SPORTS

Jaiswal, known for his lofty standards, ended his dry spell in the IPL with a remarkable century, propelling Rajasthan Royals to a convincing nine-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians. Lara commended Jaiswal's approach, emphasizing his focus on playing authentic cricketing shots while patiently waiting for the right deliveries to capitalize on.

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.