Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra praised KL Rahul’s composure, adaptability and finishing skills after the wicketkeeper-batter played a decisive unbeaten knock to steer India to a four-wicket win in a tense chase against New Zealand in the first ODI at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, on Sunday. Chasing 301, India appeared to be cruising before the innings hit a nervous phase. The hosts slipped to 242 for 5, bringing Harshit Rana to the crease alongside Rahul, with the pressure firmly back on India. What followed, however, underlined Rahul’s maturity and game awareness.

Rahul chose caution over aggression during his stand with Rana, putting together a vital 37-run partnership. Rather than forcing shots, Rahul focused on strike rotation and protecting his partner, allowing Rana to take the risks while ensuring New Zealand were not gifted a breakthrough that could have exposed the tail. After Rana’s dismissal, Rahul shifted gears subtly. He added another crucial 27 runs with Washington Sundar, this time taking greater responsibility for scoring while still keeping the chase under control. Despite being known for his attacking strokeplay, Rahul resisted the temptation to go big until the moment was right. With India needing 12 runs from the final two overs, Rahul finally unleashed. He found the boundary early in the 49th over, then sealed the contest by striking two boundaries followed by a six in the closing stages, finishing the chase with authority. Speaking on JioStar, Aakash Chopra highlighted how Rahul adapted his approach to the situation. “KL Rahul’s batting approach in this first ODI against New Zealand was interesting. We know him as an aggressive player. But here, with Harshit Rana and an injured Washington Sundar batting with him, he was different,” Chopra said. “Many times you think he will accelerate and finish the match quickly with a big shot, but he took his time. The first ball he hit in the 49th over wasn’t a boundary ball, but he found the boundary. He has the ability of finding the boundaries easily and he hits his shots when he wants,” he added. Chopra also underlined Rahul’s versatility and temperament, comparing his calmness in the closing overs to that of MS Dhoni. “He was taking singles off balls he usually hits, but he waited for the right chances. In a different way, his versatility is his biggest quality. Ask him to open, keep the wickets, or be the stand-in captain, he will do it. He just hasn’t bowled yet, that is pending,” Chopra said. “In these death overs, controlling the chase so well, controlling the nerves almost like Dhoni, hats off to KL Rahul. He is excelling at the toughest role in modern cricket – the finisher,” he concluded.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the Board of Control for Cricket in India has not received any communication from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on reports suggesting a change of venue for Bangladesh’s matches in the T20 World Cup. He said the issue is between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC.India and Sri Lanka are scheduled to co-host the T20 World Cup from February 7. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had written to the ICC requesting that its matches be moved to Sri Lanka, citing “security concerns” due to tensions between the two countries. The BCB also said it had received a response from the ICC, which assured them that the matter would be examined.The BCB’s apprehensions followed the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the instructions of the BCCI for unspecified reasons, amid reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.Meanwhile, some reports suggested that the ICC is looking at alternative venues for Bangladesh’s matches. It was reported that Bangladesh is unlikely to play in Sri Lanka, which was its preferred option, and that Chennai and Trivandrum are being considered instead of the originally scheduled venues of Kolkata and Mumbai.However, Saikia said the BCCI has not been informed of any such development.“The BCCI has not received any communication regarding the matter of shifting Bangladesh matches to Chennai or anywhere else, and it is beyond our control. It is a matter of communication between the BCB and the ICC, as the ICC is the governing body. If the ICC conveys any decision to us regarding a change of venue, the BCCI, as the host, will take the necessary steps. At present, we are not privy to any such information,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.As per the existing schedule, Bangladesh are set to play three matches in Kolkata — against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14. They are then scheduled to play Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.

NEW DELHI: Defending champions Karnataka advanced to the semifinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the fourth season in a row after beating Mumbai by 55 runs via the VJD method on Monday.Chasing a target of 255, Karnataka were 187 for 1 in 33 overs when rain stopped play at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. At that stage, the VJD par score was 132, with Karnataka well ahead. Devdutt Padikkal was unbeaten on 81 off 95 balls, while Karun Nair was not out on 74 from 80 deliveries.Earlier, Mumbai were restricted to 254 for 8 after Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal chose to bowl. Mumbai were already without pacer Tushar Deshpande due to personal reasons, and suffered another setback when Sarfaraz Khan was ruled out after injuring his finger during net practice.Mumbai struggled early and slipped to 60 for 4 in 17.2 overs. Shams Mulani held the innings together with 86 off 91 balls, hitting eight boundaries. He added 76 runs for the sixth wicket with captain Siddhesh Lad, who scored 38 off 58 balls.After Lad was dismissed, Mumbai lost two quick wickets, but Mulani continued to anchor the innings. He reached his half-century off 68 balls and accelerated later with support from Sairaj Patil, who scored 33 not out off 25 balls. The pair helped Mumbai add 59 runs in the final five overs. Mulani was dismissed lbw by Abhilash Shetty in the final over.For Karnataka, Vidyadhar Patil picked up three wickets for 42 runs, while Abhilash Shetty and Vidwath Kaverappa claimed two wickets each.In the chase, Agarwal and Padikkal started cautiously before Karnataka lost their captain in the powerplay. Agarwal edged Mohit Avasthi to slip for 12 off 24 balls. Mumbai then missed two chances to dismiss Padikkal. On 24, he was dropped by Onkar Tarmale at deep fine leg, and later survived another chance at first slip.Padikkal made Mumbai pay and increased the scoring rate, hitting boundaries through the leg side. He and Nair added 143 runs for the second wicket in 150 balls.Nair returned to form with a half-century off 44 balls, his third fifty of the tournament and 16th in List A cricket. Mumbai used seven bowlers, but apart from Avasthi’s early wicket, none could make further breakthroughs.Karnataka had earlier topped Elite Group A with six wins from seven matches and continued their strong run with this victory.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced a one-sided show in Navi Mumbai as an explosive opening stand between Grace Harris and Smriti Mandhana sealed a nine-wicket win over UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League on Monday. Asked to bat first, UP Warriorz were rocked early by disciplined bowling from RCB and slumped to 50 for 5 inside nine overs. The innings was rescued by a calm and increasingly aggressive sixth-wicket partnership between Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin. After steadying things initially, the pair lifted the tempo late, adding 93 runs together to take UPW to 143 for 5. Deepti finished unbeaten on 45 off 35 balls, striking five fours and a six, while Dottin supported her with an unbeaten 40 off 37 deliveries. Nadine de Klerk and Shreyanka Patil picked up two wickets apiece, while Lauren Bell impressed again with figures of 1 for 16 from four overs.

RCB’s reply was brutal. Harris set the tone straightaway, taking on Deepti Sharma in the opening over and never easing up. Alongside her, Mandhana rotated strike smoothly and punished anything loose. The turning point came in the final over of the powerplay, when Harris dismantled Deandra Dottin for 32 runs, an over that featured three sixes, four boundaries, a no-ball and a wide. Harris brought up a 22-ball fifty as RCB stormed to 78 without loss at the end of six overs, a phase that effectively ended the contest. RCB crossed 100 in just 7.5 overs and were 121 without loss at the halfway mark. The 137-run opening stand ended when Harris was caught by Meg Lanning for a stunning 85 off 40 balls, which included ten fours and five sixes. By then, the target was all but done. Mandhana remained unbeaten on 47, with Richa Ghosh alongside her, as RCB completed the chase in 12.1 overs to register a second straight win, while UP Warriorz slipped to their second successive defeat. Brief scores: UP Warriorz 143/5 in 20 overs lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 145/1 in 12.1 overs.

Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul on Monday claimed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has acknowledged Bangladesh’s security concerns about travelling to India for the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh have expressed reservations about touring India for the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on February 7. The team has requested that its matches be moved to co-host Sri Lanka, citing security concerns. This came after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) following instructions from the BCCI, which cited unspecified “developments” for the decision.

“I need to inform you that the security team of the ICC and those in charge of security have sent a letter (to BCB). In that letter, it has been said that three things will increase the security threat to the Bangladesh team,” Nazrul said at a press conference in Dhaka, as quoted by local newspaper Daily Star.“One is if Mustafizur (Rahman) is included in the Bangladesh team. Two, if the supporters of the Bangladesh team walk around wearing the national jersey of Bangladesh. And the third is that the security threat of the Bangladesh team will increase as the (Bangladesh) elections approach,” he added.

What ICC said

The ICC, while confirming that it has been in touch with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, denied Nazrul’s claim that it accepted Bangladesh’s concerns in the manner described.Also read: Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches to remain in India“There has been an internal communication from ICC to BCB with regards to security in India. But what Asif Nazrul said is a complete lie. ICC’s communication never mentions that Mustafizur’s selection will be an issue. It’s complete falsehood…There is no such advisory in formal communication,” an ICC source was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held from February 7 to March 8 across venues in India and Sri Lanka.The BCB’s concerns followed Mustafizur’s release from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad amid reports of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.As per the current schedule, Bangladesh are set to play their first three group matches in Kolkata, followed by their final group game in Mumbai.After Mustafizur was released by KKR, the Bangladesh government also banned the broadcast of the Indian Premier League in the country.

Shikhar Dhawan has taken a significant personal step, announcing his engagement to long-time partner Sophie Shine through a joint Instagram post that quickly caught the attention of fans and the cricket fraternity alike. The photo, focused on the couple’s rings, marked the moment they officially decided to begin the next chapter together.

The post carried a heartfelt message alongside it: “From shared smiles to shared dreams. Grateful for the love, the blessings and every good wish for our engagement as we choose togetherness forever.” Within minutes of being shared, the announcement drew an outpouring of congratulatory messages, underlining Dhawan’s enduring popularity even after stepping away from the game.

Although Dhawan has largely kept his private life out of the spotlight in recent years, his relationship with Shine has gradually become more visible. Shine, who is Irish, has been based in and around the UAE and works as a product consultant, with professional ties to the financial services sector. She also enjoys a strong social media presence, with an Instagram following in the mid-three-lakh range, which has often brought added attention whenever the couple appear together online. The two made their relationship public on social media on May 1 last year. Reports have previously noted that they first met in Dubai, a detail that resurfaced after the engagement post went viral. In a promotional video circulated earlier, both had spoken about their first meeting at a restaurant, sharing what initially caught their attention about each other. The engagement comes after a period of major change in Dhawan’s life. The former India opener retired from international and domestic cricket in August 2024 and has also spoken openly about moving on after his divorce from Aesha Mukherjee, which was finalised in 2023. No wedding date has been officially announced so far. While some reports have speculated about a possible February 2026 wedding in the Delhi-NCR region, those details remain unconfirmed until the couple share further information themselves.

PARIS: Former Marseille coach Rolland Courbis, a charismatic figure of French soccer who later became a prominent pundit, has died, his employer said on Monday. He was 72. RMC radio did not disclose the cause of the death in a statement released in agreement with Courbis’ family. Born in Marseille, Courbis came through the club’s academy. A rugged defender, he was part of the team that won the French league and cup double in 1972 and returned to the club in the late 1990s as coach. As a player, he also won two French league titles and a French Cup with Monaco. “A Marseillais at heart, he embodied popular, dynamic football. His unmistakable accent carried his frank, direct, often passionate and always sincere words,” Marseille said in a tribute. Courbis enjoyed a much-traveled coaching career, with spells in France and abroad, notably at Bordeaux, Lens, Montpellier and the USM Alger. Among the many defining moments of his career was a stunning comeback he oversaw when coaching Marseille. His team found itself 4-0 down at home to Montpellier in 1998 but fought back to seal a remarkable 5-4 victory. Courbis, who had a taste for casino gambling and lived with an Italian countess for a while, led a tumultuous life. He was seriously wounded in 1996 when gunmen fatally shot the president of a French soccer team outside a stadium following a game. Courbis, who was also involved in several legal cases and sentenced to prison, was hit by a bullet during the attack. France coach Didier Deschamps said that with his passing, French soccer lost “a fine connoisseur of football and its inner workings, but also of the game itself.” “He was a true passionate figure,” Deschamps added. “And in recent years, he chose to pass on that passion behind a microphone, with a turn of phrase all his own.” Since 2005, he had become a consultant on RMC, where he commented on football news. “His passion came through in his trademark Marseille accent and in a very direct rapport with listeners,” RMC said. “A freedom of tone that kept the language of the supporters, while sharing their questions and emotions. He was particularly successful in remaining approachable and warm, while still being demanding on substance.”

RCB W vs UPW W Live Score, WPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru will aim to carry forward the momentum from a spectacular opening-night win when they take on UP Warriorz on Monday at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. RCB’s last-ball victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians showcased Nadine de Klerk’s finishing brilliance, particularly her explosive 6,4,6,4 sequence to chase 18 runs off four deliveries.

While the win highlighted RCB’s resilience, the absence of Ellyse Perry and a delayed comeback from Pooja Vastrakar exposed vulnerabilities in their batting line-up. The fresh opening pairing of Grace Harris and Smriti Mandhana provided early stability, but the middle order came under pressure, underscoring the need for reinforcement in the batting department.

UP Warriorz, on the other hand, will be chasing their first points after a narrow 10-run defeat to Gujarat Giants. The Warriors displayed fighting spirit while chasing a tournament-record 208, largely due to an explosive 78 from Phoebe Litchfield. However, their bowling attack, aside from Sophie Ecclestone’s tidy 2/32, struggled to contain the opposition, conceding over nine runs per over on average.

Both teams enter the match evenly matched, with a 3-3 head-to-head record, and conditions at DY Patil Stadium are expected to favour a high-scoring encounter. RCB may tweak their line-up to strengthen their batting, while UP Warriorz are likely to retain the XI that performed admirably despite their last loss.

Fans can expect a fast-paced, thrilling contest as both sides seek early momentum in the WPL. The battle between RCB’s finishing prowess, led by de Klerk, and UP Warriorz’s explosive batting, spearheaded by Litchfield, could prove decisive in this crucial encounter. With high stakes and an evenly poised rivalry, Monday’s game promises excitement, drama, and plenty of fireworks.

Squads:
UP Warriorz Women Squad: Kiran Navgire, Meg Lanning(c), Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sehrawat(w), Deandra Dottin, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud, Chloe Tryon, Charli Knott, Gongadi Trisha, Shipra Giri, Suman Meena, Simran Shaikh, Pratika Rawal

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Squad: Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana(c), Dayalan Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh(w), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell, Pooja Vastrakar, Georgia Voll, Kumar Prathyoosha, Sayali Satghare, Gautami Naik

Former Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has launched a strong critique of the International Cricket Council, warning that the global governing body risks losing its relevance if it continues to function under what he described as the dominance of the Indian cricket board. Speaking to the media at a public function, Ajmal questioned the ICC’s ability to take independent and impartial decisions in the interest of world cricket. As quoted by PTI, Ajmal said the council’s existence would be pointless if it cannot assert its authority. “If the ICC can’t enforce its decisions on the Indian board then its very existence is unnecessary,” he said.

Ajmal claimed that many Test-playing nations privately share this view but are reluctant to speak openly about it. He argued that the ICC’s agreement with India’s refusal to play in Pakistan, even during global tournaments, exposes the governing body’s lack of control. “There is no logical reason for India not to play in Pakistan but the ICC is helpless because it is dominated by Indians now,” Ajmal alleged. India’s refusal to tour Pakistan is based on security concerns and the Indian government’s decision not to approve bilateral sporting ties between the two countries. As a result, India-Pakistan cricket has been restricted to ICC white-ball events and has taken place only at neutral venues. Relations between the two nations deteriorated further last year following the Pahalgam terror attack, pushing bilateral cricket ties to their lowest point. Ajmal’s remarks come at a time when the ICC is headed by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, a factor that has often been cited by critics questioning the balance of power within global cricket administration.