Rishabh Pant Creates Massive World Record; Becomes First Player in T20 History to Achieve a Uniqu...
Rishabh Pant continued his red-hot form in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) and produced a vintage innings of 88 runs in just 43 balls which included five boundaries and six sixes at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi during the all-important mid-table clash between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Gujarat Titans (GT).
During the course of his knock, Pant created a massive world record for the most runs by a batter against one bowler in a T20 match. Pant smashed veteran Indian pacer Mohit Sharma for 62 runs in 18 balls, which included seven boundaries and three sixes. This is not just the most runs by any batter against one bowler in any T20 match across the globe, but also the first instance of a player making 60+ runs in the same inning against one bowler.
Mona Wins Gold, Amir Silver in Para Shooting World Cup
Indian para-shooter Mona Aggarwal claimed a gold medal in women's 10m air rifle while Army man Amir Ahmed Bhatt secured a silver in 25m pistol at the WSPS World Cup in Changwon, Korea.
Mona claimed the R2 – 10m air rifle standing SH1 gold medal with a score of 250.8 in the final.
It was her second World Cup title of the year following her win in the same event at the World Cup in New Delhi in March, when she sealed a Paralympic quota.
Slovakia's Verónica Vadovicova (250) and Swedish shooter Anna Benson (228.8) won the silver and bronze medals respectively.
Apr 26, 2024
Virat Kohli Becomes First to Reach this Milestone during Match vs SRH
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli created history by becoming the first batter to score 400 or more runs in an Indian Premier League (IPL) season for 10 times. Kohli achieved the feat against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 25. He scored a sluggish 51 off 43 balls vs SRH and now has 430 to his name in the ongoing IPL season so far.
Before the 2024 season, Kohli had scored 400 or more runs in 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013, and 2011. His highest ever aggregate in IPL came in 2016 when he hit a whopping 973 runs in 16 games - still a league record for most runs in a single season.
Delhi Capitals Rope in Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib to Replace Injured Mitchell Marsh
Delhi Capitals announced a major change to their team roster as they prepare for a crucial phase in the Indian Premier League (IPL) season with Gulbadin Naib being roped in place of Mitchell Marsh. The announcement made saw the Afghanistan all-rounder sign for INR 5 million. He came in as a replacement for Marsh being an all-rounder with 65 T20 caps for the national side.
Marsh had got injured at the start of the month and was not available for the side ever since with Shai Hope filing in his place. With DC in desperate need of reinforcements ahead of the final month of the IPL, it was essential for them to get the services of a like-to-like player. In Naib, they will have both batting and bowling options and will look to fill the void left by Marsh.
T20 World Cup Ambassador Usain Bolt Predicts Big Things for Cricket in USA
Legendary sprinter Usain Bolt was named the official ambassador for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States from June 1 to 29. The Jamaican icon, known as the fastest man alive, brings his passion for cricket and global appeal to ignite the tournament and propel the sport into new territories.
Bolt's role as an ambassador goes beyond a mere title. He will be a driving force in promoting the event, making cameo appearances alongside Caribbean music giants Sean Paul and Kes in the official anthem's music video, set to be released next week. Fans can expect to see Bolt cheering on the Windies at key matches and participating in fan engagement events, particularly in the USA, where cricket is poised for a significant leap.
The USA represents the biggest untapped market in the world of sports. Bolt sees the T20 World Cup as a catalyst for cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He envisions "dancing, music, and high energy" during the Caribbean matches, believing the event will be a turning point for the USA as a major cricket hub.
Apr 25, 2024
Narsingh New Chairman of WFI Athletes' Commission
World Championships medallist Narsingh Pancham Yadav was elected as the chairman of the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) Athletes' Commission.
Narsingh, who served a four-year suspension due to a doping sanction, was one of the seven wrestlers who were elected in the panel on the sidelines of the Federation Cup being held in Varanasi.
Narsingh was made the chairman, while former India international Nikki was elected as the convenor as they were the two senior-most wrestlers of the group.
The other members of the commission are Sahil (Delhi), Smitha AS (Kerala), Bharti Bhaghel (UP), Khushboo Pawar (Gujarat) and Sweta Dubey (Bengal). There were eight candidates in fray. Jharkhand's Rajiv Ranjan, who polled the lowest with nine votes out of 39, was the one to miss out.
Sift Triumphs in Olympics Trials
Asian Games gold medallist Sift Kaur Samra emerged victorious in the first women's 50m rifle 3 positions Olympics selection trials, while Niraj Kumar overcame tough rivals in the men's section.
Sift, the world record holder in the event, was up against the in-form Ashi Choksey, the qualification topper by a distance. By the end, Sift had shot a 466.3 and was a healthy 3.7 points above Ashi's tally of 462.6.
Niraj turned the tables on some of the favourites en route the win with a final score of 462.2. Paris quota holder and qualification topper Swapnil Kusale (460.9) was second, while Aishwary Tomar (450.5) was third.
Apr 24, 2024
Saurav Ghosal Retires from Professional Squash
India's finest men's squash player Saurav Ghosal announced his retirement from professional circuit after completing a glittering 22-year journey although he would continue representing the country at multi-discipline events for some more time.
Besides winning two gold medals in team events of Incheon and Hangzhou Asian Games, Ghosal has three Commonwealth Games medals and also bagged the yellow metal in the 2022 World Doubles Championships in mixed doubles in Glasgow.
Nandini's Sponsorship of Ireland and Scotland Cricket Teams Sparks Debate
In a move to strengthen its international presence, 'Nandini', the dairy brand of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), announced its decision to sponsor the cricket teams of Scotland and Ireland for the 2024 T20 World Cup. According to KMF's Managing Director, M. K. Jagadish, the teams will prominently display the 'Nandini' brand during the matches.
Justifying the decision, Jagadish stated that the sponsorship aims to bolster Nandini's brand visibility globally, as the dairy cooperative already has a presence in markets such as the United States, Middle East, and Singapore.
The debate surrounding Nandini's sponsorship decision highlights the delicate balance between investing in local initiatives and pursuing global ambitions. While expanding international presence can be a lucrative opportunity, it is crucial for organizations to consider the needs and aspirations of their local stakeholders, including farmers, artists, and underprivileged communities.
As the discussions continue, it remains to be seen how KMF will navigate this challenge and strike a harmonious balance between its global aspirations and its commitment to uplifting local talents and initiatives.
Apr 23, 2024
Casper Ruud Beats Stefanos Tsitsipas to Win Maiden Barcelona Open
Casper Ruud won his first title of 2024 as he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets and won the Barcelona Open.
Norwegian third seed Ruud defeated the Greek fifth seed 7-5 6-3 to claim the biggest title of his career.
It is the first time Ruud, who is ranked sixth in the world, has won an ATP 500-ranked event.
Yuzi Chahal Creates History, Becomes First Bowler to Pick 200 IPL Wickets
Yuzvendra Chahal created history in Jaipur by picking his 200th IPL wicket, a feat achieved by no other bowler in the tournament's 17-year-long history. Chahal reached the milestone during the match against Mumbai Indians.
Coming in to bowl his first over of the match, Chahal flighted one on middle and leg that stopped a bit on the batter. Mohammed Nabi, who had been playing well at the stage was outfoxed by the slowness of the ball and turned the face of the bat early. Consequently, the ball kissed the leading edge and ballooned straight towards Chahal, who accepted the offering with a glee.
Casper Ruud Beats Stefanos Tsitsipas to Win Maiden Barcelona Open
Casper Ruud took his revenge against Stefanos Tsitsipas by winning the Barcelona Open final in straight sets on Sunday for his biggest career title, a week after losing to the Greek in the Monte Carlo Masters final.
Ruud won 7-5, 6-3 for his first title of the season after losing the three other finals he played this year.
"Honestly, this has been worth the wait," Ruud said after the triumph in Barcelona. "A lot of finals that I've lost have been tough, a bit disappointing, of course. Any time you reach a final, it's nonetheless a good week, so you can't be too hard on yourself, but this one has been a long time coming."
Seventh-ranked Tsitsipas had comfortably won in straight sets in Monte Carlo but this time Ruud prevailed, converting three of the six break points he earned.