Wednesday, May 06
R Ashwin questioned the growing quality gap in Indian domestic cricket after Bihar smashed a record 574 runs against Arunachal Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. While praising Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ashwin said such one-sided matches hurt competition and confidence. He also lauded Ishan Kishan’s comeback, highlighting how hard work and form revived his career.
Hardik Pandya stayed calm after a fan hurled abuse while he was leaving a restaurant with girlfriend Maheika Sharma following a Christmas dinner. The video went viral, drawing praise for his restraint. On the field, Pandya starred in India’s T20I series win over South Africa with explosive knocks, including a 16-ball fifty.
FC Goa staged a silent protest before kick-off in their AFC Champions League 2 match against Istiklol to highlight the “deepening uncertainty” in Indian football. The symbolic gesture drew attention to administrative issues affecting domestic leagues. On the field, Goa led early but lost 2-1, finishing bottom of their group without a point.
SA20 Season 4 begins on December 26 with marquee names in charge and a clear subtext ahead of the T20 World Cup. The spotlight is firmly on two-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape, where Tristan Stubbs steps into the captaincy amid leadership change, uneven recent form and once again renewed emphasis on local talent shaping South Africa’s premier T20 competition.
Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to amaze after smashing a 36-ball century for Bihar in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Veteran politician Shashi Tharoor compared his talent to a young Sachin Tendulkar. Suryavanshi scored 190, holds multiple age-records across formats, and is being hailed as one of Indian cricket’s brightest future stars.
On Christmas Day in 1914, World War I briefly paused as British and German soldiers laid down their weapons, met in no man’s land, and played football. Known as the Christmas Truce, the moment saw enemies sing carols, exchange gifts, and share humanity. For a few hours, football replaced hatred and became a symbol of peace.
Rohit Sharma won hearts after stopping a young fan from touching his feet following Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy opener. He then starred with the bat, smashing 155 off 94 balls as Mumbai beat Sikkim by eight wickets in Jaipur. Rohit’s knock included his fastest-ever List A century and ensured a dominant win.
World No. 1 and five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen has named Americans Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana as favourites for the 2026 Candidates, with India’s R Praggnanandhaa as the third contender. Praggnanandhaa is the only Indian among eight players competing to challenge World Champion D Gukesh. The tournament starts on March 28 in Cyprus.
England's Ashes tour faces off-field controversy after a mid-series break. Former captain Michael Vaughan urges restraint, stating the issue stems from cricket's ingrained drinking culture. He argues that players relaxing on days off often engage in similar behaviour. Vaughan believes this is a systemic problem across several cricketing nations, not an individual failing.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma addressed coach Shukri Conrad's "grovel" comment, admitting the phrasing was unfortunate. Bavuma stated the remark reflected the intensity of the Test series against India, not any deeper intent. Conrad later clarified his statement, acknowledging he could have chosen a better word.
