43+ min ago (842+ words) Updated : Nov 30, 2025 23:35 IST , CHENNAI - 5 MINS READ After two days of mostly one-sided affairs in the Chennai leg of the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup 2025, Sunday delivered four thrillers at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium. The day's finale, a Pool F clash, saw France secure a commanding 8-3 victory over Australia, despite a spirited performance from the Burras and the challenge of persistent rain and gusting winds. While the final score suggests a blowout, the contest was tightly fought until the final quarter, where France unleashed a torrent of five field goals to pull away. Billed as a highly anticipated rematch of the last edition's quarterfinals'where France famously eliminated Australia'the game lived up to its billing. READ: Junior Hockey World Cup 2025: Serial winner Germany hungry for more accolades under coach Stenzel The Burras then took the lead through a Patrick Andrews…...

48+ min ago (345+ words) Updated : Nov 30, 2025 23:32 IST - 3 MINS READ For Virat Kohli, the mental aspect of batsmanship " visualising game situations, feeling intense and sharp at the same time " holds more value than over-preparation which has never been his philosophy. Maybe not in as many words but if one reads between the lines of Kohli's statement, it is not difficult to understand what he feels about playing in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, which the national selection committee wants him to do. ALSO READ | BCCI calls meeting to address communication gaps between management and senior players "I've played 300-odd ODI games and so much cricket, if you're in touch with the game and are able to hit balls in the practice, if you bat for an hour or two in the nets, you know you're good. "If you're out of form, you want to play…...

2+ hour ago (526+ words) Updated : Nov 30, 2025 22:18 IST , Ranchi - 3 MINS READ The full house at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi enjoyed three hours of Virat Kohli at his absolute best. It was vintage stuff - wristy flicks, charging at pacers, and straight drives from the Sachin Tendulkar playbook. It was a fitting response to those who questioned Kohli's future in the ODI setup. A sublime 120-ball 135 proved that Kohli is here to stay. The next World Cup may be two years away, but Sunday's knock was a reminder of the tremendous value that Kohli brings to the national team. The Kohli masterclass led India to a narrow 17-run win over South Africa in the first ODI. Fighting knocks from Matthew Breetzke (72, 80b, 8x4, 1x6), Marco Jansen (70, 39b, 8x4, 3x6) and Corbin Bosch (67, 51b, 5x4, 4x6) threatened to ruin the Kohli party, but the home side had just enough in the tank to sneak…...

2+ hour, 44+ min ago (253+ words) Updated : Nov 30, 2025 21:34 IST , AHMEDABAD - 3 MINS READ After his unbeaten 113 (50b, 10x4, 8x6) helped Jharkhand team chase down 183 against Tripura in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Ahmedabad on Sunday, captain Ishan Kishan said he chose to bat with intent despite losing two early wickets. "I think it's very simple. In cricket, when you open the innings, you just look to score as many runs as you can - pick the odd balls where the bowler comes up with a plan but is not able to execute, and you just go for it. So, I was doing the same. Though we lost two wickets early, my intent was very clear: if the ball is there (in my slot), I'll just go for it," he said. Also read | All is well in Abhishek Sharma-verse with quintessentially merciless knock for Punjab Talking about the Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH)…...

2+ hour, 48+ min ago (356+ words) Updated : Nov 30, 2025 21:30 IST , HYDERABAD - 2 MINS READ Entertainers carry the burden of expectations; it's a boon and a bane. Abhishek Sharma is no stranger to the adulation and brickbats that come along with excellence and its constant demand. His pyrotechnics at the top of the order made 300 runs almost a mandate for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL earlier this year. He has carried that same destructive vein in international cricket. The domestic scene, naturally, was ready and waiting for the fireworks. Anticlimactically, when he returned a total of 10 runs in the first two Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games for Punjab " this after a testing outing Down Under where gaps were discovered in his merciless style of play " whispers of doubt followed. ALSO READ | What records did Abhishek Sharma break during SMAT 2025-26 today? Abhishek, though, got the monkey off his back in…...

4+ hour, 37+ min ago (434+ words) Updated : Nov 30, 2025 21:16 IST , Chennai - 3 MINS READ In an entertaining final that lived up to its billing, Belgium beat India 1-0 in a closely fought encounter to lift the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 in Malaysia. India was forced to settle for silver, thanks to Thibeau Stockbroekx's lone goal of the match in the 34th minute. This is Belgium's maiden Sultan Azlan Shah title and only its second appearance in one of the most prestigious invitational hockey tournaments in the international calendar. Unfortunately for India, which was coming into this match after a high-scoring 14-3 win against Canada on Saturday, it couldn't convert from the three penalty corners that it earned. While Jugraj Singh, Amit Rohidas and Sanjay have been successful in the PC attack during this tournament, they simply could not beat the Belgian defence. The only defeat India saw in this tournament was…...

5+ hour, 21+ min ago (311+ words) Updated : Nov 30, 2025 19:49 IST , MUMBAI - 2 MINS READ The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has scheduled a meeting with the men's team management to outline a roadmap across formats and streamline communication between key stakeholders. The meeting will take place on Wednesday in Raipur, ahead of the second ODI between India and South Africa. Sportstar understands the discussion is likely to involve BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, joint secretary Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and national selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar. It remains unclear whether BCCI president Mithun Manhas will attend. With the meeting planned on match day, the possibility of senior players being called in appears low. ALSO READ | Kohli scores his 83rd century in international cricket during IND vs SA 1st ODI A senior BCCI official confirmed the intent behind the meeting: ensuring alignment between selectors and the…...

5+ hour, 57+ min ago (153+ words) Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was forced to retake his penalty against Manchester United at Selhurst Park on Sunday." Mateta won the Eagles a penalty midway through the first half after being fouled by United defender Leny Yoro in the penalty box. He sent his first attempt past United goalkeeper Senne Lammens, but saw his celebrations cut short by a VAR check. FOLLOW THE MATCH: Crystal Palace vs Manchester United LIVE score, Premier League 2025-26: CRY 1-0 MUN; Mateta scores after retaking penalty Referee Rob Jones then announced that the initial penalty had been disallowed for an accidental double touch, with replays confirming that Mateta kicked his penalty onto his standing foot on the way to the goal." Mateta then retook the penalty, beating Lammens again to give Palace the lead. The goal is Mateta's seventh in the Premier League this season....

6+ hour, 13+ min ago (292+ words) Updated : Nov 30, 2025 23:35 IST , DOHA - 2 MINS READ Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday to set up a final race title showdown with McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The Red Bull driver kept the wheels on his quest for a fifth successive crown after pole-sitter Piastri finished second and standings leader Norris came only fourth. Verstappen's remarkable late season surge has lifted him past Piastri and into second in the championship. The Dutchman now goes into the season-closer next weekend only 12 points behind Norris with Piastri 16 points behind his teammate. Verstappen has fond memories of the last time the title went down to the wire when he beat Lewis Hamilton on the last lap of the last race in Abu Dhabi in 2021. This was a race McLaren should have won, with Piastri heading the grid and Norris…...

6+ hour, 46+ min ago (100+ words) Updated : Nov 30, 2025 17:33 IST , CHENNAI - 2 MINS READ The Punjab Cricket Association will immortalise India's World Cup-winning players Harmanpreet Kaur and Yuvraj Singh with stands named after them at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium Stadium in Mullanpur. The two new stands will be unveiled ahead of the fourth T20I between India and South Africa on December 11. The PCA has also said that it will hand over the already announced cash rewards for Punjab players Harmanpreet and Amanjot Kaur during the unveiling of the stands on December 11. Published on Nov 30, 2025...