Saudi says debris fell in Mecca, Medina after missile interceptions; Houthis deny targeting holy cities

Can Putin cheat death? All about his daughter’s billion-dollar quest for immortality

US midterm elections 2026: Minnesota heads to polls in the shadow of Minneapolis ICE shootings

'My name has always been Ilhan Omar': Congresswoman hits back at Trump, calls him a 'creep'

Why Europe’s protests are about more than austerity and rising costs

US Midterms 2026: Dead for years, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein finds mention in over 500 campaign ads; Texas alone spent $10 million

Pakistan airline PIA unveils new crew uniforms, faces online criticism

France protests: 135 arrested, weapons seized as fresh demonstrations erupt amid heavy security

Rising Asia Cup 2026 schedule announced, India-Pakistan clash set for Nov 22

New Friday OTT releases (October 23, 2026): Gajab Raat, Dorothy, Chaar Yaar- Watch these 6 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more

AI slop or smart strategy? South African author Coral Hart defends Her 370 AI- assisted books in 20 months

Frontier AIs keep escaping their test cages! The industry still can't reliably stop them

'You’re a horrible little reporter, aren’t you?': Trump snaps at NBC reporter questioning his support for Ramaswamy's campaign ad

After France and Italy, protests erupt in Spain: What’s fueling the anger?

What is the real meaning behind Pete Hegseth's tattoos?

India-China face-off continues near Arunachal’s Taksing, reveals ITBP chief in first official confirmation of tensions

'Already tired of his 9-to-5': Baby born with a moustache becomes internet sensation, video goes viral | Watch

Watched Manoj Bajpayee’s Gajab Raat on Netflix? 5 movies and TV shows to watch next on OTT

Could you survive 3 days without power? UK tells households to prepare now

An AI that reads your face can now estimate how long you have to live

Horrific video shows the moment 18-year-old fell to her death from Mexico amusement park ride

French Open: PV Sindhu storms into final with win over Hina Akechi

Farooq Abdullah says Pakistan’s raising of Kashmir issue keeps pressure on Delhi

Tu Hai Meri Kiran box office: Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal's film fails to take off, mints Rs 15 Lakh on day 1

Tu Hai Meri Kiran film review: Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal's thriller gets tangled in its own twists

AI just found a flaw in software running most of the web! One request hijacks the server

Pezeshkian says Iranians ‘struggling to put food on the table’ as war with US drags on

Britain is building the world's first AI biosecurity lab, with OpenAI and Anthropic inside

Albania protests enter 12th day as students clash with police, demand Rama's exit

Chorbagan stampede: A week later, the strangest visarjan Kolkata has seen

Bodies of 2 missing Japanese climbers recovered from Himalayan peak

Hitler’s ‘Eagle’s Nest’ mountain retreat wrecked by fire, suspect detained: What to know about the Nazi-era site

Trump invokes Operation Sindoor at US midterm rally, claims 250% tariffs stopped India-Pakistan war

France protests: Clashes erupt between police and protesters in Paris as nearly 410,000 take to streets across country

Viral video shows cross falling on Colombia priest, no official confirmation | WATCH

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has all but confirmed his exit from the club as he prepares for the final six months of his contract. In an explosive interview on Friday, Salah hinted at Liverpool exit with no progress on his contract extension talk. One of the modern-day greats in the Premier League, Salah is now free to negotiate a move to any club as he entered the final six months of his Liverpool contract on Jan 1. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Salah hints at Liverpool exit<o:p></o:p></h2>
"It's my last year in the club so you want to do something special for the city," Salah told Sky Sports in an interview released on Friday.<o:p></o:p>
"We waited for that title for 30 years or so. So, to win it and it was the pandemic at that time, we didn't really have time to celebrate it in the right way. It's not a nice thing to do, so hopefully we can do it this year."<o:p></o:p>
The Egyptian has been in red-hot form this season and has scored 17 goals and registered 13 assists for Liverpool. He has also played a key role in Liverpool&rsquo;s rise in the Champions League where they sit top of the table and also lead in the Premier League.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-test-captain-rohit-sharma-no-longer-in-selection-committees-plans-report-8588710" aria-label="India Test captain Rohit Sharma no longer in selection committee's plans: Report" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India Test captain Rohit Sharma no longer in selection committee's plans: Report</a>
If the exit is confirmed, it will mark the end of Salah&rsquo;s eight-year association with Liverpool having signed in August 2017. He remains a club legend and won the Premier League title in 2020 and also scored in the Champions League final as Jurgen Klopp&rsquo;s side won the sixth title. <o:p></o:p>
As things stand, the Merseyside club has a six-point lead at the top of the table with one game in hand over nearest rivals Arsenal. The Reds have not won the Premier League title in front of Anfield since 1990, with their 2020 triumph coming during the close-stadium Covid-19 restrictions.<o:p></o:p>
(With Inputs from Agencies)

Sports, Football: Mohamed Salah is now free to negotiate a move to any club as he entered the final six months of his Liverpool contract on Jan 1.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has all but confirmed his exit from the club as he prepares for the final six months of his contract. In an explosive interview on Friday, Salah hinted at Liverpool exit with no progress on his contract extension talk. One of the modern-day greats in the Premier League, Salah is now free to negotiate a move to any club as he entered the final six months of his Liverpool contract on Jan 1. Salah hints at Liverpool exit "It's my last year in the club so you want to do something special for the city," Salah told Sky Sports in an interview released on Friday. "We waited for that title for 30 years or so. So, to win it and it was the pandemic at that time, we didn't really have time to celebrate it in the right way. It's not a nice thing to do, so hopefully we can do it this year." The Egyptian has been in red-hot form this season and has scored 17 goals and registered 13 assists for Liverpool. He has also played a key role in Liverpool’s rise in the Champions League where they sit top of the table and also lead in the Premier League. ALSO READ | India Test captain Rohit Sharma no longer in selection committee's plans: Report If the exit is confirmed, it will mark the end of Salah’s eight-year association with Liverpool having signed in August 2017. He remains a club legend and won the Premier League title in 2020 and also scored in the Champions League final as Jurgen Klopp’s side won the sixth title. As things stand, the Merseyside club has a six-point lead at the top of the table with one game in hand over nearest rivals Arsenal. The Reds have not won the Premier League title in front of Anfield since 1990, with their 2020 triumph coming during the close-stadium Covid-19 restrictions. (With Inputs from Agencies)

Mohamed Salah hints at Liverpool exit, says 'my last year at the club'

Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma hit centuries and batted South Africa into a strong position on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Friday.
South Africa were 316 for four at the close of play.
Rickelton (176 not out) and South African captain Bavuma (106) put on 235 for the fourth wicket after the pair came together with the total on 72 for three.
<h2>South Africa batters come good</h2>
At that stage South Africa were in danger of wasting the advantage of winning the toss on a good batting pitch.
But Rickelton and Bavuma were seldom troubled as they posted a fifty partnership off 66 balls and scored consistently at better than four runs an over throughout their stand.
It was the left-handed Rickelton's second Test century in three matches, following a shaky start to his Test career in which he had failed to register a half-century in his first 12 innings. He was in commanding form, striking 21 fours and a six off 232 balls.
Bavuma recorded the fourth Test hundred of a career in which he has made 24 half-centuries. He was out 15 minutes before the close, caught behind off occasional off-spinner Salman Agha. He hit nine fours and two sixes in a 179-ball innings.
Despite taking three wickets before lunch, it was a lacklustre performance by Pakistan, who only managed to bowl 80 overs in six-and-a-half hours and seldom looked threatening.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bgt-202425-team-india-did-not-celebrate-record-breaking-perth-win-as-dressing-room-issues-broaden-report-8588330" aria-label="BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report</a>
Pakistan opening batsman Saim Ayub suffered an ankle injury when he fell awkwardly in the outfield in the seventh over of the day. He was taken to the dressing room on a mobile stretcher and did not return to the field.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Pakistan's hopes rose when Aiden Markram was caught behind off Khurram Shahzad for 17 after he and Rickelton put on 61 for the first wicket.&nbsp;
Wiaan Mulder (5) and Tristan Stubbs (0) followed in quick succession shortly before lunch, caught behind off Mohammad Abbas and Agha respectively. But the rest of the day belonged to South Africa.
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, Cricket: Ryan  Rickelton (176 not out) and South African captain Bavuma (106) put on 235 for the fourth wicket after the pair came together with the total on 72 for three.

Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma hit centuries and batted South Africa into a strong position on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Friday. South Africa were 316 for four at the close of play. Rickelton (176 not out) and South African captain Bavuma (106) put on 235 for the fourth wicket after the pair came together with the total on 72 for three. South Africa batters come good At that stage South Africa were in danger of wasting the advantage of winning the toss on a good batting pitch. But Rickelton and Bavuma were seldom troubled as they posted a fifty partnership off 66 balls and scored consistently at better than four runs an over throughout their stand. It was the left-handed Rickelton's second Test century in three matches, following a shaky start to his Test career in which he had failed to register a half-century in his first 12 innings. He was in commanding form, striking 21 fours and a six off 232 balls. Bavuma recorded the fourth Test hundred of a career in which he has made 24 half-centuries. He was out 15 minutes before the close, caught behind off occasional off-spinner Salman Agha. He hit nine fours and two sixes in a 179-ball innings. Despite taking three wickets before lunch, it was a lacklustre performance by Pakistan, who only managed to bowl 80 overs in six-and-a-half hours and seldom looked threatening. ALSO READ | BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report Pakistan opening batsman Saim Ayub suffered an ankle injury when he fell awkwardly in the outfield in the seventh over of the day. He was taken to the dressing room on a mobile stretcher and did not return to the field. Pakistan's hopes rose when Aiden Markram was caught behind off Khurram Shahzad for 17 after he and Rickelton put on 61 for the first wicket. Wiaan Mulder (5) and Tristan Stubbs (0) followed in quick succession shortly before lunch, caught behind off Mohammad Abbas and Agha respectively. But the rest of the day belonged to South Africa. 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.

SA vs PAK: Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma tons put South Africa in strong position

India&rsquo;s Karun Nair rewrote record books with his third consecutive hundred in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (India&rsquo;s premier domestic 50-over competition) on Friday (Jan 3). Nair, one of the only two Indian batters to score a triple hundred in Test format, has now scored more than 500 runs in his last three innings while not being dismissed. Nair&rsquo;s record comes as a welcome addition despite having lost his place in the Indian team.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Nair rewrites record books<o:p></o:p></h2>
Playing for Vidarbha against Uttar Pradesh, Nair scored 112 to break James Franklin's record for most consecutive runs in the 50-over format. Chasing 308 runs to win, Nair played a captain&rsquo;s knock to help Vidarbha win the match. In doing so he also broke Franklin&rsquo;s record which had stood for more than two decades. <o:p></o:p>
His innings consisted of 2 sixes and 11 fours as he scored at a strike rate of over 100 before falling to UP&rsquo;s Bihari Rai in the 46th over. Yash Rathod, however, stole the show with his ton and remained unbeaten on 138 to take his side home in the 48th over.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bgt-202425-team-india-did-not-celebrate-record-breaking-perth-win-as-dressing-room-issues-broaden-report-8588330" aria-label="BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Nair recalls excellence<o:p></o:p></h2>
Having held the accolade of being one of the two players to score a Test triple hundred for India, Nair&rsquo;s innings came on the day the side was struggling in the Test series against Australia. While he remains out of favour, the current India middle order has been struggling big time. The Indian team had yet another off day with bat as skipper Rohit Sharma opted out of the Sydney Test. India were bowled out for 185 as they missed the services of a top middle-order batter.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Interestingly, the 33-year-old&rsquo;s last Test match for India came against Australia in 2017 in Dharamsala. India won the match by eight wickets, while he was never seen again donning the Indian Test team jersey with the emergence of Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and other top batters in the side.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: Karun Nair has now scored more than 500 runs in his last three innings while not being dismissed during a Vijay Hazare Trophy match.

India’s Karun Nair rewrote record books with his third consecutive hundred in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (India’s premier domestic 50-over competition) on Friday (Jan 3). Nair, one of the only two Indian batters to score a triple hundred in Test format, has now scored more than 500 runs in his last three innings while not being dismissed. Nair’s record comes as a welcome addition despite having lost his place in the Indian team. Nair rewrites record books Playing for Vidarbha against Uttar Pradesh, Nair scored 112 to break James Franklin's record for most consecutive runs in the 50-over format. Chasing 308 runs to win, Nair played a captain’s knock to help Vidarbha win the match. In doing so he also broke Franklin’s record which had stood for more than two decades. His innings consisted of 2 sixes and 11 fours as he scored at a strike rate of over 100 before falling to UP’s Bihari Rai in the 46th over. Yash Rathod, however, stole the show with his ton and remained unbeaten on 138 to take his side home in the 48th over. ALSO READ | BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report Nair recalls excellence Having held the accolade of being one of the two players to score a Test triple hundred for India, Nair’s innings came on the day the side was struggling in the Test series against Australia. While he remains out of favour, the current India middle order has been struggling big time. The Indian team had yet another off day with bat as skipper Rohit Sharma opted out of the Sydney Test. India were bowled out for 185 as they missed the services of a top middle-order batter. Interestingly, the 33-year-old’s last Test match for India came against Australia in 2017 in Dharamsala. India won the match by eight wickets, while he was never seen again donning the Indian Test team jersey with the emergence of Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and other top batters in the side.

India's Karun Nair rewrites record books with third consecutive hundred in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Former world number one Novak Djokovic's Australian Open preparations suffered a blow Friday as he was bundled out of the Brisbane International by towering American Reilly Opelka.
The 2.11 metre (six feet 11 inches) Opelka served magnificently and returned just as well to stun the 24-time Grand Slam winner 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.
Djokovic had gone into the tournament insisting that at 37 he still had the game to trouble the younger players.
But Opelka, 27, a former world number 17 who was out of the game for almost two years from 2022-24 following hip and wrist surgeries, dominated the Serb and wrapped up a comfortable win in an hour and 40 minutes.
Opelka came back to the sport in July last year but showed his serve has lost none of its potency in his time away.
He served 16 aces and only faced one break point throughout the match.
"He's the greatest player ever," Opelka said of Djokovic.
"The reality is we have nothing to lose coming in against him. You end up playing more freely and you take a lot more risks because it's your only chance of beating him.
"It's tough for him, because you get guys like me who are going to roll the dice, and on a day like this things go my way, and that's how it worked out."
Opelka now faces another huge server in the semi-finals, rising French star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who made it 75 aces in three matches as he beat Czech player Jakub Mensik, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5).
<h2>Sabalenka through</h2>
The second semi-final will see defending champion and second seed Grigor Dimitrov up against another Czech, Jiri Lehecka.
In the women's semi-finals, world number one Aryna Sabalenka overpowered Marie Bouzkova in straight sets.
Sabalenka, who has won the last two titles at the Grand Slam in Melbourne, beat the Czech player 6-3, 6-4 in a tough match lasting 1hr 45mins.
She now plays Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, who defeated Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 6-4, 7-6 (7/2).
The 17-year-old Andreeva showcased her rich potential by defeating former world number two Jabeur in a high-quality encounter.
Jabeur was runner-up at Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023 but has been out of action since August with a shoulder injury.
Andreeva was able to deal with the tricky shotmaking of Jabeur, breaking her once in the first set and then recovering from two breaks of her own serve in the second set to force a tiebreak.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bgt-202425-team-india-did-not-celebrate-record-breaking-perth-win-as-dressing-room-issues-broaden-report-8588330" aria-label="BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report</a>
She raced through the tiebreak to wrap up the match in 90 minutes.
"It was mentally hard to keep pushing and playing aggressively because we all know that she's very good at playing games -- drop shots, slices," Andreeva said.
The second women's semi-final will be between Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova and Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina.
The Australian Open starts on January 12.
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: Former Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic had gone into the tournament insisting that at 37 he still had the game to trouble the younger players.

Former world number one Novak Djokovic's Australian Open preparations suffered a blow Friday as he was bundled out of the Brisbane International by towering American Reilly Opelka. The 2.11 metre (six feet 11 inches) Opelka served magnificently and returned just as well to stun the 24-time Grand Slam winner 7-6 (8/6), 6-3. Djokovic had gone into the tournament insisting that at 37 he still had the game to trouble the younger players. But Opelka, 27, a former world number 17 who was out of the game for almost two years from 2022-24 following hip and wrist surgeries, dominated the Serb and wrapped up a comfortable win in an hour and 40 minutes. Opelka came back to the sport in July last year but showed his serve has lost none of its potency in his time away. He served 16 aces and only faced one break point throughout the match. "He's the greatest player ever," Opelka said of Djokovic. "The reality is we have nothing to lose coming in against him. You end up playing more freely and you take a lot more risks because it's your only chance of beating him. "It's tough for him, because you get guys like me who are going to roll the dice, and on a day like this things go my way, and that's how it worked out." Opelka now faces another huge server in the semi-finals, rising French star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who made it 75 aces in three matches as he beat Czech player Jakub Mensik, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5). Sabalenka through The second semi-final will see defending champion and second seed Grigor Dimitrov up against another Czech, Jiri Lehecka. In the women's semi-finals, world number one Aryna Sabalenka overpowered Marie Bouzkova in straight sets. Sabalenka, who has won the last two titles at the Grand Slam in Melbourne, beat the Czech player 6-3, 6-4 in a tough match lasting 1hr 45mins. She now plays Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, who defeated Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 6-4, 7-6 (7/2). The 17-year-old Andreeva showcased her rich potential by defeating former world number two Jabeur in a high-quality encounter. Jabeur was runner-up at Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023 but has been out of action since August with a shoulder injury. Andreeva was able to deal with the tricky shotmaking of Jabeur, breaking her once in the first set and then recovering from two breaks of her own serve in the second set to force a tiebreak. ALSO READ | BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report She raced through the tiebreak to wrap up the match in 90 minutes. "It was mentally hard to keep pushing and playing aggressively because we all know that she's very good at playing games -- drop shots, slices," Andreeva said. The second women's semi-final will be between Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova and Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina. The Australian Open starts on January 12. 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.

Brisbane International: Novak Djokovic's Australian Open preparations take hit with loss to Reilly Opelka

Australia duo Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams were reported conscious after the duo met in a heavy collision during the Sydney Thuders&rsquo; Big Bash League (BBL) contest against Perth Scorchers on Friday (Jan 3). Hours after the incident, the players are conscious and talking after Thunders released a statement on their social media handle. While the match was eventually won by Thunders, the duo's collision made headlines for all the wrong reasons. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Thunders duo safe after collision<o:p></o:p></h2>
"Both players are conscious and talking, demonstrating symptoms of concussion and have possible fractures," Thunders said on X.<o:p></o:p>
"Both have been transported to hospital for assessment."<o:p></o:p>
The players are likely out of the rest of the BBL season in case a fracture is confirmed due to the heavy collision. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When did the incident occur?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The incident occurred on the second ball of the 16th over when both Bancroft and Sams approached to take a catch while in the field at the Perth Stadium in Perth. Bowler Lockie Ferguson made Cooper Connolly chip the ball in an empty mid-wicket area, during which both were approaching the ball to catch. With a huge crowd in the stadium, both approaching players were unable to respond to each other's call and ended with a heavy collision.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bgt-202425-team-india-did-not-celebrate-record-breaking-perth-win-as-dressing-room-issues-broaden-report-8588330" aria-label="BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report">BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report</a>
Both were seen lying on the ground before medical services came to rescue. Sams was stretchered off the field and was unable to continue for the rest of the match with Liam Hatcher coming in as a replacement. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What happened in the match?<o:p></o:p></h2>
Despite losing the key duo, Sydney had no issues in winning the match as captain David Warner (49) and Matthew Gilkes (43) laid the foundation for the win. They stitched a partnership of 89 runs for the second wicket with Sherfane Rutherford (39) later helping win the contest by four wickets on the final ball of the match.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: Australia duo Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams were reported conscious after the duo met in a heavy collision during the Sydney Thuders’ BBL contest.

Australia duo Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams were reported conscious after the duo met in a heavy collision during the Sydney Thuders’ Big Bash League (BBL) contest against Perth Scorchers on Friday (Jan 3). Hours after the incident, the players are conscious and talking after Thunders released a statement on their social media handle. While the match was eventually won by Thunders, the duo's collision made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Thunders duo safe after collision "Both players are conscious and talking, demonstrating symptoms of concussion and have possible fractures," Thunders said on X. "Both have been transported to hospital for assessment." The players are likely out of the rest of the BBL season in case a fracture is confirmed due to the heavy collision. When did the incident occur? The incident occurred on the second ball of the 16th over when both Bancroft and Sams approached to take a catch while in the field at the Perth Stadium in Perth. Bowler Lockie Ferguson made Cooper Connolly chip the ball in an empty mid-wicket area, during which both were approaching the ball to catch. With a huge crowd in the stadium, both approaching players were unable to respond to each other's call and ended with a heavy collision. ALSO READ | BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report Both were seen lying on the ground before medical services came to rescue. Sams was stretchered off the field and was unable to continue for the rest of the match with Liam Hatcher coming in as a replacement. What happened in the match? Despite losing the key duo, Sydney had no issues in winning the match as captain David Warner (49) and Matthew Gilkes (43) laid the foundation for the win. They stitched a partnership of 89 runs for the second wicket with Sherfane Rutherford (39) later helping win the contest by four wickets on the final ball of the match.

BBL 2024-25: Cameron Bancroft,  Daniel Sams conscious after horror collision

India Test captain Rohit Sharma is all set to be axed from the team as he nears the end of his legendary career according to latest media reports. Rohit, who sat out of the Sydney Test match against Australia due to poor form on Friday (Jan 3), is likely to announce his retirement from the format with rumours even surfacing of his possible axing from the ODI side for the Champions Trophy. If this is the case, Rohit may well have already played his final match for India at international level. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Rohit out of selectors' plan?<o:p></o:p></h2>
According to a prominent media house, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar will no longer consider Rohit for team India selection. This comes after the Indian captain has scored only 31 runs in five innings in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. Rohit&rsquo;s poor form became a big talking point in the build-up to the Sydney Test, which eventually saw him opt out of the contest.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Merely six months after he led India to a historic second T20 World Cup title in the West Indies, Rohit&rsquo;s days with the Indian team are numbered. Reports are already stating that the India captain will announce his Test retirement after the Sydney Test ends on Monday or earlier.<o:p></o:p>
His relationship with head coach Gautam Gambhir are not great as they refrained from speaking to one another in the build-up to the SCG contest.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bgt-202425-team-india-did-not-celebrate-record-breaking-perth-win-as-dressing-room-issues-broaden-report-8588330" aria-label="BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India's struggle continues</h2>
After a heavy build-up to the contest, India had another poor day at the office despite seeing skipper Rohit make way for Shubman Gill. India were reduced to 185 in their first innings, with the visitors losing key wickets in the first session of the match. Jaiswal (10), KL Rahul (4), and Gill (20) all failed to impress in what is a must-win contest for Team India in the ongoing BGT. <o:p></o:p>
Later Virat Kohli (17) and Rishabh Pant (40) also failed to convert their starts before the Australian bowlers bowled out India for 185.<o:p></o:p>
(With Inputs from Agencies)

Sports, Cricket: According to a prominent media report, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar will no longer consider Rohit Sharma for team India selection. 

India Test captain Rohit Sharma is all set to be axed from the team as he nears the end of his legendary career according to latest media reports. Rohit, who sat out of the Sydney Test match against Australia due to poor form on Friday (Jan 3), is likely to announce his retirement from the format with rumours even surfacing of his possible axing from the ODI side for the Champions Trophy. If this is the case, Rohit may well have already played his final match for India at international level. Rohit out of selectors' plan? According to a prominent media house, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar will no longer consider Rohit for team India selection. This comes after the Indian captain has scored only 31 runs in five innings in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. Rohit’s poor form became a big talking point in the build-up to the Sydney Test, which eventually saw him opt out of the contest. Merely six months after he led India to a historic second T20 World Cup title in the West Indies, Rohit’s days with the Indian team are numbered. Reports are already stating that the India captain will announce his Test retirement after the Sydney Test ends on Monday or earlier. His relationship with head coach Gautam Gambhir are not great as they refrained from speaking to one another in the build-up to the SCG contest. ALSO READ | BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report India's struggle continues After a heavy build-up to the contest, India had another poor day at the office despite seeing skipper Rohit make way for Shubman Gill. India were reduced to 185 in their first innings, with the visitors losing key wickets in the first session of the match. Jaiswal (10), KL Rahul (4), and Gill (20) all failed to impress in what is a must-win contest for Team India in the ongoing BGT. Later Virat Kohli (17) and Rishabh Pant (40) also failed to convert their starts before the Australian bowlers bowled out India for 185. (With Inputs from Agencies)

India Test captain Rohit Sharma no longer in selection committee's plans: Report

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>
The India cricket team&rsquo;s dressing room has become a huge talking point as the visitors have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. While the news of Rohit Sharma opting out of the Sydney Test is doing rounds, another media report has emerged stating the players have been far from happy for several reasons. It is reported that the Indian team did not celebrate after winning the Perth Test, raising issues of dressing room rift between players and coaching staff. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Team India did not celebrate Perth win?<o:p></o:p></h2>
India won the Perth Test by 295 runs, which was Australia&rsquo;s biggest defeat on home turf in a Test match. The win also saw India start the series on a positive note as they took a 1-0 lead. However, the players did not celebrate together as they usually do and were rather seen accompanying their partners on the night they won the Test match. <o:p></o:p>
"After the Perth win, such a significant win in the history of Indian cricket, the fact that they didn&rsquo;t celebrate that as a team and went their own ways didn&rsquo;t tell me it was a broken dressing room. But it was a dressing room where there are different cliques, generationally and otherwise, who are just doing their own things," journalist Bharat Sundaresan said while speaking to Channel 7.<o:p></o:p>
"This, I am told, is despite one of the senior support staff members saying, 'Here, I will put in my credit card, let&rsquo;s all order some drinks, stick together.' But that was not meant to be. I thought a win like that would bring things together and energise this as one collective. As we&rsquo;ve seen, as the series has gone on, it took that one bad loss in Melbourne&mdash;where it was one bad session, and they lost a Test match they fought hard in&mdash;for those simmering uncertainties, not really tensions, to surface and become public," he added.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/scg-test-rishabh-pant-suffers-series-of-blows-on-day-1-of-bgt-2024-25-series-finale-watch-video-8587828" aria-label="SCG Test: Rishabh Pant suffers several blows on Day 1 of series finale - Watch" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">SCG Test: Rishabh Pant suffers several blows on Day 1 of series finale - Watch</a>
The communication gap in the dressing room has only broadened after the start of the SCG Test, with captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir not speaking to one another. Rohit opted out of the SCG Test while Gambhir was very harsh with the Indian team members after the Melbourne Test. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India suffer in Rohit&rsquo;s absence<o:p></o:p></h2>
After a heavy build-up to the contest, India had another poor day at the office despite seeing skipper Rohit make way for Shubman Gill. India was reduced to 185 in their first innings, with the visitors losing key wickets in the first session of the match. Jaiswal (10), KL Rahul (4), and Gill (20) all failed to impress in what is a must-win contest for Team India in the ongoing BGT. <o:p></o:p>
Later Virat Kohli (17) and Rishabh Pant (40) also failed to convert their starts before Australian bowlers bowled out India for 185.<o:p></o:p>
(With Inputs from Agencies)

Sports, Cricket: It is reported that the Indian team did not celebrate after winning the Perth Test, raising issues of dressing room rift between players and coaching staff. 

The India cricket team’s dressing room has become a huge talking point as the visitors have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. While the news of Rohit Sharma opting out of the Sydney Test is doing rounds, another media report has emerged stating the players have been far from happy for several reasons. It is reported that the Indian team did not celebrate after winning the Perth Test, raising issues of dressing room rift between players and coaching staff. Team India did not celebrate Perth win? India won the Perth Test by 295 runs, which was Australia’s biggest defeat on home turf in a Test match. The win also saw India start the series on a positive note as they took a 1-0 lead. However, the players did not celebrate together as they usually do and were rather seen accompanying their partners on the night they won the Test match. "After the Perth win, such a significant win in the history of Indian cricket, the fact that they didn’t celebrate that as a team and went their own ways didn’t tell me it was a broken dressing room. But it was a dressing room where there are different cliques, generationally and otherwise, who are just doing their own things," journalist Bharat Sundaresan said while speaking to Channel 7. "This, I am told, is despite one of the senior support staff members saying, 'Here, I will put in my credit card, let’s all order some drinks, stick together.' But that was not meant to be. I thought a win like that would bring things together and energise this as one collective. As we’ve seen, as the series has gone on, it took that one bad loss in Melbourne—where it was one bad session, and they lost a Test match they fought hard in—for those simmering uncertainties, not really tensions, to surface and become public," he added. ALSO READ | SCG Test: Rishabh Pant suffers several blows on Day 1 of series finale - Watch The communication gap in the dressing room has only broadened after the start of the SCG Test, with captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir not speaking to one another. Rohit opted out of the SCG Test while Gambhir was very harsh with the Indian team members after the Melbourne Test. India suffer in Rohit’s absence After a heavy build-up to the contest, India had another poor day at the office despite seeing skipper Rohit make way for Shubman Gill. India was reduced to 185 in their first innings, with the visitors losing key wickets in the first session of the match. Jaiswal (10), KL Rahul (4), and Gill (20) all failed to impress in what is a must-win contest for Team India in the ongoing BGT. Later Virat Kohli (17) and Rishabh Pant (40) also failed to convert their starts before Australian bowlers bowled out India for 185. (With Inputs from Agencies)

BGT 2024/25: Team India did not celebrate record-breaking Perth win as dressing room issues broaden - Report

Arne Slot says crisis-hit Manchester United are "much, much better" than their shocking position in the Premier League suggests as he prepares his Liverpool team for a clash against their fierce rivals on Sunday.<o:p></o:p>
Liverpool are six points clear at the top of the Premier League table -- and are hot favourites to land a 20th English top-flight crown, which would pull them level with record-holders United.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/auckland-open-former-world-number-one-naomi-osaka-reaches-first-semis-since-2022-8587112" rel="dofollow">Tennis: Osaka reaches first semis since comeback at Auckland Open</a>
United, by contrast, are 14th in the table after five defeats in their past six league games under new manager Ruben Amorim.<o:p></o:p>
But Slot, also in his first campaign in England, is adamant he will not take his opponents lightly at Anfield, when asked if he might rest players at Friday's pre-match press conference.<o:p></o:p>
"No, of course I'm not going to plan to rest any player because it's a big game and I think it's for me I said it before the first fixture (a 3-0 win at Old Trafford) and I can say it one more time, that they have much better players in my opinion than maybe the league table shows at the moment.<o:p></o:p>
"I think it's going to take a while maybe for Ruben Amorim to bring this out of the players... but they will definitely go up and they are much, much, much better than the league table shows at the moment."<o:p></o:p>
The Dutchman said he had sympathy with his rival in the Old Trafford hot seat, who joined United from Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon in November.<o:p></o:p>
"I think every manager sympathises with every other manager, because we all know how much pressure this job brings," said Slot. "That's not different for him than for me, or for any other manager that works in the Premier League, or somewhere else around the world."<o:p></o:p>
Slot was asked whether he could categorically state that Liverpool would not let Trent Alexander-Arnold leave in the January transfer window, with the defender heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.<o:p></o:p>
Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk are all out of contract at the end of the season and can now talk to foreign clubs.<o:p></o:p>
Slot said Alexander-Arnold was "fully committed" to Liverpool and would be playing on Sunday. "Hopefully he brings the same performances as he brought in for the last half-year, because I think everybody saw how great a first half of the season he had, how much he is here, how much he wants to win here," said Slot."
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.

Liverpool are six points clear at the top of the PL table and are hot favourites to land a 20th English top-flight crown, which would pull them level with record-holders United.

Arne Slot says crisis-hit Manchester United are "much, much better" than their shocking position in the Premier League suggests as he prepares his Liverpool team for a clash against their fierce rivals on Sunday. Liverpool are six points clear at the top of the Premier League table -- and are hot favourites to land a 20th English top-flight crown, which would pull them level with record-holders United. Also read | Tennis: Osaka reaches first semis since comeback at Auckland Open United, by contrast, are 14th in the table after five defeats in their past six league games under new manager Ruben Amorim. But Slot, also in his first campaign in England, is adamant he will not take his opponents lightly at Anfield, when asked if he might rest players at Friday's pre-match press conference. "No, of course I'm not going to plan to rest any player because it's a big game and I think it's for me I said it before the first fixture (a 3-0 win at Old Trafford) and I can say it one more time, that they have much better players in my opinion than maybe the league table shows at the moment. "I think it's going to take a while maybe for Ruben Amorim to bring this out of the players... but they will definitely go up and they are much, much, much better than the league table shows at the moment." The Dutchman said he had sympathy with his rival in the Old Trafford hot seat, who joined United from Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon in November. "I think every manager sympathises with every other manager, because we all know how much pressure this job brings," said Slot. "That's not different for him than for me, or for any other manager that works in the Premier League, or somewhere else around the world." Slot was asked whether he could categorically state that Liverpool would not let Trent Alexander-Arnold leave in the January transfer window, with the defender heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid. Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk are all out of contract at the end of the season and can now talk to foreign clubs. Slot said Alexander-Arnold was "fully committed" to Liverpool and would be playing on Sunday. "Hopefully he brings the same performances as he brought in for the last half-year, because I think everybody saw how great a first half of the season he had, how much he is here, how much he wants to win here," said Slot." 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.

Manchester United ‘much better’ than Premier League standing: Slot

India&rsquo;s stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah has questioned the double standard umpiring in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. Playing at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), India were bowled out for 185, but it was the Washington Sundar dismissal that made the headlines after Bumrah did not hold back. This backlash comes after India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal was given not out and then given out in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5gmmd64-8vnmccx1-r1vq5zc4">
🧐 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bumrah?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bumrah</a> not pleased with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WashingtonSundar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WashingtonSundar</a>'s wicket, frustrated by Snicko's decision 🫣<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvINDOnStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvINDOnStar</a> 👉 5th Test, Day 2 | SAT, 4th JAN, 5 AM | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ToughestRivalry?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ToughestRivalry</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BorderGavaskarTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BorderGavaskarTrophy</a> <a href="https://t.co/8WKRYjy8j1">pic.twitter.com/8WKRYjy8j1</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1875092829057511733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Bumrah questions umpiring decision<o:p></o:p></h2>
On the last ball of the 66th over, Sundar was caught by keeper Alex Carey and was initially judged not out. However, the decision was overturned when Pat Cummins asked for a DRS, and Sundar was given out. After the dismissal, one of the cameras caught Bumrah, who was seen taking a dig at the umpires. He uttered, &ldquo;Last game, he didn&rsquo;t give it out on Snicko.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
The Indian stand-in skipper was clearly not happy with the decision having seen Jaiswal given out when there was no deflection on the snicko in the MCG Test. He was left animated but could not do much about the situation.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/scg-test-rishabh-pant-suffers-series-of-blows-on-day-1-of-bgt-2024-25-series-finale-watch-video-8587828" aria-label="SCG Test: Rishabh Pant suffers several blows on Day 1 of series finale - Watch">SCG Test: Rishabh Pant suffers several blows on Day 1 of series finale - Watch</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India suffer in Rohit&rsquo;s absence<o:p></o:p></h2>
After a heavy build-up to the contest, India had another poor day at the office despite seeing skipper Rohit Sharma make way for Shubman Gill. India was reduced to 185 in their first innings, with the visitors losing key wickets in the first session of the match. Jaiswal (10), KL Rahul (4), and Gill (20) all failed to impress in what is a must-win contest for Team India in the ongoing BGT. <o:p></o:p>
Later Virat Kohli (17) and Rishabh Pant (40) also failed to convert their starts before Australian bowlers bowled out India for 185. <o:p></o:p>
With India getting bowled out, Australia came out to bat for a mere three overs but suffered a blow in the form of Usman Khawaja (2) after he was dismissed on the last ball of the day. At Stumps, Australia were 9/1 in three overs and still trail India by 176 runs in the first innings.<o:p></o:p>
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: Playing at the SCG, India were bowled out for 185, but it was the Washington Sundar dismissal that made the headlines after Bumrah did not hold back. 

India’s stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah has questioned the double standard umpiring in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. Playing at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), India were bowled out for 185, but it was the Washington Sundar dismissal that made the headlines after Bumrah did not hold back. This backlash comes after India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal was given not out and then given out in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. 🧐 #Bumrah not pleased with #WashingtonSundar's wicket, frustrated by Snicko's decision 🫣#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 5th Test, Day 2 | SAT, 4th JAN, 5 AM | #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/8WKRYjy8j1 — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 3, 2025 Bumrah questions umpiring decision On the last ball of the 66th over, Sundar was caught by keeper Alex Carey and was initially judged not out. However, the decision was overturned when Pat Cummins asked for a DRS, and Sundar was given out. After the dismissal, one of the cameras caught Bumrah, who was seen taking a dig at the umpires. He uttered, “Last game, he didn’t give it out on Snicko.” The Indian stand-in skipper was clearly not happy with the decision having seen Jaiswal given out when there was no deflection on the snicko in the MCG Test. He was left animated but could not do much about the situation. ALSO READ | SCG Test: Rishabh Pant suffers several blows on Day 1 of series finale - Watch India suffer in Rohit’s absence After a heavy build-up to the contest, India had another poor day at the office despite seeing skipper Rohit Sharma make way for Shubman Gill. India was reduced to 185 in their first innings, with the visitors losing key wickets in the first session of the match. Jaiswal (10), KL Rahul (4), and Gill (20) all failed to impress in what is a must-win contest for Team India in the ongoing BGT. Later Virat Kohli (17) and Rishabh Pant (40) also failed to convert their starts before Australian bowlers bowled out India for 185. With India getting bowled out, Australia came out to bat for a mere three overs but suffered a blow in the form of Usman Khawaja (2) after he was dismissed on the last ball of the day. At Stumps, Australia were 9/1 in three overs and still trail India by 176 runs in the first innings.

BGT: Jasprit Bumrah questions double standard umpiring after Washington Sundar's wicket in SCG Test - WATCH

Former world number one Naomi Osaka reached her first semi-final since 2022 after fighting back at the Auckland Classic on Friday (Jan 3). The four-time Grand Slam champion beat unseeded American Hailey Baptiste 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-2 in another confidence boost ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne.<o:p></o:p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5g9qqnf-g3fuxqkh-kz7hg28x">
Osaka to the semis 🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/naomiosaka?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@naomiosaka</a> battles back to defeat Baptiste 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 and reaches the semifinals in Auckland.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASBClassic25?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ASBClassic25</a> <a href="https://t.co/wqWZE5SMqL">pic.twitter.com/wqWZE5SMqL</a>
&mdash; wta (@WTA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WTA/status/1875018573363503530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
Osaka said her hard work was starting to pay off after booking a place in the final four of a WTA event for the first time since the Miami Open in April 2022.<o:p></o:p>
The Japan star gave birth to daughter Shai in July the following year, midway through a 15-month break, before returning to the tour 12 months ago.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/brisbane-international-novak-djokovic-aryna-sabalenka-into-quarters-as-rising-stars-impress-8586371" rel="dofollow">Brisbane International: Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka into quarters as rising stars impress</a>
"I put a lot of work in throughout last year and even though the results didn't show it, I'm just continuing to try as hard as I can to see where it gets me," the 57th-ranked star said.
"The key focus again today was just to have a lot of belief and confidence in myself."<o:p></o:p>
As with her first two matches in Auckland, the 27-year-old lacked rhythm in the opening set.<o:p></o:p>
But she unearthed a powerful serving game over the next two sets, ending with nine aces to give her 21 for the tournament.<o:p></o:p>
World number 92 Baptiste sought treatment for an ankle injury during the second set.<o:p></o:p>
Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, admitted that helped her cause.<o:p></o:p>
"She's an amazing player, it sucks that she was injured but I think we played a really high-quality match," said Osaka, who is seeded seventh in Auckland.
"In a weird way, I'm glad to play a three-set match because I think that's the kind of experience that I need."<o:p></o:p>
Osaka's semi-final opponent will come from the winner of a quarter-final later on Friday between eighth seed Katie Volynets and unseeded American compatriot Alycia Parks.
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.

Naomi Osaka said her hard work was starting to pay off after booking a place in the final four of a WTA event for the first time since the Miami Open in April 2022.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka reached her first semi-final since 2022 after fighting back at the Auckland Classic on Friday (Jan 3). The four-time Grand Slam champion beat unseeded American Hailey Baptiste 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-2 in another confidence boost ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Osaka to the semis 🤩@naomiosaka battles back to defeat Baptiste 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 and reaches the semifinals in Auckland.#ASBClassic25 pic.twitter.com/wqWZE5SMqL — wta (@WTA) January 3, 2025 Osaka said her hard work was starting to pay off after booking a place in the final four of a WTA event for the first time since the Miami Open in April 2022. The Japan star gave birth to daughter Shai in July the following year, midway through a 15-month break, before returning to the tour 12 months ago. Also read | Brisbane International: Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka into quarters as rising stars impress "I put a lot of work in throughout last year and even though the results didn't show it, I'm just continuing to try as hard as I can to see where it gets me," the 57th-ranked star said. "The key focus again today was just to have a lot of belief and confidence in myself." As with her first two matches in Auckland, the 27-year-old lacked rhythm in the opening set. But she unearthed a powerful serving game over the next two sets, ending with nine aces to give her 21 for the tournament. World number 92 Baptiste sought treatment for an ankle injury during the second set. Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, admitted that helped her cause. "She's an amazing player, it sucks that she was injured but I think we played a really high-quality match," said Osaka, who is seeded seventh in Auckland. "In a weird way, I'm glad to play a three-set match because I think that's the kind of experience that I need." Osaka's semi-final opponent will come from the winner of a quarter-final later on Friday between eighth seed Katie Volynets and unseeded American compatriot Alycia Parks. 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.

Tennis: Osaka reaches first semis since comeback at Auckland Open

SA vs PAK 2nd Test Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;Having sealed a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, South Africa will look to seal the two-match Test series with a whitewash as they take on Pakistan. The match will be the first of the year for both sides as they look forward to Champions Trophy commitments in February. Ahead of the second Test between hosts South Africa and Pakistan, here are all the details, including live streaming, squads, and others.
<h2>When is the South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match?</h2>
The South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match will start on Friday (Jan 3).
<h2>Which stadium will host the South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match?</h2>
The South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match will be played at the Newlands in Cape Town.
<h2>What time will the South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match start?</h2>
The South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match will start at 10:30 AM local time (2:00 PM IST) with the toss taking place at 10:00 AM local time (1:30 PM IST).
<h2>Where to watch the South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match on TV?</h2>
The South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match will be telecast on the Sports 18 Network in India.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bgt-2024-25-rohit-sharma-opts-out-of-sydney-test-amid-poor-form-shubman-gill-set-to-return-report-8585557" aria-label="BGT 2024-25: Rohit Sharma opts out of Sydney Test amid poor form; Shubman Gill set to return - Report" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BGT 2024-25: Rohit Sharma opts out of Sydney Test amid poor form; Shubman Gill set to return - Report</a>
<h2>Where to watch the South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test Live Streaming online on OTT?</h2>
The South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match will be live-streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website in India.
<h2>Squads</h2>
South Africa Playing XI: Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (w), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka
Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (w), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Abdullah Shafique, Mir Hamza, Noman Ali, Haseebullah Khan

Sports, Cricket: Having sealed a place in the WTC final up for grabs, South Africa will look to seal the two-match Test series with a whitewash as they take on Pakistan.

SA vs PAK 2nd Test Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Having sealed a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, South Africa will look to seal the two-match Test series with a whitewash as they take on Pakistan. The match will be the first of the year for both sides as they look forward to Champions Trophy commitments in February. Ahead of the second Test between hosts South Africa and Pakistan, here are all the details, including live streaming, squads, and others. When is the South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match? The South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match will start on Friday (Jan 3). Which stadium will host the South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match? The South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match will be played at the Newlands in Cape Town. What time will the South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match start? The South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match will start at 10:30 AM local time (2:00 PM IST) with the toss taking place at 10:00 AM local time (1:30 PM IST). Where to watch the South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match on TV? The South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match will be telecast on the Sports 18 Network in India. ALSO READ | BGT 2024-25: Rohit Sharma opts out of Sydney Test amid poor form; Shubman Gill set to return - Report Where to watch the South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test Live Streaming online on OTT? The South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match will be live-streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website in India. Squads South Africa Playing XI: Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (w), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (w), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Abdullah Shafique, Mir Hamza, Noman Ali, Haseebullah Khan

SA vs PAK, 2nd Test live streaming: When & where to watch South Africa vs Pakistan live on laptop, TV, Squad

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters fears this year's Club World Cup could create "great difficulty" for Manchester City and Chelsea ahead of next season's English top-flight campaign.
The two clubs will be England's representatives in FIFA's expanded 32-team event in the United States, with players' unions threatening legal action on welfare grounds and national leagues unhappy about the potential knock-on effects on their own competitions.
The Club World Cup final is due to be played on July 13, with the 2025/26 Premier League season starting on August 16.
"The leagues and the players' unions are not happy with the decisions that are being taken at a global level," Masters told Sky Sports.
"We've seen the Club World Cup come in, and obviously that is going to have an impact on the Premier League.&nbsp;
"If either Manchester City or Chelsea get to the final of that competition, the Premier League starts four weeks later, and all players are supposed to have three weeks off as part of the contractual commitment.
"So how does that work? With great difficulty I would say."
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/border-gavaskar-trophy-bgt-gautam-gambhir-reacts-to-reports-of-indian-dressing-room-leaks-ahead-of-scg-test-says-this-8584659" aria-label="BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS</a>
<h2>Premier League is not a pension fund</h2>
Masters, meanwhile, insisted English football is "not on a financial precipice" as he reiterated the Premier League's concerns about the potential impact of an independent regulator on the game.
The Premier League spent more than &pound;45 million ($56 million) in legal costs during the 2023/24 season as it attempted to uphold its rules amid challenges from clubs.
And there will have been additional and significant legal fees this season for the Premier League given their major disciplinary case against Manchester City is still ongoing.&nbsp;
The reigning champions were charged in 2023 with more than 100 alleged breaches of the financial rules.
An independent commission heard the case between September and December, with an outcome now pending.
City have also challenged the legality of the league's associated party transaction (APT) regulations, which seek to ensure deals done with organisations linked to a club's ownership are at a fair market value.
Both the current and former British government's aim in supporting an independent regulator is to safeguard the financial sustainability of clubs in the top five tiers of English football.
Masters, however, insisted too many regulations could damage the excitement on which the it thrives.&nbsp;
"We have that jeopardy, we have that constant fizz of compelling entertainment," he said.
"There are many different reasons (for the Premier League's global popularity) but that, I think, is what separates us from others."
He added: "We have always been pro investment within measured risks. The Premier League is not a pension fund, it is a place where capital is put at risk. There is no certainty of outcome -- that is one of the things that makes it interesting.
"We do worry that a new regulatory function might be risk-averse and might inhibit clubs' ability to invest. And the ability to invest is key to competitive balance, and that jeopardy that I'm talking about."
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: The Club World Cup final is due to be played on July 13, with the 2025/26 Premier League season starting on August 16 as 32 teams compete for the honour.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters fears this year's Club World Cup could create "great difficulty" for Manchester City and Chelsea ahead of next season's English top-flight campaign. The two clubs will be England's representatives in FIFA's expanded 32-team event in the United States, with players' unions threatening legal action on welfare grounds and national leagues unhappy about the potential knock-on effects on their own competitions. The Club World Cup final is due to be played on July 13, with the 2025/26 Premier League season starting on August 16. "The leagues and the players' unions are not happy with the decisions that are being taken at a global level," Masters told Sky Sports. "We've seen the Club World Cup come in, and obviously that is going to have an impact on the Premier League. "If either Manchester City or Chelsea get to the final of that competition, the Premier League starts four weeks later, and all players are supposed to have three weeks off as part of the contractual commitment. "So how does that work? With great difficulty I would say." ALSO READ | BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS Premier League is not a pension fund Masters, meanwhile, insisted English football is "not on a financial precipice" as he reiterated the Premier League's concerns about the potential impact of an independent regulator on the game. The Premier League spent more than £45 million ($56 million) in legal costs during the 2023/24 season as it attempted to uphold its rules amid challenges from clubs. And there will have been additional and significant legal fees this season for the Premier League given their major disciplinary case against Manchester City is still ongoing. The reigning champions were charged in 2023 with more than 100 alleged breaches of the financial rules. An independent commission heard the case between September and December, with an outcome now pending. City have also challenged the legality of the league's associated party transaction (APT) regulations, which seek to ensure deals done with organisations linked to a club's ownership are at a fair market value. Both the current and former British government's aim in supporting an independent regulator is to safeguard the financial sustainability of clubs in the top five tiers of English football. Masters, however, insisted too many regulations could damage the excitement on which the it thrives. "We have that jeopardy, we have that constant fizz of compelling entertainment," he said. "There are many different reasons (for the Premier League's global popularity) but that, I think, is what separates us from others." He added: "We have always been pro investment within measured risks. The Premier League is not a pension fund, it is a place where capital is put at risk. There is no certainty of outcome -- that is one of the things that makes it interesting. "We do worry that a new regulatory function might be risk-averse and might inhibit clubs' ability to invest. And the ability to invest is key to competitive balance, and that jeopardy that I'm talking about." 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.

Premier League chief Richard Masters fears Club World Cup's impact on Man City and Chelsea

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were in ominous form ahead of the Australian Open as both powered into the Brisbane International quarter-finals on Thursday.
<h2>Djokovic in quarters</h2>
On a day when rising stars Mirra Andreeva and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard underlined their potential, Djokovic cruised past fellow veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 in 72 minutes.
In the women's draw, world number one Sabalenka -- who is aiming to win the Australian Open for the third time in a row -- beat Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
Djokovic and Monfils played an entertaining match, but the 37-year-old Serb was always in control as he notched his 20th straight win over the Frenchman.
Former world number one Djokovic plays giant American Reilly Opelka in the last eight.
"We've been playing a long time, I've known Gael since I was 15 and he was 16," said Djokovic, who is pursuing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title when the Australian Open begins on January 12.
"I've had a good score against him over the years but we've had some incredible battles on different surfaces.
"Hopefully we can play some more before we both retire."
The 17-year-old Russian Andreeva demolished Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-0 in the women's draw while Mpetshi Perricard downed fourth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the quarter-finals.
A year after losing to the same player at the season-opening event, Andreeva displayed her improvement over 2024 with a 63-minute romp over the Czech Republic's Noskova.
The teenager faces Ons Jabeur of Tunisia next.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/border-gavaskar-trophy-bgt-gautam-gambhir-reacts-to-reports-of-indian-dressing-room-leaks-ahead-of-scg-test-says-this-8584659" aria-label="BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS</a>
"Last year she (Noskova) almost killed me in the quarter-finals so I was thinking it's time to take my revenge," Andreeva said.
The Russian started the year ranked 16th in the world and is tipped by many to challenge for a Grand Slam in 2025.
"My number one goal for the 2025 season is to crack the top 10," said Andreeva, who is coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez.
The towering Mpetshi Perricard, 21, who beat Australian Nick Kyrgios in an entertaining round-one clash, again served superbly to defeat US Open semi-finalist Tiafoe.
After serving 36 aces in his three-set win over Kyrgios, the Frenchman sent down another 20 against the more experienced Tiafoe.
Mpetshi Perricard plays the 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik.
"It was a good match, not very easy to play against Francis," Mpetshi Perricard said.
"The first set was very tight on serve but I managed to put some pressure on his second serve and it worked."
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: Djokovic and Monfils played an entertaining match, but the 37-year-old Serb was always in control as he notched his 20th straight win over the Frenchman.

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were in ominous form ahead of the Australian Open as both powered into the Brisbane International quarter-finals on Thursday. Djokovic in quarters On a day when rising stars Mirra Andreeva and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard underlined their potential, Djokovic cruised past fellow veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 in 72 minutes. In the women's draw, world number one Sabalenka -- who is aiming to win the Australian Open for the third time in a row -- beat Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. Djokovic and Monfils played an entertaining match, but the 37-year-old Serb was always in control as he notched his 20th straight win over the Frenchman. Former world number one Djokovic plays giant American Reilly Opelka in the last eight. "We've been playing a long time, I've known Gael since I was 15 and he was 16," said Djokovic, who is pursuing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title when the Australian Open begins on January 12. "I've had a good score against him over the years but we've had some incredible battles on different surfaces. "Hopefully we can play some more before we both retire." The 17-year-old Russian Andreeva demolished Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-0 in the women's draw while Mpetshi Perricard downed fourth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the quarter-finals. A year after losing to the same player at the season-opening event, Andreeva displayed her improvement over 2024 with a 63-minute romp over the Czech Republic's Noskova. The teenager faces Ons Jabeur of Tunisia next. ALSO READ | BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS "Last year she (Noskova) almost killed me in the quarter-finals so I was thinking it's time to take my revenge," Andreeva said. The Russian started the year ranked 16th in the world and is tipped by many to challenge for a Grand Slam in 2025. "My number one goal for the 2025 season is to crack the top 10," said Andreeva, who is coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez. The towering Mpetshi Perricard, 21, who beat Australian Nick Kyrgios in an entertaining round-one clash, again served superbly to defeat US Open semi-finalist Tiafoe. After serving 36 aces in his three-set win over Kyrgios, the Frenchman sent down another 20 against the more experienced Tiafoe. Mpetshi Perricard plays the 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik. "It was a good match, not very easy to play against Francis," Mpetshi Perricard said. "The first set was very tight on serve but I managed to put some pressure on his second serve and it worked." 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.

Brisbane International: Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka into quarters as rising stars impress

The second spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final will be up for grabs as India take on Australia in the Sydney Test starting on Friday (Jan 3). India&rsquo;s chances of reaching the final are remote considering their fate is no longer in their hands, while Australia will look to book their place with a win. However, rain could be a huge factor in the outcome of the contest, as here is the weather report for Day 1 of the contest.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Sydney Test, Day 1 weather report</h2>
According to AccuWeather, the temperature in Sydney will be ranging between 23 to 27 degrees with a big cloud cover. There is a 41 per cent chance of rain on Day 1 of the Sydney Test, however, the chances of rain in the evening are higher compared to the morning. The humidity level will also range from 58 to 69 on Day 1 of the contest.
Weather played a key role in the Brisbane Test, where Australia were the better side but had to settle for a draw.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/border-gavaskar-trophy-bgt-gautam-gambhir-reacts-to-reports-of-indian-dressing-room-leaks-ahead-of-scg-test-says-this-8584659" aria-label="BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India to drop Rohit Sharma?</h2>
According to a report by The Indian Express, Rohit Sharma has informed the team management of his decision to sit out of the key tie as India are trailing 1-2 in the five-match series. So far in five innings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indian skipper has scored just 31 runs and has been going through a rough patch. He returned to the Indian side for the Adelaide Test and batted in the middle order, having opted to play out of his preferred opening spot.
However, he returned to the opening slot for the Boxing Day Test but failed to impress as he scored 3 and 9. His manner of dismissal was also a huge talking point for having thrown away his wicket on the last day of the MCG Test.

Sports, Cricket: The temperature in Sydney will be ranging between 23 to 27 degrees with big cloud cover on Friday. There is a 41 per cent chance of rain on Day 1 of the Sydney Test. 

The second spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final will be up for grabs as India take on Australia in the Sydney Test starting on Friday (Jan 3). India’s chances of reaching the final are remote considering their fate is no longer in their hands, while Australia will look to book their place with a win. However, rain could be a huge factor in the outcome of the contest, as here is the weather report for Day 1 of the contest. Sydney Test, Day 1 weather report According to AccuWeather, the temperature in Sydney will be ranging between 23 to 27 degrees with a big cloud cover. There is a 41 per cent chance of rain on Day 1 of the Sydney Test, however, the chances of rain in the evening are higher compared to the morning. The humidity level will also range from 58 to 69 on Day 1 of the contest. Weather played a key role in the Brisbane Test, where Australia were the better side but had to settle for a draw. ALSO READ | BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS India to drop Rohit Sharma? According to a report by The Indian Express, Rohit Sharma has informed the team management of his decision to sit out of the key tie as India are trailing 1-2 in the five-match series. So far in five innings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indian skipper has scored just 31 runs and has been going through a rough patch. He returned to the Indian side for the Adelaide Test and batted in the middle order, having opted to play out of his preferred opening spot. However, he returned to the opening slot for the Boxing Day Test but failed to impress as he scored 3 and 9. His manner of dismissal was also a huge talking point for having thrown away his wicket on the last day of the MCG Test.

BGT, Weather Report: Will rain play spoilsport on Day 1 of Sydney Test?

Indian Test team captain Rohit Sharma will sit out of the Sydney Test match against Australia starting on Friday (Jan 3) as the two sides prepare for the series finale. According to several media reports, Rohit has informed chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir that he will not play in the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) contest with Shubman Gill replacing him in the batting order. The likely change will also see Jasprit Bumrah captain the side as he did in the Perth Test in November. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Rohit Sharma to sit out of SCG Test?<o:p></o:p></h2>
According to a report in The Indian Express, Rohit has informed the team management of his decision to sit out of the key tie as India are trailing 1-2 in the five-match series. So far in five innings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indian skipper has scored just 31 runs and has been going through a rough patch. He returned to the Indian side for the Adelaide Test and batted in the middle order, having opted to play out of his preferred opening spot.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/border-gavaskar-trophy-2024-25-will-rohit-sharma-play-the-scg-test-in-sydney-gautam-gambhir-reacts-8584208" aria-label="SCG Test: Will Rohit Sharma play the series finale? Gautam Gambhir reacts" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">SCG Test: Will Rohit Sharma play the series finale? Gautam Gambhir reacts</a>
However, he returned to the opening slot for the Boxing Day Test but failed to impress as he scored 3 and 9. His manner of dismissal was also a huge talking point, having thrown away his wicket on the last day of the MCG Test. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Gill to return<o:p></o:p></h2>
If the report is true, Gill will be back in the India team&rsquo;s Playing XI having sat out of the Boxing Day Test. The Indian batter is likely to play at No. 3, meaning KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal will play in the opening spot. There are also talks of Dhruv Jurel coming into the team in case the team management decides to drop Rishabh Pant. However, Virat Kohli will remain unbothered and will feature in the final contest as India look to retain the BGT and keep their remote World Test Championship (WTC) final qualification hopes alive.

Sports, Cricket: According to several media reports, Rohit Sharma has informed chief selector Agarkar and head coach Gambhir that he will not play in the SCG contest.

Indian Test team captain Rohit Sharma will sit out of the Sydney Test match against Australia starting on Friday (Jan 3) as the two sides prepare for the series finale. According to several media reports, Rohit has informed chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir that he will not play in the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) contest with Shubman Gill replacing him in the batting order. The likely change will also see Jasprit Bumrah captain the side as he did in the Perth Test in November. Rohit Sharma to sit out of SCG Test? According to a report in The Indian Express, Rohit has informed the team management of his decision to sit out of the key tie as India are trailing 1-2 in the five-match series. So far in five innings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indian skipper has scored just 31 runs and has been going through a rough patch. He returned to the Indian side for the Adelaide Test and batted in the middle order, having opted to play out of his preferred opening spot. ALSO READ | SCG Test: Will Rohit Sharma play the series finale? Gautam Gambhir reacts However, he returned to the opening slot for the Boxing Day Test but failed to impress as he scored 3 and 9. His manner of dismissal was also a huge talking point, having thrown away his wicket on the last day of the MCG Test. Gill to return If the report is true, Gill will be back in the India team’s Playing XI having sat out of the Boxing Day Test. The Indian batter is likely to play at No. 3, meaning KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal will play in the opening spot. There are also talks of Dhruv Jurel coming into the team in case the team management decides to drop Rishabh Pant. However, Virat Kohli will remain unbothered and will feature in the final contest as India look to retain the BGT and keep their remote World Test Championship (WTC) final qualification hopes alive.

BGT 2024-25: Rohit Sharma opts out of Sydney Test amid poor form; Shubman Gill set to return - Report

The National Football League (NFL) is confident of hosting the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans after tragic events unfolded on New Year&rsquo;s Day on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in the United States. The city in Louisiana on Wednesday witnessed a terrorist attack where at least 15 people were killed while celebrations were still on to welcome the new year. While the year-opening Sugar Bowl event was postponed till Thursday, the NFL has dismissed any talks of shifting the Super Bowl event, which concludes the football season on February 9.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">NFL confident of hosting Super Bowl<o:p></o:p></h2>
&ldquo;We are deeply saddened by the news of the devastating incident in New Orleans. Our thoughts are with the victims, the New Orleans community and all those affected. The NFL and the local host committee have been working collaboratively with local, state and federal agencies for the past two years and have developed comprehensive security plans."<o:p></o:p>
&ldquo;These planning sessions will continue as they do with all major NFL events and we are confident attendees will have a safe and enjoyable Super Bowl experience,&rdquo; the league wrote in a statement.<o:p></o:p>
On Wednesday, suspected attacker Shamsud-Din Jabbar rammed his car while New Year celebrations were still on at Bourbon Street in New Orleans in the US. The case was handed over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with the agency investigating it as an act of &ldquo;terrorism&rdquo; in the nation. Jabbar is a US military veteran and was a resident of Texas.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/border-gavaskar-trophy-2024-25-will-rohit-sharma-play-the-scg-test-in-sydney-gautam-gambhir-reacts-8584208" aria-label="SCG Test: Will Rohit Sharma play the series finale? Gautam Gambhir reacts" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">SCG Test: Will Rohit Sharma play the series finale? Gautam Gambhir reacts</a>
The Super Bowl is set to take place on Sunday (Fen 9) with 12 teams competing for the prestigious honour in its 105th season. American Football (AFC) champions will go head-to-head with the National Football Champions (NFC) champions to determine the latest champion. Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs won their second successive title after beating the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. They will be targeting a third successive title in 2025.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Sports, NFL: On Wednesday, suspected attacker Shamsud-Din Jabbar rammed his truck into a crowd while New Year celebrations were still on at Bourbon Street in New Orleans in the US.

The National Football League (NFL) is confident of hosting the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans after tragic events unfolded on New Year’s Day on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in the United States. The city in Louisiana on Wednesday witnessed a terrorist attack where at least 15 people were killed while celebrations were still on to welcome the new year. While the year-opening Sugar Bowl event was postponed till Thursday, the NFL has dismissed any talks of shifting the Super Bowl event, which concludes the football season on February 9. NFL confident of hosting Super Bowl “We are deeply saddened by the news of the devastating incident in New Orleans. Our thoughts are with the victims, the New Orleans community and all those affected. The NFL and the local host committee have been working collaboratively with local, state and federal agencies for the past two years and have developed comprehensive security plans." “These planning sessions will continue as they do with all major NFL events and we are confident attendees will have a safe and enjoyable Super Bowl experience,” the league wrote in a statement. On Wednesday, suspected attacker Shamsud-Din Jabbar rammed his car while New Year celebrations were still on at Bourbon Street in New Orleans in the US. The case was handed over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with the agency investigating it as an act of “terrorism” in the nation. Jabbar is a US military veteran and was a resident of Texas. ALSO READ | SCG Test: Will Rohit Sharma play the series finale? Gautam Gambhir reacts The Super Bowl is set to take place on Sunday (Fen 9) with 12 teams competing for the prestigious honour in its 105th season. American Football (AFC) champions will go head-to-head with the National Football Champions (NFC) champions to determine the latest champion. Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs won their second successive title after beating the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. They will be targeting a third successive title in 2025.

Super Bowl LIX: NFL confident of hosting annual event in February despite New Orleans attack

India&rsquo;s ace shooter Manu Bhaker and World Chess Championship winner D Gukesh will receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award after an announcement on Thursday (Jan 2). After initially missing out on the shortlist, Bhaker will receive the honour along with D Gukesh on January 17, having won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics. The prestigious honour comes as another feather in her impressive hat, as she has become the third Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win multiple individual medals. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Harmapreet, Praveen join Bhaker<o:p></o:p></h2>
As announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Thursday, Bhaker will be joined by Gukesh, who won the WCC by beating defending champion China&rsquo;s Ding Liren in a tense 14-game final in December at the age of 18, thereby becoming the youngest champion ever. 
Alongside the duo, hockey star Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar will also receive the top sports honour of the nation. Harmanpreet led India to the Paris Olympic bronze medal in field hockey, as the country won back-to-back medals for the first time since the 1970s.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5fdfojj-yr1hiuw7-giy78nnn">
Honourable Prime Minister Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji, I am truly grateful and feel humbled to receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Your words and guidance have always inspired me to strive for excellence and make the nation proud. I promise to continue&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/hBdpUlroiI">pic.twitter.com/hBdpUlroiI</a>
&mdash; Gukesh D (@DGukesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/DGukesh/status/1874779313515688223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
Praveen Kumar, on the other hand, was India&rsquo;s shining star at the Paris Paralympics, and India had yet another successful campaign.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Bhaker to receive Khel Ratna hounor<o:p></o:p></h2>
Despite having reportedly missed out on filing her nomination for the prestigious honour, Bhaker&rsquo;s name was considered a formality to win the Khel Ratna award. She won a bronze medal in the 10 m air pistol event in the women&rsquo;s category at the Paris Olympics before winning another bronze medal in the 10 m air pistol team&rsquo;s event with Sarabjot Singh. She was close to winning a third medal at the Games before finishing third in the 25 m air pistol event.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/border-gavaskar-trophy-bgt-gautam-gambhir-reacts-to-reports-of-indian-dressing-room-leaks-ahead-of-scg-test-says-this-8584659" aria-label="BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS</a>
Gukesh also had a wonderful year as he became the youngest World Chess Championship winner at 18 as he beat China&rsquo;s Ding Liren. He also became the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the WCC in 24 years.
Harmanpreet&rsquo;s name was also a formality, as he helped India win back-to-back bronze medals in field hockey at the Olympics. The awards will be distributed on January 17 in the national capital, New Delhi.&nbsp;

Sports: As announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Thursday, Bhaker will be joined by Gukesh, 18, who won the WCC by beating defending champion China's Ding Liren.

India’s ace shooter Manu Bhaker and World Chess Championship winner D Gukesh will receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award after an announcement on Thursday (Jan 2). After initially missing out on the shortlist, Bhaker will receive the honour along with D Gukesh on January 17, having won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics. The prestigious honour comes as another feather in her impressive hat, as she has become the third Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win multiple individual medals. Harmapreet, Praveen join Bhaker As announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Thursday, Bhaker will be joined by Gukesh, who won the WCC by beating defending champion China’s Ding Liren in a tense 14-game final in December at the age of 18, thereby becoming the youngest champion ever. Alongside the duo, hockey star Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar will also receive the top sports honour of the nation. Harmanpreet led India to the Paris Olympic bronze medal in field hockey, as the country won back-to-back medals for the first time since the 1970s. Honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, I am truly grateful and feel humbled to receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Your words and guidance have always inspired me to strive for excellence and make the nation proud. I promise to continue… pic.twitter.com/hBdpUlroiI — Gukesh D (@DGukesh) January 2, 2025 Praveen Kumar, on the other hand, was India’s shining star at the Paris Paralympics, and India had yet another successful campaign. Bhaker to receive Khel Ratna hounor Despite having reportedly missed out on filing her nomination for the prestigious honour, Bhaker’s name was considered a formality to win the Khel Ratna award. She won a bronze medal in the 10 m air pistol event in the women’s category at the Paris Olympics before winning another bronze medal in the 10 m air pistol team’s event with Sarabjot Singh. She was close to winning a third medal at the Games before finishing third in the 25 m air pistol event. ALSO READ | BGT: Gautam Gambhir reacts to reports of Indian dressing room leaks, says THIS Gukesh also had a wonderful year as he became the youngest World Chess Championship winner at 18 as he beat China’s Ding Liren. He also became the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the WCC in 24 years. Harmanpreet’s name was also a formality, as he helped India win back-to-back bronze medals in field hockey at the Olympics. The awards will be distributed on January 17 in the national capital, New Delhi.

Manu Bhaker, D Gukesh to receive prestigious Khel Ratna award after stellar 2024

Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen rubbished allegations of match-fixing after a backstage video from the World Blitz Championship 2024 final went viral, showing him and Ian Nepomniachtchi discussing the possibility of enforcing draws if their proposal to share the title was turned down. The clip went viral in no time and ignited a controversy, prompting Carlsen to clarify his comments.
<h2>'I&rsquo;m joking with Ian in a situation with lacking decisive tiebreak rules'</h2>
"I&rsquo;ve never prearranged a draw in my career,&rdquo; Carlsen said on Thursday (Jan 2). He further opined, "In the video, I&rsquo;m joking with Ian in a situation with lacking decisive tiebreak rules. This was obviously not an attempt to influence FIDE. It was said in the spirit that I thought FIDE would agree to our proposal. If anything, it was a bad joke given the gravity of the situation.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl/sugar-bowl-postponed-by-a-day-over-deadly-truck-ramming-new-orleans-attack-8584104" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sugar Bowl postponed by a day over deadly truck-ramming New Orleans attack</a>
The veteran further defended the quality of the match and added, "I think the match itself showed two players playing high-level chess, equally matched and both deserving of a win."
The controversy erupted on Tuesday (Dec 31, 2024) when Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi shared the World Blitz C'ship title after seven rounds of the final concluded in a tie. The unprecedented decision, approved by FIDE, became the first-ever instance of the title being jointly awarded.
There were several reactions after the tie. American Grandmaster Hans Niemann called for an investigation, while Indian Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan condemned the incident.
"This is cause for an investigation by the FIDE Ethics committee. I can&rsquo;t believe that 2 players who maliciously accused me and tried to ruin my career are openly breaking the rules. The irony simply can&rsquo;t get any worse," Niemann claimed on Wednesday (Jan 1).

Chess, Sports | Magnus Carlsen rubbishes match-fixing allegations, reacts to backstage chat with Ian Nepomniachtchi during 2024 World Blitz Championship

Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen rubbished allegations of match-fixing after a backstage video from the World Blitz Championship 2024 final went viral, showing him and Ian Nepomniachtchi discussing the possibility of enforcing draws if their proposal to share the title was turned down. The clip went viral in no time and ignited a controversy, prompting Carlsen to clarify his comments. 'I’m joking with Ian in a situation with lacking decisive tiebreak rules' "I’ve never prearranged a draw in my career,” Carlsen said on Thursday (Jan 2). He further opined, "In the video, I’m joking with Ian in a situation with lacking decisive tiebreak rules. This was obviously not an attempt to influence FIDE. It was said in the spirit that I thought FIDE would agree to our proposal. If anything, it was a bad joke given the gravity of the situation.” Also read: Sugar Bowl postponed by a day over deadly truck-ramming New Orleans attack The veteran further defended the quality of the match and added, "I think the match itself showed two players playing high-level chess, equally matched and both deserving of a win." The controversy erupted on Tuesday (Dec 31, 2024) when Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi shared the World Blitz C'ship title after seven rounds of the final concluded in a tie. The unprecedented decision, approved by FIDE, became the first-ever instance of the title being jointly awarded. There were several reactions after the tie. American Grandmaster Hans Niemann called for an investigation, while Indian Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan condemned the incident. "This is cause for an investigation by the FIDE Ethics committee. I can’t believe that 2 players who maliciously accused me and tried to ruin my career are openly breaking the rules. The irony simply can’t get any worse," Niemann claimed on Wednesday (Jan 1).

Carlsen rubbishes match-fixing allegations, reacts to backstage chat with Nepomniachtchi

Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir&rsquo;s job could be on the line as the side fights for a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. According to media reports, Gambhir will be closely monitored during the coming weeks as India fights on multiple fronts in the Champions Trophy and the WTC. If performances don&rsquo;t improve, he could lose his job, according to a close source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Gambhir&rsquo;s job on the line?</h2>
"There is a Test match to be played and then there is Champions Trophy. If the performance doesn't improve, even Gautam Gambhir's position wouldn't be safe," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
India have faced a turbulent last few months, especially after Gambhir took over as the head coach in July 2024. During his tenure, India lost an ODI series in Sri Lanka, lost a home Test series for the first time in 12 years, while they are now standing on the brink of elimination in the WTC final race.
According to the source, the Sydney Test and then the Champions Trophy performance will have a key role to play if the 43-year-old is to stay in charge of the side beyond the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season.
If things don&rsquo;t go right, the former Delhi batter may not be in charge of the Indian side during the England tour, which starts in June.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-rankings-jasprit-bumrah-cements-top-spot-after-dazzling-bgt-show-kohli-rohit-take-massive-hit-8582861" aria-label="ICC rankings: Jasprit Bumrah cements top spot after dazzling BGT show">ICC rankings: Jasprit Bumrah cements top spot after dazzling BGT show</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Litmus test in Sydney?</h2>
If India are to stay in the hunt for a place in the WTC final, they will have to beat Australia in the Sydney Test, which starts on Friday (Jan 3). The Indian team will also need a helping hand from Sri Lanka if they are to reach the WTC final. The first Test match of the calendar year won&rsquo;t be an easy affair for Gambhir and Co, with top batters, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, struggling to score runs.

Sports, Cricket: According to media reports, Gautam Gambhir will be closely monitored during the coming weeks as India fights on multiple fronts in the CT and the WTC. 

Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir’s job could be on the line as the side fights for a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. According to media reports, Gambhir will be closely monitored during the coming weeks as India fights on multiple fronts in the Champions Trophy and the WTC. If performances don’t improve, he could lose his job, according to a close source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Gambhir’s job on the line? "There is a Test match to be played and then there is Champions Trophy. If the performance doesn't improve, even Gautam Gambhir's position wouldn't be safe," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity. India have faced a turbulent last few months, especially after Gambhir took over as the head coach in July 2024. During his tenure, India lost an ODI series in Sri Lanka, lost a home Test series for the first time in 12 years, while they are now standing on the brink of elimination in the WTC final race. According to the source, the Sydney Test and then the Champions Trophy performance will have a key role to play if the 43-year-old is to stay in charge of the side beyond the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season. If things don’t go right, the former Delhi batter may not be in charge of the Indian side during the England tour, which starts in June. ALSO READ | ICC rankings: Jasprit Bumrah cements top spot after dazzling BGT show Litmus test in Sydney? If India are to stay in the hunt for a place in the WTC final, they will have to beat Australia in the Sydney Test, which starts on Friday (Jan 3). The Indian team will also need a helping hand from Sri Lanka if they are to reach the WTC final. The first Test match of the calendar year won’t be an easy affair for Gambhir and Co, with top batters, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, struggling to score runs.

Gautam Gambhir's position as head coach not safe after India close 2024 with MCG defeat: Report

India's R Vaishali clinched a bronze in the women's section of the World Blitz Championship, capping another strong performance by the country's chess players after stalwart Koneru Humpy's title-winning show in the rapid event here.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Vaishali settles for bronze</h2>
Vaishali defeated China's Zhu Jiner 2.5-1.5 in the quarterfinals before losing to another Chinese opponent, Ju Wenjun, 0.5-2.5 in the semi-final.
In an event completely dominated by the Chinese, Ju Wenjun went on to snare the world title, defeating compatriot Lei Tingjie 3.5-2.5.
Five-time world champion and International Chess Federation (FIDE) vice president Viswanathan Anand congratulated Vaishali for her efforts, saying it was a great way to end the year.
"Congratulations to Vaishali for taking bronze. Her qualification was truly a power-packed performance. Our Waca Chess mentee (WestBridge Anand Chess Academy) has done us proud," Anand wrote on 'X'.
"We are so happy to be supporting her and her chess. What a way to wrap up 2024. In 2021, we thought we would get stronger chess players, but here we have it a World Champion (Humpy) and a Bronze medallist (Vaishali)!" he wrote.
In the 'Open' section, world number one Magnus Carlsen and Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi shared the Blitz title after three sudden-death games failed to produce a winner. This was the first time that the title was awarded to two players after Carlsen asked whether it could be shared given the deadlock.
"We were both tired, some will like it some will not," Carlsen said during a media interaction.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-rankings-jasprit-bumrah-cements-top-spot-after-dazzling-bgt-show-kohli-rohit-take-massive-hit-8582861" aria-label="ICC rankings: Jasprit Bumrah cements top spot after dazzling BGT show" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">ICC rankings: Jasprit Bumrah cements top spot after dazzling BGT show</a>
"We reached a point where it had been a long day. We played many games, we had three draws and I felt that I could keep playing. But it was a nice solution to share the win, it was a good way to end it," said Carlsen.
This was Carlsen's second big win this week, as the world body was forced to bring him back after his withdrawal from the Rapid championship just a couple of days back due to a dress code violation.
Carlsen came wearing jeans for the Rapid event and refused to wear formal trousers, prompting FIDE to disqualify him. However, the world governing body allowed him to wear jeans in the Blitz event.
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, Chess: India's R Vaishali defeated China's Zhu Jiner 2.5-1.5 in the quarterfinals before losing to another Chinese opponent, Ju Wenjun, 0.5-2.5 in the semifinal.

India's R Vaishali clinched a bronze in the women's section of the World Blitz Championship, capping another strong performance by the country's chess players after stalwart Koneru Humpy's title-winning show in the rapid event here. Vaishali settles for bronze Vaishali defeated China's Zhu Jiner 2.5-1.5 in the quarterfinals before losing to another Chinese opponent, Ju Wenjun, 0.5-2.5 in the semi-final. In an event completely dominated by the Chinese, Ju Wenjun went on to snare the world title, defeating compatriot Lei Tingjie 3.5-2.5. Five-time world champion and International Chess Federation (FIDE) vice president Viswanathan Anand congratulated Vaishali for her efforts, saying it was a great way to end the year. "Congratulations to Vaishali for taking bronze. Her qualification was truly a power-packed performance. Our Waca Chess mentee (WestBridge Anand Chess Academy) has done us proud," Anand wrote on 'X'. "We are so happy to be supporting her and her chess. What a way to wrap up 2024. In 2021, we thought we would get stronger chess players, but here we have it a World Champion (Humpy) and a Bronze medallist (Vaishali)!" he wrote. In the 'Open' section, world number one Magnus Carlsen and Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi shared the Blitz title after three sudden-death games failed to produce a winner. This was the first time that the title was awarded to two players after Carlsen asked whether it could be shared given the deadlock. "We were both tired, some will like it some will not," Carlsen said during a media interaction. ALSO READ | ICC rankings: Jasprit Bumrah cements top spot after dazzling BGT show "We reached a point where it had been a long day. We played many games, we had three draws and I felt that I could keep playing. But it was a nice solution to share the win, it was a good way to end it," said Carlsen. This was Carlsen's second big win this week, as the world body was forced to bring him back after his withdrawal from the Rapid championship just a couple of days back due to a dress code violation. Carlsen came wearing jeans for the Rapid event and refused to wear formal trousers, prompting FIDE to disqualify him. However, the world governing body allowed him to wear jeans in the Blitz event. 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.

World Blitz Championship: Vaishali clinches women's bronze as India sign off on a high

All is not well in the Indian team&rsquo;s dressing room after leaked team talks have been a subject of huge debate according to several media reports. Adding fuel to the fire was former pacer Irfan Pathan, who on Wednesday (Jan 1) took to X stating all is not well in the Indian team. Looking at Pathan&rsquo;s post, it is likely that players in the Indian team are not on the same page including coach Gautam Gambhir.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5dro5hz-gu34qsuf-dl4disog">
What happens in the dressing room, should stay in the dressing room!
&mdash; Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) <a href="https://twitter.com/IrfanPathan/status/1874339653798813807?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Pathan calls for action</h2>
&ldquo;What happens in the dressing room, should stay in the dressing room!&rdquo; Pathan posted on his X handle.
According to reports, Gambhir was against several selections for the ongoing Australia tour and&nbsp; wanting to include Cheteshwar Pujara in the side. According to an Indian Express report, Gambhir, captain Rohit Sharma and the selectors panel led by Ajit Agarkar were not on the same page during the selection meeting.
On the other hand, Gambhir was also furious at a few players for not sticking to the plan and wanting to do out-of-plan things. However, these talks were leaked which has not gone well with the team management, especially after India&rsquo;s 184-run defeat in the Boxing Day contest in Melbourne.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-rankings-jasprit-bumrah-cements-top-spot-after-dazzling-bgt-show-kohli-rohit-take-massive-hit-8582861" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">ALSO READ | </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-rankings-jasprit-bumrah-cements-top-spot-after-dazzling-bgt-show-kohli-rohit-take-massive-hit-8582861" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">ICC rankings: Jasprit Bumrah cements top spot after dazzling BGT show</a>
India lost the match and now trail the series 1-2, leaving their World Test Championship (WTC) final qualification fate hanging in balance. While South Africa are already in the final after their win against Pakistan, Australia need to win just one of their next three remaining matches.
On the other hand, pressure is mounting on coach Gambhir. He has been on the receiving end after poor results in recent months since his appointment. India failed to win an ODI in 2024 while they lost 0-3 to New Zealand in a Test series for the first time at home.

Sports, Cricket: According to reports, Gambhir was against several selections for the ongoing Australia tour while wanting to include Cheteshwar Pujara in the side.

All is not well in the Indian team’s dressing room after leaked team talks have been a subject of huge debate according to several media reports. Adding fuel to the fire was former pacer Irfan Pathan, who on Wednesday (Jan 1) took to X stating all is not well in the Indian team. Looking at Pathan’s post, it is likely that players in the Indian team are not on the same page including coach Gautam Gambhir. What happens in the dressing room, should stay in the dressing room! — Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 1, 2025 Pathan calls for action “What happens in the dressing room, should stay in the dressing room!” Pathan posted on his X handle. According to reports, Gambhir was against several selections for the ongoing Australia tour and wanting to include Cheteshwar Pujara in the side. According to an Indian Express report, Gambhir, captain Rohit Sharma and the selectors panel led by Ajit Agarkar were not on the same page during the selection meeting. On the other hand, Gambhir was also furious at a few players for not sticking to the plan and wanting to do out-of-plan things. However, these talks were leaked which has not gone well with the team management, especially after India’s 184-run defeat in the Boxing Day contest in Melbourne. ALSO READ | ICC rankings: Jasprit Bumrah cements top spot after dazzling BGT show India lost the match and now trail the series 1-2, leaving their World Test Championship (WTC) final qualification fate hanging in balance. While South Africa are already in the final after their win against Pakistan, Australia need to win just one of their next three remaining matches. On the other hand, pressure is mounting on coach Gambhir. He has been on the receiving end after poor results in recent months since his appointment. India failed to win an ODI in 2024 while they lost 0-3 to New Zealand in a Test series for the first time at home.

BGT 2024/25: Irfan Pathan furious over leaked team talks

India&rsquo;s Jasprit Bumrah has cemented his place at the top of the ICC Test bowler&rsquo;s rankings after a dazzling show in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. In the latest rankings released on Wednesday (Jan 1), Bumrah is at the top of the charts with ranking points of 907. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have taken a massive hit and dropped to the 40th and 24th spots respectively.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Bumrah leads the way in rankings</h2>
Having enjoyed a superb last couple of months, Bumrah has made the most of the BGT, leading the way with 30 wickets with still a match to go in Sydney. He was named Player of the Match in the Perth contest as Australia were beaten by a record margin of 295 runs. He played a key role in the match by scalping eight wickets.
Excluding the second innings in the Adelaide Test, Bumrah has minimum bagged three wickets in each Australian innings. His numbers are more impressive when we compare him to captain Rohit Sharma, who has scored just 31 runs in the series. On three occasions, Bumrah has bagged a five-for, highlighting his importance in the side.&nbsp;
The next successful Indian bowler on the list is Mohammed Siraj with 16 wickets, while Akash Deep is third with five wickets.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-india-coach-ravi-shastri-calls-for-two-tier-structure-in-test-cricket-with-relegation-and-promotion-8582488" aria-label="Former India coach Ravi Shastri calls for two-tier structure in Test cricket with relegation and promotion" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Former India coach Ravi Shastri calls for two-tier structure in Test cricket with relegation and promotion</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Virat, Rohit take massive hit</h2>
Having scored only 31 runs in the Test series, Rohit was certain to take a hit in ranking as his form has become a major concern for the Indian team management. Rohit has been facing huge criticism after having scored in double figures only once in five innings. So far he has mustered scores of 3, 6, 10, 3 and 9, making him a weak link in the Indian side.
Virat, on the other hand, has also suffered a dip in form despite having scored a hundred in Perth in the opening contest. Excluding that innings, he has been far from his best with just 67 runs in the remaining innings.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Sports, Cricket:  In the latest rankings released on Wednesday (Jan 1), Bumrah is at the top of the charts with ranking points of 907 ,while VIrat Kohli and Rohit Sharma took a hit. 

India’s Jasprit Bumrah has cemented his place at the top of the ICC Test bowler’s rankings after a dazzling show in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. In the latest rankings released on Wednesday (Jan 1), Bumrah is at the top of the charts with ranking points of 907. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have taken a massive hit and dropped to the 40th and 24th spots respectively. Bumrah leads the way in rankings Having enjoyed a superb last couple of months, Bumrah has made the most of the BGT, leading the way with 30 wickets with still a match to go in Sydney. He was named Player of the Match in the Perth contest as Australia were beaten by a record margin of 295 runs. He played a key role in the match by scalping eight wickets. Excluding the second innings in the Adelaide Test, Bumrah has minimum bagged three wickets in each Australian innings. His numbers are more impressive when we compare him to captain Rohit Sharma, who has scored just 31 runs in the series. On three occasions, Bumrah has bagged a five-for, highlighting his importance in the side. The next successful Indian bowler on the list is Mohammed Siraj with 16 wickets, while Akash Deep is third with five wickets. ALSO READ | Former India coach Ravi Shastri calls for two-tier structure in Test cricket with relegation and promotion Virat, Rohit take massive hit Having scored only 31 runs in the Test series, Rohit was certain to take a hit in ranking as his form has become a major concern for the Indian team management. Rohit has been facing huge criticism after having scored in double figures only once in five innings. So far he has mustered scores of 3, 6, 10, 3 and 9, making him a weak link in the Indian side. Virat, on the other hand, has also suffered a dip in form despite having scored a hundred in Perth in the opening contest. Excluding that innings, he has been far from his best with just 67 runs in the remaining innings.

ICC rankings: Jasprit Bumrah cements top spot after dazzling BGT show

Former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath has heaped praise on India&rsquo;s Jasprit Bumrah after the hosts took a 2-1 lead in the ongoing five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. McGrath termed Bumrah a match-winner and predicted that the series could have been a one-sided affair had he not been on the Indian side. The Indian Test vice-captain has been at his best, bagging 30 wickets so far in the series with one match remaining in the series.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">McGrath praises Bumrah</h2>
"He has been a massive part of the Indian team and without him, the series might have been more one-sided and what he does is special. Terrific young guy who has found a way to adapt. Absolutely incredible how he powers into bowl the last few steps,&rdquo; McGrath was quoted as saying by PTI.
"Got a little bit of hyperextension which I used to have as well. He is coping with it and has incredible control both ways, guess they are managing him well. I am a massive fan of Jasprit," he added.
With 30 wickets in four matches, the Indian pacer remains the best bowler in the series and has single-handedly carried the Indian team at times. He was named Player of the Match in the Perth contest as Australia were beaten by a record margin of 295 runs. He played a key role in the match, scalping eight wickets.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-india-coach-ravi-shastri-calls-for-two-tier-structure-in-test-cricket-with-relegation-and-promotion-8582488" aria-label="Former India coach Ravi Shastri calls for two-tier structure in Test cricket with relegation and promotion" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Former India coach Ravi Shastri calls for two-tier structure in Test cricket with relegation and promotion</a>
Excluding the second innings in the Adelaide Test, Bumrah has bagged a minimum of three wickets in each innings for Australia. His numbers are more impressive when we compare him to captain Rohit Sharma who has 31 runs in the series. On three occasions he has bagged a five-for, highlighting his importance in the side. &nbsp;
The next successful Indian bowler on the list is Mohammed Siraj with 16 while Akash Deep is third with just five wickets.
India next take on Australia in Sydney starting on Friday (Jan 3) with a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final up for grabs.
(With Inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Jasprit Bumrah has been at his best, bagging 30 wickets so far in the series with one match still remaining in the BGT series. 

Former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath has heaped praise on India’s Jasprit Bumrah after the hosts took a 2-1 lead in the ongoing five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. McGrath termed Bumrah a match-winner and predicted that the series could have been a one-sided affair had he not been on the Indian side. The Indian Test vice-captain has been at his best, bagging 30 wickets so far in the series with one match remaining in the series. McGrath praises Bumrah "He has been a massive part of the Indian team and without him, the series might have been more one-sided and what he does is special. Terrific young guy who has found a way to adapt. Absolutely incredible how he powers into bowl the last few steps,” McGrath was quoted as saying by PTI. "Got a little bit of hyperextension which I used to have as well. He is coping with it and has incredible control both ways, guess they are managing him well. I am a massive fan of Jasprit," he added. With 30 wickets in four matches, the Indian pacer remains the best bowler in the series and has single-handedly carried the Indian team at times. He was named Player of the Match in the Perth contest as Australia were beaten by a record margin of 295 runs. He played a key role in the match, scalping eight wickets. ALSO READ | Former India coach Ravi Shastri calls for two-tier structure in Test cricket with relegation and promotion Excluding the second innings in the Adelaide Test, Bumrah has bagged a minimum of three wickets in each innings for Australia. His numbers are more impressive when we compare him to captain Rohit Sharma who has 31 runs in the series. On three occasions he has bagged a five-for, highlighting his importance in the side. The next successful Indian bowler on the list is Mohammed Siraj with 16 while Akash Deep is third with just five wickets. India next take on Australia in Sydney starting on Friday (Jan 3) with a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final up for grabs. (With Inputs from agencies)

BGT 2024/25: Glenn McGrath heaps praise on match-winner Jasprit Bumrah, says 'series might have been...'

Dani Olmo's future at Barcelona was plunged into uncertainty on Tuesday as La Liga poured cold water on the financially troubled Catalan giants' frantic attempts to register the Spain star.
<h2>Dani Olmo future in limbo</h2>
La Liga's strict spending limits restricted Olmo's initial registration to 31 Dec 2024 after Barcelona made the playmaker their flagship signing last summer.
The club was left scrambling for alternatives to get Olmo on the books before the clock struck midnight in Spain, having exhausted legal avenues to extend the registration to June 30, 2025.
Barcelona said on Tuesday that they had requested a new licence from the Spanish football federation for Olmo and forward Pau Victor, who also faces the same registration predicament.
Spanish media reported that the move would buy Barcelona precious time to complete the administrative formalities.
"The club wishes to deny that it has asked for or received any extension from any other organisation for the registration being requested," it added in a statement.
La Liga released a statement shortly afterwards saying that as of Tuesday "Barcelona has presented no alternative" complying with the league's budget rules "that allows it to register any player from January 2".
Barcelona had submitted documents to La Liga showing it would generate 100 million euros ($103 million) to finance Olmo's registration by selling VIP seats at its future expanded Camp Nou stadium, but the paperwork was advancing slowly, Spanish media said.
A Barcelona court had rejected a request to extend the registration on Monday, after a commercial court in the Catalan capital made the same decision last week.
The heavily indebted club registered Olmo with 80 percent of injured defender Andreas Christensen's pay thanks to an exception in La Liga's budget rules allowing clubs to replace long-term absentees.
The commercial court argued that overspending was authorised to prevent a long-term injury undermining a team's competitiveness but not to register players whose wages exceeded the salary limit.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-bumrah-kohli-to-be-rested-for-odi-series-to-return-for-champions-trophy-2025-report-8580828" aria-label="IND vs ENG: Bumrah, Kohli to be rested for ODI series; to return for Champions Trophy 2025 - Report" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IND vs ENG: Bumrah, Kohli to be rested for ODI series; to return for Champions Trophy 2025 - Report</a>
Olmo's contract, initially set to run until 2030, includes a clause that would release him if he could not be registered, according to Spanish media.
The Spain playmaker's potential departure due to an administrative imbroglio would be a damaging and embarrassing blow to the third-placed Blaugrana's title bid.
The 26-year-old has notched five goals in La Liga this season and starred as Spain clinched Euro 2024 glory in Germany.
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: La Liga's strict spending limits restricted Dani Olmo's initial registration to 31 Dec 2024 as Barcelona made him their flagship signing. 

Dani Olmo's future at Barcelona was plunged into uncertainty on Tuesday as La Liga poured cold water on the financially troubled Catalan giants' frantic attempts to register the Spain star. Dani Olmo future in limbo La Liga's strict spending limits restricted Olmo's initial registration to 31 Dec 2024 after Barcelona made the playmaker their flagship signing last summer. The club was left scrambling for alternatives to get Olmo on the books before the clock struck midnight in Spain, having exhausted legal avenues to extend the registration to June 30, 2025. Barcelona said on Tuesday that they had requested a new licence from the Spanish football federation for Olmo and forward Pau Victor, who also faces the same registration predicament. Spanish media reported that the move would buy Barcelona precious time to complete the administrative formalities. "The club wishes to deny that it has asked for or received any extension from any other organisation for the registration being requested," it added in a statement. La Liga released a statement shortly afterwards saying that as of Tuesday "Barcelona has presented no alternative" complying with the league's budget rules "that allows it to register any player from January 2". Barcelona had submitted documents to La Liga showing it would generate 100 million euros ($103 million) to finance Olmo's registration by selling VIP seats at its future expanded Camp Nou stadium, but the paperwork was advancing slowly, Spanish media said. A Barcelona court had rejected a request to extend the registration on Monday, after a commercial court in the Catalan capital made the same decision last week. The heavily indebted club registered Olmo with 80 percent of injured defender Andreas Christensen's pay thanks to an exception in La Liga's budget rules allowing clubs to replace long-term absentees. The commercial court argued that overspending was authorised to prevent a long-term injury undermining a team's competitiveness but not to register players whose wages exceeded the salary limit. ALSO READ | IND vs ENG: Bumrah, Kohli to be rested for ODI series; to return for Champions Trophy 2025 - Report Olmo's contract, initially set to run until 2030, includes a clause that would release him if he could not be registered, according to Spanish media. The Spain playmaker's potential departure due to an administrative imbroglio would be a damaging and embarrassing blow to the third-placed Blaugrana's title bid. The 26-year-old has notched five goals in La Liga this season and starred as Spain clinched Euro 2024 glory in Germany. 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.

Dani Olmo's Barcelona future in air as financial troubles worsen for Catalan club

After a record-breaking crowd turned up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) between India and Australia during the Boxing Day Test, Ravi Shastri has suggested launching a new Test format. Writing in his latest column, Shastri suggested the red-ball format should have a two-tier system with a relegation and promotion format. Currently, all teams compete under the same format for a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final which takes place once in two years.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Shastri suggests new format</h2>
"To break crowd records that have stood for nearly a century... is testimony to the fact that when the best teams play, the toughest and best format of the game is still alive and thriving," he wrote in a column for The Australian newspaper.
"It was also a sound reminder to the ICC (International Cricket Council) that the best should play the best for Test cricket to survive.&nbsp;
"I will say that there's too much of a clutter otherwise.&nbsp;
"This match further emphasises why we need a two-tier system with the top 6-8 teams and then include promotion and demotion. You will not get these kinds of crowds if you don't have two proper teams playing."
More to Follow&hellip;

Sports, Cricket: Writing in his latest column, Ravi Shastri suggested the red-ball format should have a two-tier system with a relegation and promotion format.

After a record-breaking crowd turned up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) between India and Australia during the Boxing Day Test, Ravi Shastri has suggested launching a new Test format. Writing in his latest column, Shastri suggested the red-ball format should have a two-tier system with a relegation and promotion format. Currently, all teams compete under the same format for a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final which takes place once in two years. Shastri suggests new format "To break crowd records that have stood for nearly a century... is testimony to the fact that when the best teams play, the toughest and best format of the game is still alive and thriving," he wrote in a column for The Australian newspaper. "It was also a sound reminder to the ICC (International Cricket Council) that the best should play the best for Test cricket to survive. "I will say that there's too much of a clutter otherwise. "This match further emphasises why we need a two-tier system with the top 6-8 teams and then include promotion and demotion. You will not get these kinds of crowds if you don't have two proper teams playing." More to Follow…

Former India coach Ravi Shastri calls for two-tier structure in Test cricket with relegation and promotion

Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell stunned second seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday while the doubles act of Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios came to a shuddering halt at the Brisbane International.
But it was all smiles from defending men's champion Grigor Dimitrov, who powered into the quarter-finals in straight sets.
In the opening match on Pat Rafter Arena, Birrell matched world number eight Navarro stroke-for-stroke to put a dent in the American's Australian Open preparations.
Navarro had a stellar 2024, going deep in all four Grand Slams including a run to the semi-finals of the US Open.
She was expected to brush aside the challenge of 26-year-old Birrell, who has never broken into the top 100 in her 10 years on the WTA Tour.
But the Australian, who trains at the Queensland Tennis Centre and is ranked 113, was not intimidated and delighted her home crowd with a nerveless display.
Birrell, who will face 35th-ranked Russian Anastasia Potapova in the last 16, said she embraced the role of underdog.
"I guess it's kind of like one of those situations where you have no choice, you just have to go for it," she said.
"That was kind of the attitude I had going into today -- I think that really benefited me, along with having played a lot of hours on this court here."
Dimitrov continued his love affair with Brisbane by easing past another Australian&nbsp;wildcard, Aleksandar Vukic, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).
The Bulgarian world number 10 raced through the first set then held off Vukic as the Australian raised his game in the second.
"I'm starting to find my game but I think there is still a lot to do," said Dimitrov, who has won the tournament twice and finished runner-up once.
"So hopefully with each match I can build up a little bit more and play better and better."
He will play either Australian Jordan Thompson or American Alex Michelson for a place in the last four.
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-bumrah-kohli-to-be-rested-for-odi-series-to-return-for-champions-trophy-2025-report-8580828" aria-label="IND vs ENG: Bumrah, Kohli to be rested for ODI series; to return for Champions Trophy 2025 - Report">IND vs ENG: Bumrah, Kohli to be rested for ODI series; to return for Champions Trophy 2025 - Report</a>
<h2>Djokovic and Kyrgios out&nbsp;</h2>
Djokovic and Kyrgios teamed up for a rare doubles appearance this week, but after winning a close first round were stopped by top seeds Michael Venus of New Zealand and Croatia's Nikola Mektic 6-2, 3-6, 10/8.
Venus and Mektic came from three points down to clinch the match tiebreak.
"Playing those guys, they hit some unbelievable shots," Venus said.
"Down three points in the tiebreak, the way they were serving, it wasn't looking great but somehow we got back in there."
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: Djokovic and Kyrgios teamed up for a rare doubles appearance this week after winning a close first round at the Brisbane International.

Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell stunned second seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday while the doubles act of Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios came to a shuddering halt at the Brisbane International. But it was all smiles from defending men's champion Grigor Dimitrov, who powered into the quarter-finals in straight sets. In the opening match on Pat Rafter Arena, Birrell matched world number eight Navarro stroke-for-stroke to put a dent in the American's Australian Open preparations. Navarro had a stellar 2024, going deep in all four Grand Slams including a run to the semi-finals of the US Open. She was expected to brush aside the challenge of 26-year-old Birrell, who has never broken into the top 100 in her 10 years on the WTA Tour. But the Australian, who trains at the Queensland Tennis Centre and is ranked 113, was not intimidated and delighted her home crowd with a nerveless display. Birrell, who will face 35th-ranked Russian Anastasia Potapova in the last 16, said she embraced the role of underdog. "I guess it's kind of like one of those situations where you have no choice, you just have to go for it," she said. "That was kind of the attitude I had going into today -- I think that really benefited me, along with having played a lot of hours on this court here." Dimitrov continued his love affair with Brisbane by easing past another Australian wildcard, Aleksandar Vukic, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5). The Bulgarian world number 10 raced through the first set then held off Vukic as the Australian raised his game in the second. "I'm starting to find my game but I think there is still a lot to do," said Dimitrov, who has won the tournament twice and finished runner-up once. "So hopefully with each match I can build up a little bit more and play better and better." He will play either Australian Jordan Thompson or American Alex Michelson for a place in the last four. ALSO READ | IND vs ENG: Bumrah, Kohli to be rested for ODI series; to return for Champions Trophy 2025 - Report Djokovic and Kyrgios out Djokovic and Kyrgios teamed up for a rare doubles appearance this week, but after winning a close first round were stopped by top seeds Michael Venus of New Zealand and Croatia's Nikola Mektic 6-2, 3-6, 10/8. Venus and Mektic came from three points down to clinch the match tiebreak. "Playing those guys, they hit some unbelievable shots," Venus said. "Down three points in the tiebreak, the way they were serving, it wasn't looking great but somehow we got back in there." 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.

Brisbane Open: Emma Navarro stunned by wildcard as Djokovic-Kyrgios doubles run ends

sports

Sports, News on Sports, stories on Sports, articles on Sports, Sports stories at Wion, Sports news, Sports latest news