Sports
Ultimate Kho Kho: Exhibition match played ahead of players’ draft

In an exhibition match held on Thursday at the Balewadi Stadium here, Ultimate Kho Kho provided franchisees with a glimpse into what lies ahead for indigenous sport as it prepares for a major transformation.
An all-out battle of kho kho, a new avatar of the game, electrified the entire stadium. A total of 60 players took part in the exhibition match and showcased their exceptional skills during the live demo of this exciting sport during the exhibition match.
Ultimate Kho Kho is the professional kho kho league, promoted by Dabur Group Chairman Amit Burman, in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI). Six teams representing Odisha, Gujarat, Chennai, Mumbai, Telangana, and Rajasthan will play in the inaugural season of Ultimate Kho Kho from August 14 to September 4.
Ultimate Kho Kho CEO Tenzing Niyogi said, “Bringing the best talent together to showcase their skills on such a global platform is in itself a big task. However, at Ultimate Kho Kho we have diligently worked with our partners to identify, nurture, and present them today in front of all our esteemed franchisees.
“To put up an exhibition match like this has never been done before, and we are the first to showcase a few gems in front of everyone to preview a thrilling and exciting 21 days ahead, which is set to air next month onwards. As owners got a preview of the season ahead, they would definitely be able to make a balanced team by picking players wisely based on skills, stats, and feedback from coaches during player drafts scheduled for this afternoon.”
Players will be drafted on Thursday evening from a pool of 240 registered players, and each franchise will have to pick a minimum of 20 players from the eligible lot. This draft will begin a new era for the Indian kho kho with the much-needed professional touch.
Sports
ICC launches Women’s Cricket Week in alignment with World Cup in India

Dubai, Oct 9: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the launch of the inaugural ICC Women’s Cricket Week, a landmark initiative aimed at promoting and celebrating women’s game globally.
The event will take place from October 16 to 22 in alignment with the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, which is being hosted in India.
The ICC Women’s Cricket Week will be held annually to raise the visibility, participation, and profile of women’s cricket worldwide. The initiative encourages national governing bodies to engage in meaningful and locally relevant ways, ensuring that the celebration of women’s cricket reaches communities in every part of the cricketing world.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah praised the launch as another important milestone in the sport’s evolution, noting the unprecedented momentum surrounding women’s cricket in recent times. “This year has already marked a turning point for women’s cricket, with record-breaking crowds, landmark performances, and an unmistakable sense of momentum building around the game,” Shah said. “The launch of the ICC Women’s Cricket Week is another proud milestone — a celebration not just of the players on the world stage, but of every girl picking up a bat or ball, dreaming of what’s possible. It gives our Members, from Full to Associate, a meaningful opportunity to participate in the global narrative and shape the future of the women’s game in their own communities.”
The initiative was endorsed earlier this year by both the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee and the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee, highlighting the organisation’s enduring commitment to strengthening women’s cricket at all levels. It aligns with the ICC’s wider mission to develop sustainable frameworks that promote participation, leadership, and visibility for women in the sport.
Several Full Members have already committed to the campaign with innovative plans that will run alongside the global celebration. The England and Wales Cricket Board will concentrate on promoting recreational cricket and generating excitement ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. In South Africa, Cricket South Africa will host a full-day event at the high school of Proteas wicketkeeper Karabo Meso, which will include a panel discussion, mini-cricket matches, and a friendly game featuring former South African players. New Zealand Cricket has already organised a “Mini World Cup” for young girls, aimed at inspiring early engagement with the game.
Many Associate Members have also expressed their support, with their activities focusing on three main areas: community watch parties to unite fans and raise awareness of women’s cricket; educational programmes for female coaches and teachers to tackle the shortage of women leaders in the sport; and women’s participation events such as local festivals and competitions organised under the ICC’s criiio programme.
National News
Still in conversations with Williamson about availability for home summer: Rob Walter

Tauranga, Oct 6: New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said discussions are still happening over Kane Williamson’s availability for the ongoing home summer. While a final decision is yet to be made, Walter indicated that Williamson will be given the time he needs to decide when he will be playing for New Zealand.
Williamson, who currently holds a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), opted out of the recent three-match T20I series against Australia. He had also missed the tour of Zimbabwe, as he instead played in county cricket and The Hundred in England.
New Zealand’s home season continues with a limited-overs series at home against England, before the West Indies come for an all-format tour in November. “With Kane, we’re still in conversations as to what the summer is going to look like. He will play, no doubt about that. Just what and where is still in discussion.
“I think the reality is we’re dealing with all the guys on casual contracts, actually in different positions from a playing point of view. Kane is one of those (who deserves time) and he deserves the opportunity to sit and talk about what the rest of his year will look like.
“But I keep coming back to the most important thing, (which) is that he wants to play for his country, and so nutting out exactly what that looks like can take an extra week or two, but surely, he deserves that,” Walter told reporters on Monday.
Walter also confirmed that New Zealand will remain without Finn Allen (foot), Adam Milne (ankle) for the upcoming white-ball series against England, beginning on October 18 in Christchurch.
But he expressed optimism over the availability of white-ball captain Mitchell Santner, recovering from groin pain, and Rachin Ravindra, who was a late withdrawal from the T20Is against Australia after sustaining a facial injury during training post colliding with the boundary boards.
“I think we don’t live in an ideal world and so that’s part and parcel of it. I’ve been part of a World Cup campaign (with South Africa) where the team assembled at its full strength three days before our first game and that team managed to make a final.
“For me, it’s just the way it works. I think what’s more important is the environment and the team culture that sort of assimilates together when it needs to. We do know that by the back end of the India series (in January) prior to the World Cup, that’s when our full World Cup squad will be together.
“For me, as long as the guys are playing competitive cricket, that’s important, and almost everyone has been part of the environment at some point so I would assume that they can fit seamlessly back into it,” he added.
National News
1st Test: Jadeja, Kuldeep, Siraj strike as India eye innings win, reduce WI to 66/5

Ahmedabad, Oct 4: Ravindra Jadeja continued his dream run in the longer format with figures of 3-30, while Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj struck with a scalp each as India tightened their march towards an innings win over the West Indies in the first Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday.
At lunch on day three, India have left the West Indies reeling at 66/5 in 27 overs, with the visitors’ still trailing by 220 runs and the prospect of an innings defeat looming large. Jadeja has a chance to pick a five-for after hitting an unbeaten 104, as India declared their first innings at 448/5 in 128 overs before day three got underway.
After not opting to give Nitish Kumar Reddy a hit with the bat and instead pushing for a swift finish, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj set the tone with a probing new-ball spell. Siraj also produced a snorter to beat Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s edge before dismissing him with a short ball.
The wicket was also made possible due to Nitish’s athleticism at square leg – diving full stretch to pouch a stunning catch airborne – something which can become a viral Instagram reel in what was an exceptional session of catching for India.
Jadeja then took over to remove John Campbell with a ball that drifted in and took the outside edge via extra bounce to forward short leg. He followed it up with a clever change in flight to trap Brandon King, who had earlier driven him for four but was lured into a mistimed poke to slip.
Kuldeep chipped in with the dismissal of Roston Chase – beating him with a legbreak that didn’t turn before crashing into off-stump. Jadeja had his third wicket of the session when Shai Hope was undone by extra bounce on a backfoot cut and Yashasvi Jaiswal held on to a sharp chance at backward point.
Amidst the procession, young Alick Athanaze stood tall by showcasing his skill against spin with decisive footwork and calculated strokeplay. His reverse sweeps and cover drives led him to be unbeaten on 27, while Justin Greaves showed some resistance at the other end to be not out on 10. It would be interesting to see for how long West Indies can fight it out in the face of a relentless Indian bowling line-up.
Brief Scores: West Indies 162 and 66/5 in 27 overs (Alick Athanaze 27 not out, John Campbell 14; Ravindra Jadeja 3-30, Kuldeep Yadav 1-15) lead India 448/5 dec in 128 overs (Dhruv Jurel 125, Ravindra Jadeja 104 not out; Roston Chase 2-90, Jayden Seales 1-53) by 220 runs.
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