Vijay Hazare Trophy Live Score: Star power returns to the domestic stage

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy matches.

The charismatic presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has lent the Vijay Hazare One-Day Trophy an aura rarely associated with India’s domestic 50-over competition.

Beginning on Wednesday, the tournament suddenly feels heavier, louder and more consequential, with several of India’s biggest names descending into a grind that is usually defined by anonymity rather than applause.

Alongside Kohli and Rohit, the lineup features Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma, forming a velvety tapestry of elite talent.

Yet, despite that depth, the spotlight inevitably narrows to the Ro-Ko axis. Their return is not incidental; it is directly tied to the BCCI’s decision to mandate at least two Vijay Hazare matches for centrally contracted players.

More than compliance, though, this is symbolism. Kohli, playing the tournament after 15 years, and Rohit, still one of the game’s biggest draws, are reminders that reputation alone no longer guarantees insulation from Indian cricket’s shifting power equations.

Rohit Sharma (Video Grab)

NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma‘s return to domestic cricket was meant to be low-key — a training session, some quiet preparation and a walk back to the dressing room. Instead, his first Vijay Hazare Trophy outing in Jaipur delivered a reminder of the frenzy that still follows one of India’s biggest sporting icons.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!On Tuesday, a video surfaced showing Rohit being hounded by fans for selfies after finishing his net session at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.As the Mumbai batter walked towards the dressing-room corridor, a group of supporters crowded around him, jostling for space and attempting to get close for photographs. The situation escalated when one fan behaved inappropriately and nearly breached the players’ restricted area, forcing security personnel to intervene.

Rohit appeared visibly irritated but chose not to engage with the crowd.He continued walking as officials quickly moved in, ushering fans away from the corridor and shutting the passage doors to prevent further intrusion. The clip soon went viral, sparking fresh debate around fan entitlement and the thin line between admiration and intrusion.The episode comes at a time when star appearances in domestic cricket are drawing unusual attention. Rohit is in Jaipur as Mumbai begin their Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign in Elite Group C, starting with matches against Sikkim on December 24 and Uttarakhand on December 26. His presence alone has transformed a typically low-profile domestic fixture into a high-security event.WATCH:Organisers in Jaipur have already anticipated a sharp spike in attendance, with thousands expected to turn up largely to watch Rohit in action.With the former Indian captain now playing only one international format, his domestic outings are also being closely tracked as part of his preparation between international assignments.The Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), mindful of recent crowd-control challenges at the venue, has stepped up security arrangements. “We have arranged comprehensive police security as well as private bouncers. I have personally met the Additional SP (South), who has assured full support,” ad hoc convener Deendayal Kumawat said. “All arrangements are firmly in place, as seen during the practice session.”The RCA has also readied the stadium facilities, cleaning the premises and planning to open the North and East stands initially, with more sections available if required.

England’s Ben Stokes (AP/PTI)

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised questions over Ben Stokes’ method against spin bowling, pointing to what he believes are long-standing technical issues following the England captain’s dismissal in the third Ashes Test at Adelaide.Stokes was bowled by Australian spin great Nathan Lyon in the second innings as England chased a daunting target of 435. While England showed resolve in the chase, they eventually lost by 82 runs, a defeat that handed Australia the Ashes and marked England’s fourth straight series loss against their oldest rivals. With England beaten in three Tests inside 11 days, scrutiny has fallen on the entire side, but Ashwin suggested the captain must also look closely at his own game.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin analysed Stokes’ approach to spin, drawing on his own experience of bowling to the England all-rounder. Ashwin has dismissed Stokes 13 times in Test cricket.“Ben Stokes has been getting out to off-spinners for as long as I have bowled and watched,” Ashwin said. “Is this question being asked? He is a fabulous player with the right attitude, but you cannot play spin the same way you play fast bowling.”Ashwin explained that playing spin requires getting to the pitch of the ball rather than relying on bounce, something that works better against pace bowlers. He added that fast bowlers, who rely more on lateral movement, can be handled with adjustments, whereas spin presents different challenges such as the risk of being trapped lbw.“You have to watch the ball out of the hand,” Ashwin said. “The theory of playing spin is to get to the pitch of the ball. If you do not do that, you are always vulnerable.”Ashwin also pointed to what he sees as a growing trend among non-Asian batters to depend heavily on the sweep and reverse sweep against spin. He argued that this stems from flawed defensive technique.“I am seeing many western players like Ben Stokes, Ben Duckett and Aiden Markram sweeping or reverse sweeping because their defensive technique against spin is not right,” Ashwin said. “The moment you commit to the sweep, you are picking the line early and trying to defend it, instead of reading what the ball is doing and getting to it.”According to Ashwin, the core principle of playing spin is lost when batters retreat onto the back foot and look to score rather than meeting the ball. He added that this issue, in his view, is not being addressed enough at the highest level.Stokes’ dismissal in Adelaide proved pivotal in England’s failed chase and has now become a focal point in wider discussions about England’s approach to spin bowling, both in the Ashes and beyond.

Indian cricket has witnessed its fair share of questionable umpiring decisions over the years, but one call continues to stand out as uniquely baffling. It came in 2007 during an India vs South Africa match at the Belfast Oval, when veteran umpire Aleem Dar made a decision that still sparks debate nearly two decades later. Aleem Dar, widely respected and long considered one of the finest umpires the game has produced, was at the centre of a moment that perfectly illustrated the saying that even the very best can err. South Africa’s young batting prodigy AB de Villiers, then just 23, was given a huge let-off despite clearly edging the ball when he was yet to open his account.

The match was a rain-affected encounter, reduced to 31 overs per side. South Africa were already in trouble at 8 for 2, having lost Jacques Kallis and opener Morne van Wyk for ducks. On the first delivery of the fifth over, Zaheer Khan delivered a ball that de Villiers nicked sharply. The edge flew to Sachin Tendulkar at second slip, who completed a clean catch. There was little ambiguity about the dismissal. The sound of the edge was loud enough to be picked up by the stump microphone, and the deviation off the bat was clearly visible. It was the sort of wicket that rarely requires deliberation. Yet, to the astonishment of the Indian players, Dar ruled de Villiers not out. The reaction on the field said it all. Tendulkar stood visibly stunned, while captain Sourav Ganguly and the rest of the fielding side looked on in disbelief as the umpire remained firm in his decision. De Villiers eventually went on to score 15 before being dismissed, and India went on to win the series 2-1. Still, the moment has endured as one of the most talked-about incidents of de Villiers’ career, even 18 years on.

Herschelle Gibbs post

Herschelle Gibbs, who was at the non-striker’s end at the time, later admitted that he too was shocked by the decision. Responding to a video of the incident on X, Gibbs recalled, “I was at the other end, couldn’t believe what I was seeing. AB said he hit his pads.” The Belfast series, played for the Future Cup, came in the immediate aftermath of India’s disastrous 2007 World Cup campaign. Following Greg Chappell’s dismissal, India travelled to Ireland without a head coach, with Rahul Dravid continuing as captain. Despite the turbulence, Sachin Tendulkar emerged as the standout performer, earning the Player of the Series award after scoring 200 runs, including knocks of 99 and 93 in the first two matches, and also chipping in with two wickets.

Shafali Verma (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India continued their dominant run in the women’s T20I series against Sri Lanka with another authoritative win on Tuesday. Chasing a small target, India cruised to a seven-wicket victory in the second match, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The star of the night was Shafali Verma, who played a fearless and fluent knock to finish the game quickly. Sri Lanka were first asked to bat and struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack. The visitors could only manage 128 for 9 in their 20 overs.

India’s spin unit did most of the damage, led by experienced off-spinner Sneh Rana and well supported by young spinners Vaishnavi Sharma and Shree Charani. They bowled with control and patience, not allowing Sri Lanka to build any real momentum.While chasing, India lost vice-captain Smriti Mandhana early for 14. However, Shafali Verma looked in complete control from the moment she arrived at the crease. Full of confidence after her strong showing in the World Cup final, she attacked the bowlers and took the game away from Sri Lanka. Shafali remained unbeaten on 69 from just 34 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and one six, as India wrapped up the chase in only 11.5 overs.Left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera bore the brunt of Shafali’s attack. Whenever the ball was tossed up, Shafali stepped out and struck cleanly over extra cover. Her footwork against spin was impressive, whether coming down the track or playing from the back foot. Seeing her confidence, newly appointed Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues joined the assault. Rodrigues scored a quick 26 off 15 balls, and together they added 58 runs in just 4.3 overs. By the time Rodrigues got out, the result was already decided.Earlier, Sneh Rana made full use of her opportunity after Deepti Sharma missed out due to fever. She returned excellent figures of 1 for 11 in four overs, including a rare maiden in T20 cricket. Shree Charani picked up 2 for 23, while Vaishnavi Sharma finished with 2 for 32. India’s fielding also stood out, with sharp efforts resulting in three run-outs after a below-par show in the previous match.Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu showed some fight with a quick 31 but was kept quiet by Rana’s smart bowling. Once she fell, Sri Lanka lost wickets quickly and never recovered.

SG Pipers clinch GCL season 3 title (GCL Photo)

NEW DELHI: SG Pipers pulled off a stunning upset to win the third edition of the Global Chess League (GCL) on Tuesday, defeating two-time defending champions Continental Kings in the final.The Pipers had barely made it to the final, edging past Ganges Grandmasters by just one game point.

But once they reached the title clash, they looked confident and in control. They won the first rapid match 4-2 while playing with the black pieces and followed it up with an even stronger 4.5-1.5 victory with white to seal the championship. Alaskan Knights finished third after winning a dramatic tie-break against Ganges Grandmasters.Continental Kings entered the final as favourites, but the momentum was clearly with the Pipers, who had hit form late in the league stage. Key contributions came from Nino Batsiashvili and young Indian talent Leon Luke Mendonca. Batsiashvili defeated Alexandra Kosteniuk in a long bishop-knight endgame, while Mendonca forced Marc’Andria Maurizzi to resign after 52 moves.Although Continental Kings’ star Alireza Firouzja beat Fabiano Caruana on the icon board, Anish Giri’s win over Wei Yi ensured the Pipers took the first match. In the second match, R Praggnanandhaa gave the Pipers an early edge by defeating Vidit Gujrathi. Giri then beat Wei Yi again, putting the result beyond doubt.“Yesterday I had mixed feelings because I had a terrible match, but the team reached the final. But today there is no mixed feeling,” said Giri after being named Player of the Match.Caruana later beat Firouzja, who ran out of time. Firouzja was named Male Player of the Tournament, while Hou Yifan was praised for her crucial role in helping the Pipers reach the final.“It feels great. The last two times, we were quite close to making the final. This time, we barely made it. But in the final, everyone showed up with their best gam,e and it is a great feeling,” said Praggnanandhaa.Earlier, PBG Alaskan Knights secured third place in a thrilling playoff. World champion D Gukesh defeated Viswanathan Anand when it mattered most, winning in 49 moves and sealing the third-place trophy for his team after a tense blitz tie-break.

Kane Williamson (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: New Zealand have announced their squads for the upcoming limited-overs tour of India as they keep a close eye on preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The tour will feature three One-Day Internationals followed by a five-match T20I series, starting January 11.

With the World Cup set to be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7, the selectors have used this tour as a key planning step.The five-match T20I series is seen as especially important for the Black Caps. Playing in Indian conditions will help players adjust to slower pitches and quality spin, something they do not face regularly at home. The team management believes this experience will be crucial ahead of the global event.Mitchell Santner will lead the T20I side as he continues his comeback from injury. For the ODI series, Michael Bracewell has been named captain.Several senior players have been recalled for the tour, while a few young faces have also been rewarded for strong recent performances. Jayden Lennox, Kristian Clarke, Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson have all been included after impressing in domestic and A-team cricket. Michael Rae, who recently made his Test debut against the West Indies, also finds a place in the squads.Kyle Jamieson returns in both ODI and T20I squads after recovering from injury. Mark Chapman and Matt Henry are also back in the T20I setup, strengthening the bowling and batting units.At the same time, some key players have been rested or ruled out to manage workloads. Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke and Blair Tickner will miss the tour due to injury concerns or workload management. New Zealand are balancing their schedule carefully as they also prepare for the World Test Championship cycle.NZ T20I Squad v India: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish SodhiNZ ODI Squad v India: Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young