NEW DELHI: Beating five-time champion Australia in the opening match has given India extra confidence for the rest of the group stage at the Cricket World Cup.
The tournament hosts take on Afghanistan on Wednesday in the second of their nine group games, preparing to be the most-traveled team in the six-week tournament.
The 48,000-seater Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi will be the second of nine match venues for India, with Hyderabad the only host city Rohit Sharma’s squad won’t be playing at during the tournament.
India beat Australia by six wickets on Sunday in a thrilling, low-scoring game at Chennai, with spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav combining for five wickets to bowl out the Aussies for 199. India struggled initially and was three wickets down for two runs within 12 deliveries before Lokesh Rahul and Virat Kohli joined forces to guide the hosts to victory.
“It feels very good when you defeat big teams, and your confidence definitely goes up,” Jadeja said. “I won’t say it will be easy in front of the other teams because every team is good. But if you win in front of the big teams, you have a different level of confidence.”
That makes India hot favorites against No. 9-ranked Afghanistan.
While the Chennai pitch had plenty to offer the spinners, the Delhi wicket is expected to be harder and offer less turn. And the shorter boundaries should prove advantageous for batters.
South Africa belted a World Cup record total of 428-5 in the first game there on the weekend and Sri Lanka replied with 326.
The conditions could force a change for India, with allrounder Shardul Thakur and pace bowler Mohammed Shami contenders to replace veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Thakur makes a firmer case for his batting ability, while his medium-pace variations on a harder surface could prove a handful for the Afghan batters as well.
Changes, if any, will be minimal for the home team. India still has concerns over the health of opener Shubman Gill, who is struggling with a virus.
Instead of traveling with the team to Delhi, Gill stayed in Chennai for treatment. The opening batter, who has scored 1,230 runs in 20 ODIs this year, is also expected to miss India’s high-profile match against archrival Pakistan on Oct. 14.
Gill’s continued absence is likely to mean Ishan Kishan gets an extended run opening the innings. He failed in Chennai, chasing after a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc, and the general expectation would be of more patience from the stand-in opener.
Afghanistan have struggled to bat collectively as a unit since joining cricket’s elite. Despite a good start against Bangladesh in Dharamsala last Friday, Afghanistan failed to build its innings and was bundled out for 156 runs. From 83-2, it lost eight wickets for just 73 runs in a six-wicket defeat.
Afghanistan have only managed to score 300-plus on seven occasions in 153 ODIs – a reflection of its batting depth. In the past two years, they have crossed 300 only three times in 24 ODIs.
Head-to-head, India have won two of the three ODIs, and were held to a dramatic tie by Afghanistan in the 2018 Asian Cup. All the contests have come in multi-team tournaments so far.
Afghanistan have games against the tournament hosts and the defending champions within five days, a difficult assignment under any circumstances.
Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott said he’d “like to see us bounce back” from the loss to Bangladesh.
“We know the areas we need to improve. And we’ve got two big games in Delhi now against India and then England,” he said. “So, we’ve got to dust ourselves off ... (for) a big match against India, which is going to be a great spectacle.
“I know the boys will be really, really up for it.”
Confident India aim to maintain perfect start against Afghanistan in World Cup
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Confident India aim to maintain perfect start against Afghanistan in World Cup
- India take on Afghanistan on Wednesday in second of their nine group matches
- India beat Australia by six wickets in a thrilling, low-scoring game at Chennai
Naqi team take gold at Saudi Elite Hockey Championship
- The medals and trophy were awarded by Saudi Hockey Federation President Mohammed Al-Mandeel
- Defending champions Najd Falcons came second, with Al-Ittihad in third
RIYADH: There were celebrations on Saturday as Naqi won the second edition of the Saudi Elite Hockey Championship.
Team members received their gold medals and winners’ trophy from Saudi Hockey Federation President Mohammed Al-Mandeel at the end of the event, played over two days at the Green Halls of Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex.
Featuring 80 players from eight teams, it was attended by Ahmed Al-Jaidan, vice chairman of the SHF board, and board member Reham Al-Ajroush.
Defending champions Najd Falcons received silver medals for coming in second place, while Al-Ittihad took bronze for third.
In the individual awards, Nouman Rashid (Naqi) was named Best Player of the Tournament, with Moaid Dhoha (Al-Ittihad) as Best Goalkeeper. Top Scorer was Akbar Zaman of United Thalassery Sports Club and Best Young Player was Abdulrahman Al-Shammari (Al-Shabab).
Al-Mandeel praised the success of the event, saying it emphasized the Federation’s efforts to promote hockey and establish it as a popular competitive sport in Saudi Arabia.
Along with tournaments, the organization has established domestic and international training camps to help discover the Kingdom’s talented hockey players, many of whom shone during the championship.
Al-Mandeel also expressed his appreciation for support from the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committees.
West Indies 54-5 in chase of 251 in spin-dominated Pakistan Test
- Sajid Khan impresses again by taking four wickets against West Indies
- Jomel Warrican took 7-32 in spin-tricky overs to bundle Pakistan out for 157
MULTAN, Pakistan, Jan 19, 2025 : Pakistan spinner Sajid Khan struck four times to leave the West Indies in deep trouble on 54-5 at lunch on the third day of the first Test in their chase of 251 for victory.
The West Indies need 197 runs to win while Pakistan are chasing five wickets in a battle between the two basement sides in the World Test Championship.
On a Multan Stadium pitch that has sharp turn, the West Indies lost skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (12), Keacy Carty (six), Kavem Hodge (nought) and Mikyle Louis (13) — all to Sajid, who has figures of 4-25.
In the last over before the lunch break, fellow spinner Noman Ali trapped Justin Greaves leg before for nine to give Pakistan a sniff of victory.
Alick Athanaze was unbeaten on 12.
Earlier, Jomel Warrican finished with 7-32 in 18 spin-tricky overs to bundle Pakistan out for 157 after they resumed on 109-3, managing to add just 48 runs.
Warrican tore through the Pakistan batting line-up with nagging line and length to claim match figures of 10-101, his first 10-wicket haul.
His previous best innings figures of 4-50 came against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2021.
He also improved on the previous best figures by a West Indian in Pakistan, held by fast bowler Malcolm Marshall with 5-33 at Lahore in 1986.
Warrican dismissed overnight batter Saud Shakeel with the first ball of the day for two and then had Mohammad Rizwan in his next over for the same score.
He continued the demolition act with the wickets of Kamran Ghulam (27), Noman (nine) and Sajid (five).
Fellow spinner Gudakesh Motie ending the innings by dismissing Salman Agha for 14.
The second match starts from January 25, also in Multan.
Richard Mille win Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo Championship final
- The final score against Ikmah was 8-6 at Al-Fursan Village
- Bentley team takes third beating AlUla 6-5
ALULA: The Richard Mille polo team won the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo Championship on Saturday, defeating Ikmah 8-6 in the final at Al-Fursan Village.
The triumphant players were awarded the trophy by Saudi Polo Federation President Amr Zidan and Abeer Al-Akel, acting CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla, in the presence of Piero Dillier, president of the International Polo Federation.
Bentley won third place after winning 6-5 against AlUla, who came in fourth, with Dadan claiming fifth place with a 7-6 victory over Budget.
Prince Hamzah bin Abbas of Jordan was named Best Player of the Tournament, while Claire Mountbatten won the Best Female Player award.
The tournament’s top scorer was international star Nacho Figueras, while Obsolete won the Best Horse award.
Congratulating the Richard Mille team on their success, Zidan said: “SPF is committed to continuing this tournament in collaboration with the Royal Commission for AlUla, with unlimited support from the wise leadership, and close supervision from the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports.”
The SPF president added the competition had witnessed a new champion, rapid development, strong competition and valuable experience for Saudi riders through competing against international stars.
He extended his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the event.
Fit-again Yadav named in India’s squad for Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy
- Kuldeep Yadav hasn’t played cricket since hernia surgery in November
- India retain most of their players who competed at 2023 ODI World Cup
NEW DELHI: India named fit-again spinner Kuldeep Yadav in a 15-man squad for next month’s Champions Trophy on Saturday with Rohit Sharma leading the team into the eight-nation tournament.
Kuldeep hasn’t played competitive cricket since his hernia surgery in November but could play pivotal role on slow pitches of Dubai, where India will be playing all its games. The left-arm wrist spinner has been building up his workload at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
The Indian squad also includes fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
India retained most of its players who competed at the 2023 ODI World Cup. Shreyas Iyer and Lokesh Rahul have retained their places while Shubman Gill was named as the team’s vice-captain. Rishabh Pant is the second wicketkeeper chosen in the squad as Sanju Samson couldn’t make the 15.
Fast bowler Mohammad Shami also returns to ODI cricket, having last played the 50-over format at home in the 2023 ODI World Cup where he picked up 24 wickets and was the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. Left-arm fast bowler edged out Mohammed Siraj after his impressive performances in white-ball cricket.
India is placed in group A alongside host Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand.
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Squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.
Barcelona’s Balde complains of racist abuse in Getafe draw
- Earlier Saturday, in Spain’s second division, Elche player Bambo Diaby also faced racist abuse in a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon
MADRID: Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde complained of racist abuse aimed at him from Getafe supporters in a 1-1 draw in La Liga on Saturday.
After Hansi Flick’s side were dealt another set-back in the title race at Getafe’s Coliseum stadium Balde reported the abuse in a post-match interview.
“I received various racist insults from some fans today, and I think that’s something I should say here. I think it’s something that should not keep happening,” Balde told Movistar.
The defender said he informed the referee during the game, who activated Spain’s racism protocol — leading to a public announcement to supporters in the stadium to desist.
Flick said those shouting racist abuse should not come to matches.
“There’s no space for this in football or in life, this is unbelievable, in the time (we live in now) it’s totally wrong,” Flick told reporters.
“They have to stay at home. Not go to the match, they have to stay at home.
“I think we have to fight against them, it’s the best thing, and the people around them can also do something... I think everyone can do it.”
Earlier Saturday, in Spain’s second division, Elche player Bambo Diaby also faced racist abuse in a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon.
There have been numerous instances of racism in Spanish football stadiums in recent years, with Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior often targeted for abuse.
In November three fans were arrested after racist abuse was aimed at Balde and his Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal in the Clasico against Real Madrid.