Elina Svitolina hailed a super Saturday for her and husband Gael Monfils at Melbourne Park after both sent World No. 4 players packing from the Australian Open. Ukraine’s Svitolina beat Jasmine Paolini 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the third round of the women’s draw just hours after Frenchman Monfils stunned American Taylor Fritz on the same Margaret Court Arena in the men’s singles. “It’s really a great day for us today, beating top-four players and playing great tennis,” said the 30-year-old Svitolina. The 38-year-old Monfils was watching from Svitolina’s on-court coaching box as the couple both reached the last 16 of the first Grand Slam of the year. Learner Tien serves to Corentin Moutet during their match on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images “Most of the big tournaments we have each other by our sides. It means a lot to have someone who understands what I am going through,” said Svitolina. Svitolina and Monfils got married in 2021 and had a daughter in 2022. They try to keep their on-court and off-court lives separate. “When we go back home, we completely switch off [from tennis],” Svitolina explained. “We just enjoy our time as a family, as a mum and dad with our daughter. It’s a really unique connection that we have. I’m really happy with the way that we’ve been dealing with these things.” Svitolina’s best showing at the Australian Open was reaching the quarter-finals in 2018 and 2019. Monfils’ 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 win over Fritz sent him into the last 16 for a sixth time in 19 appearances in Melbourne. Svitolina dropped five games in a row to lose the first set against the Italian Paolini but stepped up the pace to win the second. The World No. 27 then completely ran away with the third as Paolini had no answers to her shot-making which gleaned 34 winners. Tien, youngest in last 16 Teenage qualifier Learner Tien said it was “pretty crazy” after becoming the youngest man to reach the fourth round since Rafael Nadal in 2005 when he overcame Frenchman Corentin Moutet. The American 19-year-old won 7-6 (12/10), 6-3, 6-3 in Melbourne with Moutet collapsing clutching his leg in the third set before gamely carrying on. The victory extended Tien’s remarkable tournament after he stunned last year’s runner-up and fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller in round two. “Honestly it feels pretty crazy to be in the second week. Going through Qs [qualifying],” he said. No other American man his age has gone so far in Melbourne since Pete Sampras in 1990, with Tien’s reward a clash against Italian Lorenzo Sonego, who dispatched Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in four sets. Danielle Collins said she was proud of herself and did not care what people thought after being booed in and out of the arena in losing 4-6, 4-6 to fellow American Madison Keys. Collins exits to boos The 31-year-old Collins became the pantomime villain of Melbourne Park on Thursday when she sarcastically thanked hecklers for “paying my bills” after she defeated home hope Destanee Aiava in the second round. She also blew kisses to the fiercely partisan crowd, cupped her ear and even pointed to her backside. Collins smiled as she faced a smattering of boos when she walked out. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 January,2025 07:28 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPSpin wizards Noman Ali and Sajid Khan guided Pakistan to a strong position against the West Indies after another spin dominated second day’s play in the opening Test in Multan on Saturday. The senior pair shared nine wickets between them to dismiss the West Indies for a paltry 137, in reply to the home team’s 230 all out earlier in the day. By the close of play, Pakistan stretched the 93-run lead to 202 by scoring 109-3 in their second innings. For the tourists, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican (2-17) did the bulk of the damage in the second innings. He dismissed Muhammad Hurraira for 29, after an opening stand of 67, before trapping Babar Azam leg-before for five. Skipper Shan Masood looked solid for his 52 before being run-out. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 January,2025 07:09 AM IST | Noman Ali. Pic/AFP | AFPDhruv Shorey’s third consecutive hundred went in vain as Karnataka rode on unfancied Smaran Ravichandran’s stylish ton to win their fifth Vijay Hazare Trophy title, defeating Vidarbha by 36 runs in a high-scoring final here on Saturday. Karnataka has an unprecedented record of reaching five finals and winning all of them. Left-handed Smaran smashed 101 off just 92 deliveries, while the unheralded keeper-batter Krishnan Srijith chipped in with a plucky 78 off 74 balls. T20 star Abhinav Manohar provided the final flourish with a blistering 79 off 42 deliveries, propelling Karnataka to a commanding total of 348 for 6 in 50 overs. In reply, Vidarbha, who had reached the final without losing a single game in the group stage, paid the price for most of their batters outside the top three failing to get significant time at the crease. Also read: Performances like these don't just happen...": Tendulkar hails Karun Nair as batter nears all-time Vijay Hazare Trophy record However, all-rounder Harsh Dubey’s explosive 63 off 30 balls, which included five sixes and as many fours, gave the winners a scare before Vidarbha were all out for 312 in 48.2 overs. Shorey, who scored a century in both the quarter and semi-final, looked classy en route his 110 but there was no support at the end once Player of the Tournament Karun Nair (27) had a rare failure. Brief scoresKarnataka 348-6 in 50 overs (R Smaran 101, A Manohar 79, K Shrijith 78; D Nalkande 2-67, N Bhute 2-68) beat Vidarbha 312 all out in 48.2 overs (D Shorey 110, H Dubey 63; V Koushik 3-47, A Shetty 3-58, P Krishna 3-84) by 36 runs This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 January,2025 07:02 AM IST | Vadodara | PTIRohit Sharma, who will be leading India in the three-match home ODI series against England starting February 6 and the February 19-March 9 Champions Trophy in the UAE, has confirmed his participation in a Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai against Jammu & Kashmir at the MCA-BKC ground on January 23. Rohit, who dropped himself due to poor form in the recent Sydney Test against Australia, had his first red-ball practice session during the Mumbai Ranji team’s match simulation exercise at Wankhede recently. However, it is learnt that, as of Saturday afternoon, he was yet to confirm his availability to the Mumbai Cricket Association for the Ranji game, raising concerns about whether the preparation was ideal to play a first-class game ahead of the 50-over Champions Trophy. Also read: Virat Kohli along with this player pull out their names from Ranji Trophy second round matches When Sunday mid-day asked Rohit during a press conference addressed by him and chief selector Ajit Agarkar whether he sees it as a challenge to switch between red-ball and white-ball formats while preparing for a 50-over tournament, he said on Saturday: “I’ve done this all my life — playing red ball on some days and white ball on others. It’s nothing new for me. I’m used to these kinds of changes. It’s been happening for a long time. When you play all three formats, you have to adjust. Sometimes you prepare for a red ball [tournament] and then suddenly there’s a T20 format. There’s nothing new about it.” Rohit last played a Ranji Trophy match in the 2015-16 season (against Uttar Pradesh).
19 January,2025 06:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureThough pacer Jasprit Bumrah is yet to recover fully from the back spasm he suffered during the recent Sydney Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee picked him in the 15-member squad for the February 6-12 ODI series against England and Champions Trophy (February 19-March 9). Fit-again pacer Mohammed Shami, who missed the BGT series Down Under due to a knee injury, also found a place for the England ODI series as well as in the Champions Trophy squad. India lost their last Champions Trophy final to Pakistan at London in 2017 with Virat Kohli in charge. Rohit Sharma, who led India to the T20 World Cup crown in the West Indies six months ago, will lead India’s challenge in ODI cricket with top-order batter Shubman Gill as his deputy. Big break for Jaiswal Mumbai opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has represented country in 19 Tests and 23 T20Is, was picked in the ODI team for the first time. “We are waiting to hear about his [Bumrah] fitness and when he’s likely to be available, so [Delhi pacer] Harshit Rana will be part of the one-day squad against England right now. At the moment, I don’t think he’s likely to be fit for the first couple of games [against England] at least from what we gather,” Agarkar said during a press conference after selection committee meeting at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. “I know he was asked to offload for five weeks of bowling, which is early first week of February, if I’m not wrong. And hopefully, he’s okay after that. So, we are very hopeful,” Agarkar remarked. When asked about the exclusion of experienced pacer Mohammed Siraj for a crucial tournament, Rohit explained: “We wanted to pick a squad where we have options of both, somebody to bowl with the new ball and somebody to bowl at the back end. Obviously, with Bumrah missing, we’re not sure. “We wanted [left-arm pacer] Arshdeep [Singh] to come and play that role of bowling at the back end and Shami, obviously we saw what he did with the new ball, and that is where we feel that Siraj’s effectiveness comes down a little bit — if he’s not going to take the new ball.” Focus on spin quartet India have four spinners — wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, left-arm spinners Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja and off-spinner Washington Sundar. Except Kuldeep, the other three are good all-rounders too. Vidarbha skipper Karun Nair, who scored 779 runs with the help of five centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy which concluded in Vadodara on Saturday, didn’t find a place in India’s ODI squad. Agarkar said: “Unfortunately, you can’t fit everyone in. It’s a squad of 15. But those performances certainly make you take notice.” On the same page Meanwhile, Rohit clarified that he and head coach Gautam Gambhir are on the same page. “Both of us are very clear in what we want to do. I’m not going to sit here and discuss what goes behind every game tactically, but it’s very clear in my mind [that] Gambhir is somebody… once we enter the field he trusts what the captain is doing on the field. Once we take the field, it’s all about what I do on the field. That’s the kind of trust we have in each other and that’s how it should be,” the captain stressed. Also Read: Given Bumrah's fitness record, selection committee might not think of him as long-term Test captain India squad for CT, England ODIs: Rohit (captain), S Gill (vc), V Kohli, S Iyer, KL Rahul, H Pandya, Axar, W Sundar, K Yadav, J Bumrah, M Shami, Arshdeep, Y Jaiswal, R Pant, R Jadeja, H Rana (only for England series)
19 January,2025 06:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureAhead of the Champions Trophy 2025, the Men's Selection Committee chairman Ajit Agarkar opened up on the fitness of Team India's lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025, Ajit Agarkar and skipper Rohit Sharma conducted a press conference to announce the Indian squad for the marquee event. In the final Test match against Australia in Sydney, Jasprit Bumrah didn't bowl a single ball. The pacer rushed into the hospital for scans and was advised to not feature in the remainder of the Sydney Test by medical professionals. Following the advice from the medical experts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided the Indian spearhead should rest for at least five weeks (the Sydney Test finished on January 5 after which he will undergo another scan. Also Read: Rohit Sharma confirms availability for Mumbai's next Ranji game Speaking at the press conference, Agarkar said that the team management is still waiting to hear about Jasprit Bumrah's fitness and when he will be available to be a part of the first eleven. "With Jasprit Bumrah we are waiting to hear about his fitness and when is he likely to be available so Harshit Rana is going to be a part of the ODI squad against England right now...I don't think he is likely to be fit for the first couple of games," Ajit Agarkar told reporters. During the squad announcement, Ajit Agarkar confirmed that young seamer Harshit Rana will be in place of Jasprit Bumrah for the ODI series against England. The freshest challenge awaiting for Team India is the ICC Champions Trophy, starting from February 19 till March 9. It will be hosted by Pakistan and UAE, with India playing its matches in UAE under a hybrid model. The eight-team tournament will feature 15 fifty-over matches and will be played across Pakistan and in Dubai. The biggest match of the tournament between two arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be played on February 23. India will start its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20. India's last league match will be against New Zealand on March 2. The Rohit Sharma-led side will play all their matches in Dubai India squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja. (With ANI Inputs)
18 January,2025 06:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India captain Rohit Sharma confirmed his availability for Mumbai's Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir. He also opened up about the need to take time off from a busy calendar amid the noise of star players' participation in domestic cricket. Rohit Sharma also said that no player takes the premier domestic tournament for granted. Mumbai is set to play their Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir at the MCA-BKC ground on January 23. Asked about his availability for the game during a press conference at the BCCI headquarters here, Rohit Sharma responded in the positive. Days after the BCCI conducted a review meeting to assess the debacle Down Under, the Board has come out with 10 guidelines for India's centrally-contracted players, including making participation in domestic tournaments mandatory for selection in the national team. The focus since then has been on the likes of Rohit and his longtime India teammate Virat Kohli. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Ajit Agarkar, Rohit Sharma announce Indian squad at Wankhede Stadium The India skipper said, "Last 6-7 years, if you go back and look at our calendar, there hasn't been a time where we were sitting at home for 45 days and there is (domestic) cricket going on. You do get that time when you finish IPL and if there's nothing happening (in domestic cricket) right after that..." Rohit said. "But if you see our domestic season, it starts in October, maybe September, and it gets over by February-March and that is the time India plays a lot of cricket as well. So, guys who are not playing certain formats and have time, and then there is domestic cricket happening, then they will play. "But (in) the last 6-7 years, I can at least tell about what has happened with me since I've started playing Test cricket regularly, which is from 2019, you hardly have any time in hand and then, when you play so much international cricket through the year, you need some time off as well as a cricketer just to refresh, get your mind right, just to be ready for the upcoming season." The 37-year-old, who endured a horror run with the bat in the national team's tour of Australia recently, trained with the Mumbai squad at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday ahead of the second phase of the Ranji Trophy. Rohit Sharma last represented Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in November 2015 against Uttar Pradesh. He added, "We have addressed it now and nobody takes it (domestic red-ball cricket) for granted or anything like that. It is just ben based on looking at how one has gone through the season, how much rest he needs," he said. "Based on all of that, we decide what is going to happen with certain players. Now it's been made mandatory that if there is time, you have to play domestic cricket." The past few weeks have been tumultuous for Rohit. He managed just 31 runs across three Tests during his time Down Under and was forced to drop himself from the series-deciding fifth and final Test in Sydney due to his poor form. Rohit handed over the leadership duties to Jasprit Bumrah in that game, sparking widespread speculations about his future. However, in an interview to the host broadcaster of the series, Rohit asserted that he was not going anywhere. (With PTI Inputs)
18 January,2025 06:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the Champions Trophy 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Team India captain Rohit Sharma made their appearance at the press conference to announce the squad. Team India's rising star Yashasvi Jaiswal who has not yet made his debut in One-Day Internationals made the cut in the national squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. Also Read: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis congratulates MCA on Wankhede Stadium's 50th anniversary Jasprit Bumrah has been added to the Champions Trophy 2025 squad but his feature in the mega event will heavily rely on his fitness."We are waiting on Jasprit Bumrah's fitness and will know his status in early February from BCCI's medical team", Chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Rishabh Pant is the first-choice wicketkeeper batter in the Champions Trophy 2025 and England ODI squads. As the selector and skipper announced the squad, Team India's star pacer Mohammed Siraj missed the cut for the marquee event's squad. Mohammed Shami has made a comeback to the ODI squad after the 50-over World Cup in 2023. Karun Nair, despite 752 runs in domestic cricket, missed out and Agarkar said: "It was difficult to find a place and all those who have been picked have averaged in mid 40s." India's squad for the Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja. Earlier, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar arrived to attend the team selection meeting for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Taking to X: #WATCH | Maharashtra | Men's Selection Committee Chairman Ajit Agarkar arrived to attend the team selection meeting for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 #iccchampionstrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/AxrebWwGr9 — ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2025 (With PTI Inputs)
18 January,2025 03:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and fans as Wankhede Stadium completed its 50th anniversary, according to the release from MCA. MCA is hosting a week-long celebration, starting January 12, to mark this historic milestone with the grand spectacle scheduled to take place on Sunday. "I am really happy about the celebration of Wankhede Stadium's golden jubilee. I congratulate all cricket fans and the Mumbai Cricket Association on this occasion. The golden jubilee of Wankhede Stadium's glorious cricketing legacy is significant in many ways. This stadium is not just a ground but an emotion for Indian cricket fans. The name of the stadium is etched in the minds of not only cricket fans but every Mumbaikar as well as Indian," CM Fadnavis wrote in a letter as quoted in a release from MCA. Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah likely to be selected for Champions Trophy 2025 "Be it retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, who has a place in the hearts of Indians, India's World Cup win in 2011, Ravi Shastri's six sixes in six balls, Wankhede Stadium has witnessed many such historical moments. Several Ranji Trophy matches, which has produced many players in Indian cricket, have been played at this stadium. Best wishes to all on the golden jubilee of Wankhede Stadium, which has witnessed historic moments of Indian cricket," Chief Minister further added. Earlier, the MCA feliciated all men's and women's captains of the Mumbai team, organised by Polly Umrigar Health Camp and special lunch for the groundsmen and felicitated them. The board also feliciated the Mumbai players who played the first first-class match at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in 1974. The players were also rewarded with Rs. 10 lakh each. "On behalf of the MCA, I thank the honourable Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ji for his kind and encouraging words. This golden jubilee is a special moment for all of us. The goal behind hosting this celebration is to showcase Mumbai's cricketing legacy to the next generation and inspire them," MCA President Ajinkya Naik said. Mumbai cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Diana Edulji, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav will make their presence for the grand event at the Wankhede Stadium to witness the performances by Ajay-Atul and Avadhoot Gupte, followed by a breathtaking laser show. (With ANI Inputs)
18 January,2025 02:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThere are chances of Team India pacer Jasprit Bumrah making the cut in India's squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 which is set to kick start on February 19 in Pakistan and United Arab Emirates, according to ESPNcricinfo. Jasprit Bumrah's selection will rely on his game fitness. In the final Test match against Australia in Sydney, Jasprit Bumrah didn't bowl a single ball. The pacer was rushed to the hospital for scans and was advised by the Australian doctors to not participate in the Sydney match. After the advice from the medical experts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took the call of resting Jasprit Bumrah for at least five weeks after which he will undergo another scan, the report added. Also Read: Virat Kohli along with this player pull out their names from Ranji Trophy second round matches If everything falls in place for Jasprit Bumrah, then his fitness will be tested during the third ODI against England on February 12. The last date to announce the final squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 is February 11. In a challenging tour for the Indian team, Bumrah emerged as the lone warrior for India consistently delivering match-defining performances. His exceptional contributions not only earned him the Player of the Series award but also cemented his reputation as one of the finest bowlers in world cricket. Jasprit Bumrah showed his mettle in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy in which he got 32 wickets in five matches at a stunning average of 13.06, with three five-wicket hauls and best figures of 6/76. He achieved a significant milestone during the series by taking his 200th Test wicket, becoming the fourth-fastest player to reach this landmark in terms of balls bowled. Remarkably, he also became the first bowler in history to claim 200 Test wickets at an average below 20. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and team India skipper Rohit Sharma will hold a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday to announce the squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as well as for the three-match ODI series against England. The freshest challenge awaiting India is the ICC Champions Trophy, starting from February 19 till March 9. It will be hosted by Pakistan and UAE, with India playing its matches in UAE under a hybrid model. The eight-team tournament will feature 15 50-over matches and will be played across Pakistan and in Dubai. The biggest match of the tournament between two arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be played on February 23 in Dubai. India will start its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20. India's last league match will be against New Zealand on March 2. Group A of the tournament features current Champions Trophy holders and hosts Pakistan, along with India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, while Group B features Cricket World Cup 2023 champions Australia, alongside Afghanistan, England and South Africa. (With ANI Inputs)
18 January,2025 01:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India batsmen Virat Kohli and KL Rahul informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team that they are facing niggle issues following which they won't be able to make their presence for their domestic teams, Delhi and Karnataka, respectively in the second round of the Ranji Trophy. Virat Kohli is suffering from neck pain. The stalwart informed the BCCI medical team that he took an injection on January 8, but the pain is still there in his neck, following which he had to miss Delhi's match against Saurashtra, according to ESPNcricinfo. His last appearance in the Ranji Trophy was back in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh. Having featured in 155 first-class matches, Virat Kohli has smashed 11,479 runs with an average of 48.23 including 37 centuries and 39 half-centuries. His best score is an unbeaten 254 runs. Also Read: ‘Get a good start, save energy for finish’ KL Rahul on the other hand, is dealing with elbow issues for which he will miss Karnataka's Ranji match. The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter made his last Ranji appearance in March 2020 for Karnataka against Bengal, scoring 26 and 0 during the semifinal, which his team lost. On Thursday, BCCI released new policies for Team India, making it "mandatory" to participate in domestic matches to remain "eligible" for selection in the national team and for the central contracts. In the policy, BCCI stated that taking part in domestic cricket will remain connected to the cricket ecosystem. The statement added that any exceptions to taking part in domestic cricket will be considered only under extraordinary circumstances. "Participation in Domestic Matches is mandatory for players to remain eligible for selection in the national team and for central contracts, as per BCCI guidelines. This policy ensures that players remain connected to the domestic cricket ecosystem, fostering talent development, maintaining match fitness, and strengthening the overall domestic structure. It also inspires emerging players by providing them opportunities to compete alongside top cricketers, ensuring continuity in talent progression. Any exceptions to this mandate will be considered only under extraordinary circumstances and will require formal notification and approval from the Chairman of the Selection Committee, ensuring fairness and transparency in the process," BCCI said in a statement. Young players Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and experienced Ravindra Jadeja have confirmed their presence and participation in the Ranji Trophy matches. (With ANI Inputs)
18 January,2025 12:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
