SPORTS

While Rohit has been designated as India’s skipper for the prestigious event, the question remains regarding his opening partner. Kohli, currently leading the run charts in IPL 2024 with a stellar performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as an opener, emerges as a strong contender. On the other hand, Yashasvi Jaiswal, despite facing a lean phase with Rajasthan Royals, has displayed glimpses of brilliance, including a notable half-century against Mumbai Indians.

Jaiswal's scintillating knock of 104 not out propelled Rajasthan to a formidable total of 183/1, after Sandeep Sharma's fiery spell of 5-18 had restricted Mumbai to 179/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Opting to bat first, Mumbai's hopes were pinned on Tilak Varma's 65 and Nehal Wadhera's 49, but Sharma's relentless bowling prowess dismantled their batting lineup.

"India takes immense pride in D Gukesh's historic victory at the FIDE Candidates Tournament! Gukesh's stellar performance at the tournament in Toronto not only underscores his remarkable talent but also his unwavering dedication to the game. His ascent to the pinnacle of chess is truly inspiring," PM Modi shared on a social media platform.

In a decisive final round, Gukesh secured a comfortable draw against American veteran Hikaru Nakamura, concluding the tournament with an impressive nine out of a possible 14 points. This stellar performance not only earned him the title but also paved his path to a showdown against reigning world champion Ding Liren of China later this year.

Gukesh's triumph propels him into the spotlight as he now prepares to challenge the reigning World Champion, Ding Liren of China, in the upcoming World Chess Championship match. Following in the footsteps of Anand, who held the title five times between 2000 and 2013, Gukesh aims to etch his name in chess history as the second Indian contender for the Classical World Championship title.

After deputy captain Sam Curran opted to bat, Punjab Kings got off to a vigorous start, reaching fifty during the Powerplay. However, the momentum shifted when Gujarat Titans’ captain Shubman Gill introduced his spinners on a pitch that favored slow bowling due to previous matches. This strategic move paid off handsomely as the spinners dismantled Punjab's batting lineup, reducing them to 99/7 by the 16th over.

Securing the title at Stuttgart signifies Rybakina's eighth career triumph, with her prowess extending to clay courts, evidenced by previous victories at the 2023 Rome and 2019 Bucharest tournaments. At just 24 years old, Rybakina emerges from Germany with a notable lead in titles this season, adding Stuttgart to her list of conquests, which includes Brisbane and Abu Dhabi.

The 17-year-old phenom is on the cusp of clinching the tournament with just one more win needed after his triumph over the French GM in Round 13. Mahindra's post garnered significant attention, amassing over 85K views since its upload.

Gautam Gambhir, the guiding force behind SRK's Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL), recently joined Manish Pandey on the 'Knights Dugout Podcast' to share insights into his journey with KKR.

The heroics of Travis Head, who smashed a blistering 89 off just 32 balls, coupled with Abhishek Sharma's explosive 46 off a mere 12 deliveries, propelled SRH to yet another formidable total of 266 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.