Sports Bulletin on January 19: Sanju Samson at loggerheads with Kerala cricket chief, Virat Kohli skips Ranji Trophy

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In today's sports bulletin (January 19), we cover some key developments in Indian cricket and beyond. From tensions between Kerala's cricket chief and Sanju Samson to Virat Kohli's absence from the Ranji Trophy, there's plenty of action.

Plus, updates on IPL, tennis, and cricket across the globe—let’s dive into the major moments shaping the sports world today.

KCA President criticises Sanju Samson Over Kerala Team Absence

Kerala Cricket Association President Jayesh George criticised Sanju Samson for skipping the state’s Vijay Hazare Trophy preparatory camp, which may have contributed to his exclusion from India’s Champions Trophy squad. Samson, Kerala's white-ball captain, reportedly informed KCA about his unavailability via a one-line text. George emphasised that Samson cannot join the state side at his convenience and must adhere to policies. Despite scoring three centuries in his last five T20Is for India, Samson wasn't considered for the 50-over squad.

Virat Kohli Skips Ranji Trophy 2024-25, Delhi Announces Revised Squad

Virat Kohli has been excluded from Delhi’s updated 22-member provisional squad for the Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra in Rajkot, following his unavailability due to a neck sprain. The 36-year-old, who last played a Ranji game in 2012, had initially been included pending availability. Kohli’s absence raises questions, given the BCCI’s policy mandating domestic participation for national team selection. However, he remains a part of India’s squad for the ODI series against England starting February 6 and the Champions Trophy. Ayush Badoni will lead Delhi in Kohli's absence.

Rishabh Pant to Captain Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2025

Rishabh Pant has been named captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for IPL 2025 after being bought for a record-breaking ₹27 crore at the mega auction. This makes him the most expensive player in IPL history. Pant replaces KL Rahul, who was not retained despite guiding LSG to playoff berths in their first two seasons. LSG chose Pant over Shreyas Iyer for the captaincy role. Previously leading Delhi Capitals, Pant brings experience, with 3,284 runs in 110 matches. LSG also retained Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, and Ayush Badoni for the upcoming season.

Ravindra Jadeja to Feature in Saurashtra's Ranji Trophy Clash Against Delhi

Ravindra Jadeja has been confirmed to play Saurashtra's upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Delhi, joining the domestic circuit alongside Rohit Sharma, who will feature for Mumbai. Saurashtra Cricket Association President Jaydev Shah announced Jadeja's inclusion. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar emphasised the importance of such participation for maintaining form and supporting domestic cricket, as India continues to address inconsistent batting performances in recent international series.

India U19 Women Begin T20 World Cup 2025 Campaign with Dominant Win Over West Indies

Defending champions India started their ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025 campaign with a commanding nine-wicket victory over West Indies in their Group A opener at Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur. Opting to field first, India bowled out West Indies for 44 in just 13.2 overs. Player of the Match VJ Joshitha led the charge with two quick wickets while Parunika Sisodia also impressed with 3/7. Chasing 45, India reached the target in just 4.2 overs despite losing opener Gongadi Trisha early. Sanika Chalke (18*) and G Kamalini (16*) sealed the win comfortably. India will next face Malaysia on Tuesday.

Rohan Bopanna-Zhang Shuai Advance to Australian Open Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals

India's Rohan Bopanna and China's Zhang Shuai progressed to the Australian Open 2025 mixed doubles quarterfinals after a walkover against fourth seeds Taylor Townsend and Hugo Nys. The Indo-Chinese duo, who earlier defeated Kristina Mladenovic and Ivan Dodig 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round, will next face the winners of Olivia Gadecki/John Peers vs Timea Babos/Marcelo Arevalo. While Bopanna’s mixed doubles campaign flourishes, his men's doubles partnership with Nicolas Barrientos ended in the first round. India's challenge in singles and men's doubles has seen early exits, leaving mixed doubles as the final hope.

Mark Butcher Slams ECB for Favoring IPL in Controversial NOC Policy

The ECB's new NOC policy, which exempts IPL players from summer participation restrictions while limiting other franchise leagues, has drawn sharp criticism. Former England cricketer Mark Butcher called out the double standard, questioning why the IPL receives special treatment over leagues like the PSL. The policy has already influenced county cricket, with Hampshire captain James Vince opting for a white-ball-only contract to ensure PSL availability. Butcher criticised the policy's inconsistency, pointing at its negative impact on domestic cricket, including the loss of top players like Vince from the County Championship.

Pakistan Triumphs Over West Indies by 127 Runs, Leads Test Series 1-0

Pakistan secured a commanding 127-run victory against the West Indies on the third day of the first Test in Multan, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Spinner Sajid Khan claimed 5-50 for match figures of 9-115, while Abrar Ahmed added 4-27 to bowl out the visitors for 123, well short of the 251-run target. Alick Athanaze’s 55 was the lone bright spot for the West Indies. Earlier, Jomel Warrican’s career-best 7-32 had restricted Pakistan to 157 in their second innings. The decisive second Test begins on January 25 in Multan.

Zverev and Alcaraz Cruise to Australian Open 2025 Fourth Round

Alejandro Zverev advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open 2025, defeating Jacob Fearnley 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in their first-ever meeting. Despite losing his serve for the first time in the tournament, Zverev delivered a commanding performance, smashing 25 winners and winning 14 of 17 net points. Carlos Alcaraz also reached the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2 victory over Nuno Borges. Alcaraz overcame a third-set wobble and cruised through the final set. In the next round, Alcaraz awaits the winner between Jack Draper and Aleksandar Vukic, with a potential quarterfinal showdown against Novak Djokovic looming.

Sabalenka and Bencic Advance to Australian Open Round of 16

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka battled past Denmark’s Clara Tauson 7-6(5), 6-4 in a hard-fought third-round match to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open. Sabalenka, who trailed 3-5 in the opening set, praised Tauson's high level of play and looks ahead to facing Mirra Andreeva in the next round. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff continued her strong run, defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-2 to reach her 14th Grand Slam second week. Gauff, on a 10-match winning streak, will next face Belinda Bencic, who advanced after Naomi Osaka retired due to injury.

Barcelona Fail to Capitalise as Atletico Madrid's Winning Streak Ends

Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw by Getafe, failing to close the gap on La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, who had their 15-match winning streak snapped with a shock 1-0 defeat at Leganes. Jules Kounde gave Barcelona the lead, but Mauro Arambarri's equaliser left the Catalans struggling to break down Getafe's defense. Raphinha missed a late opportunity to secure a win. Barcelona now sit five points behind Atletico, who saw Antoine Griezmann miss a penalty in their defeat to Leganes.