Ravichandran Ashwin Creates World Record By Spinning A Web
India’s Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday became the first bowler to bag at least 50 wickets in each of the three World Test Championship (WTC) cycles played so far. The incredible feat came with the dismissal of Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan for nine runs, which took him to 182 WTC wickets overall, six short of Nathan Lyon’s record of 187-the most in WTC history. Let’s take a glance at Ashwin’s amazing WTC record so far: RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN’S RECORD IN THE WTC CYCLE MATCHES WICKETS BEST FIGURES 2019-2021 14 71 7-145 2021-2023 13 61 6-91 2023-2025* 10* 50* 7-71 TOTAL 37* 182* 7-71 (*Running) Ashwin Closes in on All-Time WTC Records Ashwin has now become the second-highest wicket-taker in WTC history, with 182 wickets after a little over 37 matches. Nathan Lyon of Australia still remains on the top rung with 187 dismissals, but Ashwin still needs a few more wickets to surpass that figure. And if Ashwin takes two more wickets in the current match, then he will become the first cricketer to cross Josh Hazlewood’s record for most wickets in the ongoing WTC cycle (2023-25), where Hazlewood tops the list with 51 wickets in 11 matches. MOST WICKETS IN WTC HISTORY PLAYER COUNTRY WICKETS Nathan Lyon Australia 187* Ravichandran Ashwin India 182* Pat Cummins Australia 175* Mitchell Starc Australia 147* Stuart Broad England 134 (*Running) WTC 2023-25: Battle for Most Wickets Taken Ashwin enters the race with 50 wickets in 10 games as he reaches the second spot. He is a wicket away from moving past Australia’s Josh Hazlewood in the WTC cycle, and he is set to finish the series short of doing so. MOST WICKETS IN WTC 2023-2025 CYCLE PLAYER COUNTRY WICKETS Josh Hazlewood Australia 51* Ravichandran Ashwin India 50* Pat Cummins Australia 48* Mitchell Starc Australia 48* Chris Woakes England 43* (*Running) IND vs BAN: Ashwin Levels Zaheer Khan’s Record Second wicket in Bangladesh’s first innings also took him to level with Zaheer Khan for India-Bangladesh Test wickets. Each now stands with 31 wickets taken across this Test rivalry. MOST WICKETS IN IND vs BAN TEST SERIES PLAYER COUNTRY WICKETS Ravichandran Ashwin India 31* Zaheer Khan India 31 Ishant Sharma India 25* Umesh Yadav India 22* Shakib Al Hasan Bangladesh 21 (*Running) Ashwin In Pursuit of Test Cricket Milestones Ashwin, who had taken 6/88 in the first test of this series, is inching closer to yet another coveted milestone. He needs three more wickets to complete his 38th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Should he do it here, he would also surpass Shane Warne’s record so far who had 37 five-wicket hauls in his career. Ashwin’s record string of performances and the fact that he had always delivered on the biggest stages made him one of the most decorated spinners in the world, but with history books continually being rewritten, the question remained how much further he would be able to take such remarkable records. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
BCCI Confirms Match Fees for IPL 2025
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aims to provide Indian Premier League (IPL) players with a huge amount when it introduced a match fee for INR 7.5 lakh-a sum of almost $ 9000-to be spent per game from IPL 2025. This will be on top of the match fee of their contracts, whose franchises would have to allocate INR 12.6 crore (approximately US$ 1 million), according to BCCI Secretary Jay Shah on X. Above And Beyond Auction Purse The match fees, of course, add up to INR 90 lakh for each match and over 14 league matches add up to the total payout of INR 12.6 crore in cash for the season. Boost For Low Contract Players The new policy is expected to increase the earnings of those players signed at or near their base price at auctions but have risen in stature over the course of their IPL career. For example, take the case of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Rajat Patidar, who signed initially at an uncapped price of INR 20 lakh. Under this new match fee rule, when Patidar plays 15 IPL 2024 matches, he earns an excess of INR 1.125 crore. The Concerns Of The Franchises Franchise owners did express dissent, however, to the new plan. That reportedly needs to know whether the benchwarmers will be included or not. In earlier times, players were rewarded with discretionary bonuses up to the performance of the team. However, the IPL reportedly will not go beyond the match fee, which was proposed. The final retention rules will shed more light on the issue ahead of the mega auction in 2025. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IPL 2025 Retention Rules Announced
The wait is finally over! The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction 2025 retention rules are finally out. Fans have been abuzz, and now, it’s the turn of the IPL Governing Council to make things official. Here’s what the retention rules look like. 1. Retention Limit A franchise is entitled to retain only 6 players from its existing squad. This includes, however, both standard retentions as well as the RTM. 2. Retention And RTM Teams can choose to impact the number of retention and RTMs, however must have an absolute cap of 5 capped players either Indian or overseas and up to 2 uncapped players. 3. Salary Cap The franchise auction purse has been put at INR 120 Crore for IPL 2025. It includes the total salary cap with an auction purse, performance bonuses and new match fees. This amount has increased from 2024’s total of INR 110 Crore and will be INR 146 Crore in 2025, INR 151 Crore in 2026, and INR 157 Crore in 2027. 4. Additional Match Fees For the first time ever, all players including the Impact Player, will be entitled to a match fee of INR 7.5 Lakhs besides his contracted salary on each match played. 5. Overseas Player Registration An overseas player who wants to play will have to get himself registered for the IPL Mega Auction. Any player, not getting himself registered for the Big Auction, cannot attend the following seasons in the auctions. 6. No-Shows Face Consequences Players who are selected at the auction but are unavailable during the season will be banned by the IPL for 2 seasons. 7. Capped And Uncapped Rule Each Indian player who never played in the starting XI for a Test, an ODI or a T20I in the last five years or does not hold a BCCI central contract will be declared as uncapped. This is only applicable to Indian players. 8. Impact Sub Continues The impact player rule remains in force for the IPL 2025–2027 cycle. Now that the official rules are out, let the speculations begin! Which stars will your favorite franchise lock in for the upcoming IPL season? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Josh Hull Out Of England’s Pakistan Tour With Quad Injury
England’s left-arm seamer Josh Hull is ruled out of the test tour of Pakistan because his persistent quad injury does not recover in time. Hull, suffered the injury during his debut in the last test of the summer against Sri Lanka at The Kia Oval. ECB confirmed on Thursday that Hull will now miss the three-test series that gets underway on October 7th, 2024 in Multan. England do not name any replacement but will instead go into the tour with a 16-man squad. What Is A Quad Injury? A quad injury refers to a strain or tear of the quadriceps muscles. The quadriceps are four muscles at the front side of the thigh and are responsible for straightening the knee and play a vital function in walking, running, and jumping. As a whole, quad injuries occur because of overuse and sudden jerky movements, and trauma, possibly while playing games or undergoing some form of physical activity. A Quad injury can range from mild strains where the muscle fibers are simply overextended up to complete tears that result in severe pain, swelling, and loss of function. Treatment For A Quad Injury This typically includes the RICE protocol: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This means that the affected leg should ideally be rested not to compound the damage further, and on applying ice, there is a reduction in inflammation and pain. The swelling can be minimized by elevating the leg and applying compression in the form of an elastic bandage. Once the initial pain subsides, physical therapy and stretching exercises are often initiated. In extreme cases, drug interventions like anti-inflammatory drugs or even corticosteroid injections, surgery, may become necessary. Recovery times are related to the severity of injury while proper rehabilitation avoids later complications. Why Is Hull Special? Hull’s introduction was seen as a step forward to hasten his development and with that 6ft 7in frame and left-arm angle, was something of a test on the opposition batsmen, making the swing into right-handers a real attraction as England’s selectors looked towards longer-term planning for the next Ashes series. Uncertain Future It is unknown whether Hull will travel to New Zealand as part of the team for the tour ahead of England, as he begins his recovery under the supervision of the ECB. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ICC announces all-female match officials for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a list of match officials it would send for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, which is to be held from October 3rd to October 20th, in the United Arab Emirates. The tournament will be the first time a tournament in the ICC’s most important series will be strictly all female as the council continues efforts for a significant increase in women officiating in cricket. Among the match officials are Claire Polosak, who will umpire her fifth ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. She will be aided by Kim Cotton and Jacqueline Williams, who will return to their fourth ICC World Cup after umpiring the final in Cape Town last year. Sue Redfern will also return for her fourth appearance at the tournament, having been the TV umpire for the 2023 final. Zimbabwe’s Sarah Dambanevana debuts for this tournament. Match Referee GS Lakshmi who has been refereeing since 2012, has refereed the final in 2023. Shandré Fritz and Michell Pereira each will officiate in this second Women’s T20 World Cup. Here is the ICC Elite Panel of match officials for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Match Referees Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira Umpires Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Sarah Dambanevana, Anna Harris, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Jacqueline Williams The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 would feature 23 matches to be played across Dubai and Sharjah as ten teams vie for the coveted title. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Concussion Concerns Rising Among Young Athletes
As youth sports get more competitive, we’re seeing a surge in elbow and shoulder injuries, particularly among pint-sized pitchers. The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL)-the superhero of elbow stability-is sporting some serious battle scars, leaving countless young athletes whining in pain. Most of these are overuse and with kids playing more than a game of hot potato, experts raise an alarm call regarding a potential epidemic in the making! Concussion: The Sneaky Villain in Sport Just when you thought the injuries were over, comes the sneaky culprit: concussions. Coaches, trainers and physicians are taking on the role of sleuths, conducting very thorough sideline investigations. They look for clues by symptom checklists and memory games as well as neurological exams to determine whether or not the player has taken one too many hits to the head. Dizziness, headaches and an uncanny ability to forget your favorite pizza topping can all signal trouble. When to Get Back in the Game? The million-dollar question all young athletes want an answer to – when can I play again? Return to play is only safe if all symptoms have resolved and if a qualified healthcare provider clears you for play. Only when an athlete is asymptomatic and has had an opportunity for evaluation by a health care provider should they be allowed to return to play. Neurocognitive testing often is compared with baseline results to determine whether the brain is safe to resume physical activity. Experts note that even though symptoms may recede, the brain is not necessarily healed, so comprehensive evaluation is necessary to avoid further damage. Both elbow injuries and concussions raise just-needed attention to injury prevention and proper recovery protocols in youth sports. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
5 Times Ravichandran Ashwin Saved India in Test Cricket
We all are aware of Ravichandran Ashwin’s ability to spin a web and trap the opposition, especially when playing for the Indian Cricket Team in the whites. However, very little do we speak of Ashwin rescuing the Indian Cricket Team in crucial test matches – not with the ball we are talking about, but with the bat. Just what he proved once again in the on-going 1st test match against Bangladesh at Chennai, his all-round ability has been crucial to India’s success over all these years. Ravichandran Ashwin piled on a mammoth score of 113 off 133 deliveries and saved the Indian Cricket Team from a batting collapse. Alongside him was Ravindra Jadeja who supported him with a steady 86 run knock coming off his bat off 124 deliveries. Here are five such instances when Ravichandran Ashwin’s batting heroics pulled India out of trouble in test cricket. 1. 106 vs England, Chennai (2021) At a precarious 106/6 with a lead of 301 runs, Ravichandran Ashwin’s century (106 off 148) in the second innings helped India set an uphill target of 481, which England could not chase and India emerged victorious by 317 runs. 2. 124 vs West Indies, Kolkata (2013) The score card read India 156/6 in their second innings with the West Indies posting 234 in the first innings. Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma combined to help India amass 453. India thus went on to win by an innings and 51 runs. 3. 91* vs England, Kolkata (2012) After posting 523, England had made it clear in their batting that it was going to be tricky for India to see them off. It was 122/6 in the second innings, and after this, it was not the best of days for Indians as Ravichandran Ashwin batted his way to an unbeaten 91 to take India to a respectable score of 247. 4. 118 vs West Indies, St. Lucia (2016) Ravichandran Ashwin’s 118, coupled with Wriddhiman Saha’s 104, helped India recover from 87/4 to 353, after which it gained momentum for a 237-run win. 5. 72 vs England, Mohali (2016) When India was in trouble at 156/5, Ravichandran Ashwin’s subdued 72 got India to a total of 417, which gave the team a comfortable victory over England. These performances aptly describe the treasure bag Ravichandran Ashwin brings out under pressure and thereby proves he is more than a world-class bowler. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IND vs BAN: Anna Sets The Tone In Chennai With His Sixth Test Match Ton
Ravichandran Ashwin and his marvelous performances at Chepauk is literally a match made in heaven. For on Thursday, the hometown hero danced his way to a spectacular sixth test match century, pulling India from a wobbly 144/6 to a much more respectable 339/6 on the first day of the first test against Bangladesh. It was also Ashwin’s second consecutive test match century at Chepauk, his last one coming off against England, back in 2021. Wrecking Ball Moment For Bangladesh Hasan Mahmud takes a Miley Cyrus turn for India’s misery as the top order goes for a toss. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and even Virat Kohli perished quickly. Mahmud was an unspent volcano, getting four wickets, as a band without its lead singer, India stumbled to 144/6. Chennai’s Familiar Faces To The Rescue In walked Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Ranked No.1 and No.2 in the ICC Men’s Test all-rounder rankings, this dynamic duo was not letting the party end early. Together, they stitched an unbroken 195-run stand that left Bangladesh scratching their heads and India back in the game. Jadeja, always the cool-headed sidekick, closed the day on 86*- a stone’s throw away from his own century. Ashwin’s Century: Chepauk’s Favorite Repeat Performance Ravichandran Ashwin, the showman smashed 10 fours and 2 sixes, robbing the opposition of every chance, taking his century in a mere 108 balls. The man clearly reveals in an encore; after all, his last test match ton came right here in 2021. Much like before, Ravichandran Ashwin swooped in at a critical moment to save the day. Chepauk, of course, loved every second of it. Ashwin’s Magic Brings India Back On Track By stumps, India was sitting pretty at 339/6. Bangladesh, high on its own ambitions, woke up scratching its collective head, wondering how things unraveled so quick. One thing is for sure: when Ravichandran Ashwin is batting at Chepauk, expect magic. The Sports Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Sports Science To Win The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
While the show will begin on October 3rd at Dubai and Sharjah as part of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, one secret weapon remains quietly gearing up to steal the show and no, it’s not a mystery spinner or a big-hitting all-rounder. It’s sports science. Yes, the geeky gamers in lab coats and whiz-bang gimmicks are just as essential to the game as the athletes themselves. Let’s get into how sports science is literally keeping the game going, one nifty solution at a time. Sports Science of Keeping it Cool Dubai weather? Hotter than your morning chai! Meet sports scientists with hydration solutions that might make a camel jealous. Armed with electrolytes and ice baths, the support staff are the unsung heroes behind a player’s ability to withstand scorching temperatures as if it’s just another day at the office. Wearable sensors and GPS will track a player’s every heartbeat while also monitoring how quickly they run between wickets so that no one collapses from exhaustion during play. Players will run like gazelles and not sweaty sloths. Biomechanics: Artistry in Batting Literature Meets Physics Books Science is strictly for classrooms, you think? Think again! In the labs, bowlers and batters tweak their techniques like engineers fine-tuning a rocket launch. From Smriti Mandhana’s cover drive to bowlers perfecting their yorkers, biomechanical analysis helps players find that perfect sweet spot. Need to tweak your follow-through to avoid injury? Science has your back. Expect a great mix of art and algorithms when the teams hit the field in Dubai and Sharjah. Mind Games: Because Cricket is 90% Mental, 10% Skill We all know how nerve-wracking a T20 match can be. Just when you start reaching for those breath control exercises, visualization techniques and mental tricks that are sharper than a googly, the sports psychologists come in. When pressure’s on—in this case, in the 19th over of a nail-biter—these mental gymnasts help players keep their cool and hit sixes like they play in the backyard. It’s like having a superpower all in the head! The Real MVP? Sports Science As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 continues to unfold, where cameras capture every moment of these athletes in action, remember that somewhere in the background, sports science is winning every match – one neat little hack at a time. From hydration to headspace, it is the sports science that stands as a whipping boy for modern cricket and is going to make the tournament so exciting. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Prize Money Increases By 134%
The ICC is pouring a whopping USD 7.95 million into the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, starting October 3 in the UAE. That’s a massive 225% boost from last year’s prize pot in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. Equal Pay: Game On! The winners of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will pocket USD 2.34 million—134% more than the USD 1 million Australia snagged in 2023. The ICC is leveling the playing field with equal prize money for men’s and women’s events, a game-changer they introduced in June 2023. Prize Money 2023 Edition (in USD) 2024 Edition (in USD) Total Pool 2.45 million 7.96 million Winner 1 million 2.34 million Runner-up 500,000 1.17 million Losing semifinalists 210,000 675,000 Men vs Women: The Prize Face-Off Curious how the women’s prize stacks up? India’s men snagged USD 2.45 million in their T20 World Cup victory earlier this year. The slight difference? The men’s tournament had 20 teams, while the women’s event featured 10. More Money, More Drama The runners-up will grab USD 1.17 million—double what South Africa took home last edition. Losing semi-finalists will net USD 675,000, a major upgrade from USD 210,000 in 2023. Plus, every team gets a minimum of USD 112,500. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye