Category: Sports

Spiritual guru Devkinandan Thakur has ignited a political debate after criticizing the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and its co-owner, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, for acquiring Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman for the upcoming IPL season.

His comments have received mixed reactions from political leaders across various parties, with many emphasizing the importance of keeping sports separate from political and diplomatic issues.

Thakur accused KKR and Shah Rukh Khan of overlooking the alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. He expressed that Hindus and followers of Sanatan Dharma, who contributed to the actor’s stardom, were deeply hurt by the decision to include a Bangladeshi player in an Indian team, despite reports of atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

“Devotees of Sanatan and Hindus see that, without considering that Hindus in Bangladesh are being killed, burnt alive, and girls are being assaulted, a Bangladeshi player is being included in an Indian team,” Thakur stated.

He further argued that the money spent on acquiring a Bangladeshi player should instead be allocated for India’s development or as compensation for families affected by violence in Bangladesh.

Reacting to the controversy, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Mohammad Iqbal Trumboo said human rights violations must be condemned with consistency but warned against blending sports with politics.

“Wherever minorities are oppressed, in any country, we condemn it. Whether it is Hindus facing atrocities in Bangladesh or minorities facing oppression elsewhere, such acts should not happen and must be strongly denounced,” Trumboo remarked. He added, “As far as sports are concerned, if sports and politics remain separate, things will continue smoothly. The real need is that minorities should be protected and treated justly in every country.”

Congress leader Tariq Anwar also downplayed the controversy, asserting that sports should not be swayed by political or diplomatic tensions.

“I don’t know the background of this issue, but sports should be kept separate. Similar discussions have come up earlier as well, including during tours abroad. Whether a player is from another country or someone is a film star, there should be no issue in such matters,” he commented.

Conversely, the BJP supported Thakur’s viewpoint. BJP MLA Karnail Singh validated concerns regarding the situation of Hindus in Bangladesh and questioned the rationale behind endorsing Bangladeshi players.

“If they are so concerned about Bangladeshi players, then they should go to Bangladesh themselves,” he stated.

Recently, religious leaders in Ujjain issued a stark warning to disrupt IPL cricket matches by damaging pitches if Mustafizur Rahman is permitted to participate. This threat arises from increasing anger over violent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, particularly two severe lynching incidents tied to blasphemy accusations.

KKR has secured Bangladesh’s pacer Mustafizur Rahman for this year’s IPL at a cost of Rs 9.2 crore.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has expressed her desire for a rematch against Nick Kyrgios after her defeat to the Australian in the much-discussed “Battle of the Sexes” match.

The duo faced each other in Dubai, with Kyrgios securing a 6-3, 6-3 victory in an engaging and competitive contest. The match was played on a court adjusted to be nine percent smaller to accommodate the differences in movement and speed between male and female players.

Reflecting on the match, Sabalenka indicated she would prefer a modified setup for a potential rematch, particularly concerning court dimensions and serving rules. “I think I would definitely do it again. I love revenge, and I don’t like to leave it the way it is. I think for the next match we will come up with a different format. Before the match I didn’t realise I would have to adjust, and it was a bit tricky for me. I think I would keep the full court, but I would take two serves. That would even our level a lot more,” Sabalenka stated ahead of her title defence at the Brisbane International.

She noted the experience provided her with valuable insights into Kyrgios’ game, boosting her confidence for a future encounter. “I always say that when you are losing, you are learning and I learned a lot about his game. I know Nick as a player and a person better, and I feel I know how to play against him. I would do it again. I need revenge,” she added.

Despite the loss, Sabalenka took pride in pushing Kyrgios to his limits and relished making him work hard for the victory. She also extended her best wishes to him as he prepares for the Brisbane tournament. “I am happy that I was able to challenge him, make him work and make him physically get tired and mentally get tired. I felt really excited to see a man getting tired and going for his full game. It was a really cool experience, and I really hope he will do well here in Brisbane and play incredible tennis in the Australian Open,” she said.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge as the club’s poor run in the Premier League 2025-26 has raised serious concerns over his position. The West London-based club has won only one of their last seven Premier League games and has slipped to fifth position in the points table.

Recent Match Overview

The six-time Premier League winners let another victory slip through their fingers at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, drawing 2-2 with the Cherries. After the match, manager Enzo Maresca skipped the press conference, citing illness.

Emergency Talks Expected

According to a report by The Guardian, Chelsea is set to open the new year by holding emergency talks over Maresca’s position. It is expected that the Italian manager, who was booed by supporters during the disappointing 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, will not be in charge for Sunday’s trip to Manchester City.

Manager’s Future and Contract Details

The report also stated that Maresca wants to leave the club, but it remains unclear if he is willing to walk away without a payoff. His contract runs until 2029, with an option for an extra year.

Maresca’s Tenure at Chelsea

Maresca was appointed Chelsea manager in July 2024. Under his tenure, the West London club has played 92 matches so far and he boasts a strong record of 55 wins. On May 28, 2025, Maresca won his first trophy as Chelsea manager by lifting the UEFA Conference League after defeating Real Betis 4-1 in the final. This victory made Chelsea the only team to win all three of the current main UEFA competitions.

In July 2025, he guided his team to victory in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the first edition of the expanded competition, with a 3-0 win over the recently crowned Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

After a year of notable accomplishments, the Indian Hockey team is set to begin 2026 with a busy schedule that includes several major international tournaments. They will compete in the FIH Men’s World Cup and aim to defend their Asian Games title in Japan, making the upcoming year primarily focused on key international matches.

Hockey India League Kicks Off

The second season of the Hockey India League (HIL), now successfully revived, will kick off the new year. The Women’s HIL concludes on January 10 in Ranchi, while the Men’s HIL runs from January 3 to January 26. Matches are scheduled in Chennai, Ranchi, and Bhubaneswar, with the final set to be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

FIH Pro League Participation

After the domestic season, the men’s team will participate in the Indian leg of the FIH Pro League at Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela from February 10-15. This will be followed by fixtures in Australia from February 21-25, after which the team will travel to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in June for the remaining Pro League matches.

Women’s World Cup Qualifiers

The women’s team will compete in the World Cup Qualifiers on home ground in Hyderabad from March 8-14. This event serves as an essential final chance for the team to qualify for the 2026 FIH Women’s World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands. The qualifiers will include strong contenders such as England, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales, and Austria.

Major FIH Hockey World Cup Event

In August, the team will attend a major event: the FIH Hockey World Cup, jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. Set for August 14-30, this tournament provides the team an opportunity to leverage their recent Olympic achievement and compete for a spot on the podium.

Asian Games and Grassroots Development

The season will proceed in September with both teams travelling to Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, for the 20th Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4. As reigning champions, the Indian Men’s team seeks to defend their title and earn automatic qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

In addition to these international milestones, Hockey India remains dedicated to grassroots growth. A comprehensive domestic schedule is organized to offer competitive opportunities for younger players and to spot new talent for the senior national teams.

Indian Hockey Team Calendar 2026:

• Men’s Hockey India League: January 3-26, 2026
• Women’s Hockey India League: December 28, 2025 – January 10, 2026
• FIH Men’s Pro League (India): February 10-15, 2026
• FIH Men’s Pro League (Australia): February 21-25, 2026
• FIH Men’s Pro League (Netherlands & UK): June 14-28, 2026
• World Cup Qualifiers (Women’s): March 8-14, 2026
• FIH Hockey World Cup: August 15-30, 2026
• 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games: September 19 – October 4, 2026
• Nations Cup: TBC

Australia have named an unchanged squad from the Boxing Day Test for the upcoming final Test of the Ashes series, although conditions at the SCG could still prompt changes to the final XI. The match is set to begin on January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The announcement was made as the Australian team assembled in Sydney for their first training session following last week’s four-wicket defeat to England. The Melbourne Test ended inside two days on a pitch later deemed “unsatisfactory” by the ICC.

This loss marked Australia’s first defeat to England in red-ball cricket at home in almost 15 years, with 36 wickets falling across two days at the MCG. However, the result carried greater importance for England, as Australia had already secured the Ashes by winning the first three Tests in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

Many fans and cricket experts believe that the upcoming match, known as the New Year’s Test, will be Usman Khawaja’s final appearance for Australia. Reports indicate that Khawaja plans to speak to the media before the match begins, fueling retirement rumours. However, head coach Andrew McDonald has all but guaranteed that veteran batter Usman Khawaja will be marking centre in Sydney after posting the second-best score of Australia’s first innings in the Boxing Day Test.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Beau Webster may replace Cameron Green in the XI, as Green has yet to record a significant score in the series. Webster, however, has not been part of the XI in any of the four games so far this series and will be eager to end the Ashes strongly, especially since the hosts are already leading 3-1.

“We know we’ve got a quality player sitting there waiting. We’ve got a batting order that we’d like to think can function at a higher capacity, so we’ll be having conversations leading into Sydney,” head coach Andrew McDonald said.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.

Defending champions Mumbai Inddigihunt (MI) have strengthened their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) with the addition of former South African fast bowler Shabnim Ismail, along with Australian players Milly Illingworth and Nicola Carey, at their training camp.

Over the weekend, MI commenced their training camp to defend their title in the fourth edition of the WPL. Having won two of the three WPL seasons thus far, MI will kick off their campaign on January 9 against the 2024 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), at the DY Patil Stadium.

Shabnim has had a previous stint with MI and was brought back by the franchise during the mega auction held in New Delhi in November 2025. For Milly and Nicola, this will mark their debut in the WPL.

Jhulan Goswami, MI’s bowling coach and mentor, expressed enthusiasm about the season, stating, “Here we are. We already started our journey, 2026, and the way these youngsters are coming forward, really excited about this season and with quality players, like Shabnim Ismail. All others will come, but Shabnim is always special – the way she performs and is a genuine quick bowler and competitor, and whenever she’s around in our group, the vibes are different. So again, looking forward for one more season with her and looking forward that she’ll do well the way she has done in the past.”

As the squad gradually comes together, more star players like skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Amanjot Kaur are expected to join in the coming days. MI is continuing their pre-training program, focusing on building team cohesion, sharpening skills, and fine-tuning strategies ahead of the new season.

The 28-day tournament will take place across two venues in Navi Mumbai and BCA Stadium, Vadodara. This is the first time the WPL will be held in the January-February window, following the first three seasons which were played in February-March, just before the commencement of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Amid speculations surrounding his Test future, Australian batter Usman Khawaja will address the media at a press conference ahead of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Press Conference Details

According to a report from The Sydney Morning Herald, Khawaja will speak at the press conference on Friday morning to discuss the ongoing rumours about his Test future. Although the 39-year-old is a strong contender to be included in Australia’s playing XI for the final game, the status of his red-ball career post-Ashes remains uncertain.

The press event is scheduled for 8:15 am (Australian time). While Cricket Australia has not officially confirmed the speakers, the report indicates that Khawaja will be addressing the media. The timing has been adjusted to take place before the hosts’ training session on Friday.

Khawaja’s Performance in the Ashes

It has been a rollercoaster journey for the 87-Test veteran in the Ashes series, with his scores thus far being 2, 82, 40, 29, and 0. He suffered a back injury during the first Test in Perth, which caused him to miss the subsequent match in Brisbane.

Initially, there were expectations of him being dropped for the third Test in Adelaide, but he returned to the squad when Steve Smith fell ill on the morning of the match. Had Smith been fit, Khawaja would not have played in that game.

Comments from Michael Clarke

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has suggested that Khawaja should consider retiring after the upcoming fifth Ashes Test. He emphasized that this is a significant opportunity for Khawaja to leave the sport with dignity.

“I think this will be Usman’s farewell Test match. I don’t think it’s a token selection; they obviously picked him for Melbourne, so if they’ve gone that way, you pick him for Sydney as well. But I think he’ll retire after this Test match,” Clarke stated.

“Australia will win the series. Hopefully, he goes out with a big score. I’d love to see Uz make a hundred at the SCG and walk away on a high because not many people get that opportunity,” Clarke added in an interview with Code Sports.

Players and coaching staff of the Mumbai Inddigihunt Women’s Premier League (WPL) squad kicked off the new year in style with an in-house celebration. The franchise arranged a party for all the members who have joined the camp and started training ahead of the fourth edition of the tournament.

MI shared a video of the celebrations across their social media handles, featuring the players, alongside head coach Lisa Keightley and bowling coach Jhulan Goswami, cutting a cake, dancing, and enjoying themselves. They captioned the video, “Walking into 2026 in style.”

Two-time champions MI commenced their training camp on December 30, with the fourth edition of WPL set to take place across two venues: the first leg in Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium and the second in Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium from January 9 to February 5.

Speaking about the camp, Keightley stated, “It’s really good. We’ve had one training. It was great to work with domestic players. Really excited to see what they can do. It’s a good opportunity to watch, to see and communicate and make connections with the players. I’m really excited and really impressed with what I have seen so far. So let’s see how we go for the rest of the week.”

The defending champions will kick off their campaign on the opening day of the tournament, January 9, 2026, against the WPL 2024 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Notably, after three seasons of the WPL, MI remains the most successful team, having won the first and third editions of the tournament. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, they are focused on defending their title as the WPL quickly approaches.

MI Squad for WPL 2026: Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, Kamalini G, Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Rahila Firdous, Sajana S, Sanskriti Gupta, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, Milly Illingworth, Saika Ishaque.

Beginning the new year on a spiritual note after their historic World Cup triumph, members of the Indian Women’s cricket team sought the blessings of Lord Shiva at the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain. The players also attended the early morning bhasm arti at the temple.

After a successful stint in 2025, with the Indian Women’s team winning their first ICC trophy, this year will also bring new challenges for the world champions. To conquer it all, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Renuka Singh Thakur, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, and Arundhati Reddy, among others, sought blessings from the priest while gearing up for another promising year ahead.

Social Media Celebrations

Opener Shafali Verma shared photos of the visit on social media, wishing everyone a great year. She was seen with Renuka Singh Thakur and Sneh Rana in traditional attire. Shafali wrote, “Happy New Year, everyone. Have a great 2026!” Renuka Singh Thakur also posted photos from the visit to the divine shrine, stating, “Starting the new year with faith, devotion and Mahadev’s blessings. Happy 2026 to everyone.”

Past Visits and Achievements

The Indian players had also visited the Mahakal temple last year during the Women’s World Cup, ahead of a crucial match against England. The Women in Blue stunned the defending champions, Australia, to enter the final of the home World Cup, ultimately beating South Africa by 52 runs at DY Patil Stadium to clinch their maiden ICC trophy.

Looking Ahead

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team recently completed a dominant 5-0 whitewash against Sri Lanka and has begun preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026 on a high note. India is set to face Australia in February and England in May before heading to the T20 World Cup, which will be held in June in England this year.

Pep Guardiola has described Manchester City’s 2024/25 campaign as one of the standout seasons, after his team demonstrated remarkable mental and physical fortitude to recover from an injury-laden term and flourish when it mattered most.

Guardiola has led City to 18 major trophies over his nearly 10 years in charge, including six Premier League titles in eight seasons. Last season, City finished third in the Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League once again.

“Last season, what we did and overcame was one of the best seasons that we have had as a team. All the guys that were there and the staff, backroom staff, it was arguably one of the best we have had. It’s how you overcome the problems that define the seasons,” Guardiola was quoted by the Manchester City website.

“And from the perspective now, every time when I reflect what happened last season, I am more proud than ever of what we have done as a club and how we handled the bad, bad situations, how the hierarchy, Khaldoon, the CEO, how incredible the messages of support of ‘let’s go, let’s go, let’s go’. Just in this incredible club, (it) can happen,” he added.

City will usher in 2026 with a pre-season trip to the Stadium of Light, marking the start of an intense month that will see Guardiola’s side face nine games across all competitions.

Between five key Premier League fixtures, City will also complete their initial Champions League phase against Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray, face a Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg trip to Newcastle, and open their FA Cup campaign at home against Exeter.

Coming off an eight-match winning run and sitting second in the Premier League, City will play Sunderland on Friday. Guardiola believes that if they can maintain this impressive momentum into the New Year, it could prove hugely significant for the season as a whole.

“This month is important because in November and December we were really good. This month will define Champions League qualification and which position we are in, and in the Premier League we will try and be close to the top of the league,” said Guardiola.