Kohli Rohit Lead India Against New Zealand ODIs
P&C | Saturday, 10 Jan. 2026
Vadodara | Planet & Commerce
All eyes will be firmly fixed on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as India look to begin their three-match One Day International series against New Zealand cricket team with a statement victory on Sunday. With the opening ODI set to be played at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi, the hosts are fielding a near full-strength squad, while New Zealand arrive with a new-look side eager to test depth and character in Indian conditions. Despite the looming T20 World Cup less than a month away, the ODI series carries significant importance for India, particularly as Kohli and Rohit continue to anchor the 50-over format. Both senior batters have enjoyed consistent game time in recent weeks, featuring in the Vijay Hazare Trophy league phase and compiling substantial scores. Their form has reinforced the belief within Indian cricket that experience and class remain irreplaceable in high-pressure ODI contests. India’s batting depth receives a further boost with the return of Shreyas Iyer, who is set to reclaim his preferred No.4 position. His inclusion is expected to bring much-needed stability after a prolonged phase of experimentation in the middle order. Iyer’s ability to rotate strike against spin and accelerate through the middle overs could be crucial on Indian surfaces where containment often replaces aggression. Captain Shubman Gill finds himself under scrutiny heading into the series. Dropped from the T20 World Cup squad, Gill’s ODI form will be closely watched as he looks to reaffirm his credentials in the longer white-ball format. His return to the top order may see Yashasvi Jaiswal shuffled out, despite Jaiswal registering his maiden ODI century in the previous series against South Africa.
Behind the stumps, KL Rahul is expected to continue in the dual role of wicketkeeper-batter, a decision that keeps Rishabh Pant on the fringes in the 50-over format. Rahul’s composure in the lower middle order has added balance to the side, particularly in matches where early wickets fall. India’s bowling attack, however, will look slightly different. With Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya rested to manage workloads ahead of T20 commitments, responsibility will fall on Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana. Siraj’s ability to extract movement with the new ball and return effectively at the death will be central to India’s plans. Spin is expected to play a controlling role rather than an attacking one, with Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar sharing duties. Evening dew and flat surfaces across Indian venues often tilt the balance towards batters, placing greater emphasis on accuracy, fielding discipline and smart variations. Sunday’s match also marks a milestone for the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi, which will host its first men’s international fixture. The venue has previously staged a women’s ODI series, and expectations are that the pitch will offer true bounce and value for shots, setting the stage for a high-scoring encounter. For New Zealand, the series is less about revisiting past disappointments and more about future planning. Their loss to India in last year’s Champions Trophy final has little bearing on the current tour. Instead, the Black Caps are using the series as an opportunity to test bench strength and give exposure to emerging talent in challenging conditions.
Led by Michael Bracewell in the absence of Mitchell Santner, who is sidelined with a groin injury, New Zealand arrive without several frontline players. Kane Williamson is unavailable due to T20 commitments in South Africa, while Tom Latham has returned home for family reasons. Despite the absences, New Zealand’s batting remains competitive. Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will Young and Glenn Phillips provide a solid core capable of adapting to spin-heavy conditions. The focus will also be on how fast bowler Kyle Jamieson and young leg-spinner Adithya Ashok handle the pressure. New Zealand’s team philosophy remains unchanged despite the transition. Players have spoken about staying present and focused, a mindset that served them well during their successful Test tour of India in 2024-25. The emphasis is on execution rather than reputation, even as they face India in familiar but demanding conditions. With the match scheduled to begin at 1:30 pm IST, anticipation is high for a contest that blends star power with experimentation. For India, a strong start would reinforce their ODI dominance at home and provide momentum ahead of the World Cup. For New Zealand, the series offers a valuable platform to assess combinations, resilience and adaptability. As Kohli and Rohit take centre stage once again, the opening ODI promises to be a compelling chapter in India-New Zealand cricketing rivalry, where experience meets ambition and preparation meets opportunity.
Macclesfield Stun Crystal Palace In Historic FA Cup Shock
P&C | Saturday, 10 Jan. 2026
Cheshire | Planet & Commerce
FA Cup holders Crystal Palace suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in English football history after being knocked out of the competition 2-1 by sixth-tier Macclesfield FC, a result that will be remembered as the biggest shock the FA Cup has ever seen. The scale of the upset is staggering. The 117-place gap between Premier League side Palace and National League North outfit Macclesfield is the largest difference ever overturned in the long and storied history of the FA Cup. No previous “giant-killing” has bridged such a vast divide in the English football pyramid, placing this result in a category of its own. Macclesfield’s fairytale victory was secured through goals from captain Paul Dawson and former Premier League academy product Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, who struck either side of half-time to send the lower-league side into ecstasy and consign Palace to a place in FA Cup infamy. The context of the victory only deepens its emotional weight. Macclesfield are a club rebuilt from the ashes, having been forced to reform in 2020 after being wound up due to unpaid debts. Just weeks ago, the club was also mourning the tragic death of 21-year-old forward Euan McLeod, who lost his life in a car accident while travelling home from a match. The players dedicated the performance to their fallen teammate, adding a poignant layer to an already extraordinary night. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, whose name has recently been linked with the vacant managerial role at Manchester United, made six changes to his starting lineup. However, the selection still featured established internationals such as Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton, underlining just how little excuse Palace had for the collapse.
The warning signs were there early. Palace entered the tie winless in eight games, and their fragile set-piece defending — a recurring issue during the slump — proved fatal once again. Just before half-time, Macclesfield capitalised on that weakness when Dawson rose highest to power a header into the net from a well-delivered free-kick, sending the home crowd into disbelief and belief in equal measure. Glasner could only watch in stunned silence as his side failed to regain control after the break. Matters worsened on the hour mark when a chaotic goalmouth scramble exposed Palace’s defensive disorganisation. After multiple failed attempts to clear their lines, Buckley-Ricketts reacted quickest, poking the ball past goalkeeper Walter Benítez from close range to make it 2-0 and put Macclesfield firmly on course for history. The Palace bench and travelling supporters were left shell-shocked. Glasner famously turned his back in disbelief as the ball crossed the line, a moment that encapsulated the Premier League club’s night of embarrassment. Palace did eventually show flashes of their superior quality. In the 90th minute, Spanish international Yeremy Pino delivered a pinpoint free-kick that pulled a goal back and briefly threatened to rescue the holders. The strike was a reminder of the technical gulf between the two sides, but it came far too late.
Macclesfield held firm through the closing moments, defending with discipline, heart and an unmistakable sense of destiny. When the final whistle blew, scenes of unfiltered joy erupted among players, staff and supporters, who had just witnessed their club carve its name into FA Cup folklore. For Crystal Palace, the defeat is catastrophic. Just months after beating Manchester City at Wembley to lift a major trophy for the first time in their history, Palace now find themselves remembered for an entirely different reason. Becoming the victims of the greatest FA Cup shock ever represents a brutal fall from grace. The loss also intensifies pressure on Glasner, with Palace’s winless run now extended to nine games across all competitions. Questions will inevitably be asked about tactical decisions, defensive organisation and mentality, especially given the calibre of players at his disposal. For Macclesfield, however, this night transcends tactics and league tables. It is a triumph of resilience, community and belief — a reminder of why the FA Cup retains its magic in an era dominated by wealth and hierarchy. A club once erased by financial collapse, and recently scarred by personal tragedy, has now achieved immortality. As the English football world digests the scale of the upset, one truth stands above all else. This was not just a shock. It was history rewritten.
Kevin Durant Passes Wilt Chamberlain On NBA Scoring List
P&C | Saturday, 10 Jan. 2026
Miami | Planet & Commerce
Kevin Durant etched his name deeper into NBA history on Friday night, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain to move into seventh place on the league’s all-time scoring list, even as his Houston Rockets fell 111–105 to the host Portland Trail Blazers. Durant reached the milestone with a trademark swished three-pointer at the 7:57 mark of the third quarter, a moment that pushed him past Chamberlain’s long-standing total of 31,419 points. The basket gave Durant 17 points at the time and lifted his career tally to 31,422, officially placing him seventh on the NBA’s all-time scoring chart. By the final buzzer, Durant had poured in 30 points, raising his career total further to 31,435. The historic moment came in Durant’s 1,156th career game, underscoring both his longevity and scoring consistency across nearly two decades in the league. Chamberlain, one of basketball’s most dominant figures, amassed his 31,419 points in just 1,045 games during a storied 14-year career spanning stints with the Philadelphia and San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers between 1959 and 1973. Durant had earlier drawn level with Chamberlain late in the second quarter, knocking down a free-throw line turnaround jumper with 1:53 remaining before halftime. Houston held a narrow 56–55 lead at the break, but Portland’s balanced attack and late-game execution ultimately proved decisive. Despite the loss, the night belonged to Durant’s individual achievement, a testament to his sustained excellence across multiple franchises and eras. From his early years with the Seattle SuperSonics and Oklahoma City Thunder to championship runs with Golden State and his current role as the offensive focal point in Houston, Durant’s scoring résumé continues to grow at a historic pace.
Next on Durant’s radar is sixth place on the all-time list, currently held by Dirk Nowitzki with 31,560 points. At his current rate and barring injury, Durant is on track to surpass the former Dallas Mavericks icon later this month, further solidifying his position among the game’s greatest scorers. At the top of the list remains LeBron James, who continues to extend his own record. James sits on 42,601 career points after scoring 26 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 105–101 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ranks second with 38,387 points, followed by Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan to complete the top five. Elsewhere in the NBA on Friday, the reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder delivered another statement performance, rallying from a 21-point third-quarter deficit to edge the Memphis Grizzlies 117–116. Jalen Williams led the charge with 26 points, while Kenrich Williams added 21, including a clutch go-ahead three-pointer with 1:07 remaining. The Thunder sealed the dramatic comeback when Alex Caruso blocked a potential game-winning attempt by Memphis guard Cedric Coward in the final second. The victory came despite Oklahoma City being without league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and center Chet Holmgren, both sidelined by injuries. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised his team’s resilience after the win, which improved their league-best record to 32–7. He noted that Oklahoma City repeatedly faced momentum-shifting moments but refused to fold under pressure.
Memphis, led by Jaren Jackson Jr’s 23 points and seven rebounds, were again without star guard Ja Morant, who missed his fourth straight game with a calf injury amid persistent trade speculation. Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo acknowledged his team’s drop in intensity after halftime, crediting Oklahoma City’s experience in pressure situations. In Los Angeles, the Bucks executed down the stretch to secure their 105–101 win over the Lakers. Kevin Porter Jr scored 22 points, including four crucial free throws in the final 16.2 seconds, while Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 21 points and delivered a pivotal block and steal on James in the closing moments. The night also saw a dominant showing from the Golden State Warriors, who cruised to a 137–103 home win over Sacramento behind Stephen Curry’s 27 points and 10 assists. In Boston, the Boston Celtics defeated the Toronto Raptors 125–117, with Payton Pritchard scoring 27 and Jaylen Brown adding a near triple-double. While Friday’s slate was packed with drama across the league, Durant’s milestone stood out as a defining moment. Passing Wilt Chamberlain places him in rarefied air, a reflection not just of scoring brilliance but of durability, adaptability and sustained excellence in an era defined by constant change. As Durant closes in on Dirk Nowitzki and eyes further climbs up the scoring ladder, his legacy continues to evolve. Even on a night when the scoreboard did not favor his team, history tilted unmistakably in his direction.