Author: Raghav Singh

Nick Kyrgios has confirmed that he will not participate in the Australian Open singles draw this year, opting instead to focus on doubles, where he is expected to team up again with Thanasi Kokkinakis.

“After some good conversations with TA, I’ve made the call to focus on doubles for this year’s AO. I’m fit and back on court, but 5-setters are a different beast and I’m not quite ready to go the distance yet,” Kyrgios shared in his Instagram story section on Friday.

“This tournament means everything to me but I’d rather give my spot to someone who’s ready to make their moment count. It’s all building blocks and I’ll be back next year and pumped to compete. See you out there,” he added.

In 2025, Kyrgios played just five matches before ending his season in March. He gradually returned to competition with a series of exhibition matches in New York and Dubai last month, later receiving a wildcard for the Brisbane International, where he lost 6-3, 6-4 to Aleksander Kovacevic in the first round on Tuesday.

Additionally, Kyrgios and his doubles partner, Thanasi Kokkinakis, were defeated by the French duo Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul on Wednesday in the second round in Brisbane.

Kyrgios has faced multiple serious injuries in recent years, causing his world ranking to plummet to 673, leaving him without a protected ranking. The former Wimbledon finalist has competed in just one Grand Slam match since 2022.

He claimed the men’s doubles title with fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open 2022, defeating Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in straight sets.

Since losing the 2022 Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic, Kyrgios has undergone a wrist reconstruction and two knee surgeries. He has competed in only six professional singles matches over the past three years and has not played since Miami in March last year.

Former champion Stan Wawrinka, along with Australdigihunt Jordan Thompson and Chris O’Connell, has been awarded wildcards for the Australian Open main draw, which begins January 18 at Melbourne Park.

Wawrinka’s Return to the Australian Open

Wawrinka won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2014, a year in which he reached a career-high ranking of world No. 3. He also made it to the semifinals in 2015 and 2017 and advanced to the quarterfinals in 2020.

This will mark Wawrinka’s 20th appearance in singles at the Australian Open. Last year, he lost in four tight sets in the first round to Lorenzo Sonego. Since 2006, he has only missed one edition of the tournament and has reached the quarter-finals five times. Wawrinka holds a 43-18 record at the Australian Open, according to the ATP Win/Loss Index.

The 40-year-old Swiss recently announced that 2026 will be his last year competing on the ATP Tour. Wawrinka expressed his gratitude for the wildcard, stating, “Winning the Australian Open in 2014, my first Grand Slam title, is an absolute career highlight for me, so I’m incredibly grateful to receive this wildcard. To have the chance to play the AO at the beginning of my final year on tour means the world to me. Thank you to Tennis Australia for the opportunity and I can’t wait to be back out on court at Melbourne Park.”

Thompson’s Journey

Jordan Thompson debuted in the Australian Open main draw the same year Wawrinka triumphed and is working his way back from injuries. The former world No. 26 experienced back pain at Wimbledon but still reached the fourth round, though he played a limited schedule for the remainder of 2025.

Now ranked 113th, Thompson aims to reach the third round for the first time at Melbourne Park, a round he has already achieved at the other three majors. “I’m super grateful for the wildcard into my home Slam and looking forward to playing in front of my favourite crowd,” Thompson said.

O’Connell’s Aspirations

For Chris O’Connell, the Australian Open 2026 will be his eighth appearance in the main draw, with his best result being a third-round finish in 2022. After ending his season early in October, he made a promising return at the Brisbane International earlier this month, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the main draw.

“After struggling with injuries toward the end of last year and having to cut my season short, I’m now feeling fit and healthy. I’m extremely grateful to Tennis Australia for the opportunity to compete in the main draw,” O’Connell stated.

Federico Valverde and Rodrygo found the net, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois delivered a string of impressive saves, as Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1 to secure a spot in Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final against FC Barcelona.

Match Overview

Atletico dominated the match, registering more than double the shots of Real Madrid. However, they could only manage one goal through Alexander Sorloth’s second-half header.

The action began in the second minute when Jude Bellingham was fouled around 10 meters outside the Atletico penalty area. The referee awarded a free kick to Real Madrid. Valverde took the kick, striking the ball hard and flat; it was still rising when it hit the back of the net, leaving goalkeeper Jan Oblak with no chance.

Real Madrid started the game by pressing high, which disrupted Atletico’s ability to move the ball effectively. As the half progressed, Atletico created several scoring opportunities but was thwarted repeatedly by their former goalkeeper, Courtois.

Sorloth had an early chance, heading over, while Julian Alvarez fired wide. Courtois then showcased his skills by deflecting Alex Baena’s shot. He continued to impress, making a brilliant reflex save to tip away Sorloth’s header from a corner. After Sorloth nodded over Conor Gallagher’s cross, Courtois denied Baena again, with Gallagher hitting the rebound wide.

Second Half Highlights

Atletico started the second half strongly, but it was Real Madrid that extended their lead in the 55th minute, Rodrygo taking advantage of Valverde’s through-ball to finish coolly past Oblak. Three minutes later, Sorloth powered a header into the net, reducing the deficit for Atletico.

Courtois was called into action again, pushing another effort from Sorloth wide. Real Madrid had to make defensive changes with Antonio Rudiger and Raul Asencio replaced by Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia.

Despite Atletico’s continued pressure, Courtois once again came through, denying Antoine Griezmann before Marcos Llorente and Alvarez sent attempts just wide.

Although many eyes will be on Jeddah for the Spanish Supercup final on Sunday—featuring Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and Athletic Bilbao—the other 16 La Liga sides are in action in what promises to be a key weekend.

Villarreal’s Opportunity

Villarreal have a great chance to close the gap on the leaders with a home game against Deportivo Alaves. Marcelino Garcia Toral’s side is currently 11 points behind Barcelona and seven behind Real Madrid but has two games in hand.

Alaves have slipped close to the relegation zone in recent weeks, mainly due to problems in front of goal; the side coached by Luis García Plaza last scored twice in a league match in early November.

New Tactical Perspectives

The round of games kicks off Saturday when new Real Sociedad coach Pellegrino Matarazzo takes his side to play Getafe. While Real Sociedad looked improved in Matarazzo’s first game, Getafe have been struggling of late despite a late equaliser away to Rayo Vallecano last weekend.

Coach Pepe Bordalas also has to deal with a long list of absences. He is without his three first-choice central defenders—Djene, Domingos Duarte, and Abdelkabir Abqar—and top scorer Borja Mayoral.

Getafe seem to have improved after the arrival of coach Guillermo Fernandez Romo from Valladolid, but the bottom-of-the-table club still struggles to score. The team has the unenviable statistic of having seen as many red cards (eight) this season as it has goals. Striker Fede Vico has received three of those red cards and is suspended for the visit of a Betis side that is sixth but needs to respond after Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing by Real Madrid.

Challenging Matches Ahead

Girona climbed out of the relegation zone after winning in Mallorca last weekend and can consolidate their position with a win at home to Osasuna, which has only managed two draws away from El Sadar Stadium all season.

A win for Girona would pile pressure on Valencia, which slipped into the bottom three after a heavy 4-1 defeat to Celta Vigo last weekend. That defeat further soured the atmosphere to such an extent that a window on the Valencia team bus was broken by fans upon the return from Vigo.

Valencia should have striker Umar Sadiq available for the vital home game against Elche after his signing from Real Sociedad, but coach Rubén Baraja will lose first-choice goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to suspension. His replacement, Jaume Doménech, is also doubtful. With top scorer Hugo Duro suspended and key defender Mouctar Diakhaby out with a hamstring problem, it’s a match Baraja likely must win to secure his position.

Climbing Away from the Bottom

Rayo Vallecano host Mallorca on Sunday in a crucial match to climb away from the bottom three, while Levante look to build on last weekend’s impressive 3-0 win away to Sevilla when they entertain Espanyol, whose five-game unbeaten run was ended by Barcelona last weekend.

Sevilla face Celta Vigo on Monday, and Sevilla coach Quique Sánchez Flores is another manager whose job is under threat if his side doesn’t secure a victory.

Till two years back, there was no opportunity for lakhs of talented youngsters around the country to participate in major beach games. The Khelo India Beach Games, currently being held in Daman and Diu, has emerged as a significant platform for these sportspersons to showcase their talent and aspire to make it to the international stage.

Umabati Patra’s Triumph

Umabati Patra from Odisha, who won the gold medal in Pencak Silat at the second edition of the Khelo India Beach Games, expressed her gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing such opportunities. “It feels amazing (to participate in these Games), and I am very happy to have won the gold medal. I would like to give credit to the Sports Department, Odisha, for helping us train well for this competition; they took care of our diet, and all facilities were great,” she said.

Patra acknowledged the hard work that led to her victory, stating, “We did hard work in the lead-up to the Games, and therefore we won the gold medal. Credit for winning this gold also goes to my coach, Prem Singh Thapa, who is the secretary of our state association, as they made all the arrangements for our training. Khelo India is a huge platform, and I am very grateful to Prime Minister Modi for starting it.”

Shreya’s Bronze Medal Achievement

Shreya, who secured a bronze medal in the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG), shared her excitement: “It feels amazing to win a bronze medal on such a big platform. Khelo India is a huge platform and feels almost like an international event. I am very grateful for this opportunity.”

Event Details

The Khelo India Beach Games 2026, organised by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, is taking place under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India and national sports federations.

This edition of the Khelo India Beach Games is witnessing over 1,100 participants competing in eight different sports—volleyball, soccer, sepaktakraw, kabaddi, pencak silat, open water swimming, mallakhamb, and tug-of-war. The first six are medal sports, with 32 gold medals available.

Ganga Kings of Mirzapur triumphed over Gazab Ghaziabad, derailing their hopes of making it to the top-four stage of Season 2 of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) in Noida on Thursday.

High Stakes Clash

The opening match of Do-or-Die Week on Day 15 of UPKL Season 2 was critical for both teams. Ganga Kings, already out of the top-four race, faced Gazab Ghaziabad, who entered the contest in fourth place, needing a victory to secure their playoff position.

The match started evenly, with both teams exchanging raids and tackles during the initial exchanges. As the game progressed, Ganga Kings strengthened their defensive structure and began to take control. Their disciplined defense paid off, forcing Gazab Ghaziabad to face two all-outs, which opened up a decisive lead and shifted the momentum firmly in their favor.

Second Half Struggle

In the second half, Gazab Ghaziabad raised their intensity and managed to force an all-out on Ganga Kings, briefly rekindling hopes of a comeback. However, the gap proved too large to bridge as Ganga continued to manage the game intelligently, keeping Gazab from sustaining their needed momentum.

In the final phase, Ganga Kings maintained their composure under pressure, ensuring that Gazab remained at arm’s length and sealing a 44–38 victory. This result was significant during Do-or-Die Week, as Ganga Kings, despite being out of top-four contention, spoiled Gazab Ghaziabad’s qualification push and added another twist to the playoff race.

Other Matches on Day 15

Later on Day 15, matches took place between Lucknow Lions and Brij Stars, Aligarh Tigers and Yamuna Yoddhas, and JD Noida Ninjas and Kashi Kings, each carrying crucial implications for the final league standings.

Recap of Day 14

On Day 14 of UPKL Season 2, high stakes and sharp contrasts emerged as the playoff race intensified. Kashi Kings remained in contention with a composed 44–29 win over Kanpur Warriors, gaining control with a late first-half all-out and managing the game comfortably afterward.

In a tense third match, Purvanchal Panthers edged JD Noida Ninjas via a 6–5 tie-breaker after a 34–34 draw, demonstrating greater clarity in the decider.

Sangam Challengers wrapped up the day emphatically, overwhelming Awadh Ramdoots 57–23, registering five all-outs in a dominant display led by Pankaj Thakur. With only two league days remaining, the race for the top four is finely poised, promising an intense finish.

New Zealand’s Vellore-born leg-spinner Adithya Ashok is thrilled about the opportunity to test his bowling skills against Indian batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the upcoming three-match ODI series starting in Vadodara on Sunday.

Ashok, 23, who moved from Vellore, Tamil Nadu, to Auckland, New Zealand, at the age of four, has participated in two ODIs and a T20I. With New Zealand missing several regular players for this 50-over series, this presents Ashok with a chance to bowl to two of the game’s modern legends.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity and challenge to play against those guys and, again, test yourself against people that are considered great and definitely are great. The things that they’ve done for the game and the achievements across their careers have been pretty phenomenal,” Ashok stated during a select virtual interaction.

The leg-spinner sports the tattoo ‘En vazhi thani vazhi’ (My way is a unique way) on his bowling arm, a nod to superstar Rajinikanth from his film ‘Padayappa’. This tribute honors both the actor and Adithya’s late grandfather, who watched the movie with him before passing away.

Ashok’s last trip to India was for a two-week spin camp at the CSK Academy in Chennai, led by coach Sriram Krishnamurthy. He aims to leverage this experience while bowling to Kohli and Rohit.

“I’m going in with an opportunity mindset and a growth mindset, really process-driven. I’m trying to bring my unique skills to the table while competing. I’m excited to play against Rohit, Kohli, and everyone else in the team. They are all phenomenal players,” he added.

Rather than viewing the series as pressure-filled, Ashok is concentrating on improvement and soaking up the learning experience that comes with bowling in India. “The way that I’ve tried to approach things is being really process-driven and understanding that if I can learn new methods about myself as a cricketer and as a person, I think that puts me in a richer position,” he explained.

“Obviously, success would be great, but if you can remove expectation and emotions around the outcome, that puts you in the best position to learn and improve. My focus has always been on how to get better—if I’m improving by one percent every day, the results will follow,” he elaborated.

Ashok, who represented New Zealand in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, looks up to Australia’s leg-spin legend Shane Warne and fellow Kiwi Ish Sodhi. He also credits former national spinners and his mentors, Tarun Nethula and Paul Wiseman, as vital figures in his life, especially during his recovery from back surgery performed by Rowan Schouten, who has operated on notable players like Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna.

“Having the back issue was a major setback. Being a young spinner with such an injury is quite rare,” he shared. He added that both Nethula and Wiseman have played crucial roles in his game, particularly in his return to play, discussing how to maintain movement and positioning to avoid further strain on his back.

Ashok continues to communicate frequently with his mentors while on tour, sharing updates like after New Zealand’s first training session in Vadodara. “I sent Tarun a message about how things went today. I’m constantly reaching out to both of them; they’re vital to my support network,” concluded Ashok, who possesses all the elements needed to carve out a successful path in the New Zealand cricket setup across formats.

Vedanta Kalinga Lancers secured their second consecutive win with a narrow 2-1 victory over Shrachi Bengal Tigers in the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2025-26 at Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai.

Match Summary

• Goals:
  • Alexander Hendrickx (52’) and Boby Singh Dhami (57’) scored for the Lancers.
  • Affan Yousuf (56’) netted for the Tigers.

The match started with the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers dominating possession, marking 11 circle entries compared to just two for the Shrachi Bengal Tigers. Although the Lancers had a couple of goal attempts, forcing Tigers’ keeper James Carr into action, they couldn’t capitalize apart from one penalty corner in a goalless first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Tigers found their stride, making nine circle entries and four shots. However, they were thwarted by Lancers’ keeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak, who delivered some outstanding saves. Despite the attacking efforts from both teams, the first half ended scoreless.

As the game progressed, Shrachi Bengal Tigers built on their momentum, pushing the Lancers back with intricate plays. Both teams showed defensive resilience, preventing any breakthrough. Heading into the final quarter, the score remained level.

James Carr continued to shine in goal for the Tigers at the start of the fourth quarter. However, the breakthrough came from Alexander Hendrickx’s drag-flick from a penalty corner in the 52nd minute, giving the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers the lead. The advantage was short-lived, as a long ball was controlled by Enrique Gonzalez, who set up Affan Yousuf for a tap-in to equalize just four minutes later.

The final stages of the match saw increased intensity. Following the equalizer, the Lancers quickly responded from a penalty corner, where the goalkeeper’s initial save fell perfectly for Boby Singh Dhami. From close range, he made no mistake, scoring the winner in the 57th minute to secure all three points for the Lancers. With this victory, the Lancers climbed to second place on the points table.

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu’s Prasanna Bendre added a Tanding gold in Beach Pencak Silat to his tally while Tamil Nadu grabbed four medals, including a gold and silver, in Beach Volleyball at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 at Ghoghla Beach in Diu.

Bendre, who had previously won the silver medal in Tunggel, clinched the men’s Tanding Class B 50-55kg gold by defeating Manipur’s Yaikhom Rohit Meitei 15-0 in the final. This victory brought the hosts’ medal tally to two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.

Tamil Nadu took the lead on the medals table thanks to their strong performance in the Beach Volleyball Arena and the men’s regu gold in Pencak Silat. At the end of day 4, Tamil Nadu leads with two gold, two silver, and three bronze, while hosts DNH and DD sit in second with six medals (two golds, two silvers, and two bronze). Manipur is in third place with two gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.

In the women’s Beach Volleyball final, Deepika and Pavithra defeated Pondicherry’s Revathi and Swetha 2-0 to secure the gold medal, while Swathi and Dharshini earned the bronze medal.

Bharat and Rajesh had an opportunity for Tamil Nadu to achieve a double, but they were unable to match Goa’s Tejas Gauns and Prabal Sawan, losing 0-2. Meanwhile, Senthilkumar Abithan and U Poonthamizhan from Tamil Nadu won the bronze medal.

The Khelo India Beach Games 2026, organized by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, is held under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India and national sports federations. Over 1100 participants are competing in eight different sports, including volleyball, soccer, sepaktakraw, kabaddi, pencak silat, open water swimming, mallakhamb, and tug-of-war. The first six are medal sports, with a total of 32 gold medals available.

Earlier, Haryana women and Delhi men dashed Bihar’s hopes of winning a gold medal in Beach Sepaktakraw, registering contrasting victories in the regu finals.

In the women’s final, Haryana rebounded after losing the opening regu to beat Bihar 2-1 in a match that lasted an hour and 15 minutes, while Delhi’s men defeated Bihar with a straightforward 2-0 score.

Haryana’s teams are on track for a double in Beach Kabaddi, with both their women’s and men’s teams reaching the finals under different circumstances. The women defeated Uttar Pradesh 38-32, while the men secured a hard-fought 33-31 victory over Maharashtra. They will face Rajasthan in both finals.

In Beach Soccer, defending champions Odisha delivered a commanding 7-0 win over debutants Himachal Pradesh to reach the women’s final. Srijana Tamang, Satyabati Khadia, and Khundongbam Ambalika each scored two goals for the victors.

In the second women’s semi-final, Gujarat’s strong start, scoring four goals in the first quarter, was enough for a 6-3 win over Arunachal Pradesh. Skipper Giani Ramching Mara scored one goal each in all three quarters for the losing side, but received little support.

TODAY’S RESULTS:

Beach Pencak Silat

Women
Regu: Gold – Odisha; Silver – Maharashtra; Bronze – Bihar, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu
Tanding Class B 50-55kg: Gold – Thokchom Roji Chanu (Man); Silver – Hatneinem Khongsai (Nag); Bronze – Parmesh Chauhan (Goa), Sonia (Chd)
Tanding Class C 55-60kg: Gold – Tripti Pandey (MP); Silver – Naushaba (Chd); Bronze – Drishti (Del), Nabam Yani (Arunachal)

Men
Regu: Gold – Tamil Nadu; Silver – Maharashtra; Bronze – Odisha, Karnataka
Tanding Class B 50-55kg: Gold – Prasanna Bendre (DNH&DD); Silver – Yaikhom Rohit Meitei (Man); Bronze – Aryaveer Singh (UP), Eshu Bharti (Utr)
Tanding Class C 55-60kg: Gold – Aaryan (Pun); Silver – Sohil Gurung (Odi); Bronze – Nikhil (Chd), Krishana Bairwa (Del)

Beach Kabaddi (semifinals)
Women: Haryana bt Uttar Pradesh 38-32; Rajasthan 56-28
Men: Haryana bt Maharashtra 33-31; Rajasthan bt Uttar Pradesh 57-22

Beach Soccer (semifinals)
Women: Gujarat bt Arunachal Pradesh 6-3; Odisha bt Himachal Pradesh 7-0

Beach Sepaktakraw
Women Regu: Gold – Haryana; Silver – Bihar; Bronze – Uttar Pradesh, Manipur
Men Regu: Gold – Delhi; Silver – Bihar; Bronze – Manipur, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu

Beach Volleyball
Women: Gold – Deepika/Pavithra (TN); Silver – Revathi/Swetha (Pdy); Bronze – Swathi/Dharshini (TN)
Men: Gold – Sawan/Gauns (Goa); Silver – Bharat/Rajesh (TN); Bronze – Senthilkumar Abithan and U Poonthamizhan

Gujarat Giants (GG) appear more competitive heading into the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, but they need to resolve dilemmas surrounding their overseas players and opening combination, said former India captain Anjum Chopra.

Investment in Talent

In last year’s mega auction, the Ashleigh Gardner-led GG invested heavily in New Zealand’s veteran all-rounder Sophie Devine, as well as securing Georgia Wareham, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, and Kim Garth. After finishing at the bottom of the points table in 2023 and 2024, GG showcased significant improvement by finishing third in the league stage in 2025, qualifying for the Eliminator, where they lost to the eventual champions Mumbai Inddigihunt.

Strategic Decisions Ahead

“Yes. I guess the fact that again, with four international players, whether they can balance out with Sophie Devine – they paid quite a bit for her at the auctions. So, they have to ensure that she finds a place in the playing eleven. If you are not able to utilise those services, because again, for them, who will open with Beth Mooney? They’ve got options – they can open with Sophie Devine, or Yastika (Bhatia),” Anjum Chopra explained in an exclusive conversation.

Australia batter Beth Mooney is expected to serve as the keeper again, considering Yastika is still recovering from an ACL surgery done after injuring her left knee during last year’s ODI World Cup preparatory camp in Visakhapatnam.

Competition Intensifies

“Besides who they decide to open with, it’s also about who they decide to go with for wicket-keeping between Mooney and Yastika. So, it’s a good, healthy balance. It’s also beneficial for the Indian players because it’s seven plus four in the playing eleven – so there are seven places up for grabs for an Indian player,” added Anjum Chopra.

She also highlighted that the limited spots for Indian players will heighten competition for positions in the starting line-up. “But there are only a few specialist positions – so, the Indian talent will also start understanding that it’s not just about being picked in the auction. It’s also about ensuring that you’re able to get into the playing eleven and showcase your skills,” Anjum noted.

Fitness Concerns

With the tournament lasting approximately three and a half weeks, player fitness will be vital for GG’s bowling department to maintain a sustained performance. Renuka Singh Thakur has performed well since recovering from a back stress fracture, while Kashvee Gautam and Titas Sadhu have successfully returned to action after healing from their respective injuries.

“Fitness is part and parcel of it. It’s about a three and a half weeks tournament. So, at this time, there are ample gaps as well because simultaneously, the men’s series against New Zealand is also going to be on. The rest or break part is already taken care of, as it’s not a very long tournament,” Anjum explained.

“I’m sure every player wants to remain fit and counted because after this WPL, there’ll probably be a series or two. That also is not for every nation, I guess, before they head out to England for the T20 World Cup. So, you want to make sure that you’re ticking the boxes in the right manner,” she added.

Excitement for Women’s Cricket

The WPL will be played for the first time since India’s ODI World Cup triumph, with Anjum Chopra anticipating increased fan engagement, though the hype and build-up for the tournament have been somewhat muted.

“Because the Indian team has already won a World Cup, each time they get onto the park, excitement and happiness surround the team. Now for the first time, after winning T20Is against Sri Lanka, this team will be divided into five different sides,” she noted.

“It will be Smriti Mandhana up against Harmanpreet Kaur in the very first match. So, I guess it’s exciting times for the women’s game, and that’s the biggest high. I just hope it keeps getting better with every passing day. There can be a slight dip as well, but as far as we are moving ahead, we are improving individually and collectively, and I’m sure the excitement around women’s cricket will always remain.”