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On the back of commendable performances from Axar Patel, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube, Team India took an unassailable lead over Afghanistan in the ongoing T20 series. Veterans Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka played sizzling cameos to help Sri Lanka clinch a nail-biting T20I against Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Real Madrid defeated rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final by a margin of 4-1 on the back of Vinicius Junior's hat-trick.
Let's have a look at the top 10 trending sports news on January 15's sports roundup:
Dominant India school Afghanistan in Indore
Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal's scintillating half-centuries propelled India to a commanding six-wicket victory over Afghanistan, securing a decisive 2-0 lead in their three-T20I series. Displaying remarkable form, Dube remained not out, scoring an explosive 63 runs off just 32 balls, enabling India to comfortably chase down the 173-run target with 26 balls to spare. This triumph marked India's 13th home series win in T20Is since June 2019, highlighting their dominance in the format on home soil.
'Hitman' flops yet again, dismissed for golden duck
Pressure continues to mount on India captain Rohit Sharma as he once again flopped with the bat. In the second T20I against Afghanistan, the right-handed batter was dismissed for a golden duck. It was his second successive duck as Rohit was run out for naught in the first T20I as well.
Rohit ties Dhoni's record for most wins for an Indian captain in T20Is
Rohit Sharma has matched the iconic MS Dhoni's captaincy record for victories in T20Is following India's six-wicket triumph over Afghanistan in the second T20I. Achieving a remarkable milestone, Rohit has equaled Dhoni's tally of 41 wins as the Indian T20I captain. Notably, while Dhoni reached this mark in 72 matches, Rohit accomplished the same in just 53 games, underscoring his efficiency and strategic acumen as a leader. With an impressive win rate of 77.35%, Rohit stands as the most successful Indian captain in the T20I format.
Rohit scripts monumental history, becomes first player to play 150 T20Is
On January 14, Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma etched his name in the annals of cricket history by becoming the first male cricketer to participate in 150 T20 International matches. This milestone was achieved during the second T20I against Afghanistan, marking a significant achievement in his illustrious cricketing career.
Sri Lanka outmuscle Zimbabwe in cliffhanger 1st T20I
In an electrifying last-ball showdown at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Zimbabwe's captain Sikander Raza put up a valiant effort with a stellar all-round performance, but it wasn't enough to clinch victory against Sri Lanka. Despite Raza's heroics, Sri Lanka managed to pull off a thrilling three-wicket win, thanks in part to Angelo Mathews' crucial contribution on his comeback to T20I cricket. Mathews played a pivotal role in steadying the Sri Lankan innings following a batting collapse.
He found ample support from Dasun Shanaka, who aided in stabilizing the innings. The finishing flourish came from Dushmantha Chameera, who played a key role in guiding the hosts across the finish line in a nail-biting finish.
Axar Patel hits huge milestone, only behind Ravindra Jadeja
All-rounder Axar Patel became the second Indian cricketer to score more than 2,000 runs and bag 200 wickets in T20s. Ravindra Jadeja was the first Indian cricketer to reach the milestone.
Real Madrid lift Spanish Super Cup after downing rivals Barcelona
Real Madrid clinched the Spanish Super Cup triumph with a dominant 4-1 win over Barcelona, largely thanks to a stunning first-half hat-trick from Vinicius Junior in the final held in Riyadh. The Brazilian forward made the most of Barcelona's vulnerable defensive strategy, scoring twice early in the match, giving Real a solid 2-0 lead within the opening 10 minutes. Barcelona managed to narrow the gap when Robert Lewandowski found the net shortly after the 30-minute mark.
However, Vinicius Junior's brilliance continued as he was fouled by Ronald Araujo in the penalty area, leading to him converting the resulting penalty in the 39th minute to complete his hat-trick. The second half saw Real Madrid maintaining their dominance, with Rodrygo adding another goal to seal a one-sided victory and ensure the coveted trophy for his team.
Indian women's hockey team beat New Zealand 3-1
India's women's hockey team made a remarkable comeback on Sunday, defeating New Zealand 3-1 in their second pool match of the FIH Women's Olympic Qualifier. This victory revitalized their chances of qualifying for the Paris Games. The Indian team, which recently slipped to seventh in the latest world rankings, had experienced a challenging start to the tournament. They faced an unexpected defeat, falling 0-1 to the United States, a team ranked lower than them, in their opening match in Pool B.
Heartbreak for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
India's prominent badminton duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, experienced a challenging defeat in the men's doubles final at the tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, January 14. The pair, despite a strong start and securing the first game, couldn't uphold their initial momentum. They ultimately succumbed to the skill of the World No. 1 Chinese team, Wei Keng Liang and Chang Wang. After an intense battle lasting 58 minutes, the Indian duo lost with scores of 21-9, 18-21, 17-21.
Haryana Steelers dominate Tamil Thalaivas, Patna and Delhi share spoils
In a remarkable display of kabaddi, the Haryana Steelers clinched a hard-fought 36-31 victory against the Tamil Thalaivas in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 at the SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur. In an intense clash, Patna Pirates staged a remarkable comeback to secure a thrilling 39-39 tie against Dabang Delhi K.C.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
IND vs AFG: Jaiswal-Dube's electrifying fifties lead India to easy 6-wicket win, take unassailable 2-0 lead in series
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