Sports

In a tragic incident, 26-year-old Kabaddi player Khageshwar Rathia from Dudumchua village in Chhattisgarh collapsed during a match in Tarbod village, Nuapada district, and later died at the hospital. He was participating in an inter-state tournament organized by the Tarbod Durga Puja Committee when he suddenly fell ill. Despite immediate medical attention, Khageshwar was pronounced dead upon arrival at the district headquarters hospital. The community is in deep mourning as they grapple with the shocking loss of a young athlete, suspected to have suffered a heart attack.

In a thrilling encounter at the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in Sharjah, India fell short against Australia, losing by 9 runs and effectively exiting the tournament. Chasing a target of 152, India ended their innings at eight wickets down, despite a commendable unbeaten 54 from captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Australia set a total of 151/8, with significant contributions from Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, and Tahlia McGrath. India's bowlers, led by Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma, managed to contain the Australian batting but struggled in the chase. Post-match, Kaur acknowledged the experience of the Australian team and emphasized the need for her squad to learn from this challenging encounter.

In a dominant display, India defeated Bangladesh by 133 runs in the third T20I, achieving a 3-0 series clean sweep. India posted an impressive total of 297 for 6, with standout performances from Sanju Samson, who scored 111 runs off 47 balls, and Suryakumar Yadav, who contributed 75 runs off 35 balls. In response, Bangladesh managed 164 for 7, concluding a difficult tour. Hardik Pandya was named Player of the Series for his all-round efforts, while Samson received the Player of the Match award. Captain Suryakumar Yadav emphasized the team's selfless spirit and adaptability, while Bangladesh's skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto, acknowledged the need for improvement. The teams now look ahead to their next challenges, with India gearing up for a series against New Zealand.

In a significant announcement for the Jamnagar royal lineage, Jam Saheb Shatrusalyasinhji Maharaj revealed on Friday that former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja will be his successor. At 53, Jadeja has represented India in 15 Test matches and 196 One Day Internationals. The announcement, made on the auspicious occasion of Dusshera, highlights Jadeja’s connection to cricket royalty, being a relative of legendary cricketers KS Ranjitsinhji and KS Duleepsinhji. Shatrusalyasinhji expressed confidence that Jadeja would serve the people of Jamnagar with utmost commitment, marking a historic moment for the royal family.

On October 11, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the India National Cricket Team squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand. Notably, Jasprit Bumrah has been appointed as the new vice-captain. The squad closely resembles the one that recently defeated Bangladesh 2-0, with Yash Dayal being the only player dropped. The BCCI has also named four reserve players for the series. Fans are eagerly anticipating the matches as the team prepares to face New Zealand.