SPORTS

Chris Morris, the South African allrounder, became the IPL's most expensive overseas player ever signed at an auction after he was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 16.25 crore ($2.2 million). Morris was at the centre of a fierce bidding war involving four different teams, with the Royals eventually beating out Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings to sign the player. Morris had previously played for the Royals during the 2015 season and was the team's joint-highest wicket-taker that year with 13 scalps.

Morris overtook Yuvraj Singh (Rs 16 crore in 2015), Pat Cummins (Rs 15.5 crore in 2020) and Ben Stokes (Rs 14.5 crore in 2017) as the costliest buy at an IPL auction, but the Royals believe it was money well spent.

"We did due diligence, he's an ex-Royal who can deal with a price tag like that," Jake Lush McCrum, the Royals CEO, said. " He is a quality bowler through all phases of the game, can win us games with the bat too. We did stretch, that was our last bid, luckily Kings XI held back. Delighted to have him back with the Royals."

India legend Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday applauded fast bowler Mohammed Siraj for his reaction at the non-striker's end when Ravichandran Ashwin got to his 5th Test hundred against England in the second Test.

Ashwin, playing on his home ground, bagged a five-wicket haul in England's first innings and then scored a hundred in India's second innings to set up the victory for Team India.

He picked 8 wickets in the match in total and scored 106 runs, his highest score at Chepauk, and was adjudged Played of the Match for his exploits.

But what impressed Sachin was the fact that when Ashwin got to his hundred, with Team India at 9 down and Siraj parterning the senior player at the crease, he was overjoyed and enjoyed Ashwin's century as much as he did. Siraj could be seen jumping and punching the air as he ran to complete the run with Ashwin.

In his second mega show at Rourkela since Covid-19 pandemic, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday laid foundation stone of India's biggest hockey stadium, which will be second venue for men's Hockey World Cup-2023 apart from the Kalinga Stadium.

Naveen, during his visit to the steel city, also laid foundation or inaugurated developmental projects worth Rs 5,000 crore in sectors like drinking water, irrigation, health, infrastructure and smart city development.

"The new international hockey stadium in Rourkela will be named after eminent tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. It is going to be the most modern field hockey facility. The hockey stadium will inspire and encourage the youths to dream big. The stadium will show to the world that Odias are second to none," said Naveen addressing the gathering.

As India flexed their muscle on day three, moving inexorably towards a series-levelling triumph over England, the second Chennai Test began to take on a carnival feel. Already well ahead in the game and with time to indulge, they served up an exhibition for a grateful Chepauk crowd. R Ashwin, the local hero, proved himself worthy of such billing with a fifth Test hundred and England were hanging on by stumps as the ball fizzed and the close catchers circled.

After the subcontinental batting masterclass, followed closely by a trial against spin, now was the moment for England to contend with an Indian wall of sound. Despite scrapping hard to take five wickets during the morning session, they were steadily enveloped by the hoots, whistles and cheers from the stands, as first Virat Kohli and then Ashwin steadied India's second innings, before the home spinners returned to their task with relish.

India finished the second day of the ongoing Test against England in Chennai on top with R Ashwin emerging as the standout player from the Indian camp. The 34-year-old completed yet another fifer, helping the hosts bundle out England for 134 as India took a massive 195-run lead.

Ashwin finished the England innings with clincial 5/43 in 23.5 overs and in the process the carrom-ball specialist completed a series of feats, which are listed down as below: 

# Ashwin became the first bowler to dismiss 200 left-handed batsmen in the longest format of the game  

# This was Ashwin's 29th five-wicket haul in Tests