Sports Bulletin Oct 21: Mitchell Starc Makes Test History, Ayush Verma Wins Gold, Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag Claim Silver

New Delhi, Oct 21: Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc scripted history during the second Test against South Africa, becoming the first left-arm bowler to reach 450 wickets in Test cricket. He achieved the milestone by dismissing Wiaan Mulder, further strengthening his legacy as one of the finest fast bowlers in the game. The landmark reflects Starc's consistency, longevity and ability to trouble batters at the highest level.

India celebrated another proud moment as Ayush Verma clinched gold in the Shot Put F53 final at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, securing the country's 10th gold medal of the campaign. He narrowly defeated Iran's Alireza Hemami.

Meanwhile, Indian para-archers Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag secured silver in the Para Compound Women's Doubles event, finishing behind China's Xu Xueqing and Zhao Jing with a score of 141-150. Their podium finish added to India's growing medal tally.

Here is your daily sports roundup in the Sports Bulletin for October 21.

Mitchell Starc Becomes First Left-Arm Bowler to Claim 450 Wickets

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc created cricket history during the second Test against South Africa by becoming the first left-arm bowler to claim 450 wickets in Test cricket. He reached the milestone by dismissing Wiaan Mulder. This achievement underscores his remarkable longevity, pace, and ability to generate swing. The 36-year-old now stands alongside legends like Shane Warne, Nathan Lyon, and Glenn McGrath as one of Australia's highest wicket-takers, cementing his legacy as an all-time great fast bowler.

Marco Jansen Creates History Test Cricket

Marco Jansen made South African Test history during a crucial counter-attacking knock against Australia at St George's Park. Rescuing the Proteas from 110/6 alongside captain Temba Bavuma, Jansen smashed 85 off 100 deliveries, featuring nine sixes. This explosive innings set a new record for the highest score by a South African number-eight batter in a home Test against Australia, surpassing Peter van der Merwe's 1966 record. His partnership helped propel South Africa to 425/9.

Nandani Sharma & Kranti Gaud Rise in Latest ICC Rankings

Following India's T20I series lead against Zimbabwe, bowlers Nandani Sharma and Kranti Gaud rose to 45th and 43rd, respectively, with Shafali Verma holding fourth in batting. Meanwhile, Australia's 3-0 ODI sweep over Bangladesh boosted their stars: Megan Schutt climbed to fourth among bowlers after taking ten wickets, Annabel Sutherland reached a career-best 13th in batting, and Ellyse Perry advanced to ninth. New Zealand's Georgia Plimmer and Maddy Green also gained ground following strong performances against Australia.

Ayush Verma Clinches Gold Medal at Asian Para Games

Ayush Verma claimed a gold medal in the Shot Put F53 final at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, narrowly defeating Iran's Alireza Hemami to secure India's 10th gold of the campaign. Verma turned to para sports in 2019 following a 2014 accident that left him wheelchair-bound. Meanwhile, Indian sprinter Simran starred on the track, winning her women's 100m T12 heat with a record-breaking time of 12.13 seconds to comfortably advance to the final.

Sheetal Devi & Payal Nag Win Silver

India's Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag won the silver medal in the Para Compound Women's Doubles event at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games. The Indian duo put up a spirited fight in the final but lost to China's Xu Xueqing and Zhao Jing by 141-150. Despite missing out on gold, their performance added to India's medal tally and highlighted the country's growing presence in para archery at the continental level.

Baby Sahana Ravi Scripts History at Asian Para Games

Indian para-table tennis players Baby Sahana Ravi and Prachi Pandey both secured bronze medals at the Asian Para Games 2026. Baby Sahana made history by becoming the first Indian to win a medal in the standing category of para table tennis, claiming bronze in the women's singles Class 9 event. Meanwhile, Prachi Pandey won bronze in the Class 6 event after her semi-final defeat. Their achievements, alongside Bhavina Patel's bronze, boosted India's medal tally on a successful day.