New Delhi: Out-of-favour India opener Prithvi Shaw was on Tuesday dropped from Mumbai’s squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy as his fortunes continued to nosedive, forcing the beleaguered player to ask “what more do I have to see?”

The tournament begins on December 21.

The 25-year-old, who was once hailed as a generational talent and scored a hundred on Test debut, has had a season to forget.

He was dropped in the middle of Ranji Trophy league stage on fitness and disciplinary grounds, before returning for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) that Mumbai won. He also went unsold at the IPL auction in November.

His performance in the premier domestic event was not eye-catching but he did make a couple of 40s and as many 30s over the course of the event.

“Tell me God, what more do I have to see? If 65 innings, 3399 runs at an average of 55.7 with a strike rate of 126 (in Vijay Hazare), I’m not good enough. But I will keep my faith in you and, hopefully, people still believe in me, because I will come back for sure. Om Sai Ram,” Shaw wrote in his Instagram story.

Shreyas Iyer will captain the 17-man squad picked for the first three games. Following the SMAT, Iyer had said sky was the limit for Shaw if he worked on his work ethics.

Ajinkya Rahane, who was the star batter for Mumbai in SMAT, had captained the 50-over side last season. Veteran spinner Shams Mulani also doesn’t feature in the squad alongside Shaw.

India T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav is also part of the side.

Mumbai open their campaign against Karnataka in Ahmedabad on December 21.

Squad: Shreyas lyer (Captain), Ayush Mhatre, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Jay Bista, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Siddhesh Lad, Hardik Tamore, Prasad Pawar (WK), Atharva Ankolekar, Tanush Kotian, Shardul Thakur, Royston Dias, Juned Khan, Harsh Tanna, Vinayak Bhor.

New Delhi: India is set to host the World Boxing Cup Final in November next year, reaffirming its support for the breakaway World Boxing (WB) body.

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) will also simultaneously host the third World Boxing Congress, which will include elections for the Presidency and Executive Board.

The tournament will be the first international event hosted by the BFI after opting to join the new governing body earlier this year.

The last time BFI hosted an international event was the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championship in 2023.

“It is a proud moment for India to be recognised by World Boxing for hosting such prestigious events. This opportunity not only highlights India’s organisational excellence but also underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring boxing remains an integral part of the Olympic movement,” BFI President Ajay Singh said.

“We are honoured to contribute to the sport’s legacy and look forward to welcoming the global boxing community to India in 2025,” Singh added.

The date of the tournament will be confirmed in January.

The first World Boxing Cup of the year will be held in Brazil in March, followed by competitions in Germany, Kazakhstan and India.

“After the huge success of our first World Boxing Cup series in 2024, it is fantastic that we have four such strong bids to host the competition in 2025. I would like to thank the National Federations of Brazil, Germany, Kazakhstan and India for their ongoing support and commitment,” World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst said.

“I am also very grateful to the Boxing Federation of India for its ongoing support in bidding to host both a World Boxing Cup and our next Congress in 2025 in New Delhi,” he added.

WB is a breakaway international federation aiming to secure recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and ensure that boxing remains on the Olympic roster.

Formed in April last year after the IBA was stripped of its status, WB has reached 60 members as the IOC is expected to take a call on the recognition early next year.

India off-spinner R Ashwin

New Delhi: Senior India off-spinner R Ashwin announces retirement from international cricket.

He was very, very sure of his decision. We should stand by what he wants, Indian captain Rohit Sharma on Ashwin’s retirement said. 

A name synonymous with mastery, wizardry, brilliance, and innovation: BCCI on Ashwin’s retirement.

further details are awaited.

Brisbane : The rain-interrupted third Test between India and Australia ended in a draw here on Wednesday, leaving the series tied 1-1 going into the penultimate Test in Melbourne.

India were eight for no loss with Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) and KL Rahul (4) at the crease in their chase of 275 when bad light and rain forced an early tea. Australia made a spirited declaration at 89 for seven in their second innings with more than one session to go.

India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah led the show with 3/18 in his six overs, aided well by Mohammed Siraj (2/35 in 7 overs) and Akash Deep (2/28). The surprise move from skipper Pat Cummins came after the 18th over when they declared the innings as a two-way result seemed realistic with more than 50 overs possible in the final session.

The third Test had multiple rain interruption across the five days. Earlier, India were all out for 260 in response to Australia’s 445. Resuming the day at 252 for nine, India added eight runs in 24 balls. Australia gained a 185-run first innings lead after Akash Deep was stumped off Travis Head’s bowling in the 79th over.

Brief Scores:

Australia 1st Innings: 445

India 1st innings: 260 all out in 78.5 overs (KL Rahul 84; Ravindra Jadeja 77; Pat Cummins 4/81).

Australia 2nd Innings: 89/7; 18 overs (Pat Cummins 22, Alex Carey 19 not out; Jasprit Bumrah 3/18, Mohammed Siraj 2/35, Akash Deep 2/28).

India 2nd Innings: 8 for no loss; 2.1 overs.

Kuala Lumpur, Dec 19: Riding on a brilliant four-wicket haul by 17-year-old spinner Sonam Yadav and an entertaining batting by G Kamilini, India thrashed Pakistan by nine wickets in a Group A match of the U19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup here on Sunday.

Left-arm spinner Sonam delivered her best international bowling figures of 4 for 6, helping India restrict the arch-rivals to just 67/7 in 20 overs. The total was then overhauled in 7.5 overs, with Kamilini playing a stroke-filled, unbeaten knock of 44 runs off just 29 deliveries.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, only two Pakistan players, opener Komal Khan (24) and Fatima Khan (11) managed double-digit scores, with Sonam slaying the entire middle-order to send them reeling at 43 for six.

In reply, India lost opener Trisha Gongadi for a duck before Kamilini and Sanika Chalke (19 not out) were involved in an unbeaten match-winning 67-run partnership.

Wicketkeeper-batter Kamilini, 16, smashed four boundaries and three sixes to decimate the feeble Pakistan attack.

India will next play Nepal in their last Group A outing on Tuesday before the teams for the Super Four stage are decided.

Pakistan U19: 67 for 7 in 20 overs (Komal Khan 24, Sonam Yadav 4/6) lost to

India U19: 68 for 1 in 7.5 overs (G Kamilini 44 not out) by 9 wickets.

Bengaluru: Mumbai leaned on their collective batting strength to subdue a spirited Madhya Pradesh by five wickets to clinch the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy here on Sunday.

Mumbai were stretched on more than one occasion during the chase of 175, a target MP built around skipper Rajat Patidar’s fluent unbeaten 81, on a slightly tacky pitch, but eventually they reached 180 for five in 17.5 overs.

This was Mumbai’s second SMAT title after winning it for the first time in 2022, while MP’s wait for a maiden trophy prolonged to another season.

After a brief period of lull, Suryakumar Yadav (48, 35b, 4×4, 3×6) reactivated his run-making ways and added 52 runs for the third wicket with Ajinkya Rahane (37, 30b, 4×4).

It helped Mumbai to recover from the early dismissals of Prithvi Shaw and skipper Shreyas Iyer, both of them falling to rather causal shots.

Just when it seemed that the two veteran batters would carry Mumbai home, Rahane slashed Venkatesh Iyer straight into the hands of Rahul Batham at deep.

Suryakumar followed soon, top-edging off-spinner Shivam Shukla to Avesh Khan at short fine leg.

At 129 for five in 14.4 overs, Mumbai needed 46 runs but any worries were soon eased by the big-hitting Suryansh Shedge (36 not out, 15b, 3×4, 3×6) and Atharva Ankolekar (16 not out, 6b, 2×6) who knocked off the remaining runs without much fuss in a little over three overs.

Earlier, Patidar shone brightly while hammering his fifth fifty of this tournament.

The right-hander, who was retained by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, entertained an over 15,000-crowd, who backed him and MP to the hilt, with twinkling shot-making.

In fact, Patidar singlehandedly held the MP innings together as the next highest was a 23 by Shubhranshu Senapati.

Madhya Pradesh had made a rather sedate beginning to their innings after losing openers Arpit Gaud (3) and Harsh Gawli (2).

They reached 38 for two in the Power Play, which later transpired to 114 for five in 15 overs.

However, Patidar found an able ally in Batham (19, 14b) as they added 56 runs for the sixth wicket as MP added 60 runs in the last five overs.

Patidar, a clean-striker of the balls, too upped the level of his play, as indicated by a stunning walk-across-the-line six off pacer Shardul Thakur.

But individual brilliance was not enough to stop the Mumbai juggernaut on the night.

Brief scores:

Madhya Pradesh: 174/8 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 81 not out, Subhranshu Senapati 23; Shardul Thakur 2/41, Royston Dias 2/32) lost to

Mumbai: 180/5 in 17.5 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 48, Ajinkya Rahane 37, Suryansh Shedge 36 not out; Tripuresh Singh 2/34) by 5 wickets.

Simran Shaikh

Bengaluru: Mumbai cricketer Simran Shaikh became the costliest player of the Women’s Premier League mini-auction 2025, being bought by Gujarat Giants for Rs 1.90 crore even as veteran India player Sneh Rana went unsold here on Sunday.

On a day when five teams competed to fill 19 slots from a pool of 120 players to finalise their squads for next year’s WPL, the other top money earners were West Indies stalwart Deandra Dottin (Rs 1.70 crore – Gujarat Giants), 16-year-old U19 wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini (Mumbai Indians – Rs 1.60 crore), Prema Rawat (Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Rs 1.20 crore) and N Charani (Delhi Capitals – Rs 55 lakh).

Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants were involved in a bidding war for Simran before the latter raised the bar to net her.

Simran, 22, a middle-order batter, played a few matches for UP Warriorz during the 2023 WPL season. She has made 176 runs in 11 matches for Mumbai at 22 with a strike rate of 100.57 during the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy in October-November this year.

All-rounder Dottin, who is currently in India with the West Indies team for the white-ball series, was the costliest among overseas players and was bought by the Giants for the second time in the auction.

Dottin, 33, a veteran of 132 WT20Is, was one of the three players with base price of Rs 50 lakh and saw UP Warriorz too make a wholehearted bid for her before Gujarat Giants upped the amount.

Dottin was signed by Gujarat Giants for Rs 60 lakh ahead of WPL 2023, but could not play the tournament as the franchise failed to obtain a medical certificate before the season. Dottin had refuted the claims made by the franchise.

Gujarat Giants coach Michael Klinger, speaking to the broadcaster, said that both Dottin and Simran were on their radar for quite some time.

“We were targeting Dottin and Simran. They bring in power and batting at a high strike rate. That often creates a winning culture, so I’m really excited for our first two picks,” said Klinger.

Tamil Nadu’s G Kamalini, 16, who struck a fine 44 in India’s victory over Pakistan in the U19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, also secured her career’s biggest pay cheque of Rs 1.60 crore from Mumbai Indians during the auction.

Defending champions RCB added talented leg-spin all-rounder Prema alongwith pace-bowling all-rounders Joshitha VJ, Raghvi Bist, and Jagravi Pawar, for Rs 10 lakh.

“Strengthening our spin arsenal was a key priority. Prema brings great control as a wrist spinner. Additionally, the pace-bowling all-rounders provide the flexibility,” said head coach Luke Williams.

Uttarakhand’s Nandini Kashyap, who has been named in the Indian squad for the three-match T20I series against West Indies starting Sunday in Navi Mumbai, was roped in by Delhi Capitals.

Delhi Capitals also bought Ireland’s Sarah Bryce, Niki Prasad — India’s U19 captain — and N Charani during the auction.

Another Uttarakhand player, Raghvi Bisht, who is in the India squad for the West Indies T20I series, has been roped in by RCB along with Joshitha JV and Mumbai’s Jagravi Pawar.

Mumbai Indians, winners of the inaugural WPL, added South African veteran Nadine de Klerk, Akshita Maheshwari and Sanskriti Gupta for the upcoming edition of the WPL.

Gujarat Giants, who have finished at the bottom of the WPL points table in the two previous editions, also added England’s Danielle Gibson and Prakashika Naik.

Australia’s Alana King joined her skipper Alyssa Healy at UP Warriorz, who also roped in Arushi Goel and Kranti Goud.

No capped India player was bought during the auction, which included senior player Sneh Rana, who has captained Gujarat Giants in the first edition of the tournament.

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia): Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in the history of IPL as Lucknow Super Giants splurged a humongous Rs 27 crore to buy the flamboyant India keeper-batter in the tournament’s mega auction here on Sunday.

The amount LSG spent for Pant ensured Shreyas Iyer’s record of being the tournament’s costliest player lasted barely a few minutes after Punjab Kings broke the bank to buy the India batter for Rs 26.75 crore.

Moments before Pant emerged as the most expensive player, Iyer surpassed the record held by Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 24.75 crore in the last auction.

Pant went to LSG after his former franchise Delhi Capitals did not use the Right to Match card to buy him back.

Starc got a much lower price this time and was sold to Delhi Capitals for Rs 11.75 crore, while England’s Jos Buttler went to Gujarat Titans for Rs 15.75 crore.

Among others, left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh’s consistency earned him a massive bid of Rs 18 crore, also from Punjab Kings via the Right to Match card, while South African speedster Kagiso Rabada was bought for Rs 10.75 crore by Gujarat Titans.

Iyer, the former Kolkata Knight Riders captain, started with a base price of Rs two crore.

Delhi Capitals had the bid at Rs 26 crore for him but PBKS raised the amount to get the player.

Chennai Super Kings started with the first bid for Arshdeep, whose base price was also Rs two crore.

Eventually, after an intense bidding war, the seamer was bought back by Punjab, who exercised the right to match option to complete the deal, having released him earlier.

This is the second time an IPL auction is being held outside the country after last year’s event in Dubai.