Sports Bulletin of January 31: From Virat Kohli Failing On Ranji Return to Sachin Tendulkar's BCCI Honour

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From Virat Kohli failing on Ranji Trophy return for Delhi Australia to Sachin Tendulkar set to receive BCCI honour for life-time achievement, many things have unfolded in the sports world.

Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar are dominating the proceedings on a busy Friday (December 31) in the World of Sports. Here are the ten unmissable stories of the day.

1) Sachin Tendulkar to receive BCCI lifetime achievement award

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is set to be honored with the prestigious C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by the BCCI. The award will be presented during the Board's annual event scheduled for Saturday. According to a BCCI official, Tendulkar has been chosen as the recipient of this esteemed accolade for the year 2024.

2) Virat Kohli Fails On Ranji Return

Virat Kohli's highly anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy after over a decade ended in disappointment. Playing for Delhi against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Kohli was dismissed for just six runs. He offered a brief glimpse of his trademark brilliance with a stunning straight drive off Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan, but just a ball later, Sangwan clean-bowled the star batter, cutting short Kohli's innings.

3) India Beat England, Set Up Final Clash With South Africa In U19 Women's World Cup

India secured a spot in the final of the ICC Women's U19 T20 World Cup for the second consecutive year, following a dominant win over England in the semi-final on Friday, January 31, in Kuala Lumpur. The defending champions triumphed by a convincing nine-wicket margin, repeating last year's final showdown, and will now face South Africa in the title match on Sunday, February 2.

4) Mitchell Marsh Ruled Out Of Champions trophy

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been sidelined from the Champions Trophy due to a back injury, adding to his ongoing struggles with fitness. Cricket Australia (CA) clarified that the injury is not a stress fracture; however, a report from cricket.com.au revealed that Marsh's condition deteriorated during his recovery. This comes after his lone appearance in the Big Bash League 2024-25, which followed his exclusion from the Test squad.

5) BCCI Awards : Jasprit Bumrah Best Men's Cricketer, Smriti Mandhana Best Women's Cricketer

Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been honored with the BCCI's Polly Umrigar Award for the Best International Cricketer in the men's category for the 2023-24 season, while stylish batter Smriti Mandhana has been selected for the same accolade in the women's category. The awards will be presented during the Board's annual ceremony on Saturday.

6) President Droupadi Murmu Reflects On India's Progress In Sports

On Friday, President Droupadi Murmu praised India's progress in building a "world-class sports infrastructure" and celebrated the nation's achievements in global events such as the Olympics, Paralympics, and the World Chess Championship.

7) Uzbek GM Nodirbek Yakubboev Says Sorry To R Vaishali For Not Shaking Her Hand

Following a controversy at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament over Nodirbek Yakubboev's decision not to shake hands with Vaishali before their match, the Uzbekistan Grandmaster took a personal step to make amends. Yakubboev met Vaishali, her brother Praggnanandhaa, and their mother, Nagalakshmi, to offer a heartfelt apology for the incident. He also brought flowers and chocolates for Vaishali as a gesture of sincere regret, addressing the widespread criticism he faced.

8) Usman Khawja Breaks Sachin Tendulkar's Record

Usman Khawaja's stunning double century in the first Test against Sri Lanka shattered a 15-year-old record previously held by Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar. With this innings, Khawaja became the oldest player-either from Sri Lanka or a touring side-to register a double century on Sri Lankan soil. Having achieved this remarkable milestone after turning 38, he is the first cricketer to score a double ton in Sri Lanka beyond his 38th birthday.

9) Mumbai Indians secure stakes in The Hundred side, The Oval Invincibles

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the owners of the Mumbai Indians, is set to acquire a 49% stake in Oval Invincibles after emerging successful in a virtual auction held on Thursday afternoon. RIL will now enter an exclusivity period to finalize agreements with Surrey, the ECB, and their financial advisors before completing the transaction.

10) Cristiano Ronaldo Scripts History, Record 700 Club Victories

Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a stellar performance for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday, scoring a goal and providing an assist to secure a 2-1 victory over Al-Raed. This achievement also marked a historic milestone, as Ronaldo became the first footballer ever to reach 700 club victories in the sport's history.