Pragnika Vaka Lakshmi (Special arrangements)

NEW DELHI: “Main World School Chess mein champion bani aur India k liye gold laayi (I became champion at the World School Chess and brought a gold medal for India),” seven-year-old Pragnika Vaka Lakshmi told Prime Minister Narendra Modi, her Telugu-accented Hindi filling the room with palpable innocence.“I want to become the best chess player when I grow up,” she added moments later when enquired about her future plans, making PM Modi smile as he interacted with the recipients of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025 on Friday.

For Pragnika, who won the Under-7 Girls title at the FIDE World Schools Chess Championship 2025 in Serbia earlier this year, meeting the Prime Minister was something far from normal. But was the little one aware of the occasion?“She was a little bit nervous while interacting with Modi sir,” her mother Praveena told TimesofIndia.com from Guwahati, where the young prodigy is competing in the Under-9 National Chess Tournament. “She just knew that she was meeting the President and the Prime Minister. She doesn’t understand how big this achievement is for her or for us as a family.”

Pragnika Vaka Lakshmi receives Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025 (Special arrangements)

India is living through a golden chess era.From Olympiad golds, Gukesh becoming the youngest World Chess Champion, and Koneru Humpy winning the 2024 Women’s World Rapid title to Divya Deshmukh emerging as the youngest-ever Women’s World Cup champion, accolades have poured in, with Pragnika carving her name into the list.But winning a world championship in her very first international tournament? That wasn’t even on Pragnika’s bucket list.“We didn’t even think about winning,” Praveena admitted. “We just wanted to see how she would play internationally.”What followed was a nine-round tournament that changed the trajectory of a family.First movesPragnika’s chess journey began inside a home in Surat when parents were simply trying to keep two young daughters occupied.“Her elder sister Varenya started chess during COVID,” Praveena recalled. “We thought some indoor game should be there. She started online classes.”Varenya, now 11, showed promise and soon became a state-level player.

Pragnika Vaka Lakshmi with her family (Special arrangements)

Pragnika started as a watchful observer of her sister’s play. “We were just observing whether she was interested,” Praveena added. “She would sit with her sister and watch.”Before chess entered their lives, both girls were competitive skaters. But time, safety concerns during the pandemic, and growing promise in chess slowly tilted the balance.“For skating, you have to go out,” Praveena explained. “That time was dangerous for kids. So we dropped skating and continued chess.”Formal chess classes for Pragnika under coach Vicky Chauhan began shortly after her fifth birthday. “Within three or four months, she became champion at the state level,” her mother revealed. “At that time, she was only six.”What stood out most to her mother was Pragnika’s temperament.“She is very courageous,” she added. “My elder daughter is sensitive. Pragnika is rough and tough. Nervousness is the main thing in chess. When you feel free, your mind works. My younger one is very daring.”ALSO READ: How a housewife’s trick to make dinner prepped a record-breaking 8-year-old in PunjabA day in the life of a seven-year-old world championDespite the titles, Pragnika’s daily routine remains grounded. “She goes to school daily,” Praveena said. “After coming home, she practices.”She trains three to four times a week, always offline.“For Pragnika, offline coaching is better,” her mother explained. “Online, the eye contact is missing. She takes 10 to 15 minutes to settle. But now she can play a full three-hour game.“When the coach is in front of her, he talks to her, jokes with her, plays with her. That comfort is important. Otherwise, children take advantage.”At school, chess has transformed her identity.“Her name comes in school magazines,” Praveena said. “They see her as a celebrity. That motivates her.”Andhra rootsOriginally from Andhra Pradesh, the family is settled in Gujarat. Praveena, an IT professional, recently returned to work from home after resigning to support her daughters.“My husband supports me fully,” she added. “That is the main thing.”Even amid the wave of success, she doesn’t shy away from admitting the sacrifices.“Chess is expensive,” Praveena added. “It is mostly travelling. One international tournament costs around Rs 4 lakh. With that money, we can play 10 tournaments in India.”Coaching costs present another major challenge.“If you want to train with a FIDE Master or International Master, it becomes very expensive; often over Rs 2,000 per hour,” her mother explained.To the family’s relief, though, Pragnika and her sister receive a Rs 30,000 to 35,000 scholarship each from the Sports Authority of Gujarat, which eases the burden slightly.

Pragnika Vaka Lakshmi with her sister (Special arrangements)

Their results speak volumes about their talent: between the two sisters, they’ve already won over 230 trophies.The future star?Despite the early success, the family is careful not to over-plan.“I don’t know about the future,” Praveena said candidly, adding “What we have got so far is extra.”They plan to observe Pragnika’s growth and interest over the next two years, possibly exploring Asian-level tournaments in 2026.“If she is interested, we will move forward,” Praveena explained. “If not, we won’t stop her from choosing something else.”For now, Pragnika is simply a seven-year-old who loves the game, who still gets nervous not when she is asked to face opponents over the board, but when meeting the Prime Minister, and who dreams in simple sentences and, of course, eats all her vegetables like a good girl, with ladyfinger being her favourite.

Andrew McDonald, Head Coach of Australia, inspects the pitch at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Photo credit: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: The ICC on Monday rated the pitch used for the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as unsatisfactory, handing the venue one demerit point after match referee Jeff Crowe ruled that it was “too much in favour of the bowlers”.The Test, which England won by four wickets, was completed inside two days, with as many as 20 wickets falling on the opening day alone.

“The pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue for the fourth Ashes Test, has been deemed ‘Unsatisfactory’ with the venue handed one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process,” the ICC said in a statement.Under ICC regulations, accumulation of six demerit points can result in a venue being banned from hosting international matches for a period of 12 months.Explaining his assessment, Crowe highlighted the excessive assistance provided to bowlers throughout the match.“The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers. With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second day and no batter even reaching a half-century, the pitch was ‘Unsatisfactory’ as per the guidelines and the venue gets one demerit point,” he stated.The surface came in for strong criticism from several quarters, with England captain Ben Stokes saying it was not great for the game, while Cricket Australia termed it bad for business.In total, 36 wickets fell across just 142 overs, with no batter managing to score a half-century in the match.Despite England registering their first Test win in Australia since 2011, Australia had already retained the Ashes after winning the first three Tests to secure an unassailable 3–0 lead in the series.The fifth and final Test will be played in Sydney, starting January 4.

NEW DELHI: Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey etched his name into cricket history on Friday by becoming the first bowler ever to claim an eight-wicket haul in T20 Internationals, delivering a spell that will be remembered as one of the format’s most extraordinary feats.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The 22-year-old left-arm spinner achieved the milestone during the third T20I against Myanmar in Gelephu, producing magical figures of 8 for 7 in four overs, including a maiden, at a staggering economy rate of 1.80. Bhutan Cricket hailed the performance as “a spell for the ages” on social media.

Yeshey’s devastating burst dismantled Myanmar’s chase of 128, bowling them out for just 45 in 9.2 overs and handing Bhutan a thumping 82-run victory. The result also sealed Bhutan’s dominance in the five-match series, giving them an unassailable 3-0 lead.Before Yeshey’s effort, the best figures in men’s T20 Internationals stood at seven wickets. Malaysia’s Syazrul Idrus had taken 7 for 8 against China in 2023, while Bahrain’s Ali Dawood claimed 7 for 19 against Bhutan earlier in 2025. Even across all men’s T20 cricket, no bowler had ever gone beyond seven wickets in an innings, making Yeshey’s achievement unprecedented.

Who is Sonam Yeshey?

Born on December 3, 2003, Sonam Yeshey rose through the ranks of Bhutan cricket, representing the under-19 side before making his senior international debut in July 2022. He is a slow left-arm orthodox spinner and bat right-handed.The young spinner has been in impressive form throughout the series, picking up 12 wickets from four matches so far.Since making his T20I debut against Malaysia, Yeshey has taken 37 wickets in 34 matches at an average of 17.37 and an economy rate of 5.69, underlining his growing stature in Bhutan cricket.Incidentally, he has scored just 37 runs in those 34 matches.

Melbourne Cricket Ground curator Matt Page (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Australia coach Andrew McDonald has thrown his support behind Melbourne Cricket Ground curator Matt Page and cautioned against authorities intervening in pitch preparation. Page and his staff have come under heavy criticism after leaving around 10 millimetres of grass on the surface for the fourth Ashes Test against England.The conditions offered significant movement and bounce for the seamers, making batting difficult, with England clinching a four-wicket victory inside two days.

The early finish resulted in a major financial hit for Cricket Australia, which is set to refund tickets for days three, four and five, leading to an estimated revenue loss of Aus$10 million (US$6.7 million).McDonald said Page had done an “outstanding” job over the years and felt the batters also needed to take responsibility for failing to post competitive totals.“The perspective that I always use is we have bad Test matches as well — this Test we weren’t at our best and sometimes these things can happen.“We support him in what he’s done and are really proud of the evolution of the MCG.“He’s found a nice balance for a long period of time.”International Cricket Council match referee Jeff Crowe is yet to submit his assessment of the pitch. An “unsatisfactory” rating would result in the venue receiving a demerit point.Cricket Australia are also expected to conduct an end-of-season review into the management of Test match pitches.Chief executive Todd Greenberg has suggested that a more interventionist approach may be required, pointing out that shorter Tests are “bad for business”.However, McDonald said he was firmly against interference, stressing that curators in Australia traditionally operate independently of captains and Cricket Australia when preparing pitches.“I don’t want to get to a situation … where we are asking for specific surfaces and tailor-made,” McDonald said.“I don’t think Australia will ever go there, and I don’t think they’ve ever been there, to my knowledge.”

File photo – Venkatesh Iyer (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

NEW DELHI: Venkatesh Iyer’s outing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Kerala at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad did not unfold the way many had anticipated. The moment the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder walked out to the middle, expectations were high that he would fire in his trademark aggressive style. Instead, the left-hander endured a brief stay at the crease, managing just eight runs before being run out by Krishna Prasad.Iyer’s dismissal came after a costly mix-up with Himanshu Mantri while attempting a quick single, leaving him short of the crease. The early exit once again brought focus on the 30-year-old, who has been under scrutiny following an eventful IPL auction cycle.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured Iyer for Rs 7 crore at the IPL 2026 mini auction, a significant drop from the Rs 23.75 crore Kolkata Knight Riders had spent to retain him last season. The reduced price tag, however, has not changed perceptions around his ability, even if his role at RCB remains uncertain.Former India captain Anil Kumble believes the defending champions are unlikely to rush Iyer straight into the playing eleven at the start of the season. According to Kumble, RCB are keen to maintain stability in what is already a settled and successful side, which could mean Iyer may have to wait for his opportunity.Former India all-rounder and JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging Iyer’s quality while pointing out the challenge of breaking into a well-set combination. “He has been consistent, and you can see his confidence,” Bangar said, adding that RCB’s coaching and scouting group view Iyer as a long-term investment. However, Bangar also admitted there is uncertainty around his immediate role. “Will he be in the playing eleven right away? There is some doubt, as this is a settled team,” he said.Iyer entered the auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore and attracted early interest from Lucknow Super Giants before Gujarat Titans and his former franchise KKR joined the bidding. RCB eventually emerged successful to bring him to Bengaluru.Across 56 IPL innings, Iyer has scored 1,468 runs at an average of 29.12, striking at over 137, with one century and 12 half-centuries. His most recent IPL season, however, was a difficult one, yielding just 142 runs in seven innings for KKR, despite his hefty price tag.

Michael Pepper of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ILT20)

The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders brushed aside the Gulf Giants by 32 runs to seal a top-four finish in the World ILT20 Season 4 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. In the final league match of the season, the Knight Riders secured a crucial win and will face Dubai Capitals in the Eliminator on January 1. Desert Vipers, meanwhile, take on MI Emirates in Qualifier 1 on December 30 for a place in the final.A mammoth 131-run opening partnership between Michael Pepper (83 off 51 balls) and Phil Salt (72* off 56) paved the Knight Riders’ path to the playoffs. The duo’s commanding half-centuries powered the side to an imposing 179/1. In reply, Moeen Ali’s swashbuckling fifty briefly kept the Giants in the hunt, but a lack of support and late double strikes from Sunil Narine and Andre Russell ensured the target remained out of reach.

Defending 180, Jason Holder set the tone by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the opening over and later removing James Vince (19 off 10). Ajay Kumar chipped in by sending back Ben Kellaway (5 off 8), while Narine conceded just five runs across his first two overs. By the end of the powerplay, the Giants were reeling at 32/3.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Moeen Ali (79 off 49) counter-attacked to revive the chase, breaking free with a six off Liam Livingstone before punishing Piyush Chawla with boundaries and a maximum. He reached his half-century off 31 balls and added 45 runs with Kyle Mayers (6 off 10). However, Narine struck twice in the 15th over to remove Mayers and Sean Dickson, tightening the Knight Riders’ grip.

Moeen Ali of Gulf Giants in action. (IlT20)

The decisive moment arrived in the 18th over when Andre Russell dismissed Moeen and Aayan Khan in consecutive deliveries. The Knight Riders closed out the death overs expertly, restricting the Giants to 147/9 and sealing an emphatic victory.Earlier, Salt and Pepper laid the foundation with a brisk 56-run powerplay stand. Pepper raced to a 31-ball fifty, while Salt played the anchor as the pair brought up a 100-run partnership in 67 balls — only the second century stand of the season. Aayan Khan eventually broke the stand when Pepper holed out in the 15th over after striking six fours and four sixes.

Phil Salt of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in action (ILT20)

Salt reached his half-century off 44 balls before adding an unbeaten 48-run stand with Liam Livingstone (18* off 13). Two sixes in the final over helped the Knight Riders finish strongly at 179/1.Player of the Match Michael Pepper said, “It was about being patient and waiting for the right match-ups. When the spinners came on, Salt allowed me to take most of the strike and I was happy to take responsibility. As a group, we just need to keep putting in the hard work.”

Gulf Giants captain James Vince said, “They scored 20 to 30 runs above par on that surface. We couldn’t strike early and full credit to Pepper and Salt. Our bowling wasn’t at the level we needed, and while Moeen played a very good knock, six losses in a row is tough to take.”Brief Scores Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: 179/1 in 20 overs (Michael Pepper 83, Phil Salt 72 not out; Aayan Khan 1/34) Gulf Giants: 147/9 in 20 overs (Moeen Ali 79, James Vince 19; Andre Russell 3/13, Sunil Narine 2/14, Jason Holder 2/24)

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: The third round of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) will be played on Monday, with Delhi and Mumbai both looking to extend their unbeaten runs in the tournament. However, both sides will be without their biggest names, as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will not feature in this round.Delhi are scheduled to take on Saurashtra at the Karnataka Cricket Association (KSCA) Stadium in Alur, while Mumbai will face Chhattisgarh at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground in Jaipur.

Both teams will be will be without the services of Kohli and Rohit, who had committed to playing only the first two matches of the competition.

Why are Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma not playing?

Kohli and Rohit had agreed to limited appearances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and were slated to play just two games in the tournament.Kohli played a pivotal role in Delhi’s wins over Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, scoring 131 and 77 respectively. His return to the competition was noteworthy, coming after a gap of 15 years.Rohit, meanwhile, marked his comeback to the VHT after seven years in emphatic fashion, smashing 155 against Sikkim in his opening match. He also featured against Uttarakhand but suffered a rare golden duck, being dismissed off the first ball he faced.

Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play more matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy?

As per reports, Kohli is expected to return for Delhi’s penultimate league match against Railways on January 6 in Alur.He is set to feature in that game before joining the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on January 11.Rohit, on the other hand, is unlikely to feature again in the tournament this season.

Delhi vs Gujarat – 77 off 61 balls (Player of the Match)Delhi vs Andhra – 131 off 101 balls

Mumbai vs Uttarakhand – 0 (golden duck)Mumbai vs Sikkim – 155 off 94 balls (Player of the Match)