Saturday, February 22
Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, praised the BCCI for retaining senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the Champions Trophy 2025. He emphasised their importance to the team’s stability and success. The 15-member squad also includes notable players such as Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah. India will play their matches in the UAE.
Former India cricket stars including Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rohit Sharma celebrated 50 years of Wankhede Stadium. Gavaskar shared memories of the inaugural match in 1975, expressing pride in the home ground. The event included cultural festivities, music, dance, and a laser show.
Cricket legends gathered at Wankhede Stadium for its golden jubilee, where notable Mumbai cricketers shared memorable experiences. Rohit Sharma, showing thoughtfulness, promised to strive for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy win, aiming to celebrate at Wankhede again. The Trophy Tour also marked the occasion. The Champions Trophy, which is on a Trophy Tour around all participating countries, was brought into the Wankhede to mark the occasion.
Novak Djokovic received an on-air apology from TV host Tony Jones after the tennis star claimed Jones' comments about him and Serbian supporters were offensive. Jones remarked it was meant as banter. Djokovic initially refused an interview in protest. The Serbian Council of Australia had also filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape cemented their playoff position with a second consecutive bonus point win against Durban's Super Giants, led by Marco Jansen's stellar bowling. The team restricted their opponents to 115/8, then successfully chased the target, with contributions from key batsmen, securing a convincing victory.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders claimed their second win in ILT20 Season 3, defeating Gulf Giants by 37 runs despite Aayan Afzal Khan's record-setting 4/16. Michael Pepper's half-century led the Knight Riders to 176/9, with the Giants struggling at 139/8. Sunil Narine highlighted the importance of teamwork and batting depth for future matches.
Sachin Tendulkar recounted requesting his final match to be in Mumbai so his mother could watch him play live for the first time. He shared emotional moments from that game and reflected on India's 2011 World Cup win at Wankhede, highlighting his profound experiences at the stadium. Sachin also reflected on another iconic moment at Wankhede—India's victory in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
D Gukesh, playing with black pieces, drew his second-round match in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025 against Vladimir Fedoseev. The day saw several players settling for draws, including Arjun Erigaisi and defending champion Yi Wei. Praggnanandhaa secured the first win of the tournament, while other notable players like Fabiano Caruana also claimed victories.
D Gukesh triumphed in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025 opener against Anish Giri, despite Giri's early advantage. Gukesh's strategic play led to a victory following a pivotal mistake by Giri. Other matches saw mixed results for Indian players, with Praggnanandhaa drawing and Leon Luke Mendonca losing. Highlights included a quick win for Rameshbabu Vaishali in the Challengers section.
Anish Giri faced a tough start in the Masters at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, losing to World Chess Champion D Gukesh. Giri's early control vanished after a critical mistake, which Gukesh exploited effectively. Gukesh, unaffected by his recent busy schedule, now prepares for Round 2 against Vladimir Fedoseev, while Giri faces Arjun Erigaisi next.
