Author: Raghav Singh

Vivaan Dave and Naisha Rewaskar displayed remarkable composure in a tense decider that went into extra points, upsetting top seeds Aditya Das and Ankolika Chakraborty to reach the U-15 mixed doubles final at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender held at the SAMA Indoor Sports Complex on Saturday.

Vivaan and Naisha narrowly triumphed over the top seeds with scores of 13-11, 5-11, 11-7, 5-11, 23-21. They will face fellow players Reyansh Jalan and Tanishka Kalbhairav in the final, following their semifinal victory against Sanjay Jagdish and Myraa Sangelkar, which ended with scores of 11-3, 15-13, 11-7.

This year marks the second edition of the WTT Youth Contender in Vadodara, featuring competitions across U-11 to U-19 categories, with a total of 226 players participating.

In the U-19 mixed doubles category, top seeds Abhinandh Pradhivadhi and Ananya Muralidharan secured their place in the final against Sarthak Arya and Syndrela Das. Abhinandh and Ananya edged past Ritvik Gupta and Ahona Roy in the semifinals, winning with scores of 9-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-8. Meanwhile, Sarthak and Syndrela showcased their skill and determination by defeating Sahil Rawat and Hardee Patel with scores of 11-6, 12-10, 5-11, 11-5.

One of the most thrilling matches occurred at the very end of the morning session, keeping spectators captivated. Vivaan and Naisha demonstrated their fighting spirit from the outset, recovering from a 5-8 deficit, saving a game point, and ultimately clinching the opening game.

The next three games were fiercely contested as both pairs traded wins, leading to a dramatic decider. Aditya and Ankolika looked poised for victory as they gained a 4-0 lead and held three match points at 10-7. However, Vivaan and Naisha not only saved those match points but also maintained their composure, leveling the score each time their opponents faced a match point. They eventually won four consecutive points to secure the match.

India batter Shreyas Iyer will arrive in Jaipur on Sunday and will feature in Mumbai’s next two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, confirmed Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) Secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar.

Iyer has successfully completed the final phase of his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. After being cleared for a return to competitive cricket, he is set to play in Mumbai’s last two league matches against Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on January 6 and 8, respectively.

“Shreyas will go to Jaipur tomorrow and will play the last two matches of this ongoing competition after getting the necessary clearance from the CoE. It’s definitely a very, very big boost for the Mumbai team,” Khanvilkar stated on Saturday.

These two games hold significant importance for Iyer as he is included in the squad for the ODI series against New Zealand, starting on January 11 in Vadodara, pending fitness clearance. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and committee member RP Singh will be in attendance to assess his performance.

Iyer, who serves as India’s ODI vice-captain, suffered a serious spleen laceration while attempting to take a diving catch of Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey during the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25.

Subsequent scans in a Sydney hospital revealed internal bleeding that necessitated immediate hospitalization and intensive care. He underwent a minor surgical procedure to control the bleeding and was closely monitored by medical specialists in both Australia and India, including the Indian team doctor, before he eventually flew back home.

After a rest period, Iyer participated in rehabilitation sessions and further tests before resuming lightweight gym training. On December 24, he resumed batting for approximately 30-45 minutes at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) nets in Mumbai, where he showed no signs of discomfort.

Since December 25, Iyer has been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further assessment of his recovery. He even participated in a practice game before receiving the green signal to resume playing.

“Shreyas went through a lot of simulation tests at the CoE and did well. He only had one problem to overcome, which was related to his weight. Due to the injury, his weight had reduced, and he wasn’t getting the power in his shots. But in the last few days, that aspect was worked out, and he’s now fit to play,” a source tracking Iyer’s recovery revealed.

Devkinandan Thakur, a distinguished spiritual leader and ‘Kathavachak’, welcomed the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to remove him from the T-20 tournament on Saturday. His earlier questioning regarding the inclusion of Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise sparked significant controversy.

Thakur praised the Indian cricket board for instructing KKR to bar Rahman from their IPL squad. He expressed gratitude towards the BCCI for considering his appeal, stating, “We had appealed that Bangladeshi cricketers should not be allowed to play in the IPL. Today, the BCCI has issued an order stating that no Bangladeshi cricketer will participate in the IPL. We are very grateful to the BCCI for this decision, but KKR didn’t understand the feelings and the pain of Hindus.”

He criticized the franchise and its owner, equating their silence to a disregard for the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. “Despite the killing of Hindus in Bangladesh, KKR kept a Bangladeshi cricketer and did not even bother to issue an official statement. We, as Hindus and members of the Sanatan Nyasa foundation, are sad and hurt by this behaviour,” he remarked. “We are going to remember that you did not stand with us during our pain and sorrow,” he added.

Earlier on Saturday, KKR officially dropped Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the 2026 edition, following BCCI’s directive.

In contrast, Masood Uz Zafar Amini, coach of cricketer Rinku Singh, emphasized that sports and politics should remain separate to avoid negatively impacting the game. Amini stated, “Mustafizur Rahman is a cricketer first—Hindu or Muslim comes later. Other teams in the IPL had also bid for Mustafizur before KKR bought him. There should be no politics with players. There should be a distinction between the game and politics; players are different from religion, and such incidents keep occurring.”

He also acknowledged the nation’s decision, saying, “But since it’s a decision of the nation and the BCCI has taken it, we have to abide by it.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, with Shubman Gill set to lead the side. Shreyas Iyer, who had been on the sidelines due to an injury, has been named in the squad, but his participation will be subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE).

Hardik Pandya Rested

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who scored a brilliant century for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Saturday against Vidarbha, has been rested to manage his workload as he prepares for the T20 World Cup. The BCCI stated, “Shreyas Iyer’s availability is subject to fitness clearance from BCCI COE. Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in a match, and considering the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to follow, his workload is being managed.”

Iyer will arrive in Jaipur on Sunday and will participate in Mumbai’s upcoming two Vijay Hazare Trophy games. After finishing the final stage of his rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and receiving clearance to return to competitive cricket, he is set to play Mumbai’s last two league matches against Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on January 6 and 8, respectively.

Absence of Jasprit Bumrah

Another notable absentee is pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who will only play the five-match T20I series against the Kiwis, followed by the T20 World Cup. In Bumrah’s absence, the pace bowling unit will be led by Siraj, with Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna as other options.

Impressive Domestic Performances

While Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel have been putting up impressive and consistent performances in the domestic setup for their state teams, they have missed their selection for the New Zealand series.

Stalwarts Retained

Notably, stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have retained their places in the side and will be hoping to continue their tremendous run of form in the 50-over format. The duo recently represented their state teams in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and notched up magnificent centuries and half-centuries, strengthening their case for selection.

India’s ODI Squad

• Shubman Gill (C)
• Rohit Sharma
• Virat Kohli
• KL Rahul (WK)
• Shreyas Iyer (VC)*
• Washington Sundar
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Mohd Siraj
• Harshit Rana
• Prasidh Krishna
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Rishabh Pant (WK)
• Nitish Kumar Reddy
• Arshdeep Singh
• Yashasvi Jaiswal

India vs New Zealand ODI Series Schedule

• 1st ODI: January 11 – Vadodara
• 2nd ODI: January 14 – Rajkot
• 3rd ODI: January 18 – Indore

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant delivered an impressive performance, scoring an unbeaten 67 off 37 balls, to guide Delhi to a convincing eight-wicket victory over Services in the 2025/26 Vijay Hazare Trophy match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2.

Match Highlights

Captain Pant’s explosive innings featured four boundaries and six sixes on a day when national selectors were set to announce India’s squad for the upcoming three-game ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11 in Vadodara.

Delhi’s bowlers laid a strong foundation for the win by restricting Services to 178 runs in 42.5 overs. Harshit Rana excelled with the ball, returning figures of 4-47, while Prince Yadav contributed significantly with 3-28. In response, Delhi chased down the target with ease in just 19.4 overs. Left-handed opener Priyansh Arya played a pivotal role with a knock of 72 not out off 45 balls, including nine fours and three sixes.

Despite early losses of Sarthak Ranjan (4) and Nitish Rana (32), Arya and Pant formed a match-winning partnership of 85 runs off 51 balls, sealing Delhi’s dominant win. Pulkit Narang and Nitin Yadav each claimed a wicket for Services but could not contain the run flow.

Punjab’s Dominance

In another match, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh achieved his third five-wicket haul in List A cricket as Punjab obliterated Sikkim by 10 wickets at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground in Jaipur. Arshdeep’s exceptional performance yielded figures of 5-34 as Sikkim was bowled out for a mere 75 runs in 22.2 overs.

Punjab elected to field first, a decision that paid immediate dividends, even though Shubman Gill was ruled out just before the match due to food poisoning. Sukhdeep Bajwa dismissed openers Amit Rajera and Ashish Thapa, paving the way for Arshdeep to dismantle the middle order. Leg-spinner Mayank Markande then cleaned up the tail.

The modest target posed no challenge for Punjab’s openers, who completed the chase in just 6.2 overs. Prabhsimran Singh starred with 53 runs off 26 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes, while Harnoor Singh remained unbeaten on 21.

Brief Scores

• Services: 178 all out in 42.5 overs (Vikas Hathwala 26, Raj Bahadur Pal 25; Harshit Rana 4-47, Prince Yadav 3-28) lost to Delhi: 182/2 in 19.4 overs (Priyansh Arya 72, Rishabh Pant 67 not out; Pulkit Narang 1-34, Nitin Yadav 1-41) by eight wickets.

• Sikkim: 75 all out in 22.2 overs (Palzor 13; Arshdeep Singh 5-34) lost to Punjab: 81/0 in 6.2 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 53 not out, Harnoor Singh 22 not out) by ten wickets.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) directive for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their Indian Premier League (IPL) squad has faced harsh criticism from a senior former board official, who labeled the decision illogical and poorly timed with a major International Cricket Council (ICC) event approaching.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the former official highlighted the complications this move could cause ahead of upcoming international commitments. He emphasized that Bangladesh is not Pakistan and deserves to be treated differently.

“I just don’t understand what kind of decision this was. Bangladesh is not the same as Pakistan. You cannot place them in the same bracket. They are not an enemy nation. If the policy is to treat them like Pakistan, then ban them completely. Next month is the World Cup, and India is set to host Bangladesh. How will that be justified? What happened in Bangladesh was wrong, but those were mobs, and such elements exist everywhere,” the official stated.

These comments follow the BCCI’s request for IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release top player Mustafizur Rahman from their squad, which the franchise complied with.

“Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI or IPL, as the regulator of IPL, has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season. The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course,” the franchise stated.

Earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia affirmed that the board had directed the three-time champions to release Rahman and permitted them to seek a replacement player.

This decision was influenced by reports of violence against members of the Hindu community in Bangladesh in December. Additionally, critics had expressed their disapproval of Rahman’s involvement in the IPL.

Mustafizur, one of Bangladesh’s most experienced white-ball bowlers, was anticipated to play a crucial role for KKR in the upcoming IPL season. He had been acquired by the franchise for a significant 9.20 crore rupees in the December mini auction, making him the most expensive Bangladeshi cricketer in IPL history.

India batter Shreyas Iyer is set to make his return to competitive cricket after suffering a spleen injury in October 2024. The 31-year-old is set to represent Mumbai against Himachal Pradesh in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy match, scheduled at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on January 6.

Iyer has received conditional clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. He spent ten days at the COE for the final stages of his rehabilitation. As part of the return-to-play protocol, he participated in a practice game on January 2, where he batted without pain and completed drills without showing any discomfort.

Known for his explosive batting, Shreyas Iyer has a commendable record in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which includes a stunning 50-ball 114 against Karnataka in December 2024. He has frequently been the top scorer for Mumbai in the tournament, leading the team to success with consistent high-impact performances. Last season, he was the highest run-getter for Mumbai, amassing 325 runs in just five matches.

Iyer’s injury occurred during India’s third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25, 2025. While attempting a catch near the third-man boundary, he lost his balance and landed on his rib cage, which led to internal bleeding and spleen damage. Consequently, he missed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the home ODI series against Australia.

The ODI squad for India’s upcoming series against New Zealand is set to be announced on Saturday. While there is a provision for selection based on fitness, it remains uncertain if the selectors will choose him for the international challenge or prefer to observe his performance in the domestic circuit first.

In Iyer’s absence, Ruturaj Gaikwad has taken the number four spot and made an impression with his maiden ODI century. Meanwhile, in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, Devdutt Padikkal has also made headlines, scoring four centuries in just five innings, strengthening his case for selection.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the 72nd National Volleyball Tournament on January 4 at noon through video conferencing. This event marks a significant milestone for Indian sports and his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi. The opening ceremony will take place at Dr Sampoorna­nand Sports Stadium, highlighting the city’s growing sporting ambitions under the ‘Khelo India’ initiative.

Tournament Details

Scheduled from January 4 to 11, the tournament will feature teams from across the country, with over 1,000 players competing. A total of 73 men’s and women’s teams representing various states and institutional units are expected to participate, promising a high level of competition and an impressive display of talent and sportsmanship in Indian volleyball.

Significance of Hosting

Hosting this prestigious national tournament in Varanasi reflects a broader push to strengthen sports infrastructure in the region. It is also the first time Purvanchal has hosted a national-level volleyball championship of this scale, seen as a major boost to Kashi’s emerging identity as a centre for significant sporting and cultural events.

Key Attendees

While the Prime Minister will address the gathering virtually, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be on-site to motivate and interact with players.

Meetings and Expectations

In the lead-up to the event, organising committee chairman and Varanasi Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari, along with Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Volleyball Association president Brijesh Pathak, met the Prime Minister in New Delhi to formally invite him. During this meeting, Modi extended his best wishes and described the tournament as an inspiring platform for the nation’s youth.

Local Cultural Integration

Adding a distinct local flavour, the organisers have introduced mascots rooted in regional culture, ‘Nandu’, inspired by Nandi, and Ganga dolphin ‘Neera’.

Fairness and Legacy

To ensure fairness and transparency, random anti-doping tests will be conducted throughout the tournament. Organisers believe this championship will not only elevate the standard of volleyball in the country but also leave a lasting legacy for sports development in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The MMSC FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship 2025 enters a critical phase with the third and penultimate round, scheduled for January 4 to 5 at the Madras International Circuit. This round is likely to witness intense battles for points, as titles are up for grabs across all classes.

Originally set for December 6-7, the third round was postponed due to inclement weather following Cyclone Ditwah.

### Exciting Rivalries and Talented Fields

The two single-seater categories, Formula 2000 and Formula 1600, will run concurrently and feature grids full of young talent. They are expected to headline this weekend’s card of 12 races, with 61 entries in total. Bengaluru teenager Ishaan Madesh, fresh from winning the National Karting title, will renew his rivalry with Pune’s 17-year-old Arjun Chheda, the championship leader in the MRF F2000 category. The pair is separated by just two points. Similarly, 17-year-old Sai Shiva Shankaran from Pune leads the points table in the MRF F1600 class, just 4 points ahead of Bengalurean Arjun S Nair.

### Competitors in Other Classes

The frontrunners in other classes, including the Touring Cars—comprising four sub-classes: Indian Touring Cars (ITC), ITC 1625, Indian Junior Touring Cars, and Super Stock—as well as the MRF Saloons and Formula LGB 1300, will keep an eye on their respective rivals throughout the weekend.

The premier ITC category is set up for intriguing contests across three scheduled races. Former National champion from Coimbatore, Arjun Balu (Race Concepts) currently leads the championship with a 29-point advantage. However, he must keep an eye on local ace Ritesh Rai (Buzzing Hornet), who, after missing Round-1 in Coimbatore, made a sensational comeback with a triple crown in Round-2, placing him in contention for the title. Rai currently sits fourth in the championship behind Dhruv Chavan, a privateer from Lonavla, and defending champion Biren Pithawalla (Team N1 Racing) from Mumbai.

### Standout Performers

Among notable competitors is 80-year-old Vidyaprakash Damodaran (Performance Racing) from Coimbatore, who achieved three back-to-back wins and leads the ITC 1625 class, showcasing his competitive prowess even after six decades of racing.

Bengaluru’s Rithwik Thomas (Race Concepts), who began the season with three consecutive wins in Round 1, and Sri Lankan Kesara Godage lead the leaderboard in the IJTC and Super Stock categories, respectively. Coimbatore’s Akshay Muralidharan, with a double in the previous round, tops the MRF Saloons (Toyota Etios) class.

Nethan McPherson from Pune (Momentum Motorsports) leads the Formula LGB 1300 (Open and Junior) category with three podium finishes, though he is still seeking his first win in five starts.

### Official Statement

Chairman of the event, Vicky Chandhok, stated, “While we welcome the competitors back to the Madras International Circuit for the third round, the 12 races scheduled are likely to generate a lot of excitement as there is still plenty to fight for. The season so far has thrown up surprises and close racing, with some young drivers showing promise and potential, and this weekend should see more of them.”