Baripada: A 28-year-old man died while playing cricket in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Sunday, police said.

Bikash Kar, a resident of Manatri in Baisinga police station area, suddenly fell unconscious on the ground while a cricket match was underway, they said.

The cricket match was going on at the Manatri mini stadium, they added.

He was immediately taken to the hospital where doctors declared him dead.

The reason behind his death is yet to be ascertained, police said.

The body was sent to the PRM Medical College and Hospital in Baripada for postmortem examination.

A case of unnatural death was registered and an investigation is underway, police said.

Indore: Riding on a flurry of mighty maximums, Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed Afghanistan’s bowlers to smithereens on way to swashbuckling half-centuries as India made short work of a 173-run target to win the second T20I by six wickets here on Sunday.

While Yashasvi got out after hammering 68 off 34 balls, including six sixes, Dube ended unbeaten on a 32-ball 63, hitting four maximums in the process.

India completed the chase with 26 balls to spare, taking an unassailable lead in the three-match series.

Gulbadin Naib top-scored with a breezy 35-ball 57 before the lower-order batters Mujeeb Ur Rahman (21 off 9 balls) and Karim Janat (20 off 10) chipped in with useful contributions to lift Afghanistan to 172 all out.

India’s chase began on a eventful note that saw a first-ball boundary by Yashasvi Jaiswal, a loud shout for an lbw and an unsuccessful Afghanistan review, and a first-ball duck for Rohit Sharma.

In his first T20I since November 2022, Virat Kohli began with a lovely boundary before Jaiswal smashed Fazalhaq Farooqi for two sixes.

Recreating the famous shot he played against Haris Rauf in the last T20 World Cup at MCG, Kohli hit a short-of-a-length Naveen-ul-Haq delivery back over the bowler’s head for a four. On that night in Australia though, it was a six.

Having switched ends, Mujeeb leaked 19 runs with Jaiswal collecting three fours and Kohli one.

However, Naveen-ul-Haq cut short Kohli highly promising stay at the crease by having the maestro caught at mid-off for a 16-ball 29.

Unperturbed by the Kohli’s dismissal, the duo of Jaiswal and Dube went about their task in a brutal manner, leaving the Afghan bowlers bruised and battered.

Asked to bat first, Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz signalled his intent straightaway and flicked Arshdeep Singh (3/32 in 4 overs) for a four through square leg and then tried to hit one straight down the ground, which however did not result in a boundary.

While Arshdeep started the proceedings with two wides on either side of the wicket, Mukesh Kumar was welcomed with a six over the bowler’s head by Gurbaz, before his opening partner Ibrahim Zadran, having got a review for lbw in his favour, got into the act by lofting one over cover for a boundary.

Trailing 0-1 in the three-match series, Afghanistan raced to 20 for no loss in no time, forcing Rohit Sharma to introduce spin in the form of Ravi Bishnoi (2/39 in 4 overs).

Leg-spinner Bishnoi, who has a penchant for picking a wicket in his first over, did an encore as he lured Gurbaz to offer a catch to Shivam Dube at mid-on, having failed to get elevation.

Taking a cue from Gurbaz’s approach, one-down batter Gulbadin Naib started to play his shots from the get-go, pulling Mukesh through mid-wicket and then driving him through for successive fours.

Fresh from a wicket in his very first over, Bishnoi found himself at the receiving end of Gulbadin’s onslaught as the batter pulled a short ball over deep mid-wicket for a maximum before hitting back-to-back fours in an 18-run over at the Holkar Stadium.

There was another bowling change and it paid dividends as left-arm spinner Axar Patel bowled visiting captain Ibrahim Zadran with a beautiful flighted delivery that turned just enough to beat the batter and hit the stumps.

Azmatullah Omarzai did not last long as Dube hit the stumps after the batter went for a cross-batted pull shot and missed.

Axar bowled an economical eighth over before Gulbadin carted a Dube slower ball into the stands over deep mid-wicket and followed that by launching a half tracker towards the long-on region for another maximum.

Promoted to number three, Gulbadin brought up his fifty in 28 balls. There was no respite for Washington Sundar either, as Gulbadin swept the off-spinner for a big six over deep mid-wicket.

India’s best bowler on the day by some distance, Axar (2/17 in 4 overs) provided the crucial breakthrough when he had Gulbadin caught at mid-wicket by Rohit, having bowled one slightly slower than his usual deliveries.

Afghanistan’s innings lost momentum after Gulbadin’s departure even as Bishnoi dismissed Mohammad Nabi.

Kolkata: Former captain Sourav Ganguly on Sunday backed stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to feature in India’s squad for the T20I World Cup in June.

The duo, who have not featured in any T20I for about 14 months, have made themselves available for the sport’s shortest format, and it remains to be seen if they are picked for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, beginning January 11 in Mohali.

”Of course Rohit should captain the team in the T20I World Cup. Virat Kohli also should be there. Virat Kohli is an outstanding player, nothing will happen (even if they are coming back to T20 fold after a long gap),” Ganguly added.

India’s semifinal defeat to England in the T20I World Cup on November 10 was the duo’s last appearance in the shortest format. Ganguly is impressed with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s outing in the two-Test series in South Africa and said the young opener will get enough opportunities in future.

The 22-year-old left-handed batter managed only 50 runs in four innings on the challenging South African tracks of Centurion and Cape Town as the series ended in a 1-1 draw.

”He has played well in the second Test, it’s just the start of his career. He will get enough opportunities,” Ganguly said during a promotional event here.

After their innings and 32-run defeat at Centurion, India made a strong comeback to defeat South Africa by seven wickets at Cape Town in what was the shortest ever Test.

”People say a lot of things after losing one match, India are a strong side. But look at the way they have played. They won the ODI series, drew both the Test and T20I series.”

NEW DELHI: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will seek revocation of its suspension by explaining to the government that it has not flouted any rules while taking decisions and if the issue is not resolved, it may explore legal options

The Sports Ministry on Sunday suspended newly elected wfi chief for not following due procedure while announcing the dates for the U15 and U20 National Championships in Gonda, UP.

“We are seeking time from the sports minister and request that the suspension be lifted. If the issue is not resolved through dialogue, we could explore legal options,” Sanjay Singh told PTI.

“We will explain that we have followed rules in taking decisions. We will present the proofs. Whatever decisions were taken, were taken by consensus. It was not my personal decision. 24 state associations had given affidavits and we have got e-mails, we have everything in writing,” the sports administrator added.

one of the prominent faces of the agitation against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, welcomed the WFI’s suspension.

“It is the first step towards something good happening. I hope the government understands more for what cause we were fighting,” said Sakshi Malik.

“If a woman federation president is there, it will be better for the safety of women wrestlers.It was a fight for sisters and daughters of the country,” she added.

“Now that I have returned it, I am not going to take it back. The honor of our sisters and daughters is bigger than any award. All of you have seen what is happening,” the Tokyo Games bronze medal winner told PTI.

“I will think about taking it back only after justice is delivered. The matter is in court and we are waiting for justice,” he added.

Bajrang, Sakshi, and Vinesh Phogat had accused Brij Bhushan of sexually exploiting women wrestlers during his tenure as WFI president.

PAARL, SOUTH AFRICA: India captain KL Rahul conceded that a “phenomenal” Sanju Samson was finding it difficult to find a place in the side as stalwarts in the team occupy key spots, adding that he was pleased the talented cricketer grabbed his chance in the series against the Proteas.

Samson, elevated to No.3 spot, smashed his maiden ODI century in the third and final match against the Proteas on Thursday as India won by 78 runs to wrap up the series 2-1.

“Pleased for Sanju, he’s been a phenomenal performer in the IPL over the years. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to give him the chance at No.3, because obviously there are stalwarts in the ODIs who occupy those key spots.

“Glad he was able to grab his chances here,” said Rahul following the big win.

Samson’s measured 108 (114 balls) and Tilak Varma’s patient 52 (77 balls) guided India to a competitive 296 for eight. South Africa challenged the tourists through a fifty by Tony de Zorzi (81, 87 balls) but were eventually bowled out for 218 in 45.5 overs.

Samson didn’t get the opportunity in the first ODI as the target set by South Africa was very low, while in the second match, the wicketkeeper-batter scored 12 coming in at No.5. But in the decider, he was elevated to No.3 as Virat Kohli is not touring with the ODI side.

Rahul added the focus of the team will now shift to the two-Test series beginning in Centurion on December 26.

Regular skipper Rohit Sharma and Kohli will be back in the side and Rahul will be the first-choice keeper.

“Will celebrate with the the boys and then switch back to focusing on the Test series in a day or two. Love being around the boys, that’s how it’s been since I came over to South Africa after some time away following a disappointing World Cup final,” he added.

‘Player of the match’ Samson said he was happy to have scored his maiden ODI century in 16 outings, and added the extra 3-4 overs he got to bat coming in at No.3 helped him in his endeavour.

“Proud of it (century), specially considering the result as well. Have been working hard. This format gives you some extra time to understand the wicket and the bowler’s mindset. Batting at the top of the order gives you those 10-20 extra deliveries,” said Samson.

He added that the juniors in the side had really upped their game and made the seniors proud.

“The whole country is very proud of how Tilak Verma has stepped up, lots more expected from him. The seniors have set the standards of Indian cricket and the juniors are coming in and doing the job. It’s not very easy, travelling in between and playing every 2-3 days but they’re getting the job done.”

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who returned sublime figures of 4 for 30 to add to the five-for in the first ODI, said the IPL experience had made him a much better cricketer.

“The plan was simple, it was to bowl wicket-to-wicket and get lbws and bowled. Sometimes when there isn’t anything happening on the wicket, you need some support from the umpires, that’s why I had to appeal a lot,” said the ‘Player of the Series’ for his 10 wickets.

“IPL has been a very good platform for us youngsters, there isn’t a big gap between IPL and international cricket. You understand the mindset of international cricketers and it helps. We are all loving the chances we’ve got. We’d love to give our all in the future as well and do well,” he added.

Johannesburg: India pace bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan wreaked havoc as the KL Rahul-led visitors thrashed South Africa by eight wickets in the opening One-Day International at the Wanderers here on Sunday.

On a wicket offering pace and bounce to the quicks, Avesh returned figures of 4 for 27 in his eight overs, while left-armer Arshdeep had excellent figures of 5 for 37 in 10 overs as the Proteas were dismissed for a paltry 116 in 27.3 overs.

Sai Sudharsan (55 not out) and Shreyas Iyer (52) then struck fine half centuries to chase down the target in 16.4 overs for the loss of two wickets.

India and South Africa handed debut caps to 22-year-old top order batter B Sai Sudharsan and bowling all-rounder Nandre Burger respectively.

Brief Scores:

South Africa: 116 all out in 27.3 overs (Tony de Zorzi 28, Andile Phehlukwayo 33; Arshdeep Singh 5/37, Avesh Khan 4/27).

India: 117 for 2 in 16.4 overs (Sai Sudharsan 55 not out, Shreyas Iyer 52).