SPORTS

The anticipation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has reached a fever pitch as the schedule unfolds, revealing India's path to potential glory. The Men in Blue, who clinched the inaugural title in 2007, find themselves in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Ireland, the USA, and Canada. India will kick off their campaign against Ireland on June 5th at the iconic New York venue. The stage is set for an enthralling opener as India aims to set the tone for their T20 World Cup journey.

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad Thursday termed the Newlands surface on which the shortest Test match in the history of the game was played as "not great" and where sheer luck trumped pure skill.

India beat South Africa by seven wickets in a match that was played for just 106.2 overs and ended in a day and a little over one session.

"I don't know what's going on here. I have moved on. Not in a position to know the goings on between the walls here. Everybody knows the wicket wasn't great," his frank observation would hurt Cricket South Africa (CSA) as well as the Western Province bosses.

Virat Kohli was at his relaxed best on Day 1 of the New Year's Test between South Africa and India at Newlands in Cape Town on January 3. The former captain was enjoying the procession of South African batters as the Indian pacers ran riot on a hot morning in the city after the hosts won the toss and opted to bat. From giving tips to his teammates and plotting the opposition batter's downfall to keeping the crowd and the camera crew engaged with his poses on the field, Kohli was having fun in the first session of India's first international assignment of the New Year. 

Rafael Nadal may not have made a winning return to tennis after being sidelined for nearly 12 months with a hip injury, going down in men's doubles alongside Marc Lopez last Sunday, but in the category in which he won 22 Grand Slams and 70 other ATP titles, the Spaniard reigned supreme on Tuesday. Facing familiar rival Dominic Thiem in his Brisbane International opener, the wildcard entrant emerged victoriously at the end of an hour and 30 minutes of high-intensity tennis at the Pat Rafter Arena, winning 7-5, 6-1 to progress to the pre-quarters.

India women will be pumped up to take on Australia women in the third and final ODI today at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side lost to visitors in the first two ODIs and will be looking to finish the series on a high. The series is gone but the the hosts need to ensure they avoid the clean sweep.

The Indian women may have lost the first series but they have still played good cricket. In the 2nd ODI, they played well but could not close the game. Requiring 258 runs to win, India managed 255 for 8 in 50 overs, losing the match by just 4 runs. Richa Ghosh was brilliant at No 3, scoring a terrific 96 off 117 balls. Jemimah Rodrigues was excellent too, carrying her good form in this innings and stroking 44 off 55 balls. Her wicket was crucial as if she had stayed for more time at the crease, the result could have been different.