NEW DELHI: Auqib Nabi played one of the finest knocks of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 to help Jammu and Kashmir pull off an incredible win against Hyderabad. The match was played at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Ground C, in Rajkot on Thursday, and it turned into a thriller that only few will forget.

Chasing a big target, Jammu and Kashmir were in serious trouble early. They were reduced to 90 for 7, with defeat looking almost certain. Hyderabad’s bowlers were on top, using the pace and bounce of the pitch well. Captain CV Milind and Mohammed Siraj led the attack and picked up two wickets each. Their short-ball plan worked, and J&K kept losing wickets at regular intervals.That is when Auqib Nabi stepped up. He stayed calm under pressure and slowly turned the game around. Dar attacked at the right time. He was strong against the spinners as he used his height and timing to hit the ball cleanly over the boundary. He kept finding gaps and clearing the ropes with ease.Dar remained unbeaten on 114 off 82 balls, hitting 10 fours and seven sixes. He also built a massive 182-run unbeaten partnership for the eighth wicket with Vanshaj Sharma. Sharma gave him solid support and stayed not out on 69. Together, they guided Jammu and Kashmir to a stunning three-wicket win with 13 balls to spare.As the partnership grew, Hyderabad lost control of the match. Dropped catches and missed chances made things worse for them. Dar reached his maiden List A century in just 65 balls, showing great fighting spirit and belief when his team needed it most.Hyderabad had posted a strong total after being asked to bat first. Rahul Singh Gahlaut got them off to a fast start with 56 off 36 balls, while Aman Rao added a steady 60. K. Nitesh Reddy played a key role at the end with an unbeaten 54, helping Hyderabad cross the 250-run mark.Despite some fielding mistakes by J&K, Dar’s heroic innings ensured they walked away with one of the most memorable comebacks of the tournament.

Ottneil Baartman of Paarl Royals sends down a delivery during match 3 of the Betway SA20 season 4 between Paarl Royals (PR) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) held at the Boland Park Stadium in Paarl, South Africa on the 27th December 2025 Photo Credit: Shaun Roy / Sportzpics for SA20)

New Delhi: The noise around for Ottneil Baartman’s omission from South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad are growing louder. A couple of days after Dale Steyn questioned Baartman’s exclusion from the Aiden Markram-led side, his former teammate JP Duminy has shared his opinion on the ongoing debate around the speedster.Duminy believes Baartman’s response to being left out of the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup says more about the fast bowler than any selection call ever could.

“To come off the back of not getting selected and then put in the performances he has speaks volumes about his character,” JP Duminy said while addressing the media in a session facilitated by SA20. “He’s not letting the negativity around it affect his performances. Instead, he’s using motivation and encouragement to keep delivering.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“It’s always a tough one to make a late call like that,” he said. “The more important angle is preparing as if an opportunity might come, and being ready if it does.”Baartman, who part of the Paarl Royals, has taken 11 wickets from 4 matches and is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing fourth edition of the SA20. Yet, he has missed the bus for the T20 World Cup to be played in India and Sri Lanka next month.Legendary Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn, who was Baartman’s bowling coach for the first three season of the SA20 at Sunrisers Eastern Cape, urged the selectors to have a second look.“He’s the highest wicket taker in SA20, won the league twice and made a final, let me remind you, that’s a comp that has 4 INTERNATIONAL players (often batters) plus all the PROTEAS! He’s number 1,” Steyn posted on X. “Thats TOP quality, but he’ll be sitting home for this years 20/20 WC.”Yet, despite those positives, Baartman’s absence remains a reminder of how fine the margins are at the top level. Duminy was careful not to speculate on the selectors’ reasoning, acknowledging that such decisions are rarely understood in full from the outside. “Yes, there will be disappointment and questions,” he said, “but the focus has to stay on what you can do right now for the team you’re playing for.”For Baartman, Duminy stressed, control is limited to effort and focus. “As a cricketer, you can only control what you put into your performances. What we’ve seen so far is that he’s done that exceptionally well, and with real consistency.”Duminy’s comments came at the halfway mark into the SA20 with the T20 World Cup on the horizon. He also highlighted the significance of form players peaking at the right time. The return to rhythm of Quinton de Kock (205 runs from 5 matches @68.33 with a strike rate of 173.73), he felt, was a major positive. An in-form de Kock, Duminy said, “boosts the morale and confidence of the South African public and, more importantly, the team.”“If you put your Quinton de Kock hat on, obviously missing out on international cricket for a period of time and the competitor that he is, he certainly wants to getting the backing now from the selectors and the team, he certainly would want to perform in a way that warrants that selection,” he said on De Kock.

“And if you have an in-form De Kock, it always boosts the morale and the confidence of the South African public and more importantly, the South African team. So, long may it continue going into a very important T20 World Cup.”He was equally optimistic about the rise of Marco Jansen (4 wickets), describing the left-armer as a genuine all-round package in the making.Duminy noted that South Africa’s tradition of impactful all-rounders makes Jansen’s development particularly significant, especially in white-ball cricket, where balance and flexibility often define tournament success.

India vs New Zealand (Agency Image)

The India vs New Zealand ODI rivalry is set to return once again as the two sides meet in a three match series starting Sunday, January 11 in Vadodara. The second ODI will be played on January 14 in Rajkot, with the series concluding on January 18 in Indore. Played in Indian conditions, the series brings back a rivalry shaped by fine margins, memorable performances and changing momentum across generations.India and New Zealand first faced each other in ODI cricket in 1975 and have since met 120 times in the format. India hold a slender advantage with 62 wins, while New Zealand have claimed victory in 50 matches. Seven games ended with no result, a reminder of how competitive this rivalry has been over the years.

Top 5 run scorers in India vs New Zealand ODIs

The legendary Sachin Tendulkar remains the most prolific batter in this rivalry. Across 42 ODIs, he scored 1,750 runs at an average of 46.05, with five centuries against New Zealand’s bowling. Virat Kohli follows closely and boasts one of his strongest bilateral records against New Zealand, averaging above 55 with six centuries. For New Zealand, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson have been pillars of consistency, while Nathan Astle was a major force during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Sachin Tendulkar (X-cricbuzz)

Top 5 wicket takers in India vs New Zealand ODIs

Javagal Srinath tops the wicket charts in this rivalry with 51 scalps, using pace and movement to trouble New Zealand batters across conditions. Anil Kumble sits second on the list with 39 wickets, while Mohammed Shami’s impact in recent years has stood out for its intensity and strike rate, highlighted by his memorable seven wicket haul in the 2023 World Cup semi final. For New Zealand, Tim Southee has been their most successful bowler against India in ODIs

Javagal Srinath (X-Cricbuzz)

The rivalry has produced dramatic extremes over the years. India’s highest ODI total against New Zealand came in the 2023 World Cup semi final in Mumbai, when they piled up 397 for 4. New Zealand’s highest score against India dates back to 1999, when they posted 349 for 9 in Rajkot.At the other end of the spectrum, New Zealand were bowled out for just 79 in Visakhapatnam in 2016, a match that also marked India’s biggest victory in the rivalry, a dominant 190 run win. India’s lowest total against New Zealand came when they were bundled out for 88, while New Zealand’s biggest victory over India arrived in 2010 with a crushing 200 run win in Dambulla.The rivalry has also delivered nail biting finishes, none more memorable than India’s narrow one run victory in Wellington in 1990, a match that remains etched in the history of contests between the two sides.Bilateral history adds further layers. India first toured New Zealand in February 1976 and lost a two match ODI series 2-0. A similar result followed in 1981. The balance shifted in 1989 when New Zealand toured India for a five match ODI series that India won 4-0.In recent years, New Zealand have enjoyed success at home, winning 3-0 in 2020 and clinching a rain affected series 1-0 in 2022. India responded emphatically in 2023 with a dominant 3-0 home series win.

Squads

India’s ODI squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi JaiswalNew Zealand ODI squad: Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young

Anthony Joshua (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua paid a heartfelt tribute on Thursday to two close friends who tragically lost their lives in a car accident in Nigeria, calling them “brothers” and “great men.”Joshua, who sustained minor injuries in the December 29 crash, returned to England after being discharged from hospital and attended the funerals of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami in Nigeria last Sunday.

Anthony Joshua Insta post

Taking to Instagram, Joshua expressed his grief and gratitude for the outpouring of support. “Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers,” he wrote. “I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. One hundred percent, it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents. I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers.”Ayodele, who worked as Joshua’s personal trainer, and Ghami, his long-time strength and conditioning coach, both died instantly in the crash.Nigerian authorities have charged the driver of the vehicle, 46-year-old Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, with “dangerous driving causing death.” The accident occurred on a busy highway connecting Lagos and Ibadan in southwest Nigeria when the Lexus SUV carrying the trio collided with a stationary truck.Joshua, 36, who has family roots in Nigeria, had been on holiday in the country following his December 19 victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami.

R Praggnanandhaa stops clock, sparks controversy (Screengrab)

NEW DELHI: A moment of high drama and confusion stole the spotlight on Day 2 of the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid in Kolkata, triggering debate across the chess world. The incident happened during Round 6 when R Praggnanandhaa stopped the clock with just one second remaining, leading to a dramatic and debated draw against Wesley So.The situation arose when Praggnanandhaa advanced a pawn close to promotion but realised there was not enough time to complete the move and replace the pawn with a queen.

With the clock about to run out, he stopped the timer and sought help. Commentators watching the game believed So would be awarded the win on time, but after discussion, the arbiters ruled the game a draw.Well-known chess arbiter Chris Bird strongly criticised the ruling. “Should have been ruled a loss. “6.11.2 A player may pause the chessclock only in order to seek the arbiter’s assistance, for example when promotion has taken place and the piece required is not available.” No promotion actually took place so this is not relevant here,” Bird wrote on X, questioning the officials’ interpretation.Away from the debate, the tournament itself delivered high-quality chess. Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand showed his experience and fighting spirit to bounce back after an early loss. In Round 4, Anand looked in control before a rook blunder allowed Arjun Erigaisi to turn the game around. However, Anand responded strongly, beating Hans Niemann and Volodar Murzin to move into joint lead with Nihal Sarin on 4.5 points.Nihal enjoyed an excellent run, having three games in a row. He took advantage of mistakes by Niemann and Murzin before showing strong endgame skills to defeat Vidit Gujrathi.In the women’s section, Kateryna Lagno topped the standings with 4.5 points after six rounds. Among the Indian players, Vantika Agrawal stood fifth with three points, while Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali and Rakshitta Ravi remained in contention.

Viswanathan Anand and Nihal Sarin (Photos by Vivek Sohani)

KOLKATA: Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand recovered from an early setback to register two victories and emerge as joint leader with Nihal Sarin after six rounds of the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid on Thursday.Rounds four to six produced fighting chess and frequent shifts at the top of the standings in both the Open and Women’s sections. Both Anand and Nihal are tied on 4.5 points.

In round four, the 56-year-old Anand appeared to be pressing in the middle game before a rook blunder allowed Arjun Erigaisi to turn the tables. The young Indian defended patiently and later capitalised on an endgame error to seal the win.Anand, however, bounced back strongly, picking up full points against Hans Niemann and Volodar Murzin in the next two rounds to return to the top of the standings.Nihal, meanwhile, surged into joint lead with three successive wins. He first capitalised on a knight blunder by Niemann, followed it up with a neat back-rank combination against Murzin, and then showcased fine endgame technique to defeat compatriot Vidit Gujrathi in a knight endgame.Elsewhere, Aravindh Chithambaram went down to Wei Yi, while R Praggnanandhaa methodically outplayed Murzin on the queenside.In round five, Anand’s clash against Niemann featured opposite-side castling in the Italian, with the Indian defending calmly before converting with active rook play and a superior pawn structure.Vidit and Praggnanandhaa settled for a quick draw, while Arjun prevailed in a subtle rook endgame by pushing a pawn race from a symmetrical position. Aravindh was also punished for an endgame pawn blunder by Wesley So.Round six saw Anand deliver a positional master-class in an opposite-coloured bishop middle game against Murzin to stay atop the leaderboard.In the women’s section, Kateryna Lagno led the standings with 4.5 points from six rounds.Among the Indians, Vantika Agrawal was placed fifth with three points, while Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali and Rakshitta Ravi were tied on 2.5 points. World champion Divya Deshmukh was at the bottom with two points.Rakshitta earlier produced a fearless attacking display to defeat Nana Dzagnidze in an opposite-side castling battle, while Lagno converted an endgame advantage against Divya and Stavroula Tsolakidou outplayed Vantika in a controlled encounter.Aleksandra Goryachkina later overcame Divya after weathering early pressure, while Dzagnidze capitalised on an opening error by Carissa Yip, and Vantika handed Rakshitta her first loss of the event.Vaishali then powered past Rakshitta with strong central pawn play, while Lagno defeated Tsolakidou to move into the sole lead.

Tilak Varma of India (Getty Images)

India batter Tilak Varma has been ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand following abdominal surgery in Rajkot, the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed on Thursday. The 23-year-old underwent emergency surgery at a super-speciality hospital on Wednesday evening after experiencing acute abdominal pain earlier in the day. Medical scans indicated the immediate need for the procedure, prompting doctors to operate without delay.

Providing an update on the situation, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said Varma is recovering well after the surgery. “He was discharged from the hospital on Thursday morning and is scheduled to fly back to Hyderabad on Friday. He is currently stable and progressing well,” Saikia said in an official statement. The board also outlined the roadmap for Varma’s return to cricketing activity. “Tilak will resume physical training and gradually return to skill-based activities once his symptoms have fully resolved and wound healing is satisfactory. He is ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand. His availability for the remaining two matches will be assessed based on his progress during the return-to-training and skill phases,” the statement added. The recovery timeline has also cast doubt over Varma’s availability for India’s T20 World Cup opener against the United States of America at the Wankhede Stadium on February 7. India are scheduled to play further group matches against Namibia on February 12, Pakistan on February 15, and the Netherlands on February 18. Varma has been a vital presence in India’s T20I setup, scoring 1,183 runs in 37 innings at an impressive average of 49.29 and a strike rate of 144.09, including two centuries and six half-centuries. The absence could force captain Suryakumar Yadav to move up to the No. 3 position in the batting order. India are yet to name a replacement for the first three T20Is against New Zealand, which will be played in Nagpur, Raipur, and Guwahati on January 21, 23, and 25 respectively. The final two matches of the five-game series are scheduled for Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram on January 28 and 31.

Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: England’s heavy 4-1 Ashes defeat has sparked strong criticism, and one of the loudest voices has been that of former England opener Geoffrey Boycott. The 85-year-old, who once won the Ashes in Australia himself, did not hold back while analysing England’s recent approach to Test cricket.In his column for the Daily Telegraph, Boycott directly targeted England’s leadership group, writing, “Brendon McCullum, Rob Key, and Ben Stokes sold a lie for three years.”

According to Boycott, England’s current philosophy has encouraged players to bat and bowl without fear but without responsibility.“McCullum’s philosophy is do your own thing. Play without a care in the world. Express yourselves and if you get out, no problem, it’s not your fault,” he added. “Nobody tells them off, there is no accountability, and nobody gets dropped so they just keep doing the same daft things.”England went to Australia believing their fast bowlers could trouble the hosts. But injuries and selection issues meant that part-time off-spinner Will Jacks ended up playing as many Tests as quicks Mark Wood and Jofra Archer combined. Meanwhile, young spinner Shoaib Bashir, who had been prepared for the Ashes, did not play a single match.The series also highlighted both the positives and negatives of England’s attacking style. Jacob Bethell’s brilliant century in Sydney stood out. It was his first hundred in first-class cricket and showed his talent clearly. However, Bethell’s development had earlier been slowed because he was often rested during the 2025 domestic season.Despite limited chances, the 22-year-old showed maturity beyond his years with a superb 154 in Sydney. Former Australia opener Justin Langer praised the innings, saying, “That is entertainment. Not running down and hitting it up in the air and saying, ‘That’s how we play.'”When McCullum and Stokes took charge in 2022, England enjoyed early success, winning 10 of their first 11 Tests. But results have dipped since. England have now lost 14 of their last 28 Tests and have not beaten Australia or India in a major series since 2018.

The English cricket team perform the sprinkler after winning the fourth test during day four of the Fourth Test match between Australia and England (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: For England, winning the Ashes in Australia has always felt less like a sporting challenge and more like a test of fate. Tours come and go, and captains come back home to the freezing cold with harsh lessons. The sun is unforgiving, the crowds hostile, and the margins brutal. That is why the winter of 2010–11 remains frozen in time, the last, and perhaps most complete, Ashes triumph by England on Australian soil, achieved under the calm, almost understated leadership of Andrew Strauss.

It was not a victory built on bravado or bluster. There were no bold declarations of intent, no verbal duels, no chest-thumping celebrations. Instead, England’s success was rooted in something rarer on Australian tours: control.England arrived as the No.1 Test side in the world, Ashes holders after the 2009 home series, and armed with a belief that this team was different. They were organised, physically prepared and mentally hardened by years of overseas failure.

Andrew Strauss (C) of England gestures to the crowd after England won the match during day four of the Fourth Test match between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 29, 2010. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

This was not a side hoping Australia would falter. It was one that trusted its own process.The first Test at Brisbane set the tone for everything that followed. England batted first and refused to be hurried. At the centre of it all was Alastair Cook, then just 25, who played an innings that came to define the series. He batted for nearly two days, leaving, nudging and wearing down Australia’s bowlers with monk-like patience. Cook made 235, an epic effort of concentration that drained the life out of the home attack. Rain eventually denied England a win, but the psychological shift was unmistakable. Australia, so used to dictating tempo at the Gabba, had been forced to react.The decisive moment came in Adelaide, under lights. The pink ball was still years away, but England’s bowlers made the most of evening conditions. James Anderson, at the peak of his powers, swung the ball late and viciously, exposing Australia’s fragile batting. England dominated every session and won by an innings. It was their first Ashes Test win at Adelaide Oval in decades, and it rattled the hosts.

Alastair Cook of England (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

If Adelaide gave England belief, Perth gave them authority. The WACA had long been Australia’s ultimate weapon — fast, bouncy and intimidating. England had often wilted there. This time, they stood tall. Cook once again led the way with the bat, while England’s seamers matched Australia for pace and discipline. The victory in Perth was seismic. England now led the series, and Australia had no clear answers.By the time the teams reached Melbourne, England were thinking in terms of control rather than conquest. A rain-affected draw at the MCG was embraced, not regretted. Strauss’ side understood the value of patience. They did not chase moments. They waited for them.The final act came in Sydney, where England delivered the finishing blow. On a surface offering turn, Graeme Swann ran through Australia’s batting with skill and guile. England won comfortably, sealing a 3–1 series victory and confirming their dominance. It was not just an Ashes win; it was a statement.At the heart of the triumph was Cook, who finished the series with 766 runs, a staggering return built on discipline and resilience.

James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Alastair Cook of England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 29, 2010 (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Anderson and Swann formed a perfectly balanced bowling partnership, while Kevin Pietersen provided flashes of brilliance at key moments. And overseeing it all was Strauss — calm, measured and utterly unflustered.What made the achievement truly special was the manner in which it was done. England did not try to mimic Australia’s aggression. They beat Australia with preparation, structure and mental strength — qualities Australia had long claimed as their own.Fifteen years later, that winter remains a benchmark. England have returned to Australia since, sometimes with hope, sometimes with hype, but never with the same sense of certainty.Under Strauss in 2010–11, England didn’t just win the Ashes. They changed the story of what an English team could be in Australia.

Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Khan Tareen and Mohsin Naqvi

NEW DELHI: Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Khan Tareen has decided to stay away from the auction for the two new Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises. The auction is being held today in Islamabad at the Jinnah Convention Centre, where the league is expanding from six to eight teams.

Just hours before the bidding began, Ali Tareen shared his decision on social media platform X. He wrote, “After careful consideration, my family and I have decided not to participate in today’s PSL franchise auction.” The announcement surprised many, as Tareen was expected to be one of the prominent bidders.In his message, Tareen explained that his journey with the PSL was never only about business or team ownership. “Our time with Multan Sultans was never just about owning a cricket team. It was about South Punjab. About giving a voice to a region that had been overlooked for too long,” he wrote. He said this sense of purpose guided everything they built while owning the Multan Sultans.Tareen made it clear that his connection to South Punjab remains strong. “If I come back to PSL, it has to be for the same reason. South Punjab is where my heart is. It is home,” he added. For now, he plans to enjoy the league as a fan rather than an owner. “This year, I’ll be in the stands. Cheering for players on and celebrating with the fans,” he said.He also hinted at a possible return in the future, especially if Multan becomes available again. “And when the Multan team is being sold, we’ll be ready,” he wrote, while wishing the current bidders well. “Wishing all the bidders the best. May the most outspoken owner win!”The PSL auction will decide ownership of two new teams, with bidders allowed to choose names from cities including Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, and Sialkot. After Tareen’s withdrawal, nine parties remain in the race.