Author: Raghav Singh

A major controversy has erupted following criticism by renowned Kathavachak Devkinandan Thakur against Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan after his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), signed Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman.

The issue has triggered sharp reactions across the political spectrum, with leaders from the BJP, Congress, NCP, CPI(M), Samajwadi Party, and Shiv Sena (UBT) weighing in. They raised questions about sports, religion, national interest, and alleged atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh.

Speaking to media, Devkinandan Thakur claimed that the inclusion of a Bangladeshi player by KKR had hurt the sentiments of Hindus across the country, especially considering the alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. He alleged that violence against Hindus in the neighbouring country was continuing unabated and described recent incidents of brutal attacks.

Thakur maintained that religious leaders generally do not interfere in sports or entertainment but said the present circumstances warranted objection. Questioning Shah Rukh Khan’s decision, he stated that allowing a player from Bangladesh to play in the IPL for a significant sum amounted to hurting the sentiments of “100 crore Hindus.” He demanded that Bangladeshi cricketers be excluded from the IPL under the current situation and warned of protests if the demand was not met.

Reiterating his stance, Thakur emphasized that his concern was not about Shah Rukh Khan’s profession or status but about what he described as the protection of Hindu interests globally.

The controversy soon took a political turn, with Congress questioning the ‘selective’ targeting of Shah Rukh Khan and shifting the focus to the government and cricket authorities. Congress national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate stated that the government must be questioned on why Bangladeshi players were allowed to participate in the IPL if concerns over atrocities were genuine. She asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior ministers were silent on the issue and questioned the role of the BCCI and its Secretary, Jay Shah.

Congress leader Rakesh Sinha alleged that Shah Rukh Khan’s identity was being deliberately targeted and accused BJP leaders and religious figures of selective outrage. He pointed out that cricket matches between India and Pakistan were played even after terror incidents and questioned why similar objections were not raised at that time.

Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat dismissed the controversy as unwarranted, while NCP (SP) Rajya Sabha MP Fauzia Khan criticized what she described as communal politics. She questioned why playing cricket with Pakistan was acceptable while signing a Bangladeshi player had become controversial, calling the debate “backward and uncivilised.”

CPI(M) leader Hannan Mollah condemned the mixing of religion and politics with sports, saying such practices were unhealthy and should be avoided. Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma urged religious leaders to ‘stay away’ from politics and to ‘focus on social welfare.’

Amid the growing row, BJP leaders offered mixed reactions. BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo mentioned that sports should not be linked with politics but acknowledged that emotions naturally rise when issues of national interest are involved. He stated that the Centre had taken diplomatic steps by summoning the Bangladesh High Commissioner and raising concerns over minority safety.

BJP MP Yogender Chandolia, however, supported Devkinandan Thakur’s sentiments, stating that deliberately signing a Bangladeshi player amid reports of atrocities appeared provocative and that the contract should be terminated.

The issue also sparked reactions in Jammu and Kashmir, where Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Manish Sahni warned of protests if Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman played for KKR. He claimed violence against Hindus in Bangladesh was increasing and demanded a complete boycott of Bangladeshi players in the IPL and upcoming international tournaments.

BJP leader Raj K. Purohit demanded action against Shah Rukh Khan, seeking a boycott of his films. His statement further fueled the controversy, drawing ire from opposition leaders.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal stated that Shah Rukh Khan must decide whether he stands with India or “anti-national forces,” asserting that the actor should clarify his position amid the ongoing debate.

Congress MP Manoj Kumar called for keeping sports separate from religion and community identity. While condemning violence in Bangladesh, he said cricket should remain a sport, and players should not be targeted based on nationality.

Defending champions East Bengal FC surged to the top of the Indian Women’s League 2025-26 with a dominant 5-0 victory over Nita Football Academy at the Kalyani Stadium on Friday.

What appeared to be a potential top-of-the-table clash turned out to be a one-sided affair. East Bengal’s regular scorers Sulanjana Raul (6′) and Soumya Guguloth (42′) found the net in the first half, while Ugandan duo Resty Nanziri (50′) and Fazila Ikwaput (63′) secured the win early in the second half. Substitute Priyangka Devi Naorem sealed the scoring with a fifth goal in the 88th minute.

With a perfect record of four wins from four matches, East Bengal now leads the points table. Sethu FC, who also secured a 5-0 win against Sesa on Friday, sits in second place with 10 points from five matches. Nita FA, having amassed 10 points, has slipped to third place due to goal difference.

East Bengal kicked off the new year in style, continuing from their record 9-0 win over Sesa. Sulanjana Raul opened the scoring in just the sixth minute with a stunning finish. After receiving a cut-back from the by-line by Resty Nanziri, the 18-year-old set herself up with a perfect first touch before curling the ball into the far corner with the inside of her right boot. This marked her third goal in as many matches.

True to form, the Moshal Girls pressed for more goals, creating several opportunities shortly after the opener. Sushmita Lepcha, who provided a hat-trick of assists in the previous match, saw her cross miss Fazila Ikwaput in the middle, with Soumya Guguloth managing just a faint touch as the ball went out for a goal-kick. Later, Nita goalkeeper Adrija Sarkhel denied Fazila in a one-on-one situation, after which Resty blasted her shot over the bar on the rebound.

Nita gradually found their rhythm and enjoyed more possession. Despite being the league’s top scorers with 13 goals prior to this match, Paromita Sit’s side struggled to penetrate East Bengal’s defense.

East Bengal capitalized on their chances, doubling their lead three minutes before halftime. Fazila, playing a bit deeper than usual, threaded a fine through ball for Soumya in the middle. The AIFF Women’s Player of the Year took control at the top of the box and sent a shot into the bottom corner with her weaker left foot, making it 2-0.

Continuing their momentum in the second half, East Bengal scored their third in the 50th minute from a set-piece. Sarita Yumnam’s corner kick, somewhat tame in delivery, fortuitously landed at Resty’s feet. The Ugandan made a smart turn to evade defenders and lashed a fierce shot into the net, rendering Adrija’s jump futile.

Resty then turned provider for the next goal in the 63rd minute, connecting with Fazila through a brilliant one-two. After a blocked initial attempt by Jasoda Munda, Fazila reacted quickly, pouncing on the rebound from six yards out to net her sixth goal of the campaign.

Fazila, pursuing her third consecutive IWL golden boot, almost added another in the 78th minute when her effort rattled the crossbar from inside the box.

Finally, substitute Priyangka Devi Naorem netted the fifth and final goal in the 88th minute. Adrija came out to clear Sarita’s high cross but could only direct it towards an unmarked Priyangka, who finished with a first-time shot from 16 yards out.

Haryana’s Ameerah Arshad delivered a composed performance under pressure to clinch the gold medal in a dramatic 10m Air Rifle Women final at the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions (Rifle) held at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy in Bhopal on Friday.

She edged past Railways’ Rajshree Anilkumar Sancheti by a razor-thin margin of 0.1 point. Later in the day, at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh’s Zuhair Khan rose to the occasion to win the men’s trap gold at the 68th NSCC (Shotgun) with 43 hits.

Ameerah finished the women’s final with a score of 251.9, narrowly ahead of Sancheti, who settled for silver with 251.8. Chhattisgarh’s Pranju Shree Somani secured the bronze medal with a score of 230.5. Tilottama Sen finished fourth with 208.9, followed by Kajal Kumari (187.9) and Sakshi Sunil Padekar (166.2). Haryana’s Ramita finished seventh with 145.1, while qualification topper Prerana Padmakar Morey, who had earlier led the field with 632.5, finished eighth with 122.7.

Prerana Padmakar Morey and Pranju Shree Somani jointly topped the standings in the qualification with identical scores of 632.5, followed closely by Sakshi Sunil Padekar (632.1). Ameerah qualified fourth with 631.5, ahead of Kajal Kumari (631.0), Tilottama Sen (630.8), Ramita (630.8), and Sancheti (630.7).

Zuhair Khan Takes Men’s Trap Gold in New Delhi

At the shotgun range in New Delhi, junior men’s trap bronze medallist Zuhair finished on top in the men’s trap final with 43 hits, adding a first senior national title to his tally. Uttarakhand’s Shapath Bhardwaj secured the silver medal with 40 hits, while Olympian Kynan Chenai claimed the bronze with 33 hits. Ahvar Rizvi finished fourth with 26 hits, followed by Vivaan Kapoor (22) and Udayvir Singh Jajee (19).

Vivaan Kapoor had earlier topped the qualification with 121, while Zuhair finished second on 120 +3, ahead of Ahvar Rizvi, who also shot 120 but finished behind on a shoot-off (+2). Shapath Bhardwaj qualified fourth with 119 +3, ahead of Kynan Chenai on 119 +2, while Udayvir Singh Jajee completed the finalists with 118 +6. Mohd Asad Sultan narrowly missed the cut after a shoot-off despite scoring 118 +3.

Men’s Trap Team Event

In the men’s trap team event, Uttar Pradesh clinched the gold medal with an aggregate of 345 through the combined efforts of Ahvar Rizvi, Mohd Asad Sultan (118), and Rayyan Rizvi (107). Punjab secured silver with 342, while Uttarakhand also finished on 342 to take the bronze medal.

Tilottama Sen’s Golden Double

In the 10m Air Rifle Junior Women final, Karnataka’s Tilottama Sen carried her strong qualification form into the final to claim gold with an impressive 253.1. Maharashtra’s Samiksha Subhash Patil finished second to take silver with 250.0, while Haryana’s Ramita added a bronze medal to her tally with a score of 230.0. Ameerah Arshad finished fourth with 208.2, followed by Pranju Shree Somani (187.7), Tanishkaa Kumari Pillai (164.3), Kajal Kumari (144.8), and Kopal Dubey (123.1).

Tilottama completed a memorable day by clinching her second gold in the Youth Women’s 10m Air Rifle final, finishing on 251.6. Ameerah Arshad once again impressed to secure silver with 251.4, while Maharashtra’s Avantika Rajendra Shelke claimed the bronze medal with 229.4. Pranju Shree Somani finished fourth with 207.5.

10m Air Rifle Team Events Results

In the team events of 10m Air Rifle, Haryana dominated the Women’s Team competition, winning gold with an aggregate score of 1892.7, ahead of Railways (1886.0) and Madhya Pradesh (1884.3). Haryana also topped the Junior Women’s Team standings with the same aggregate, followed by Karnataka (1887.1) and Gujarat (1876.9). Karnataka claimed the Youth Women’s Team gold with 1887.1, while Haryana (1885.9) and Madhya Pradesh (1881.7) completed the podium.

Other Results

10m Air Rifle Women

Senior Team

• Haryana (Ameerah Arshad, Ramita, Shruti) – Gold (1892.7)
• Railways (Mehuli Ghosh, Sonam Uttam Maskar, Meghana M. Sajjanar) – Silver (1886.0)
• Madhya Pradesh (Mahima Sisodiya, Shreya Agrawal, Shrivalli Shrivastava) – Bronze (1884.3)

Junior Team

• Haryana (Ameerah Arshad, Ramita, Shruti) – Gold (1892.7)
• Karnataka (Tilottama Sen, Anushka H Thokur, Hrudya Shri Kondur) – Silver (1887.1)
• Gujarat (Viddhi Kishorbhai Godhani, Dhruvi Ashish Panchal, Maitri Ashwinbhai Amariya) – Bronze (1876.9)

Youth Team

• Karnataka (Tilottama Sen, Anushka H Thokur, Hrudya Shri Kondur) – Gold (1887.1)
• Haryana (Ameerah Arshad, Panaah Bhugra, Hazel) – Silver (1885.9)
• Madhya Pradesh (Shrivalli Shrivastava, Gautami Bhanot, Navya Gupta) – Bronze (1881.7)

Sub Youth

• Chhavi Pant (Uttarakhand) – Gold (632.5)
• Pranjul Shree Somani (Haryana) – Silver (632.5)
• Kopal Dubey (Meghalaya) – Bronze (630.6)

Deaf

• Komal Milind Waghmare (Maharashtra) – Gold (625.3)
• Mahit Sandhu (Chandigarh) – Silver (625.3)
• Natasha Uday Joshi (Maharashtra) – Bronze (623.7)

Civilian

• Pranjul Shree Somani (Haryana) – Gold (632.5)
• Sakshi Sunil Padekar (Maharashtra) – Silver (632.1)
• Tanishkaa Kumar Pillai (Gujarat) – Bronze (631.7)

Civilian Team

• Maharashtra (Sakshi Sunil Padekar, Anshika Rakesh Chokhani, Dnyaneshwari Jayveer Patil) – Gold (1883.2)
• Haryana (Samridhi Bebortha, Dhyuti Dhar, Teejan) – Silver (1882.8)
• Uttar Pradesh (Sangeeta Singh, Samiya Mehar, Anushree Rai) – Bronze (1882.5)

Junior Civilian

• Pranjul Shree Somani (Haryana) – Gold (632.5)
• Tanishkaa Kumar Pillai (Gujarat) – Bronze (631.7)
• Kajal Kumari (Jharkhand) – Silver (631)

Junior Civilian Team

• Haryana (Shruti, Panaah Bugra, Rashmeet Kaur) – Gold (1883.5)
• Maharashtra (Samiksha Subhash Patil, Anshika Rakesh Chokhani, Parigha Chetan Bele) – Silver (1879.5)
• Maharashtra (Divya Rajesh Dhumal, Mayuri Laxman Pawar, Aditi Nitesh Kumar Singh) – Bronze (1877.3)

Master

• Tejaswini Sawant (Maharashtra) – Gold
• Anjali Mandar Bhagwat (Maharashtra) – Silver
• Archana Singh (West Bengal) – Bronze

England captain Ben Stokes has expressed his unwavering support for head coach Brendon McCullum ahead of the final Test of the Ashes 2025-26 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Stokes emphasized the importance of their partnership, despite the ongoing series defeat.

Stokes stated that he firmly believes in having McCullum by his side as the England head coach. However, he acknowledged that the Ashes setback necessitates a discussion between the coach and captain to address their shortcomings. “There is no doubt in my mind that Brendon and I are the right people to carry on doing this for the near future. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have worked with Brendon. I cannot see there being someone else who I could take this team with from where we are now to even bigger heights,” Stokes remarked before the Sydney Test.

He added, “So for us as captain and coach, when we do have the time off, we need to put our heads together and go, What is it that we think we need to do to go to the next level?”

Brendon McCullum took the helm of England’s men’s Test team in May 2022, first serving as the Test head coach and later assuming control of the white-ball teams in January 2025. His appointment aimed to revitalize the Test side, which led to the notable Bazball era. In 2024, he was designated as the all-format coach, officially commencing his full responsibilities in 2025.

Under Stokes and McCullum, England celebrated 10 victories in their first 11 Tests. However, their performance has diminished since that initial success, with a record of 16 wins and 16 losses in their last 34 Tests, including two draws. They’ve struggled to achieve victory in marquee five-Test series against Australia or India.

Currently, in the ongoing Ashes, England trails Australia 3-1 and is eager to conclude the series on a high note with a win in the final match, scheduled to begin on 4th January at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The Namibia senior women’s cricket team will play a four-match friendly series against Assam starting on January 8. This tour is part of a reciprocal arrangement between the Assam Cricket Association and Cricket Namibia.

Match Details

The Namibia side will compete against the Assam senior women’s team in a friendly series that includes two 50-over matches and two T20 games. The series is scheduled from January 8-11 at MSA Stadium in Mangaldai and the ACA Cricket Academy Ground in Fulung, North Guwahati.

“This international series marks a significant milestone for Assam cricket, strengthening sporting relations between India and Namibia while providing an excellent platform for players from both teams to demonstrate their skills, competitiveness, and true spirit of the game,” said ACA Secretary Sanatan Das in a statement.

Tour Itinerary

According to the itinerary provided by the ACA, the Namibian senior women’s team will arrive in Guwahati on January 6, with a practice session and rest day planned for January 7 before the series begins.

• The opening 50-over match will take place on January 8.
• The second ODI is set for January 9 at the same venue.
• Both T20 matches are scheduled for January 10 and 11.
• The Namibian team will depart for home on January 12.

Previously, a 15-member Assam senior men’s squad toured Namibia for a series of five 50-over matches from June 18 to July 1, 2025. Additionally, a 14-member Assam senior women’s team visited Malaysia to play five 50-over games from July 5-16 the previous year.

Young India left-handed batter B Sai Sudharsan is set for a significant spell on the sidelines after suffering a right rib fracture during a Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Ahmedabad.

Injury Details

According to sources, Sudharsan has fractured the ‘anterior cortex of the seventh right rib’ while diving to complete a run in the match. He checked into the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) facility in Bengaluru on December 29 and is now unlikely to participate in Tamil Nadu’s remaining games for the ongoing domestic season.

“Sai Sudharsan reported to the Centre of Excellence (CoE) on December 29, 2025, with a history of injury to the right side of the rib cage sustained while diving during running between the wickets in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match on December 26, 2025. He had a prior incident involving the same region approximately one week earlier while batting in the nets when he was struck by the ball. A follow-up CT scan revealed a slender, undisplaced fracture of the anterior cortex of the right seventh rib,” sources familiar with the scan report noted.

Future Expectations

With India scheduled to play their next Test series against Sri Lanka in August, Sudharsan’s immediate focus will be on regaining full fitness ahead of IPL 2026, which is likely to commence on March 26. Recovery from injuries like this typically varies from six to 12 weeks.

Sudharsan has successfully formed an opening partnership for Gujarat Titans alongside captain Shubman Gill, making his availability crucial to the franchise’s plans, especially as he was the leading run-getter in IPL 2025.

Rehabilitation Process

“At present, Sai is undertaking lower-body strength and conditioning work with appropriate protection for the injured rib to facilitate healing, and he has responded well to the program. Upper-body training will be introduced once acute symptoms settle over the next 7-10 days, after which he will gradually transition into a structured upper-body strength and conditioning program,” sources added.

Other Recoveries

In addition to Sudharsan, right-handed batter Shreyas Iyer is also at the CoE, working towards match fitness after recovering from a serious spleen injury sustained during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney. Batting all-rounder Riyan Parag has also been at the CoE to recover from a shoulder niggle, which has prevented him from participating in Assam’s games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Tamil Nadu Dragons will take on Hyderabad Toofans in the opening match as the men’s Hockey India League (HIL) kicks off at the renowned Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

This is the second edition of the revived Men’s Hockey India League, scheduled to be held across multiple cities, beginning in Chennai, before moving to Ranchi and concluding in Bhubaneswar with the final on January 26.

Hockey India aims to bring the league to as many hockey-loving cities as possible, allowing more fans to experience the excitement of high-octane matches featuring top players from around the world.

Opening Match Highlights

The league starts with hosts Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons facing Hyderabad Toofans. The Toofans finished as runners-up in the previous edition, narrowly losing (3-4) to the title-winning Shrachi Bengal Tigers. While the Toofans look to improve their fortunes this season, the Tamil Nadu Dragons aim to start strong after finishing just outside the top three last season, losing to JSW Soorma Hockey Club (2-3).

Tournament Structure

This season will feature a single round-robin stage, with the top four teams advancing to the knockout rounds. This differs from the previous edition, which had two groups of four for the initial phase. In the playoffs, the top two teams will compete in Qualifier 1, with the winner moving to the final and the loser going into Qualifier 2. The second team of Qualifier 2 will be determined by the winner of Eliminator 1, which involves the teams ranked 3rd and 4th in the league table.

Participating Teams

The eight teams in the Men’s HIL include:

• Defending champions Shrachi Bengal Tigers
• Hyderabad Toofans
• JSW Soorma Hockey Club
• SG Pipers
• Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons
• Vedanta Kalinga Lancers
• Ranchi Royals
• HIL GC, which has taken over UP Rudras

Key Players to Watch

Top Indian Players:

• Harmanpreet Singh (JSW Soorma Hockey Club)
• Hardik Singh (HIL GC)
• Manpreet Singh (Ranchi Royals)
• Rupinder Pal Singh (SG Pipers)

Junior World Cup Bronze winners will also be prominent, with India Colts Captain Rohit and Dilraj Singh for SG Pipers, Amir Ali and Manmeet for Ranchi Royals, Sunil PR for Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, and Prince Deep Singh for Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons.

Foreign Players to Keep an Eye On:

• Tom Boon (Ranchi Royals)
• Christopher Ruhr (Shrachi Bengal Tigers)
• Vincent Vanasch and Victor Wegnez (Soorma)
• Arthur Van Doren and Alexander Hendrickx (Vedanta Kalinga Lancers)
• Sam Ward (HIL GC)

Squad Overview for Men’s HIL 2025-26

SG Pipers

• Inddigihunt: Pawan, Rupinder Pal Singh, Varun Kumar, Manjeet, Rohit, Jarmanpreet Singh, Ankit Pal, Raj Kumar Pal, Thokchom Kingson Singh, Shamsher Singh, Aditya Lalage, Dilraj Singh, Sourabh Anand Khushwaha.
• Overseas: Tomas Santiago (ARG), Bram Van Battum (NED), Gareth Furlong (GBR), Willott Ky (AUS), Jacob Draper (GBR), Tomas Domene (ARG), Roman Duvekot (BEL).

Shrachi Bengal Tigers

• Inddigihunt: Vivek Lakra, Parmod, Jugraj Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Affan Yousuf, Pradhan Poovanna Chandura, Atul Deep, Pardeep Singh Sandhu, Ajinkya Jadhav, Ketan Kushwaha, Gursewak Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek.
• Overseas: James Carr (New Zealand), Tommy Willems (Belgium), Gauthier Boccard (Belgium), Enrique Gonzalez (ESP), Christopher Ruhr (Germany), Tom Grambusch (Germany), Sean Findlay (New Zealand).

JSW Soorma Hockey Club

• Inddigihunt: Mohith HS, Gurinder Singh, Pradip Mandal, Sukhvinder, Harmanpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Jeet Pal, Akashdeep Singh, Prabhjot Singh, Harjeet Singh, Pawan Rajbhar, Maninder Singh, Gurjant Singh.
• Overseas: Vincent Vanasch (BEL), Nicolas Della Torre (ARG), Jeremy Hayward (AUS), Victor Wegnez (BEL), Nicolas Poncelet (BEL), Nicolas Keenan (ARG), Dayaan Cassiem (RSA).

Ranchi Royals

• Inddigihunt: Rajak Pankaj Kumar, Suraj Karkera, Purti Ashish Tani, Ravneet Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Anmol Ekka, Amir Ali, Vishnukant Singh, Yashdeep Siwach, Manpreet Singh, Manmeet Singh Rai, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Mandeep Singh.
• Overseas: Joshua Beltz (AUS), Van Oots Maxime (BEL), Tim Howard (AUS), Jack Waller (GBR), Mustaphaa Cassiem (RSA), Tom Boon (BEL), Sam Lane (NZL).

Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons

• Inddigihunt: Prince Deep Singh, Anand Lakra, Pruthvi G M, Amit Rohidas, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen, Chandan Yadav, Shesha Gowda, Arun J, Sushil Dhanwar, Adrohit Ekka, Selvaraj Kanagaraj, Selvam Karthi, Uttam Singh.
• Overseas: David Harte (IRE), Sander de Wijn (NED), Tom Craig (AUS), Blake Govers (AUS), Paul Kaufmann (GER), Thomas Sorsby (GBR), Nathan Ephraums (AUS).

Hyderabad Toofans

• Inddigihunt: Bikramjit Singh, Mukul Sharma, Amandeep Lakra, Devindar Walmiki, Sundram Singh Rajawat, Nilakanta Sharma, Sumit Walmiki, Rajinder Singh, Rahim Aakib Sayyed, Shilanand Lakra, Irengbam Rohit Singh, Talwinder Singh, Arshdeep Singh.
• Overseas: Jean Paul Danneberg (GER), Arthur de Sloover (NED), Zachary Wallace (GBR), Michel Struthoff (GER), Nic Woods (AUS), Tim Brand (AUS), Jacob Anderson (AUS).

Vedanta Kalinga Lancers

• Inddigihunt: Krishan B Pathak, Sunil PB, Pratap Lakra, Rohit Kullu, Sanjay, Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem, Amit Kumar Toppo, Rosan Kujur, Gursahibjit Singh, Angad Bir Singh, Deepak Pradhan, Dilpreet Singh, Boby Singh Dhami.
• Overseas: Jed Snowden (AUS), Antoine Kina (BEL), Arthur Van Doren (BEL), Alexander Hendrickx (BEL), Craig Marais (AUS), Liam Henderson (AUS), Cooper Burns (AUS).

HIL GC

• Inddigihunt: Prashant Kumar Chauhan, Jasjit Singh Kular, Mohammad Haris, Surender Kumar, Prasant Barla, Talem Priyobarta, Hardik Singh, Manmeet Singh, Rahul Yadav, Ajeet Yadav, Sudeep Chirmako, Gurjot Singh, Lalit Upadhyay.
• Overseas: James Mazarelo (GBR), James Albery (GBR), Kane Russell (NZL), Daragh Walsh (IRE), Simon Yorston (NZL), Sam Ward (GBR), Tanguy Cosyns (BEL).

Tamil Nadu Dragons will face Hyderabad Toofans on Saturday at 7:30 PM IST.

Australia’s talismanic bowler Mitchell Starc will aim to cap off the Ashes 2025-26 on a high when he takes the field on January 4 for the final match of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground, standing just six wickets away from creating history as the most successful left-arm bowler in Test cricket.

A Stellar Performance in the Series

Starc is on a golden patch in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 series. He has taken 26 wickets in four matches at an impressive average of 17.42. Due to his remarkable performances in Perth and Brisbane, the 35-year-old pacer has been awarded the Player of the Match title in both Test matches. Other than Starc, no other bowler has even touched the 20-wicket mark.

Starc’s Journey

The 35-year-old Starc made his Test debut for Australia against New Zealand at The Gabba, Brisbane, on December 1, 2011, in the first match of a two-Test series, taking two wickets in the match and receiving his Baggy Green from Richie Benaud.

Starc has taken 428 wickets in 104 matches since his debut. His bowling average is 26.43, and the Australian legend has taken 18 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket match hauls.

Chasing a Milestone

Currently, former Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath is the most successful left-arm bowler, having claimed 433 wickets from 93 Tests at an average of 28.0. If Starc takes six wickets, he will surpass Herath to become the highest left-arm Test wicket-taker.

Starc’s 2025 Achievements

In 2025, Starc had an exceptional record, playing 11 matches and taking the most wickets at 55 with an average of 17.32. He claimed three five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket match haul to his name. He also made a bold decision to retire from T20 internationals to keep himself fit for the red-ball challenge. However, he will continue playing in T20 Leagues like IPL and BBL. Starc is set to represent the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026.

South Africa have included young pacer Kwena Maphaka and top-order batter Jason Smith in their squad for the T20 World Cup, omitting batsmen Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs.

Smith’s Impressive Form

Smith’s selection follows his recent prolific performance, earning him a spot ahead of Stubbs, who was part of South Africa’s squad that finished as runners-up in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup. Since making his T20I debut in 2024, Smith has maintained a strike rate of 128.30 and is currently representing MI Cape Town in SA20. One of his standout performances came in the T20 Challenge, where he scored an unbeaten 68 off 19 balls, helping the Dolphins secure a place in the playoffs in November.

Squad Composition

Rickelton was unable to break into a squad filled with top-order talent, including captain Aiden Markram and wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock. Alongside Smith and Maphaka, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, and George Linde have also received their maiden T20 World Cup call-ups.

Coaches’ Insights

“We are returning to the subcontinent, where we recently competed against hosts India. The experience we gained playing in those conditions will undoubtedly benefit us as we head into this tournament,” said head coach Shukri Conrad. He added, “Many of the players selected for the World Cup squad were on that trip and experienced first-hand the pitches that we will likely encounter, which will stand them in good stead once we get to India.”

Conrad also noted, “We do have one more T20I series against the West Indies before we depart for the World Cup, and that squad will be announced later this month.”

Key Player Returns

Kagiso Rabada returns to the T20I setup after missing the recent white-ball tour against India due to a rib injury. Another significant inclusion is pacer Anrich Nortje, who was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup.

Group Stage Details

South Africa are drawn in Group D of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup alongside Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates. They will kick off their campaign on February 9 against Canada at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Consultant’s Praise

Former South Africa all-rounder Albie Morkel will act as the team’s specialist consultant. “Firstly, I would like to congratulate the players who will be representing South Africa at their maiden T20 World Cup. This is an incredible opportunity for them in what was a difficult squad to select,” he expressed.

Convenor Selector Patrick Moroney stated, “We have had to make some big calls, but we feel this group is the strongest and has every chance of succeeding in India and Sri Lanka. We have assembled a world-class squad with some of the finest and most experienced players in the game, together with some of the best T20 youngsters coming through.”

South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, and Jason Smith.

World Cup gold medallist and Indian shooter Niraj Kumar recently expressed his belief that the upcoming Shooting League of India (SLI) will significantly contribute to the evolving landscape of the sport in the country by helping people understand and appreciate it.

Kumar, who delivered a standout performance at the 68th National Shooting Championships in Bhopal by securing a silver medal in the Men’s 50m 3P category, reflected on his professional journey and the upcoming SLI. His transition from a small border town in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab to the national podium showcases the resilience required in elite sports. Starting his path through the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in 2014, Kumar overcame significant financial hurdles and spent years convincing his parents to support his shooting career. His eventual selection for the Indian Navy served as the turning point that secured his family’s backing.

With SLI’s launch, Kumar believes the younger generation will not face the same challenges. He suggests that the league will provide parents with the confidence to see shooting as a viable and secure career path for their children.

“Families often encourage a child to pursue a sport only after seeing successful examples within that discipline. The Shooting League of India will help establish those examples for the public. Audiences will enjoy the format and begin to recognize the future opportunities this sport offers,” said Kumar.

Kumar emphasized that the league’s broadcast will attract a wider audience. “Normally, our audience is limited to those who already understand or have practiced shooting. However, with the league being broadcast, a wider audience will have the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the sport,” he noted.

A significant highlight for Kumar is the league’s potential to pair domestic athletes with international legends. He expressed excitement at the prospect of training and competing alongside global icons, specifically mentioning Hungarian World Champion István Peni and Indian teammate Kiran Jadhav.

“I am excited to shoot alongside Hungarian athlete István Péni and my Indian teammate Kiran Jadhav. It would be even better if we were on the same team,” Kumar revealed.

Discussing his recent national success and the preparations leading to his podium finish, Kumar praised the infrastructure available at national training centers.

“I did not follow a specific regimen for the national championships. However, the infrastructure at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, where I train, is excellent. We are provided with hostel accommodations and three meals a day. Additionally, we receive ammunition for training, which is a significant advantage,” Kumar stated.

Despite the intense competition among Indian shooters at national and international levels, Kumar highlighted how athletes maintain a clear distinction between professional rivalries and personal friendships by focusing on their performance.

“Since shooting is an individual sport and requires us to stay in our lane, focus on our target, and fight with ourselves, we do not pay much attention to each other. This is a positive aspect of our game,” he said. He added, “So we meet, talk to each other, hang out. Everything goes well. There is no negativity in the range.”

As he prepares for the 2026 season, Kumar remains focused on his primary goal of securing an Olympic medal. He views the Shooting League of India not merely as a tournament, but as a high-stakes ecosystem that will help every athlete elevate their performance while also garnering the audience’s support for the sport.