<p>The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition is keenly awaited. Every team is preparing hard for the marquee event which will be held in India entirely. As per a report, the 50-over marquee tournament is set to kick off in early October and will end by mid-November.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, the 2023 ODI WC will commence on&nbsp;October 05 whereas the finale will be held on November 19 at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. The same report also suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the host of the ten-team tournament, has finalised as many as a dozen venues for the showpiece event.</p>

<p>Apart from Ahmedabad, the shortlisted cities are&nbsp;Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot, and Mumbai. It is to be noted that the tournament will be held in the round-robin stage, just like the 2019 edition, and will&nbsp;consist of&nbsp;48 matches including three knockouts across a 46-day period.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-team-india-shreyas-iyer-to-undergo-surgery-likely-to-skip-ipl-2023-wtc-final-and-odi-wc-574544">Big blow to Team India! Shreyas Iyer to undergo surgery, likely to skip IPL 2023, WTC final and ODI WC</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Why the delay from BCCI?</strong></p>

<p>The BCCI has not specified venues for any games as of now, nor the two or three cities where the&nbsp;warm-up encounters will take place. It is learned that the delay in finalising the venues has been due to the threat posed by the monsoon season receding at different points across the nation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The International Cricket Council (ICC) usually&nbsp;shares the World Cup schedules, at least, a year in the run-up to the event. However, much to the surprise of cricket fans worldwide, it hasn't been the case this time around. The wait has been prolonged as the Indian cricket board is&nbsp;yet to&nbsp;get the necessary clearance from the&nbsp;government.</p>

<p>The BCCI needs to get a tax exemption for hosting the mega&nbsp;tournament, and also acquire visa clearance for Team Pakistan. The Asian giants have not played a bilateral series in India since early 2013 and their last visit to their neighbouring country was during the 2016 T20 World Cup in India.</p>


The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition is keenly awaited. Every team is preparing hard for the marquee event which will be held in India entirely. As per a report, the 50-over marquee tournament is set to kick off in early October and will end by mid-November.

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition is keenly awaited. Every team is preparing hard for the marquee event which will be held in India entirely. As per a report, the 50-over marquee tournament is set to kick off in early October and will end by mid-November. As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, the 2023 ODI WC will commence on October 05 whereas the finale will be held on November 19 at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. The same report also suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the host of the ten-team tournament, has finalised as many as a dozen venues for the showpiece event. Apart from Ahmedabad, the shortlisted cities are Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot, and Mumbai. It is to be noted that the tournament will be held in the round-robin stage, just like the 2019 edition, and will consist of 48 matches including three knockouts across a 46-day period. Also Read: Big blow to Team India! Shreyas Iyer to undergo surgery, likely to skip IPL 2023, WTC final and ODI WC Why the delay from BCCI? The BCCI has not specified venues for any games as of now, nor the two or three cities where the warm-up encounters will take place. It is learned that the delay in finalising the venues has been due to the threat posed by the monsoon season receding at different points across the nation. The International Cricket Council (ICC) usually shares the World Cup schedules, at least, a year in the run-up to the event. However, much to the surprise of cricket fans worldwide, it hasn't been the case this time around. The wait has been prolonged as the Indian cricket board is yet to get the necessary clearance from the government. The BCCI needs to get a tax exemption for hosting the mega tournament, and also acquire visa clearance for Team Pakistan. The Asian giants have not played a bilateral series in India since early 2013 and their last visit to their neighbouring country was during the 2016 T20 World Cup in India.

ODI World Cup likely to kick off on October 5, final on November 19 in Ahmedabad: Report

<p>After a riveting 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, the two heavyweights will now lock horns with each other in the three-match ODI series opener. The first ODI will kick off on Friday (March 17) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai. It won't feature both the regular captains as Rohit Sharma is out due to personal reasons whereas Pat Cummins remains in Australia after the death of his mother.</p>

<p>Hence, Hardik Pandya and Steve Smith will lead their respective sides. Rohit is expected to return for the remaining two games. Ahead of the series opener, <strong>here's a look at the updated&nbsp;ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League Standings:</strong></p>

<p><img alt="World Super League Standings" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eee45a60-599c-436a-94cc-da1142bbe4f1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/World%20Super%20League.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-had-packed-our-suitcases-ex-ind-player-shares-unheard-tale-from-ganguly-cos-2001-kolkata-test-win-572156">'Packed our suitcases': Ex-India player shares UNHEARD tale from famous 2001 Kolkata Test win vs Australia</a></strong></p>

<p>The above table is updated after the end of the Bangladesh-England three-match series in the Bangla Tigers' backyard, on March 06. It will be interesting to see how the table appears after the end of the India-Australia series. After the 2015 ODI World Cup, India and Australia have met in five bilateral series in the 50-over format. India have won only two with the Men in Yellow winning the remaining three.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about the World Cup Super League, the top eight teams will directly qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup, to be held in India in October-November. The top-seven teams have already qualified and it remains to be seen who among West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Netherlands, Ireland and Zimbabwe join them.</p>

<p>Apart from the top eight, the remaining others will have to take part in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier along with five Associate teams. Two teams from the qualifying tournament will make it&nbsp;to the World Cup. It is to be noted that being the tournament hosts, India have automatically qualified.</p>


After a riveting 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, the two heavyweights will now lock horns with each other in the three-match ODI series opener.

After a riveting 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, the two heavyweights will now lock horns with each other in the three-match ODI series opener. The first ODI will kick off on Friday (March 17) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai. It won't feature both the regular captains as Rohit Sharma is out due to personal reasons whereas Pat Cummins remains in Australia after the death of his mother. Hence, Hardik Pandya and Steve Smith will lead their respective sides. Rohit is expected to return for the remaining two games. Ahead of the series opener, here's a look at the updated ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League Standings: Also read: 'Packed our suitcases': Ex-India player shares UNHEARD tale from famous 2001 Kolkata Test win vs Australia The above table is updated after the end of the Bangladesh-England three-match series in the Bangla Tigers' backyard, on March 06. It will be interesting to see how the table appears after the end of the India-Australia series. After the 2015 ODI World Cup, India and Australia have met in five bilateral series in the 50-over format. India have won only two with the Men in Yellow winning the remaining three. Talking about the World Cup Super League, the top eight teams will directly qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup, to be held in India in October-November. The top-seven teams have already qualified and it remains to be seen who among West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Netherlands, Ireland and Zimbabwe join them. Apart from the top eight, the remaining others will have to take part in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier along with five Associate teams. Two teams from the qualifying tournament will make it to the World Cup. It is to be noted that being the tournament hosts, India have automatically qualified.

Ind vs Aus, ODI series: Updated World Cup Super League standings before series opener in Mumbai

<p>Qatar spied on a former Swiss attorney general's private meeting with the FIFA president and bugged him with the help of former CIA agents, as per reports. It was done because of concerns that the Gulf state may lose its bid to host the 2022 World Cup, AFP news agency reported citing media outlets.</p>

<p>The investigation done by NZZ am Sonntag weekly claims to have received "official secret documents which prove the espionage action." The newspaper further said that under the condition of secrecy, insiders with firsthand knowledge of the incident recounted the operation and claimed it went under the codename "Project Matterhorn".</p>

<p>The decision to give Qatar hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup was&nbsp;plagued by controversy, including claims of corruption and human rights breaches&nbsp;since it was initially announced 12 years ago.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/saudi-oil-giant-aramco-reports-record-profit-of-1611-billion-in-2022-571141">Saudi oil giant Aramco reports record profit of $161.1 billion in 2022</a></p>

<p>Nonetheless, it appears that controversy is not leaving Qatar alone. This time an accusation has been made against the country's intel for spying on a top former Swiss prosecutor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A six-year-old informal meeting between Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, and Michael Lauber, the country's top prosecutor at the time, was bugged by Qatari intelligence, according to the NZZ am Sonntag weekly.</p>

<p>The covert encounter in Bern on June 16, 2017, according to the newspaper, had been discreetly taped on behalf of the Gulf state. When the secret meeting was revealed Lauber lost his job. However, Qatar has refuted the claims. Moreover, Lauber's attorney told the newspaper that his client was not aware of being spied on or blackmailed by Qatari intel agents.</p>

<p>At the time, Lauber's office was looking into serious claims of corruption in the world of football, including anomalies in the selection of Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup.</p>

<p>WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-to-visit-us-in-june-engagement-with-india-to-counter-china-571114">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit U.S. in June; engagement with India to counter China</a></p>

<p>He was compelled to step down after it was discovered that he had three unofficial meetings with Infantino, particularly the one from 2017, which he originally denied ever occurring.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NZZ said that the discussion took place in a conference room adjacent to the Qatari embassy at the opulent Hotel Schweizerhof, which has been owned by Qataris since 2009. According to the sources, the primary objective of espionage was to obtain evidence that might be used to put pressure on the prosecutor.</p>

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Qatar spied on a former Swiss attorney general's private meeting with the FIFA president and bugged him with the help of former CIA agents, as per reports. It was done because of concerns that the Gulf state may lose its bid to host the 2022 World Cup, AFP news agency reported citing media outlets.

Qatar spied on a former Swiss attorney general's private meeting with the FIFA president and bugged him with the help of former CIA agents, as per reports. It was done because of concerns that the Gulf state may lose its bid to host the 2022 World Cup, AFP news agency reported citing media outlets. The investigation done by NZZ am Sonntag weekly claims to have received "official secret documents which prove the espionage action." The newspaper further said that under the condition of secrecy, insiders with firsthand knowledge of the incident recounted the operation and claimed it went under the codename "Project Matterhorn". The decision to give Qatar hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup was plagued by controversy, including claims of corruption and human rights breaches since it was initially announced 12 years ago. Also Read | Saudi oil giant Aramco reports record profit of $161.1 billion in 2022 Nonetheless, it appears that controversy is not leaving Qatar alone. This time an accusation has been made against the country's intel for spying on a top former Swiss prosecutor. A six-year-old informal meeting between Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, and Michael Lauber, the country's top prosecutor at the time, was bugged by Qatari intelligence, according to the NZZ am Sonntag weekly. The covert encounter in Bern on June 16, 2017, according to the newspaper, had been discreetly taped on behalf of the Gulf state. When the secret meeting was revealed Lauber lost his job. However, Qatar has refuted the claims. Moreover, Lauber's attorney told the newspaper that his client was not aware of being spied on or blackmailed by Qatari intel agents. At the time, Lauber's office was looking into serious claims of corruption in the world of football, including anomalies in the selection of Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup. WATCH | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit U.S. in June; engagement with India to counter China He was compelled to step down after it was discovered that he had three unofficial meetings with Infantino, particularly the one from 2017, which he originally denied ever occurring. NZZ said that the discussion took place in a conference room adjacent to the Qatari embassy at the opulent Hotel Schweizerhof, which has been owned by Qataris since 2009. According to the sources, the primary objective of espionage was to obtain evidence that might be used to put pressure on the prosecutor. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

2022 FIFA World Cup host Qatar spied on ex-Swiss prosecutor amid bid concerns: Report

It doesn’t get much bigger than Australia versus India at Newlands, and the two sides have been preparing to duke it out for a spot in showpiece match at the same ground.

Can India beat Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup semi-final?

<p>World Cup winner French centre-back Raphael Varane announced his retirement from international football on Thursday at the age of 29.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I’ve been contemplating this for several months and deciding it’s the right time for me to retire internationally," wrote Varane in a social media post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Varane made his French debut, nearly a decade ago in 2013 against Georgia in the World Cup qualifiers. In total, he won 93 caps for Les Bleus and was touted as the potential successor of captain Hugo Lloris.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"To represent our magnificent country for a decade has been one of the greatest honours of my life. Each time I wore this special blue shirt I felt immense pride," said Varane.</p>

<p>Varane reflected on his most special day in the French jersey when he won the World Cup final against Croatia in 2018.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I will never forget it. I still feel every single one of the emotions felt on that day, July 15, 2018. That was one of the most amazing and memorable moments of my life."</p>

<p>"This victory that we won all together would never have been possible without the support of Didier Deschamps, every member of the management and staff over the years, and my teammates who have defended our shirt in every game we played."</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CoKMpXSOZtt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Raphael Varane (@raphaelvarane)</a></p>
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<p>The 29-year-old said he was going to miss these moments but now was the time for next generation to take over.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I will miss these moments with you for sure, but the time has come for the new generation to take over. We have a bunch of talented young players who are ready to take over, who deserve a chance and who need you."</p>

<p>Varane was last seen in action for the Les Bleues during their 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar. He led the backline for coach Didier Deschamps and guided the team to the finals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, his last international match turned out to be an agonising defeat against Argentina where France nearly pulled off a stunning heist to become only the third country in history to defend their crown.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/argentina-wins-fifa-2022-messi-mbappe-qatar-fifa-world-cup-final-2022-live-coverage-updates-france-vs-argentina-live-updates-lusail-stadium-qatar-ready-for-final-showdown-messi-544211"><strong>Highlights | FIFA World Cup final Argentina vs France, Argentina wins, Messi lifts the TROPHY!</strong></a></p>

<p>Apart from his international career, Varane has had a rather storied club career as well. He became part of the Real Madrid setup as a teenager and played a pivotal part when the team won four Champions League trophies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After his Real Madrid career, Varane moved to Premier League giants Manchester United in 20201 where he has been a vital cog for manager Erik ten Hag's resurgence plans for the Red Devils.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-scores-kylian-mbappe-misses-penalty-comes-off-injured-in-psg-win-558128"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Lionel Messi scores, Kylian Mbappe misses penalty, comes off injured in PSG win</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With input from agencies)</em></p>

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World Cup winner French centre-back Raphael Varane announced his retirement from international football on Thursday at the age of 29. "I’ve been contemplating this for several months and deciding it’s the right time for me to retire internationally," wrote Varane in a social media post.

World Cup winner French centre-back Raphael Varane announced his retirement from international football on Thursday at the age of 29. "I’ve been contemplating this for several months and deciding it’s the right time for me to retire internationally," wrote Varane in a social media post. Varane made his French debut, nearly a decade ago in 2013 against Georgia in the World Cup qualifiers. In total, he won 93 caps for Les Bleus and was touted as the potential successor of captain Hugo Lloris. "To represent our magnificent country for a decade has been one of the greatest honours of my life. Each time I wore this special blue shirt I felt immense pride," said Varane. Varane reflected on his most special day in the French jersey when he won the World Cup final against Croatia in 2018. "I will never forget it. I still feel every single one of the emotions felt on that day, July 15, 2018. That was one of the most amazing and memorable moments of my life." "This victory that we won all together would never have been possible without the support of Didier Deschamps, every member of the management and staff over the years, and my teammates who have defended our shirt in every game we played." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Raphael Varane (@raphaelvarane) × The 29-year-old said he was going to miss these moments but now was the time for next generation to take over. "I will miss these moments with you for sure, but the time has come for the new generation to take over. We have a bunch of talented young players who are ready to take over, who deserve a chance and who need you." Varane was last seen in action for the Les Bleues during their 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar. He led the backline for coach Didier Deschamps and guided the team to the finals. However, his last international match turned out to be an agonising defeat against Argentina where France nearly pulled off a stunning heist to become only the third country in history to defend their crown. Highlights | FIFA World Cup final Argentina vs France, Argentina wins, Messi lifts the TROPHY! Apart from his international career, Varane has had a rather storied club career as well. He became part of the Real Madrid setup as a teenager and played a pivotal part when the team won four Champions League trophies. After his Real Madrid career, Varane moved to Premier League giants Manchester United in 20201 where he has been a vital cog for manager Erik ten Hag's resurgence plans for the Red Devils. Read more: Lionel Messi scores, Kylian Mbappe misses penalty, comes off injured in PSG win (With input from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

World Cup winner Raphael Varane retires from international football at 29

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<p>The Hockey World Cup is slowly reaching its business end. Defending champions Belgium squared up against New Zealand on Tuesday in what was an enthralling game despite the 2-0 scoreline suggesting otherwise.</p>

<p>Underdogs New Zealand could have easily walked out with a win if they showed a little more application in their finishing. Meanwhile, three-time champions Australia had to toil rather hard against Spain to earn a 4-3 win to earn a berth in the semifinals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The close nature of both matches carried forward the theme observed across the tournament. The teams ranked below in the table have been punching well above their weight and not allowing the top teams to have an easy walk over.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an exclusive interaction with <em><strong>WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo,</strong></em> <em><strong>former</strong></em> <em><strong>high-performance director of Indian Hockey, David John</strong></em> spoke on the same and suggested that in modern hockey, the top-12 teams were not differentiated by much and on their day, any team could outmuscle the other.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Excerpts:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>Belgium vs New Zealand was always seen as a David vs Goliath battle. Many had thought New Zealand overachieved by reaching the quarter-final. But that wasn't a walk in the park for Belgium as people were expecting. Is that showing that top-10 teams, perhaps, in world hockey when it comes to this stage, there is not much separation, especially in knockout games like these?</strong></p>

<p>I think the top 12...Korea showed yesterday. They are capable of getting a result and Malaysia were one hit against the post away from also going forward. So, the top 12 in this competition are very close.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Belgium, it was interesting to see how they were going to play without Hendrickx. Now, they have lost him for the tournament...he was their premier drag-flicker. They have a good replacements in Tom Boon and Loïck Luypaert.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Structurally though, they are very sound...they are quite happy leading by two goals and playing the game out. And absorbing the defence for long periods of time.</p>

<p>So, New Zealand needed to press earlier. I know, they took off their goalkeeper with seven minutes left and it give them some opportunities. However, they didn't seem to press hard enough at critical times in the match to put them under pressure.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hockey-world-cup-australia-and-belgium-reach-semis-555754"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;&nbsp;Hockey World Cup: Australia and Belgium reach semis</strong></a></p>

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<p>In the two quarter-finals today, England will go toe-to-toe with Germany while in the final round of 8&nbsp;match will see the Netherlands lock horns with South Korea.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The Hockey World Cup is slowly reaching its business end. Defending champions Belgium squared up against New Zealand on Tuesday in what was an enthralling game despite the 2-0 scoreline suggesting otherwise.

The Hockey World Cup is slowly reaching its business end. Defending champions Belgium squared up against New Zealand on Tuesday in what was an enthralling game despite the 2-0 scoreline suggesting otherwise. Underdogs New Zealand could have easily walked out with a win if they showed a little more application in their finishing. Meanwhile, three-time champions Australia had to toil rather hard against Spain to earn a 4-3 win to earn a berth in the semifinals. The close nature of both matches carried forward the theme observed across the tournament. The teams ranked below in the table have been punching well above their weight and not allowing the top teams to have an easy walk over. In an exclusive interaction with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, former high-performance director of Indian Hockey, David John spoke on the same and suggested that in modern hockey, the top-12 teams were not differentiated by much and on their day, any team could outmuscle the other. Excerpts: Belgium vs New Zealand was always seen as a David vs Goliath battle. Many had thought New Zealand overachieved by reaching the quarter-final. But that wasn't a walk in the park for Belgium as people were expecting. Is that showing that top-10 teams, perhaps, in world hockey when it comes to this stage, there is not much separation, especially in knockout games like these? I think the top 12...Korea showed yesterday. They are capable of getting a result and Malaysia were one hit against the post away from also going forward. So, the top 12 in this competition are very close. Belgium, it was interesting to see how they were going to play without Hendrickx. Now, they have lost him for the tournament...he was their premier drag-flicker. They have a good replacements in Tom Boon and Loïck Luypaert. Structurally though, they are very sound...they are quite happy leading by two goals and playing the game out. And absorbing the defence for long periods of time. So, New Zealand needed to press earlier. I know, they took off their goalkeeper with seven minutes left and it give them some opportunities. However, they didn't seem to press hard enough at critical times in the match to put them under pressure. WATCH | Hockey World Cup: Australia and Belgium reach semis × In the two quarter-finals today, England will go toe-to-toe with Germany while in the final round of 8 match will see the Netherlands lock horns with South Korea. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

EXCLUSIVE: 'The top 12 are very close', says David John on the increased competition in the hockey World Cup

With little to separate the two teams, India drew England 0-0 in a high intensity match of Pool D. The host displayed a solid show in defence which helped them secure a crucial point in their respective pool. In the other match of the day, Spain defeated Wales 5-1.

Hockey World Cup highlights: India & England draw; Spain defeat Wales 5-1

<p>Lionel Messi scored in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 win over Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday in his first appearance since leading Argentina to victory in the World Cup in Qatar.</p>

<p>Messi had been rested for PSG's first three matches following the long break in the season caused by the World Cup but he returned to training in Paris a week ago and was back in the starting line-up for this game against Ligue 1's bottom side.</p>

<p>The win, which came three and a half weeks after he captained Argentina to their World Cup final triumph on penalties against France in Qatar, saw PSG move six points clear at the top of the French table.</p>

<p>Neymar also started, having missed his team's last two matches due to suspension and to undergo treatment for the ankle injury he suffered playing for Brazil at the World Cup.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe was rested for a second straight game having been afforded time off for a holiday in New York in the wake of his own World Cup campaign, which saw him score a hat-trick in the final but come out on the losing side.</p>

<p>Mbappe and Messi are expected to be reunited this weekend in Sunday's match away to Rennes.</p>

<p>In the meantime, the absence of the France star meant that young striker Hugo Ekitike again started in the home attack at the Parc des Princes and he opened the scoring in the fifth minute from a Nordi Mukiele cross at the end of a move in which Messi also featured.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-death-of-possession-football-542811"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: The death of possession football?</strong></a></p>

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<p>PSG were not at their sparkling best but Messi swept in his 13th club goal of the season to make it 2-0 with 17 minutes left.</p>

<p>Ekitike and Mukiele were again involved before Messi applied the finish. The goal was initially disallowed for offside but a VAR check allowed it to stand.</p>

<p>"We are coming back off the World Cup so it is difficult for the players to find their reference points again," coach Christophe Galtier told broadcaster Canal Plus.</p>

<p>"We are all just getting used to playing together again and you could see at times that we lacked some of the connections between the players that we had more often before the World Cup," added Galtier, who admitted he had come down with a fever during the game.</p>

<p><strong>PSG extend lead over Lens</strong></p>

<p>It was a 10th straight league loss for Angers, while Galtier's PSG team extended their lead at the top of the table as second-placed Lens were held to a 2-2 draw away at Strasbourg.</p>

<p>PSG's unbeaten record this season had ended in a 3-1 defeat away at Lens on New Year's Day, but they bounced back to win 3-1 at third-tier Chateauroux in the French Cup at the weekend without any of their superstar attacking trio.</p>

<p>Lens are enjoying a fine season but could not get the better of struggling Strasbourg, who were playing their first game since the sacking of coach Julien Stephan.</p>

<p>Alexis Claude-Maurice put Lens ahead in Alsace only for Sanjin Prcic to equalise before Kevin Gameiro gave Strasbourg the lead.<br />
Belgian international Lois Openda then made it 2-2 before the break, and there were no further goals.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fa-cup-2022-23-date-updates-fixtures-results-draw-time-how-to-watch-on-tv-live-streaming-550040"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FA Cup 2022-23 Date updates: Fixtures, results, draw, time, how to watch on TV &amp; live streaming</strong></a></p>

<p>Marseille are now just two points behind Lens in third place after a 2-0 win at Troyes, sealed thanks to goals by Chancel Mbemba and Jordan Veretout, the latter a member of France's World Cup squad.</p>

<p>Rennes in the fourth sport lost ground after having two men sent off before conceding in injury time to lose 2-1 away at Clermont.<br />
Meanwhile, fifth-placed Monaco drew 2-2 at Lorient, while Nice crushed Montpellier 6-1 in their first game since sacking coach Lucien Favre.</p>

<p>On-loan Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe and England international midfielder Ross Barkley both scored twice for Nice.<br />
Lyon and Lille drew 0-0 away at Nantes and Brest respectively, while there were also wins for Toulouse and Ajaccio.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Lionel Messi scored in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 win over Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday in his first appearance since leading Argentina to victory in the World Cup in Qatar.

Lionel Messi scored in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 win over Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday in his first appearance since leading Argentina to victory in the World Cup in Qatar. Messi had been rested for PSG's first three matches following the long break in the season caused by the World Cup but he returned to training in Paris a week ago and was back in the starting line-up for this game against Ligue 1's bottom side. The win, which came three and a half weeks after he captained Argentina to their World Cup final triumph on penalties against France in Qatar, saw PSG move six points clear at the top of the French table. Neymar also started, having missed his team's last two matches due to suspension and to undergo treatment for the ankle injury he suffered playing for Brazil at the World Cup. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe was rested for a second straight game having been afforded time off for a holiday in New York in the wake of his own World Cup campaign, which saw him score a hat-trick in the final but come out on the losing side. Mbappe and Messi are expected to be reunited this weekend in Sunday's match away to Rennes. In the meantime, the absence of the France star meant that young striker Hugo Ekitike again started in the home attack at the Parc des Princes and he opened the scoring in the fifth minute from a Nordi Mukiele cross at the end of a move in which Messi also featured. WATCH | Gravitas: The death of possession football? × PSG were not at their sparkling best but Messi swept in his 13th club goal of the season to make it 2-0 with 17 minutes left. Ekitike and Mukiele were again involved before Messi applied the finish. The goal was initially disallowed for offside but a VAR check allowed it to stand. "We are coming back off the World Cup so it is difficult for the players to find their reference points again," coach Christophe Galtier told broadcaster Canal Plus. "We are all just getting used to playing together again and you could see at times that we lacked some of the connections between the players that we had more often before the World Cup," added Galtier, who admitted he had come down with a fever during the game. PSG extend lead over Lens It was a 10th straight league loss for Angers, while Galtier's PSG team extended their lead at the top of the table as second-placed Lens were held to a 2-2 draw away at Strasbourg. PSG's unbeaten record this season had ended in a 3-1 defeat away at Lens on New Year's Day, but they bounced back to win 3-1 at third-tier Chateauroux in the French Cup at the weekend without any of their superstar attacking trio. Lens are enjoying a fine season but could not get the better of struggling Strasbourg, who were playing their first game since the sacking of coach Julien Stephan. Alexis Claude-Maurice put Lens ahead in Alsace only for Sanjin Prcic to equalise before Kevin Gameiro gave Strasbourg the lead. Belgian international Lois Openda then made it 2-2 before the break, and there were no further goals. Read more: FA Cup 2022-23 Date updates: Fixtures, results, draw, time, how to watch on TV & live streaming Marseille are now just two points behind Lens in third place after a 2-0 win at Troyes, sealed thanks to goals by Chancel Mbemba and Jordan Veretout, the latter a member of France's World Cup squad. Rennes in the fourth sport lost ground after having two men sent off before conceding in injury time to lose 2-1 away at Clermont. Meanwhile, fifth-placed Monaco drew 2-2 at Lorient, while Nice crushed Montpellier 6-1 in their first game since sacking coach Lucien Favre. On-loan Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe and England international midfielder Ross Barkley both scored twice for Nice. Lyon and Lille drew 0-0 away at Nantes and Brest respectively, while there were also wins for Toulouse and Ajaccio. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Messi bags a goal in PSG's win against Angers after World Cup heroics

<p>After India's T20 World Cup 2022 debacle, the focus has now shifted to the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, which will be held in India later this year. Thus, Team India's ICC-title drought continues. The last ICC title they won came in 2013 when they lifted the Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni. Since then, the Men in Blue appeared in three ICC finals and ended as semi-finalists on four occasions. Nonetheless, a title triumph continues to evade them.</p>

<p>As the preparations have begun for the ODI World Cup, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Gautam Gambhir has pointed out a glaring issue that has resulted in India's failures in the last two World Cups.</p>

<p>"They got to play together. I think the biggest mistake that Indian cricket has made in the last two World Cups has been that these guys have not played enough cricket together. Tell me, how many times have we got the best playing 11 in the park? We haven't; only during the World Cup we decided to have the best playing 11, but unfortunately, that was never the best playing 11. So, these guys have to play enough of white ball cricket, especially for the 50 overs World Cup together irrespective of whether they want to take a break from the T20 or from the IPL," Gambhir said on Star Sports show.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-will-play-massive-role-gambhir-pins-hopes-on-senior-pros-for-2023-odi-world-cup-549386">Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma will play massive role: Gambhir pins hopes on senior pros for 2023 ODI World Cup</a></strong></p>

<p>In addition, Gambhir -- the T20 WC and ODI WC medallist -- stated&nbsp;that if any player wants to take a rest, they can skip a few matches in the shortest format&nbsp;or even the IPL but play the ODIs.</p>

<p>Gambhir added, "If they want to take a break, people who play more than three formats, they can definitely take a break from T20 cricket, but surely not from the ODI format. If the franchisee has to suffer, they have to suffer. Indian cricket is the main stakeholder, not the IPL. IPL is just a by-product. So, if India goes out and wins the World Cup, that is the bigger ovation, that is the bigger ring. For example, if an important player does miss the IPL games so be it because IPL happens every year and the World Cup happens only once in four years. So, for me, I think winning the World Cup is far more important than winning the IPL."</p>

<p>Rohit Sharma-led Indian ODI team will commence their preparations for the World Cup with a home series versus Sri Lanka, starting on January 10. They will look for a winning start in what is a crucial year for Team India.</p>


After India's T20 World Cup 2022 debacle, the focus has now shifted to the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, which will be held in India later this year. Thus, Team India's ICC-title drought continues.

After India's T20 World Cup 2022 debacle, the focus has now shifted to the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, which will be held in India later this year. Thus, Team India's ICC-title drought continues. The last ICC title they won came in 2013 when they lifted the Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni. Since then, the Men in Blue appeared in three ICC finals and ended as semi-finalists on four occasions. Nonetheless, a title triumph continues to evade them. As the preparations have begun for the ODI World Cup, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Gautam Gambhir has pointed out a glaring issue that has resulted in India's failures in the last two World Cups. "They got to play together. I think the biggest mistake that Indian cricket has made in the last two World Cups has been that these guys have not played enough cricket together. Tell me, how many times have we got the best playing 11 in the park? We haven't; only during the World Cup we decided to have the best playing 11, but unfortunately, that was never the best playing 11. So, these guys have to play enough of white ball cricket, especially for the 50 overs World Cup together irrespective of whether they want to take a break from the T20 or from the IPL," Gambhir said on Star Sports show. Also read: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma will play massive role: Gambhir pins hopes on senior pros for 2023 ODI World Cup In addition, Gambhir -- the T20 WC and ODI WC medallist -- stated that if any player wants to take a rest, they can skip a few matches in the shortest format or even the IPL but play the ODIs. Gambhir added, "If they want to take a break, people who play more than three formats, they can definitely take a break from T20 cricket, but surely not from the ODI format. If the franchisee has to suffer, they have to suffer. Indian cricket is the main stakeholder, not the IPL. IPL is just a by-product. So, if India goes out and wins the World Cup, that is the bigger ovation, that is the bigger ring. For example, if an important player does miss the IPL games so be it because IPL happens every year and the World Cup happens only once in four years. So, for me, I think winning the World Cup is far more important than winning the IPL." Rohit Sharma-led Indian ODI team will commence their preparations for the World Cup with a home series versus Sri Lanka, starting on January 10. They will look for a winning start in what is a crucial year for Team India.

'Biggest mistake India made in last two World Cups...' - Gautam Gambhir points out glaring issue

Ghadi Francis takes you through Qatar's World Cup journey. From the biggest football event to controversies that surrounded the tournament, this week's The West Asia Post covers it all.

The West Asia Post | Qatar 2022: First World Cup in a gulf country

<p>Kylian Mbappe said he will never get over the disappointment of losing the World Cup final after the France star scored the winner on his return to action for Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.</p>

<p>"I think I'm never going to get over it," Mbappe said, speaking 10 days after he scored a hat-trick in the final against Argentina which the South Americans won in a penalty shootout.</p>

<p>Mbappe said he had been through some "difficult times" since the defeat but he showed few signs of the setback in Qatar as he won and converted a 96th minute penalty to give PSG a last-gasp 2-1 win against Strasbourg on Ligue 1's resumption following the World Cup break.</p>

<p>"As I said to my teammates, there is no reason why the club should pay the price for the failure of the national team, they are two very different situations," 24-year-old Mbappe said.</p>

<p>"It does me good to come back with a win and to have a link with the club, the supporters and my teammates."</p>

<p>Neymar, who was left in tears after Brazil were knocked out by Croatia in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, was sent off for two yellow cards in PSG's victory.</p>


Kylian Mbappe said he will never get over the disappointment of losing the World Cup final after the France star scored the winner on his return to action for Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

Kylian Mbappe said he will never get over the disappointment of losing the World Cup final after the France star scored the winner on his return to action for Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. "I think I'm never going to get over it," Mbappe said, speaking 10 days after he scored a hat-trick in the final against Argentina which the South Americans won in a penalty shootout. Mbappe said he had been through some "difficult times" since the defeat but he showed few signs of the setback in Qatar as he won and converted a 96th minute penalty to give PSG a last-gasp 2-1 win against Strasbourg on Ligue 1's resumption following the World Cup break. "As I said to my teammates, there is no reason why the club should pay the price for the failure of the national team, they are two very different situations," 24-year-old Mbappe said. "It does me good to come back with a win and to have a link with the club, the supporters and my teammates." Neymar, who was left in tears after Brazil were knocked out by Croatia in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, was sent off for two yellow cards in PSG's victory.

'Will never get over World Cup heartbreak', says Mbappe

<p>On Tuesday (December 27), MS Dhoni's daughter Ziva broke the internet as she flaunted a Lionel Messi-signed Argentina jersey. Ever since Argentina broke their 36-year World Cup drought by winning the Qatar 2022 finale, the legendary footballer has made sure to be there for his fans and send out his signed jerseys. After BCCI secretary Jay Shah received one last week, Ziva also got her wish fulfilled and was on cloud nine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ziva shared the pictures of the Argentina jersey on her Instagram account, handled by her parents, and the post read, "Like father, like daughter"&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Here's the viral post:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmrNmvUIzr2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by ZIVA SINGH DHONI (@ziva_singh_dhoni)</a></p>
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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/greatest-footballer-in-my-lifetime-ronaldo-or-messi-liverpool-manager-jurgen-klopp-shares-his-pick-547067">'Greatest footballer in my lifetime': Ronaldo or Messi? Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp shares his pick</a></strong></p>

<p>It is to be noted that Dhoni is a huge football fan and also a Messi follower. He is not active on social media platforms -- especially following his international retirement -- but his wife Sakshi and daughter Ziva continue to post regularly on the social media platforms. The former Indian captain is enjoying his break and will return to the 22-yard cricket strip during the forthcoming IPL 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For Messi, the 35-year-old had a memorable run in the Qatar World Cup, scoring seven goals and leading his side to the coveted title. He also won the Golden Ball award for the second time after the summit clash, where Argentina defeated France 4-2 in penalties after the match ended in a riveting 3-3 scoreline.</p>


On Tuesday (December 27), MS Dhoni's daughter Ziva broke the internet as she flaunted a Lionel Messi-signed Argentina jersey. Ever since Argentina broke their 36-year World Cup drought by winning the Qatar 2022 finale, the legendary footballer has made sure to be there for his fans and send out his signed jerseys.

On Tuesday (December 27), MS Dhoni's daughter Ziva broke the internet as she flaunted a Lionel Messi-signed Argentina jersey. Ever since Argentina broke their 36-year World Cup drought by winning the Qatar 2022 finale, the legendary footballer has made sure to be there for his fans and send out his signed jerseys. After BCCI secretary Jay Shah received one last week, Ziva also got her wish fulfilled and was on cloud nine. Ziva shared the pictures of the Argentina jersey on her Instagram account, handled by her parents, and the post read, "Like father, like daughter" Here's the viral post: View this post on Instagram A post shared by ZIVA SINGH DHONI (@ziva_singh_dhoni) × Also read: 'Greatest footballer in my lifetime': Ronaldo or Messi? Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp shares his pick It is to be noted that Dhoni is a huge football fan and also a Messi follower. He is not active on social media platforms -- especially following his international retirement -- but his wife Sakshi and daughter Ziva continue to post regularly on the social media platforms. The former Indian captain is enjoying his break and will return to the 22-yard cricket strip during the forthcoming IPL 2023. For Messi, the 35-year-old had a memorable run in the Qatar World Cup, scoring seven goals and leading his side to the coveted title. He also won the Golden Ball award for the second time after the summit clash, where Argentina defeated France 4-2 in penalties after the match ended in a riveting 3-3 scoreline.

VIRAL: Ziva Dhoni breaks the internet as she flaunts Lionel Messi's signed Argentina jersey - See pics

<p>The wait is finally over as Hockey India on Friday announced the 18-member team who will represent India at the prestigious FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela. The Indian team grouped in pool D along with England, Spain and Wales will begin their campaign on 13th January 2023 in the newly built Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Ace dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh has been named the Captain of the squad with Amit Rohidas as the Vice Captain. The team, strategically selected after two-day trials in SAI Centre, Bengaluru where 33 players were put to test, features a good mix of experienced and young players who will vie to end India's wait to stand on the podium in the prestigious event.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Krishan B Pathak and PR Sreejesh, who will be playing his fourth World Cup - his third on home soil, have been chosen as goalkeepers while the Indian team's defence will be spearheaded by the Captain Harmanpreet Singh along with Vice Captain Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar, Varun Kumar, Jarmanpreet Singh and Nilam Sanjeep Xess.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The midfield will see the return of young prodigy Vivek Sagar Prasad, who missed the recent tour of Australia as well as the FIH Hockey Pro League due to an ankle injury. He will be joined by Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh and the experienced Akashdeep Singh.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The forwardline will feature Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and youngsters Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh who continue to impress after making their debut earlier this year. The two alternate players chosen are Rajkumar Pal and Jugraj Singh.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Talking about the team selection, Chief Coach Graham Reid said, "The World Cup is the most important “Hockey Only” tournament there is. A home World Cup puts extra importance and extra pressure on this event like no other. Every country chooses the best team they believe is available to them at the time and tries to provide their team with the best preparation they can. We have also tried to do both with the selection of our Indian World Cup team, choosing a mixture of experienced and younger exciting players who can provide something special."<br />
&nbsp;<br />
"We have also had a great preparation over the last two months including a home Pro League series and a very tough tour to Australia against the World’s No.1. We are looking forward to getting to Odisha and put the finishing touches to our preparations for what will be an exciting and challenging tournament ahead," Reid stated.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
India will begin their World Cup campaign against Spain on 13th January in Rourkela followed by their second pool D match against England. They will move to Bhubaneswar to play their third pool match against Wales. The knockout stage will begin with crossover matches on 22nd and 23rd January and the Quarterfinals on 25th and Semifinals on 27th January. The Bronze Medal match and the Final will be held on 29th January. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/men-set-to-compete-in-artistic-swimming-from-paris-2024-in-inclusivity-push-545734">Men set to compete in artistic swimming from Paris 2024 in inclusivity push</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Indian Team:</strong></p>

<p><strong>Goalkeeper</strong><br />
1.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Krishan Bahadur Pathak&nbsp;<br />
2.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Defender&nbsp;</strong><br />
3.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Jarmanpreet Singh&nbsp;<br />
4.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Surender Kumar&nbsp;<br />
5.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Harmanpreet Singh (Captain)&nbsp;<br />
6.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Varun Kumar&nbsp;<br />
7.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Amit Rohidas (Vice Captain)&nbsp;<br />
8.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nilam Sanjeep Xess&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Midfielder</strong><br />
9.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Manpreet Singh&nbsp;<br />
10.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hardik Singh&nbsp;<br />
11.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nilakanta Sharma&nbsp;<br />
12.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Shamsher Singh&nbsp;<br />
13.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Vivek Sagar Prasad&nbsp;<br />
14.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Akashdeep Singh&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Forward&nbsp;</strong><br />
15.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mandeep Singh&nbsp;<br />
16.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lalit Kumar Upadhyay&nbsp;<br />
17.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Abhishek&nbsp;<br />
18.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Sukhjeet Singh&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Alternate Players&nbsp;</strong><br />
19.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Rajkumar Pal&nbsp;<br />
20.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Jugraj Singh&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Hockey India Press Release)</em></p>


The wait is finally over as Hockey India on Friday announced the 18-member team who will represent India at the prestigious FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela.

The wait is finally over as Hockey India on Friday announced the 18-member team who will represent India at the prestigious FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela. The Indian team grouped in pool D along with England, Spain and Wales will begin their campaign on 13th January 2023 in the newly built Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. Ace dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh has been named the Captain of the squad with Amit Rohidas as the Vice Captain. The team, strategically selected after two-day trials in SAI Centre, Bengaluru where 33 players were put to test, features a good mix of experienced and young players who will vie to end India's wait to stand on the podium in the prestigious event. Krishan B Pathak and PR Sreejesh, who will be playing his fourth World Cup - his third on home soil, have been chosen as goalkeepers while the Indian team's defence will be spearheaded by the Captain Harmanpreet Singh along with Vice Captain Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar, Varun Kumar, Jarmanpreet Singh and Nilam Sanjeep Xess. The midfield will see the return of young prodigy Vivek Sagar Prasad, who missed the recent tour of Australia as well as the FIH Hockey Pro League due to an ankle injury. He will be joined by Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh and the experienced Akashdeep Singh. The forwardline will feature Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and youngsters Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh who continue to impress after making their debut earlier this year. The two alternate players chosen are Rajkumar Pal and Jugraj Singh. Talking about the team selection, Chief Coach Graham Reid said, "The World Cup is the most important “Hockey Only” tournament there is. A home World Cup puts extra importance and extra pressure on this event like no other. Every country chooses the best team they believe is available to them at the time and tries to provide their team with the best preparation they can. We have also tried to do both with the selection of our Indian World Cup team, choosing a mixture of experienced and younger exciting players who can provide something special." "We have also had a great preparation over the last two months including a home Pro League series and a very tough tour to Australia against the World’s No.1. We are looking forward to getting to Odisha and put the finishing touches to our preparations for what will be an exciting and challenging tournament ahead," Reid stated. India will begin their World Cup campaign against Spain on 13th January in Rourkela followed by their second pool D match against England. They will move to Bhubaneswar to play their third pool match against Wales. The knockout stage will begin with crossover matches on 22nd and 23rd January and the Quarterfinals on 25th and Semifinals on 27th January. The Bronze Medal match and the Final will be held on 29th January. Also read: Men set to compete in artistic swimming from Paris 2024 in inclusivity push Indian Team: Goalkeeper 1. Krishan Bahadur Pathak 2. Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran Defender 3. Jarmanpreet Singh 4. Surender Kumar 5. Harmanpreet Singh (Captain) 6. Varun Kumar 7. Amit Rohidas (Vice Captain) 8. Nilam Sanjeep Xess Midfielder 9. Manpreet Singh 10. Hardik Singh 11. Nilakanta Sharma 12. Shamsher Singh 13. Vivek Sagar Prasad 14. Akashdeep Singh Forward 15. Mandeep Singh 16. Lalit Kumar Upadhyay 17. Abhishek 18. Sukhjeet Singh Alternate Players 19. Rajkumar Pal 20. Jugraj Singh (Hockey India Press Release)

Hockey India announces 18-man Team India squad for World Cup 2023

Football's governing body FIFA has opened investigation into a security and protocol breach at the end of the World Cup final in Qatar. This comes after the celebrity chef Salt Bae was filmed harassing players from the Argentina team including Lionel Messi.

FIFA probes celebrity chef Salt Bae as he broke World Cup protocols

Morocco's national football team have received a hero's welcome upon their return to home after finishing fourth at the World Cup in Qatar. Watch this video to know more.

Morocco's World Cup heroes arrive home to a grand welcome

<p>Angel De Maria was handed a surprising start for Argentina during the FIFA World Cup final match against France and the veteran footballer scored the second goal of the game for his team. While the scores were tied 3-3 after the end of the extra time, Argentina claimed their first World Cup title in 36 years after winning the penalty shootout 4-2. While the game was an absolute nailbiter, Di Maria's wife Jorgelina Cardoso has revealed that he predicted his goal as well as the result.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/is-this-for-real-argentina-wants-to-put-messis-face-on-banknotes-545382">Is this for real? Argentina wants to put Messi's face on banknotes</a></p>

<p>Cardoso posted WhatsApp messages with Di Maria just one day ahead of the final clash and it showed that the Argentine footballer saying that he will score in the game and Argentina will win beat France. The screenshots of the chats were published on her Instagram story.</p>

<p>"I will be world champion, my love. It is written. And I will score a goal. Because it is written like at the Maracana and at Wembley," Di Maria wrote on his WhatsApp messages.</p>

<p>"This message melts my body, I don't know what the hell to tell you," Cardoso said.</p>

<p><img alt="gr1qnivo" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2022-12/gr1qnivo_angel-di-maria_625x300_22_December_22.jpg" /></p>

<p>"You don't have to say anything. Go and enjoy everything tomorrow because we will be world champions. Because the 26 who are here and everyone's families deserve it," De Maria replied.</p>

<p>Kylian Mbappe became the second footballer ever to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final but it was not enough to stop Lionel Messi &amp; Co from winning the title. Emiliano Martinez pulled off a brilliant save in the shootout to deny Kingsley Coman while Aurelien Tchouameni missed the target completely.</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Angel De Maria was handed a surprising start for Argentina during the FIFA World Cup final match against France and the veteran footballer scored the second goal of the game for his team.

Angel De Maria was handed a surprising start for Argentina during the FIFA World Cup final match against France and the veteran footballer scored the second goal of the game for his team. While the scores were tied 3-3 after the end of the extra time, Argentina claimed their first World Cup title in 36 years after winning the penalty shootout 4-2. While the game was an absolute nailbiter, Di Maria's wife Jorgelina Cardoso has revealed that he predicted his goal as well as the result. Also read | Is this for real? Argentina wants to put Messi's face on banknotes Cardoso posted WhatsApp messages with Di Maria just one day ahead of the final clash and it showed that the Argentine footballer saying that he will score in the game and Argentina will win beat France. The screenshots of the chats were published on her Instagram story. "I will be world champion, my love. It is written. And I will score a goal. Because it is written like at the Maracana and at Wembley," Di Maria wrote on his WhatsApp messages. "This message melts my body, I don't know what the hell to tell you," Cardoso said. "You don't have to say anything. Go and enjoy everything tomorrow because we will be world champions. Because the 26 who are here and everyone's families deserve it," De Maria replied. Kylian Mbappe became the second footballer ever to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final but it was not enough to stop Lionel Messi & Co from winning the title. Emiliano Martinez pulled off a brilliant save in the shootout to deny Kingsley Coman while Aurelien Tchouameni missed the target completely.

Did Angel Di Maria predict his goal in World Cup final? Wife reveals conversation

A few days after the Argentina team won the 2022 FIFA World Cup defeating France in a penalty shootout, many Argentine fans have paid tribute to the success by getting tattoos.

Argentina fans go crazy for World Cup tattoos

The FIFA World Cup has ended and the world has its new football champions - Argentina. Moreover, the tournament has its dream finals, a match that is being called as one of the greatest-ever. But how did the players and officials came to Qatar? They arrived in big jets and every such step meant adding emissions bit by bit.

WION Climate Tracker: A carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup?

WION Climate Tracker: A carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup? | English News

Argentina’s football players were forced to ditch their open-top bus parade for a helicopter ride in Buenos Aires as millions of ecstatic fans swarmed the city to greet the World Cup champions.

Argentina forced to abandon World Cup victory parade

<p>2022 is coming to an end. The calendar year has been an eventful one for sports lovers across the globe. The cricketing fans have had plenty to cheer for with a plethora of big events passing by. Talking about the Indian cricket team, it was another action-packed year with plenty of highs and some glaring lows. The calendar year is set to end after a few international assignments left for both senior men's and women's teams. <strong>Let's have a quick recap of 2022:</strong></p>

<p><strong>Men in Blue in 2022</strong></p>

<p>The year started with India continuing their tour of South Africa. After winning the Boxing Day Test match, Virat Kohli-led India had a 1-0 lead against Dean Elgar-led Proteas and was aiming for an unassailable 2-0 scoreline, which would've meant&nbsp;their&nbsp;maiden Test series triumph in the African nation. The second and penultimate Test started with skipper Kohli ruled out, due to upper back spasm, and KL Rahul led the side as they lost the match by seven wickets.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/pakistan-vs-england-rawalpindi-run-feast-most-runs-scored-on-a-single-day-of-a-test-539499">Pakistan vs England, Rawalpindi run-feast: Most runs scored on a single day of a Test</a></strong></p>

<p>The same fate followed suit for India in the third and final Test, once again&nbsp;losing by seven wickets, despite Kohli's return. After the series, the 33-year-old dropped a bombshell by resigning as the Test captain. He wrote on Twitter, "It's been 7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance everyday to take the team in the right direction. I've done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there. Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test Captain of India, it's now."</p>

<p>"There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey, but never has there been a lack of effort or lack of belief. I have always believed in giving my 120 percent in everything I do, and if I can't do that, I know it's not the right thing to do. I have absolute clarity in my heart and I cannot be dishonest to my team," Kohli added.</p>

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<p>By then, Kohli's fallout with the top brass at the BCCI had already made the headlines; following the 2021 T20 World Cup and his sacking as the ODI captain in early December. While news channels ran plenty of shows on Kohli vs BCCI alleged spat, Team India embarked upon a new journey under full-time captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid.</p>

<p>With Rohit unfit for the SA ODIs, Rahul led India in three ODIs as the visitors were whitewashed 3-0 with several questions being raised on their outdated approach in the format.</p>

<p><strong>Home comforts</strong></p>

<p>After the miserable SA tour, India switched to home comforts by&nbsp;hosting&nbsp;West Indies in a white-ball series, comprising three T20Is and ODIs each, followed by three T20Is and two Tests versus Sri Lanka. As expected, India stream rolled both the oppositions by whitewashing all four series. Amid injury concerns to Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul, etc., India got busy in preparing a team for the T20 World Cup&nbsp;in Australia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>IPL 2022</strong></p>

<p>The action shifted to the 15th season of IPL in March-May. While top cricketers such as Virat, Rohit, Jadeja, Bumrah, etc. struggled or didn't perform as per expectations, the likes of Umran Malik, Mohsin Khan, Rajat Patidar, Rahul Tripathi, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Hooda, etc. made a mark; spoiling the national selectors and team management with more choices for the T20 WC Down Under.</p>

<p><strong>India host South Africa</strong></p>

<p>After the IPL, Team India captaincy became a game of musical chairs. With Rohit rested and KL injured, Rishabh Pant led India in a five-match T20I series which ended in a 2-2 stalemate. Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, and Harshal Patel were the most impressive.</p>

<p><strong>India tour of Ireland, England</strong></p>

<p>With Rohit and other senior players busy preparing for the one-off Test versus England, i.e. the series finale of the five Tests from the incomplete 2021 tour, Hardik led India in two T20Is against Ireland. Coach Dravid was also involved with the red-ball side, leading NCA chief VVS Laxman to fill in for him in Dublin. India beat the Irish camp&nbsp;1-0. In the series finale versus England, India was led by pacer Jasprit Bumrah with Rohit ruled out due to Covid concerns.</p>

<p>Under Bumrah, India achieved a sizeable 132-run lead in the Edgbaston face-off, however, failed to defend a challenging 378-run target to lose by seven wickets. After&nbsp;SA, Team India faltered and lost a&nbsp;big opportunity&nbsp;to win a memorable series overseas.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/queen-of-womens-cricket-top-6-records-held-by-mithali-raj-486290"><strong>Queen of women's cricket: Top 6 records held by Mithali Raj</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>White-ball dominance</strong></p>

<p>After the disappointments of Edgbaston, India played hosts England in three T20Is and ODIs each. The likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik, Rishabh Pant, Bumrah, etc., impressed as Rohit &amp; Co. won both the series 2-1. Post the England trip, India travelled to West Indies with a second-stringed Shikhar Dhawan-led team playing the Windies in three ODIs and winning every game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the five T20Is, Rohit returned and led India to a 4-1 series win. The tour saw impressive performances from Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Surya, Arshdeep Singh, and Ravi Bishnoi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Asia Cup</strong></p>

<p>After a short tour of Zimbabwe, where Rahul led India to a 3-0 ODI series win, the dress rehearsal began for the T20 WC. With less than two months left, India&nbsp;entirely shifted to the T20 mode with the continental tournament in the UAE. Winning two back-to-back games, India topped their group and proceeded to the Super Four round. After losing to Pakistan in a closely-fought match, the Men in Blue succumbed to a shocking six-wicket loss to eventual winners Sri Lanka and bowed out of the competition without booking a place in the final. It was a big jolt&nbsp;before the ICC event in Australia.</p>

<p><strong>Once again, home series to the rescue!</strong></p>

<p>The Australia and South Africa home series wins worked as a balm following India's Asia Cup debacle. The three T20Is versus Aaron Finch-led Australia was an intense affair where India emerged on top (2-1). The series win was followed by another top-class performance versus the Proteas, winning&nbsp;2-1 in three T20Is. India had some inconsistency to address at the top, debates continued with regard to one or two spots but the national side left for Australia as the No. 1 ranked side and a strong contender to end their 15-year-long wait for the T20 WC trophy.&nbsp;Nonetheless, they had lost the services of Bumrah and Deepak Chahar due to injury concerns.</p>

<p><strong>Similar issues push India back in the mega event...</strong></p>

<p>India started the tournament by winning a warm-up game versus hosts and defending champions Australia. Their warm-up game versus New Zealand was washed out. On October 23, Rohit-led India played their tournament opener versus arch-rivals Pakistan. In a nerve-wracking contest at the MCG, Melbourne, the one-time winners India rode on Virat Kohli's masterclass 82 to beat Pakistan on the last ball, chasing&nbsp;160, with four wickets.</p>

<p>Rohit &amp; Co. comfortably beat the Netherlands by 56 runs before losing to South Africa by five wickets in an intense low-scoring thriller at Perth. This followed with a dramatic and controversial win over Bangladesh, by 5 runs (DLS method), before India thrashed Zimbabwe by 71 runs to top their group and storm into the semi-finals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the semis, India faced eventual winners England who gave them a reality check. Playing timid cricket with the bat, not backing a seasoned wrist spinner in Yuzvendra Chahal (who warmed the bench in the entire tournament), and lacking spice and variety in their bowling attack led to India's exit as they lost to England by ten wickets while defending a moderate 168/6 in Adelaide.</p>

<p><strong>A new dawn with the 2023 ODI WC in mind</strong></p>

<p>After the T20 WC, India toured NZ for three T20Is and ODIs each. While Hardik led the side in T20Is, winning 1-0, Dhawan &amp; Co. lost the ODIs by same the margin which exposed India's lack of extra bowling options and their muddled approach at the top along with several takers for the middle-order spots. Currently, India is in Bangladesh for the three ODIs and two Tests (having&nbsp;lost the ODIs 2-1 and leading the Test series&nbsp;1-0 with the final Test on December 22).</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-tour-of-bangladesh-full-squads-schedule-timings-telecast-all-you-need-to-know-539445"><strong>India tour of Bangladesh: Full squads, schedule, timings, telecast - All you need to know</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Women in Blue in 2022</strong></p>

<p>The senior women's team completely outplayed their male counterparts in the calendar year. India started the year with a tour of New Zealand; a final preparatory series before the 2022 ODI World Cup in the Kiwi land. It was a miserable series with India losing the only T20I and going down in the five ODIs (1-4).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>CWC 2022</strong></p>

<p>In Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami's final WC appearance, India never achieved consistency to go all the way. There were some moments of brilliance met by some below-par performances but the Indian eves' Achilles heel remained their knack of succumbing under pressure; leading to an early exit. India beat the likes of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and West Indies but lost against all big teams such as England, NZ, Australia and South Africa to end in the fifth position.</p>

<p><strong>The big retirement</strong></p>

<p>After the World Cup, it was only a matter of time before Mithali would've hung up her boots. On June 08, she announced her international retirement, bringing an end to a stellar career.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you for all your love &amp; support over the years!<br />
I look forward to my 2nd innings with your blessing and support. <a href="https://t.co/OkPUICcU4u">pic.twitter.com/OkPUICcU4u</a></p>
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) <a href="https://twitter.com/M_Raj03/status/1534454266324205568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>In her illustrious 23-year-long international career, Mithali&nbsp;ended with the most runs in women's ODIs (7,805).&nbsp;In 89 T20Is, the 39-year-old returned with&nbsp;2,364 runs and amassed&nbsp;699 runs in 12 Tests, comprising a double ton. Under Mithali's leadership, India&nbsp;reached the ODI World Cup final&nbsp;in the 2005 and 2017 editions.</p>

<p><strong>A promising&nbsp;first impression in CWG 2022</strong></p>

<p>Cricket was re-included in the Commonwealth Games during the 2022 edition in Birmingham, England. This was the first time that women's teams competed in the mega event where Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian eves returned with a silver medal. While they once again fell flat in the final hurdle, Harman &amp; Co. impressed enough to end with&nbsp;silver; beating the likes of Pakistan, Barbados, and England but closely&nbsp;losing&nbsp;twice to gold medallists Australia.</p>

<p>Smriti Mandhana, Harman, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, and Sneh Rana were the top performers in India's inspiring campaign.</p>

<p><strong>India create history in England</strong></p>

<p>India toured England for a white-ball series comprising three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs. While the tourists went down in the T20Is, losing 1-2, they created history as the women's team won its first ODI series in England since 1999. Moreover, India went on to whitewash the 2017 champions in their own backyard.</p>

<p>The third and final ODI was, however, marred with controversy as Deepti Sharma running Charlie Dean out became a big talking point. It opened a pandora's box leading to much talk on the spirit of cricket, the laws of the game, etc. Nonetheless, nothing can be taken away from India's clinical&nbsp;performance in the ODIs.</p>

<p><strong>Asia Cup dominance</strong></p>

<p>While their male counterparts failed to even reach the final, Harmanpreet-led India stormed into the summit clash winning six out of seven games. In the final, India thrashed Sri Lanka by eight wickets to win the title for the seventh time. They buried the ghosts of the 2018 edition, in Kuala Lampur, (the only time they missed the glory) to make a strong statement.</p>

<p>Apart from the highs of the women's team and some golden opportunities missed by the Men in Blue, the U-19 boys also shined by winning the&nbsp;ODI World Cup&nbsp;early this year. Overall, it was a mixed bag for the senior men's side along with&nbsp;plenty of highs -- amid the retirements of stalwarts Mithali and Jhulan -- for their women counterparts in 2022.</p>

<p>With some assignments still left, both men's and women's line-ups will hope to end the year on a high as 2023 awaits with a new set of challenges.</p>


2022 is coming to an end. The calendar year has been an eventful one for sports lovers across the globe. The cricketing fans have had plenty to cheer for with a plethora of big events passing by.

2022 is coming to an end. The calendar year has been an eventful one for sports lovers across the globe. The cricketing fans have had plenty to cheer for with a plethora of big events passing by. Talking about the Indian cricket team, it was another action-packed year with plenty of highs and some glaring lows. The calendar year is set to end after a few international assignments left for both senior men's and women's teams. Let's have a quick recap of 2022: Men in Blue in 2022 The year started with India continuing their tour of South Africa. After winning the Boxing Day Test match, Virat Kohli-led India had a 1-0 lead against Dean Elgar-led Proteas and was aiming for an unassailable 2-0 scoreline, which would've meant their maiden Test series triumph in the African nation. The second and penultimate Test started with skipper Kohli ruled out, due to upper back spasm, and KL Rahul led the side as they lost the match by seven wickets. Also read: Pakistan vs England, Rawalpindi run-feast: Most runs scored on a single day of a Test The same fate followed suit for India in the third and final Test, once again losing by seven wickets, despite Kohli's return. After the series, the 33-year-old dropped a bombshell by resigning as the Test captain. He wrote on Twitter, "It's been 7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance everyday to take the team in the right direction. I've done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there. Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test Captain of India, it's now." "There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey, but never has there been a lack of effort or lack of belief. I have always believed in giving my 120 percent in everything I do, and if I can't do that, I know it's not the right thing to do. I have absolute clarity in my heart and I cannot be dishonest to my team," Kohli added. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/huBL6zZ7fZ — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 15, 2022 × By then, Kohli's fallout with the top brass at the BCCI had already made the headlines; following the 2021 T20 World Cup and his sacking as the ODI captain in early December. While news channels ran plenty of shows on Kohli vs BCCI alleged spat, Team India embarked upon a new journey under full-time captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid. With Rohit unfit for the SA ODIs, Rahul led India in three ODIs as the visitors were whitewashed 3-0 with several questions being raised on their outdated approach in the format. Home comforts After the miserable SA tour, India switched to home comforts by hosting West Indies in a white-ball series, comprising three T20Is and ODIs each, followed by three T20Is and two Tests versus Sri Lanka. As expected, India stream rolled both the oppositions by whitewashing all four series. Amid injury concerns to Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul, etc., India got busy in preparing a team for the T20 World Cup in Australia. IPL 2022 The action shifted to the 15th season of IPL in March-May. While top cricketers such as Virat, Rohit, Jadeja, Bumrah, etc. struggled or didn't perform as per expectations, the likes of Umran Malik, Mohsin Khan, Rajat Patidar, Rahul Tripathi, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Hooda, etc. made a mark; spoiling the national selectors and team management with more choices for the T20 WC Down Under. India host South Africa After the IPL, Team India captaincy became a game of musical chairs. With Rohit rested and KL injured, Rishabh Pant led India in a five-match T20I series which ended in a 2-2 stalemate. Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, and Harshal Patel were the most impressive. India tour of Ireland, England With Rohit and other senior players busy preparing for the one-off Test versus England, i.e. the series finale of the five Tests from the incomplete 2021 tour, Hardik led India in two T20Is against Ireland. Coach Dravid was also involved with the red-ball side, leading NCA chief VVS Laxman to fill in for him in Dublin. India beat the Irish camp 1-0. In the series finale versus England, India was led by pacer Jasprit Bumrah with Rohit ruled out due to Covid concerns. Under Bumrah, India achieved a sizeable 132-run lead in the Edgbaston face-off, however, failed to defend a challenging 378-run target to lose by seven wickets. After SA, Team India faltered and lost a big opportunity to win a memorable series overseas. Also read: Queen of women's cricket: Top 6 records held by Mithali Raj White-ball dominance After the disappointments of Edgbaston, India played hosts England in three T20Is and ODIs each. The likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik, Rishabh Pant, Bumrah, etc., impressed as Rohit & Co. won both the series 2-1. Post the England trip, India travelled to West Indies with a second-stringed Shikhar Dhawan-led team playing the Windies in three ODIs and winning every game. In the five T20Is, Rohit returned and led India to a 4-1 series win. The tour saw impressive performances from Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Surya, Arshdeep Singh, and Ravi Bishnoi. Asia Cup After a short tour of Zimbabwe, where Rahul led India to a 3-0 ODI series win, the dress rehearsal began for the T20 WC. With less than two months left, India entirely shifted to the T20 mode with the continental tournament in the UAE. Winning two back-to-back games, India topped their group and proceeded to the Super Four round. After losing to Pakistan in a closely-fought match, the Men in Blue succumbed to a shocking six-wicket loss to eventual winners Sri Lanka and bowed out of the competition without booking a place in the final. It was a big jolt before the ICC event in Australia. Once again, home series to the rescue! The Australia and South Africa home series wins worked as a balm following India's Asia Cup debacle. The three T20Is versus Aaron Finch-led Australia was an intense affair where India emerged on top (2-1). The series win was followed by another top-class performance versus the Proteas, winning 2-1 in three T20Is. India had some inconsistency to address at the top, debates continued with regard to one or two spots but the national side left for Australia as the No. 1 ranked side and a strong contender to end their 15-year-long wait for the T20 WC trophy. Nonetheless, they had lost the services of Bumrah and Deepak Chahar due to injury concerns. Similar issues push India back in the mega event... India started the tournament by winning a warm-up game versus hosts and defending champions Australia. Their warm-up game versus New Zealand was washed out. On October 23, Rohit-led India played their tournament opener versus arch-rivals Pakistan. In a nerve-wracking contest at the MCG, Melbourne, the one-time winners India rode on Virat Kohli's masterclass 82 to beat Pakistan on the last ball, chasing 160, with four wickets. Rohit & Co. comfortably beat the Netherlands by 56 runs before losing to South Africa by five wickets in an intense low-scoring thriller at Perth. This followed with a dramatic and controversial win over Bangladesh, by 5 runs (DLS method), before India thrashed Zimbabwe by 71 runs to top their group and storm into the semi-finals. In the semis, India faced eventual winners England who gave them a reality check. Playing timid cricket with the bat, not backing a seasoned wrist spinner in Yuzvendra Chahal (who warmed the bench in the entire tournament), and lacking spice and variety in their bowling attack led to India's exit as they lost to England by ten wickets while defending a moderate 168/6 in Adelaide. A new dawn with the 2023 ODI WC in mind After the T20 WC, India toured NZ for three T20Is and ODIs each. While Hardik led the side in T20Is, winning 1-0, Dhawan & Co. lost the ODIs by same the margin which exposed India's lack of extra bowling options and their muddled approach at the top along with several takers for the middle-order spots. Currently, India is in Bangladesh for the three ODIs and two Tests (having lost the ODIs 2-1 and leading the Test series 1-0 with the final Test on December 22). Also read: India tour of Bangladesh: Full squads, schedule, timings, telecast - All you need to know Women in Blue in 2022 The senior women's team completely outplayed their male counterparts in the calendar year. India started the year with a tour of New Zealand; a final preparatory series before the 2022 ODI World Cup in the Kiwi land. It was a miserable series with India losing the only T20I and going down in the five ODIs (1-4). CWC 2022 In Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami's final WC appearance, India never achieved consistency to go all the way. There were some moments of brilliance met by some below-par performances but the Indian eves' Achilles heel remained their knack of succumbing under pressure; leading to an early exit. India beat the likes of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and West Indies but lost against all big teams such as England, NZ, Australia and South Africa to end in the fifth position. The big retirement After the World Cup, it was only a matter of time before Mithali would've hung up her boots. On June 08, she announced her international retirement, bringing an end to a stellar career. Thank you for all your love & support over the years! I look forward to my 2nd innings with your blessing and support. pic.twitter.com/OkPUICcU4u — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) June 8, 2022 × In her illustrious 23-year-long international career, Mithali ended with the most runs in women's ODIs (7,805). In 89 T20Is, the 39-year-old returned with 2,364 runs and amassed 699 runs in 12 Tests, comprising a double ton. Under Mithali's leadership, India reached the ODI World Cup final in the 2005 and 2017 editions. A promising first impression in CWG 2022 Cricket was re-included in the Commonwealth Games during the 2022 edition in Birmingham, England. This was the first time that women's teams competed in the mega event where Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian eves returned with a silver medal. While they once again fell flat in the final hurdle, Harman & Co. impressed enough to end with silver; beating the likes of Pakistan, Barbados, and England but closely losing twice to gold medallists Australia. Smriti Mandhana, Harman, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, and Sneh Rana were the top performers in India's inspiring campaign. India create history in England India toured England for a white-ball series comprising three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs. While the tourists went down in the T20Is, losing 1-2, they created history as the women's team won its first ODI series in England since 1999. Moreover, India went on to whitewash the 2017 champions in their own backyard. The third and final ODI was, however, marred with controversy as Deepti Sharma running Charlie Dean out became a big talking point. It opened a pandora's box leading to much talk on the spirit of cricket, the laws of the game, etc. Nonetheless, nothing can be taken away from India's clinical performance in the ODIs. Asia Cup dominance While their male counterparts failed to even reach the final, Harmanpreet-led India stormed into the summit clash winning six out of seven games. In the final, India thrashed Sri Lanka by eight wickets to win the title for the seventh time. They buried the ghosts of the 2018 edition, in Kuala Lampur, (the only time they missed the glory) to make a strong statement. Apart from the highs of the women's team and some golden opportunities missed by the Men in Blue, the U-19 boys also shined by winning the ODI World Cup early this year. Overall, it was a mixed bag for the senior men's side along with plenty of highs -- amid the retirements of stalwarts Mithali and Jhulan -- for their women counterparts in 2022. With some assignments still left, both men's and women's line-ups will hope to end the year on a high as 2023 awaits with a new set of challenges.

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