Sports news: PM Modi, Kohli, Pakistan, Rohit, Zimbabwe, Harmanpreet, Siraj News Roundup

After the T20 World Cup win, the Indian cricket team met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi praised Rishabh Pant for his superb performance and his fast recovery from a life-threatening car accident in December 2022. Modi remembered having discussed Pant's treatment with his doctors and even speaking with his mother. Pant thanked Modi for his support by stating that he had gone through a real tough phase and how he wanted to get back in the game. Despite the accident, Pant made a triumphant comeback within 14 months.

Even after returning home as champions from the T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli admitted that there was interference from his ego. When his scores were low for a while, Kohli spoke about just that during his conversation with PM Modi –– a key chat with Rohit Sharma helped him refocus. He shared a valuable lesson he learned from the game—its unpredictability and keeping the ego in check. How, in the end, it all worked out for him and aided the team to victory, he recalled. Kohli also speaks about family support and how important it is to put the ego aside and work in favor of the team from time to time.

PCB described the men's team as playing nine Tests, 14 ODIs, and nine T20Is in the 2024/25 season, with the high-profile series against England. It said that Pakistan would host England for three Tests in October and also play host to Bangladesh and the West Indies. A tri-series with New Zealand and South Africa is in the offing as well. As per the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, these series are very important for the standing of Pakistan in international cricket. The schedule of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 will be revised so that it does not clash with ICC Champions Trophy.

Rohit Sharma had signed off the T20I career high by leading India to their second T20 World Cup win in Barbados. The team received a grand welcome in New Delhi and Mumbai with a victory parade and a felicitation ceremony later at the Wankhede Stadium, where they were awarded Rs 125 crore. Rohit dedicated the win to the country and thanked fans for their constant support over the past 11 years. He reflected on India's major ICC victories and what it meant to them.

The head coach of Zimbabwe, Justin Sammons, thought that Sikandar Raza would be critical to the five-match T20I series against India due to his experience. He said Raza had leadership qualities and hence needed to lead by example. Some key Indian players will be rested for the series, though a few of the World Cup winners, like Shivam Dube, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sanju Samson, will join later. Sammons is focused on building a good team in two years' time; his emphasis, he says, is on the development of skills. He also threw praise at exciting prospects in Indian players Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Riyan Parag.

Virat Kohli took to X and appreciated the Mumbai Police for their excellent work in controlling the crowds in Mumbai after the ICC T20 World Cup win. Thousands of fans flocked to Marine Drive and started celebrating the win that eventually forced a traffic advisory by the city police. Kohli took to X and thanked the officers and staff for their dedication towards the smooth proceedings of the victory parade. The Mumbai Police acknowledged the achievement of the team. It was led by Rohit Sharma, and the team registered a win by seven runs in the final against South Africa. Rohit invited fans to celebrate the victory at Marine Drive and Wankhede.

What seemed to be a promising start was translated into defeat as South Africa earned their first victory of the tour, beating India in the first T20I here in Chennai. Tazmin Britz's career-best 81 enabled South Africa to post their highest total ever against India in T20Is. Chasing 189, India could get only up to 177/4 and struggled with dropped catches and lack of intent in middle overs, according to captain Harmanpreet Kaur. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt praised the improved performance of her team following defeats taken earlier in the tour. India has to win the second T20I if it wants to stay alive in the series.

A hero's welcome awaited Mohammed Siraj in Hyderabad as he returned home after India's win in the T20 World Cup. It was a proud moment, he reiterated with the statement that India had been waiting for this title for such a long time. The victory parade saw huge crowds chanting patriotic slogans, as the team travelled from Nariman Point to the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It was consummated with a packed stadium celebration, preceded by the arrival of the team at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, where they were welcomed with much fanfare and media attention.