Monday, March 09
Norway Chess has confirmed Alireza Firouzja for its 2026 event in Oslo, while India No. 1 Arjun Erigaisi is still not in the announced lineup. Firouzja, a former prodigy who became a GM at 14 and the youngest to reach 2800 rating, has twice played the Candidates and finished runner-up at Norway Chess before. India will be represented by world champion Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, with more names to be revealed.
USA fast bowler Jasdeep Singh has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a shoulder injury sustained during a warm-up match against New Zealand. The ICC approved former Pakistan player Ehsan Adil as his replacement. Jasdeep, a key USA bowler with 54 ODI and 31 T20I wickets, was part of their historic 2024 World Cup win over Pakistan. His absence is a big setback for the team.
Virat Kohli announced his T20I retirement after India’s seven-run win over South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, saying it was time for the next generation. He was Player of the Match for his 76 and finished with 4,188 T20I runs. India ended an 11-year ICC trophy drought with an unbeaten campaign, celebrated nationwide with major rewards and honours.
Bas de Leede delivered a match-winning all-round performance against Namibia in Delhi, a venue where he previously set an unwanted ODI record. His unbeaten 72 and two wickets secured Netherlands' first T20 World Cup win, erasing the memory of a tough outing against Australia last year.
Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych will compete with a black armband after the IOC granted an exception, but his custom helmet honoring fallen Ukrainian athletes was banned. Officials cited Olympic regulations against political statements, calling the armband a compromise. Heraskevych expressed confusion over the helmet's rejection, emphasizing it was a tribute to the Olympic family.
The BCCI's central contracts for 2025-26 see several prominent names like Mohammed Shami and Ishan Kishan excluded, with the A+ category abolished. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are moved to Group B, while Shubman Gill enters Group A alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. Sai Sudharsan is the sole new male entrant.
Bengal secured a commanding innings and 90-run victory over Andhra to advance to the Ranji Trophy semifinals. Sudip Kumar Gharami's exceptional 299 laid the foundation for Bengal's dominance. The team will now face Jammu and Kashmir in the next round. Shahbaz Ahmed's bowling proved crucial in dismantling Andhra's second innings.
