SPORTS

Canberra, Oct 28 (IANS) India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav admitted that his batting form had been problematic and acknowledged that he’s been working really hard. The middle-order batter also spoke about the team’s combination and preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is set to be hosted by India in 2026.India are set to take on Australia in five T20Is starting here on Wednesday at the Manuka Oval. While the Indian ODI side failed to win the recently concluded series, the T20I team’s focus will not only be on winning the five-match series but also on finding clarity on their combination as the global tournament approaches.“I feel like I've been working really hard. It's not that I wasn't working hard before; I was doing it then, too. I've had good sessions back home and a few good o...

Canberra, Oct 28 (IANS) Australia skipper Mitch Marsh spoke about the team’s newly adopted aggressive approach ahead of their first T20I against reigning World Champions India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, and said the bold new style had developed organically, driven by the team’s personnel. Australia's new strategy in the shortest format will be put to the test by the visitors as the two sides gear up for a five-match T20I series down under. When the teams start their series here on Wednesday, the venue will be a hostile ground for the hosts, as passionate India supporters are expected to turn a sold-out Manuka Oval into a sea of blue, like they did during the recently concluded final ODI of the three-match series.Since their dismal second consecutive T20 World Cup exit in 2024, Australia hav...

Chattogram, Oct 28 (IANS) Bangladesh all-rounder Tanzim Hasan Sakib said their batting performance was not up to the mark, which resulted in a loss against the West Indies in the first T20I on Monday.Bangladesh missed the opportunity to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series, falling short by 16 runs while chasing a target of 165.The hosts suffered an early collapse, losing four wickets within the powerplay and dropping to 57 for 5. Despite a late fightback from Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Nasum Ahmed, who steadied the innings, Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 149 in 19.4 overs."They batted later in the innings. It felt good as the dew came in during the latter part of the innings. We lost the match in the PowerPlay since we lost four wickets in the first six overs," Tanzim, wh...

Adelaide, Oct 28 (IANS) Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey dismissed Stuart Broad’s remark that England would be facing “the worst Australian team since 2010,” stating that the tourists would have to “wait and see” in next month’s Ashes, implying that the Aussies are still strong and can't be written off.Responding to ex-Australia batter David Warner's prediction England would lose the series down under 4-0, Broad launched an early attack, describing Australia's current Test team as the worst since 2010. "You wouldn’t be outlandish in thinking – it’s actually not an opinion, it’s a fact – it’s probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won. And it’s the best English team since 2010,” he had said on his podcast For The Love Of Cricket.Now, reacting to Broad's comment, C...

New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) The England and Wales Cricket Board provided an update on Sophie Ecclestone, saying that the spinner suffered a minor injury to the joint next to her collarbone.England are preparing for their 2025 Women's ODI World Cup semifinal against South Africa, set to be held in Guwahati on Wednesday. The team remains optimistic about Ecclestone's availability for the vital knockout match despite the left-arm spinner’s injury.“Results of an MRI scan on Sophie Ecclestone’s left shoulder indicate a minor injury to the joint next to her collar bone. She will continue to be assessed ahead of Wednesday’s ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final against South Africa," the ECB said in a statement on Tuesday.Sophie Ecclestone had to leave the field early during the team’s final group stage ...

New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) Lionel Messi has expressed hope of representing Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aiming to help the defending champions retain their title when the tournament takes place in North America next summer, despite fitness and age concerns.Messi has been playing professionally since 2004. He made his La Liga debut with Barcelona in October of that year at only 17 years old, becoming, at the time, the youngest player to play for the Spanish club.The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner told NBC News that he will evaluate how his body feels before deciding whether to participate in the tournament across the United States, Mexico and Canada.“It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would love to,” said Messi, who will turn 39 next June. “I would lik...

Canberra, Oct 28 (IANS) India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav shared an update on Shreyas Iyer, who was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Sydney hospital after sustaining a spleen laceration, saying the batter is stable and was replying to the messages over phone.Iyer suffered the injury while taking the catch of Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carry during the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He was immediately taken to the hospital for further evaluation and was later admitted there to the ICU.'We spoke to him. At least on the first day, when we got to know that he had an injury, I called him first. Then I got to know that he didn't have a phone. Then I called my physio, Kamlesh. He told me that he is stable. On the first day, you cannot be sure of anything....

Madrid, Oct 28 (IANS) Real Madrid's 2-1 win over FC Barcelona has come at a price with the La Liga club confirming that defender Dani Carvajal has suffered a knee injury.The injury is likely to sideline the defender until the start of 2026 as the recovery process is expected to take around two months."Following tests carried out on our captain Dani Carvajal by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with the presence of a loose body in his right knee joint," reported the Real Madrid official website, adding the defender would "now undergo an arthroscopy surgery."The new injury setback comes after the Spain international returned to action as a second half substitute against Barcelona after missing a month with a muscle injury.If the recovery timeline holds, Carvajal won’t p...

Sydney, Oct 28 (IANS) Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is now in stable condition after sustaining a spleen laceration during the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Sources confirmed to IANS that the team management remains in close contact with him and is keeping a constant watch on his recovery.The injury, which was initially believed to be a rib cage issue, turned out to be more serious than first thought, prompting Iyer’s admission to the ICU in a Sydney hospital. He has since shown good signs of recovery, and his family is expected to travel to Australia soon to be by his side.A spleen laceration occurs when the spleen, a soft, blood-rich organ located beneath the rib cage on the upper left side of the abdomen...

Novi Sad (Serbia), Oct 28 (IANS) India’s Sujeet (65 kg, Freestyle) won the first gold medal for the country at the 2025 Under-23 Senior World Wrestling Championship held in Novi Sad, Serbia. Sujeet gave an excellent performance throughout the tournament. He started with a strong win over the Moldova wrestler by 12-2, and in the next round, he defeated the Polish wrestler by technical superiority (11-0).In the quarterfinal, Sujeet faced a tough bout but won a close fight 4-2 against a UWW wrestler to move into the semifinal. There, he defeated the Japanese wrestler in another close contest by 3-2 to reach the final.In the final bout, Sujeet showed great skill and confidence, defeating the Uzbek wrestler by technical superiority (10-0) to claim the gold medal for India.Earlier, the Indian wo...