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India win Test series as Australia force draw in Ahmedabad

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PUNIT PARANJPE/ AFP

Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne helped Australia draw the fourth and final test against India on Monday, as the home side retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-1 series victory in Ahmedabad.

India took a 91-run first innings lead on Sunday to put themselves in an unbeatable position heading into the final day of the only test in the series that lasted the full five days.

Australia declared on 175-2, batting resolutely to frustrate India, who have held the trophy since 2016-17 and registered their 16th consecutive home series victory.

Head made 90 and forged a 139-run stand with Labuschagne, who made 63 not out, before players from both sides shook hands at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

India also confirmed their place in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June following Sri Lanka’s two-wicket loss to New Zealand in Christchurch earlier in the day.

“It was fantastic right from the word go,” India captain Rohit Sharma said of the series at the presentation ceremony.

“You saw how exciting it was. In all the test matches that we played, there was something in it for every one.

“After playing good cricket for 40-45 days, we stand here with the result, which we are quite happy with.”

India’s hopes of a third victory in the series hinged on a batting collapse but the wicket in Ahmedabad did not deteriorate as much as their spinners would have liked.

Australia had sent out Matt Kuhnemann to open the innings with Head on Sunday after Usman Khawaja hurt his knee while fielding.

Kuhnemann, who faced 35 balls for his six runs, was unlucky to be given lbw to a Ravichandran Ashwin delivery which, replays confirmed, would have missed the stumps.

Axar Patel denied Head a century by hitting the top of his off stump with a ball from the rough but Australia had reached safety by then.

India let batters Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara to roll their arms just for fun on a track where only 22 wickets fell in five days.

“That was a pretty flat wicket that one,” said Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith.

“It was a really well fought series. I think we started to play a lot better as the series went on.”

Smith led Australia in the last two tests after regular captain Pat Cummins flew home to be with his mother who passed away last week.

Virat Kohli was adjudged player-of-the-match for his painstaking 186, his first test hundred since November 2019.

Indian spinners Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who claimed a combined 47 wickets, shared the player-of-the-series award.

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Norway Chess launches Total Chess World Championship Tour with FIDE approval

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Norway Chess, the prestigious organiser of elite international chess tournaments, has officially launched a new World Championship series approved by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

Dubbed the Total Chess World Championship Tour, the initiative aims to identify the player who excels across three formats: Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz.

“We are looking for ‘The Total Chess Player’, a versatile, tactically intelligent, and technically skilled athlete who seamlessly adapts to multiple time controls,” said Kjell Madland, CEO of Norway Chess and the new championship.

The Total Chess World Championship Tour will consist of four tournaments annually, held in different cities worldwide. A pilot tournament is planned for fall 2026, with the first full championship season kicking off in 2027. The overall winner at the final stop will be crowned the official FIDE World Combined Champion.

Tour Structure and Prize Pool

Each of the first three events will carry a minimum prize pool of $750,000, while the Finals, featuring the top four competitors, will award at least $450,000, in addition to performance bonuses for top scores at individual events and across the tour.

The Fast Classic format, featuring 45 minutes plus 30-second increments per move, will receive a classical chess rating, giving players the chance to demonstrate strategic skill in a faster-paced environment.

A New Era for Chess Fans

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich expressed strong support for the initiative: “Chess is already a global phenomenon, but the Total Chess World Championship Tour will bring a new title, faster formats, and engaging broadcasts to captivate both existing fans and new audiences. This complements the traditional World Chess Championship and represents a long-term collaboration with Norway Chess.”

Norway Chess is now inviting host cities, investors, and partners to join discussions about the tour, which promises cutting-edge technology, innovative broadcasts, and an exciting format aimed at broadening the global appeal of chess.

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Game on: Abu Dhabi to build a 24,000-seat, fully air-conditioned stadium

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The UAE capital is getting ready to build a massive 24,000-seat stadium, and yes, it’ll be fully air-conditioned for year-round comfort.

Set to rise in Zayed City, the new sports complex will feature retractable roofing, sustainable cooling systems, and advanced digital screens for an immersive fan experience.

Planned as part of Abu Dhabi’s urban expansion strategy, the stadium will host international matches, concerts, and community events, all in climate-controlled comfort.

Officials say the project underscores Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a global destination for major sporting events while keeping sustainability at its core. The design uses energy-efficient cooling and solar integration to minimise carbon emissions.

This comes as the UAE continues to invest heavily in sports infrastructure, from cricket and football arenas to Formula 1 circuits, reinforcing its global sporting appeal.

So next time the temperature soars past 45°C, don’t worry, Abu Dhabi’s got you covered, literally.

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Brampton Blitz clinch inaugural Canada Super 60 title with convincing win over Montreal Royal Tigers

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The Brampton Blitz were crowned the first-ever champions of the Canada Super 60 at BC Place, cruising past the Montreal Royal Tigers by eight wickets in a dominant final.

The Blitz showcased their supremacy with the ball, as Dillon Heyliger (4/9), David Wiese (3/6), and Chris Greaves (3/16) bundled out the Tigers for a mere 69 in eight overs. Shakib Al Hasan (29 off 12) and Dilpreet Bajwa (18 off 8) were the only batters to reach double figures for Montreal.

Chasing a modest total of 70, the Blitz wrapped up the victory in just 5.5 overs. James Vince top-scored with a blistering 34 off 16 deliveries, while Martin Guptill contributed a quick 23*. Alex Davies finished proceedings with a six to seal the championship.

Blitz Storm into Final with Nine-Wicket Semi-Final Win Over Mississauga Masters

Earlier in the day, the Brampton Blitz displayed their firepower in the semi-final, demolishing the Mississauga Masters by nine wickets. Chasing 148, Martin Guptill (79 off 25) and Will Smeed (63 off 21) shared a record-breaking 141-run stand in just 6.5 overs. Guptill smashed 11 sixes, while Smeed hit eight, taking the Blitz comfortably past the target in eight overs.

Leus de Plooy (43 off 20) and Sikandar Raza (29 off 13) had provided the Masters with a quick start, supported by Shubham Ranjane (25 off 9) and Rayyan Pathan (19 off 7). Piyush Chawla’s three-wicket haul (3/23) was the highlight for the Blitz bowlers.

Montreal Royal Tigers Overcome Vancouver Kings to Reach Final

In the first semi-final, the Montreal Royal Tigers defeated the Vancouver Kings by 24 runs. Nick Hobson’s 50 off 23 balls rescued the Tigers after an early collapse, lifting them to 100/6 in 10 overs. Baltej Singh (3/21) was the pick of the Kings’ bowlers, while Jaskaran Singh, Dwayne Pretorius, and Tajinder Singh shared three wickets.

During the chase, Shakib Al Hasan (2/5) and Ryan Higgins (2/16) restricted the Kings to 76/7, despite efforts from Max Chu (25 off 10), Obus Pienaar (20 off 11), and Jaskarandeep Singh (16 off 13).

End-of-Season Awards

  • Most Valuable Player: David Wiese – 149 runs at a strike rate of 213+, plus nine wickets.
  • Top Scorer: Leus de Plooy (Mississauga Masters) – 238 runs in six innings at a strike rate over 231.
  • Top Wicket-Taker: Dillon Heyliger (Brampton Blitz) – 13 wickets in seven matches at an average of 11.76.

The inaugural Canada Super 60 concluded with the Brampton Blitz leaving an indelible mark on the tournament, blending explosive batting and lethal bowling to lift the trophy.


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