was too consistent for the error-prone Bellucci, who was unable to repeat his earlier heroics against Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, going down 6-1, 6-2. "I'm very happy with the level today," said De Minaur. "He's been playing with a lot of confidence this whole week, so I knew it was going to be a very tough battle," added the third-seeded Australian. Runner-up last year to world number one Jannik Sinner, De Minaur has enjoyed comfortable passage to the final, winning all his matches in straight sets. "The Dutch crowd always treats me very well, and I love coming back here. So hopefully I can get a title this time," he said. 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.

Alcaraz sets up Rotterdam Open final date with Australia’s de Minaur

Kylian Mbappe secured Real Madrid a 1-1 draw against rivals Atletico Madrid which kept Los Blancos top of La Liga on Saturday.<o:p></o:p>
Julian Alvarez dinked home a controversial first half penalty for Atletico but Mbappe was in the right place at the right time to bundle home early in the second half on his first appearance in the tense derby clash.<o:p></o:p>
Reigning champions Real Madrid lead second-place Atletico by a single point, with Barcelona, third, given the chance to cut the gap on the top two when they face Sevilla on Sunday.<o:p></o:p>
Atletico shaded a close first half but were left holding on in the second period as the hosts stepped up a gear at the Santiago Bernabeu.<o:p></o:p>
"The team is disappointed because they think they deserved more... but we're happy because we're still leaders," Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.<o:p></o:p>
"In the second half we had total control, we had a lot of chances."<o:p></o:p>
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fa-cup-kevin-de-bruyne-spares-man-city-blushes-at-leyton-orient-8703063" rel="dofollow">FA Cup: Kevin De Bruyne spares Man City blushes at Leyton Orient</a>
Ancelotti opted to deploy his four key attacking players in Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes, in lieu of a more conservative approach.<o:p></o:p>
The star names got stuck in, not always a given in a defensive sense, and the first half was a hard-fought, intense battle with few clear openings for either side.<o:p></o:p>
Atletico were upset when Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos was only booked for an ugly challenge on Pablo Barrios, but it was the hosts who were left raging when referee Cesar Soto Grado pointed to the penalty spot.<o:p></o:p>
Aurelien Tchouameni, covering at centre-back for Madrid with Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao out among others, clumsily trod on Samuel Lino's&nbsp;foot&nbsp;in the box.<o:p></o:p>
After a VAR review Soto Grado awarded a controversial penalty to Madrid's frustration, with the incident happening after the ball had run past the duo.<o:p></o:p>
Los Blancos attacked Spanish refereeing earlier in the week after they were upset by a decision in a shock defeat last weekend, bringing heavy scrutiny on the officials ahead of the derby.<o:p></o:p>
Alvarez took the penalty, the first given against Madrid in La Liga this season, and cheekily executed a Panenka down the middle.<o:p></o:p>
"I can't say I wasn't a bit nervous (with the penalty), but I was sure, I knew what I would do, and it was a great goal for the team," Alvarez told Movistar.<o:p></o:p>
"Corruption in the federation," chanted Real Madrid fans in response to falling behind, buying into their club's stance.<o:p></o:p>
Ancelotti refused to talk about the refereeing but appeared exasperated on the sideline as Soto Grado pointed to the spot.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>Madrid battle back<o:p></o:p></h2>
Madrid pulled level early in the second half when Rodrygo broke loose on the right of the box and crossed for Bellingham.<o:p></o:p>
The England international's shot was blocked but Mbappe was on hand to turn home the rebound and score on his first Madrid derby appearance.<o:p></o:p>
Bellingham twice came close to putting Madrid ahead, nodding against the crossbar from Vinicius' cross and then heading straight at Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak from a similar position, kicking the post in frustration.<o:p></o:p>
Madrid played with far more fluidity in the second half and pegged Atletico back.<o:p></o:p>
Oblak made a smart save to deny Vinicius after the Brazilian winger burst through the gap between two Atletico defenders and pulled the trigger from a tight angle.<o:p></o:p>
The Slovenian goalkeeper also made fine saves from Rodrygo and Mbappe to ensure the two sides ended with a point apiece.<o:p></o:p>
"We had a good first half, but we weren't relaxed enough in front of goal to (score) more," said Simeone.<o:p></o:p>
"In the end it was a draw in which both teams think they could have taken more from it."<o:p></o:p>
Real Madrid face another big challenge on Tuesday when they travel to face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the&nbsp;Champions League&nbsp;play-off round first leg.<o:p></o:p>
Earlier Athletic Bilbao, fourth, beat Girona 3-0 with an Oihan Sancet hat-trick to maintain their&nbsp;Champions League&nbsp;charge.<o:p></o:p>
Antony, on loan from Manchester United, netted his first goal for Real Betis in a 3-2 defeat by Celta Vigo.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Sports, Football: Real Madrid lead second-place Atletico by a single point, with Barcelona, third, given the chance to cut the gap on the top two when they face Sevilla on Sunday.

Kylian Mbappe secured Real Madrid a 1-1 draw against rivals Atletico Madrid which kept Los Blancos top of La Liga on Saturday. Julian Alvarez dinked home a controversial first half penalty for Atletico but Mbappe was in the right place at the right time to bundle home early in the second half on his first appearance in the tense derby clash. Reigning champions Real Madrid lead second-place Atletico by a single point, with Barcelona, third, given the chance to cut the gap on the top two when they face Sevilla on Sunday. Atletico shaded a close first half but were left holding on in the second period as the hosts stepped up a gear at the Santiago Bernabeu. "The team is disappointed because they think they deserved more... but we're happy because we're still leaders," Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters. "In the second half we had total control, we had a lot of chances." Also Read | FA Cup: Kevin De Bruyne spares Man City blushes at Leyton Orient Ancelotti opted to deploy his four key attacking players in Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes, in lieu of a more conservative approach. The star names got stuck in, not always a given in a defensive sense, and the first half was a hard-fought, intense battle with few clear openings for either side. Atletico were upset when Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos was only booked for an ugly challenge on Pablo Barrios, but it was the hosts who were left raging when referee Cesar Soto Grado pointed to the penalty spot. Aurelien Tchouameni, covering at centre-back for Madrid with Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao out among others, clumsily trod on Samuel Lino's foot in the box. After a VAR review Soto Grado awarded a controversial penalty to Madrid's frustration, with the incident happening after the ball had run past the duo. Los Blancos attacked Spanish refereeing earlier in the week after they were upset by a decision in a shock defeat last weekend, bringing heavy scrutiny on the officials ahead of the derby. Alvarez took the penalty, the first given against Madrid in La Liga this season, and cheekily executed a Panenka down the middle. "I can't say I wasn't a bit nervous (with the penalty), but I was sure, I knew what I would do, and it was a great goal for the team," Alvarez told Movistar. "Corruption in the federation," chanted Real Madrid fans in response to falling behind, buying into their club's stance. Ancelotti refused to talk about the refereeing but appeared exasperated on the sideline as Soto Grado pointed to the spot. Madrid battle back Madrid pulled level early in the second half when Rodrygo broke loose on the right of the box and crossed for Bellingham. The England international's shot was blocked but Mbappe was on hand to turn home the rebound and score on his first Madrid derby appearance. Bellingham twice came close to putting Madrid ahead, nodding against the crossbar from Vinicius' cross and then heading straight at Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak from a similar position, kicking the post in frustration. Madrid played with far more fluidity in the second half and pegged Atletico back. Oblak made a smart save to deny Vinicius after the Brazilian winger burst through the gap between two Atletico defenders and pulled the trigger from a tight angle. The Slovenian goalkeeper also made fine saves from Rodrygo and Mbappe to ensure the two sides ended with a point apiece. "We had a good first half, but we weren't relaxed enough in front of goal to (score) more," said Simeone. "In the end it was a draw in which both teams think they could have taken more from it." Real Madrid face another big challenge on Tuesday when they travel to face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the Champions League play-off round first leg. Earlier Athletic Bilbao, fourth, beat Girona 3-0 with an Oihan Sancet hat-trick to maintain their Champions League charge. Antony, on loan from Manchester United, netted his first goal for Real Betis in a 3-2 defeat by Celta Vigo. 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.

Mbappe helps Real Madrid play 1-1 draw against Atletico in tense Liga derby

Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman has shined ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 as his team prepares for the big tournament in their homeland. Playing in the opening match of the renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore against New Zealand, Zaman scored 84 runs, refreshing memories of his knock in the 2017 Champions Trophy. His runs in the opening match of the tri-series has set the tone for a busy next three weeks for Pakistan as they look to retain the Champions Trophy.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Zaman shines for Pakistan<o:p></o:p></h2>
With Pakistan chasing 331 runs to win, Zaman took the charge in his hand having been named Saim Ayub&rsquo;s replacement for the Champions Trophy 2025. The Pakistan opener attacked Kiwi bowlers left, right and center scoring 84 off 69 deliveries. His innings consisted of 7 fours and 6 sixes with a strike rate of 121.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
However, lack of support on the other hand saw Pakistan lose wickets at regular intervals. Former skipper Babar Azam was dismissed for 10 off 23 while Mohammed Rizwan scored 3. Tayyab Tahir contributed with 30 off 29 but could not convert his innings into a big knock. <o:p></o:p>
At the time of writing, Pakistan were 183/5 in 35 overs, needing 142 runs to win in 15 overs. Salman Agha (31 off 41) and Khushdil Shah (8 off 6) were in the middle as the hosts needed to score to at more than 9 runs per over.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/i-got-caught-in-admits-konstas-on-form-slump-after-test-debut-8702187" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Glenn Phillips shines for New Zealand<o:p></o:p></h2>
Glenn Phillips was in sublime form with the bat for New Zealand in the renovated Gaddafi Stadium as he scored an unbeaten 106 off 74 balls. His innings consisted of 6 fours and 7 sixes and struck at a strike rate of 143. Daryl Mitchell (81) and former skipper Kane Williamson (58) also played important roles for New Zealand as they posted 330/6 in 50 overs.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: Playing in the opening match of the renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore against New Zealand, Zaman scored 84 runs, refreshing memories of CT 2017 final.

Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman has shined ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 as his team prepares for the big tournament in their homeland. Playing in the opening match of the renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore against New Zealand, Zaman scored 84 runs, refreshing memories of his knock in the 2017 Champions Trophy. His runs in the opening match of the tri-series has set the tone for a busy next three weeks for Pakistan as they look to retain the Champions Trophy. Zaman shines for Pakistan With Pakistan chasing 331 runs to win, Zaman took the charge in his hand having been named Saim Ayub’s replacement for the Champions Trophy 2025. The Pakistan opener attacked Kiwi bowlers left, right and center scoring 84 off 69 deliveries. His innings consisted of 7 fours and 6 sixes with a strike rate of 121. However, lack of support on the other hand saw Pakistan lose wickets at regular intervals. Former skipper Babar Azam was dismissed for 10 off 23 while Mohammed Rizwan scored 3. Tayyab Tahir contributed with 30 off 29 but could not convert his innings into a big knock. At the time of writing, Pakistan were 183/5 in 35 overs, needing 142 runs to win in 15 overs. Salman Agha (31 off 41) and Khushdil Shah (8 off 6) were in the middle as the hosts needed to score to at more than 9 runs per over. ALSO READ | 'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut Glenn Phillips shines for New Zealand Glenn Phillips was in sublime form with the bat for New Zealand in the renovated Gaddafi Stadium as he scored an unbeaten 106 off 74 balls. His innings consisted of 6 fours and 7 sixes and struck at a strike rate of 143. Daryl Mitchell (81) and former skipper Kane Williamson (58) also played important roles for New Zealand as they posted 330/6 in 50 overs.

Fakhar Zaman shines with bat ahead of Champions Trophy 2025, slams 84 runs against New Zealand

Manchester City survived a huge scare to beat third-tier Leyton Orient 2-1 and progress to the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola had to turn to his bench to prevent a monumental shock for the Premier League champions as substitute Kevin De Bruyne scored the winner 11 minutes from time.
<h2>Man City advance</h2>
Jamie Donley's audacious effort that came back off the bar and rebounded in off City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega had given the League One side an early lead.
They maintained that advantage until 56 minutes when Rico Lewis' shot deflected in off Abdukodir Khusanov for his first Manchester City goal.
Guardiola threw on Phil Foden and De Bruyne in desperate search of a winner and the veteran Belgian duly delivered.
De Bruyne prodded in Jack Grealish's forward pass to spare City's blushes from the latest embarrassment of a difficult season.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/i-got-caught-in-admits-konstas-on-form-slump-after-test-debut-8702187" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut</a>
Guardiola's men sit fourth in the Premier League and narrowly avoided a shock early exit from the Champions League in the group stages.
But they will need to be much improved when the might of Real Madrid come calling to the Etihad in the Champions League play-off round on Tuesday.
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.

Sports, Football: Manchester City survived a huge scare to beat third-tier Leyton Orient 2-1 and progress to the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.

Manchester City survived a huge scare to beat third-tier Leyton Orient 2-1 and progress to the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday. Pep Guardiola had to turn to his bench to prevent a monumental shock for the Premier League champions as substitute Kevin De Bruyne scored the winner 11 minutes from time. Man City advance Jamie Donley's audacious effort that came back off the bar and rebounded in off City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega had given the League One side an early lead. They maintained that advantage until 56 minutes when Rico Lewis' shot deflected in off Abdukodir Khusanov for his first Manchester City goal. Guardiola threw on Phil Foden and De Bruyne in desperate search of a winner and the veteran Belgian duly delivered. De Bruyne prodded in Jack Grealish's forward pass to spare City's blushes from the latest embarrassment of a difficult season. ALSO READ | 'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut Guardiola's men sit fourth in the Premier League and narrowly avoided a shock early exit from the Champions League in the group stages. But they will need to be much improved when the might of Real Madrid come calling to the Etihad in the Champions League play-off round on Tuesday. 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.

FA Cup: Kevin De Bruyne spares Man City blushes at Leyton Orient

Australia are two wickets away from ending Sri Lanka's second innings in the second Test Saturday, with the hosts reeling at 211-8 at stumps on day three in Galle.
With Sri Lanka leading by only 54 runs, Steve Smith's side will be eager to mop up the tail early Sunday and seal a 2-0 sweep.
Angelo Mathews was the linchpin of Sri Lanka's innings, holding things together as wickets tumbled at the other end.
But just 15 minutes before the close of play, he swept Nathan Lyon straight to square leg, where Beau Webster pocketed a sharp chance.
The 37-year-old warhorse had dug deep for a fighting half-century, but Sri Lanka needed a marathon knock, not his well-compiled 76.
Mathews finds himself in the crosshairs, with just one fifty in his last eight innings.
Ahead of this Test, the selectors had made it clear -&ndash; unless he starts churning out big runs, his spot in the next cycle of the World Test Championship was not fixed.
His sixth-wicket partnership with Kusal Mendis worth 70 runs was a lifeline for Sri Lanka, preventing an innings implosion and ensuring the game stretched into a fourth day.
Prabath Jayasuriya said Sri Lanka were "not out of it yet".
"Kusal Mendis is still out there and he has been batting well -- and if he can give us a decent lead, then we can put pressure on them," he said.
"It's not going to be easy batting in the fourth innings."
ALSO READ |<a href="'I%20got%20caught%20in...',%20admits%20Konstas%20on%20form%20slump%20after%20Test%20debut" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank"> 'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut</a>
<h2>Knock them over</h2>
There was an unusual moment in the afternoon session when a delivery from Lyon drifted down the leg-side.
It clipped the helmet placed behind the wicketkeeper for a close-in fielder, and triggered an automatic five-run penalty for Sri Lanka, a rare bonus in a match where runs were hard to come by.
With the picturesque Galle Fort providing a natural grandstand, hundreds of Australian supporters perched themselves atop the historic ramparts to enjoy a commanding performance from their side.
The fans celebrated as off-spinner Lyon became only the third Australian to claim 550 Test wickets, joining the exalted company of Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563).&nbsp;
Lyon was well-supported by Matthew Kuhnemann, sharing seven wickets between them.
Earlier, Alex Carey turned entertainer-in-chief with a swashbuckling 156 -&ndash; his career-best knock, peppered with 15 boundaries and two towering sixes.&nbsp;
While Smith (131) also took another big hundred &ndash;- his second of the series -&ndash; it was Carey who made batting look easy.
With Sri Lanka on the ropes and Australia poised for the knockout punch, day four promises high drama.
Kuhnemann said Australia still faced a "not easy" chase.
"Whatever they put up it will be tough," he said.
"It is going to turn a lot on day four, and we are looking forward to knock them over, score whatever the runs required -- and wrap up the series."
The visitors have already put the Warne-Murali Trophy beyond Sri Lanka's reach, having taken an unassailable 1-0 lead with a crushing victory in the first Test.
That innings and 242-run humiliation stands as Sri Lanka's worst defeat in Test 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.

Sports, Cricket: Australia are two wickets away from ending Sri Lanka's second innings in the second Test Saturday, with the hosts reeling at 211-8 at stumps on day three in Galle.

Australia are two wickets away from ending Sri Lanka's second innings in the second Test Saturday, with the hosts reeling at 211-8 at stumps on day three in Galle. With Sri Lanka leading by only 54 runs, Steve Smith's side will be eager to mop up the tail early Sunday and seal a 2-0 sweep. Angelo Mathews was the linchpin of Sri Lanka's innings, holding things together as wickets tumbled at the other end. But just 15 minutes before the close of play, he swept Nathan Lyon straight to square leg, where Beau Webster pocketed a sharp chance. The 37-year-old warhorse had dug deep for a fighting half-century, but Sri Lanka needed a marathon knock, not his well-compiled 76. Mathews finds himself in the crosshairs, with just one fifty in his last eight innings. Ahead of this Test, the selectors had made it clear -– unless he starts churning out big runs, his spot in the next cycle of the World Test Championship was not fixed. His sixth-wicket partnership with Kusal Mendis worth 70 runs was a lifeline for Sri Lanka, preventing an innings implosion and ensuring the game stretched into a fourth day. Prabath Jayasuriya said Sri Lanka were "not out of it yet". "Kusal Mendis is still out there and he has been batting well -- and if he can give us a decent lead, then we can put pressure on them," he said. "It's not going to be easy batting in the fourth innings." ALSO READ | 'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut Knock them over There was an unusual moment in the afternoon session when a delivery from Lyon drifted down the leg-side. It clipped the helmet placed behind the wicketkeeper for a close-in fielder, and triggered an automatic five-run penalty for Sri Lanka, a rare bonus in a match where runs were hard to come by. With the picturesque Galle Fort providing a natural grandstand, hundreds of Australian supporters perched themselves atop the historic ramparts to enjoy a commanding performance from their side. The fans celebrated as off-spinner Lyon became only the third Australian to claim 550 Test wickets, joining the exalted company of Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563). Lyon was well-supported by Matthew Kuhnemann, sharing seven wickets between them. Earlier, Alex Carey turned entertainer-in-chief with a swashbuckling 156 -– his career-best knock, peppered with 15 boundaries and two towering sixes. While Smith (131) also took another big hundred –- his second of the series -– it was Carey who made batting look easy. With Sri Lanka on the ropes and Australia poised for the knockout punch, day four promises high drama. Kuhnemann said Australia still faced a "not easy" chase. "Whatever they put up it will be tough," he said. "It is going to turn a lot on day four, and we are looking forward to knock them over, score whatever the runs required -- and wrap up the series." The visitors have already put the Warne-Murali Trophy beyond Sri Lanka's reach, having taken an unassailable 1-0 lead with a crushing victory in the first Test. That innings and 242-run humiliation stands as Sri Lanka's worst defeat in Test 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.

SL vs AUS, 2nd Test: Australia on brink of win as Sri Lanka suffer setbacks in second innings

Former India captain Virat Kohli is all set to return to the Playing XI for the side ahead of the second ODI against England on Sunday (Feb 9). Kohli, having sustained swelling in his right knee on the morning of the Nagpur ODI opted to sit out with Shreyas Iyer coming in his place. His return was confirmed by batting coach Sitanshu Kotak while speaking in the pre-match press conference on Saturday (Feb 8). <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Virat set for return <o:p></o:p></h2>
With the Champions Trophy 2025 set to start on February 19, Virat&rsquo;s return to the Indian side comes as a welcome addition. His absence left a gap in the middle order of the Indian side but was filled by Shreyas Iyer after he smashed a quickfire 59 in the match. The former India captain has struggled in the recent months with the bat including in the tour Down Under against Australia.<o:p></o:p>
According to Shubman Gill, Virat suffered swelling on the morning of the Nagpur match leaving him out of the Playing XI. Interestingly, the 36-year-old has played only two ODI matches since the 2023 World Cup final against Australia, which came in the Sri Lanka tour in July 2024.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/i-got-caught-in-admits-konstas-on-form-slump-after-test-debut-8702187" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India target series win<o:p></o:p></h2>
With a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, India will target a series win on Sunday at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. The Men in Blue won the opening contest in a one-sided affair having registered a four-wicket win. Gill was the hero of the hour for India as he scored 87 runs before missing out on a hundred. Iyer&rsquo;s 59-run knock also played a key role for India while skipper Rohit Sharma failed to impress yet again. <o:p></o:p>
The match will start at 1:30 PM on Sunday with the toss taking place at 1:00 PM at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: Virat Kohli, having sustained swelling in his right knee on the morning of the Nagpur ODI opted to sit out with Shreyas Iyer coming in his place.

Former India captain Virat Kohli is all set to return to the Playing XI for the side ahead of the second ODI against England on Sunday (Feb 9). Kohli, having sustained swelling in his right knee on the morning of the Nagpur ODI opted to sit out with Shreyas Iyer coming in his place. His return was confirmed by batting coach Sitanshu Kotak while speaking in the pre-match press conference on Saturday (Feb 8). Virat set for return With the Champions Trophy 2025 set to start on February 19, Virat’s return to the Indian side comes as a welcome addition. His absence left a gap in the middle order of the Indian side but was filled by Shreyas Iyer after he smashed a quickfire 59 in the match. The former India captain has struggled in the recent months with the bat including in the tour Down Under against Australia. According to Shubman Gill, Virat suffered swelling on the morning of the Nagpur match leaving him out of the Playing XI. Interestingly, the 36-year-old has played only two ODI matches since the 2023 World Cup final against Australia, which came in the Sri Lanka tour in July 2024. ALSO READ | 'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut India target series win With a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, India will target a series win on Sunday at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. The Men in Blue won the opening contest in a one-sided affair having registered a four-wicket win. Gill was the hero of the hour for India as he scored 87 runs before missing out on a hundred. Iyer’s 59-run knock also played a key role for India while skipper Rohit Sharma failed to impress yet again. The match will start at 1:30 PM on Sunday with the toss taking place at 1:00 PM at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.

IND vs ENG, 2nd ODI: Virat Kohli to return for Cuttack contest, confirms batting coach Sitanshu Kotak

Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;History will be on the cards on Sunday (Feb 9) as Kansas City Chiefs take on Philadelphia Eagles in the 2025 Super Bowl LIX. The Super Bowl will be an opportunity for Kansas City Chiefs to become the first team in NFL history to register a hat-trick of wins.
So, ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl 2025 Super Bowl LIX, here are all the details, including live streaming and more.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Where to watch the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX on TV?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX will be telecast on the Star Sports Network in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Where to watch the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX Live Streaming online on OTT?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX will be live-streamed on the Disney+Hotstar app and website in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">When is the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX will be played on Monday (Feb 10) as of India time and Sunday (Feb 9) local time.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Which stadium will host the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX?</h2>
The Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX will be played at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">What time will the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX start?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET (Feb 9) and 5:00 AM IST (Feb 10).
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/i-got-caught-in-admits-konstas-on-form-slump-after-test-debut-8702187" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut</a> 
<h2>Who is performing in the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX halftime show?</h2>
The halftime show, a 12- to 15-minute musical extravaganza and one of the most coveted slots on the US music calendar, will feature Grammy-winning hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar.
Lamar is the first solo rapper to headline the halftime show.
<h2>How much do Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX tickets cost?</h2>
Super Bowl tickets are among the most coveted in all of sport, notoriously hard to find, and their prices are impacted by the game&rsquo;s location and which teams are playing.
According to ticket marketplace TickPick, the cheapest get-in price for Super Bowl LIX is about $6,600 while the average ticket price is $9,500.

Sports: he Super Bowl will be an opportunity for Kansas City Chiefs to become the first team in NFL history to register a hat-trick of wins.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: History will be on the cards on Sunday (Feb 9) as Kansas City Chiefs take on Philadelphia Eagles in the 2025 Super Bowl LIX. The Super Bowl will be an opportunity for Kansas City Chiefs to become the first team in NFL history to register a hat-trick of wins. So, ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl 2025 Super Bowl LIX, here are all the details, including live streaming and more. Where to watch the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX on TV? The Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX will be telecast on the Star Sports Network in India. Where to watch the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX Live Streaming online on OTT? The Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX will be live-streamed on the Disney+Hotstar app and website in India. When is the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX? The Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX will be played on Monday (Feb 10) as of India time and Sunday (Feb 9) local time. Which stadium will host the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX? The Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX will be played at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. What time will the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX start? The Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET (Feb 9) and 5:00 AM IST (Feb 10). ALSO READ | 'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut Who is performing in the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX halftime show? The halftime show, a 12- to 15-minute musical extravaganza and one of the most coveted slots on the US music calendar, will feature Grammy-winning hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar. Lamar is the first solo rapper to headline the halftime show. How much do Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX tickets cost? Super Bowl tickets are among the most coveted in all of sport, notoriously hard to find, and their prices are impacted by the game’s location and which teams are playing. According to ticket marketplace TickPick, the cheapest get-in price for Super Bowl LIX is about $6,600 while the average ticket price is $9,500.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl LIX live streaming: When and where to watch on laptop, TV

Australia's Alex Carey was at his fluent best on Saturday (Feb 8) after the wicketkeeper-batter slammed his second Test hundred against hosts Sri Lanka. Playing at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, Carey broke Adam Gilchrist&rsquo;s record for highest individual score by an Aussie batter in Asia. His knock coupled with captain Steve Smith&rsquo;s 36th Test hundred saw Australia earn a first innings lead of 157 runs. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Carey breaks Gilchrist&rsquo;s record<o:p></o:p></h2>
Having won the opening contest at the same venue, Australian batters came out to bat on Day 2 targeting a clean sweep. After losing early wickets, Carey and Smith carried the baton for the Aussies as they stitched a partnership of 259 runs while contributing 156 runs from 188 deliveries which consisted of 15 fours and 2 sixes. <o:p></o:p>
Smith was dismissed for 131 in the second session before the wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed by Prabath Jayasuriya. The spinner ended with figures of 151/5 in 38 helping wrap the tail of the Aussie innings. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Gilchrist had held the record for the highest individual score by an Australian batter on Asian soil, with 144 against Sri Lanka in 2006.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/i-got-caught-in-admits-konstas-on-form-slump-after-test-debut-8702187" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Australia on top in Galle Test<o:p></o:p></h2>
At the time of writing, Sri Lanka were 198/5 and led the visitors by 41 runs in the second innings. With five wickets in hand, Sri Lanka are unlikely to establish a big lead and trouble Australia. If this is the case, Australia will have the opportunity to win the series 2-0 and build momentum for the Champions Trophy 2025 and the World Test Championship (WTC). <o:p></o:p>
Former captain Angelo Mathews was the top scorer for Sri Lanka in the second innings with 76 runs while Kusal Mendis was batting unbeaten on 41 alongside Ramesh Mendis (0).

Sports, Cricket:  Playing at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, Carey broke Adam Gilchrist’s record for highest individual score by an Aussie batter in Asia. 

Australia's Alex Carey was at his fluent best on Saturday (Feb 8) after the wicketkeeper-batter slammed his second Test hundred against hosts Sri Lanka. Playing at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, Carey broke Adam Gilchrist’s record for highest individual score by an Aussie batter in Asia. His knock coupled with captain Steve Smith’s 36th Test hundred saw Australia earn a first innings lead of 157 runs. Carey breaks Gilchrist’s record Having won the opening contest at the same venue, Australian batters came out to bat on Day 2 targeting a clean sweep. After losing early wickets, Carey and Smith carried the baton for the Aussies as they stitched a partnership of 259 runs while contributing 156 runs from 188 deliveries which consisted of 15 fours and 2 sixes. Smith was dismissed for 131 in the second session before the wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed by Prabath Jayasuriya. The spinner ended with figures of 151/5 in 38 helping wrap the tail of the Aussie innings. Gilchrist had held the record for the highest individual score by an Australian batter on Asian soil, with 144 against Sri Lanka in 2006. ALSO READ | 'I got caught in...', admits Konstas on form slump after Test debut Australia on top in Galle Test At the time of writing, Sri Lanka were 198/5 and led the visitors by 41 runs in the second innings. With five wickets in hand, Sri Lanka are unlikely to establish a big lead and trouble Australia. If this is the case, Australia will have the opportunity to win the series 2-0 and build momentum for the Champions Trophy 2025 and the World Test Championship (WTC). Former captain Angelo Mathews was the top scorer for Sri Lanka in the second innings with 76 runs while Kusal Mendis was batting unbeaten on 41 alongside Ramesh Mendis (0).

SL vs AUS, Galle Test: Alex Carey breaks Adam Gilchrist's record as Australia eye clean sweep

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